Things that have fine print usually/may have stuff you need to know. Most people don't read the fine print because it's too hard to read. Some manufacturers/programers hope you won't read the fine print. I suspect that's why it's written in fine print. Sometimes the print is so small you can't read it without a high powered magnifying glass.
Popular Drugs have a lot of fine print. Mostly about the side affects. On TV they tell you about the side affects, but apparently people don't listen to the 'fine print' either.
The fine print with the things they have to tell you about.
A lot of software has fine print as well. Usually it's a disclaimer telling you they are not repsonsible if their software trashes your computer. Makes you wonder if it has trashed someone's computer.
One thing that really gets to me is all of the warnings that are printed in fine print on a lot of consumer products.
Some of those warnings. Apparently the reason for some of these 'fine prints' are because some idiot did just what the warning says not to do. The manufacturers have to protect themselves from lawsuits by stupid people.
So be sure to read the fine print! I try but I don't always have the magnifying glass handy.
Martha
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Change is Coming............But Will We Like it?
As a general rule the assumption is that change is usually good. Notice I said 'assumption'.
So far this year I have noticed a number of changes and most of them are not good.
I guess the biggest change is known by the local news pundits as 'pain at the pump'. Since I am retired and pretty much a stay at home person, that change hasn't affected me as much as the folks who have to drive to work in order to be able to pay the bills. Where I live public transportation is not generally an option as it is either very limited or not available. This is mostly due to urban sprawl and the fact most of the American people have long had a love affair with the automobile.
Another change is how much the interest rates have gone down. I guess that change is good for some folks, but I suspect it is good mostly for big business and not for the 'little guys'. The people who carry a lot of credit card debt don't seem to be benefiting any from the interest rates as not many credit card companies are lowering rates for those folks.
I don't carry debt on credit cards so that doesn't affect me. But what does affect me is how much less money I earn on my savings. Another change I could have done without.
A huge unwelcome change is how much more money it takes to buy groceries! Every time I shop for food something or several somethings have gone up in price and not by just a little bit either.
The big box retailers are trying to cut costs and most of them are doing that by cutting employees and as for customer service, that's practically non-existant now. So the poor customers are left with no one to help them make purchases and sometimes it's even hard to find someone to take their money. I wonder if those big box retailers realize that all of this 'saving money' is costing them more money in the long run?
Now the politicians are promising 'change'. So far all I have heard just makes me wonder, 'what kind of change?' I have always laughed at the old joke about 'how you can tell if a politician is lying, his lips are moving'. I am beginning to think 'change' is a bad joke, and the joke is on us.
Martha
So far this year I have noticed a number of changes and most of them are not good.
I guess the biggest change is known by the local news pundits as 'pain at the pump'. Since I am retired and pretty much a stay at home person, that change hasn't affected me as much as the folks who have to drive to work in order to be able to pay the bills. Where I live public transportation is not generally an option as it is either very limited or not available. This is mostly due to urban sprawl and the fact most of the American people have long had a love affair with the automobile.
Another change is how much the interest rates have gone down. I guess that change is good for some folks, but I suspect it is good mostly for big business and not for the 'little guys'. The people who carry a lot of credit card debt don't seem to be benefiting any from the interest rates as not many credit card companies are lowering rates for those folks.
I don't carry debt on credit cards so that doesn't affect me. But what does affect me is how much less money I earn on my savings. Another change I could have done without.
A huge unwelcome change is how much more money it takes to buy groceries! Every time I shop for food something or several somethings have gone up in price and not by just a little bit either.
The big box retailers are trying to cut costs and most of them are doing that by cutting employees and as for customer service, that's practically non-existant now. So the poor customers are left with no one to help them make purchases and sometimes it's even hard to find someone to take their money. I wonder if those big box retailers realize that all of this 'saving money' is costing them more money in the long run?
Now the politicians are promising 'change'. So far all I have heard just makes me wonder, 'what kind of change?' I have always laughed at the old joke about 'how you can tell if a politician is lying, his lips are moving'. I am beginning to think 'change' is a bad joke, and the joke is on us.
Martha
Thursday, May 22, 2008
But Wait!
I don't usually like commercials. I suspect most of the viewers of the boob tube feel the same way. However we have all come to realize that commercials are the price we pay for free viewing content.
One of the biggest gripe about commercials is the fact they are so much louder than the programs. Some of them really blast out so that the mute button gets hit immediately. You would think the advertisers would have realized that by now, but it is very apparent they haven't. I don't know for sure who is to blame for this blasting of ads, the TV stations or someone else.
Some commercials can be quite entertaining, like some of the Geico and Capitol One ads. Some of the time I even watch those, except after awhile they begin to pall.
But some commercials just go a bit too far and fall into the 'Quick, hit the mute button' for most of us. Most of the 'quick hit the mute button' are the really obnoxious commercials like 'Head on' and there was a Vonage commercial that was really bad. Some more fit this category, but the ones that come to mind now are those terribly annoying commercials that want me to call now and order those junky products. What bargains they are! They will make my life so much easier! And just about all of them are only $19.95 (plus
shipping and handling). But Wait! If I order now, I will get a second product free! (In small print, plus shipping and handling. That makes it NOT free. Most all charge $7.99 for shipping and handling.)
The majority of these products are being touted by a guy named Billy Mays who must think we are all hard of hearing because he is shouting all during this spiel.
I think the mute button has to be one of the better inventions for the television industry. I sure use mine a lot!
Martha
One of the biggest gripe about commercials is the fact they are so much louder than the programs. Some of them really blast out so that the mute button gets hit immediately. You would think the advertisers would have realized that by now, but it is very apparent they haven't. I don't know for sure who is to blame for this blasting of ads, the TV stations or someone else.
Some commercials can be quite entertaining, like some of the Geico and Capitol One ads. Some of the time I even watch those, except after awhile they begin to pall.
But some commercials just go a bit too far and fall into the 'Quick, hit the mute button' for most of us. Most of the 'quick hit the mute button' are the really obnoxious commercials like 'Head on' and there was a Vonage commercial that was really bad. Some more fit this category, but the ones that come to mind now are those terribly annoying commercials that want me to call now and order those junky products. What bargains they are! They will make my life so much easier! And just about all of them are only $19.95 (plus
shipping and handling). But Wait! If I order now, I will get a second product free! (In small print, plus shipping and handling. That makes it NOT free. Most all charge $7.99 for shipping and handling.)
The majority of these products are being touted by a guy named Billy Mays who must think we are all hard of hearing because he is shouting all during this spiel.
I think the mute button has to be one of the better inventions for the television industry. I sure use mine a lot!
Martha
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Is Your Cell Phone Attached to You?
Here's more proof I was born 40 years too soon!
People under 30 don't just sleepwalk, they use their cell phones in their sleep. If you don't believe me just 'Google' sleep texting.
That's something that I find hard to believe, but apparently it's true. The experts seem to think it's true. I am not so sure. I have heard that people have been know to drive, eat and do a lot of other things in their sleep. Since I don't have any of those problems as far as I know, it's hard for me to understand. (If I do those things in my sleep, how would I know?)
I just don't understand the need to be 'connected' at every waking moment. I do have a cell phone, but it's turned off most of the time. I have it for emergency use only.
The local news stations tell me I can access the weather news on my cell phone. Sounds handy, but I can do that on my computer. They say I can access the weather on my cell phone when the power goes off. I have a laptop and it runs off a battery when the power goes off.
Personally I don't want that phone to become like a third part of me. I already have a third extension; my computer! However, when I leave the house I leave the computer at home. If I decide to work in the yard (I do occasionally), the computer is in the house, not attached to my body.
