"The Computer Guys"
  Web Link Archive

Security, Safety and Sensibility
• 10 Most Common Passwords - Your password is essential to keep you secure. Choosing a good one is not difficult (see below). At the very least, avoid the ones on this list.
• Creating Good Passwords - There are a number of excellent sites that tell you how to create good passwords. The tips include mix upper and lower case, mix numbers letters and symbols, and keep it under about 12 letters. Find more hints on good password security here (University of Maryland), here (United States Computer Emergency Response Team and here (UseWisdom.com).
• FelonSpy - Is your neighbor a convicted felon? Find out, here. This site draws on the Registered Sex Offender database and other public, legal sources, and ties into the Google Maps system.
• Facebook Dipping - First there were 'flash mobs', then there was 'social performance art', now the new craze has kids checking out Google Earth to find homes with pools and using text messages to organize mass pool parties (without the owner's permission).
• Spell-Check Mistakes - This is why you don't just accept whatever the spell-checker recommends. A high school in Pennsylvania ended up with students names' mangled in their Yearbook.
  Innovative Services

• Moodstream - Getty Images, one of the largest "stock photo" services available, offers streaming audio and video for you to enhance your mood and your cognitive abilities. You can customize the images and presentation to your own liking or use one of the "saved" settings.
• A Holy Mission? - The site Lasermonks is run by an order of Catholic monks right here in Wisconsin. They offer over 43,000 products to schools, churches and the general public.
  Misc. Technology

• Birth of the 'Baby' - The world's first computer with memory that could store a program was build 60 years ago this month in England.
• 4AllMemory Flash Cards - Bring your cameras up to date for EAA Airventure 2008 with plenty of room for pictures and video.
  The PostScript

• The Den - What does The ComputerGuy do when he's not on the show with Bob? He blogs about politics and life.

Here are the Web Sites as mentioned on the April 22, 2008 show. Just click on the link to go to the site.

Crash Recovery
• EasyRecovery - A powerful, if a bit expensive, program to allow you to recover files from crashed disks. There are versions for both business and home usage.
• Hard Drive Recovery Beginner's Guide _ The folks at PCStats have an excellent Beginner's Guide for hard drive and file recovery. It's this month's Tip..
• Last Resort - How much is your data worth to you? If you absolutely need to have it back, services like DriveCrash, Gillware, and Aerodata will take that hard drive and recover the contents for you. But it's not cheap. Prices can range from the hundreds to thousands of dollars.
  Futures

• Internet Out of Sapce...? - AT&T claims that if there is no more investment in infrastructure, the internet will reach its capacity by 2010. We've heard these kind of claims before, so take it with a grain of salt -- innovation tends to far outpace limitations where the net is concerned.
• ...But a New One's on the Horizon - This summer, scientists at Cern are "hitting the switch" on the replacement for the internet, dubbed "the grid", capable of speeds over 10,000 times faster than broadband.
  Security

• Linux Unbeaten, Vista and Mac? Not So Much - At the recent CanSecWest convention, teams attempted to hack into Vista, Mac and Linux for a price of $20,000. The MacBook went down first, followed by Vista the next day. Unbeated was Linux. Still wondering why IBM and others are pushing Linux for their enterprise computing solutions?
• Landline Hacking - Don't think "old technologies" are invulnerable. Thieves are hacking into voicemil systems in order to make long distance calls. How do you prevent it? Get a better password than "1 2 3 4".
• Ironkey - A USB flash drive with military-grade encryption and security software built in. It's even built so that if its opened, it self-destructs! Perfect for your next Mission, Mr. Phelps.
  On The WebSueEasy - Just what this country needs -- a website to make finding a lawyer to file a lawsuit easier.
• Where's Waldo via Satellite - A Canadian artist has moved the "Where's Waldo" game into the 21st century by painting our hero on a rooftoop so that folks can use Google Earth to find him.
  The PostScript

• The Den - What does The ComputerGuy do when he's not on the show with Bob? He blogs about politics and life.

Here are the Web Sites as mentioned on the March 25, 2008 show. Just click on the link to go to the site.

Tax Time
• Fox Valley CPAs - Our friend Barb Bader stops by with tips about the upcoming tax season including use of E-file tools and what you can and can't claim for business electronics use.
  RIAA Update

• RIAA Racketering Suit - In February, a federal judge dismissed Tanya Andersen's countersuit against RIAA, but last week her attorneys have refiled and is moving forward to discovery. The gist of this suit alleges that RIAA engages in racketeering tactics and this new phase means that RIAA will have to disclose its methods for tracking downloaders.
• Unlimited Music Downloads - Meanwhile, Apple is in discussions with some of the biggest record companies to bypass RIAA and offer unlimited downloading of tunes for a flat fee with thier iPod and iPhone devices. If this goes through, expect a fight from RIAA as they realise they've just been consigned to the dustbin of history.
  Community-Controlled Content

• What is a "Negative Link"? - What does "free speech" entail? The folks at ComplaintRemover.com think that the everpresent internet meme of LOLcats is "negative" and needs to be blocked. Their software is designed to "protect" your browser from "negative links". The problem is, their list of such links is generated by people making complaints about a given site and, it seems, without too much research.
• Rate-a-cop Website Pulled - One of the obvious problems with "rating" websites that are user driven is that they can be rather one-sided. The site RateMyCop.com is a good example. The police in San Diego worried about compromising police officer's identities, but one also has to wonder how much of what was posted was true. Either way, the site got so much attention that it had to be pulled as it was crashing the servers of the provider.
• Man Robbed by Craigslist - Someone posted an ad in the online classifieds Craigslist that a man in Florida was abandoning his home and possessions and that they were all 'up for grabs'. Seems there's still folks who believe everything they read on the internet as the unfortunate gentleman (who was NOT leaving) came home to find his house being cleaned out!
  Tech News

• Spammer's Conviction Upheld - At the end of February, the Virginia Supreme court upheld the conviction of spam king Jeremy Jaynes that sentenced him to nine years in prison. This landmark decision helps pave the way for enforcement of anti-spamming legislation.
• Dumped via Wikipedia - It's been done by phone, by email and by text message, so it was only a matter of time... Jimmy Wales dropped his girlfriend via the community-driven encyclopedia Wikipedia.
  The PostScript

• The Den - What does The ComputerGuy do when he's not on the show with Bob? He blogs about politics and life.

