The Mouse Click (Formerly Daily Mouse Clicks)

 Wouldn't you know it?  After I just bought some, a great deal pops up on Amazon. 10 stylus pens for $3 and free shipping.  What a great stocking stuffer. 10 Pack Stylus Set Only $3.00 (Orig $9.99) + FREE Shipping! A stylus like this will work with an iPod, iPhone, Nook, PSP, and MORE!  Click on the link below to take advantage of this great deal. 10 Pcs Stylus Set Aqua Blue/Black/Red/Pink/Purple Stylus for Touch Screen Cellphone or Tablet

 Whether it's DVDs, CDs, or game disks for your Xbox or Wii, there are ways to fix and buff out scratches. The Internet is full of solutions — claims that handy products you might have around the house will fix those scratches. So here are the unscientific results of my attempts to fix disk scratches with common household substances  — from best (#1) to worst (#4). Can You Fix a Scratched DVD with a Banana? | Upgrade Your Life - Yahoo! News

Oh, we're going to see a LOT of these soon! Facebook has added emoticons to their website, allowing us to add some very unique cartoons to our posts. Name Code to enter Smile :-) :) :] =) Frown :-( :( :[ =( Gasp :-O :O :-o :o Grin :-D :D =D Tongue :-P :P :-p :p =P Wink ;-) ;) Curly lips :3 Kiss :-* :* Grumpy >:( >:-( Glasses 8-) 8) B-) B) Sunglasses 8-| 8| B-| B| Upset >:O >:-O >:o >:-o Confused o.O O.o Shark (^^^) Pacman :v Squint -_- Angel O:) O:-) Devil 3:) 3:-) Unsure :/ :-/ :\ :-\ Cry :'( Chris Putnam :putnam: Robot :|] Heart <3 Kiki ^_^ 42 :42: Penguin <(")

Digital Eye Strain & Workplace Eye Injuries Digital Eye Strain We are living in an extraordinarily digital age. Thanks to technology often small enough to hold in one hand, we can video chat across oceans, stream lectures online to thousands and read entire books on one screen. It's all shaping the way our world works, learns and socializes. But this digital world poses a potential risk to our eyes. The issue is digital eye strain, which is caused by the overuse of digital devices. Because computer tablets, smartphones and other hand-held products are designed for reading and close range use, eyes must constantly refocus and reposition to process content like graphics and text. Over time, such efforts can lead to fatigue, irritation and vision problems. You can learn more about digital eye strain including causes, symptoms, and prevention methods by reading the report Screens, Phones, Tablets and More: Keeping Your Eyes Safe in a Digital Age now available.

Viral "Privacy Notice" On Facebook Is Fake

 The retail release is coming soon. Is Windows 8 right for you? Check out this infographic and see if your computer fits before you buy. Courtesy of Tech Republic Windows and Office Blog.

 I have heard people disabling the User Account Control (UAC) but this is a critical security measure and removing it puts your computer at risk. � HTG Explains: Why You Shouldn’t Disable UAC

 Choices, Choices, Choices.. if you are considering a purchase of the tablet, this may be a very helpful article. The new Kindle Fire has some great features, but is is the tablet for you? This article talks about the Kindle and the iPad, but remember, there are many other tablets on the market as well. Go to the ZDnet.com article by clicking the link below. How to decide: should you buy a big Kindle Fire HD or an iPad? | ZDNet

What is Phishing? Well, it is where cybercriminals " try to obtain financial or other confidential information from Internet users, typically by sending an e-mail that looks as if it is from a legitimate organization, usually a financial institution, but contains a link to a fake Web site that replicates the real one."  ( Thank you reference.com for this definition . ) A prime example was an email that I received today.. There are some hints that will allow you to identify this deception.   First, look at the "From" email address.. update+5ds.... @plazatheater.nl. It isn't a Facebook address although sometime they will use an address that has the words in there, such as Facebook so read it carefully.   Second, I have more than one email address. and this phishing email came to an address that I do not have listed on Facebook.  This may or may not apply to you, but it does make me think about the email being a sca

