To commemorate our fifteenth year, we are taking a look back at what life was like 15 years ago. Do you remember May 1999? It was a month of ups and downs. We gained Star Wars: The Phantom Menace but lost Shel Silverstein. Natural disasters of epic proportions and new leadership in world powers made the month one that would change the course of history. Legal precedents were established and technologies that we all utilize now were just being announced. Here are fifteen moments in history from fifteen years ago. Next stop: May 1999.

1. Bluetooth Is Announced

Early in the month, for about six days, 152 tornadoes ravaged the mid-west and eastern U.S. It was the worst in Oklahoma, with one F5 tornado – the second strongest recorded in U.S. history – that caused $1 billion in damage.

3. Goodbye, Shel Silverstein

In Milan, Italy, after 22 years of restoration work, Leonardo da Vinci’s newly-restored masterpiece The Last Supper was put back on display. This is an unforgettable moment in art history.

5. The Ancient Operating System

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The Mummy, a horror adventure starring Brendan Frasier, was released in the U.S. in May 1999. Although the film was originally meant to be a low-budget horror series, it turned into a blockbuster hit.

7. Not So Entertaining Anymore

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace was released in theaters, and millions of children began having nightmares about red-eyed guys with horns chasing them with two-sided light sabers. And we thought Darth Vader was intimidating…

9. Italian Stallion of Politics

Teenie boppers lost their minds as they excitedly tore open the packaging on their copies of The Backstreet Boys’ newest release, Millennium.

11. Here’s SpongeBob!

Kansas City, Missouri, wrestler Owen Hart (Blue Blazer) fell 78 feet to his death while being lowered into a World Wrestling Federation ring during WWF Over the Edge.

13. So Long, Home Improvement

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 11,000 for the first time in its history at 11,014.70. Many speculate in hindsight that this bump was actually artificially created by overlending and that in retrospect this was a warning sign for the future recession. It was a cause for celebration then: Now, it’s something from which we have hopefully learned a lesson. 

Up/Down LED Panel Light that provides usable downlighting and ceiling accent lighting simultaneously. Without any visible bulbs, this dimmable light panel delivers 5,400 lumens of natural white illumination through a transparent lens with a frosted center. The LED panel lasts five times longer than fluorescent panels and can be used for many applications, including suspended office lighting, pool table lighting, restaurant lighting, decorative or painted ceiling illumination, and retail shop lighting.

Custom Electrical Services was voted by the community as USA Today Best Electrician in Des Moines metro.  We cannot thank our customers enough for taking the time to vote for us!  Winners were announced and presented by the Des Moines Register and the Des Moines Datebook.  Custom Electrical Services was also voted #1 for Urbandale and Johnston by the community.  Thank you Des Moines, Urbandale, and Johnston!

Most often, homeowners choose to have their flat screen TV mounted on a wall. Doing this requires finding studs, deciding on mount brackets, and in most cases adding new electrical outlets. That being said, this is not a job for an amateur or a DIY-enthusiast. Rather, it’s a job for a professional electrician. Keep reading to learn why.

Tilting mounts hold the TV flat against the wall and allows for downward tilting. This is ideal if the TV is going to be mounted up high—perhaps over a fireplace. For other homes, an articulating mount might be the better choice. This places the TV on a retractable arm that allows you to pull the TV out and swivel it.

What will be connected to the TV? You may have a cable box, or some other digital receiving device. Maybe you also have a gaming console. Many of these wires come with relative cables that will need a place.

As we just mentioned, you’ll have a lot of components that go along with your TV. Where will your cable box go? Will you need to have shelving installed as well? These questions will help determine where and how you’ll have the TV installed, and whether or not you’ll need specialized electrical services.

Your professional installer can help you decide this, however it’s a good idea to go into the installation with some sort of idea of where you’ll be most comfortable watching the TV.

Whether you have dry wall, stone, or brick, this will need to be taken into consideration when installing a flat screen TV.

High voltage cords, such as the plug for your TV, are not allowed to go behind walls, according to fire safety codes. This means that your installer may need to add an electrical outlet on the wall where you’re mounting the TV if one does not exist already.