Open HTML Email Safely

Many people send e-mails that are written using HTML. You might be, and not even know it. To send e-mails with images that display in the open e-mail, you have to use HTML. The same goes for e-mails that include music, dancing bears, and other cutesy non-essentials. I'm as guilty as the next person on that.

Most HTML e-mails are attractive (that's the reason for HTML e-mail). However, HTML e-mail has a sinister side: it can hide malicious scripts which execute when you open the e-mail.

There are several things you can do to protect your computer from naughty HTML e-mail.

• Don't open e-mail from anyone whom you don't know. Of course, this assumes that your acquaintences would neither send nor forward a bad e-mail. The latter is a big assumption; how many of your friends would know that an e-mail is 'infected?'
  


• Do NOT use the "Preview Pane" feature of any e-mail program (including Outlook and Outlook Express). If you use Preview Pane, then when you 'close" an e-mail, the next e-mail in the list automatically opens in the Preview Pane. If the 'next' e-mail contains malware, your computer will be infected or otherwise compromised. Sadly, Microsoft has "Preview Pane" set as the default. If you don't actively turn it off, then it is ON. And people wonder why I criticize MicroSoft so often....
  

Bonus for Outlook Users who want to Open HTML e-mail Safely

• Use PocketKnifePeek, a free Outlook add-in that allows you to preview your HTML email as text... thus nullifying the effects of scripts hidden in messages. Peek requires Windows and MicroSoft Outlook (NOT Outlook Express). It a small program that downloads and installs quickly: 480KB

Tech Talk

Today's site is a large collection of stories and anecdotes about computer users. how is it that someone who might in other circumstances be considered smart and wise, can sit down in front of a computer screen and instantly lose every last shred of common sense he ever possessed? Complicate this phenomenon with a case of "computerphobia," and you end up with tech support personnel having phone conversations that are funny in retrospect but seem like perfectly valid motives for wild machine gun shooting sprees at the time.

Hm-m-m-m

"Amateurs built the ark ...professionals built the Titanic.
Now let's talk about Linux and Windows."

Men and Boys, The Price of Their Toys

I'm not big on gadgets. Some people might think that UltraMobile PCs (UMPC) are gadgets. I'm here to tell you that's not so. But even if it is a gadget, it's the gadget for me.

Notebook (laptop) computers make it easy to travel with a computer. A UMPC makes it almost effortless. A UMPC is the size of a hard-bound book. It's like a notebook computer run through the wash on "HOT". UMPCs are much more durable than most laptops - they are the prototype of the "One Laptop Per Child" computers that are taking computers into remote places all around the world. Note: the hard drive is virtually indestructible; it has no moving parts!

I have the pleasure of testing an Asus EeePC. Our local school district needs inexpensive, highly portable, network/internet-ready computers for the elementary school students. Guess whom they asked to put these lil' puppies through their paces?

This little gem (2.03 pounds, 0.92 kg) comes ready-to-go with software for work and for fun. It includes the ability to connect to a network, whether it's hard-wired or wireless. That networking capability includes Internet access.

Built-ins include e-Mail, eBooks, instant messaging, world-wide-web, internet radio, skype (internet phone service), music, video, graphics (photos, etc.), word processing, spreadsheets, presentations (think PowerPoint), recording video and audio, webcam, educational programs - and more, much more.

I took this sweetheart with me on a trip. Among my daily tasks - besides e-Mail and web-surfing is administering a 2000-computer network. EeePC enabled me to do that administration from 1500 miles away. The Eee-PC did all I asked it to do. It's a small computer with big performance.

On the road, this computer can be safe from theft: it has built-in capability for Kensington locks for portable computers

The downside: you can't cram a lot of keyboard and screen into a 9" x 6 1/2" computer. You can cram in enough to suit me, given all the advantages.

The upside to the downside: when not on the road, you can use a UMPC as a home computer! Just

1. close the lid
2. plug in any standard monitor
3. plug in any USB keyboard/mouse (most are USB)
4. plug in, as needed, the included power supply/charger
   
   you can easily add - just plug in (there are lots of USB ports)
   
   
5. a USB flash drive (thumb drive)
6. a network cable [ or connect to a wireless network ]
   
7. CD/DVD player/recorder
8. USB portable drive
9. MMC/SD 'card' (from a digital camera)
10. modem (modems are so '80s and '90s)
11. headphones (there are speakers built in)
12. microphone (there is a 'mike' built in)
    

If you want to use the built-in webcam, you'll have to leave the lid open.

For details about

• UMPCs in general: Ultra Mobile Personal Computers
• Asus Eee-PC: Discover EeePc and EeePC Guide

SuperTweak

Is your computer showing its age? Has its get-up-and-go gotten-up-and-gone?

PCPitStop has some tips on how to revive it.

Top 25 XP Super Tweaks. Anyone who can follow instructions can perform all of the 'tweaks.' However, anyone intimidated by computers will shy away from some of the tips. No problem: just do the ones with which you feel comfortable.

Or package it up and send it to me. For $65 per hour + shipping, I'll do these things for you.

