Jim’s WebLetter for 2/6/10

Hi-ya WebLetter readers!

Well it didn’t take long for a cloud to form over the release of the new Apple IPad I reported on last week as a Chinese firm now claims that Apple stole the design and name from them and they’re planning on a lawsuit. Shenzhen Great Loong Industrial claims their P88 computer, which can be seen on their site … http://en.hkjulong.com/Product-35.html … is “exactly the same”. According to their executive director, “The P88’s appearance, system and mode are all accomplished by our own engineers,” and says the company has already signed deals to ship the P88 to France, Germany, Japan and the United States. Should be interesting to follow this story.

This weekend is Superbowl Weekend and Mashable.com has listed the top 8 social media resources to follow the game and everything that’s going on around it, including the commercials exclusive to the game … http://mashable.com/2010/02/05/super-bowl-resources/

Facebook folks, guess what? They’ve changed things on your page again. Seems the developers keep coming up with different things to do with the Facebook design and now when you go to your site, you will find they have moved your categories around in an effort to simplify what you see and how you access your pages and applications. Here’s a video of Product Manager Peter Deng explaining the changes … http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hp6TkzuKfDE&feature=player_embedded

In a story printed in the NY Times, Sarah Perez of ReadWriteWeb wrote of the changes Facebook made on your privacy that bears a few minutes of your time. She points out that Facebook has adopted the attitude that it’s OK for everyone to see your private information. If you don’t agree, just follow her directions to protect yourself and your friends … http://nyti.ms/4z8wA1

“An ounce of protection is worth a pound of cure” certainly pertains to your computer. It’s always a smart thing to check for anti virus updates and regularly clean your computer to prevent viruses from getting in and messing up your system.

Here’s a tip to remember if your computer somehow becomes infected with a virus. When you start your computer and the pop ups begin, press down the Alt key then hit F4. This shuts down any program. Then open Firefox, Chrome or Opera browsers to access the internet and download an anti virus program. The tipsters tell us not to use Internet Explorer as it seems to have a port that allows viruses to come back in after you have cleaned the system.

I have Avast (http://www.avast.com) in my wife’s XP computer and currently use Avira (http://www.free-av.com/) on my Windows 7 laptop. If you don’t have it already, you will also want to download CC Cleaner (http://www.ccleaner.com/). Use them to clean up your system. Lastly, if you continue to have problems, try System Restore. In Windows XP, right click on My Computer and click Properties. Click on the System Restore tab, and make sure the Turn off System Restore checkbox is not checked. (It feels backwards, I know …). If you’re turning on System Restore, especially for the first time, it may then create a restore point, so it may take just a minute to complete. Windows 7 users, go to Start, Control Panel and System Security to fix the issues.

<===HuMoR===>
Although a bright and able man, my husband is almost completely helpless when faced with even the simplest domestic chore.
One day, in exasperation, I pointed out to him that our friend, Betty, had taught her husband Frank to cook, sew and do laundry, and that if anything ever happened to Betty, Frank would be able to care for himself.
Then I said, “What would you do if anything happened to me?”
After considering that possibility for a moment, my husband said happily, “I’d move in with Frank.”
(thanks, Toni)
+++++++++++++++++++++++
To pass the time while our plane was being de-iced, the flight attendants played a trivia game with the passengers. They asked us to guess the total number of years the three of them had worked for the airlines.
After an attendant collected our estimates, we heard the announcement:
“The correct answer is 26 years. For the two people who came closest with 28 years, we have prizes. And for the passenger in seat 12F who guessed 85 years, would you please step off the plane once we are airborne.”
(thanks, Madeline and welcome as a new JWL reader!)
+++++++++++++++++++++++
As an engineer in an upscale hotel, I was asked to repair or replace the television in a guest room. When I arrived, the couple was watching a picture one-third the size of the screen.
I knew all our spare sets were in use, so I figured what the heck – I struck the side of the TV with the heel of my hand. The picture returned to full size.
“Look, honey,” said the wife to her husband. “He went to the same repair school as you.”
(thanks, Rob … yea, we all went to that school)
+++++++++++++++++++++++
A guy is sitting at home when he hears a knock at the door. He opens the door and sees a snail on the porch. He picks up the snail and throws it as far as he can. Three years later, there’s a knock on the door. He opens it and sees the same snail. The snail says “What the heck was that all about?”
(thanks, Ralph)
=======================
So enjoy your weekend, try to stay out of trouble and as always, may God bless you and keep you safe.

c-ya!
Jim
Jim’s WebLetter
Discover the best of the Web
C-my-site at www.jimonline.com

Jim’s WebLetter for 1/30/10

Hi-ya webfolks!

It’s the weekend and time to reflect on the Web events of the past few days. Boy, has it been interesting! Maybe it cam be summed up in one word … Apple. Fortunately, there are a few other things happening on the wide wonderful Web, so let me show you a few in this week’s JWL …

The long anticipated release of the Apple tablet came out this week … to mixed reviews. Maybe all the hype is what the tech world needs as we get into a new year that promises great things. But with the release of this new device, what we all need to remember is first generation products tend to have limited features or abilities. The i-Pad falls under that category. I don’t know who came up with the name, but it’s sure to cause a lot of problems as it’s name has already been copyrighted by another company (Fujitsu). I turned to CNET to view and read a comprehensive study on the new device which I believe you will find interesting. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10443604-37.html?tag=mncol;txt

It’s now 2010 (for those living in a cave) and one thing has become apparent after the first decade of the 21st century: Television and radio news organizations have become the “old way” of reporting breaking news. Twitter and Facebook have become the new way. Matter of fact, ABC News happened to be monitoring Facebook when the story of the Haitian earthquake broke. Twitter’s millions of ‘tweeters’ keep each other up to date by the minute while applications like Facebook Connect, provide a quick alternative that literally connects readers with stories and events as they happen.

What this is signaling is the news organizations must learn to tune in and keep up, or they will fall by the wayside. It’s already happening with the newspaper industry (105 newspaper organizations were closed by mid 2009). And now TV news is finding fewer viewers as more people get their news from the Web (new Pew research just released for January 2010).

