Protection II

Yesterday's post was read, and you installed AVG-Antivirus and the Firefox browser, right? Go to MajorGeeks. Find the "Files" list on the left. Click on Spyware Tools. Download Ad-aware Personal Edition, Spybot-Search & Destroy and SpywareBlaster. Go back to the file list and find the category named Drive Cleaners. Download CCleaner. You are now ready to protect your PC from the thugs of the internet - people in the spyware business.

Install Spybot Search & Destroy first. It will guide you through the installation process. Follow instructions. If in doubt please read their excellent tutorial. There are several tweaks that can make this super program even more efficient, but that will be discussed in the online guide that is being developed for the Saltillo Beach House. Here's an important one that needs to be implemented. Go to mode on the toolbar at the top and change to advanced. Click on tools after it shows up at the bottom of the column. Then click on IE tweaks. Make sure you have your IE homepage set at a desired location and then check the three boxes that will prevent some jerk from hijacking your homepage. Close the program. Yep, just click on the 'X' in the top right corner. Be careful while in this mode, because you can change things that will give you cybernightmares.

Next on the list is Lavasoft's Ad-aware and JavaCoolSoftware's SpywareBlaster. It's almost the weekend. Hang in there.

"Problems are only opportunities in work clothes."
-Henry Kaiser

Protect yo'self

PSGuard Removal Tip: Try turning off system restore and rebooting in safe mode before you run any scans. This releases many files that are used when Windows is running in full mode. After you finish reboot and turn system restore back on and set a restore point.

You have a new PC. It's out of the box, you've done the initial Windows dance and are sitting at the desktop, ugly background and all. Uninstall the free trial googly moogly anti-virus software. If there is no uninstall prompt under the appropriate start up program list then go to the control panel and use Add/Remove Programs. You'll most likely have to do a restart. After restarting, open your Internet Explorer browser and go to http://www.majorgeeks.com. Look at the column on the left. You are interested in 4 catergories; Anti-Virus, Browsers, Drive Cleaners and Spyware Tools. Leave the rest alone for now. Open up the Anti-Virus Category and download AVG Free Edition by clicking on it. Use the Florida server, it's fast. When the download completes install the program and be sure and check the 'download definition updates from the internet' box. Just click through and let the program install.

Next step is to go back to the column on the left at Major Geeks. Click on browsers. Download Firefox. Install it. Import your favorites from IE if you so desire. Complete the install and open the browser. Go to Tools at the top. Open it and click on Options. Now click on Downloads and change the download target to another folder (create one on C drive and title it DOWNLOADS). Don't download to the desktop, which is the default. This will create instant clutter. When the browser wants to be the default, tell it no and tell it to remember. After a few days of use, you can change this setting.

More will follow in the next post. Time to hit the dusty trail. Y'all slide through Thursday, the weekend is almost here!

"It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life, that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself."
-Emerson

Ringy Dingy

It's absolutely amazing that less than two months after hurricane Katrina US Army Engineers have pumped all the water out of New Orleans. Now there will be a massive effort to rebuild in the wake of a horrible disaster. Read about it at BBCNews. Wow, 250 billion gallons in less than two months! Hats off to a super effort.

Do you Skype? There's a new cordless phone coming to us from Linksys. The cost appears to be around 130 bucks. Not bad if you consider the money that can be saved by using it. Take a look at this internet based phone service if you haven't. It's a wave of the future. Take that Ma' Bell!

Hi ho, hi ho. Have a casual Wednesday.

"Doing nothing is very hard to do...you never know when you're finished."
-Leslie Nielsen

Online Banking and SUSE

Are you in doubt about online banking? Do you hesitate when using a credit card online? If so, take a look at this interesting interview with Kevin Mitnick. Normally I do not use CNN as a source, but they did the interview. Kevin is an expert in the security field and has written several books that deal with his past hacking exploits. Nice interview. Thanks goes out to Scuttle Monkey at Slashdot for the link.

Linux SUSE 10.0 is available for download. It's a good idea to have high speed connectivity when trying to download. There's a lot of traffic. Might want to use a mirror site near you too. Linux comes in many different flavors known as "distros." SUSE is user friendly and the installation is painless. What about your Windows software running in Linux? Take a look at WINE HQ. No this is not a refreshing beverage. It's a compatability layer for running Windows applications. Interested in Linux? Check out LinuxISO.org.

"A truth that's told with bad intent beats all the lies you can invent."
-William Blake

AVG Update and Cybersouth Links

If for some weird, neurotic, borderline psychotic reason you have not been updating AVG Anti-virus, please do so...NOW. Hopefully, everyone has the definition updates set to commence automatically every 24 hours. Recently, a major update consisting of several megs was issued. If you look in the bottom right corner of your screen and the AVG icon is colored then you're okay. If it is grayed out then you are NOT protected. Get with it. Protect yo' self.

Got a complaint about the current theme of PSGuard removal being the main subject for a week. The PSGuard Removal links are now available in the list, but there will be occasional updates. This is a piece of garbage that is running rampant and invading many machines. So please don't complain. If your machine becomes infected at least you know where to start your search for a cure. The parent company is Shudder Global Limited. It looks like they are based in the UK. Working on an address and will publish it when found.

Smile at someone today, it'll help Monday become Tuesday.

"Chance fights ever on the side of the prudent."
-Euripides

Just Another Onion Head

It's Sunday so there's only one more day to work this week. Have a PC on the bench that is having a hissy fit. It doesn't like triple booting with W2K, XPPro and Linux Suse 9.3. After discovering my 9.3 disk sent from Novell was corrupt the 5 CD version was downloaded off the internet. Machine ran fine in a triple boot config when it was Suse 9.2. After 3 attempts it's apparent I must read LUGs some more.