  5 Design Tricks Facebook Uses To Affect Your Privacy Decisions | TechCrunch Do you know how many apps access your personal information on Facebook? Check your Facebook apps permissions and get ready for a surprise. In fact, Facebook keeps “improving” their design so that more of us will add apps on Facebook without realizing we’re granting those apps (and their creators) access to our personal information. After all, this access to our information and identity is the currency Facebook is trading in and what is driving its stock up or down. It should be no surprise that in the new App Center Facebook made another leap forward in their efforts to get you to expose your personal info without realizing you’re doing so.  [Click the link above to continue reading this article...]

Daily Mouse Clicks is taking a hiatus... a short break while I returned to school and a busier than normal work schedule.  I want to thank those that have faithfully followed me. Don't give up.. I will be back when things slow down and meanwhile I will continue post articles as I come across them to share. I'll be baaacckk☺

People with smartphones and tablets may be giving Apple and Android apps they download the permission to capture their geo-location data to know where they are, but security experts are making the strong argument to just say no instead -- and turn off that GPS function unless really needed. "There's the privacy concern, maybe you don't want billions of people to know where you live," says Alan Brill, senior managing director, Kroll Advisory Solutions, who points out that smartphones with GPS chips today will embed geo-tagging information into the photo you upload to social-networking sites. It's fairly simple to use EXIF interpreter software that's freely available online to cull that geolocation data out of your photo, Brill says. In fact, this is happening today in military situations where adversaries watch for photos posted by the other side, he adds. To read more click the link below... ☺ Want Security and Privacy? Turn Off Your Mobile Devices&

This is a MAJOR concern. If your wireless router connection in your home is not secure, you risk other people using your internet connection. Just a few weeks ago, a home in Evansville, Indiana home was raided, the front window was broken and the SWAT team threw a flash-bang stun grenades into the living room, with the local TV news cameras rolling (invited by the local police). According to the Evanville Courier and Press , "Police were executing a search warrant for computer equipment, which they said was used to make anonymous and specific online threats against police and their families on the website topix.com." But this family wasn't making threats...a person down the street using their unsecured WiFi was making the posts. If you don't have a good encrypted password on your wireless router, someone could be stealing your internet service or worse, posing as you online. Documentation to secure your router came with your equipment but if you don't ha

Computers get abused quite often with food and liquid on the keyboard, dirty mice and fingerprints on the screen. Our laptops get even more grungy with portability, and/or sitting getting dusty. So, take the time to take care of your investment. If you aren't using your computer, turn it off. Heat will damage your system, permanently so treat it with care. If your ports are not getting used, they are collecting dust, which can damage them.  Consider covering unused ports with a first aid adhesive tape (low-residue tape that won't leave behind any residue). Invest in a small keyboard vacuum to help keep your keys free from dust and occasional cookie crumbs. Did you know that keeping a disk in the disk tray will help reduce dust and protect the components in your drive? Keep the computer screen clean with a slightly damp microfiber rag. Be careful not to used cleaners that are not recommended for your screen. You could permanently damage your screen with the wrong liqui

By Jared Newman, PCWorld    Aug 14, 2012 7:41 AM  Facebook users can now announce when they're expecting a baby, using a special “Life Event” description in their Timelines. Life Events let users denote major happenings on their Facebook profile pages. For example, users can announce when they have moved, gotten a new job, picked up a new hobby or had a baby. Until now, there has been no way to announce a pregnancy other than to create a generic Life Event. A new “expecting a baby” category lets Facebook users specify a gender (if known) and a due date, along with the usual categories for people involved, location, photos and the story of how it happened. (For pregnancies, that last category should perhaps be left blank.) Pregnancy announcements will show up on users' Timeline pages, and they'll also appear under “Celebrations” on users' home pages, along with birthdays and other joyous news.  To read the rest go to: Facebook Lets Users Announce P