This is all being aided by the fact that more people are terminating their TV subscriptions and are using the internet as their source for entertainment and the news (http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/02/06/internet.tv/index.html). The new TV’s being sold are internet-ready. Just plug and play. Matter of fact, with the Superbowl comes super prices at places like Walmart who are offering deep discounts on new top-line televisions tomorrow (http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE60S5UU20100129). Couple that with the fact that rising unemployment cuts into the family budget, and the fact that many people are becoming disatisfied with much of TV’s programming content, the internet is becoming the alternative rather than just an enhancement to viewing. http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/mar/10/100500/na-tv-is-just-a-click-away/

My wife still loves the Kindle I got her last year. This weekend we’ve been having a garage sale to unload stuff we don’t want to take with us in our move to a new home here on the island. We put out boxes of books she no longer wants to hang on to because, first, she can get them on her Kindle and second, they take up space. We sold all but one box of books in the first hour. All the while, she sits and reads from her little Kindle and when that book is done, she downloads another and continues reading. It sure beats boxing up pounds of paperbacks and hundreds of hardbounds, I can assure you. Now, there’s a social networking site that helps you avoid a bad read. Review books, build reading lists, and get great book recommendations. But the best thing about Book Army is the ability to make direct contact with your favorite authors. http://bookarmy.com/

For me, I’m less about books and more about magazines and news websites. For magazines, one that surpasses almost any other is the Smithsonian. Their publication is superb. Simply put, with the Magazine of the Smithsonian Institution, you can see and read explorations in art, history, and science. Be sure to check out “Travel” while you’re there … http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

<===HuMoR===>
At the UPS cargo phone center where I worked, a woman called and said, “I need a baseball quote.”
I immediately answered with Yogi Berra’s famous “It ain’t over ’til it’s over!”
There was a brief moment of silence before the woman asked, “What was that?”
“You asked me for a baseball quote, and that was the first thing that came into my head.”
“Oh … my husband told me to call and get a baseball quote.”
“Does he want to ship something?”
“Yes.”
“Maybe he meant a ballpark figure?”
(thanks, Jack)
+++++++++++++++++++++++
I got in a fight one time with a really big guy, and he said, “I’m going to mop the floor with your face!”
I said, “You’ll be sorry.”
He said, “Oh, yeah? Why?”
I said, “Well, It’s not very absorbent and you won’t be able to get into the corners very well.”
(thanks, Jim)
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Overheard in a Social Security office:
“I’d like to apply for Disability, please.”
“What is your disability?”
“I’m having trouble with my eyes.”
“What kind of eye trouble?”
“I can’t see myself going to work.”
(thanks, Dorothy)
+++++++++++++++++++++++
My husband and I decided to take our two children, then ages seven and three, to our favorite “adult” restaurant for the first time. The younger child refused to stay in her seat and danced around our table. Her sister, tears rolling down her face, laughed loudly at the three-year-old’s antics and pounded the table.
Beet-red with embarrassment, my husband warned them through clenched teeth, “If you don’t start behaving, you’ll never eat out with us again!”
The man at the next table leaned over to his wife. “Look dear,” he said. “Quality time!”
(thanks, Reggie … been there, done that)
=======================
Have a great weekend, and may God bless you and keep you safe.

c-ya!
Jim
Jim’s WebLetter
Discover the best of the Web
C-my-site at www.jimonline.com

=============================================================
Jim’s WebLetter is a weekly email newsletter compiled and sent by Jim
Swaringen, webmaster, to subscribers who agree to receive the email.
All information received upon subscription is held private and will
never be sold to another source. To unsubscribe, simply send an email
to jim@jimonline.com with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.

Jim’s WebLetter for 1/23/10

Hi-ya neighbors and friends!

It’s Saturday morning and time for another edition of Jim’s WebLetter. In this week’s JWL, YouTube, Google Chrome, traveling by boat, and how life works are on my mind … here’s what I discovered:

YouTube is forever changing and improving itself. Just in the past few weeks they’ve added HD quality to video display. The result of all their work is a video page chock-full of features that reflect a lot of different things to a lot of different people, but can feel cluttered and a little overwhelming. So the folks a YT have been taking comments from users and this week released a streamlined video page offering the best possible watching experience currently available. The streamlined look and functionality is more subdued, stripped down and simple than before. New player sizing and video quality controls allow you to pick a larger size to watch your video. When you pick the size, the YouTube server picks the ideal quality but you can also pick the specific video quality (SD, HD or 1080p).

To check out this new look all you have to do is opt-in. Click on this link to try it out …
http://youtube.com/watch5?enable=1&next_url=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DjqxENMKaeCU

Another place to search … if you visit the “Shows” link (http://www.youtube.com/shows), you’ll find a huge collection of TV programs available. My favorite is Classic TV (Jack Benny, You Bet Your Life, The Avengers, Bat Masterson). Select from the list on the left and explore.

If you’ve been playing with the idea of using a new browser (especially after my report last week about Internet Explorer), you may decide to use Google’s Chrome browser. If you already have their “Voice” phone system, now the two are integrated allowing you to make phone calls right from the Chrome browser. The Google Voice extension on Chrome adds a small box in the upper right of the browser. You can type in a name or phone number and call or SMS (Short Message Service) it from the browser, and read recent text messages and transcribed voicemails. Where I have a Google Voice number, I haven’t been using it much as my Verizon calling plan has given me enough minutes I never run over. But, what I have seen is Google slowly integrating all it’s services into a single system, powered by it’s Chrome browser. And that is going to make life so much simpler. Download Chrome and try it out … http://www.google.com/chrome
Download and install the Google Voice extension (you must have a Voice account – it’s free) …
https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/kcnhkahnjcbndmmehfkdnkjomaanaooo
Read more about the Voice/Chrome set up … http://www.techcrunch.com/2010/01/23/google-voice-extensions-chrome-chromium/