Gotta finish several machines on the bench and gear up for a busy week. Enjoy Sunday.

"Rest when you're weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work."
-Ralph Marston

NOTE: PSGUARD Removal references are now located in the CYBERSOUTH LINKS.

PSGuard, another mosquito biting at the butt of humanity

Migrating the links about PSGuard removal from yesterday's post into the Cybersouth Links list will be done soon. They'll be listed in bold type as are the other malware fixes on this page. As information is acquired it will be posted.

Thanks to everyone for their inquiries and support. One emailer said the latest version of Spybot Search & Destroy that has been updated will remove this trash. Another recommended Spysweeper, which is a non-free tool from Webroot. Also, a fellow tech that is extremely knowledgeable verified that XoftSpy will work if you want to spend the money.

Tutorials devoted to installation and usage of several spyware-prevention utilities are still being constructed. Each tutorial will have screen shots. Bear with me, these things take time, especially when they are being developed by a single person that still has to devote most of the waking day to field work and bench time.

If you have browsed the links from yesterday then you've noticed a general consensus about how to obliterate PSGuard. Proceed with caution. Take your time. And please, please share any information you gain with us. Inquiring minds wanna know. In the meantime, here's another really good link to help take out the PSGuard garbage -> Spyware Removal Guideline.

"Remember, we're all in this together."
-Red Green

PSGuard Removal

After posting about the horrors of PSGuard many inquiries have been made as to how it was eradicated. Gosh, this was a two day trial and error. Memory did not serve me well during those two days.. However, several of the links were saved concerning the removal of this garbage. Here they are:

Geeks to Go

BleepingComputer.com

Computing.net

MajorGeeksForum

Avast!WebForum

All these links are forums. They were found using Google. I know this is not an instant cure, but it's what was used when cleaning the PSGuard infected machine that just crossed my bench. If you are not comfortable editing a registry, manipulating files, etc., be VERY careful when using tools like HiJackThis or Killdisk. They are great utilities and also very powerful. One wrong step can mean disaster. Please follow instructions. I am still looking for a FREE tool that will remove PSGuard and if someone knows of one please comment or email. As always, I'll gladly respond to your email. Hope this helps.

"All knowledge is for good. Only the use to which you put it can be good or evil."
-Virgil, head monkey in Planet of the Apes

Zydeco Music

A life long friend that resides in Tishomingo County works for TVA. He arrived in southwest Louisiana just a short time after hurricane Rita came ashore. His crew repairs and maintains transmission lines located on steel towers or extremely tall poles. Our conversation last night was enough to stop me cold. I ended the evening in prayer.

TVA, aka Tennessee Valley Authority, has erected circus size air-conditioned tents to house workers. Parked just outside are huge truck trailers that have showers and such. Meals are furnished and they are well equipped considering the circumstances. The work days are long and they are busy around the clock.

Most people in this area evacuated as instructed. The few folks that have returned are grateful for the workers and also the aid that surrounds them. There's no finger pointing and nay-saying. Human beings helping human beings. Hearts are crying out and people are responding. The Mississippi Rising fund raiser is now at 15 million dollars! Many other organizations are lending a helping hand.

Have you noticed that some of the news media hasn't covered this aspect of the big picture? They won't either. Their style is to spread misery and misfortune. Such a shame. The good people of our nation have been the subjects of a negative onslaught by TV and radio ratings seekers. Are you tired of this attitude? I am.

Picture a scenario of dead swamp rats, livestock dead in once green pastures now flooded, alligators dead and alive everywhere. Complete devestation. Still, a sound of hope was heard during this conversation. There was Zydeco music in the background. Local musicians were playing for the workers helping their communities.

Thanks Neal, my friend. Thank you for the phone call and your crew's diligent efforts. God Bless America.

"If you haven't any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble."
-Bob Hope

NOTE: Due to the volume of email concerning PSGuard removal research is underway to provide assistance through articles and links. Information will be posted soon.

Lending a Hand

DineforAmerica is a worthy cause. Please eat out today at one of these establishments willing to give up their profits to aid the American Red Cross. Help the victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Click on the link for listings in your local area.

Did you know that the Lee-Itawamba Library System is offering free internet connectivity to the victims of Katrina and Rita? They also have wifi capability. This is a super effort by a great group to give comfort to those in need. Hats off to ya!

Enjoy a beautiful Wednesday and eat out!

"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can."
-John Wesley

To the Volcano I Say!

If you own a business that uses computers or work with computers you need to read PCWorld's article, The Hidden Money Trail. Pay attention to pages 1, 8 & 10. This will give you some idea about the adverse properties of malware, spyware, thiefware, dungware, adware or whatever you decide to call it today. Page 1 tells the sad tale of a woman in Conway, Arkansas. This is taken from the article: Between repairs and lost revenue from downtime, Smith says her adware debacle cost her close to $5000. "What really surprised me was that the ads were from reputable companies, names you'd recognize," she says. "I got really angry that legitimate businesses would advertise their products using a program like this."

My last battle with this slime was an enormous effort. It took 2 days to clean the infestation. Something has to be done about this invasion of privacy. We need to take back the internet and not let creeps and hoodlums bang at our machines with the support of major corporations. When the authors of this article installed adware on their machines for research, they found ads from such business notables as Chrysler, Expedia, Microsoft, Priceline, and Travelocity. This is downright insane. Needless to say I won't buy a Dodge, seek travel through Expedia, search Priceline while shopping and Microsoft...well, let's not even go there. Page 8 gives you a rundown of how spyware evolves while page 10 supplies tips about how to prevent it.