Here are the Web Sites as mentioned on the February 26, 2008 show. Just click on the link to go to the site.

RIAA Update
• Downloaders are Crack-Dealing Terrorists - According to a leaked RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) training video for prosecuters, if you download music, you're likely to also be a crack-dealing, gun-toting terrorist.
  Personal Privacy

• You Touch It, You Bought It - The ubiquitos "minibar" found in many hotels has evolved a sinister side. A new technology deployed in some hotels incorporates a sophisticated scale to determine if you've helped yourself. The problem is, if you even pick up an item to check the ingredients, you get charged!
• The Danger of Increased Security - As the Federal Government collects more and more information about citizens in centralized databases, the risk of that data being compromised increases. As an example, recently a Florida Customs agent was convicted of supplying private Government Database information to a drug runner. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
• Big Brother? - As reported last month, Microsoft has applied for a patent for software that will link users to their computers with wireless sensors in order to measure their metabolism as "productivity monitors."
• Death Threat Scam - Apparently offering huge cash rewards isn't enough for the email scammers, they're now turning to extortion and death threats via email. The FBI is involved and would like to know if you receive one of these.
• The TOP 12 Ways to Protect Your Online Privacy - The internet advocacy group EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) has publushed a very helpful guide to online privacy. This quick list includes a huge number of links to software and resources for building your privacy.
  Tech Trends

• Hot Pants - Samsung has confirmed reports that a problem with the battery in a Samsung P10 laptop has overheated and caused a fire. A similar report was filed last month regarding an LG notebook computer.
• Avoiding Hot Pants - There are a number of products available to help reduce the heat of laptops, from systems with "fans and fins" to passive cooling systems like the Xpad.
• Beta vs VHS for the New Millennium - Toshiba announced on February 19 that it will no longer build HD DVD equipment. In a corallary, they're not supporting the competing Blu-ray standard, either. For now, they're sitting out the 'format wars' and only continuing to develop standard DVD systems.
• You Will Be Absorbed! Microsoft, after having its unsolicited bid rebuffed by Yahoo Inc's board as "massively undervalued", has set itself up for a proxy fight by preparing to work to oust Yahoo's board members in this year's elections. Remember, if you can't beat Bill.... YOU WILL BE ASSIMILATED!

Here are the Web Sites as mentioned on the January 22, 2008 show. Just click on the link to go to the site.

Legal News
• RIAA told to Pay Up - Despite their propoganda to the contrary, RIAA does and is losing in the corts. An Oregon District Court has ordered RIAA to pay the legal fees of one of their targets -- a disabled 44-year old mother.
• RIAA Denies "Personal Use" - In the face of the fact that downloads are here to stay and despite setbacks in the courts (see above) and studies debunking the basis of their claims, the mafiosi known as RIAA continue their attacks on personal liberty. Their recent suit of an Arizona man for downloading (erroneously reported as being sued for making copies of his own CDs) is case in point. RIAA has, in fact, opened the door to attacking "fair use" by going after private copies of legally-purchased music by referring to them as "illegal copies".
• Recording Industrry vs. The People - This website tracks news and events regarding RIAA and the "download phenomenon" with alot of legal detail.
• Fair Use - An explanation from the University of Maryland as to the meaning of the term "fair use". This includes, "If you make a copy from an electronic source, such as the Internet or WWW, for your personal use, it is likely to be seen as fair use."
• Boycott RIAA - This site, openly opposed to RIAA, includes a list of artists that is opposed to RIAA and affiliates themselves with this organization.
• Google Phone The search engine (email, online shopping, etc.) giant, Google, has made good its promise to jump into the wireless arena by successfully bidding in the FCC's auction of airwave bandwidth.
• Big Brother? - Very quietly, Microsoft has applied for a patent for software that will link users to their computers with wireless sensors in order to measure their metabolism. The reason? To monitor productivity! Apparently not satisfied with office-place webcams and random drug screenings, employers, the software giant feels, would also like to track polygraph-like biometrics.
  In the News

• Untraceable - The new thriller opens this week and though it appears to be "high-tech", it appears to be nothing more than a plot device (much like FeardotCom) for a "grindhouse" horror flick. Don't expect too much in the way of technological veracity here -- it's called "artistic license."
• The End of an Era - The free web browser, Netscape, that was on the vanguard of the anti-IE movement (and grew from the original web browser, Mozilla) was purchased by AOL in 1998. Development will cease on February 1st, leaving the fight to its very successful progeny, Firefox.
  The PostScript

• The Den - What does The ComputerGuy do when he's not on the show with Bob? He blogs about politics and life.