The wonders of the Web extend into travel and vacations and have for years. Using sites like Expedia and Travelocity, at one time, gave you deep discounts when setting up travel. Now here’s a site that will set you up with deep (up to 70%) discounts on cruises. Vacations To Go keeps tabs on unsold cabins, and when you sign up, will send you information on booking them and provide great rates. Their 90-day ticker contains the complete listing of last-minute cruises. Note that the average availability is less than 7 days. The site also has a “Find A Bargain” link that shows you early bird specials, two-for-one promotions and more on every cruise line in the world. There’s no charge to register, and no obligation. Want to cruise? Visit http://www.vacationstogo.com/?source=asn1

I discovered that cruise information on a site called “How Life Works”. This site is a bookmark waiting to happen. Choose from such categories as Business, Careers, Technology, and Travel, and find a treasure trove of articles and links for all sorts of things to take advantage of. Under Finance, for instance, there’s an article on reducing the cost of your auto insurance by comparison shopping. All the stories are practical and are easy to understand. http://www.howlifeworks.com/

<===HuMoR===>
An airline reservation agent took a call from a man who wanted to book a flight for two but wasn’t happy with the price of $59 per ticket.
“I want the $49 fare I saw advertised,” he insisted, saying he would accept a flight at any time.
The agent managed to find two seats on a 6 a.m. flight.
“I’ll take it,” he said, then worried his wife might not like the early hour.
The agent warned there was a fee of $25 per person if he changed the reservation.
“Oh, that’s no problem,” he said dismissively. “What’s fifty bucks?”
(thanks, Roger)
+++++++++++++++++++++++
At our Mother/Daughter banquet, the pastor’s wife asked for the daughters to come forward to share what their mothers had taught them. She choose my 14-year-old daughter first. As I sat there reviewing all the wonderful things I had taught her, she said to the crowd, “My mom taught me to love my body now, because I’m going to hate it when I’m 40.”
(thanks, Sheila)
+++++++++++++++++++++++
The small town’s sheriff was also its veterinarian. One night the phone rang and his wife answered.
An agitated voice inquired, “Is your husband there?”
“Do you require his services as a sheriff or as a vet?”
“Both. We can’t get our dog’s mouth open, and there’s a burglar in it.”
(thanks, Kathy)
+++++++++++++++++++++++
In the back woods of Arkansas, Mr. Stewart’s wife went into labor in the middle of the night, and the doctor was called out to assist in the delivery. To keep the nervous father-to-be busy, the doctor handed him a lantern and said, “Here, you hold this high so I can see what I’m doing.” Soon, a wee baby boy was brought into the world. “Whoa there Scotty!” said the doctor. “Don’t be in a rush to put the lantern down… I think there’s yet another wee one to come.” Sure enough, within minutes he had delivered another little baby. “No, no, don’t be in a great hurry to be putting down that lantern, young man… It seems there’s yet another one besides!” cried the doctor. The new father scratched his head in bewilderment, and asked the doctor: “Do ya think it’s the light that’s attractin’ them?”..
(thanks, Angus)
=======================
Make it a great weekend, and until next week, may God bless you and keep you safe.

c-ya!
Jim
Jim’s WebLetter
Discover the best of the Web
C-my-site at www.jimonline.com

Jim’s WebLetter for 1/16/10

Hi-ya Webfriends!

This week, the news was filled with stories of internet theft. When a company the size of Google with it’s international reach calls for changes, it’s time to stop and listen.

As many know by now, I am not a fan of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser. While there are a number of nice features in the newer version, the fact remains, it’s also vulnerable to attacks by people who know how to use it to enter credit card and bank accounts and steal millions of dollars. China, we have now learned, has such people who are using their country’s laws of security against American businesses like Google and have been stealing important material and information to use to their own advantage.

In stories published this week across the Web, Google is taking matters at hand and, with the help of the American government, has been shutting down their connections with the Chinese. Now they are threatening to pull out of the Asian country altogether unless something is done to crack down on the information piracy. Microsoft and Google have discovered that the entries into databases have been as a result of yet another “hole” in the security system of Internet Explorer. Microsoft has said it is working on a patch, but as it has always done in the past, it is not completely securing up it’s software before releasing it to the public.

I know what many of you are thinking … “an attack can’t happen to me”. Yet each year, thousands of people have their identity stolen and used to empty bank accounts and run up thousands of dollars in bills using credit card information. On the corporate level, Google announced this week that some 30 businesses in Silicon Valley had sensitive information stolen by the Chinese.

So, what is the answer? Microsoft has said that IE users need to change their security settings in the browser to “high” from the default setting. Meanwhile, they are working on a patch for the new entry. I say it’s time to change the browser we use to something more secure, and less likely to be hacked. It may mean millions of people will have to adjust their way of getting on the internet. But the question remains, “do you want to be safe while you are on the Web, or risk an attack that could cost you everything you own”?

In 2008, PhoneBusters reported 12,142 identity-theft complaints in Canada alone and losses amounting to $9,590,385.05. Here in America, the number of reported cases in that same time frame was more than double. While there are many things we can do to protect ourselves, the fact remains how we use the internet coupled with what we use to access the internet is the determining factor to our security.

Read the story from CNET here … http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-10435232-245.html?tag=nl.e496

Bookmark the page from the Federal Trade Commission on what you need to do if your identity is stolen … http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/idtheft/idt07.shtm

Make sure your computer has a good anti virus program installed. Download.com rates them by consumer reports and makes them available for download from their site … http://download.cnet.com/windows/antivirus-software/

Finally, consider trying out another browser to connect to the internet. Firefox and Google make excellent browsers that have a better security measure built in. http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/ http://www.google.com/chrome

This is the year for many new and wonderful innovations that attach themselves to the Web. It is also the year for better security as criminals are finding ways of stealing without ever having to leave their home. Be smart. Get protected.