When I go shopping I concentrate on shopping. When I go to bed I certainly don't take the cell phone to bed with me. I hear a lot of folks do that as well. When I am driving I need to be focused on where I am going and the traffic around me, not yapping on the phone.
Some jerk yapping on his phone changed lanes right in front of me once and I nearly hit him. He didn't use signals, just pulled over. I hit my brakes and horn at the same time. He just kept yakking. It's a good thing no one was tail-gateing me or I would have been hit from behind.
I don't have a problem with other people using cell phones where ever they may be, but I think they shouldn't use them while driving.
I told you I was born 40 years too soon. If I had been born 40 years later, I probably would have a cell phone attached to me somewhere, more than likely my ear!
Martha
People under 30 don't just sleepwalk, they use their cell phones in their sleep. If you don't believe me just 'Google' sleep texting.
That's something that I find hard to believe, but apparently it's true. The experts seem to think it's true. I am not so sure. I have heard that people have been know to drive, eat and do a lot of other things in their sleep. Since I don't have any of those problems as far as I know, it's hard for me to understand. (If I do those things in my sleep, how would I know?)
I just don't understand the need to be 'connected' at every waking moment. I do have a cell phone, but it's turned off most of the time. I have it for emergency use only.
The local news stations tell me I can access the weather news on my cell phone. Sounds handy, but I can do that on my computer. They say I can access the weather on my cell phone when the power goes off. I have a laptop and it runs off a battery when the power goes off.
Personally I don't want that phone to become like a third part of me. I already have a third extension; my computer! However, when I leave the house I leave the computer at home. If I decide to work in the yard (I do occasionally), the computer is in the house, not attached to my body.
When I go shopping I concentrate on shopping. When I go to bed I certainly don't take the cell phone to bed with me. I hear a lot of folks do that as well. When I am driving I need to be focused on where I am going and the traffic around me, not yapping on the phone.
Some jerk yapping on his phone changed lanes right in front of me once and I nearly hit him. He didn't use signals, just pulled over. I hit my brakes and horn at the same time. He just kept yakking. It's a good thing no one was tail-gateing me or I would have been hit from behind.
I don't have a problem with other people using cell phones where ever they may be, but I think they shouldn't use them while driving.
I told you I was born 40 years too soon. If I had been born 40 years later, I probably would have a cell phone attached to me somewhere, more than likely my ear!
Martha
Monday, May 12, 2008
Sleeping While Texting
Cell Phones
More proof I was born 40 years too soon!
People under 30 don't just sleepwalk, they use their cell phones in their sleep. If you don't believe me just 'Google' sleep texting.
That's something that I find hard to believe, but apparently it's true. The experts seem to think it's true. I am not so sure. I have heard that people have been know to drive, eat and do a lot of other things in their sleep. Since I don't have any of those problems as far as I know, it's hard for me to understand. (If I do those things in my sleep, how would I know?)
I just don't understand the need to be 'connected' at every waking moment. I do have a cell phone, but it's turned off most of the time. I have it for emergency use only.
The local news stations tell me I can access the weather news on my cell phone. Sounds handy, but I can do that on my computer. They say I can access the weather on my cell phone when the power goes off. I have a laptop and it runs off a battery when the power goes off.
Personally I don't want that phone to become like a third part of me. I already have a third extension; my computer! However, when I leave the house I leave the computer at home. If I decide to work in the yard (I do occasionally), the computer is in the house, not attached to my body.
When I go shopping I concentrate on shopping. When I go to bed I certainly don't take the cell phone to bed with me. I hear a lot of folks do that as well. When I am driving I need to be focused on where I am going and the traffic around me, not yapping on the phone.
Some jerk yapping on his phone changed lanes right in front of me once and I nearly hit him. He didn't look or use signals, just pulled over and almost hit me. I hit my brakes and horn at the same time. He just kept yakking. It's a good thing no one was tail-gateing me or I would have been hit from behind.
I don't have a problem with other people using cell phones where ever they may be, but I think they shouldn't use them while driving.
I told you I was born 40 years too soon. If I had been born 40 years later, I probably would have a cell phone attached to me somewhere, more than likely my ear!
Martha
More proof I was born 40 years too soon!
People under 30 don't just sleepwalk, they use their cell phones in their sleep. If you don't believe me just 'Google' sleep texting.
That's something that I find hard to believe, but apparently it's true. The experts seem to think it's true. I am not so sure. I have heard that people have been know to drive, eat and do a lot of other things in their sleep. Since I don't have any of those problems as far as I know, it's hard for me to understand. (If I do those things in my sleep, how would I know?)
I just don't understand the need to be 'connected' at every waking moment. I do have a cell phone, but it's turned off most of the time. I have it for emergency use only.
The local news stations tell me I can access the weather news on my cell phone. Sounds handy, but I can do that on my computer. They say I can access the weather on my cell phone when the power goes off. I have a laptop and it runs off a battery when the power goes off.
Personally I don't want that phone to become like a third part of me. I already have a third extension; my computer! However, when I leave the house I leave the computer at home. If I decide to work in the yard (I do occasionally), the computer is in the house, not attached to my body.
When I go shopping I concentrate on shopping. When I go to bed I certainly don't take the cell phone to bed with me. I hear a lot of folks do that as well. When I am driving I need to be focused on where I am going and the traffic around me, not yapping on the phone.
Some jerk yapping on his phone changed lanes right in front of me once and I nearly hit him. He didn't look or use signals, just pulled over and almost hit me. I hit my brakes and horn at the same time. He just kept yakking. It's a good thing no one was tail-gateing me or I would have been hit from behind.
I don't have a problem with other people using cell phones where ever they may be, but I think they shouldn't use them while driving.
I told you I was born 40 years too soon. If I had been born 40 years later, I probably would have a cell phone attached to me somewhere, more than likely my ear!
Martha
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
The Vista Bashers
There are a lot of these folks, Vista bashers.
I like Vista myself. It is the smoothest running Windows OS I have ever had. But I have to admit I had to get used to Vista and that took me about two weeks, digging and poking into the corners and guts of this much maligned version of Windows.
There are a lot of reasons why people don't like Vista.
"It's too slow." (It isn't really, it probably isn't configured properly. Mine runs just fine, but I do have more memory on my Vista computer than some computers have. Windows XP runs better with more memory as well.)
"I hate that User Access Control because it's always in my face." (It can be turned off if it bothers that much. Once your programs are all installed, turn it back on for the added security to your computer.)
"I can't find where anything is located." (It took me a while to find stuff! But once you think about it, the new locations make sense.)
"I've heard Vista is no good, so it must be bad." (That is a terrible reason! Try it before you badmouth it. There are a LOT of these folks and some of them are posting all over the Internet. I just un-subbed from a newsletter that was constantly bashing Vista. The author doesn't use Vista!)
"My software won't run on Vista" (Most of the software that ran on Windows XP will run on Vista. See Vista's Program Compatibility Mode.All of my Windows XP software works on Vista.)
"My printer, scanner, etc. won't work. That Vista sucks!" (Guess what, the same thing happened when Windows XP was released. New technology needs new drivers and hardware folks want to sell you new technology. One way to do that is not to write and release new Vista drivers for old hardware. Microsoft doesn't write hardware drivers, hardware manufacturers write hardware drivers.)
I think there are probably a lot more reasons why folks don't like Vista. I also think the main reason they don't like Vista is 'it isn't Windows XP'.