Evil Empire
• Piracy vs. CD Sales - One of the main arguments that RIAA and others have used to justify their Draconian methods to combat piracy is that it "hurts" music sales. The facts, however, are significantly different.
• Don't Call it Magenta - In another example of corporate stupidity gone wild, T-Mobile has trademarked the color Magenta.
• Microsoft Kills Santa Claus - Oops! It seems that the automated MSN messanger "northpole@live.com" has been handing out sexual advice to kids. So Microsoft pulled the plug.
  Holidays 2007

• JT's Safe Shopping Tips - As discussed, JT gives you safe shopping tips from his own experience in this month's "Tips/Tricks" feature.
• NORAD Santa-Tracker - This is JT's perennial favourite site that uses the awesome tracking abilities of the North American Aerospace Defence Command to follow Santa's trip around the world. This year, they've also teamed up with Google Earth to provide mapping of Santa's journey.
• SantaClaus Online - Here it is, the official site of the "Big Guy" himself. Everything from gift ideas to e-cards, including Letters to Santa which allows your kids to send Santa an email and receive a personalized reply.
• Santa's Arch-Enemy - Every hero has a nemesis... Santa's is named Krampus.
• New Year's Facts - Ever wonder how the tradition of "New Year's Resolutions" got started? And what the heck does "Auld Lange Syne" really mean? This website demystifies the first of the year.
• 10 Tips for Keeping those Resolutions - Ok, we all make 'em, and most break 'em. So how do you make and keep resolutions? Psychologists give you 10 tips on doing just that!
• Resolution Reminder - One way to keep those promises to yourself is to remind yourself of them periodically. This automated service will do just that throughout the year.
• Airport Information - Many airports now have their arrival and departure boards available online, saving you the hassle of calling to find out what's going on with a flight. Here are a few of the ones in our region:
  • - Green Bay / Austin Straubel
  • - Appleton / Outagamie County
  • - Milwaukee / Mitchell International
  • - Chicago / O'Hare International
• Road Conditions - The Wisconsin DOT maintains a website that not only keeps track of weather conditions but, more importantly for this time of year, tracks all the construction projects around the state. Check here before leaving on holiday roadtrip.
  The PostScript

• The Den - What does The ComputerGuy do when he's not on the show with Bob? He blogs about politics and life.

Here are the Web Sites as mentioned on the November 27, 2007 show. Just click on the link to go to the site.

Security
• Security or Privacy - There's a new data encryption system that uses something called DRBG as its 'heart'. One of the authors has announced that the National Security Agency has put a "backdoor" in it that will allow them to decrypt it easily.
• Don't Lose Your Laptop - A group in England has called for 'criminal action' if you lose your an unencrypted laptop. That's right -- forget the person who stole it, you're liable!
• Free Windows Encryption Software - This list handles all Windows systems from Windows 95 (!) right up through Vista. But, caveat emptor, you get what you pay for, in many cases.
• Jetico - These are the folks that make BestCrypt, BCWipe and other excellent security and encryption programs for Windows and Linux. They have some freeware versions, but their pay versions give you alot of bang for the buck. If you're going with a pay version, JT recommends this.
• SafeShopping - This site is created by the American Bar Association and has alot of great information, including tips on the entire online shopping process, from secure connections to how to file a complaint.
• JT's Safe Shopping Tips - As discussed, JT gives you safe shopping tips from his own experience in this month's "Tips/Tricks" feature.
• Cellphone Security - This website not only has ideas on how to get rid of your old phone to charity, but also allows you to find, by manufacturer and model, how to delete your sensitive information before donating (or trashing) your old phone.
  Toward the Future

• IBM's Autonomic Computing - In a scene that seems eerily like "I, Robot", IBM has announced a new set of "autonomic computing products" that include "self-healing" features!
• Divorce, Millennium Style - We all know you can do almost anything online, now folks in Broward County, Florida, can file for small claims court and even divorce, online.
  Holidays 2007

• Kaboodle - This site allows you to create Wish Lists for any online store. Also, you can easily put a "button" on your web browser so that if you find something online, you hit the button to add it to your wish list. Then just email your lists's link to your friends and family!
• NORAD Santa-Tracker - This is JT's perennial favourite site that uses the awesome tracking abilities of the North American Aerospace Defence Command to follow Santa's trip around the world. This year, they've also teamed up with Google Earth to provide mapping of Santa's journey.
• SantaClaus Online - Here it is, the official site of the "Big Guy" himself. Everything from gift ideas to e-cards, including Letters to Santa which allows your kids to send Santa an email and receive a personalized reply.
• Airport Information - Many airports now have their arrival and departure boards available online, saving you the hassle of calling to find out what's going on with a flight. Here are a few of the ones in our region:
  • - Green Bay / Austin Straubel
  • - Appleton / Outagamie County
  • - Milwaukee / Mitchell International
  • - Chicago / O'Hare International
• Road Conditions - The Wisconsin DOT maintains a website that not only keeps track of weather conditions but, more importantly for this time of year, tracks all the construction projects around the state. Check here before leaving on holiday roadtrip.

Here are the Web Sites as mentioned on the October 23, 2007 show. Just click on the link to go to the site.

Changing Technology, Changing Times
• White (Web) Pages - AT&T is talking to the North Carolina Utilities Commission about getting rid of the venerable "white pages" residential listings, citing, amongst other things, online services like realpageslive and yellowpages.com for declining use of the directory.
• Time of Day Out of Time - In another nod to the information society, AT&T has shut down its time of day phone service in Southern California, noting that time services are available on everything from the internet to cell phones.
• Mini Hard Drives Win Nobel - Albert Fert and Peter Grunberg took home the 2007 Nobel Prize for physics. Their discovery of "giant magnetoresistance" (GMR) lead to the miniaturization of disk technology that has accounted for such things as the iPod and cellphone storage.
  Lobotomy Time, Jack!