<===HuMoR===>
I had been thinking about coloring my hair. One day while going through a magazine, I came across an ad for a hair-coloring product featuring a beautiful young model with hair a shade that I liked. Wanting a second opinion, I asked my husband, “How do you think this color would look on a face with a few wrinkles?” He looked at the picture, crumpled it up, straightened it out and studied it again. “Just great, Honey.”
(thanks, Betty)
+++++++++++++++++++++++
My wife and I were visiting her 95-year-old grandfather when he asked us to take him to buy a new hat. My wife took me aside. “I’m worried that he doesn’t have enough money, and he’ll be very embarrassed,” she said.
So I asked the salesperson to tell my wife’s grandfather that whichever hat he chose cost $15. I would pay the difference. Grandpa picked out a hat and was charged $15.
After he left, I paid the other $45 of the price. Later Grandpa said, “What a bargain! The last one I bought there cost me $60.”
(thanks, Ken)
+++++++++++++++++++++++
A wife went to the police station with her next-door neighbor to report that her husband was missing. The policeman asked for a description.
She said, “He’s 35 years old, 6 foot 4, had dark eyes, dark wavy hair, an athletic build, weighs 185 pounds, is soft-spoken, and is good to the children.”
The next-door neighbor protested, “Your husband is 5 foot 4 inches, chubby, bald, has a big mouth, and is mean to your children.”
The wife replied, “Yes, but who wants HIM back?”
(thanks, Tony)
+++++++++++++++++++++++
About a month or so ago, after much deliberation, I bought a magnolia tree from our local nursery. After only a few weeks I noticed that the leaves had started to shrivel and the tree appeared to be on its last legs in spite of my tender care.
So I took some leaf samples and marched back to the nursery to demand an explanation or get my money back.
“I know exactly what’s wrong with your magnolia,” said the manager.
“Good!” I exclaimed. “What’s it suffering from?”
You can imagine how stupid I felt when he simply said, “Autumn.”
(thanks for sharing, Karen)
=======================
And that’s this week’s look through the computer screen, Webfolks. Thanks for your time. Have a great weekend, and as always, may God bless you and keep you safe.

c-ya!
Jim
Jim’s WebLetter
Discover the best of the Web
C-my-site at www.jimonline.com

Jim’s WebLetter for 1/9/10

Hi-ya WebLetter readers!

They say every cloud has a silver lining. I don’t know who “they” are, but I do know that if the weather outside is frightful, the internet inside is delightful and this week’s JWL has a few things for you to check out while you’re staying toasty warm in your internet-connected abode.

This week, I learned of a little trick that Windows 7 has buried inside that allows you to create a “God Mode” folder which is the controller for everything that goes on in your system. Remember, this only works with W7, but if I needed a reason to buy and install the operating system, this might be it. By simply creating a new folder and renaming it with a particular code, the folder changes it’s look and takes on the role of instant access to your entire operating system allowing you to do everything from change colors to fix any issues that might arise from working on software in your computer. If you try using it in an older Vista system, you may risk crashing the computer. But I can tell you, it makes Windows 7 work like a dream. Here’s the access code to rename a folder and create a “God Mode” folder … {ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

The Computer Electronics Show is going on in Las Vegas right now and the new gadgets being shown off are a computer geek’s dream. The new 3-D TV’s, new cellphones which allow you to set up a wi-fi hotspot with the phone, and a phone that has cameras on both sides allowing you to conference call with multiple phones from anywhere, tablet pc’s, e-Readers and a Light Touch which uses a laser based pico projector paired with an infrared sensor to beam a touch screen controller onto any flat surface. Watch the video … http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhfbKMoT2O8

Those who know, video chatting is becoming commonplace. Among the many, Gmail has it, Skype and a site called Oovoo which offers it free (video and or audio) for all sorts of computers and devices. With OoVoo, you can connect with anyone, anytime, with video calls, video messages, phone calls, and text messages. The main difference between Oovoo and Skype is that you can talk to up to six people at once. You can also use this program to send large files like pictures and music as well as share each other’s files on your computer desktop. http://www.oovoo.com/

Point your browser to Earth Album and prepare for a trip across the world. Earth Album is a Flickr mash-up site that allows you to view stunning photos from around the world. It’s easy to do simply click somewhere on the map, and up will pop up beautiful images from that area and since Flickr images are used and they change out every few weeks, you’ll never be stuck looking at the same old photo. http://www.earthalbum.com/

<===HuMoR===>
A mechanic was removing a cylinder-head from the motor of a Harley motorcycle when he spotted a well-known cardiologist in his shop. The cardiologist was there waiting for the service manager to come and take a look at his bike when the mechanic shouted across the Garage.”Hey, Doc, want to take a look at this?”
The cardiologist, a bit surprised, walked over to where the mechanic was working on the motorcycle.The mechanic straightened up, wiped his hands on a rag and ask,”So Doc, look at this engine. I open its’ heart, take the valves out, repair any damage, and then put them back in, and when I finish, it works just like new.So how come I make $39,675 a … See Moreyear and you get the really big bucks ($1,695,759) when you and I are doing basically the same work?”The cardiologist paused, smiled and leaned over, then whispered to the mechanic,”Try doing it with the engine running.”
(thanks, Joe)
+++++++++++++++++++++++
I was golfing with a soldier who had just returned from Afghanistan. His plans included becoming a greens keeper once he was discharged in a few months. He applied to a local college for its golf course superintendent program, but the department chair worried that he might not be up for the job. “It’s stressful,” he said. “You have to fight the weather, insects and demanding club members.”
“Will anyone be shooting at me while I mow the grass?” asked the soldier.
“Of course not.”
“I’ll take the job.”
(thanks, Jack u-da-man)
+++++++++++++++++++++++
I got stuck in a traffic jam while commuting into Los Angeles one day. The woman in the SUV in front of me took full advantage of the slowdown. She whipped out her eyebrow pencil, lip gloss and a mirror, applying the finishing touches on her face in the ten minutes it took us to creep through the Cahuenga Pass. Finally, the traffic broke up and as she zoomed away, I caught a glimpse of her vehicle’s license plate: NTRL BTY.
(thanks, Pat)
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Our co-worker kept trying to get her mother to fly out for a visit. “No way am I getting on an airplane,” was the inevitable answer.
“Look, Mom, when it’s your time to go, it doesn’t matter if you’re on the ground or in the air.”
“I know,” said her mother. “I just don’t want to be that far off the ground when it’s the pilot’s time to go.”
(thanks, Andrew)
=======================
So, enjoy your weekend, whether you’re snowbound, or enjoying the Australian Summer (expected high of 91 degrees in Sydney today!), and as always, may God bless you and keep you safe.

c-ya!
Jim
Jim’s WebLetter
Discover the best of the Web
C-my-site at www.jimonline.com

Jim’s WebLetter for 1/2/10

Hi-ya webfriends!