No Thanks, I'm Just Browsing

Web Browser:   the program that serves as your front end to the World Wide Web on the Internet.

In order to view a page - web site - you type its address (URL) into the [web]browser's Location field - or you click on a link that is embedded in another web site. Either of those feats accomplished, a page of that sought-after web site is downloaded to your browser. Then you can view that site and use its content as you wish.

You can read, view pictures, click on links to 'go to' other web sites, copy material for your next term paper, download music and movies (YouTube!), download software, research information (Google!), and much more. Your web browser can be addictive, because it is always ready to serve as your library, movie theater, music store, 'stereo', shopping mall, 'party line' (a geezer term for old telephone systems), bank teller, and much, much more.

Windows computers have the Internet Explorer web browser built-in. Macintosh OS-X includes the Safari browser. However, you aren't stuck with those 'default' choices. Depending on how you use the Internet, any of several other browsers (over 100!) might be a better choice for you.

Avant Browser is a Web browser based on Internet Explorer. It provides fast, tabbed browsing and offers many features NOT available in Internet Explorer. Need for speed? Avant might be want you want. Did I mention that it's free?

Some more free Web Browsers for Windows:

• FireFox is #1 in my book. It's feature-rich and can be made even more so with the hundreds of extensions that can be added to FireFox. FireFox 3 is much faster than earlier versions. 75 million people have downloaded and used FireFox. Best. Browser. Ever. So far.....
  
  
• Safari. Safari is excellent! It is the web browser built in to Macintosh OS-X, ported to Windows. It's my 2nd favorite.
  
• Another that I use is K-Meleon it's fast and jam-packed with features missing from the boring, everyday Internet Explorer
  
• Apocalypse Browser (zip) Apocalypse. Now.

Even more free browsers are available at ZD-Net (publisher of several computer-oriented magazines):

• Multi-Browser XP (msi)
• Lively Browser (exe)
• Acoo Browser (exe)
• Slim Browser (exe)

MicroSoft's Internet Explorer 7.x is, well, it's OK - especially if you install the free IE7Pro add-in

Did I mention that ALL of the above are free? Gratis. No charge. Yours for the asking.

What Were They Thinking?

Anyone can register a URL. Here's proof:

• Where would one go to get gifts for his/her favorite streetwalker? http://www.whorepresents.com
  


• Experts Exchange, advice for the computer-unsavvy: www.expertsexchange.com. They had the good sense to get a new address, hyphenating the URL making it www.experts-exchange.com.
  


• Need writing implements? Or implants?
  http://www.penisland.net
  


• After visiting http://www.therapistfinder.com a person just might need, um....., therapy.
  


• Mole Station Native Nursery, based in New South Wales, used to have their web site at "www.molestationnursery.com". They changed the URL to www.molestationursery.com, which didn't really help much. On the other hand, in that community, wouldn't any sign, web site, chamber of commerce brochure have the same problem?
  


• Heating with propane, natural gas, or butane might be less expensive than heating with electricity. Find out at http://www.gasheating.co.uk. OK, that one is a bit obscure, and definitely obscene.
  


• Italians who need electricity could check in at http://www.powergenitalia.com

What surprises me is that most of those web sites still exist, with web addresses unchanged.

Ripped off from webmasters-who-didnt-think-when-they - who didn't mention the 70 or so other web sites with the same list. At least I had the courtesy to mention my source.

Photographs and Memories

everystockphoto.com is a search engine for photos licensed under Creative Commons. everystockphoto.com currently indexes 271,323 photos. They "aim to be a community for designers, developers, photographers and other media publishers who want better, easier access to license-specific media on the web."

CC "adds value by providing a single integrated search, allowing users to bookmark their photos with private and public tags." They will be "offering advanced searching options, rating systems and other tools."

Creative Commons is a method of licensing creative works. You could say that Creative Commons competes with Copyrights as a method of protecting authors, artists, etc. while encouraging creative use of the protected works.

"Creative Commons licenses provide a flexible range of protections and freedoms for authors, artists, and educators. We have built upon the "all rights reserved" concept of traditional copyright to offer a voluntary "some rights reserved" approach. We're a nonprofit organization. All of our tools are free."

Did I mention that you can use the photos for free - subject to the terms of the applicable Creative Commons licenses.

What did we learn today?

1. One web site gives you access to ¼ of a million photos
2. You can use those photos at no charge (as long as you comply with the photographer's terms)
3. There's more than one way to protect creators' rights and encourage use of the creations.
4. everystockphoto.com is easier to use than a Google Images search.

OK, we didn't learn #4 today. However, if you apply Lesson #1, then #4 will be serendipituous.

Another Good Use For The Internet

Now you can find the remaining few people on earth who think that Mullets make a positive fashion statement. If you're inclined to watch Mulletheads in their natural environment, try tractor pulls, trailer parks (with or without a tornado approaching), or Wal-Mart.

While we're at it, The term Mullet(context: hair) traces back to the 1967 prison film Cool Hand Luke, starring Paul Newman and George Kennedy. Kennedy's character refers to Southern men with long hair as "Mullet Heads."