There are several sites listed in the Cybersouth Links that deal with spyware prevention and removal. These are permalinks and can be accessed at any time by clicking on the link just below the beach house picture at the top of this page. Please contact me if you know of good tools that are not listed. Now I must go vacuum.

"Do not bite at the bait of pleasure till you know there is no hook beneath it."
-Thomas Jefferson

EDIT: Please participate in DineforAmerica tomorrow. Several local restaurants are giving their profits to worthy causes like the Katrina victims. In Tupelo? Try - Barnhill's, Chili's, Harvey's, Logan's, O'Charley's, Olive Garden, Outback, Park Heights, Red Lobster, Ruby Tuesday, Peppers. Addresses and phone #s can be found by clicking on the link and doing a "Find." Leave that brownbag at home, have lunch or dinner at a favorite eatery, and help out your fellow man. Thanks Melinda, for a SUPER heads up!

PSGuard is Evil!!!

If you see ANYTHING that has to do with PSGuard, run like crazy. This horrible piece of malware will take over your desktop, flood you with popups, create havoc in your registry and all the while pose as a "spyware-removal" tool. If you even think this garbage is trying to infect your machine, literally reach over and pull the plug from the wall socket as fast as possible. NO permissions asked here, they just infect. Why does our government let these creeps exist? Here is a list of needed actions that will help you start repairing an infected PC:

Remove these directories
PSGuard folder %appdata%\Shudder Global Limited
PSGuard folder %startmenu%\programs\PSGuard spyware remover
PSGuard folder \PSGuard
PSGuard folder %appdata%\PSGuard.com
PSGuard folder Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\PSGuard

Remove these files
PSGuard file %appdata%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\PSGuard spyware remover.lnk
PSGuard file \intell32.exe
PSGuard file %desktop%\PSGuard spyware remover.lnk
PSGuard file %desktop%\PSGuard.lnk
PSGuard file %appdata%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\PSGuard.lnk
PSGuard file %appdata%\PSGuard.com
PSGuard file \PSGuard\database.dat
PSGuard file \PSGuard\MFC71.dll
PSGuard file \PSGuard\MFC71ENU.dll
PSGuard file \PSGuard\MSIMG32FOR9X.DLL
PSGuard file \PSGuard\msvcp71.dll
PSGuard file \PSGuard\msvcr71.dll
PSGuard file \PSGuard\PSGuard.exe
PSGuard file \PSGuard\PSGuard.exe.local
PSGuard file \PSGuard\PSGuardSkin.dll
PSGuard file \PSGuard\Uninstall.exe
PSGuard file \wppp.html