Happy New Year. So, do we call it “twenty ten” or “two thousand ten”. Who cares? Well, apparently someone does because there’s a movement going on to call it one particular thing. The National Association of Good Grammar (didn’t know we had one) says we should pronounce it “twenty ten” followed by “twenty eleven” and “twenty twelve”. I frankly could care less, but it is easier to say, so … happy twenty ten, everyone!

On New Year’s eve, we saw the movie, “Avatar”. I had mixed reviews on the movie. As everyone knows, James Cameron, the writer and creator, always carries an agenda with him in the stories he portrays (Titanic, Terminator, Aliens) and this one was loaded with them. The bad Earthlings are trying to mine precious minerals while the natives (who interestingly enough practice the same religion as native Americans did in our own country) want things left alone. A war ensues and the natives win with the help of a few Earthlings who see the native’s side of the matter. There you go. Done. I didn’t appreciate the fact that God’s name was used in the movie. It’s never necessary, but there it was in the first couple of minutes of the almost three hour movie. Having said all those things, I loved the technology used to create it. I loved the 3-D effects. I loved the simplicity of the plot (it’s easier to follow when you just sit and let it happen rather than trying to read anything into it). It was the fastest two hours, 40 minutes I have ever sat through. In other words, it was worth seeing. I believe 3-D is the only way to see a movie and truly experience everything going on. It puts you into the scene and allows you to be a part of what’s going on, and in Avatar, there’s plenty going on. The website is loaded with features and scenes and sounds of the movie. http://www.avatarmovie.com/index.html

2010 is here and already the technology is stepping up. Many are saying it’s the year of the tablet (Apple is releasing one, HP, you name it, they are creating one) and it’s all because the science of touch pads has become realistic, easy to use, and plentiful. Something else this year, new additions to domain names will include foreign languages such as Russian, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. All this means a bigger likelihood of cyber-crime, as pointed out in this article by Nigel Kendall … http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article6971724.ece

I want to start off by saying I like Gmail and have used it for years (back when you had to get an invitation to sign up and use it). Along with the other Google features, it has everything I need in email, but spam is a problem. I have used the Filter feature and have dozens of additions in it to keep the spam at bay, but it still pops up everyday. So I found and have been testing a program called Inbox. Inbox allows you to customize your email inbox the way you see fit. You automatically get five gigabites of online memory for free (that’s a lot) and if you want, you can purchase more. The site also provides the opportunity for online storage, games, and high definition screensavers. Since Inbox isn’t among the mainstream email providers like Yahoo or Google, you won’t get as much spam in your inbox. It’s easy to sign up, download the software that integrates into your browser and monitors your mail and use it. So far, so good. http://www.inbox.com/

<==HuMoR==>
Consider these newly discovered laws of the universe…

Law of Biomechanics: The severity of any itch is inversely proportional to the reach.
Law of Coffee: As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.
Law of Dirty Rugs/Carpets: The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich of landing face down on a floor covering are directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet/rug.
Law of Mechanical Repair: After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch.
Law of the Result: When you try to prove to someone that a machine won’t work, it will.
Law of the Telephone: When you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal.
Law of the Workshop: Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.
Variation Law: If you traffic lanes, the one you were in will start to move faster than the one you are on now.
Warm Water Theorem: When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone rings.
(thanks, Elaine)
+++++++++++++++++++++++
A guy joins a monastery and takes a vow of silence: he’s allowed to say two words every seven years. After the first seven years, the elders bring him in and ask for his two words. “Cold floors,” he says. They nod and send him away. Seven more years pass. They bring him back in and ask for his two words. He clears his throats and says, “Bad food.” They nod and send him away. Seven more years pass. They bring him in for his two words. “I quit,” he says. “That’s not surprising,” the elders say. “You’ve done nothing but complain since you got here.”
(thanks, Reggie)
+++++++++++++++++++++++
An elderly woman and her little grandson, whose face was sprinkled with bright freckles, spent the day at the zoo. Lots of children were waiting in line to get their cheeks painted by a local artist who was decorating them with tiger paws.
“You’ve got so many freckles, there’s no place to paint!” a girl in the line said to the little fella.
Embarrassed, the little boy dropped his head. His grandmother knelt down next to him. “I love your freckles. When I was a little girl I always wanted freckles, she said, while tracing her finger across the child’s cheek. “Freckles are beautiful!”
The boy looked up, “Really?”
“Of course,” said the grandmother. “Why, just name me one thing that’s prettier than freckles.”
The little boy thought for a moment, peered intensely into his grandma’s face, and softly whispered, “Wrinkles.”
(thanks, Tony)
=======================
And that’s the WebLetter for this week. Thanks for the jokes sent in. Get ready for more to come in Twenty Ten, and in this new year, may God bless you and keep you safe.

c-ya!
Jim
Jim’s WebLetter
Discover the best of the Web
C-my-site at www.jimonline.com

Jim’s WebLetter for 12/25/09

Hi-ya WebLetter readers and friends! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Today we celebrate the birth of the Christ child. I hope today wherever you are, that His peace will be with you.

Before we get together for our Christmas, I wanted to show you some things I discovered on the Web.

This week, I learned of the new concept computer that is due to be released in 2012. Why am I reporting about something that is better than a year away in release? Two reasons: First, the computer is a tablet and second, because it’s through the “one laptop per child” project. Remember when the first OLPC laptop came out? It was a simplified piece of plastic and had the idea that a cheap but sturdy laptop could help children in third world nations become internet connected and bring them into the 21st century, technologically speaking. While some nations benefited from this, most didn’t and as a result, the project was deemed a flop.

