Resistant to change?

It is amazing how people get set in their ways. They find something they like and won’t try something similar that may be better than what they are using currently. Nobody wants to get a virus on their computer, but it is shocking how many of you are still using Internet Explorer as thier main web browser. To add to the risk, these same people often don’t protect themselves from from free roaming worms on the net with a simple “Router” between there internet device (modem, cable modem, DSL, etc…) and their computers. Get a Router and try out Firefox people! Those two things alone will reduce you risks on the web by 1000% – Listen to these to see just how vulnerable you are without a router… listen to this. http://media.grc.com/sn/SN-003.mp3  And why Internet Explorer is so unsafe, get more info on Firefox and other web browsers and their issues… listen to this. http://media.grc.com/sn/SN-038.mp3 These audio files are from a very respected security expert, Steve Gibson. Here is a list of many security subjects he talks about http://www.grc.com/securitynow.htm I have listen to most of the episodes until they started getting into Vista then I lost interest. Also check out episodes #7, 52, 61 and 85 for more basic security awareness. The small amount of time spent could save you much more time spent fixing your computer or getting your stolen identity back.

Another risk and resistance is MySpace. But I like MySpace, Virb, or Bebo or what ever they are using, they tell you. All my friends are there. So is ALL the malicious spyware and Trojan codes, scripts and adware. Myspace is very dangerous for malware. Try Facebook! MySpace is so yesterday. Facebook is safer, does more, and so much classier than MySpace. I still have a Myspace account. I don’t use it much anymore, but I tried it, used it, and moved on. It is still there if I need it. But, keeping in mind I only visit myspace on a non-Internet Explorer browser with scripting, and third party advertising off, at least until I have more trust in the site I am visiting.
Another example is MSN, Yahoo Messenger, Skype etc.. Us geeks, use, try, and give feedback to each other on all kinds of new software and web sites. The real computer geek knows Skype is one of the best chat, video, group audio & chat, computer to computer voice, and computer to land line voice clients out there. But our friends are stuck on MSN or Yahoo. So us geeks use all of the different chat clients, we conform to our friends, but when we suggest to a friend to try another free option, like Skype, there is no way they are going to change! I say, “But it has feature that allows better communication and convenience, it’s better,”  Then this wall comes up, “I am not going to change just for you, all my friends us x-chat, I’m sticking with that.” They say, “I don’t have time to learn new stuff” But once you know one type, the others are similar, just give it a chance. All I am trying to say is try something new, who now you might like it and be that little bit wiser for it. You may even be able to use it with other friends that may have also been waiting for you to upgrade to something new. Or sometimes you just need a different or better tool at your disposal, because what you are using doesn’t do everything you want or need for a particular job. Don’t just write it off, give it a try.

Then again thinking back, complacency is much easier if you have no clue about how dangerous the web is and the number of options you actually have on the WWW.

Leave me a comment on your thoughts on this. If I made one more person and computer little more secure, then this post was worth it.

It’s been a while, Where have I been?

Ya, I know… I haven’t posted in a while. PoolBoys get really busy in the spring. Twitter.com, Ustream.tv, Stickam.com, Jaiku.com, Virb.com all haven’t helped either. I have linked all the previous sites, to my respective profile, for your clicking pleasure.

Doing a lot of yard work these days, things are starting to looking good around here… Chrystal. Made it up to the cabin on the May long weekend. The weather wasn’t the greatest, it could have been much worse up there, so we really can’t complain. Best of all everyone is Healthy and Happy!

So those two paragraphs took almost an hour to compose (with distractions in mind). This leaves me out of time to post much of anything else for now. But I will try and keep you up to date as things progress. Twitter seems to be the most up to date posting of what I am doing these days. So, keep an eye on me there if you like. ‘Til next time, later.

Dad! Stop taking pictures and HELP ME!!

Dad! Stop taking pictures and HELP ME!!

Originally uploaded by [ CK ].
“Trying the blog feature and sharing this photo and caption from flickr blog link.”

So I was surfing around on the Flickr web site, checking out all its cool features and saw the “Blog This” link. Of course, I have to try it, thinking it was a blog service that came with my Pro flickr account. As it turns out, it posted that first sentence above (that I typed in as a test) with the photo right into this blog seamlessly. It amazes me just how many simple ways there are to post to my blog. I would have to say, it is just as easy if not easier than email at times. I don’t remember setting flickr to point to my blog?! But I must have. It’s as simple of a task as telling flickr that I use WordPress and typeing in my wordpress username and password. On second thought, flickr’s blog link may have been directed to my blog via the web browser that I was using at the time “Flock“. Flock is designed as a social web browser, making it easier to post blogs and photos to the net. But that is another subject.

That just about covers that. I was telling you all this because I wanted to fill in white space on this post, then I got carried away. I do like the pic and caption though and thought you may too. While taking to opportunity to let people that would like to post their own blogs know that it really is very easy and doesn’t take much time at all. I signed up and set my mom up with a blog www.bochamberlin.wordpress.com and made a 1st test post to it in about 15 minutes. Okay, I should say, I cut, copied and pasted an interesting article about brains to it for a first post in about 15 minutes. You can spend time trying different blog templates and features, but to just get blogging doesn’t take long at all. Leave a comment if you want more about this.

Later…

Quick Test blog from firefox

I am posting this with a firefox extention called Deepest Sender- If you see this it worked.

Halloween Party 2006 photo posting

Our latest flickr photo upload is of the Halloween party at Patrick and Michelles. Great Party Guys! Thanks! I had a lot of fun. Click on the image to see all the photos of the party we posted.

My Blog contains the all of my favorite links. Current and otherwise. This is where you can find our latest posts (viewable in any web browser). You can subscribe to our Blogs too, this way if somebody posts to their blog, like Chrystal or myself, you will be notified of new post on your news reader/subscription enabled browser. (contact me if you would like more info on this subject) Rod’s Blog is hosted by WordPress for free! Thanks WordPress! Perhaps sign up for your own free blog. I think there is only 3 or 4 data entry fields to fill out to get your own account. Very Simple!

A browser by the name of “Flock” is a great browser similar to “Firefox” complete with extensions. Flock is considered a social web browser as it make keeping in contact with friends, very simple. It also integrates “Flickr” and “PhotoBucket” so uploading/storing/sharing photos on the net is easy and fun with Flock! Down load it, it’s free too!

This is Disgustingly Entertaining – Hasselhoff

David “The Hoff” Hasselhoff – Jump In My Car

I had to post this even though I hate the guy. It reinforces why I hate him. It is an entertaining video though and the tune is even somewhat catch. Go figure!

Blogged with Flock