Remove these registry keys
PSGuard registry key SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{3A3A8C24-8FF0-4140-9731-54D9483EA70B}
PSGuard registry key AVECore.Quarantine.1
PSGuard registry key AVECore.RealTime
PSGuard registry key AVECore.RealTime.1
PSGuard registry key AVECore.RTObject
PSGuard registry key AVECore.RTObject.1
PSGuard registry key AVECore.SafeMode
PSGuard registry key AVECore.SafeMode.1
PSGuard registry key AVECore.Scaner
PSGuard registry key AVECore.Scaner.1
PSGuard registry key AVECore.ScanStatistic
PSGuard registry key AVECore.ScanStatistic.1
PSGuard registry key AVECore.theApp
PSGuard registry key AVECore.theApp.1
PSGuard registry key AVECore.Update
PSGuard registry key AVECore.Update.1
PSGuard registry key AVECore.UpdateInfo
PSGuard registry key AVECore.UpdateInfo.1
PSGuard registry key AVECore.VersionInfo
PSGuard registry key AVECore.VersionInfo.1
PSGuard registry key WndLayer.Window
PSGuard registry key WndLayer.Window.1
PSGuard registry key WndLayer.WindowCollection
PSGuard registry key WndLayer.WindowCollection.1
PSGuard registry key WndLayer.WindowLayer
PSGuard registry key WndLayer.WindowLayer.1
PSGuard registry key {08101C3E-6C90-439E-9734-6E4DD1B53B69}
PSGuard registry key {09B90087-4FFA-4A44-BE69-DA117A710F07}
PSGuard registry key {1449F89C-AD28-427A-97FF-1D5BD812EA43}
PSGuard registry key {1C08D3D0-1E04-4DDE-AB0A-75355EA2585E}
PSGuard registry key {20F8B70D-9F16-4DCB-8788-90A0498E46B9}
PSGuard registry key {28FEDB90-53C7-4928-994A-CEE782606507}
PSGuard registry key {3A350193-C7F7-4E10-B347-02FF4C3CC4E9}
PSGuard registry key {4723879B-8F52-4BE7-9994-626AFA539366}
PSGuard registry key {7B6A3434-8625-4ABF-B79D-09D98C2498C4}
PSGuard registry key {8B6C0168-BAAC-4C7C-911E-0132590F5661}
PSGuard registry key {8EC33B7D-9953-4EDB-ACE2-D4C105968601}
PSGuard registry key {A00E2305-7001-4200-BA00-5779F9A3E7D3}
PSGuard registry key {B803D266-A08D-4A4C-9604-6D35689ABE09}
PSGuard registry key {A917B2F3-A9BF-477C-A0E3-0382D0376159}
PSGuard registry key {B26B5883-F15F-4283-B3D5-A1728077DE47}
PSGuard registry key {B803D266-A08D-4A4C-9604-6D35689ABE09}
PSGuard registry key {CB9385AB-8541-4B2F-A363-48F64C612993}
PSGuard registry key {D6A7D177-0B2F-4283-B2E8-B6310A45E606}
PSGuard registry key {D5D6E9B5-30D5-4457-AC8B-399205F50411}
PSGuard registry key {D6A7D177-0B2F-4283-B2E8-B6310A45E606}
PSGuard registry key {E0D6C30A-B9A3-4181-8099-3B0D5A2B98AF}
PSGuard registry key {F61D1CE1-5199-4B57-B59E-C6819EA92F3B}
PSGuard registry key Interface\{F100A342-3AC5-47FF-B5B3-FCDB6FC9F016}
PSGuard registry key CLSID\{357A87ED-3E5D-437d-B334-DEB7EB4982A3}
PSGuard registry key SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{187A8428-BD94-470D-A178-A2347F940519}
PSGuard registry key SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{2865930B-4588-4FF3-8227-6D4F66C92C7A}
PSGuard registry key SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{2FE2EDC0-9E62-4F34-8A73-BC66DAE48EF3}
PSGuard registry key SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{3A906593-B4BD-48ED-84B0-3249BED65EF9}
PSGuard registry key SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{49B72A72-01F5-4AE8-BBD7-DAA67F1E303B}
PSGuard registry key SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{6AE3ACA6-1BE3-4443-98DD-EFFCFA793D35}
PSGuard registry key SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{6AE3ACA6-1BE3-4443-98DD-EFFCFA793D35}
PSGuard registry key SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{79DDF2EF-D881-464B-B2AF-5AF8816A3964}
PSGuard registry key SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{813C8E86-4C90-4617-B59E-E130CC068140}
PSGuard registry key SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{89133BCE-57D0-4D2B-AFAF-A97B74AD704E}
PSGuard registry key SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{8F40CC34-FE77-4618-AA3D-BD2EFACAA8DC}
PSGuard registry key SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{9F89E240-06A6-4E1C-BA84-F267DE7DB391}
PSGuard registry key SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{B60A0E56-548D-40AE-9383-D752531F653F}
PSGuard registry key SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{B67B0756-2528-4996-B4BD-C993614CC0B6}
PSGuard registry key SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{BCC51EA9-6340-4EBE-8736-13A752ECB0BE}
PSGuard registry key SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{E9719D38-EC55-4C8B-9DF0-080ADE95A9FA}
PSGuard registry key SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{F4B3E25A-33B4-4647-9A78-B627DDE211A6}
PSGuard registry key SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{982392F9-9C65-48B4-B667-3459C46630D1}
PSGuard registry key CLSID\{187A8428-BD94-470D-A178-A2347F940519}
PSGuard registry key CLSID\{2865930B-4588-4FF3-8227-6D4F66C92C7A}
PSGuard registry key CLSID\{2FE2EDC0-9E62-4F34-8A73-BC66DAE48EF3}
PSGuard registry key CLSID\{3A3A8C24-8FF0-4140-9731-54D9483EA70B}
PSGuard registry key CLSID\{3A906593-B4BD-48ED-84B0-3249BED65EF9}
PSGuard registry key CLSID\{49B72A72-01F5-4AE8-BBD7-DAA67F1E303B}
PSGuard registry key CLSID\{6AE3ACA6-1BE3-4443-98DD-EFFCFA793D35}
PSGuard registry key CLSID\{6AE3ACA6-1BE3-4443-98DD-EFFCFA793D35}
PSGuard registry key CLSID\{79DDF2EF-D881-464B-B2AF-5AF8816A3964}
PSGuard registry key CLSID\{813C8E86-4C90-4617-B59E-E130CC068140}
PSGuard registry key CLSID\{89133BCE-57D0-4D2B-AFAF-A97B74AD704E}
PSGuard registry key CLSID\{8F40CC34-FE77-4618-AA3D-BD2EFACAA8DC}
PSGuard registry key CLSID\{9F89E240-06A6-4E1C-BA84-F267DE7DB391}
PSGuard registry key CLSID\{B60A0E56-548D-40AE-9383-D752531F653F}
PSGuard registry key CLSID\{B67B0756-2528-4996-B4BD-C993614CC0B6}
PSGuard registry key CLSID\{BCC51EA9-6340-4EBE-8736-13A752ECB0BE}
PSGuard registry key CLSID\{E9719D38-EC55-4C8B-9DF0-080ADE95A9FA}
PSGuard registry key CLSID\{F4B3E25A-33B4-4647-9A78-B627DDE211A6}
PSGuard registry key SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{04F3168F-5AFC-4531-B3B4-16CA93720415}
PSGuard registry key SOFTWARE\SHUDDERLTD
PSGuard registry key typelib\{982392f9-9c65-48b4-b667-3459c46630d1}
PSGuard registry key clsid\{787dec39-69d0-40b3-b173-e0411c59b300}
PSGuard registry key clsid\{057e242f-2947-4e0a-8e61-a11345d97ea6}
PSGuard registry key SOFTWARE\PSguard.com
PSGuard registry key SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\PSGuard
PSGuard registry key AVECore.FoundCollection
PSGuard registry key AVECore.FoundCollection.1
PSGuard registry key AVECore.FoundObject
PSGuard registry key AVECore.FoundObject.1
PSGuard registry key AVECore.KilledProcessesCollection
PSGuard registry key AVECore.KilledProcessesCollection.1
PSGuard registry key AVECore.KilledProcessInfo
PSGuard registry key AVECore.KilledProcessInfo.1
PSGuard registry key AVECore.License
PSGuard registry key AVECore.License.1
PSGuard registry key AVECore.Options
PSGuard registry key AVECore.Options.1
PSGuard registry key AVECore.Quarantine