Well, this new computer may change all that. Built thin, lightweight and with an estimated cost of $75, it could be just what we ALL need because, you see, what the first generation of XO laptops did was to reinforce the idea that smaller and cheaper is better. At about the same time of it’s release, the public became aware and began buying the now famous netbook, and computing changed forever. You will notice that the majority of computers sold today are smaller, more compact and lightweight. This “XO-3″, as it has been dubbed, is all that and more. Forbes magazine online featured it this week and includes a slide show demonstrating its uses and functionality.
http://www.forbes.com/2009/12/22/tablet-computer-negroponte-technology-cio-network-olpc.html

Hey Blackberry users, you getting tired of your system not working? I am. For the second time in as many weeks, we have had an episode of messaging and internet connection failure. It seems to happen every time they upgrade their system. You know R.I.M. (blackberry’s maker), the Droid, the hottest new phone on the market running the new Android 2 system and coming with thousands of fresh and fabulous applications, isn’t experiencing these problems. Don’t make me go down to my Verizon store and make a swap. I will never go back. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/24/technology/companies/24blackberry.html?_r=1&ref=technology

Last week, I reported about Seesmic, the software for cellphones that lets you send and receive tweets on your Twitter account. I love it. It’s easy to use and solid as a rock. Well now they’ve upgraded the software making it even better. I have tried several Twitter programs in my blackberry, this one is the one I’m keeping … http://blog.seesmic.com/2009/12/seesmic-native-windows-twitter-client-updated.html

Ever have problems giving directions to your home or place to meet? I usually use Google Maps to show where friends and family are located using their detailed, interactive maps. A new site called Loopt uses Google Maps and sends your information to friends’ cellphones. Loopt helps friends connect and navigate by orienting them to people, places and events. It’s the next step in direction-giving. http://www.loopt.com/

Finally, and this is really cool … Test Color works off the premise that people are attracted to a certain color because that color reflects a particular emotional state or past memory. The online test measures more than 130 different emotional criteria and over 650,000 possible personal profiles. The process is easy … just select your favorite colors in the order of your preference and the site will do the rest. Head over and begin learning something new about yourself. http://www.testcolor.com/

<===HuMoR===>
My kindergarten-aged daughter suddenly announced just before school that she needed to take a clean t-shirt to class. She told us the teacher was going to iron an anti-drug message on it. My wife frantically swept through my daughter’s room, finding nothing usable but one shirt that already had something printed on one side. She sent it off to school with my daughter. That afternoon, my daughter returned and happily showed off her shirt. On one side it said, “Families are Forever” … on the other side “Be Smart, Don’t Start”.
(thanks, Ron)
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Here is the story of one frog discussing his future with a psychic:
A frog telephones the Psychic Hotline and is told, “You are going to meet a beautiful young girl who will want to know everything about you”.
The frog says, “This is great! Will I meet her at a party, or what?”
“No,” says the psychic, “Next semester in her biology class.”
(thanks, Henry)
+++++++++++++++++++++++
“The worst healthcare system is in Illinois. They should rename it Sickago.”
(thanks, Betty)
Funny how the President, who was their state Senator, is now pushing that same healthcare on the rest of us. Makes you wanna go, “hmmmmm”.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
THIS WAS THE LIFE
Do you remember when…?
All the girls had ugly gym uniforms?
It took five minutes for the TV warm up?
Nearly everyone’s Mom was at home when the kids got home from school?
Nobody owned a purebred dog?
When a quarter was a decent allowance?
You’d reach into a muddy gutter for a penny?
(thanks, Grace)
=======================
So, it’s Christmas and I hope a good one for you. We have been blessed so much this year, that I could write a book about it. Maybe someday I will. Until then, as I always say … may God bless you and keep you safe.

c-ya!
Jim
Jim’s WebLetter
Discover the best of the Web
C-my-site at www.jimonline.com

Jim’s WebLetter for 12/18/09

Hi-ya Webfriends!
Yes, it’s Friday and you’re getting a JWL a day early. Because of the holidays, Saturdays are gonna be busy, so you will receive it a day early for the next couple of weeks.

Facebook fans, heads up. Last week there was a privacy change made on your account that you need to pay attention to. Go into your account and check how you want your information shared through the social giant. It may have been changed as Facebook now wants everyone to see everything you have listed about you. Yep, when you go into Settings, and Privacy Settings, you should find each entry has been checked for everyone to see. You simply check the box that says only friends. But you will need to do it to each category (about me, personal info, birthday, etc.).

Some Facebook owners didn’t appreciate FB doing that, and have filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission stating unfair and deceptive trade practices. The story is Marketwatch … http://www.marketwatch.com/story/privacy-groups-file-ftc-complaint-against-facebook-2009-12-17

Blackberry and Android phone owners, if you like to Twitter, try using a new software called Seesmic, which allows searches, lists and other features like easy and I do mean easy, shortcuts. Point your blackberry to m.seesmic.com to get Seesmic within minutes.

In my continuing education of Windows 7 operating system, I have discovered the marvels of using my Flip Mino HD camera using Windows Live Movie Maker. In a word, WOW. One of the special things Windows 7 does is to instantly detect a device plugged in and determine if there is a need for a new driver to run it. But instead of telling you that you need a new driver, it simply goes online, finds it, downloads and installs it. All this takes place in seconds. The next thing you know, a window fades up and you have a choice of what you want to do with your new attachment. And the Windows Live Movie Maker makes it drop dead easy to edit, enhance and save your movie into whatever size you need (even 1080 ip for best viewing quality).

Finally, the internet on your TV. More and more people (like me) are discovering the beauty of sitting in your living room and surfing the Web for shows to watch, games to play and checking email, Facebook entries and Twittering. I am using a Wii game console to do it with, but it’s super easy to hook up a laptop with Windows 7. And a program on the market called Boxee is putting the ease of computing on your TV. It combines elements from the Internet like TV, Facebook, Flicker, CNN, and Weather and puts them into an easy-to-use graphical user interface right on your television screen. This site shows you how to download the program for free and gives instructions on hooking up your computer to your TV. http://www.boxee.tv/