Now that we've wandered off to "Cool Hand Luke".... That movie deserves Oscars in three categories not usually covered by the Academy:
1. Most Quotable1
2. Best Scene Involving Hard-Boiled Eggs
3. Sweatiest.

1"Now, I can be a good guy, or I can be one real mean sum-bitch" - the guy with the shotgun, supervising the road-gang
"Sometimes nothing can be a pretty cool hand." -- Luke, in a high-stakes poker match
"Why you got to go and say fifty eggs for? Why not thirty-five or thirty-nine?--Luke's prison associate
"I thought it was a nice round number." -- Luke

Wisdom from Mr. Spock (Star Trek).

When you connect to that page, a tidbit of Mr. Spock's genius will be revealed.

After you read one of Mr. Spocks's pearls of wisdom, press the F5 key. The screen will present you with another quote (complete with the name of the episode in which he said what he said).

Aren't you glad to know this?

Controlling Width of E-mails and Web Pages When Printing

To make emails and web pages print - and fit left to right on the page

1. Highlight what you want to print (text and images).
2. Left-click on File
3. Left-click on Print
4. From the print menu, choose "selection"
5. Left-click on Print

Unannoying e-Mail Attachments

Many people send e-Mails with attached documents. The problem is that too many senders assume that all the recipients will see the attached document exactly as the sender intended. I get lots of those, and it is very annoying, because reading what the sender wants me to read can be quite a chore.

Here's what happens: the sender creates a document using certain software, and that software is configured in the way to sender likes the software set up. For all recipients to see the attached document exactly as the sender intended, the following must occur:
1. all of the recipients use the same software as the sender
2. those recipients who use the same software as the sender must have their software configured similar to the sender's software configuration
3. the sender must use fonts that ALL recipients have installed on their computers

Those are some very big assumptions. For instance, attached documents sent from a PC using Microsoft Word might be unreadable for several reasons:

• on a Macintosh computer, because MacIntosh users tend to prefer software other than MS Word
• not all PCs have the same word processing software installed
• PCs and Macs do not use all of the same fonts
• Not all PCs and Macs have Microsoft Word installed

Then there is the issue of malware(especially viruses). The most common method of transmitting malware is to attach viruses to documents (especially MS Word documents) - and then sending those infected files via e-mail.

The list of problems goes on and on.

There is a solution. The sender should send documents in a 'universal' format, and the recipients' computers should have the ability to read documents sent in a universal format.

That part is easy. There are three widely-used universal document formats. Most (as in 99.9999999% or more) PCs and Macs have software for reading both of those universal formats.

The formats are

• plain text - text with no formatting (think of a typewriter) no special fonts, no embedded images, etc
• HTML - the lingua franca of the Internet
• PDF - Portable Document Format

Yes, I know there is RichText Format - RTF - a glorified plain text (allows centering, font effects such as bold and italic). RTF is NOT universal for the same reasons that MS Word is not universal.

There are many free, easily used programs that will create universal files - text, HTML. and PDF from scratch or from existing files. The easiest to create is PDF. Here's how to do it on ANY PC:

1. Download and install Primo PDF.
2. Create & Save a document using ANY Word processor.
3. Primo PDF installs itself as a printer (stay with me...).
4. Print the document, but instead of printing to your usual printer, select PrimoPDF from the list of available printers.
5. Primo will ask you to name the new file and to tell Primo where it can put the new file. Tell Primo what it needs to know.
6. The document thus created will be a universal PDF file that virtually anyone with any computer can read. Primo will maintain your document's format - including fonts. Your file will appear the same on any computer.

Rather than attach the original - most likely not a 'universal' - file, attach the 'universal' PDF file that Primo created for you.

How To Get A Nice, Clean Keyboard

Methods you can use at work to get a nice, clean keyboard:

• My preferred method is to look around until I find a clean keyboard, and then swap mine for the clean one.

• Blow out nooks and crannies with a can of compressed air; wipe down all surfaces with alcohol-based wipes (not 'baby wipes' that contain aloe or such stuff)

Methods you can use at home to get a nice, clean keyboard:

• I'm not kidding: you can do a great cleanup using a dishwasher (appliance, not family member). Here's a how-to

1. unplug the keyboard from the computer before trying this - or at least turn off the computer
2. do not use any detergent - just plain water
3. do not use a hot dry cycle - air dry or hair-drier + air dry only
4. after the wash/rinse have taken place, remove the keyboard from the dishwasher
5. turn upside down (that is, turn the keyboard upside down) and shake to remove excess water
6. pour "rubbing alcohol" in openings to get alcohol to mix with residual water
7. turn upside down and shake to remove excess water/alcohol
8. let it air dry for at least a day in hot, dry weather or two days in cooler, damper weather; turn upside down and shake occassionally (the keyboard, not you); any moisture left inside will destroy the keyboard when you plug it in.
9. throw it out and buy a new one at the office supply store ($8 - $50)