My take on the whole 'Vista bashing' is this: If you don't like it at first, get to know it. If you still don't like it,you don't have to use it; there are other alternatives. You can go back to Windows XP. You can install and use Linux. You can get a Mac.
There are some things that came in Vista that are not really up to par, like Internet Explorer and Windows Mail. There is a problem with making your Folder Options 'stick'. But I don't use Internet Explorer, I use Firefox. I used Firefox with Windows XP because it doesn't have ActiveX. I use Thunderbird instead of Windows Mail. More about those issues were discussed on an earlier post, The Buggy Bits in Vista.
No operating system is perfect. That's why I like to think things keep evolving. Maybe one day a perfect OS will show up, but I doubt it will happen in my lifetime!
Martha
I like Vista myself. It is the smoothest running Windows OS I have ever had. But I have to admit I had to get used to Vista and that took me about two weeks, digging and poking into the corners and guts of this much maligned version of Windows.
There are a lot of reasons why people don't like Vista.
"It's too slow." (It isn't really, it probably isn't configured properly. Mine runs just fine, but I do have more memory on my Vista computer than some computers have. Windows XP runs better with more memory as well.)
"I hate that User Access Control because it's always in my face." (It can be turned off if it bothers that much. Once your programs are all installed, turn it back on for the added security to your computer.)
"I can't find where anything is located." (It took me a while to find stuff! But once you think about it, the new locations make sense.)
"I've heard Vista is no good, so it must be bad." (That is a terrible reason! Try it before you badmouth it. There are a LOT of these folks and some of them are posting all over the Internet. I just un-subbed from a newsletter that was constantly bashing Vista. The author doesn't use Vista!)
"My software won't run on Vista" (Most of the software that ran on Windows XP will run on Vista. See Vista's Program Compatibility Mode.All of my Windows XP software works on Vista.)
"My printer, scanner, etc. won't work. That Vista sucks!" (Guess what, the same thing happened when Windows XP was released. New technology needs new drivers and hardware folks want to sell you new technology. One way to do that is not to write and release new Vista drivers for old hardware. Microsoft doesn't write hardware drivers, hardware manufacturers write hardware drivers.)
I think there are probably a lot more reasons why folks don't like Vista. I also think the main reason they don't like Vista is 'it isn't Windows XP'.
My take on the whole 'Vista bashing' is this: If you don't like it at first, get to know it. If you still don't like it,you don't have to use it; there are other alternatives. You can go back to Windows XP. You can install and use Linux. You can get a Mac.
There are some things that came in Vista that are not really up to par, like Internet Explorer and Windows Mail. There is a problem with making your Folder Options 'stick'. But I don't use Internet Explorer, I use Firefox. I used Firefox with Windows XP because it doesn't have ActiveX. I use Thunderbird instead of Windows Mail. More about those issues were discussed on an earlier post, The Buggy Bits in Vista.
No operating system is perfect. That's why I like to think things keep evolving. Maybe one day a perfect OS will show up, but I doubt it will happen in my lifetime!
Martha
Friday, May 02, 2008
The End of an Era
The first really important email newsletter, at least for me, was 'The LangaList'. This weekly missive by Fred Langa was something I
always looked forward to. He guided me through the ins and outs of fixing Windows problems, helped me make software decisions and just always provided a really good read. It was the first email newsletter I decided was worth paying for and it was worth every penny, plus a whole lot more.
It was with some trepidation when I received word that Fred was joining forces with Brian Livingston of WindowsSecrets (the second email newsletter I had decided was worth paying for). My fears were soon put to rest as Windows Secrets came along and seemed to get better with every issue. Windows Secrets is full of tips about fixing Windows Problems and also contains tidbits of what's going on in the world of computing. It isn't the LangaList, but close. I still miss those reader's sites submitted to the LangaList. I found some real jewels there.
In my latest issue of Windows Secrets the announcement was made, Fred is leaving! So now I will no longer read those articles by Fred, at least not about computers. Fred is looking for new horizons and I hope he finds what he is looking for, as he truly deserves the best.
Maybe not all is lost, Fred does have a blog! But it isn't about computers. It is about his new challenges which seems to be a lot of fun!
Although I don't know if I would want to chase tornados, it sure might beat sitting at a computer all the time.
Good luck to you, Fred! Your loyal fans will miss you and a lot of them, like me, will keep up with you by reading your blog!
Martha
always looked forward to. He guided me through the ins and outs of fixing Windows problems, helped me make software decisions and just always provided a really good read. It was the first email newsletter I decided was worth paying for and it was worth every penny, plus a whole lot more.
It was with some trepidation when I received word that Fred was joining forces with Brian Livingston of WindowsSecrets (the second email newsletter I had decided was worth paying for). My fears were soon put to rest as Windows Secrets came along and seemed to get better with every issue. Windows Secrets is full of tips about fixing Windows Problems and also contains tidbits of what's going on in the world of computing. It isn't the LangaList, but close. I still miss those reader's sites submitted to the LangaList. I found some real jewels there.
In my latest issue of Windows Secrets the announcement was made, Fred is leaving! So now I will no longer read those articles by Fred, at least not about computers. Fred is looking for new horizons and I hope he finds what he is looking for, as he truly deserves the best.
Maybe not all is lost, Fred does have a blog! But it isn't about computers. It is about his new challenges which seems to be a lot of fun!
Although I don't know if I would want to chase tornados, it sure might beat sitting at a computer all the time.
Good luck to you, Fred! Your loyal fans will miss you and a lot of them, like me, will keep up with you by reading your blog!
Martha
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Those Aggravating Ads on the Internet
Advertisers are constantly looking for ways to push unwanted ads into our faces while we surf the 'net.
First came the banner ads. These are still being pushed into our faces. Some of them just sit there on the web pages, but more and more of them are using flash to blare out their presence. A few of them are extremely obnoxious. Those are usually the ads for dubious products.
Most of us tend to just ignore banner ads, so then the ad makers tried using pop-up ads. This tactic caused another webpage to jump into our faces, obscuring what we really wanted to see. Annoying! A few sites would cause more than one pop-up to populate. This caused a flurry of programmers making applications that would stop pop-ups. For awhile this solved that problem for folks who, like me, were and still are totally turned off by pop-up ads.
Then some clever jerk came up with pop-unders. Grrrrrrrrr! I hate those as well. The pop-up stoppers don't seem to have as much effect on pop-unders, so now we have to disable JavaScript to surf without pop-unders.
The latest ads to get our attention on websites use a method of JavaScript called IntelliTXT. The script finds 'keywords' on the page, double underlines them and when a cursor passes over the keywords an ad pops up, obliterating the content beneath the ad. Since there are no apparent ads on the page when the site is first accessed, this appeals to a lot of advertisers and is being used more and more.
Personally I find this method of shoving ads into my face extremely annoying and furthermore, I'm not the only one that feels this way. While some of the folks on the web using these tactics are just trying to offset the costs of maintaining their sites; others are trying to make a living or at least a decent profit. I can understand that, but the stuff that gets in my face like most of the tactics annoys me enough to leave the sites and not go back. (Another thing that will cause me to leave is sound blasting at me and no way to turn it off, but that is irrelevant to this tale of woe.)
Google Ads do it right. There they are, sitting in plain site. They don't annoy me by jumping in my face or causing an obnoxious pop-up, pop-under or obstruct the content I am trying to view. They explain what they are and if I am interested, I can click on one. I have in fact clicked on them on occasion. I have even ended up making a purchase using a Google Ad.
