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The
mind, once expanded to the dimensions of larger ideas, never returns to
its original size.
~Oliver Wendell Holmes
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Kerrville
Texas
830-895-5016 |
Welcome to
another issue of our weekly newsletter!
Something
for everyone.
No
one can dispute that the human brain is the greatest computer of all
time! But sometimes it requires a little nudge to grow new
cells. I also happen to
believe that hardware computers are very useful tools
which can
help to provide that nudge. That's why this
newsletter is not just full of computer-related information, but also
includes entertainment and educational items to tickle the brain cells.
There's something of interest for everyone in here so feel free to
share this issue and pass it along to your
friends and family...
What's In Here?
Lots of cool,
fun, and
informative stuff every week!
I'm dubbing this
week's issue
the William Styron Edition.
On this date in 1925, American novelist William Styron, author of
Sophie's Choice and other critically acclaimed novels, is born in
Newport News, Virginia. Our Ctrl-Alt-Backspace
section includes special click-links to transport you
to educational and informational websites
about this noted American novelist.
Click any of
these links to go
directly to your favorite section...
Missed an
issue?
Check
out
past issues here...
 Hear
Ye! Hear Ye!
Sometimes
we have
special sales, important notices about virus outbreaks or
other technical
bulletins. Call 830-895-5016 if you're
interested in any sale items we might list here. But please click here to read our disclaimer before
visiting any third-party websites.
 Yet Another Illegitimate Copy of Windows XP
Another
pirated copy of Windows XP has surfaced in Kerrville and once again
it appears that another customer has been robbed by an unscrupulous system builder. It's
unethical, it's illegal, and it's robbery performed against Microsoft
and most of all, it's robbery performed against the customer. The only
way to legitimize your pirated copy is to shell out $149 to Microsoft
for a new installation key and CD. So that makes twice you'll have been
victimized. The first time when you paid for a pirated update and the
second time when you'll have to pay for a legitimate installation key
and CD.
Once Microsoft's update center detects that a copy of Windows XP is
illegitimate, it will no longer be eligible for critical security
updates and it will be more susceptible to virus, spyware, and hacker
attacks. Wherever you purchase your PC from, insist that you receive
the original installation disk and that you actually see the official
Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity affixed to your PC. In an earlier
issue I addressed what you can do if you receive a pirated copy of Windows XP installed on your PC.
What To Do If You Suspect You Purchased Counterfeit Windows XP
The first thing you should do is check the following website to determine if your Windows XP is legitimate...
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/ww/windows/default.mspx
If
you determine that you were sold a counterfeit copy of Windows XP, then
your next step is to return the product to your place of purchase
and ask for a legitimate replacement product. If the vendor refuses to
help you, ask for your money back, and find a legitimate dealer who
will sell you legally licensed Microsoft products.
If the vendor
refuses to give you a refund, report their actions to your local
Consumer Affairs Office and the Better Business Bureau. In Kerrville, you can contact the Better Business Choices at 895-7778. You should
also contact the Microsoft Piracy Hotline at 1-800-RU-LEGIT.
If you want to submit an anonymous report, you may do so using
the web method at ...
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/ReportingUs.mspx
Remember,
if you have a counterfeit copy of Windows XP you may not be entitled to
receive important security updates and patches. This will make
your computer more vulnerable to viruses, hackers, and other internet
threats. Furthermore, if you did not receive an official Microsoft disk
and Certificate of Authenticity along with your purchase, you will run
into problems down the road if you ever need to repair or reinstall
your Windows XP.
Is Your PC Ready for Windows Vista?
Here's another website that can evaluate your PC and help you determine if it will meet Vista's minimum specifications...
http://www.pcpitstop.com/vistaready/
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Kingston USB Flash Drives
& Automatic Backups
DataTraveler
USB Flash drives are ideal for home office, small business, schools and
promotions. They're affordable and put mobile storage in nearly
anyone's hands. Call us at 895-5016 and let us show you how to get the
most out of these units as a convenient backup media.
Click here to learn more...
http://www.kingston.com/flash/wmv_files/using_dt.wmv
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Latest Virus
Threats
Downloader.Bancos
Symantec antivirus programs use Downloader.Bancos as a generic
detection. It is used when detecting many individual but varied
downloaders of the Infostealer.Bancos Trojan, for which specific definitions have not been created.
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/downloader.bancos.html
W32.Detnat.F
W32.Detnat.F is a worm that infects executable files on network shares
and local fixed drives. It also attempts to download and execute files.
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.detnat.f.html
Check For New Sale Items
In Our Online Store...
 Fun
& Educational Stuff
Each
week we stumble across interesting, educational and fun sites on the
internet.
We hope you enjoy this section of our
newsletter as much as we do! But please click here to read our disclaimer before
visiting any third-party websites.
Kitty Cam Reveals Killers in Our Midst
Yet another reason to spay and neuter your cats. Watch this interesting on-line video...
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/06/060608-kittycam-video.html
Sinking of the Oriskany 17-May-2006
"The Oriskany, a decommissioned
aircraft carrier, was sunk 24 miles off the coast of Pensacola, Fla.,
on May 17 to form an artificial reef. The sinking of the 888-foot ship
took 37 minutes." Click here to view images...
http://www.irishmansoftware.com/Oriskany.htm
Global Climate Change
"The Earth's climate has warmed and cooled for millions
of years, since long before we appeared on the scene. There’s
no doubt that the climate is growing warmer currently; indications
of that change are all around us." Click to read entire article...
http://www.exploratorium.edu/climate/index.html
Apple Retreats From India
"The company that redefined the way
we listen to music has decided to call it quits in India. Apple, known
for its popular iPods, is pulling out its software development and
support operations in India." Click to read entire article...