• Search on the Internet for other ideas: try "keyboard clean" or "clean keyboard" on googlehttp://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2007/12/is_your_compute.htmlhttp://www.ehow.com/how_2183738_clean-keyboard-dishwasher.html (ignore the part about removing the keycaps)
• See "... preferred method ... " above

Scientists stumbled upon a common item with a surprising attribute. This ubiquitous thing has

• five times as much bacteria as a toilet seat
• food poisoning bugs such as
  
  • e.coli
  • coliforms
  • staphylococcus auereus
  • enterobacteria

Excessive contact with this device exposes one to

• 150 times the acceptable limit of bacteria
• 4 of the pathogens are considered to be are 'potential' health hazards
• 1 of those bacteria was 'condemned' [ I have no idea what that means ]

Scientists stated that users are 'at high risk of becoming ill from contact.' The least dangerous of the resulting illnesses is lovingly referred to as "QWERTY Tummy.' What is this evil thing? It's right there at your fingertips: your computer's keyboard. Keyboards are infested because

• we eat over them, with food deposits encouraging the growth of millions of bacteria
• we don't wash our hands before using our keyboards
• during cold and allergy season we, well, you know....
• some of us never clean those keyboards

I guess it's some kind of computer virus." [ Sorry, I couldn't resist ]

More things you shouldn't touch . File them under "ew-wwww"

Walk Like An Egyptian, Talk Like An Economist

Amaze your friends. Become more desirable to your favorite gender. Become An Expert At Something (anything!).

Remember, fame is fleeting. Don't give up your day job.

Those Who Can, Do. Those Who Can't, Teach.

If you can't do either, at least you can sound like an educator.

Cleaning LCD Monitors

Improper cleaning methods, solutions, and materials could cause the surface of the screen to yellow and/or make the screen brittle and eventually cause cracking on the screen surface.

• Method:
  1. Select a cleaning solution from the list below
  2. Select a soft cloth or screen wipe as described below
  3. Apply the cleaning solution to your cloth. Do not apply any liquids on the LCD screen directly.
  4. Stroke the cloth across the display in one direction, moving from the top of the display to the bottom. Do not rub or polish.


• Cleaning Solutions:
  These are OK:
  • Water
  • Vinegar (mixed with water)
  • Isopropyl Alcohol
  • Petroleum Benzene
  Avoid the following:
  • Acetone
  • Ethyl alcohol
  • Ethyl acid
  • Ammonia
  • Methyl chloride
  • Alcohol or ammonia - based cleaners


• Cleaning materials:
  These are OK:
  • soft cotton cloth
  • Computer wipes - if the package specifically states that the wipes are for LCD laptop screens.
  Avoid these:
  • Rags (unless they are cotton and soft)
  • Paper towels

Computers For The Complete Bubba

Hi, Honey. I'm Home (Part IV)

The hiatus is over. Black Box and all of its invaluable tips, tricks, and traps will be back soon.

Until then, here is another quick tip:

http://www.truthfordummies.com

Hi, Honey. I'm Home (Part III)

The hiatus is over. Black Box and all of its invaluable tips, tricks, and traps will be back soon.

Until then, here is another quick tip:

You don't have to put up with Windows at all. You don't have to endure Microsoft's exorbitant prices and shoddy quality.

There are alternatives.

1. Apple's Macintosh computers are one alternative. It's a pricey alternative, but the quality is there.
2. Linux, specifically Ubuntu Linux (oo-boon-too) is a great alternative. More specifically Kubuntu - which is Ubuntu's non-identical twin. They are the same on the inside, but look different to the user.
   

15-18 years ago, Linux was clunky and not very reliable. Over the years, Linux has improved dramatically. Ubuntu (and all of its siblings) are my operating system of choice: they are simple to use and much more reliable and safe.

There is very little that you can do with Windows that you can't do as well - or better - with Ubuntu.

1. Ubuntu can run several thousand Windows programs.
2. Ubuntu (and all versions of Linux) have thousands and thousands of alternative software that is better than, comparable to, or at least very similar to the Windows offerings. Ubuntu has approximately 1000 programs built in, plus a universe of good, free software just a download away.
   

Ubuntu and its FREE software excel at all of most people's computer tasks:

• searching and reading the World Wide Web (Internet)
  
• using e-mail
• creating documents (especially homework, letters, and spreadsheets)
• keeping track of family finances
  
• saving, editing, sharing photos
  
• Internet chat
• playing games
  
• listening to music
• creating music CDs
• designing and building web sites
• blogging

There are some drawbacks to Ubuntu:

1. Ubuntu (and family and friends) is FREE! It costs ZERO. Zip. NADA. Nothing. Keep your money (to spend on gasoline).
2. Downside #2 is that almost all software for Ubuntu is also free (zero, zip, zed, etc.)
3. Ubuntu, &c, perform faster than a comparable computer that is running Windows.
4. Sadly, Ubuntu doesn't crash as often as does Windows. Darn! I just love getting Windows' Blue Screen of Death and losing time and data.
5. Linux/Ubuntu's internet work (and fun) and e-Mail are nearly risk-free. Microsoft Windows, by design, always has been - and always will be - inherently insecure and vulnerable to attacks from outside (and inside).
6. Documents created using Linux-based products can be shared back-and-forth (usually) with Windows documents and Macintosh documents.

