Is there anyone who doesn't know that I've been exploring the idea of getting my own domain and starting up at least two additional blogs? The idea is a bit scary for me, what with my ignorance about all things technical. My friends have been encouraging though, and I've found quite a few websites that offer tutorials and tools that will make the task less intimidating. Today Swish Templates is sponsoring this post, which gives me the opportunity to show you what I've found on their site. The skills involved in creating a template are beyond me, but I've found several that are ready made and would be excellent choices for me. I think the one below would be perfect for my book blog. Lots of tabs, so I can keep the clutter to a minimum but still post reviews, current best sellers, wish lists and TBRs. And I'm a dog person, too, you know!




I haven't found one yet for my clutter and the other blog whose focus is still my little secret, but that's only because there are so many to choose from. If you're in the market for a new look, do check out Swish Templates. The prices look great, too! Right now everything is 10% off, so it's a great time to buy.

Labels: blogs, internet, payperpost, technology, websites

I’m not a huge fan of censorship, but there are situations where I believe it’s entirely appropriate. Censoring what’s available in the public domain can stiffle an entire society, but in our homes and businesses can fulfill a valid need. Parents can and should control what their children are exposed to on the internet. Business owners and managers may need to monitor and control their employees use of the internet while at work. These needs can be met unobtrusively and with set parameters by using a keystroke logger.

Keystroke loggers allow you to monitor the ways that a computer is being used, and they will alert you when unauthorized activities are taking place. Employers can use this software to eliminate the use of their equipment and company time for online chatting or visits to other undesirable sites. There’s even software that can function remotely, so the technology can be applied to situations where the person doing the monitoring cannot routinely access the computer being monitored. I can see where this would be extremely useful for busy employers who don’t have the time to visit each computer station on a regular basis, or who need to conduct their monitoring activity covertly. The sophisticated software can even allow you to track, log and archive all internet activity. Sad to say, but sometimes inappropriate use of a computer results in a journey through the court system. Accurate records provide the proof that is needed to bring such cases to a successful outcome.

Parents can apply this same technology to the computers their children use. We’ve all heard terrible stories about adult predators using MySpace and other sites to find their victims. Keystroke loggers can record websites, email, chat room and message board activity. This gives parents the opportunity to intervene before a serious problem develops. Keystroke loggers are a small investment that can pay big dividends in protecting your children and giving yourself some peace of mind.

This post is brought to you by Netbus.org, who have twice won the PC Magazine Editor's Choice Award for Best Monitoring Software.

Labels: internet, payperpost, technology

My camera is an HP320. I like it. It was given to me by dear friends two years ago for Christmas. Two years is a long time for electronic equipment to stay in service in today's fast-changing technological world, but still, it takes nice pictures and it’s easy to use. It has 2.1 mega-pixels. Now, I should tell you right here that I’m not sure what mega-pixels are. I know they have something to do with photo quality, and I know that Ted has more of them than I do. Who is Ted? He’s the PayPerPost guru who wants to give away some HP 6 mega-pixel digital cameras and photo printers. This post is sponsored by HP, who wants Ted to give me a camera and photo printer. Ted has more of almost everything than I do. Since Ted is in a sharing mood, I think he should give me a 6 mega-pixel camera. I live in Hawaii. I take scenic digital photos and share them with the folks who read my blog. My blog works for him when I do PPP posts. It makes sense that Ted should want me to take the best pictures possible. So Ted? Could I please have one? The entire blogsphere will thank you for the quality photos I feed into its stream, and so will I. I'll even give my old HP320, which is a perfectly good camera, to the nearest women's shelter if you give me a new one. Deal?

This post was sponsored by HP.

Labels: cameras, electronics, payperpost, technology

I’ve been doing termite inspections for almost twenty-seven years. I’m very good at what I do. One thing that I learned early on is that good tools make good work. As an amateur gardener, it doesn’t matter that I use inexpensive tools from the discount store. As a professional providing a service, I look for the very best tools available to assist me in my work. The picture above is my proof. It’s over a decade old. The Streamlight Rechargable Flashlight is clearly visible on my hip. I still rely on Streamlight after all these years, because their flashlights have proven themselves reliable, sturdy and very long-lasting.

While you’re checking out the flashlights, take a look around at some of the other optical instruments at OpticsPlanet.com (they’re the nice folks who are sponsoring this post.) If you still have last-minute Christmas shopping to do and you’re looking for bargains, you can certainly find them there. I spend a lot of money on my work tools, but want a discount price for my nephew's first telescope. The hunters in your life would love to find leupold rifle scopes under the Christmas tree this year. Paintballers and others who play in the dark might appreciate an improvement in their night vision. You still have time to order, and will get free UPS shipping on orders over $29.95. Prowl around the site while your there. There are thousands of optical products and accessories and the discounted prices are very appealing.

Labels: optical equipment, payperpost, technology

I had a recent scare when an intruder walked into my home one evening. My dogs chased him away, so I was very fortunate that time. I’ve become more conscientious about locking my deadbolts since then, and I started shopping for outdoor security lighting the next day. I still feel vulnerable, but didn’t want to install an expensive Security System in a home that I’ll probably be selling in the next year or so. Now I’ve found out that there’s a more effective approach. LaserShield is a portable system that’s easy to set up and will provide the 24/7 monitoring that I want. The keychain remote alarm and activator will allow me to arm and disarm the system as I come and go, and it can be configured so that the dogs won’t be triggering false alarms. I can take it with me when I move, and the system is expandable, so I can add to it if my new place is bigger. LaserShield is available at CompUSA, Kmart, Home Depot and other national retailers as well as online.

Labels: payperpost, security, technology

I’ve had the pleasure of sitting through quite a few video conferences in my life. I hate them! Fuzzy pictures and poor quality sound have been so unreliable that we often ended up canceling the video conference and resorting to phone and email communications to discuss our common projects. Now there’s Video Conference equipment available with crystal clear video and high definition audio. Sounds like we’ve finally arrived in the twenty-first century!

Labels: business, payperpost, technology

I admit it. I’m a technophobe. I didn’t even own a cell phone until my business became large enough that I was missing client calls when I was out in the field. I quickly adapted to forwarding office calls to my cell and – Voila! – instant efficiency, and I avoided having to hire someone to babysit my phone. Maybe that’s why I see a cell phone as a business tool and nothing else. I don’t have games on my phone, it doesn’t send me email alerts and I don’t require it to send me market updates. Textspeak is a foreign language to me.

Lately I’ve been servicing a lot of clients across-island. That means I’m spending a lot of time in traffic. I’ve had my fill of Christmas ads and dogs barking jingle bells on the radio while I idle on the freeway or sit waiting for a client to provide the access I need for an inspection. My son thinks I should give up my dinosaur ways and let my cellphone relieve the tedium. I guess I can’t take advantage of this little diversion from t9 while driving, but at least it would give me something to do while killing time.



Check it out and see what you think. Could it drag this old fossil into the new millinium? I wonder how long it would take to get good enough at it to win the cool prizes?

Labels: games and quizzes, payperpost, technology