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1611960.cms
What Are Those Big Plantains in The Market and How Do I Use Them?
"The wonderful thing about
plátanos (plantains) is that they truly are a versatile food. As
a plátano ripens, its high starch content changes to sugar.
Plátanos are good at any stage; it just depends on what you want
to make. Plátanos are a relative of the banana, but are bigger,
less sweet and need to be cooked before they are eaten. Plátanos
also keep their shape when cooked, unlike bananas, which get mushy." Click to read entire article...
http://www.elboricua.com/platanos.html
UK Island Seeks Beer Loving Monarch
"If you're bored senseless at work
and fancy a complete change of scenery coupled with immediate elevation
to the monarchy, have a shufti at the website of Barrow Borough Council
which is offering one lucky chap or chapess the chance to become the
"King (or Queen) of Piel". Click to read entire article and be to check out the pictures too...
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/06/05/island_monarch/
http://www.visitcumbria.com/sl/pielcas.htm
Network Neutrality Killed Again, But Cable Reform Bill Lives On
"The COPE Act has passed the House of
Representatives and is moving on to a Senate committee, but without the
proposed 'Net neutrality amendment. Will the bill, as it stands today,
help or hurt consumers?" Click to read entire article...
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060609-7025.html
Do You Need An Industrial Strength Shredder?
http://www.ssiworld.com/watch/bmw.htm
Wardrode For The Weightless
http://www.space.com/entertainment/060609_space_fashion.html
Do You Like To Pop Bubblewrap?
Here's a virtual bubblewrap site for those lean times when no bubblewrap is available...
http://fun.from.hell.pl/2003-11-24/bubblewrap.swf
Live EagleCam of Baby Eagles
Every now and then you can see Mom bringing food...
http://www.infotecbsi.com/wildlife/
Funny Animation About Recent Times
Be sure to turn on your sound...
http://www.newsday.com/media/flash/2006-05/23671673.swf
 Web
Hosting
Tips
Do
you
have a domain website hosting account with
us? If so, you'll want to check this section for handy tips
to
help make your website standout from the crowd. Sometimes
we'll
give tips about working with your Plesk Control Panel. But please click here to read our disclaimer before
visiting any third-party websites.
How To Use Spam Filters in Plesk
 Linspire
Linux Tips
Linspire
Linux is a great operating system designed to be the easiest of all
desktop linux distributions.
If
you haven't tried it for yourself yet, ask for a free demo CD the next
time we service your computer. But please click here to read our disclaimer before
visiting any third-party websites.
K9Copy
K9Copy is a small utility which allows the copy of DVD, similar to the popular Windows application DVD Shrink.
http://www.linspire.com/lindows_products_details.php?product_id=24651
(click image)
|
The modern, full-featured Linspire Five-0
operating system combines the stability, security and affordability of
Linux with a familiar, easy-to-use desktop environment. You'll get all
the features of other operating systems - but not the high costs and
viruses. Save money and protect your computer today with Linspire
Five-0!
REGULAR Price $59.95
SALE Price $49.95 with your next onsite consultation visit
(sale price expires end of June 2006)
HINT:
Enjoy the best of both world's! Let us install a second hard drive in
your PC, install Linspire 5.0 so you can safely surf the internet
and receive email using Linspire Linux and still get to use your Windows XP for all
your regular Windows applications. |
Linspire Linux Tip of
The Week
Don't
forget to check the archive link at that page for previous tips...
http://www.linspire.com/tooltips.php
Latest
Linspire Letter....
http://www.linspire.com/linspire_letter.php
Michael's Latest Minute...
http://www.michaelrobertson.com/
 Microsoft
Windows
Tips
Microsoft Windows is
still the operating system that most people are familiar with.
Many businesses have based their requirements around
this
commercial operating system and so it remains the cornerstone of our
onsite support service. But please click here to read our disclaimer before
visiting any third-party websites.
Free Notable
Software Download...
(click
the image)
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A good book should leave you... slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading it.
~William Styron
Reading - the best state yet to keep absolute loneliness at bay.
~William Styron
|
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I
hope you've enjoyed this edition of our weekly newsletter. I try to
make each week's edition different and special by including meaningful
computer tips and links to fun, educational, and scientific websites.
If
you have any items of interest you might like to see addressed in the
future, or you have any Fun Stuff links of your own that you might like
to share, drop me an email and we'll see if we can include them for you.
Visit
the following website if you want
to subscribe or (gasp!) unsubscribe...
http://lists.bictx.com/mailman/listinfo/brightideas
Meanwhile,
don't forget to keep your computer's anti-virus current and your
critical and security patches up-to-date for the most reliable
computing experiences on the internet.
Happy Trails~
Tomas
Bright Ideas ComputingTM
Kerrville,
Texas
http://www.bictx.com
830-895-5016
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Please
make sure that you possess the fundamental and required skill sets
before you implement any advice or attempt to perform any
troubleshooting steps we, or other websites, might recommend. You
should also be advised that we have no control over how you perform any
troubleshooting steps nor do we have any control over the content of
other third-party websites you might visit that are listed in our
weekly newsletter. We also do not know if you have patched your
computer with the latest security updates nor do we know if your
anti-virus definition files are fully up-to-date.
Therefore,
in
no event shall Bright Ideas ComputingTM or any
of its third-party product
or service providers be liable to any person for any special,
incidental, indirect, consequential, or punitive damages of any kind,
including, without limitation, those resulting from loss of use, loss
of data, or lost profits, in connection with any advice provided by
Bright Ideas ComputingTM, damages resulting from
visiting third-party
websites or damages resulting from implementing any advice from those
third-party websites, whether or not you are advised of the possibility
of such damages.
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