Last, but not least, in Ubuntu Linux's dark side: every time someone switches from Microsoft products to Ubuntu/Linux, it devalues my Microsoft stock. It also hurts Bill Gates' shares of Microsoft stock. Now I know how it feels to own General Motors stock and watch its value evaporate every time I see a Prius go by. Woe is I.

Hi, Honey. I'm Home (Part II)

The hiatus is over. Black Box and all of its invaluable tips, tricks, and traps will be back soon.

Until then, here is another quick tip:

You CAN get away from that awful Microsoft Vista. Getting a good operating system - Windows XP, as one example - is not a cakewalk, but it's not hard, either.

You might need professional help (but don't we all, from time-to-time). You definitely need

1. a license for Windows XP
   
2. the XP installation disks and the Windows XP installation key.

If you don't have the XP disks and key, consider these possiblilites:

• if you have an older computer, you might have an XP license available
• have a computer store or qualified technician install XP for you
• by one on e-Bay - from a reputable e-Bay vendor

The easiest way to set up XP on your Vista computer is to use what's called a "dual boot." The idea is that when you try to install XP on a computer that already has an operating system, the XP installation process will offer the opportunity to wipe out the old operating system (in this case, Vista) or to set up a "dual boot." Choose "dual boot."

When your computer has Vista and XP and a successful dual boot option, and when you start your computer, you'll be presented with a choice: Windows XP or Windows Vista. When you choose one of those, the computer will start the operating system that you chose. You can choose either each time you start your computer.

Be aware: if you use a dual-boot system,

1. the first installation will keep all of the existing software installed on it
2. the second installation will NOT have any of the after-market software that you installed; you will have to install any software that you want to use and the second installation (XP)
   
3. both installations will have access to the data that you created and saved using the first ) installation (Vista) - if you use the standard 'file system' on both. Chance s are that you will use the standard file system - the one called"NTFS."

If Vista is giving you a lot of grief - that seems to be Standard Operating Procedure for Vista - you can improve your situation.

Hi, Honey, I'm Home

Coming soon, to a monitor near you.

The hiatus is over. Black Box and all of its invaluable tips, tricks, and traps will be back soon.

Until then, Here are some quick tips:

Vista? No. Hell, no. Wait for Windows 7, sometime next year. Windows 7 couldn't possibly be worse than Windows Vista.

Blind Leading The Blind?

Answerbag is a community of people helping others.

Have a question? Ask it here!
Know something? (Everyone knows something!) Help someone out!

We're here to help you connect with others and to find and share knowledge about topics ranging from celebrity trivia and home cleaning tips to Russian name origins and particle physics. Any topic you can dream of, you can ask it here!
Answerbag

The Bad News

You've probably never heard this before....

Not all web sites and not all web users are trustworthy.

Are you shocked? OK, when you are over the shock, here are some examples of websites that don't necessarily provide what you would expect:

• ErrorGuard
• Screensaver.com & Freeze.com
• ZoneProtect

A good site to visit before you download any software:
• Rogue Anti-Spyware

The above information was provided by Freeware Wiki

Speed Up Windows XP

Windows XP is currently the crown jewel of the Microsoft collection. It has lots of flash and glitter, plenty of bells and whistles. Its designers are so proud of all those gee-whiz features... so proud that they have Windows load all those features, whether or not you want them, whether or not you need them.

Many of those features are (in my humble opinion) pointless. If you turn off some of those features, XP will operate faster, and - trust me on this - you won't miss them. Here's how to turn off unneeded visual effects - and get the resulting performance boosts:

• Right click My Computer
• Select Properties
• Select the Advanced tab
• In the Performance area, select Settings
• Select the Visual Effects tab
• Click on Custom
• Uncheck all of the Visual Effects except the last 2.
  note: some people like to check the 3rd effect from the bottom (Use Common Tasks In Folders)
• Click Apply
• Click OK
• Click OK again
• Right click your Windows Desktop
• Click on Properties
• Click on the Appearance tab
• Click on the Effects button
• Unclick the first two boxes.
  note: the next three Effects may improve the appearance so that they improve readability. Let's think of those as optional. The last Effect is also optional - I prefer to have that one turned on
• Click OK
• Click OK on the next screen

You should notice a significant speed increase on your PC. If you want even more speed, consider repeating the process above, and uncheck even more of the effects.

Another Internet Cheat

We've all had this happen:

You're reading an article on the internet. That article has a link to something that seems interesting. When you click on the link, you're greeted, not by the article you wanted to see, but by a "members only." screen. Becoming a 'member' usually involves no more than 'registering', i.e., filling out a form, and giving some personal information (such as an e-mail address).

Studies have shown that way more than 90% of internet users will not fill in the form. I assume that they don't want access to the information behind the registration form - at least they don't want it enough to register. Now, you can be among the elite few who can easily get to the restricted article without registering.