This is only the beginning. Paretologic Labs has a tool called XoftSpy they claim will remove this dungware. They will even scan your PC for free. To use the removal software it will cost you. This is NOT freeware or shareware. It's $39.95 for a single home PC and and pricing varies on multiple license. It wasn't used in this case. Instead I went to several forums, read their advice and hacked away at the registry, files, etc., for several days. Search for PSGuard and read about the nightmares people have encountered. Google Search produced 21,000 hits about this cretinware. If I ever am elected emporer of the known universe these Shudder Global Limited (parent company of PSGuard) jerks will be some of the first hurled into the volcano. Shudder my ass! I am going to take my meds and rest now.

"He who does not punish evil commands it to be done."
-Leonardo da Vinci

Serenity

I like science fiction. As a Cub Scout the Boy's Life magazine was part of my youth. Occasionally, they ran some sci-fi stories and I'd escape this solar system by reading such notable authors as Robert Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov. Well, that was a LONG time ago and my love of Sci-Fi has grown. I really like Joss Whedon's Firefly. This was a TV series that aired 11 episodes. There is a 12th episode that never aired in the U.S., but is included on the DVD. Reruns can be seen locally on Sci-Fi TV, Friday 6:00PM CDT. Great characters, great writing, great special effects. Now it's a movie titled Serenity (the name of the Firefly class spaceship the crew uses to travel the galaxy) on the Big Screen and getting good reviews.

Sitting here disgusted because it is NOT being shown in the new Tupelo Malco 10 theater I discovered that it is playing at the new Corinth Malco theater where the seats are plush, the popcorn fresh and Junior Mints are available in the candy section. Thanks goes out to BSIGrimReaper at TupeloForums for the Corinth Malco idea. There are some great posts at this site, some serious and some hilarious. So, a short road trip is in order. Hey, some of my best friends live around this area. Maybe, they'll want to go see it. Corinth has good restaurants too.

Take care out there while driving. The life you save may be my own.

"I had found a kind of serenity, a new maturity... I didn't feel better or stronger than anyone else but it seemed no longer important whether everyone loved me or not--more important now was for me to love them. Feeling that way turns your whole life around; living becomes the act of giving."
-Beverly Sills

Top 100

PCWorld has listed their 100 Best Products of 2005. Microsoft had only one product listed, Media Player 10 at number 47. Apple and Google had many products listed. Firefox took number one with Gmail ranked at a close second. See, I am telling you GMail rocks! Email me if you need an invitation to GMail.

"Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what fork you use."
-Emily Post

Spybot and Opera

If you are not running this great utility puh-lease click this box and download it. There is an excellent tutorial on the site that will give you step by step instructions on how to install, scan, etc. After the program is up and running go to this kewl flash animation and learn how to update. Folks, if you install the program and do NOT update then time has been wasted.

Several people have complained about the absurdity of Microsoft's Windows Update site. Seems they download a validation tool, the new Windows Installer 3.1 and afterwards they can no longer update. If you use pirated software don't go overboard with the 'suprised' act. If you are running legitimate copies and are having problems then you have my sympathy. During the last few attempts to update the Beach House laptop Windows Update site wouldn't cooperate. Yes, it's definitely legit and I have blown all the sand out of it. Anyone have suggestions? Now is the time to come forth and share your Windows solutions with us. Use the comments below or email.

Interested in an alternative browser? Try . The look is polished, it has some neat tools, the ability to manipulate your online persona is great and Opera is speedy. They have removed the ads. The newest version was made available a few weeks ago. With the onslaught of Gates and company not letting users have access to Internet Explorer 7 unless they have installed XP, it's time to consider other avenues. It will be interesting to see how the latest battle of the browser wars ends.

Download at your own risk and use protection when computing. If you know of a good router that will work in a dial up scenario, please let me know. As Red Green often says, "We're all in this together."

"Did you know that there are no laws limiting what a spyware program can do! Did you know that certain spyware applications can "steal" the affiliate earnings from other web sites!"
-Unwanted Links

New look at the Moon

Wikis? Wikipedia? Pretty neat sites that can be very informative. Did you know that you can post to these sites? There's a great article at CNet News.

Google is all starry-eyed over their newest collaboration with NASA. For a look at some Google space stuff go to Google Moon. Please zoom in as far as possible and see the real texture of earth's only satellite.

The Beach House schedule is being madly shifted to accomodate inclimate weather. We've a cold front coming through and rain is likely. Have a productive Thursday.

"Every one is a moon, and has a dark side which he never shows to anybody."
-Mark Twain

Google Earth, it's casual

Want a really kewl global exploration program? Try Google Earth. This is a neat program that let's you travel anywhere on the planet with just a click of the mouse. You can zoom in and out, change angle of flight, use a pushpin icon to mark important places, take virtual tours and perform many other glorious tasks while sitting in comfort at your PC. Great starting place is to take a tour of Africa. Please consider these requirements:

Minimum configuration:

* Operating system: Windows 2000, Windows XP
* CPU speed: Intel® Pentium® PIII 500 MHz
* System memory (RAM): 128MB
* 200MB hard-disk space
* 3D graphics card: 3D-capable video card with 16MB VRAM
* 1024x768, 32-bit true color screen
* Network speed: 128 kbps ("Broadband/Cable Internet")

Recommended configuration:

* Operating system: Windows XP
* CPU speed: Intel® Pentium® P4 2.4GHz+ or AMD 2400xp+
* System memory (RAM): 512MB
* 2GB hard-disk space
* 3D graphics card: 3D-capable video card with 32MB VRAM or greater
* 1280x1024, 32-bit true color screen
* Network speed: 128 kbps ("Broadband/Cable Internet").