Yes, even on the Internet, there is etiquette. Experts agree that your e-mail behavior has the potential to sabotage your reputation both personally and professionally. So let's look at the etiquette of email. Avoid Caps Lock in the email and in the subject line. Use punctuation and edit your email for grammar Don't use Return Receipt (RR) on every single email. Doing so is viewed as intrusive, annoying and can be declined by the other side anyway. Use a subject line that reflects what you are saying in the email. Keep your emails brief and to the point. Long emails are often put it aside until they have more time, which may not be too soon. In the same regard, read the entire email and response appropriately, answering all questions even if you don't know the answer. Respond promptly, 24 to 48 hours at the most. Like a letter, it is good form to add a opening and closing salutation. The recipient can change the size of the font if they have trouble reading your

In previous search tips , we have shown how to search a specific website with Google. This Google search tip is really simple and effective. Looking for a similar website or something related?   Just type "related:" (see the image below). Don't put a space between the colon and the address. This will be extremely handy for looking for similar content. Are you looking for a quiz answer? Fill in the blank!  Although most punctuation is ignored in Google, this is an exception to that rule. Add an asterisk (*) in place of the part of the sentence or question you want finished. For example, "Leif Erikson discovered *" and your answer will be popping up shortly!  Search engines are incredible tools that open the world, just like a library did so many years ago.  Learn to use that tool and grab hold of the adventures and knowledge you can discover!

Like the author of this article, I too used Edmark Kiddesk software to protect my computer from the kids. Unfortunately, it is no longer available.  Now, another option is available, time to try Peanut Butter PC. Now, it isn't perfect. A savvy computer geek might be able to figure another way around it if you aren't careful) but for young kids, this would be great. You can try Peanut Butter PC for a 15 day trial.  Just a reminder....it cannot be considered a replacement to parental supervision.  So click on the link below to pop on over and read the details at techrepublic.com. Peanut Butter PC: Trying to keep kids safe Another option (not reviewed) is Kid Desktop ... download a free trial. ☺

It is hard to take a picture of finger smudges! Hours (and 60+ levels) of "Jewels Star" has left my (Kindle) tablet looking less than stellar. I am sure this issue is also for anyone that owns a smart phone or other items with a touch sensitive screen. Wiping it with a soft dry cloth just isn't doing much good but how to clean it? Well, the manual says... (Maintaining Your Kindle) "Clean the screen with a soft cloth; be careful not to wipe it with anything abrasive." That might work for regular finger prints, but how about that taco sauce?  Ugh! Keep two things handy for this simple project.. microfiber cloth sprayer containing distilled water or an alcohol free lens cleaner solution Wipe with the microfiber cloth. Most of the time this will do the trick and solve your problem. If you feel you must wipe it down with a liquid, very lightly SPRAY THE CLOTH, not the surface and a  wipe down the screen.  There are many cleaning solutions quite willing

When you think about your smart phone, tablet or Kindle Fire, do you think about virus and malware protection? Well, you should! A recent article about the high amount of malware showing up during the heavy usage at the Olympics shows an increase in viruses and malware. It is inevitable (just like those Macs) so it is time to protect your technology. There are a number of antivirus programs out there. Webroot has protection for both Android and iOS both available through your app store. There is a wide range of programs out there and many of them are free. So check them out, download them and get them installed.. Protect your identity, technology and personal information. ☺

Have you ever searched online for yourself, your real name, email, phone number or even the screen name you often use?  Have you ever considered how much information someone can actually fine about you, where you live, your hobbies, jobs and even family? It can be scary (and useful) knowing the information is out there. Of course, it always has been through things like the white pages, but now it is compiled, just through a website search. The search I used was http://pipl.com , although there are other data compilers out there.  I did a search for my name and found a newsgroup post from back in 1997! It is amazing (and a little intimidating) when you consider what can be combined to make an profile of an individual. Now it might seem like a completely negative thing but consider the benefit if you wanted to do a background type check on someone you were dating or hiring, for example. Or try and track down a loved one.  It could eliminate a lot of heartache. Bottom line is that