How can that be, you ask. You can do it if you use the free, anonymous service at Bugmenot.com. You can choose a 'members only' site from Bugmenot's menu, or you can type in the name of the site you want to visit. If Bugmenot has a user id and password for that publication, it will disclose those, and you can use the id and password to log on to the 'members only' site.

That said, you might want to consider the ethical implications of bypassing a web site's registration requirement.

1. The web page publisher might be using those registrations for marketing purposes (including selling e-mail lists).
2. The publisher might charge 'members' to use some or all of the website.

In situation #1, the e-mailing lists would not be worth what the publisher is charging if several people use the same user id. That means lost revenue to the publisher, and possible overpayments by the list buyer.

In situation #2, Bugmenot.com is participating in the theft of services. If you use Bugmenot to get into restricted, paid-access-only parts of a website, then you, too, are part of the theft problem.

That said, it's too bad that Rush Limbaugh's website has blocked bugmenot referrals. I would like to see the innards of his site (which is very successful, financially). However, I don't want badly enough to pay for access. I refuse to shovel $50 per year over to that drug-trafficking, addicted gasbag.

Keep Track of Those Rebates

It was a great price on that product.... after you received the mail-in rebate. I confess: I'm the world's worst at this. A good friend tracks and collects those rebates religiously. I should hire him to track mine - and give him a piece of the action.

Every year, millions of people worldwide make purchases enticed by "price after rebate" promotions. Surprisingly, very few of those rebates are actually mailed in (less than 5%, in fact!). Then, weeks pass and the consumer receives either a check or a rejection notice (or no notice at all!). By the time the rebate check is due, most people have either forgotten about the purchase altogether or have lost track of the relevant contact information and have no way to follow up. Literally, millions of dollars remain unclaimed each year!

Welcome to Rebate-Tracker.com

It's Better To Be Safe Than Sorry

Sometimes you need to start up Windows in what is known as "Safe Mode".

Safe Mode is the best way to use Windows' built-in disk defragmenter. It's also useful for performing some types of diagnostics. Sometime Windows insists that you use Safe Mode because of some problem that Windows has detected.

Whatever the case, to start in Safe Mode voluntarily, conventional wisdom tells us that the usual routine is to tap the F8 repeatedly during startup. If you do that correctly - and at the right time - Windows will display the Safe Mode Menu.

Or you could do what I do.....

1. Click the Start button
2. Right-click on My Computer
3. Select Properties
4. Click on the Advanced tab
5. In the Startup and Recovery section, Select Settings
6. In the dialog window, click on Edit
   That will open the computer's BOOT.INI file in Notepad

In the BOOT.INI file [Operating Systems] section, there will be a line of text that resembles this:

• multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home " /fastdetect

1. copy that entire line
   • With your mouse, or with keyboard strokes, highlight the entire line
   • Hold down the CTRL key, tap the "c" key, and release both keys
   • At the end of the line that you just copied, hit the ENTER key one time
2. At the beginning of the space opened up by hitting the ENTER key, paste the copied line
   • Hold down the CTRL key, tap the "v" key, and release both keys
     
     
At this point you should have 2 copies of the same line.The [Operating Systems] section of BOOT.INI file should resemble this:


• multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home " /fastdetect
  
  
• multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home " /fastdetect
  
  
3. Add the following to the end of this newly pasted line:
   
   /safeboot:network (if you need networking ability while in Safe Mode)
   or
   /safeboot:minimal (if you don't need networking ability while in Safe Mode)
   
   
Now BOOT.INI should have the following lines:


• multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home " /fastdetect
  
  
• multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home " /fastdetect /safeboot:minimal

or

• multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home " /fastdetect
• 
  multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home " /fastdetect /safeboot:network
  
  
4. In the line just modified, change the phrase Microsoft Windows XP Home to the phrase Windows XP Safe Mode
   
   Now BOOT.INI should have the following lines:
   • multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home " /fastdetect
   • 
     multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Windows XP Safe Mode" /fastdetect  /safeboot:minimal
   
   or
   
   • multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home " /fastdetect
     
     
   • multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Windows XP Safe Mode" /fastdetect /safeboot:network
     
     
   That's it! Save the BOOT.INI file and close Notepad
   • Click OK in the Startup and Recovery window
   • Click OK in the System Properties window

The next time you boot the computer, you should see a window that displays one of the following pairs of lines:

• multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home " /fastdetect
• 
  multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Windows XP Safe Mode" /fastdetect  /safeboot:minimal

or

• multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home " /fastdetect
• 
  multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Windows XP Safe Mode" /fastdetect /safeboot:network

Note: if you use Windows XP Professional instead of Windows XP Home , then in the instructions above, substitute the word Professional for the word Home.

If you do nothing, in a few seconds Windows will start normally. If you select Safe Mode, then Windows will start in Safe Mode.

I Know That!

Online Multimedia Educational Games for Kids in Preschool, Kindergarten, and Elementary Grades: iKnowthat.com

Express Your Creativity

Those fine folks at the Bored.com network now bring us another time-waster. At Add Captions you get to fill in the empty signs, thought bubbles, trophies, business cards, etc.