Most new Windows computers purchased within the past two years should perform nicely. Certain graphics cards won't make the cut or need to use specific engines, "The following ATI cards are not supported: ATI Rage Mobility, ATI Xpert, ATI 3D Rage. Intel 3D graphics machines can use the default OpenGL version, but work better in DirectX (choose Start > Programs > Google Earth > Start Google Earth in DirectX). Matrox card users must use the OpenGL version. S3 cards must use the DirectX version."

My apologies about missing the past few days. Posts have been made, but the reason as to why they are mysteriously disappearing is still under investigation. Have a casual Wednesday.

"There are no passengers on Spaceship Earth. We are all crew."
-Marshall McLuhan

Vanishing thoughts

Please bear with me. For some reason posts are disappearing again. Working on it.

Clear Instructions on How To Do (just about) Everything

Verdana called from Baton Rouge the other day and was bragging on a pair of Henckel knives and cutting board that I had given her and Uncle Snake for Christmas. She mentioned the cutting board needed repairing. Voila! I checked at eHow and sure enough they have a section on How to Mend a Wooden Cutting Board.

The section about computer help is just short of miraculous. There are too many wonderful topics to try and list them here. You can learn how to build a web page, find out how to install hardware, clean a spill on a laptop, and many other helpful things. Be sure and read the section on How to Talk to a Computer Salesperson. This is awesome.

Topics and categories are deep in number and variety. The answers are precise and well written. Be sure and read the Tips and User Tips. Some of the User Tips are great. IMHO, this is what the internet is all about! Good luck with that cutting board, daughter of mine.

"Mishaps are like knives, that either serve us or cut us, as we grasp them by the blade or the handle."
-Lowell

Update Thyself and Browse Carefully

New updates are available this morning at Spybot Search & Destroy, and Ad-Aware. SpywareBlaster had one on the 19th. After you update run a scan with both Spybot and Ad-aware. SpywareBlaster runs in the background so don't mess with it after enabling the new updates. Don't have these great utilities? Click on Cybersouth links. There is a permanent link to this list just below the beach house picture above. Protect yo'self.

On the 19th, several alternative browsers were mentioned. Some are in a testing stage. Well, after posting about a new site that is really cool, things went haywire and the post is gone. Yep, was using SeaMonkey. They make no bones about this being in an alpha test phase, but being a creature of habit it was my first choice when tuning in the net this morning. This will be a nice browser, but just download it and take a look. Use Firefox, IE, or Opera if doing something critical online.

It's Friday and that means there's only two more days to work this week! Sorry Betuglia, won't make the car show tomorrow. Polish on that 1948 Chevy PU and win, dude!

"I'm a great believer in luck and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it."
-Thomas Jefferson

Cost of Office or WordPerfect?

Presently, a new version of OpenOffice 1.1.5 stable for Windows is being downloaded using AnalogX's BitPump. There are sites listed where you can download this super office suite in the 'normal' mode, but this is my first chance to use BitPump after downloading it over a month ago. BitPump is not the latest breaking newest whamma jamma bittorrent client, but it comes from an old reliable site that is trusted.

In the short time it has taken to create the above paragraph the download has completed and the new, free office suite is installed. This was an extremely fast download due, in part, to the time of day. If you are into downloading, the BitPump software worked perfectly. If you are a Microsoft Office or Corel Word Perfect user, OpenOffice should be easy to navigate. This was simple, very fast and not a bother. WinZip evaluation version was used to decompress the file. OpenOffice is cross-platform software that will run on Linux, Windows, Apple OSX and FreeBSD. Apple OS11 is NOT included, yet.

After creating an OpenOffice file on the hard drive, all files were extracted to this folder. Then the setup file was found and the installation was off and running. During the first few frames of setup the 'save documents as Word, Excel, Powerpoint boxes' were selected. HTML editor box was unchecked which is strictly personal preference. This is a simple install that is very clean. You can register now or later. No icons were created on the desktop, but it does auto install into the system tray which means it will run in the background. Turn this function off. It's a resource hog. Just launch it when needed instead of letting it eat up memory.

If you are not into downloading, bittorrent (BitPump) can wait. If you use office suite type software at least take a look at OpenOffice. Yes, this is a Sun Microsystems, Inc., product. If you have issues with them then don't bother. Just like Netscape is not the chosen weapon of some netizens, some folks just don't like Sun. Each to his own. This is an awesome product in my opinion; especially for those on a tight budget.

If you test drive this product your opinion will be appreciated. Please email me at cybersouth@gmail.com or click on the comments bar below. Have a casual Thursday.

"Write while the heat is in you. The writer who postpones the recording of his thoughts uses an iron which has cooled to burn a hole with. He cannot inflame the minds of his audience."
-Thoreau

Ultimate spyware project

No matter how this is spun or twisted it is still scary -> NSA location tracking patent. Is the paranoia becoming worse or does someone else shudder when reading this article? There are more frightening things in this world, but this will make you stop and think.