One thing all of these methods of advertising does, is make revenue for folks who provide the ways to stop these annoyances. Currently I am using a trial of Super Ad Blocker to see how it works. So far I like it. The price is perhaps a little high for what it does, but I may buy it anyway just to stop all those ads from jumping in my face. Super Ad Blocker also includes SuperAntiSpyware, an excellent spyware remover.
This site Sillysot (funny name!) has a little program (Intelli: An Intellitxt link remover)that will just stop the IntelliTXT stuff, but it works best in Firefox. It is supposed to work in Internet Explorer as well, but I couldn't make it work. It doesn't even require installing; you just drag the Intelli to your links bar.
I wonder what the next thing will be in the world of Internet advertising!
Martha
First came the banner ads. These are still being pushed into our faces. Some of them just sit there on the web pages, but more and more of them are using flash to blare out their presence. A few of them are extremely obnoxious. Those are usually the ads for dubious products.
Most of us tend to just ignore banner ads, so then the ad makers tried using pop-up ads. This tactic caused another webpage to jump into our faces, obscuring what we really wanted to see. Annoying! A few sites would cause more than one pop-up to populate. This caused a flurry of programmers making applications that would stop pop-ups. For awhile this solved that problem for folks who, like me, were and still are totally turned off by pop-up ads.
Then some clever jerk came up with pop-unders. Grrrrrrrrr! I hate those as well. The pop-up stoppers don't seem to have as much effect on pop-unders, so now we have to disable JavaScript to surf without pop-unders.
The latest ads to get our attention on websites use a method of JavaScript called IntelliTXT. The script finds 'keywords' on the page, double underlines them and when a cursor passes over the keywords an ad pops up, obliterating the content beneath the ad. Since there are no apparent ads on the page when the site is first accessed, this appeals to a lot of advertisers and is being used more and more.
Personally I find this method of shoving ads into my face extremely annoying and furthermore, I'm not the only one that feels this way. While some of the folks on the web using these tactics are just trying to offset the costs of maintaining their sites; others are trying to make a living or at least a decent profit. I can understand that, but the stuff that gets in my face like most of the tactics annoys me enough to leave the sites and not go back. (Another thing that will cause me to leave is sound blasting at me and no way to turn it off, but that is irrelevant to this tale of woe.)
Google Ads do it right. There they are, sitting in plain site. They don't annoy me by jumping in my face or causing an obnoxious pop-up, pop-under or obstruct the content I am trying to view. They explain what they are and if I am interested, I can click on one. I have in fact clicked on them on occasion. I have even ended up making a purchase using a Google Ad.
One thing all of these methods of advertising does, is make revenue for folks who provide the ways to stop these annoyances. Currently I am using a trial of Super Ad Blocker to see how it works. So far I like it. The price is perhaps a little high for what it does, but I may buy it anyway just to stop all those ads from jumping in my face. Super Ad Blocker also includes SuperAntiSpyware, an excellent spyware remover.
This site Sillysot (funny name!) has a little program (Intelli: An Intellitxt link remover)that will just stop the IntelliTXT stuff, but it works best in Firefox. It is supposed to work in Internet Explorer as well, but I couldn't make it work. It doesn't even require installing; you just drag the Intelli to your links bar.
I wonder what the next thing will be in the world of Internet advertising!
Martha
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Captain Greg Wallace
Did you get an email from 'Captain Greg Wallace'? I got several of them this past week. I read the first one with some amusement and dismay.
The amusement was because it is just another play on the old Nigerian scam albeit a new version. The dismay because somewhere,
someone, will probably fall for this scam and lose a bunch of money.
The email doesn't ask for money, that no doubt will come as soon as the unwary victim responds to the email. Probably the request will be for 'expenses' or some other falsehood that requires money.
Supposedly the good Captain found a secret hoard while serving in Iraq. Being the good person he is, it was not reported to the
authorities, but was 'secured with a senior United Nation Diplomat in Amsterdam Holland'. He doesn't explain how he managed to get the box to Amsterdam. He's counting on greed to overcome omitting that little detail.
The nice little email is so full of spelling and grammar errors you just know he isn't using a spell check.
I wonder how many people will fall for this scam? I used to think no one would fall for this kind of scam, but I was wrong. PT Barnum
once reportedly said 'There's a sucker born every minute'. Unfortunately this is still true. Don't be one of those suckers, delete those
emails and forget about them.
Martha
The amusement was because it is just another play on the old Nigerian scam albeit a new version. The dismay because somewhere,
someone, will probably fall for this scam and lose a bunch of money.
The email doesn't ask for money, that no doubt will come as soon as the unwary victim responds to the email. Probably the request will be for 'expenses' or some other falsehood that requires money.
Supposedly the good Captain found a secret hoard while serving in Iraq. Being the good person he is, it was not reported to the
authorities, but was 'secured with a senior United Nation Diplomat in Amsterdam Holland'. He doesn't explain how he managed to get the box to Amsterdam. He's counting on greed to overcome omitting that little detail.
The nice little email is so full of spelling and grammar errors you just know he isn't using a spell check.
I wonder how many people will fall for this scam? I used to think no one would fall for this kind of scam, but I was wrong. PT Barnum
once reportedly said 'There's a sucker born every minute'. Unfortunately this is still true. Don't be one of those suckers, delete those
emails and forget about them.
Martha
Monday, April 21, 2008
Fun With Mice (Not!)
I use a laptop like a desktop. I have limited space for a computer and my laptop with a 17 inch display and keypad work just fine, as long as I can use a mouse. I absolutely despise those touchpads that come with laptops. I have a Microsoft wireless mouse and most of the time it works just great. Today it didn't.
I got the message popup telling me the battery power in my mouse was low. No problem, I just bought a new package of batteries (16) so I proceeded to change the battery. (This mouse uses just one battery.)
It didn't work. I put in a different battery and it still didn't work. I was ready to panic, that keypad was giving me fits! I tried another battery, still no mouse! I searched and found an old wired USB mouse and hooked it up. It moved sooooo slooow! The wire kept getting in the way. Ick! Maybe I just need a new mouse.
I decided to see if maybe I should find new drivers. Yep, new updated drivers were available. So I downloaded the new drivers and installed them. I disconnected the old wired mouse and hooked up the wireless mouse. Nothing doing, it didn't work.
I don't give up easily as most of my family and friends know. I tried yet another battery and lo and behold it worked.
By now I'm rather unhappy that I have a package of sixteen batteries that seem to be a bit old. Two of them didn't work and that is not good! These batteries weren't cheapies either.
So, OK, that's life. I noticed a new icon on my desktop for Microsoft Mouse and I check it out. Oh boy I can customize this mouse! I decide to click that button on the side of the mouse that will magnify stuff and oh boy, was that ever a mistake!
It magnified all right, big time! And clicking that button was supposed to turn the magnification off, but it didn't! I am starting to get dizzy trying to manuever around with this big box following my every mouse move.
So I just did the usual fix for stuff like this. I rebooted and was sure hoping it would work.
Everything is back to normal size now and I am going to forget about 'customizing' my mouse. Sometimes it's best to just leave well enough alone.
My son decided to check those batteries that didn't work. Something fishy going on, the batteries tested OK. I have doubts about that mouse again. I check in the Control Panel, it indicates the battery life is good. But that battery power low message is still poping up, so yes, I think it's time for a new mouse.
Martha
I have a new mouse! It is a Logitech V320 Cordless Optical mouse for notebooks and I just love this little mouse!
I got the message popup telling me the battery power in my mouse was low. No problem, I just bought a new package of batteries (16) so I proceeded to change the battery. (This mouse uses just one battery.)