People

Public Signs

Business Cards

Trophies

Misc.

It's more fun if you think of it as grafitti.

Warning: It IS Addictive

Addictive Typing Lessons

Not everybody that has a computer is a good typer. I remember, I used to type like an untrained monkey when I got my first personal computer. After time, I learned and now I type faster than I can write. How can you speed the process along for yourself? Try out the Addictive Typing Lessons extension for Firefox.

Are your fingers ready for a workout? Here is what the extension developer has to say.

Learn touch typing, or improve your typing. Each of the 23 lessons generates an endless number of one-line drills.

A timer starts at the first letter typed and stops at the end of a line. Your wpm(words per minute) and errors count are shown after each drill. Saves your best-ever scores and your 20 most recent scores for each lesson. You'’ll keep coming back to beat your previous scores. To open the program, click the keyboard icon in the status bar.

With a name like that, how can you turn it down? If you need a better idea of what you are getting yourself into, check out the screenshots.

This Firefox extension is for versions 1.5 and up of the browser. If you want to download it and try it out for yourself, you can do so at the Mozilla Update Web site.

The above was stolen from Lockergnome. Lockergnome has been my favorite source of computer tips and news for so long, I've lost count (I'm thinking 1996 or 1997....)

If you've been looking for a good reason to try FireFox as a replacement for Microsoft's Internet Explorer, here's a good reason. Tip: here are several hundred goods reasons behind that one.

A Mail Stripper

StripMail is a free progam that fixes one of life's big aggravations. Consider this:

1. Your friend sends you an e-mail
2. that e-mail has been forwarded from one person to the next, and to the next, and so on, quite a few times
3. the e-mail is almost unreadable because of all of the forwarding marks ( >>>>  )that forwarded e-mails tend to have
4. note: most e-mail clients add that crap to help the next reader to distinguish what is your original content and what is the content that you forwarded
5. prissy elitists such as I do not like to forward junky stuff to our friends, so we (I) clean up all of the forwarding marks and reformat the paragraphs so the the e-mail looks as it did when it was new.
6. Even small e-mails can take 5-10 minutes to clean up (and don't stand in the way when an obsessive-compulsive is determined...)

StripMail does all of that cleanup for you with a couple of mouseclicks. Now I have to go find something useful to do with all of the time that StripMail frees up.

StripMail is a FREEWARE utility that:

• Strips the characters ">" and "|" from forwarded e-mails
• Formats the text into paragraphs, making it easier to read
• Changes the text's margins by indenting
• Can be used with any e-mail client

Download StripMail at the StripMail website. Did I mention that it's free?

Meet Your Soon-To-Be Best Friend

DoubleDriver is a freeware program that will save your life someday (OK, that's hyperbole). Double Driver

1. scans the system for the drivers installed on your computer
2. creates a list
3. makes copies of the drivers
4. places copied files in folders with recognizable names

Trust me:

• you need this software
• after DoubleDriver does its magic, make a backup copy of the folders that DoubleDriver created
• protect that backup copy

If your system ever crashes (and it will, someday), you'll be glad you took my advice on this.

Download(FREE)

Just Another Labor-Saving Device

If there is one thing that we type in more than our names and passwords, it is our E-mail address. The thing we need is a tool that would just remember out E-mail address and paste it in where we wanted it and when we wanted it. Oh, you mean there is such a thing? The Paste E-mail Firefox extension does just that.

Here is what the developer of the extension has to say about it.

Paste your email address into text fields. If you’re like me, you visit many webpages that prompt you for your email address to access the page or to sign up. My email address is particularly long (32 characters) and I’m no speed typist.

I’ve often wished that there was a function key I could press that would paste my email address wherever I needed it. But since there isn’t, I did the next best thing and wrote this simple extension.

Now how do you use it? With this extension, you don’t need to second guess by starting to type in your E-mail address and see if Firefox will recognize it. Just place the cursor in the field and click the “Paste Email” icon. There will be no worrying about if you can figure out this extension or not, it is pretty straight forward.

This Firefox extension is for versions 1.5 and up of the browser. If you want to download it and try it out for yourself, you can do so at the Mozilla Update Web site.

Purloined, shamelessly, from the web's most interesting source of news & know-how when it comes to computers. Lockergnome has over 20 free online newsletters, every one the tops in its field. So why haven't you subscribed yet? Eddie would.

Not that Any Of You Would Cheat...

CheatServer.com is a search engine that helps you squeeze that extra bit of gameplay from your games! We search the web for game cheats so that you dont have to.

To find the latest cheat codes for PC, Playstation, Playstation 2, X-Box, Game Boy, Gamecube, and now Sony PSP and Nintendo DS, simply enter the game name in the search box. You can also specify which platform but this is optional. When you have completed the boxes then simply press 'Search' and you will be greeted with your cheat results!"

Is Target A Target For Tech Shopping?

PC Magazine has, in the current issue, (August 8, 2006) and online, a somewhat extensive article about shopping for tech gear. It's interesting reading, and worth the effort. Below are a few of the highlights.