• Extreme Pumpkins - Tired of the "same old" pumpkin? See if you can match or beat some of these "extreme" carvings -- try, for example, the "Flaming Head" (with real flames!). This site includes video "how tos" as well as tips on tools and techniques.
• Space Invader Pumpkin - Or how about this crossover salute to geeks and the holiday -- a Space Invaders pumpkin complete with the Atari logo!
• Pumpkin Carving How-Tos There are alot of good resources out there, but two of the best are the "for beginners" site Pumpkin Carving 101 (suitable for beginners and kids) and the more advanced The Pumpkin Wizard.
  Halloween Tricks and Treats

• The 13th Track - No, not a movie "just in time for Halloween", this site is where you can find CDs of halloween music and sound effects. It even has a streaming "halloween radio station".
• Halloween Heads - Doing some decorating with those "hanging halloween heads"? The X-Entertainment blog does a review of some of the kitchiest camp available from your local WalMart and KMart.
• Failed Halloween Candy - We all know that around this time of year just about anything gets turned into a colored sugar "treat", but believe it or not, some things were just too nasty to go into production.
• 10 Cool Costumes - Wondering what to go out as this Halloween? Here's the "Mental Floss" Top 10 list of cool homemade costumes.
• The Halloween Safety Game - A kid-friendly site from the publishers of Halloween Magazine that educates your children about staying safe this trick-or-treat season.
• Healthy Halloween Treats - The Food Section of Yahoo! online magazine lists 8 healthy treats for halloween that don't taste like cardboard! And believe it or not, apples and raisins aren't on the list!
  The Spooky Side of Halloween

• 15 Famous Ghost Photos - Want a chill? Check out this picture album of the 15 most famous ghost photos ever taken!
• EVP - JT's favourite site on Electronic Voice Phenomenon. Are they really ghosts? You be the judge. There are some really chilling sounds here and here, so listen with the lights on!
  Over the River and Through the Woods

• National Turkey Federation - If you've never prepared one, or you're looking for some new twists on the holiday classic (or even what to do with leftovers), try the "Pros Prep Turkey" portion of the official site of the official holiday bird
• AllRecipies - This site has it all, from "Turkey Roasting 101" through recipies for all the leftovers
• RecipieSource - Stuck for a side dish? Or something different? Check out RecipieSource.com for recipies from around the world.
• America Supports You - The official site that allows you to send your notes of thanks to servicemen and women serving at home and abroad.
• Road Conditions - The Wisconsin DOT maintains a website that not only keeps track of weather conditions but, more importantly for this time of year, tracks all the construction projects around the state. Check here before leaving on that fall tour.
  The PostScript

• The Den - What does The ComputerGuy do when he's not on the show with Jonathan? He blogs about politics and life.

Here are the Web Sites as mentioned on the September 25, 2007 show. Just click on the link to go to the site.

Autumn Travel
• Wisconsin Fall Color Report - Provided by the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, this includes a map as well as listing of cities and their "peak color rating". You can also subscribe to an email service that will send you information on the color as well as travel ideas and even a listing of festivals.
• Road Conditions - The Wisconsin DOT maintains a website that not only keeps track of weather conditions but, more importantly for this time of year, tracks all the construction projects around the state. Check here before leaving on that fall tour.
  No Call Lists

• No Call Lists Expire in 2008 - As we've told you before, State and Federal Do Not Call Lists are not "perpetual", they need to be renewed. The first of the lists (started in 2003) expire next year.
• Wisconsin No Call List - Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection runs the state's No Call List. This list is updated four times a year, so it may take some time for your number to get on it.
• National Do Not Call Registry - Eventhough you're on the state list, it's a good idea to be on the Federal and vice-versa. Make this an annual stop as well as something you do whenever you move.
  Questions In the News

• Gaming - PC, Xbox or PlayStation? - With the release of Halo 3, not for PC, is this the death-knell for PC gaming? Not hardly. This article compares and contrasts PC and game console gaming.
• Call from the Moon? - A cell phone company, YouNeverCall, is offering a $10,000 prize for the first person to make a cell phone call to their headquarters -- from the moon!
• Copyrighted Pricing? - This question makes you question the sanity of the legal system. Harvard University Bookstore is claiming that their prices are "intellectual property" in order to keep people from comparing them by posting to websites. RIAA must be getting their new lawyers from Harvard.
• Internet Anonymity - Where does someone's right to privacy end and the state's right to proecute begin? A lawsuit against a blogger in Texas is testing that limit.
  Privacy and Anonymity Tools

• JAP - This JAVA-based program allows you to surf the net anonymously by "bouncing" your internet connection across dozens or more servers throughout the world. However, this can affect your speed and surf control programs may puke on it.
• Spybot Search & Destroy - Keep your system clean of trojans, adware and spyware for free!
• Electronic Frontier Foundation - Basically, the EFF is the ACLU of the digital world, working to protect the privacy rights of all netizens.
  The PostScript

• The Den - What does The ComputerGuy do when he's not on the show with Jonathan? He blogs about politics and life.

Here are the Web Sites as mentioned on the August 28, 2007 show. Just click on the link to go to the site.

Breaking News
• Faster Than Light Networks? - German scientists reported earlier this month that they may have broken the last speed barrier to the internet -- the speed of light. Don't expect products for a while, but this is definately a leap in technology.
• Got a Rotten Neighbor? - This website allows you to check on yourself and rate your neighbors, but beware, there's not alot of controls so people could use this to give you a little payback.
• Recording Industry vs The People - Maybe this should be in "Scams" since it involves RIAA, but we'll put it in "Breaking News" instead since this website tracks developments in the court cases both by and against RIAA and their strongarm tactics.
• iPhone iHacked - A New Jersey teen succeeded in hacking into an iPhone and getting off the GSM network, instead putting it on T-Mobile. What does this mean? Well, it's legal, so this may lead to provider competition.
• Your Tax Dollars - Well, not yours, Australia's, but the same idea applies. A 16 year old hacked his way past a pornography filter that the Australian government put in place to "protect" kids. It took him just over 30 minutes to get past the system that cost Australian taxpayers over $84 million.
  Scams

• FBI Scam Warning - Last month, the FBI issued a warning of three very dangerous scams that try to get your personal information and even money -- one that masquerades as an electronic postcard, one that says its from the FBI, and one that claims to be from military members overseas.
• Internet Scammer Nabbed in Flordia - Notorious "Nigerian 419" scammer Rilwan Soetan was arrested earlier this month in Florida. Don't know what a "419" scam is? We bet you've gotten an email, so check the article and it will explain. Want to see some scammers get scammed? Check out the 419Eater website.
  Back to School

• Latops for Less - A great website for purchasing products for your laptop, PDA, iPod and other technology for "back to school".
• Laptop Review - PC Magazine's review and price comparisons for various laptops. This is a good place to do your research before purchasing.
  And Finally...