It didn't work. I put in a different battery and it still didn't work. I was ready to panic, that keypad was giving me fits! I tried another battery, still no mouse! I searched and found an old wired USB mouse and hooked it up. It moved sooooo slooow! The wire kept getting in the way. Ick! Maybe I just need a new mouse.
I decided to see if maybe I should find new drivers. Yep, new updated drivers were available. So I downloaded the new drivers and installed them. I disconnected the old wired mouse and hooked up the wireless mouse. Nothing doing, it didn't work.
I don't give up easily as most of my family and friends know. I tried yet another battery and lo and behold it worked.
By now I'm rather unhappy that I have a package of sixteen batteries that seem to be a bit old. Two of them didn't work and that is not good! These batteries weren't cheapies either.
So, OK, that's life. I noticed a new icon on my desktop for Microsoft Mouse and I check it out. Oh boy I can customize this mouse! I decide to click that button on the side of the mouse that will magnify stuff and oh boy, was that ever a mistake!
It magnified all right, big time! And clicking that button was supposed to turn the magnification off, but it didn't! I am starting to get dizzy trying to manuever around with this big box following my every mouse move.
So I just did the usual fix for stuff like this. I rebooted and was sure hoping it would work.
Everything is back to normal size now and I am going to forget about 'customizing' my mouse. Sometimes it's best to just leave well enough alone.
My son decided to check those batteries that didn't work. Something fishy going on, the batteries tested OK. I have doubts about that mouse again. I check in the Control Panel, it indicates the battery life is good. But that battery power low message is still poping up, so yes, I think it's time for a new mouse.
Martha
I have a new mouse! It is a Logitech V320 Cordless Optical mouse for notebooks and I just love this little mouse!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
BlogSpot Makes You Jump Through Hoops
If you made a complaint to BlogSpot about a thief stealing your Yahoo Groups posts , you probably got in your email what I did. A nicely worded canned response telling us we have to fax our request with a long list of what to include. We can also write the request. Then they will investigate. (One look at the blogs in question would be enough!) In other words, they want us to jump through hoops to get their thieving blog members taken down. They want EACH post where information was compromised! It would take a very long time to provide that! There are thousands of Yahoo posts on those blogs!
It took over two weeks for them to bother with this response. I guess this is what happens when you get too big and don’t really care about the ‘little guys’. In case you didn’t know, BlogSpot, not everyone has access to fax machines!
To date I have identified 21 Yahoo Groups that are being copied to this skunk’s blogs (4). If this makes him enough money by driving surfers to his site he will surely make more blogs and steal from more Yahoo Groups. So if you have a Yahoo Group and you care about protecting your members email addresses and the confidential posts, you have to be on guard. Unless you can identify the thief, Yahoo can’t (or won’t) help you. Unless you have plenty of time and access to a fax machine, BlogSpot won’t help you. Even if you do have time and access to a fax, it will take awhile for BlogSpot to do anything, if in fact they do.
I have always been a fan of Google. I am very disappointed in this side of their operation. They have joined the ranks of companies with disappearing customer service.
You are on your own, Yahoo Groups!
(Don't bother asking me for the thief's blog, I am not sending traffic his way if I can help it.)
Martha
Martha's Web
Update! Hooray at last! The blog is gone! But 3 of 4 are still up. Maybe the Yahoo Groups with their messages being posted to those blogs will act and get them taken down.
It took over two weeks for them to bother with this response. I guess this is what happens when you get too big and don’t really care about the ‘little guys’. In case you didn’t know, BlogSpot, not everyone has access to fax machines!
To date I have identified 21 Yahoo Groups that are being copied to this skunk’s blogs (4). If this makes him enough money by driving surfers to his site he will surely make more blogs and steal from more Yahoo Groups. So if you have a Yahoo Group and you care about protecting your members email addresses and the confidential posts, you have to be on guard. Unless you can identify the thief, Yahoo can’t (or won’t) help you. Unless you have plenty of time and access to a fax machine, BlogSpot won’t help you. Even if you do have time and access to a fax, it will take awhile for BlogSpot to do anything, if in fact they do.
I have always been a fan of Google. I am very disappointed in this side of their operation. They have joined the ranks of companies with disappearing customer service.
You are on your own, Yahoo Groups!
(Don't bother asking me for the thief's blog, I am not sending traffic his way if I can help it.)
Martha
Martha's Web
Update! Hooray at last! The blog is gone! But 3 of 4 are still up. Maybe the Yahoo Groups with their messages being posted to those blogs will act and get them taken down.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Blog Thieves and Why They Steal From Yahoo Groups
There are only two reasons for a blog to steal content from Yahoo Groups.
1. A lazy way to get content to drive traffic to the blog.
2. Greed. Traffic is being driven to the blog for one reason, there are ads on the blog. Ads by Google and other ads. This can 'earn' the blogger money with no further effort on the blogger's part.
Ok, there may be another reason, just to see if they can do it.
However, you can bet the reason is 'too lazy to get legitimate content and greed'.
At the time of this writing, there are at least four blogs exposing at least seventeen Yahoo Groups' private messages for the world to see. Some of them have their email addresses exposed to spam email harvesters. No doubt there are more blogs like this out there, finding them all could be a chore.
I guess BlogSpot thinks these sites are ok and that copying private Yahoo Groups message posts is OK. I say this because many complaints to BlogSpot about DMCA Violation Notice for copyright were ignored by BlogSpot. Either that or no one is monitoring the forms posted for Copyright/Privacy. I would think someone should be monitoring those requests as this is a serious issue and should not have been ignored.
Otherwise take the form down
Yahoo Groups need to be on alert.
No one is looking out for you, Yahoo Groups. Be vigilant!
One more thing, if you find your Yahoo Group is being compromised, look here.
Martha
Martha's Web
1. A lazy way to get content to drive traffic to the blog.
2. Greed. Traffic is being driven to the blog for one reason, there are ads on the blog. Ads by Google and other ads. This can 'earn' the blogger money with no further effort on the blogger's part.
Ok, there may be another reason, just to see if they can do it.
However, you can bet the reason is 'too lazy to get legitimate content and greed'.
At the time of this writing, there are at least four blogs exposing at least seventeen Yahoo Groups' private messages for the world to see. Some of them have their email addresses exposed to spam email harvesters. No doubt there are more blogs like this out there, finding them all could be a chore.
I guess BlogSpot thinks these sites are ok and that copying private Yahoo Groups message posts is OK. I say this because many complaints to BlogSpot about DMCA Violation Notice for copyright were ignored by BlogSpot. Either that or no one is monitoring the forms posted for Copyright/Privacy. I would think someone should be monitoring those requests as this is a serious issue and should not have been ignored.
Otherwise take the form down
Yahoo Groups need to be on alert.
No one is looking out for you, Yahoo Groups. Be vigilant!
One more thing, if you find your Yahoo Group is being compromised, look here.
Martha
Martha's Web
No! I Won't Accept Your Invitation!
Lately I see more spam like this;
Hi!
I would like to invite you to visit my Refriendz page and see my latest photos.
In order to visit my space, you must go to:
http://www.refriendz.com/?do=Login.Invite&rid=someone&email=Group@yahoogroups.com (This line edited)
(If this link does not work, please copy and paste it into your browser or go to www.refriendz.com and enter 'someon.sm' (edited)as Invitation ID to Login to the web site.)
P.S. Refriendz is Invitation-Only, so do not miss your chance to visit my page!
Why I would care about visiting a page for someone I don't know is beyond me. I do know this is one way to gather more information about me to sell to spammers. It could be legit, although it is rather dubious.
