Teri Karush Rogers

Q.  A doctor on our co-op board wants our building to install a defibrillator in the lobby and give the staff CPR and other life-saving training.  Have other co-ops or condos done this and what are the things we should consider? For example, could it lead to lawsuits if someone is hurt or, God forbid, dies?

Thanks to BrickUnderground's Bedbugged! columnist Theresa Braine for alerting us to this holiday-themed DIY bed bug killer.   No, it's not a way to have a bit of fun with Homeland Security.  It's a low-cost technique that its inventor claims will bake to death any bed bugs that may have crawled into your luggage (think seams and other crannies) in an infested hotel room.

Whether or not you wind up going light on the tips this year, we predict that some of these rationalizations will cross your mind as the ATM counts out your hard-earned cash....

Over on StreetEasy.com, a renter is not too happy with the not-too-talented violinist next door who practices at all hours and has lately begun teaching violin to even less talented students in her apartment.    The renter’s dilemma has drawn some interesting advice (detailed below, much of it in the walls-work-two-ways vein), and raised one unsettled question: Are tenants even allowed to teach music lessons in their apartments?

In case you missed the NY Times story this weekend about the divisiveness of holiday decorations in the lobby, we have prepared this handy digest of teachable moments:

Over on Brownstoner's forum, they're comparing notes on holiday tipping.  One Brooklynite breaks things down thusly, starting with the dog walker and ending with the Lothario at the door:  "I'm sure $50 is just fine. We've had several occasions where the dogwalker has come by on the weekends and on short notice. Our super is underpaid and overworked, and the nanny is worth the bonus. The doorman who hits on my wife gets nothing, so it evens out."  (Brownstoner.com)