• The Den - What does The ComputerGuy do when he's not on the show with Jonathan? He blogs about politics and life.

Here are the Web Sites as mentioned on the June 26, 2007 show. Just click on the link to go to the site.

Spam
• Email Bankruptcy? - Nothing to do with paying for your email, this is when you've had it with spam and want to start all over. But is it really that easy? You may want to think twice.
• Google Mail - This free web-based email service features no popups or banners, over 2.5 GB of storage, integrated search engine and a very powerful anti-spam system. Either get invited by a current user or click on the link to find how to get an invitation via your cellphone.
• Challenge/Response Systems - There are dozens of these services available, from free, online email address providers, like Spam-Stop and EmailAddresses to services that work with your existing email address and mailer, like 0Spam and Qurb. Which one is for you? Check out About.Com's article revewing the various options.
• Spamsoap - This is a third-party company that will "scrub" your email, whether private or corporate. You route your email through them, and they apply the filters.
• Choicemail - This is a whitelist service that runs on your computer, so you don't have to "route" your email through someone else. However, you have another program running on your system.
• Fighting Back - Spamcop - This is where you report SPAM you receive. These folks keep a list of spam producers that can be used to avoid spam. Before reporting a spammer, make sure and read their rules!
• DENIED! - In a "win" for all of us, a Seattle judge denied bail for the notorious spam king Robert Solway. This guy has not only skirted the law, but has thumbed his nose at it, ignoring judgements against him. The tables have turned.
  Extortion by Any Other Name

• Net Taxes - Someone once said that taxes are a way of demanding money with menaces. If Congress has their way, you'll soon be taxed on your internet usage.
• NoInternetTax - This organization lobbies to keep taxation and regulation off the internet.
• Not Enough Yachts? - As we've discussed before, RIAA, the Recording Industry Association of America, has been trying to find ways to bolster their bottom lines for a couple of years now, even going so far as to suing children and old ladies for 'piracy'. Now, they take another step in saying that radio play doesn't really help sell their music, so they want radio stations to pay them royalties in addition to the ones stations already pay! How much is enough?
• Fighting Back! - A defendant in a RIAA lawsuit in Florida has filed charges against RIAA for extortion and conspiracy. While this will not be the end of the battle, it's certainly encouraging. More in-depth analysis can be found here.
  New Tech

• Bend Me, Shape Me - Sony has recently unveiled its new OLED (organic LED) thin-film display technology. What does that mean? Flat panel TVs and computer displays the thickness of a sheet of plastic!
• Spare Wall Socket, New Computer - Jade Integration now offers a PC that fits into a standard wall electrical socket. While it won't run your kid's games, it's just fine for internet functions. So why? Think about eliminating the need for bulky desktops or desksides at workstations.
• iPhone Hype - You've probably seen the commercials, but what you don't know is that Apple investors expecting a boost in profits similar to the launch of the iPod may be very disappointed. So check into this before you invest.
  Random Net Droppings

• EAA 2006 - Last year, WOSH News Director Jonathan Krause and JT took videos of some of the activities at EAA's Airventure. The ComputerGuy posted them to his YouTube account, so you can watch and help clog the internet.
• The Den - What does The ComputerGuy do when he's not on the show with Bob? He blogs about politics and life.

Here are the Web Sites as mentioned on the February 27, 2007 show. Just click on the link to go to the site.

Disasters?
• Daylight Savings Time Bug - This isn't really a bug and it's not nearly as threatening as the infamous Millennium Bug. The problem is that back in 2005, Congress passed the Energy Policy Act of 2005, part of which changed the start and end of Daylight Savings Time. Computer programs (and lots of other things) use the old schedule, so their time may be an hour wrong for up to a week.
• Wisconsin Bars Get Extra Hour - But the news isn't all bad, because of the change in Daylight Savings Time, it looks like your favourite watering hole may be open an extra hour this year!
• The Internet is Full? - Thanks in part to the increasing popularity of streaming video from places like YouTube, the internet's "backbone" structure is close to capacity.
  Signs of the Times

• Cellphones vs. Watches - It's happened... the cellphone has become more ubiquitous than the wristwatch.
• Postal Mailboxes Going by the Wayside - As more and more folks go "electronic", the use of the old reliable postal mailbox keeps declining. Is that why the price of stamps keeps going up?
• IRS and EBay - Had fun selling your old stuff on Ebay? It seems that the IRS has gotten wind of all that "undocumented cash" and wants their cut.
• Avoid "Real" Junk Mail" - Decidedly 'low tech' junk mail that shows up in your postal mailbox is as annoying as the electronic stuff. Here's how you can stop alot of it.
  Content on the Web

• Edmunds - This online version of the Edmunds Catalog is a great source for not only used car prices, but also new car prices and reviews. You can also use it to search for where specific used cars can be found.
• Kelley's Blue Book - As in "blue book price", this is the official site of the venerable used and new car publication. You can't get much more authoritative than this site for pricing out vehicles.
• Epinions - Want to find out a seller or product from people who've actualled used them? Have an opinion (good or bad) yourself on a product or service? This site allows you to find unbiased (well, by the manufacturers) opinions from consumers like you and its free.
• EAA 2006 - Last year, WOSH News Director Jonathan Krause and JT took videos of some of the activities at EAA's Airventure. The ComputerGuy posted them to his YouTube account, so you can watch and help clog the internet.
• The Den - What does The ComputerGuy do when he's not on the show with Bob? He blogs about politics and life.