Some times the invitation is to update some one's 'Birthday list. (My birthday has been the same all my life, don't think anyone who has needs to 'Update') or it could be some other type of invite.
I guess this is a result of all those 'social' websites that are poping up everywhere trying to cash in on the MySpace craze. I can't imagine anyone with a lick of sense actually clicking those links. With all of the malware, phishing and other types of scummy stuff out there, it's a far better thing to just delete this junk.
I suppose this type of stuff appeals to some folks, but no one I know would want it, at least I hope they wouldn't. I hope you won't click it!
Martha
Hi!
I would like to invite you to visit my Refriendz page and see my latest photos.
In order to visit my space, you must go to:
http://www.refriendz.com/?do=Login.Invite&rid=someone&email=Group@yahoogroups.com (This line edited)
(If this link does not work, please copy and paste it into your browser or go to www.refriendz.com and enter 'someon.sm' (edited)as Invitation ID to Login to the web site.)
P.S. Refriendz is Invitation-Only, so do not miss your chance to visit my page!
Why I would care about visiting a page for someone I don't know is beyond me. I do know this is one way to gather more information about me to sell to spammers. It could be legit, although it is rather dubious.
Some times the invitation is to update some one's 'Birthday list. (My birthday has been the same all my life, don't think anyone who has needs to 'Update') or it could be some other type of invite.
I guess this is a result of all those 'social' websites that are poping up everywhere trying to cash in on the MySpace craze. I can't imagine anyone with a lick of sense actually clicking those links. With all of the malware, phishing and other types of scummy stuff out there, it's a far better thing to just delete this junk.
I suppose this type of stuff appeals to some folks, but no one I know would want it, at least I hope they wouldn't. I hope you won't click it!
Martha
Friday, April 11, 2008
Marketing That Preys on Fear
A lot of people are afraid these days. The reasons are many and real.
Car jackers and road rage are just a few of the things people fear and for good reason. Not a day goes by that someone or maybe several folks are victims of these crimes.
Home Invasions are on the rise, burglars want to take your property bought with your hard earned money and the list goes on and on.
The economy is in the dumper and people are fearful of losing their jobs. Easy credit is now gone and thanks to some really greedy brokers/lenders and some really dumb folks who knew they couldn't afford that expensive new house, the Nation is experiencing a mortgage meltdown and folks are losing their homes. The stock market is in yo yo mode and people are afraid of losing the value in their 401 k funds and other investments. (They have a right to be nervous.)
Health care and medical insurance is way too expensive. If you are lucky enough to have it and there are a lot of folks who don't, your co-payments are higher and the cost of prescription drugs is out of sight.
Enter the fear mongers. Everyday my mailbox is full of this stuff. (Snail mail spam) These are the folks who advertise they can save you by preying on our irrational and sometimes justified fears! They can tell you how to protect your investments, how to play the stock market, which stocks to buy, how to beat the IRS, yada, yada, yada.
They can tell you how to beat cancer and other awful diseases. They can tell you the 'secrets' that will keep you from growing old and keep you looking young.
They will tell you all of their secrets, but not for free. You can buy their expensive (and useless) books! Subscribe to their newsletters! (Not free!) When you receive the books and/or newsletters, read them very carefully. Do they deliver on their promise to give you all those secrets?
Right. The secrets are mostly stuff you should have learned a long time ago, or else the advice given is so ridiculous as to be downright scary!
Along with your paid newsletter subscription will come a lot of other 'free' advice. Just order this stuff and you will really be 'safe'. The only folks really benefiting from all of this extra stuff will be the fear mongers selling it.
The next time you see an offer from someone selling this stuff, read it with a skeptical eye. Do you see any of these phrases? Free Reports! (They aren't free if you have to buy something else to get them.) Super Health Cures! Lose weight fast! Free Cash! Invest with no risk! On and on go the big headlines promising miracles for money, life and who knows what else.
If there really were cures for cancer and diabetes it would be wonderful. It would be all over the news, now wouldn't it? I am rather skeptical about trusting the drug companies, but I don't believe they are hiding cures because they are 'free'. I don't believe the oil companies hid, paid off, or killed to prevent the wonderful invention that got a hundred miles to the gallon from seeing the light of day.
If I were you, I'd throw that stuff where it belongs, in the recycle tub to place on the curb. Tell the fear mongers where to go.
Martha
Car jackers and road rage are just a few of the things people fear and for good reason. Not a day goes by that someone or maybe several folks are victims of these crimes.
Home Invasions are on the rise, burglars want to take your property bought with your hard earned money and the list goes on and on.
The economy is in the dumper and people are fearful of losing their jobs. Easy credit is now gone and thanks to some really greedy brokers/lenders and some really dumb folks who knew they couldn't afford that expensive new house, the Nation is experiencing a mortgage meltdown and folks are losing their homes. The stock market is in yo yo mode and people are afraid of losing the value in their 401 k funds and other investments. (They have a right to be nervous.)
Health care and medical insurance is way too expensive. If you are lucky enough to have it and there are a lot of folks who don't, your co-payments are higher and the cost of prescription drugs is out of sight.
Enter the fear mongers. Everyday my mailbox is full of this stuff. (Snail mail spam) These are the folks who advertise they can save you by preying on our irrational and sometimes justified fears! They can tell you how to protect your investments, how to play the stock market, which stocks to buy, how to beat the IRS, yada, yada, yada.
They can tell you how to beat cancer and other awful diseases. They can tell you the 'secrets' that will keep you from growing old and keep you looking young.
They will tell you all of their secrets, but not for free. You can buy their expensive (and useless) books! Subscribe to their newsletters! (Not free!) When you receive the books and/or newsletters, read them very carefully. Do they deliver on their promise to give you all those secrets?
Right. The secrets are mostly stuff you should have learned a long time ago, or else the advice given is so ridiculous as to be downright scary!
Along with your paid newsletter subscription will come a lot of other 'free' advice. Just order this stuff and you will really be 'safe'. The only folks really benefiting from all of this extra stuff will be the fear mongers selling it.
The next time you see an offer from someone selling this stuff, read it with a skeptical eye. Do you see any of these phrases? Free Reports! (They aren't free if you have to buy something else to get them.) Super Health Cures! Lose weight fast! Free Cash! Invest with no risk! On and on go the big headlines promising miracles for money, life and who knows what else.
If there really were cures for cancer and diabetes it would be wonderful. It would be all over the news, now wouldn't it? I am rather skeptical about trusting the drug companies, but I don't believe they are hiding cures because they are 'free'. I don't believe the oil companies hid, paid off, or killed to prevent the wonderful invention that got a hundred miles to the gallon from seeing the light of day.
If I were you, I'd throw that stuff where it belongs, in the recycle tub to place on the curb. Tell the fear mongers where to go.
Martha
Monday, April 07, 2008
Internet Content Thieves
Thieves are everywhere, including the Internet.
By now most of us know about identity theft and are aware of all the scams out there. But there is another form of thievery as well, stealing a website or website content.
Webmasters work hard to make their websites. The really good webmasters learn how to program with HTML and write Cascading Style Sheets, commonly know as CSS. They take pictures of the products they sell. They take care to see if the pictures don't take too long to load so their pages will load quickly. They make sure the pages are viewed the same way in all browsers, not just Internet Explorer. This process doesn't happen over night. It takes many days and sometimes nights. Content is king on the Internet and some of us have to really struggle to get that content written. Content needs to be original and not everyone really likes to write. Trial and error is the name of the game until one day they finally get it right. All the hard work pays off at last.