Read the article here at Moo Gives Away Free Facebook Timeline Business Cards ... incorporate elements of the new profile into customized business cards with the help of Moo.com , which is giving away a free set of 50 to the first 200,000 people who sign up. The business design-services provider announced the integration of timeline into its customized printed business cards offering, allowing Facebook users to add images from their profiles to the cards, along with elements such as favorite quotes or sayings. Moo.com Founder and Chief Executive Officer Richard Moross said: It’s clear that consumer habits of sharing business and personal information are evolving, and the lines between online social networking and offline business networking are not just blurring, but vanishing. This integration places Moo.com and Facebook at the leading edge of this new trend: seamlessly turning your dynamic online presence into a beautifully designed, high-quality offline “social”

 You should like this little hint.  Got a package to track? Don't search for the transportation company website, find the tracking field or page and then wait for the results... go the simple route and check with the simple and helpful tool, Google.  Just type the tracking number into the Google search and pop.. it leads you to the correct tracking information. Gotta love Google. ☺  

Flight Tracking To see flight status for arriving and departing U.S. flights, type in the name of the airline and the flight number into the search box. Example: Flight Schedules To see flight schedules to or from a particular destination, type “flights from” or “flights to” followed by the city or airport of interest. You can also add another location with “to” or “from” and view the schedule for a specific route. Flight schedule data is provided by OAG and QuickTrip by Innovata. Example: Currency Conversion To use our built-in currency converter, simply enter the conversion you’d like done into the Google search box and we’ll provid

If you have an Android phone (not an iPhone or Blackberry) there are some great widgets out there that are good looking, helpful and inexpensive. PC World shares 15 of the coolest and most useful widgets for all sorts of uses. And all but three of them are free. Take that, Apple! ☺ PCWorld's The 15 Best Android Widgets

WikiHow Categories There are lots of Wikis out there.. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia explains, "A wiki is a website which allows its users to add, modify, or delete its content via a web browser.." Well, I went looking for how to password protect a Microsoft Word Document . I don't used that feature too often and I ' Googled ' it.  I found a clean, simple answer on WikiHow.  This is a great resource for how to do a variety of things, step by step and sometimes even with a video. Matter of fact, they have a wide range of categories from 'Arts' to 'Youth'.  Browsing around I found some interesting topics such as How to Communicate With a Deaf Person Through an Interpreter   or How to Escape from a Sinking Car .  Ok. Some more practical applications might be learning how to drive defensively or how to avoid foods dangerous for your dog.  This is a resource worth bookmarking! ☺

Games of the XXX Olympiad: July 27 - August 12, 2012 When I was a child, the Olympics were in some distant place, to only be dreamed about or watch on TV in pre-recorded shows such as Wide World of Sports. Now we can watch the 2012 Olympics, follow every aspect online, watch clips, chat with others and even participate in some unique events such as the Tweethletes . Ok, this is just fun but if you are into Tweeting, have you ever considered how far your tweets would take you?  This year, they are dubbing the 2012 London Olympics as the "Social Media Olympics".  The IOC has opened a hub online where you can join in discussions, tweets, live photo feeds, rewards and more.  What an incredible event and you can now be a part of the action from your desk, tablet or mobile phone.  A word to the wise, as always, there are tons of scams out there during the Olympics. Use caution and a good antivirus when browsing websites, shopping or even looking for online streaming. St

So, how does technology play with the upcoming Olympics? Over the next couple of days, I will post some of the online and technology related aspects. Well. It is critical and the mobile companies are popping out some really impressive infographics showing some of the anticipated numbers!  iProspects findings, culled from Nielsen, eMarketer and Forrester, are presented in the infographic below.  Click on the image for a larger view. Source: http://mashable.com/2012/07/12/2012-olympics-mobile-social/