"High-fashion design has jumped from clothing and appliances to technology at the big-box stores, and now people are one-stop shopping at Target, Wal-Mart, and Kmart for a touch of cool in both household items and tech gear. But do these jazzed-up ­department stores really give Best Buy and Circuit City a run for their money? Or are they stocked with what amounts to funky junk? I put on my shopping shoes and warmed up my credit card to find out, hitting the big boxes with cart-driving fury."

Big Box Retail Tech at a Glance

Target
Summary: Nice design. Wide variety.
What to shop for: Off-the-shelf gadgets.

Wal-Mart
Summary: Functional.
What to shop for: Inexpensive staples.

Kmart
Summary: Useless.
What to shop for: Nothing.

KO Approach

Approach is a desktop utility application designed to speed up file navigation in Windows Explorer. Unlike the traditional way of accessing files where a window needs to be opened to reveal a folder's content, Approach offers a convenient and easy to navigate set of hierachical menus.

KO Approach is an extention to the Operating System; it runs on the background and does not need to be open at all times. In fact, unless you need to change some of its settings, you may never know Approach is there at all!

Just click on any folder in Windows Explorer, hold down the mouse key and a menu will appear, displaying the contents of the selected folder as a list of items. Highlight folder icons to expand sub-menus and move further down your directory structure, or select a file to open it in the same the way you do it from the Start menu. It's that simple.

Caution: in the first 3 minutes or so, I was unimpressed. Once I got the hang of it, I'm blown away by the functionality this program adds. I especially like the ability to hear sound files and to view previews of images, in each case, by hovering over a file name. Those previews are big enough to see clearly (as opposed to teeny-tiny thumbnails).

With KO Approach, even the most deeply buried file can be located in a matter of seconds!

You can also preview pictures instantly. The supplied plug-in can display thumbnails of most common graphics formats, right from KO Approach menus. And there's even more...
KO Approach
Download

Web Browser Market Share

Web Browser Market Share
Internet Explorer	83%
Firefox	12.9%
Safari (Apple)	1.8%
Opera	1%

Rip Me A New One

RipIt4Me is a freeware utility that helps you backup your copy protected DVDs.

Recently released DVDs are now very often equipped with stronger copy protections - such as ARccOS™ and RipGuard DVD. Programs like DVD Shrink or DVD Decrypter cannot handle these types of discs.

With the help of RipIt4Me, ripping these DVDs will be a very easy task. The program is fully automated and the wizard will guide you through all the necessary steps involved. If you prefer, there is also a true "1-Click" mode that will perform all the involved steps automatically for you.

Please refer to the official RipIt4Me Guide for more information on how to use this program.

As always, please do not use this for illegal purposes.

Download RipIt4Me

Add Comments to Microsoft Office Documents

You can add comments to your Office Documents using the same programs with which you create those documents:

• Word
• Excel
• PowerPoint
• Access

There are two types of comments:

• Written comments, which are invisible to the end user of the document
• Voice comments

To add written comments

• Place the cursor at the point in your document where the comment will be inserted
• Enable the Reviewing Toolbar: View --> Toolbars --> Reviewing
• On the down arrow next to New Comment, select Written Comment
• Type the comment to be inserted
• Click away from the comment bubble to close
• Note: you can remove a written comment by clicking on the Delete Comment button.

To add voice comments to your documents, your computer must have

• a sound card
• a microphone

Then you can add your own recorded audio to Microsoft Office Documents. To add a voice comment

• Place the cursor at the point in your document where the comment will be inserted
• Enable the Reviewing Toolbar: View --> Toolbars --> Reviewing
• On the down arrow next to New Comment, Select Voice Comment
• When the sound object screen appears, click on the Record button
• Speak
• Click on the Stop button to end the recording process
• Once the sound has been recorded, a sound icon will appear within the text
• To hear the comment, click on the Play button or double click on the sound icon
• To delete the sound comment, click on the sound icon and press the delete key on the keyboard

Note:

• To hear an inserted comment, you'll need speakers or a headset
• You can insert both written and voice comments into just about any office document
• Not all versions of all Office programs will use the above steps exactly as they are stated above. You may need to adapt these instructions slightly
• You can also add pre-recorded sounds to Office documents. We'll cover that at another time.

For Google Addicts

From the site's author:
"After creating Montage-a-google, several people wrote to me suggesting I make a game based on the same technology. Montage-a-google is a simple web app that uses Google's image search to generate a large gridded montage of images based on keywords (search terms) entered by the user. Guess-the-google reverses this process by picking the keywords for you, the player must then guess what keyword made up the image - it's surprisingly addictive."
guess-the-google

All We Are Is Dust On The Window

We've all seen it: the dusty car window or the back of the truck where someone has written in the dust. "Kilroy was here", "Wash me", "Dirt tracking test in progress", and so on... The back window on my truck says "Plow me"

Not many artists consider dusty windows to be a good medium for artwork.

Scott Wade does. You have to see it to believe it. It loads slowly.

Blocking Ads On The Web, Revisited

Yesterday's episode showed a method for blocking web ads. If you ask me, it was a darned good idea. Or so I though