Then one day, someone steals their site. Literally. They steal it by using something called a 'scraper'. It seems there are some folks who decided it would be neat to write a program (which probably consists mainly of scripts) that could capture everything on a website and then post it to another site or blog. These folks offer their site stealing programs for sale and then the inevitable happens.
Someone decided to use a 'scrapper' or something similar on a Yahoo computer help Group with a lot of members, so there is a lot of 'posting' going on. While trying to find a solution to stop this streaming of posts to a blog with the very horrible name of http://how-to-make-a-computer-virus.blogspot.com/ (named no doubt to catch evil surfers). That's when I found out about scrappers or site stealers. Some time back someone on one of my Groups had their site stolen and the wonder was how they managed to do it so completely. Wondering no more, a scrapper was used!
When this article is posted to my blog I am hoping the blog with the scrapper is gone. Complaints have been filed with the bloggers host, BlogSpot, so we will see what happens. In the meantime, everyone of us that has a website/blog has to wonder, 'Will a thief target my site?'
Martha
By now most of us know about identity theft and are aware of all the scams out there. But there is another form of thievery as well, stealing a website or website content.
Webmasters work hard to make their websites. The really good webmasters learn how to program with HTML and write Cascading Style Sheets, commonly know as CSS. They take pictures of the products they sell. They take care to see if the pictures don't take too long to load so their pages will load quickly. They make sure the pages are viewed the same way in all browsers, not just Internet Explorer. This process doesn't happen over night. It takes many days and sometimes nights. Content is king on the Internet and some of us have to really struggle to get that content written. Content needs to be original and not everyone really likes to write. Trial and error is the name of the game until one day they finally get it right. All the hard work pays off at last.
Then one day, someone steals their site. Literally. They steal it by using something called a 'scraper'. It seems there are some folks who decided it would be neat to write a program (which probably consists mainly of scripts) that could capture everything on a website and then post it to another site or blog. These folks offer their site stealing programs for sale and then the inevitable happens.
Someone decided to use a 'scrapper' or something similar on a Yahoo computer help Group with a lot of members, so there is a lot of 'posting' going on. While trying to find a solution to stop this streaming of posts to a blog with the very horrible name of http://how-to-make-a-computer-virus.blogspot.com/ (named no doubt to catch evil surfers). That's when I found out about scrappers or site stealers. Some time back someone on one of my Groups had their site stolen and the wonder was how they managed to do it so completely. Wondering no more, a scrapper was used!
When this article is posted to my blog I am hoping the blog with the scrapper is gone. Complaints have been filed with the bloggers host, BlogSpot, so we will see what happens. In the meantime, everyone of us that has a website/blog has to wonder, 'Will a thief target my site?'
Martha
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Caveat Emptor
Read the fine print, always!
Sometimes I get the feeling that 'they are out to get us', 'they' meaning retail or service companies. The old saying 'you get what you pay for' is not always true any more. Sometimes you get a lot less of what you pay for, and I have been reading instances of folks not getting anything they paid for. (I love The Consumerist!)
Recently a major department store had an ad in my newspaper for a mattress sale. (Mattresses are always on sale somewhere.) I don't need a new mattress, but the markdown was big enough to catch my eye. The mattresses were for a major brand and the prices were good, even for this retailer. And of course there was the 'hook', free delivery, setup and haul away of the old mattress listed in large print.
Except one little thing. There was a minimum purchase of $699 for the free delivery, set up and haul away. I found that very interesting. The sale price of a queen size set was $599, double set was $589 and twin sets $549. If you bought a queen set, which is probably the most purchased these days, the delivery was $65 and haul away $40. The only set that would qualify for the free delivery and haul away was a king size set for $999.
I wonder how many people bought one of these sets using a credit card and didn't notice the delivery and haul away charges. I am quite sure the retailer was hoping this would happen. If those folks are like a number of my friends, they carry a balance on their cards and probably just pay the required payments when they are due.
There are a number of retail department stores experiencing low sales these days. I don't suppose they have any idea that legal but deceptive practices like these may just cost them future business.
Martha
Sometimes I get the feeling that 'they are out to get us', 'they' meaning retail or service companies. The old saying 'you get what you pay for' is not always true any more. Sometimes you get a lot less of what you pay for, and I have been reading instances of folks not getting anything they paid for. (I love The Consumerist!)
Recently a major department store had an ad in my newspaper for a mattress sale. (Mattresses are always on sale somewhere.) I don't need a new mattress, but the markdown was big enough to catch my eye. The mattresses were for a major brand and the prices were good, even for this retailer. And of course there was the 'hook', free delivery, setup and haul away of the old mattress listed in large print.
Except one little thing. There was a minimum purchase of $699 for the free delivery, set up and haul away. I found that very interesting. The sale price of a queen size set was $599, double set was $589 and twin sets $549. If you bought a queen set, which is probably the most purchased these days, the delivery was $65 and haul away $40. The only set that would qualify for the free delivery and haul away was a king size set for $999.
I wonder how many people bought one of these sets using a credit card and didn't notice the delivery and haul away charges. I am quite sure the retailer was hoping this would happen. If those folks are like a number of my friends, they carry a balance on their cards and probably just pay the required payments when they are due.
There are a number of retail department stores experiencing low sales these days. I don't suppose they have any idea that legal but deceptive practices like these may just cost them future business.
Martha
Friday, March 28, 2008
Security Risk!
I generally try to stay away from subjects like religion or politics when writing for my website, blog or posting to a list. You can't change people's opinions on these subjects and it is foolish to try. You can also offend some people by a remark that goes against their beliefs.
But this is just too much for me to keep quiet about. I am talking about the poor woman who was humiliated by having to remove her 'nipple' rings before she could board a flight. I have heard a number of stories about bottles being taken away from babies, old ladies being strip searched and a number of other absolutely ridiculous things the TSA has done to hapless passengers, but this one took the cake. If I am wrong, please let me know how a nipple ring can be a security hazard. I really want to know so if there is a nipple ring anywhere in my vicinity I can report it to Homeland Security.
All of this just emphasizes what can happen when you give power to a certain segment of the population. They do these things because they can get away with it. They enjoy humiliating and intimidating people. I think these are the characters that were once school-yard bullies. Now they are airport screener bullies. I believe most of the people who work at being screeners are just doing their jobs as best they can and the few who are bullies are giving all the rest a bad name.
I think the things that we have done to prevent nipple rings, baby bottles and the like from being allowed on commercial flights must have the terrorists laughing.
I am so happy I am not required to fly anymore. I don't go anywhere that I can't go by car. I just hope that one day I don't have to submit to a body search to get in my car to go to the market.
Martha
But this is just too much for me to keep quiet about. I am talking about the poor woman who was humiliated by having to remove her 'nipple' rings before she could board a flight. I have heard a number of stories about bottles being taken away from babies, old ladies being strip searched and a number of other absolutely ridiculous things the TSA has done to hapless passengers, but this one took the cake. If I am wrong, please let me know how a nipple ring can be a security hazard. I really want to know so if there is a nipple ring anywhere in my vicinity I can report it to Homeland Security.
All of this just emphasizes what can happen when you give power to a certain segment of the population. They do these things because they can get away with it. They enjoy humiliating and intimidating people. I think these are the characters that were once school-yard bullies. Now they are airport screener bullies. I believe most of the people who work at being screeners are just doing their jobs as best they can and the few who are bullies are giving all the rest a bad name.
I think the things that we have done to prevent nipple rings, baby bottles and the like from being allowed on commercial flights must have the terrorists laughing.
I am so happy I am not required to fly anymore. I don't go anywhere that I can't go by car. I just hope that one day I don't have to submit to a body search to get in my car to go to the market.