"I'll be watching you"
-Sting

5 Great Utilities

Here are some sites that seem to interest folks. All of these can be found at MajorGeeks and the Cybersouth links list.

Anti-Virus:

AVG - The Godzilla of all anti-virus programs.

AntiSpyware:

Spybot Search & Destroy - WOW! Just awesome.

Ad-Aware - Super! You go Swedish coders!

SpywareBlaster - Quiet and deadly!

Drive Cleaner/Editor:

CCleaner - Not so cute name, magnificent program.

You MUST update and run scans on a regular basis. You can upgrade Ad-Aware. For a few dollars it will perform automatic updates and scans. AVG's purchased upgrade is really kewl and has great flexibility. Please donate to the others. They used their time and intelligence to share superb software with us. Help them out. Even a few bucks will be appreciated.

If you have problems with installations or just want an opinion about tweaking these programs, email me. Unless you are familiar with registry editors, etc., it's a good idea not to randomly change settings. Some of these tools are extremely powerful and can flat wipe out a system if used improperly. There is work being done here to create install guides with screenshots. The links list is being revamped to provide more info and in a categorized format. This will take time. Bear with me. BTW, anyone that'd like to help, email me!

The beach house is always interested in helpful utilities. Please make contact if you have a viable piece of software that you think has been overlooked. Hey, the damned Yahoo Toolbar is NOT such an item. If you find the home sites listed slow to download, they are most likely bogged down with traffic. Click on the MajorGeeks link above and you will see speed. One last thing - when did you last defragment your hard drive?

"Getting information off the Internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant."
-Billy Wobblynife (known Google user)

A Flock of Sea Monkeys

Here's a another entry into the browser wars, SeaMonkey. This is an alpha test offering from Mozilla. It has very familiar looks to anyone that ran the Mozilla browser before Firefox, yet it is built on the Firefox engine. This browser is so ALPHA that it does not have a logo and there is a contest where you can submit your artwork for this project. So please, please beware that it is not considered stable at this time.

Another browser project is Flock. An email address is required before you can download it. They make no bones about their code being experimental. Am still waiting on a registration thangy in order to download and take a look-see. If anyone has info, please make contact. This is different. Worth watching, fer sure! Will keep everyone posted.

Monday morning is peaceful at the beach house and the 'end of the world as possums know it' didn't occur during the night (please see yesterday's post). Remember that today is International Talk Like A Pirate Day...just click on the link below - it's hard to explain. Stay casual today and remember that Tuesday is less than 24 hours away!


"While you are destroying your mind watching the worthless, brain-rotting drivel on TV, we on the Internet are exchanging, freely and openly, the most uninhibited, intimate and, yes, shocking details about our "CONFIG.SYS" settings."
-Dave Barry

Dream State Interrupted

It's peaceful this Sunday morning. The humidity is low and the temperature is tolerable. Sleeping with the windows open is very refreshing unless...you have the Possum Armageddon taking place just outside the window. There I snoozed dreaming of binary wristwatches and P4 hyperthreading processors when a screeching somewhere from just this side of the grave rattled the windows. Armed, I turned on the veranda light, hit the door and there was what I thought was Arnold, opossumus germanicus austriabodicus, raising holy hell with the neighbor's dog. The dog was doing low woof, woofs as it circled "my resident marsupial." 3:00am and there was a zoo in my yard at war. Fur was flying and the unfortunate wanderer was hissing and howling like a wet cat. Many sets of red, beady eyes could be seen in the periphery. Probably the feral cats Arnold ran up the trees a while ago that just had to come investigate all the noise.

Two more small dogs started up with yapping sounds when they saw me and then, low and behold, ANOTHER possum was spotted! It was standing by the fence that has been taken over by the wisteria growing in the oak tree. BTW, this is the ugliest fence in Saltillo and looks like a Munsters/Addams Family decoration in the wintertime. Pictures may follow, maybe not. Please remember, this Possum Apocalypso awoke me out of REM state. After pausing, shaking away the mental cobwebs and gathering my thoughts it was obvious what had happened. The stray possum had innocently wandered into the yard. The dogs delighted in jumping on it since they had been banned from this property some months ago by Arnold. Meanwhile, Arnold stood there amongst the wisteria and was laughing at the invader and encouraging the yappers to bark louder.

This brings a few thoughts to mind. Are the dogs really that stupid? Is there possible collusion between Arnold and the dogs? Do I need to seek a prescription for the well advertised Ambien sleep aid? Will they let me watch Friday night Sci-Fi on TV at the rest home?

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."
-C.S. Lewis

Remnant of the Past

If you have visited here often then you know that Brian Roberts, CEO of COMCAST, is not held in high esteem. He manages a crew of baboons that is disguised as a board of directors. Can we say baboonzilla? Well, the horrid G4TV has returned a show to our airwaves that was a staple of the wonderful TechTV that COMCAST destroyed. It's Call for Help. I still miss my all time favorite TV program, The Screensavers. What a wonderful show and the stream of information was astounding. Well, monkeyboys probably didn't have the mentality to understand the content so they outright killed it.

Leo Laporte is the anchor of the show. Leo has been around for a while and was the first person seen on ZDTV's The Screensavers back in May of 1998. Good to have him back on the air in this country. This is a Canadian based show so most of the people calling are from north of our border. That may change with time. Another thing that has to be taken into consideration is that these folks are Apple Nazis. Still, the content is interesting since Apple OSX is based on FreeBSD and many things are parallel in the Apple, Windows, Linux, Unix world nowadays. In all fairness Call for Help does supply an ample amount of information about Windows PCs.