 Nothing like finding your computer has automatically rebooted! Yes, you can change that setting. Head over to PC World and read this easy how-to on changing these settings.   I'll bet good money this has happened to you: You step away from the computer for a little while, and when you come back, all your windows and work are gone. What happened? Windows, that's what. Windows Update downloaded some updates and took it upon itself to reboot without your permission. This should never happen. Never, ever, ever. It doesn't matter that Windows is attempting to keep itself secure and fine-tuned and all that; under no circumstances should an operating system reboot without permission.  At best, it's a hassle. At worst, you stand to lose any work you haven't saved. Thankfully, there's an easy fix for this, and I'm kicking myself for not applying it sooner. If you've been plagued by the same problem, here's what you need to do:  

There are some new changes on Facebook. One of them is an 'upgrade'.  You used to be able to edit a comment (not a post) within about 60 seconds of the posting but unfortunately the option disappeared if someone else commented before you decided to edit it. Now, as of June, 2012, you can edit the comment at any time. It is available on the upper corner of the right hand side of your comment. Once finished, it will show the comment was edited and show the change that was made underneath the comment.  Also, if someone has notifications, they will receive two notices, one for the the original post and one for the edited post, so keep this in mind if you edit, edit, edit! This change really helps when following the flow of the thread as your only option in the past was to delete and re-post, often further down. Another change you might have noticed is if you are commenting, the comment button has disappeared.  Once you hit enter your comment is posted. If you wish to get long

 You download a file and close the download page then, OOPS! Where is it?  Well, your browser chooses where your downloads are stored but you can take control of the process. If you use more than one browser, you will need to modify the settings of each one individually. In Firefox:  Firefox Downloads Go to "Tools" near the top of your open Firefox browser. Select "Options" from the drop down menu.   Personally, I have them all go to a folder called "Downloads" but you can choose to have them download to the location of your choice, such as your desktop or have the browser ask you every time where you want to save the file by clicking the circle in front of "Always ask me where to save files." In Chrome: Click the wrench on the top right hand side of the browser. Select "settings" from the drop down menu. Click the link at the bottom of the page that says "Show Advanced Settings..." Scroll down to the Do

According to PC World ,  "Pinterest has locked an undisclosed number of user accounts as a result of a spam outbreak, the company confirmed in an email on Friday. The accounts, which "were associated with a specific piece of spam," may have been compromised, Pinterest acknowledged. But the company blamed recent leaks of user log-in credentials from other websites, rather than a data breach of its own." Bottom Line: Be sure your log-in has a unique ID and a strong password .  ☺

This type of thing has popped around before but now it is making a revival.  An innocent looking email states you have been tagged in a Facebook picture. Unfortunately, it packs a trojan virus within seconds of seeing an innocent looking facebook page. Subject: Joe Unknown tagged a photo of you on Facebook From: Facebook <notification@ faceboook.com >  S ecurity vendor Sophos advise Facebook users to check the spelling in the email, with a misspelled word as a key giveaway. "If you click on the link in the email, you are not taken immediately to the real Facebook website. Instead, your browser is taken to a website hosting some malicious iFrame script (which takes advantage of the Blackhole exploit kit, and puts your computer at risk of infection by malware)," it said in a blog post . "Did you notice what was odd about the email? The 'from' address misspells Facebook as 'Faceboook' with three 'o's," it said. "Even

This is an interesting tip to speed up your Windows Vista or Windows 7 computer and it is built into your computer.. no additional software needed.  Let Windows borrow space your flash drive and improve the memory of your computer system. What you do need is a USB flash drive. I had an 4GB and an 8GB in my desk already and you may have one kicking around your office as well. Now, there are some specifications which I will post here just in case you decide to go out and buy one, but I just tried what I had handy since many don't have read/write specification listings on the device. How much information can you put on a device the size of your thumb or smaller? ☺ The USB Flash Drive must have a capacity of at least 256 MB, with at least 64 kilobytes (KB) of free space. I recommend a larger USB flash drive and they are pretty inexpensive for a 1GB or more. It needs to be at least a 2.5 MB/sec throughput for 4-KB random reads and at least a 1.75 MB/sec throughput for 1MB random