Martha
Thursday, March 27, 2008
I Knew Better
Once in a while someone I trust will post something in a Yahoo Group or blog and I take it for gospel. I shouldn't do that, because some things they post are really not what a user should do.
I won't mention any names, but there was a recent post/blog about getting ready for Vista that said I should go ahead and install the drivers that Windows update says I need. The message went on to say that although the writer ordinarily advised against installing drivers from Windows update, this is an exception.
So, thinking that this must be OK, I installed the driver for my graphics card that Windows update said is available and re-booted.
OMG! I have ruined my computer! The display is (and there is no other word to describe it) horrible! No amount of tweaking, changing settings, helps! This is a disaster! It looks worse than Safe-Mode!
Then I remembered System Restore. So I restored the computer to the day before and now everything is back the way it should be.
If I have to install those drivers that Windows update says I need before I can install Vista SP1, then it just isn't going to happen. Vista SP1 will not be installed. Besides from what I have read, it will fix things that don't need fixing on my computer. Hibernation works just fine along with everything else that supposedly needs fixing.
I am hoping that Microsoft will 'fix' SP1 to work with my drivers, especially if one day I see the dreaded message on Windows Update "You must have SP1 installed to update Vista".
In the meantime I'm going to find out what version my video card driver uses, and download it it for safe keeping.
Another lesson learned. I did know better, but I did it anyway. Thank you, Microsoft, for System Restore!
Martha
I won't mention any names, but there was a recent post/blog about getting ready for Vista that said I should go ahead and install the drivers that Windows update says I need. The message went on to say that although the writer ordinarily advised against installing drivers from Windows update, this is an exception.
So, thinking that this must be OK, I installed the driver for my graphics card that Windows update said is available and re-booted.
OMG! I have ruined my computer! The display is (and there is no other word to describe it) horrible! No amount of tweaking, changing settings, helps! This is a disaster! It looks worse than Safe-Mode!
Then I remembered System Restore. So I restored the computer to the day before and now everything is back the way it should be.
If I have to install those drivers that Windows update says I need before I can install Vista SP1, then it just isn't going to happen. Vista SP1 will not be installed. Besides from what I have read, it will fix things that don't need fixing on my computer. Hibernation works just fine along with everything else that supposedly needs fixing.
I am hoping that Microsoft will 'fix' SP1 to work with my drivers, especially if one day I see the dreaded message on Windows Update "You must have SP1 installed to update Vista".
In the meantime I'm going to find out what version my video card driver uses, and download it it for safe keeping.
Another lesson learned. I did know better, but I did it anyway. Thank you, Microsoft, for System Restore!
Martha
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Nag, Nag, Nag
Last month I wrote about a magazine that keeps nagging me to re-subscribe. If this was just an isolated problem it wouldn't be so bad, but all my magazines are doing the same thing to a certain extent. Not as bad as Money, but they are wanting me to 'renew NOW'.
I keep a spreadsheet to let me know just when my subscriptions expire as I do tend to be a tad forgetful. Since I am sorta forgetful, I guess the magazine people must know that, but a reminder eight months before the expire date is a bit much.
The letters, cards and covers are all telling me I need to 'renew NOW'. If I don't 'renew NOW', I am going to miss out by not receiving every issue. I won't save money by not renewing 'NOW'.
News Flash! I will save more money by not renewing at all. (Maybe that will stop the nagging!)
I think every magazine there is wants me to subscribe as I am getting all these offers for 'Professional' rates. If I did take them up, I suspect I would start getting the letters to 'renew NOW'. No thanks, I will pass.
Magazines are not the only businesses that want me to 'renew NOW'. At least once a month I get a letter from a warranty company wanting me to renew my warranty on my car before it expires. (It actually expired three years ago.) Since my car is now officially five years old it might need some repairs one of these days. But I don't drive much any more (gas is so expensive!) and the car has less than 40,000 miles on it, so I am not going to renew the warranty 'NOW'. (Or ever.) If those repairs get too costly, well, I like new cars and they come with a warranty.
I guess all of these 'renew NOW' cards and letters are helping the Post Office pay their bills.
I can read just about everything I need to know on the Internet. I will save money and be 'Green' at the same time. The recycle bin will be less heavy when I push it to the curb. I am so excited! I can buy more software with all the money I will save by not renewing 'NOW'!
That will teach those 'renew NOW' folks not to be such a nag! (Just think of the postage they will save when they finally quit nagging me!)
Martha
I keep a spreadsheet to let me know just when my subscriptions expire as I do tend to be a tad forgetful. Since I am sorta forgetful, I guess the magazine people must know that, but a reminder eight months before the expire date is a bit much.
The letters, cards and covers are all telling me I need to 'renew NOW'. If I don't 'renew NOW', I am going to miss out by not receiving every issue. I won't save money by not renewing 'NOW'.
News Flash! I will save more money by not renewing at all. (Maybe that will stop the nagging!)
I think every magazine there is wants me to subscribe as I am getting all these offers for 'Professional' rates. If I did take them up, I suspect I would start getting the letters to 'renew NOW'. No thanks, I will pass.
Magazines are not the only businesses that want me to 'renew NOW'. At least once a month I get a letter from a warranty company wanting me to renew my warranty on my car before it expires. (It actually expired three years ago.) Since my car is now officially five years old it might need some repairs one of these days. But I don't drive much any more (gas is so expensive!) and the car has less than 40,000 miles on it, so I am not going to renew the warranty 'NOW'. (Or ever.) If those repairs get too costly, well, I like new cars and they come with a warranty.
I guess all of these 'renew NOW' cards and letters are helping the Post Office pay their bills.
I can read just about everything I need to know on the Internet. I will save money and be 'Green' at the same time. The recycle bin will be less heavy when I push it to the curb. I am so excited! I can buy more software with all the money I will save by not renewing 'NOW'!
That will teach those 'renew NOW' folks not to be such a nag! (Just think of the postage they will save when they finally quit nagging me!)
Martha
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Mr. Modem
Since Dr. Bombay did his disappearing act, he has been replaced with Mr. Modem. (Catchy name!) Mr. Modem is much nicer than Dr. Bombay, but not as much fun to read.
Mr.Modem has a website with lots of goodies. He has a search-able library full of computer tips, questions and answers. He has a page with his favorite links, lots of links. He has a CD which has "more than 1400 of Mr. Modem's favorite Web sites -- the best the Internet has to offer".
He also has a weekly newsletter that sounds like a real help for users who need help. It isn't free, but the sample shows it to be quite comprehensive.
In the column for Mr Modem that appears in the newspaper, he also answers questions and provides a few websites to visit in Mr Modem's Sites of the Week.
While Mr. Modem's column is informative for the average user and easier to read, I have to admit, it isn't as much fun as Dr. Bombay Computer MD. I think sometimes I have an ornery streak!
Martha
Mr.Modem has a website with lots of goodies. He has a search-able library full of computer tips, questions and answers. He has a page with his favorite links, lots of links. He has a CD which has "more than 1400 of Mr. Modem's favorite Web sites -- the best the Internet has to offer".
He also has a weekly newsletter that sounds like a real help for users who need help. It isn't free, but the sample shows it to be quite comprehensive.
In the column for Mr Modem that appears in the newspaper, he also answers questions and provides a few websites to visit in Mr Modem's Sites of the Week.
While Mr. Modem's column is informative for the average user and easier to read, I have to admit, it isn't as much fun as Dr. Bombay Computer MD. I think sometimes I have an ornery streak!
Martha
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