Here are the Web Sites as mentioned on the January 23, 2007

RFID
• Understanding Radio Frequency ID - What's RFID? This Wikipedia article explains it in plain english.
• Report on Vulnerabilities - This article explains the security concerns of RFID technology in credit cards.
• Diabling Credit Card RFID - So how do you protect yourself? Step one, take a ball peen hammer (no, we're not kidding). Step two, check this site.
  Creating Content
  or, Giving Back to the Web
  or, Exercising your First Amendment Rights

• Blogging - First, what the heck is a blog? It's a "web log" that allows you to create your own web page. Call it an online diary, call it a place of your own on the net, or call it your own personal "soap box", it's a great and easy way to get your thoughts and opinions out on the net. Two of the most popular places to create blogs are Myspace, a Google service, and 360, a service of Yahoo!. Both are free and very easy to use.
• Photo Sharing - Ok, so you have all those digital photos on your computer, but how do you share them with friends and family? Photo-sharing sites like Flikr and Dropshots allow you to create your own online photo albums, that even have slideshow features!
• Video Sharing and Video Blogging - Just like Photo Sharing, you can also share your homemade videos to friends and family. But beyond that, there's the new craze called vlogging (video blogging). Instead of writing stuff down, you can just create a video diary of your thoughts and post them to sites like YouTube, Dropshots and Grouper.
• Geriatric1927 - Think you're too old to do this blogging and vlogging stuff? proved, starting in 2006, that you don't have to be a youngster to get in on these new technologies. Heck, if he can figure it out, why not you?
• Wiki - What the heck? Wiki? Isn't that a game? No, it's a term that means, essentially, "open editing" or "community content". These are places where you, the anonymous web person, can contribute to information available on the web. This phenomenon covers everything from movies to the famous online encyclopedia, Wikipedia. So, if you've got information that no one else has, feel free to contribute to true "world knowledge".
  Limits to Free Speech?

• Limits on Blogging? - As I note in my own blog, the new Congress has introduced its first Senate Bill, which includes limits on bloggers! You have to wonder what they're afraid of.
• Mix Tapes? NIX! - That's right. RIAA has decided to crack down on so-called "pirates" by forming it's very own SWAT team and raiding DJs who create mix tapes. Is your house next? Again, something I talk about in my blog.

No-Call Lists
• Wisconsin No-Call List - This list is kept by the State of Wisconsin. When you sign up, you're on the list for two years. However, it doesn't hurt to sign up more often than that, so you may just want to make this an annual event. The first of the year is a good time to remember to do this. Be aware that this list is only updated approximately 4 times per year, so it may take a while to see a decrease in calls.
• National Do Not Call Registry - This Do Not Call list is maintained by the federal government. You'll need a valid email address as the registration isn't complete until you receive an email from the site and follow sits directions. The list is updated every 30 days, so it only takes a maximum of 31 days for your number to get listed.
• Free Reminder Services - Want to remember to do things like sign up for the Do Not Call lists? There are plenty of free services on the web, but be careful what information you give them and pay attention to how they will use your email address.
  Celebrating the New Year

• History of New Year's Celebrations - Ever wonder who started it all and where some of our traditions come from around this celebration? This site is a great resource for answering those questions.
• New Year's Clock - This web-based clock updates every second with a countdown to midnight -- invaluable for those who need to be 'exact' in their celebrations.
• Times Square - Of course, no matter where you are, one of the premier events is the "ball drop" in Times Square, New York City. This page gives you the lowdown on the story as well as a countdown clock.
• Earthcam Ball Drop - Glued to your computer on New Year's Eve? Stuck at work? You can watch the festivities in Times Square through the services of EarthCam.
• Food and Party Ideas - The Food Network has a page dedicated to ideas for your New Year's Eve party. From recipies to tips on the proper (and safe) way to open champagne, the Food Network covers it all.
• Top 10 Mystery Photos of 2006 - Everyone has top 10 lists around this time, but I like this one the best. It's off-beat and makes you wonder.
  New Year, New You

• Making Attainable Resolutions - If you're like most folks, many of the resolutions you've made have been discarded rather quickly. This site tells you how to make and keep those promises to yourself.
• Balance For Life - A new T'ai Chi and Learning Center in Green Bay. Check out their online calendar for lists of classes and times.
• YMCA Plans for the New Year - Just about every community YMCA has a plan to help you shed the holiday pounds and keep your New Year's resolutions. You can click on these communities for their local affiliates: Oshkosh, Appleton and Fox Cities, Green Bay.

Here are the Web Sites as mentioned on the November 28, 2006 show. Just click on the link to go to the site.

Online Protection for Holidays and Every Day
• MaxProtect Predator Guard - In cooperation with the National Center for Missing or Exploited Children and the SafeNow Project, these folks have developed software that searches for thousands of key phrases used by sexual predators. If found, it alerts the parents through email. Can't watch your kid 24x7? This is one tool to help.
• SafeShopping - This site is created by the American Bar Association and has alot of great information, including tips on the entire online shopping process, from secure connections to how to file a complaint.
• JT's Safe Shopping Tips - As discussed, JT gives you safe shopping tips from his own experience in this month's "Tips/Tricks" feature.
• Protecting Your Cell Phone Secrets - Buying a cellphone for someone for the holidays? Upgrading yours? Beware of these "gotchas" that may lead to identity theft!
• Wireless Recycling - This website not only has ideas on how to get rid of your old phone to charity, but also allows you to find, by manufacturer and model, how to delete your sensitive information before donating (or trashing) your old phone.
• 80% of Spam from These Few - The anti-spam site Spamhaus estimates that nearly 80% of all spam originates with just 200 spammers, worldwide, with the majority coming from just 10 of these guys.
  Online Christmas 2006