 Is Twitter a breakthrough in personal communications or a colossal waste of time?  Are you on the bandwagon? Thanks to Twitter, millions of people are obsessively updating ‘friends’ on their most mundane activities. Is Twitter a breakthrough in personal communications or a colossal waste of time? What exactly is Twitter? It’s a form of electronic networking designed to instantly answer the  timeless question, “What are you doing?” At first glance, Twitter is not much different from e-mail or text messaging; you simply sign up for a free account at Twitter’s website and start sending and receiving “tweets” via computer, cell phone, or other hand-held device. But unlike text messaging or IMs, a tweet can reach potentially thousands of pre­approved “friends” at once, and there is a space limit of no more than 140 characters per tweet. “It’s the water cooler of the 21st century,” says Joel Comm, author of Twitter Power. Read more at The Twitter revolution

Considering an upgrade when Windows 8 is released? Good news! Technology News: Microsoft to offer Windows 8 upgrades at a discount :  Posted by David Bernstein As you may or may not know, Windows it is on its way and Microsoft is really pushing for it since it will run on PCs as well as tablets. If you are running Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 then you will be eligible for an upgrade to Windows 8 pro for just $39.99...

So a call today from my husband's credit card company.. someone tried to use his card number to make a couple of large ticket purchases. Although appropriate steps were taken by the card company, if it had been smaller amounts, would they have noticed?  How about if it was local? Add to that a recent article I read about stolen passwords from another website that were used to try and access BestBuy customer accounts. Unfortunately, in this digital age, we have a security risk with corporate computer systems, credit and debit cards. If you have a credit or debit card, your accounts may have been compromised in the past.   There are steps you can take to protect yourself: Review all your charges on every bank or charge card statement. If you didn't receive your statement during the month, check online or contact them for a replacement statement. The longer a breach goes undiscovered, the more costly it becomes. Keep your passwords for each account unique!   If someone

Considering a vacation? Maybe a get-away to the ocean or a cabin for a weekend?  Well, the best deals can often be found online... if you know where to look. You can keep tabs on air travel prices via a site like Airfarewatchdog.com or FareCompare.com so you'll know a deal when you see one. I prefer to read the reviews of destination hotels at http://www.tripadvisor.com/ where you can check pricing at hotels.com, Priceline.com, Travelocity.com, Expedia.com, Orbitz.com and the hotel chain website if applicable. For last minute deals check the hotwire.com, and priceline.com.  For some other options to save a few dollars try these new sites: Hotelsweep.com - Support small businesses. Hotel Sweep scours smaller, independent properties not listed on major online travel agencies.  Backbid.com   Let hotels know you are looking to book and other hotels can counteroffer, typically saving you over 20% (or getting you upgrades). Tingo.com checks rates for your reservatio

Photo by Alan Cleaver Judge Sciarrino said, "If you post a tweet, just like if you scream it out the window, there is no reasonable expectation of privacy. There is no proprietary interest in your tweets, which you have now gifted to the world..." Tweeting is very different from a private mail, private chat or other forms of private online communications, Sciarrino wrote. "Those private dialogues would require a warrant based on probable cause in order to access the relevant information. " The same is not true of public tweets, he noted. The ruling elicited predictable groans from privacy rights groups. "We think the judge missed the point on the privacy analysis," said Marc Rotenberg, executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC). "It's one thing for the police to overhear a person shout an incriminating statement. We agree there would be no expectation of privacy" in those situations, Rotenberg sa

More and more technology is finding its way into the classroom and into the homeschooler's curriculum.  Today, I found an infographic (a visual representation of information) geared toward education. I always had problems with affect and effect. Now I know! There is a whole new employment opportunity for graphic artists that can put together infographics that are understandable, meaningful and helpful. There is even software now available to help non-designers put together effective instructional tools for visual thinking.  Browse more Education infographics .

