I apologize for being all over the place with this blog.
I wanted to pass along a few computing tips for folks who don't always have the funds to keep up with Microsoft's latest and greatest.
Google is gradually adding free online software to its arsenal of products. For more information, read up on the news at the following link on ZDNET:
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Berlind/?p=437&tag=nl.e622
I find that ZDNET generally has reliable freeware/shareware that helps the basic home PC user, so be sure to check out their downloads section, too.
In another thought, MS Windows Vista has been offering frequent security updates, firewalls, etc. on their Microsoft downloads website. Make sure you are signed up with Microsoft updates, especially if you still have sponsored versions of their software such as Windows XP or Windows Vista.
And if you're running software and you're not sure how up-to-date your security and firewalls are, check out AVG Anti-Virus Free Editon located at: www.grisoft.com
Happy, and safe computing! Terre
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Shop those cellphone prices
I admit it. My son and I had to trash our cellphones two years ago because the pricetag of $90.00/month was killing our household budget, especially as summer electricity bills kept rising.
Recently, we lost our home phone service for a whole week due to a bad thunderstorm that knocked out our landlines, and courtesy of the "new and improved extremely large mega-conglomerate phone company" passing the buck on the customer service front. I was not happy to say the least.
So being a good mom and not wanting to leave my child stranded at home without a phone line, I started shopping the internet for a temporary cellphone. The range of prices vary greatly, everything from those old family package plans to finally, a new and improved system of buying your cellphone and the number of minutes you want to go with it.
Here's what I did. I went to Walmart one morning and looked at the different phones. The sales clerk was very helpful, especially when I started asking questions about coverage areas and which satellite systems the phones ran from. Guess what? The cellphones are runnning off of the same towers your high-price major cellphone companies are using!
I'm not endorsing any one product here. However, I ended up choosing a remanufactured Nokia cellphone running off of the Net 10 system. The wonderful part? The cellphone purchase and two months of service are only costing me $40.00 total. When my 300 minutes expires after 60 days, I have the option of buying the number of minutes I need in quantities of 150, 300, 450, 600, etc. minutes - all at 10 cents a minute. If you're a low-end user, like myself, this plan is perfect. My potential $15.00 a month bill certainly beats the $90.00 + I used to pay.
Good luck in your cellphone search!
Recently, we lost our home phone service for a whole week due to a bad thunderstorm that knocked out our landlines, and courtesy of the "new and improved extremely large mega-conglomerate phone company" passing the buck on the customer service front. I was not happy to say the least.
So being a good mom and not wanting to leave my child stranded at home without a phone line, I started shopping the internet for a temporary cellphone. The range of prices vary greatly, everything from those old family package plans to finally, a new and improved system of buying your cellphone and the number of minutes you want to go with it.
Here's what I did. I went to Walmart one morning and looked at the different phones. The sales clerk was very helpful, especially when I started asking questions about coverage areas and which satellite systems the phones ran from. Guess what? The cellphones are runnning off of the same towers your high-price major cellphone companies are using!
I'm not endorsing any one product here. However, I ended up choosing a remanufactured Nokia cellphone running off of the Net 10 system. The wonderful part? The cellphone purchase and two months of service are only costing me $40.00 total. When my 300 minutes expires after 60 days, I have the option of buying the number of minutes I need in quantities of 150, 300, 450, 600, etc. minutes - all at 10 cents a minute. If you're a low-end user, like myself, this plan is perfect. My potential $15.00 a month bill certainly beats the $90.00 + I used to pay.
Good luck in your cellphone search!
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Carpet Cleaner for Extremely Old Carpets
Dawn dish soap has a million uses, although one of my favorites is using it to shampoo my cruddy old apartment carpet that is a lost cause to the world. I've tried several different carpet formulas over the years - generic oxyclean, the commercial carpet cleaning products containing ammonia, even just plain hot water. And still the best solution I've found is about 3 - 4 tablespoons of Dawn dish soap (pick your favorite scent - Apple smells heavenly) added to hot tap water, and then go to town shampooing your carpet.
I admit it gets really sudsy, yet I'm not complaining, especially when I'm pulling pure sludge out of my carpet. It is gross to say the least. Be sure to pour the dirty water tank remains down your toilet, and flush often.
The day after your carpet dries, make sure you run the vacuum thoroughly and pick up the pilled carpet dust bunnies. I assure you your carpet will be clean and remarkably soft for at least the next two months, and you won't have black feet as you get into bed at night. (No judgements here, I'm the lone woman coping with a 15 year old boy, frequent teen hangouts and a dog and a cat!)
Another benefit, I live in Houston and we don't have flea problems in my household.
I admit it gets really sudsy, yet I'm not complaining, especially when I'm pulling pure sludge out of my carpet. It is gross to say the least. Be sure to pour the dirty water tank remains down your toilet, and flush often.
The day after your carpet dries, make sure you run the vacuum thoroughly and pick up the pilled carpet dust bunnies. I assure you your carpet will be clean and remarkably soft for at least the next two months, and you won't have black feet as you get into bed at night. (No judgements here, I'm the lone woman coping with a 15 year old boy, frequent teen hangouts and a dog and a cat!)
Another benefit, I live in Houston and we don't have flea problems in my household.
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