• Virtual Red Kettles - Want to help out the Salvation Army with their annual appeal but don't have the time or stamina for standing outside ringing a bell? This site allows you to set up a "virtual red kettle" to collect donations, from your website.
• Animation Station - Looking to add a bit of pizzaz to your website for Christmas? This site has a huge number of animated GIF images that you can cut and paste onto your own website, including a bunch of Christmas and holiday-themed items.
• NORAD Santa-Tracker - Updated for 2006, this is the perennial favourite site that uses the awesome tracking abilities of the North American Aerospace Defence Command to follow Santa's trip around the world. They even have a section for downloads that have games, coloring books and music!
• SantaClaus Online - Here it is, the official site of the "Big Guy" himself. Everything from gift ideas to e-cards, including Letters to Santa which allows your kids to send Santa an email and receive a personalized reply.
• Airport Information - Many airports now have their arrival and departure boards available online, saving you the hassle of calling to find out what's going on with a flight. Here are a few of the ones in our region:
  • - Green Bay / Austin Straubel
  • - Appleton / Outagamie County
  • - Milwaukee / Mitchell International
  • - Chicago / O'Hare International
  Hi-Tech Gifts

• Plasma vs. LCD - Now that you can get widescreen TVs for under $1000, which technology is right for you? CNET gives you the skinny. Also, remember that HiDef TV from your local channels is not just on the way, it's here, so be prepared.
• iPod Accessories - Got a kid with an iPod? This is the official site for accessories, though you can find a ton of other places to go.
• 4AllMemory - A great option for techheads always is "more memory". Not sure the type of memory their computer, camera or MP3 player has? Check this site with their handy selectors by manufacturer, model or category.

Here are the Web Sites as mentioned on the September 26, 2006 show. Just click on the link to go to the site.

Computer Security
• Dangers of Stolen Computers - A number of stories, lately, from lost evidence to disgruntled hackers serve as warnings that computer security begins "at home".
• Application and Windows Locking - The easiest way to secure things, you can use either builtin (Windows,MacOS, Linux or Windows) screen locking program, or a third party one like Desktop Lock. While this will stop casual sneaks, these kind of things can be defeated by someone with a little bit of knowledge.
• BIOS locks - These can be very good, because they are in your computer's hardware and keep someone from even booting up your computer without a password. But if you lose your password, you can be stuck, and they are not undefeatable. Companies like Password Crackers, Inc. offer not only services to unlock your BIOS password if you forget it, but also replacement computer chips that give better security than the standard BIOS password systems. However, if someone opens the computer, they can still find ways to access your data.
• Data Encryption - Products like Jetico's BestCrypt, Windows Bitlocker (Vista only), and Truecrypt allow you to set up "encrypted" virtual hard drives on your computer.
  Free Software

• Dark Room - This is a clone of the old Macintosh progream "WriteRoom". It's a basic, no frills, word processor that's smarter than Notepad, but not overloaded on features.
• OpenOffice - The largest competitor to the Microsoft Office (TM) suite, this is a fully-integrated set of office programs (word processing, spreadsheet, etc.) that not only read and write all the Microsoft formats, but is available on Windows, Mac and Linux for free! But if you really want, you can order it on CD, too. Version 2 now adds an Access(tm)-like database, so everything from MS Office is there.
• OldVersion - Ever needed an older version of some software, say Instant Messanger, because the new versions won't work with your older system and you have to reinstall it? This site keeps old version of many popular programs, and they are free for your download.
• Open Source Freeware - This site has over 400 freeware utilities for downloading. They're all categorized, so you can find just what you need by the function you require, instead of having to know the name.
  Net Neutrality

• Sen. Kennedy on Net Neutrality - What is Net Neutrality? Put simply, telcom providers want to start charging hyou for your access speed , giving preference to those who pay more, and also restricting what they give you access to, unless you pay the "unlimited" access fee. Ted Kennedy explains.
• Pennsylvania's Proposed Law - Now that Senator Stevens' bill appears to be dying in Congress, telecom providers are "taking it to the states". Pennsylavia is the first, but all they will need is one precident. Voice your opposition.

Vulnerabilities (for your computer and your wallet)
• CPU Virus - A feature for updating AMD processors can be used to make viruses.
• Next Windows Version - Wanna upgrade your Microsoft Windows version (something that you'll have to do to run the "new stuff")? Get ready to pay. Or give up and arm and a leg.
  Getting Away from MicroSoft

• RedHat Fedora - The commercial version is best for business (in fact, it's what IBM sells and supports). But for home use the free version is easy to use and very popular.
• Linspire - A "for pay" Linux version that's extremely popular due to its ease of installation, use, and resemblence to that MicroSoft product (Windows). At $50, it's alot less than Vista!
• Windows to Linux: A Beginner's Guide - So how do you move from Windows to Linux? This guide shows you how easy it is!
• Beginner's Introduction to the KDE Desktop - This guide can help you navigate through the most commonly used desktop, called KDE
• OpenOffice - The largest competitor to the Microsoft Office (TM) suite, this is a fully-integrated set of office programs (word processing, spreadsheet, etc.) that not only read and write all the Microsoft formats, but is available on both Windows and Linux for free! But if you really want, you can order it on CD, too.
• NVU - This is a rockin' website development tool.
• The GiMP - This graphics manipulation program walks, talks and acts like Adobe Photosop.
• Jahshaka - Want to do some serious video editing and manipulation? Check this out.
• Audacity - And use this for everything from casual to professional sound editing.
  Around the Web

• Wikipedia - What's "wikipedia"? An online (free) encyclopedia that ANYONE can contribute to, edit and update.
• Gas Map - Where are the lowest gas prices in your area? Going on a trip? Check this county-by-county US map.

Go here for EAA Airventure 2006 pictures and Interview Schedule.