As you can see, I am taking a few days off but I will be back with our regularly scheduled posts and lots of great information. Thanks for standing by!!

Last December, I posted the second in a series with tips about searching with Google . Here are some more great search hints to make your searches work for you. Definitions:  To see a definition for a word or phrase, simply type the word “define” (or "define:" if you want to define a phrase) then a space, then the word(s) you want defined. Blogs: Want to read up on different opinions? Check out the blog search on Google.   Sunrise/Sunset:  No, not Fiddler on the Roof but find out what time you will see the sunrise?  Type in "sunrise Rome, GA" (without the quotes) or the city of your choice. Poof... your results. Time: Anybody know what time it is?  Goggle does, but most like for your nearest larger cities. Type in "time Atlanta" (without the quotes). Now you know! ☺

Human computer interaction - You LOLed ☺

The icon next to the URL in the address bar. There are lots of ways to bookmarking, linking and organizing, but sometimes you just want to be able to go to your favorite site quickly and easily from your desktop. Here is a great quick tip that works in I.E., Firefox, Opera, and Chrome. Make your browser a window, if it is maximized, so you can see your desktop.  This can be done by clicking the two boxes that are right next to the X on the upper right corner of the browser. Now click and drag the small icon next to the URL in the address bar off the browser page to the desktop.  It's that simple! ☺

The Internet Society is a non-profit organization that has considerable influence, predominately in standards, public policy, and education. At their 20th anniversary annual meeting in Geneva, The Internet Society added a new award. Congratulations to the 2012 inductees into the Internet Hall of Fame! Take a few moments and visit the Hall of Fame Website .  The nominations are very impressive with the incredible impact they have had on the Internet, its development and growth. Pioneers Circle Recognizing individuals who were instrumental in the early design and development of the Internet: Paul Baran, Vint Cerf, Danny Cohen, Steve Crocker, Donald Davies, Elizabeth Feinler, Charles Herzfeld, Robert Kahn, Peter Kirstein, Leonard Kleinrock, John Klensin, Jon Postel, Louis Pouzin, and Lawrence Roberts. Innovators Recognizing individuals who made outstanding technological, commercial, or policy advances and helped to expand the Internet’s reach: Mitchell Baker, Tim Berners-

When you bought your computer, it probably was suggested that you buy a surge protector (not a power strip which lacks the protection against power fluctuations.  This may protect your computer from disruptions in the flow of power. These disruptions, also called  "surges", "spikes" and "blinks" or "flickers", can be as quick at few nanoseconds (1/100 of a seconds or less) and yet they can do extensive damage.  A in inexpensive surge protector probably will protect your computer from the minor blinks and flickers but during a storm, it could easily let you down, causing damage to your system and your pocketbook. When storms roll through, another computer related problem can occur, leaving you without a computer. Electricity can be carried through the phone lines and cables, frying modem and computers. You can add a phone surge suppressor at a very low cost, once again saving your system from a meltdown. For a little more investment, you ca

So what do you use those F-keys on the top of the keyboard?  Well, those are called "function keys" and they are date back to the old days when computers used DOS. We don't use them much now but they can be used to perform shortcuts on your computer. F1 is almost always a default for help in software programs.  If you use the Windows key + F1, it will open the Windows help and support center.  F2 - Highlight an icon on your Windows desktop and press F2 to rename the icon. You can also rename the icon by right-clicking on the icon and then selecting rename, but what's the fun in all those steps? F3 - From the desktop, F3 brings up the "find feature" to search your computer. If your Firefox browser is on-screen, it pops up the "fine feature" of the browser. F4 - In the Internet Explorer and Firefox browsers, it will open the address bar. F5 - F7 will start the spell check in Word and Outlook. In Word, it will start the "Find and Rep