The detective was interviewing the man whose clothing shop had just been burglarized.
“It’s bad,” said the proprietor, “but it’s not as bad as it could have been if he’d robbed me yesterday.”
“Why is that?” the detective asked.
“Because today everything was on sale.”
(thanks, Reggie)
+++++++++++++++++++++++
While I was in the Navy, my ship was bound for Japan. Because of a minor infraction, a shipmate of mine was busted one rank, fined and given extra duty for three weeks.
Looking forward to celebrating his 21st birthday on July 22, he consoled himself every night during his extra duty by reciting: “They can bust me, they can fine me — but they can’t take away my birthday.”
As July 22 approached, his excitement increased. When he went to bed on July 21, he happily repeated: “They can bust me, they can fine me — but they can’t take away my birthday.”
The next morning, he found out that the ship had crossed the international date line — and it was July 23!
(thanks, Tony)
+++++++++++++++++++++++
A woman, on meeting a psychologist at a party, made a pitch for some free professional advice. “What kind of toy would you suggest giving a little boy on his third birthday?” she asked.
“First I’d have to know more about the child,” the psychologist hedged.
The woman took a deep breath. “He’s very bright and quick-witted and exceptionally advanced for his age,” she said. “He has good coordination, expresses himself very well…”
“Oh, I see,” the psychologist said. “It’s YOUR child!”
(thanks, Betty)
+++++++++++++++++++++++
After church one Sunday morning, a mother commented, “The choir was awful this morning.”
The father commented, “The sermon was too long.”
Their 7-year-old daughter added, “You’ve got to admit it was a pretty good show for a dollar.”
(thanks, Andrew)
=======================
Have a great weekend and as I always say, may God bless you and keep you safe.

c-ya!
Jim
Jim’s WebLetter
Discover the best of the Web
C-my-site at www.jimonline.com

Jim’s WebLetter for 12/12/09

Hi-ya neighbors and friends! It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that winter has already arrived in the US what with record sized snow storms up north and west and rainy cool weather in the south. Today it’s suppose to be rainy and cool all day here on the island. Glad we did our shopping online. It’s a lot easier to receive those packages from delivery at the door rather than trudging out to the store. I know that’s not great news for the brick and mortar stores unless they have an ecommerce website. Latest figures show that more people like me are taking to the Web for shopping. Times are changing. After all, if you can believe this … we are finishing up our first decade of the new millenium. And with it are new things happening in the tech world. That’s what I write about and what I have to show you in this week’s edition of JWL.

Ever heard the term, “monkey see, monkey do”? That’s the premise of the site Monkey See. Based on videos, the site is a how-to on just about every subject. If there’s something new you need to learn, find the best instructional videos for things like hanging Christmas lights or teaching a dog to walk on a leash. All you do is select the category you’re seeking instruction in. If that wasn’t easy enough, you can also check out their recommended section which breaks everything down by most often searched topics. If you think you have what it takes to make an instructional video, click on the ‘become an expert’ button to submit your own helpful video. http://www.monkeysee.com/

As you may surmise from the previous site, videos are what everyone wants to watch on the internet. Matter of fact, 2010 is going to be the year for the video. As if things weren’t big enough at YouTube, now every major broadcast firm is pushing their programming online and Web entities like Ustream and JustinTV which offer free places for people to set up their own video broadcast streams are growing bigger by the minute. Joining that are Facebook and Twitter users who capable of attaching videos to their free accounts.

This week, iPhone announced it’s finally onboard with live streaming with the help of Ustream Live Broadcaster making the phone a source for broadcasting live video. It is part of huge list of cellphones which can download and install QIK or Ustream software and, after signing up for a free account, provide “at-that-moment” streaming of video. This will result in what I believe will be a change in the way we see events as they happen. News agencies will adopt such methods to provide live coverage of the news worldwide. It’s certainly a far cry from the old “send a reporter into the field to report the news” method of reporting as everyone will become a reporter of events they are witnessing. http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/12/09/iphone-live-streaming-ustream/

As I reported last week, I have Windows 7 installed in my laptop and am loving it. Last week I talked about the Speech Recognition feature which allows me to tell the computer what to do as well as take dictation. This week, there is a Gadgets feature that allows me to install a clock, weather bug and more than a dozen other little helps on the screen with a link to download hundreds of other widgets to enhance the computer experience. My favorite of the week is the Gmail Gadget that alerts me when a new message comes in. W7 users, just right click on the desktop and select Gadgets.

<===HuMoR===>
Several men are in the locker room of a golf club. A cell phone on a bench rings and a man engages the hands free speaker function and begins to talk. Everyone else in the room stops to listen.
MAN: “Hello”
WOMAN: “Honey, it’s me. Are you at the club?”
MAN: “Yes”
WOMAN: “I am at the mall now and found this beautiful leather coat. It’s only $1,000. Is it OK if I buy it?”
MAN: “Sure, go ahead if you like it that much.”
WOMAN: “I also stopped by the Mercedes dealership and saw the new 2009 models. I saw one I really liked.”
MAN: “How much?”
WOMAN: “$90,000″
MAN: “OK, but for that price I want it with all the options.”
WOMAN: “Great! Oh, and one more thing…the house I wanted last year is back on the market. They’re asking $950,000″
MAN: “Well, then go ahead and give them an offer of $900,000. They will probably take it. If not, we can go the extra 50 thousand if it’s really a pretty good price.”
WOMAN: “OK. I’ll see you later! I love you so much!”
MAN: “Bye! I love you, too.”
The man hangs up. The other men in the locker room are staring at him in astonishment, mouths agape.
He turns and asks: “Anyone know who this phone belongs to?”
(thanks, Rich)
+++++++++++++++++++++++
After being with her all evening, the man couldn’t take another minute with his blind date. Earlier, he had secretly arranged to have a friend call him to the phone so he would have an excuse to leave if something like this happened.
When he returned to the table, he lowered his eyes, put on a grim expression and said, “I have some bad news. My grandfather just died and I have to leave.”
“Thank heaven!” his date replied. “If yours hadn’t, mine would have had to.”
(thanks, Tony)
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Joe was a single guy, living at home with his father and working in the family business. When he found out he was going to inherit a fortune when his sick father died, he decided he needed a wife with whom to share his fortune.
One evening at an investment seminar he spotted the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her beauty took his breath away.
“I may look like just an ordinary man,” he said to her, “but in just a few years, my father will pass, and I’ll inherit his large fortune.”
Impressed, the woman took his business card. Three months later, she became Joe’s stepmother.
Women are so much better at estate planning than men!!
(thanks, Joe)
+++++++++++++++++++++++
We went to breakfast at a restaurant where the special was two eggs, bacon, hash browns and toast for $1.99. “Sounds good,” my wife said. “But I don’t want the eggs.”
“Then I’ll have to charge you two dollars and forty-nine cents because you’re ordering a la carte,” the waitress warned her.
“You mean I’d have to pay for NOT taking the eggs?” my wife asked incredulously. “I’ll take the special.”
“How do you want your eggs?”
“Raw and in the shell,” my wife replied. She took the two eggs home and baked a cake.
(thanks, Bill)
=======================
That’s it this week. Have a great weekend and may God bless you and keep you safe as we count down the days to Christmas and the new decade.

