*CyberCoyote - June, 2008*

NEWS, NOTES and NOTICES

*Graduation*
No not mine. I've already done that enough times. Just a note to let you know why this issue is a bit early. Not that that it matters. ;-) Marcia and I are going to California tomorrow for our granddaughter's high school graduation. Our own were in the middle of the last century. :-)

*Search at HTCC*
Sometimes, the quickest way to navigate a website is by using search. There are several special search engines at the HTCC website. I collected most of them on a single page to make it easier find what you are (or I am) looking for.
http://cybercoyote.org/site-search.shtml

*Windows XP SP3*
Microsoft Update will soon start offering SP3 for XP again, but I'm going to "just say no" for now. Most people will want to install SP3 eventually, but a serious problem just emerged, and there is little or nothing to gain from SP3 right now anyway. I expect there will be a solution for that latest problem soon, and if nothing else comes up, that will be the time to upgrade.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,146228-c,xp/article.html

I'll keep you updated on SP3 problems and let you know when I think it's time to upgrade. But if you go ahead now and then run into a problem, you can get free tech support from Microsoft at (866) 234-6020. There's free support online too.
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?Gprid=12757 -- XP3 support

Before you install SP3, you may want to investigate how it will affect the version of Internet Explorer you have installed. However, if you are using IE7 and are happy with it, there is nothing to worry about.
http://cybercoyote.org/links/167.html -- what you should know
http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2008/05/05/ie-and-xpsp3.aspx -- how sp3 affects IE6, IE7 & IE8

*Windows Vista SP1*
The new service pack for Vista has it's own set of problems. Serdar Yegulalp has a comprehensive guide for how to deal with SP1. I'd read it before starting to upgrade. ;-) In particular, you might want to use his msconfig tip under "Third-Party System Services Issues" to stay out of the weeds. That's what I intend to do when I apply SP1 to the club's laptop when I get back next fall.
http://cybercoyote.org/links/168.html

TIPS, TOPICS and TWEAKS

*7 Habits of highly inefficient Internet Users*
If you don't have any of these habits yourself, perhaps you know someone who could make use of these pointers. BTW, most people aren't dumb. They don't quite know how browsers and the Internet work, so they poke and hope. Then they remember the little rituals that seem to work. ;-)
http://cybercoyote.org/links/169.html -- text with optional video

*Cleaning up your computer*
Microsoft tries to help you keep all your documents in one place, namely "My Documents" (just "Documents" in Vista). It would be nice if they steered temporary files to one central location too. Since they don't, you need to have some way to find them all if you hope to keep Windows clean.

ATF Cleaner is a nice little program that does just that, and it's free. It's a tiny program that you don't even need to install. Probably the easiest way to use ATF Cleaner is to download it to your desktop and start it from there. I used it to remove 330 MB of cruft from my year-old computer. :-)

Quoting their description, "ATF Cleaner is a free stand-alone utility that cleans up any temporary files that a computer may collect. This includes the Windows temp folder, Current User temp folder, All Users temp folder, cookies, Temporary Internet Files, History, Prefetch, Java Cache & Recycle Bin."
http://www.technibble.com/repair-tool-of-the-week-atf-cleaner/

*Live help*
CrossLoop is a great way for people who are at separate locations to work together to solve computer or internet problems. PC Advisor explains how CrossLoop works, and how to use it.
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=12645
http://cybercoyote.org/help/local.shtml#crossloop -- my shingle

SECURITY

*Social Engineering*
Somehow this sounds utopian, or maybe it's evil, eh? Social engiineering means to extract something of value from someone else without them realizing that they've been had. And it's often more lucrative than crimeware, which is often the main thing people worry about online. ;-)

Walt Mossberg, WSJ, wrote a readable column on how to avoid the cons that lead to identity theft, along with a little video that he has embedded. I think it's a good refresher on why, after a firewall, your own wits are your best protection online.
http://cybercoyote.org/links/170.html --
http://cybercoyote.org/links/174.html -- keep in mind

FREEWARE

*Say cheese*
Digital cameras make it easy to take multiple shots so that you can pick the best and throw the rest away. That may not help much when the subject is a group though. Especially if you want the shot to have a natural touch. What if you could select the best image for each individual though? You should end up with a great composite of the group. Microsoft's "Group Shot" lets you do just that. http://research.microsoft.com/projects/GroupShot/
-- more on how to use

WEB PICKS

*At the destination*
Remember the slide-show of launch preparation for space shuttle Discovery? Now we have some nice hi-res pictures after they arrived at the space station.
http://www.texasjim.com/NASApix/NASA%20pix.htm -- in orbit

*Get some satisfaction*
"Get Satisfaction" is a direct connection between people and companies that fosters problem-solving, promotes sharing, and builds up relationships. Thousands of companies use this neutral space to support customers, exchange ideas, and get feedback about their products and services.

Get Satisfaction is open, transparent, and free. You're free to ask, free to answer, and free to start a new conversation. Everyone is invited and encouraged to participate: companies, employees, customers -- anyone with an opinion, an answer, or something to say."
http://getsatisfaction.com/

ODDS and ENDS

*Lipstick test*
Check your pulse if you aren't laughing out loud.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_NDdcZabUM
http://cybercoyote.org/links/172.html -- alternate

*Galaxies in Collision*
Recently-released Hubble Telescope images of cosmic train wrecks.
http://thespacewriter.com/wp/2008/04/25/the-dance-of-the-galaxies/

*And closer to home*
Living on cosmic time.
http://cybercoyote.org/links/173.html

*That's all, folks.*

Last modified 07/06/08