In the News
• Government Deregulates Internet - On Wednesday, April 26, the US Government will back out of all regulation of internet pricing. Read for the rising rates?
• Gas Price Map - This US map shows you, county by county, gas prices throughout the nation. But what's really handy is that when you click on a county, you get the prices at stations throughout that area, often as recent as a few hours old!
• RIAA Sues Computerless Family - The Recording Industry and Artists' Association (RIAA), who has gained noteriety for suing music downloaders in a hapharard fashion, has reached a new low -- they've sued a family in Georgia for downloading songs, but the family doesn't even own a computer!
  Warm-up for EAA

• Firsts.... - First photo of the cockpit of the brand new "fly by wire" Airbus A380-841
• and Lasts... - The last Boeing 717 left the factory, yesterday, after a production run of 70 years
• AirVenture - Official website of the 2006 Airventure

Here are the Web Sites as mentioned on the March 28, 2006 show. Just click on the link to go to the site.

Thanks go to our resident tax expert, Barb Bader from Fox Valley CPA's for all her information and tips.
The Tax-Man Cometh
• IRS - Yup, the Eternal Revenue Service. But their site is suprisingly helpful and not nearly as daunting as their forms. It includes not only downloadable forms, but also good tips on Identity Theft as well as free software that will allow you to prepare and file your taxes online.
• Wisconsin DOR - The official site for the state Department of Revenue also has the state forms available, checklists of what you need to complete your taxes, and even a FreeFile online program like the IRS
• DOR Delinquent List - Are you on it? Know someone who is?
  More Government "Fun"

• FEC and the Internet - Amazingly, the federal government will not try to regulate some parts of the internet; at least those regarding political campaigns.
• Winnebago County Election Results - Looking for the official results as they come in? Check out the Winnebago County Clerk's webpage

Here are the Web Sites as mentioned on the February 28, 2006 show. Just click on the link to go to the site.

The Scourge of SPAM
• Google Mail - This free web-based email service features no popups or banners, over 2.5 GB of storage, integrated search engine and a very powerful anti-spam system. Either get invited by a current user or click on the link to find how to get an invitation via your cellphone.
• Spamcop - This is where you report SPAM you receive. These folks keep a list of spam producers that can be used to avoid spam. Before reporting a spammer, make sure and read their rules!
• Challenge/Response Systems - There are dozens of these services available, from free, online email address providers, like Spam-Stop and EmailAddresses to services that work with your existing email address and mailer, like 0Spam and Qurb. Which one is for you? Check out About.Com's article revewing the various options.
• The Pros and Cons of Challenge/Response - Brad Templeton, one of the longtime denizens of the net, wrote the very first email C/R (challenge/response) system to try and cut down on spam. After years at the game, he's got a very good idea of what is good and bad about this approach to anti-spam.
  Tech News

• A La Carte Cable - The FCC has reversed its decision and admitted that so-called "a-la carte" selection of channels will save you money.
• Ripping CD to Your iPod? Illegal - The Recording Industry and Artists Association (RIAA) has opined that ripping CDs you already own onto your iPod is a violation of "fair use". How much longer until whistling a tune is a violation of fair use?
• Blackberry Jam - It doesn't look likely that Research In Motion and NTP, fighting over patent rights on the BlackBerry phone/messaging/internet technology will be solved anytime soon. Now's not the time to buy one.

Viruses and Scams
• Santa Claus Worm - Do NOT open the email promising a picture of Santa. It will install a "rootkit" on your computer that will enable hackers to take control of your computer. If you think you've already been infected by this, update your virus scanning software and run a full system check. Technical details of this worm can be found at Symantec Antivirus website.
• W32.Sober.X@mm - The "Sober" worm is by far the biggest one out there, right now. Once it infects your system, it lowers your system's security, and then uses its own builtin email server to send itself to every email address it can find on your computer. Luckily, a simple update and scan with your antivirus software will take care of this threat.
• Illegal Website FBI Scam - Gotten an email from "the FBI" that claims you've visited "illegal websites"? It's a scam that delivers a virus to your system. Luckily, your virus scanner, updated, can take care of this for you.
  Anti-Virus Software

• F-Secure - Probably the least well-known of the commercial antivirus packages, F-Secure is, nonetheless, a good package that is priced at $59.95 and also offers family licenses and corporate versions.
• Symantec Anti-Virus - Also known as "Norton", this is the "granddaddy" of the anti-virus packages. Priced starting at $39.95, you also need to subscribe to their update service to keep current. But it's a small price to pay for the security it gives.
• McAfee Viruscan - The other "big" package, this one offers No payments until February 1st, 2006 if you buy before the 31st of December.
  Case Mods

• Case Mods - Tired of the same old computer? Have a hobby like woodworking, metalworking, or even macrame? Why not combine them and do your own "case mod" (that stands for "case modification". The site, above, as well as a number of others (CaseModGod, BlueSmoke, etc.) give you tons of ideas for making your PC unique! You can even buy some special parts you might need to fit your modded case, here.
• The Wooden Computer - This guy is one heck of a good woodworker. He made everything from a wooden case (with rolltop opening) for his monitor to a wooden mouse! But one guy took it a step further with a wood iPod case mod!
• My favorite -In this case mod, the builder used a wicker basket and with some clever use of mirrors gave the optical illusion of the basket being empty!
• 10 Wierdest Case Mods - If that didn't give you ideas, try this one with everything from a "weapons of mass destruction" case to a lifesize Japanese anime doll case!
  Miscellanii

• Internet Usage Statistics - Leave it to the U.S.; with only 5.1% of the world's population, we account for 23% of the world's internet users. Interesting statistics on usage versus population can be found here.
• FutureMe - Want to leave yourself a message from your past? This site lets you send yourself an email at any time in the future. Alot of folks are using this as a "where are you now" kind of thing, set anywhere from 2 to 10 years into the future to remind themselves of their goals and aspirations.
• Immortality - NASA is compiling names to be encoded on a special disk and sent with the Dawn Spacecraft to the asteroid belt. You can include your name, for free, to be preserved on the spacecraft for millions of years to come.

Here are the Web Sites as mentioned on the November 22, 2005 show. Just click on the link to go to the site.