c-ya!
Jim
Jim’s WebLetter
Discover the best of the Web
C-my-site at www.jimonline.com

Jim’s WebLetter for 12/5/09

Hi-ya webfriends!

Christmas gift shopping? CNET recently listed the Top 5 most purchased tech gifts going this year. These are the gifts being reported by people who are CNET.com viewers and who took the survey. Counting down from #5 … the HTC Droid Eris for Verizon. It’s the light weight version of the Droid cellphone that runs about $99 with a contract. It’s the one running on the Google Android system. At #4 … The Blackberry Storm 2 (also from Verizon). This one comes with wi-fi and according to sources, a better operation then the first Storm. At #3, the HTC Hero for Sprint (notice that the majority of gifts are cellphones?). #2 is Windows 7 the new operating system I have installed on my new laptop and am loving (more on that later), and the #1 gift on the CNET list … Motorola Droid for Verizon. I remember being the in Verizon store recently and the folks there were talking about how the new cellphone was practically flying off the shelves. They couldn’t keep it in stock. It comes with the Android 2.0 operating system and is an “all-in-one” package. A true rival to the iPhone which, as you noticed, wasn’t on the Top 5 list. http://cnettv.cnet.com/8301-13415_53-10406263-11.html?tag=mncol

The BBC reported this week findings that show kids who text and blog are more likely to be better writers then those who don’t. According to research as a result of a survey of 3,001 children aged nine to 16, the more forms of communication children use the stronger their core literary skills. That’s like saying the more you flex your muscles, the better they work. Hmmm, and they needed a study to prove that? http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8392653.stm

In what could possibly be another nail in the coffin for Internet Explorer, the Avast Anti-virus software now comes with the recommendation and a direct link for you download and use the internet browser Google Chrome. Personally, I like to use Chrome when watching videos because it seems to be more solid and bug-free while loading and playing videos online. Read more about it in the Download Blog … http://download.cnet.com/8301-2007_4-10409905-12.html

As I mentioned in the top gifts piece earlier, I have installed Windows 7 in my new laptop and love how it handles. There are SO MANY new features that it will take weeks to tell you about the best of them. And that’s what I will be doing over the next few weeks … telling you about them. This new system fixes a number of problems that Vista had, and carries a few tricks and shortcuts to operating the computer, including better Speech Recognition. That’s what I’m learning to use more and more. With S-R you are free from typing and mouse clicking. The system will literally do all your clicking, mouse moving and dictating commands for you. The feature comes with a set up and tutorial and how to train the system to understand your voice. Windows 7 users will find it by going to Start and Control Panel under “Ease of Access”, or in the little box at the bottom of Start, type in “speech”. Here’s a “how-to” video in YouTube which explains how to use the feature once you have set it up … http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFKHAjHrc5A

Finally, and even though Vista and Windows 7 have a Text-to-Speech reader installed, it has it’s limitations. One is the voice just isn’t real natural sounding. But a program called Natural Reader does (well, it’s better anyway). The software can read, check what you’ve written and convert to MP3 what you highlight. Download the free version and see what you think … http://www.naturalreaders.com/

<===HuMoR===>
At the supermarket, I overheard two women talking in the next aisle. “Horace and I have been together ten years now and he makes me very happy,” one said. “So I don’t mind buying him what he likes even if it is more expensive.”
“Well, with my Benny I have no choice. He’s just plain fussy,” her friend replied.
I turned into their aisle. Both women were loading their shopping carts with high-quality cat food.
(thanks, Kathy)
+++++++++++++++++++++++
The highlight of our zoo trip was a peacock showing off its plumage. My four-year-old son was particularly taken with it. That evening, he couldn’t wait to tell his father: “Dad, guess what! I saw a Christmas tree come out of a chicken!”
(thanks, Carol)
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Carol was pregnant with her first child, and her husband was about to leave on a two-week business trip. When Carol went to her doctor appointment, she had some questions.
“My husband wants me to ask you something—” Carol began.
The doctor interrupted her. “I get asked that question all the time,” he said in a reassuring tone. “Sex is fine until late in the pregnancy.”
“No, that’s not it!” an embarrassed Carol confessed. “My husband wants to know if I can still mow the lawn.”
(thanks, Ann)
+++++++++++++++++++++++
The trials and tribulations of our sons, daughters, parents, and friends in the military.
In a lecture to a group of Korean officers, Lieut. Gen. Bruce C. Clarke, at that time deputy commander of the Eighth Army in Korea, took two or three minutes to tell his favorite joke. His interpreter then quickly translated the joke, using only seven or eight words. Everyone immediately burst into hearty laughter. After the lecture General Clarke asked the interpreter how he had been able to retell such a relatively long joke so quickly.
“Well, sir,” the Korean interpreter replied, “I didn’t think everyone would get the point, so I said, ‘The general has just told a joke. Everyone will please laugh.’”
(thanks, Robert)
=======================
And that’s this week’s JWL for the first weekend in December, 2009 (I somehow feel like the late great Walter Cronkite when I say it that way). Thanks for your time and attention, and thanks to Kathy, Carol, Ann and Robert for forwarding the jokes. If you have one you’d like to pass along, just email me.

Until next weekend, may God continue to bless you and keep you safe.

c-ya!
Jim
Jim’s WebLetter
Discover the best of the Web
C-my-site at www.jimonline.com