The mind, once expanded to the dimensions of larger ideas, never returns to its original size.
~Oliver Wendell Holmes
Kerrville
Texas
830-895-5016
What's Up This Week? Sunday, August 6, 2006 Archives
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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...

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What's In Here?

Lots of cool, fun, and informative stuff every week!
I'm dubbing this week's issue the Atomic Bomb Edition. On this day in 1945, The United States becomes the first and only nation to use atomic weaponry during wartime when it drops an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Our Ctrl-Alt-Backspace section includes special click-links to transport you to educational and informational websites about this deadly creation of ours.


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 or downloading software from any third-party websites.


AOL becomes free service, cuts 5,000 jobs
This marks the death throes for AOL. All the rest of you AOL employees should take heed of this massive cut in workforce and take steps now to get off the sinking ship. Otherwise you'll go down with it...
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060804-7423.html

Microsoft's Piracy Check Draws Complaints, Lawsuits
"18 months after announcing the Windows Genuine Advantage piracy check, Microsoft faces controversy and backlash, including two lawsuits. Some say the company clumsily handled several elements of the program, including a key privacy issue." Click to read entire article...
http://redmondmag.com/news/article.asp?editorialsid=7679

Latest Virus Threats
W32.Munia!inf
W32.Munia!inf is a detection that detects files that are infected by the W32.Munia virus.
http://www.symantec.com/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2006-080515-1424-99

W32.Munia
W32.Munia is a virus that infects executable files when the target file is opened. It also steals password information.
http://www.symantec.com/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2006-080510-5539-99


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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 or downloading software from any third-party websites. 



David Letterman's Tribute to Bill Gates...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NoGbLI3ePA

Holographic Storage
"Long-promised but rarely seen, commercially available holographic storage devices will become a reality before the end of the year, in the form of a system developed by InPhase Technologies and built by Hitachi Maxell." Click to read entire article...
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060804-7424.html

Create Your Own Jackson Pollock Painting
Use your mouse and mouse buttons to create your own masterpiece...
http://www.jacksonpollock.org/

Science of Baseball
Explore the science of baseball at Exploratorium...
http://www.exploratorium.edu/baseball/index.html

This One's For All The Conspiracy Theorists Out There
"How did the U.S. Air Force respond on 9/11? Could it have shot down United 93, as conspiracy theorists claim? Obtaining 30 hours of never-before-released tapes from the control room of NORAD's Northeast headquarters, the author reconstructs the chaotic military history of that day—and the Pentagon's apparent attempt to cover it up." Click to read entire article...
http://www.vanityfair.com/features/general/060801fege01

Buffalo Invade Canada Town
"Several wild buffalo have invaded the small northern town of Fort Providence in Canada's Northwest Territories, rubbing siding off houses, head-butting trucks, and even scaring kids off the playground." Click to read entire article...
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/08/060802-buffalo.html

More Diet Coke and Mentos Please
This is pretty funny and entertaining...
http://www.eepybird.com/dcm1.html#featured-video

Interesting Old Technology Video About Mars Exploration
My friend Joe should find this old video quite interesting and amusing at the same time...
http://www.space.com/php/video/player.php?video_id=b010111_rv_nolifemars&plugin=q

Piano Fun!
Have fun with this on-line piano music generator...
http://www.grotrian.de/spiel/e/spiel_win.html

American Museum of Natural History
Ah, memories of New York City childhood! I remember the class trips, and often my own solo trips, to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City and the fossil exhibits were always my favorite...
http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent/fossilhalls/

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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 or downloading software from any third-party websites.


Thinking About Developing a Website?
Then you should first read this site to find out strategic information before you decide on a website layout...
http://www.websiteoptimization.com/speed/tweak/clickstream/ 

How To Create an Email Autoresponder
Check out this flash tutorial that will show you how to create an email autoresponder...
http://tinyurl.com/o2mzr
 

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 or downloading software from any third-party websites.


Google Earth
The idea is simple. It's a globe that sits inside your PC. You point and zoom to anyplace on the planet that you want to explore. Satellite images and local facts zoom into view. Tap into Google search to show local points of interest and facts. Zoom to a specific address to check out an apartment or hotel. View driving directions and even fly along your route. We invite you to try it now.
http://www.linspire.com/lindows_products_details.php?product_id=25490




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 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!
$59.95

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 or downloading software from any third-party websites.



Disable Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) Notifications
Okay, some folks don't find out that they have an illegitimate copy of Windows XP until they install the WGA update. Then they are periodically reminded of this fact through the use of the WGA Notifications popup windows generated from the system tray.

The WGA software will still let your Windows XP receive critical updates but you won't be able to receive other routine updates or install any other free Microsoft downloads such as Windows Defender. For some, this is not a big deal and all they want is to squeeze what little life they have remaining out of their old PC before investing in a new PC with a legitimate copy of Windows XP.

So how do you disable WGA Notifications? Here's how...

1. Logon as an Administrator.
2. Go to "Add/Remove Programs" control panel applet.
3. Select "Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications".
4. Click on "click here for support information."

If you have a pilot version that falls between numbers 1.5.0527.0 to 1.5.0532.2, then you can simply uninstall it. Finally, rename the following files and reboot your PC...

%Windir%\system32\WgaLogon.dll
%Windir%\system32\WgaTray.exe

NOTE: Windir simply means the "Windows" directory. Also, just rename these files by changing the three-letter file extension to ".old".

If you don't have a pilot version that falls between numbers 1.5.0527.0 to 1.5.0532.2, then you're out of luck because I'm not going to show you how to remove it. Doing so would involve a registry hack and I'm just not inclined to take you into deep water today.

How To Configure Windows Updates to Prompt You Before Downloading Updates
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/283629/en-us

Free Notable Software Download...
Fish Passion
Gobble down your friend or your colleague! There's a unique chance to enter a virtual fight and know what it feels like to be a murderous fish!
http://www.freegamesway.com/fish_passion/






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Ctrl-Alt-Backspace
The release of atom power has changed everything except our way of thinking... the solution to this problem lies in the heart of mankind.  If only I had known, I should have become a watchmaker.
~Albert Einstein

 The way to win an atomic war is to make certain it never starts.
~Omar Bradley