If someone wanted to break into the TV business, a TechTV type station would be most welcome. Lord knows this station had many many major advertisers when it was abruptly taken off the air. Since G4TV (COMCAST's pitiful replacement of TechTV) is slanted towards the 7 and 8 year old audience that likes gaming, I refuse to have a gaming console at the beach house. Well, there is a PC or two...

"The higher a monkey climbs, the more you see of his behind."
-General Joe Stillwell

Act of Congress

Congress has a new draft concerning broadband legislation. You can read about and download a PDF copy at ArsTechnica. This has to do with VOIP (internet telephone service), video over internet, protection against monopoly strangleholds on broadband service, etc.

It's late, and a long day has transpired. After fighting to stay awake during Battlestar Galactica it's time to sleep.

"A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world."
-Wilde

Communication Breakdown

Is anyone having problems with their email, cell phones, internet connectivity or long distance service? My cell phone has developed a mind of its own. Seems early every morning it downloads numbers that have called or messages left hours ago. Strange. Several people have voiced problems with email, most notably Bellsouth subscribers. Yesterday, a Yahoo bizrate account that had been working decided to kill the SMTP and stopped sending email. Sounds like a server problem to me. No doubt we are still under the influence of hurricane Katrina.

Up early and must make haste to avoid the heat potential that will be with us during the afternoon hours. Hope Thursday finds you casual and happy!

"I had to grow up and learn to listen for the unspoken as well as the spoken."
-Eudora Welty

Opinions are needed

Read yesterday's post? Inquiring minds want to know about your favorite wordprocessing software. Go click on comments and make a statement. If you hate Word say so or think WordPerfect is the uber bomb, let us know! Is anyone using the FREE OpenOffice for Windows? It's awesome in Linux. You can save as Word, Excel documents in this great office suite. It can be downloaded at OpenOffice.org. Comment!

There was a note added yesterday that links to the SouthernPhried article Get Out Your Cyber Windex. Has it been mentioned that ALL inquiring emails get a reply? Emails are great because they help with focus on different subjects. Several emails and IMs have been received asking about Windows newest addition to their operating system family, called Vista; you can use this link and get Microsoft's take on their newest wonderchild or click on the one above and have access to several links that are informative, well-written and have no built in prejudice.

Okay, now that I've written almost the same thing for two days it's time to shower, brush my teeth then go pull some cable. Comment here at this post or yesterday's it doesn't matter. Have a casual Wednesday.

"What would you rather have to plow a field — two strong oxen or 1,024 chickens?"
-Seymour Cray

Let's type

Wow! There's a new posting tool. It’s called Blogger for Word. Instead of using the cold, extremely small window I now have Microsoft Word - which means many neat tools and room galore. How many times have posts been lost when trying to publish? No more! This is the first post within Word.  Oh yes, ye shall know mine not so humble opinion within a fortnight.

Ah, word processors. What's your favorite? Word? WordPerfect? OpenOffice? Notepad? DOS prompt? Just click on the comments thangy below this post!

"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time."
-Edison

NOTE: Interested in the upcoming Windows Vista operating system that will supercede XP next year? Please read today's post at Southernphried titled Get Out Your Cyber Windex written by yours truly.

Coding simplified

Here's a bit of BASIC code everyone should understand:

10 GOSUB LOOK_FOR_HOLES
20 IF HOLE_FOUND = FALSE THEN GOTO 50
30 GOSUB FIX_HOLE
40 GOTO 10
50 GOSUB CONGRATULATE_SELF
60 GOSUB GET_HACKED_EVENTUALLY_ANYWAY
70 GOTO 10

This comes from an article that divulges many super points about keeping our machines safe -> The Six Dumbest Ideas in Computer Security. Please read this article. It helps one understand the immensity of security problems. Props to Zonk at Slashdot for a great heads up.

Time to return to the bench. Wish the 'n' in the last word, in the last sentence was an 'a'. Embrace Monday and hang on, Tuesday is not too far away.

"Time flies like the wind. Fruit flies like bananas."
-Groucho Marx

Money, speed, and lack of C8H10N4O2?

Interested in seeing which CEOs are winning and losing? Try the CEO Wealthmeter. Looks like Mr. Ballmer needs to quit throwing chairs and pay more attention to the boys n' girls at Google. This site was discovered while standing around the "water cooler" over at ZDNet: Nice site that has been around for many years. Wish they'd bring back ZDTV since the goobers in the COMCAST boardroom have ruined TechTV.

Want to test the speed of your internet connection? Try CNET's Bandwidth Meter. Please remember this is not the do-all, end-all verdict about your connection. Many factors come into play when using such a test; location, time of day, conditions of external phone line/trunks, condition of cable system, weather, how many buzzards are sitting on the wire at the time of the test, etc. Using Firefox? Download the Bandwidth Tester extension.

It's late and a long fought battle with three PCs started early yesterday. They have worn me down. Time to rest a few hours then return to the front. Thanks goes out to bondoelvis about the tip concerning the broken link in yesterday's post. You can now click on the Firefox button at the bottom of that post and it will transport you to things wonderful. Have a righteous Sunday.

"If you can't sleep, then get up and do something instead of lying there worrying. It's the worry that gets you, not the lack of sleep."
-Dale Carnegie

(C8H10N4O2=caffeine)

Flaming canine, the fat lady singing and other stuff

DON'T download the beta test version 1.5 of Firefox. The beta version has been in use at the beach house for several days and it has some problems. That's why it is a "beta." Firefox is certainly recommended. Use the very stable version 1.06. It is a super alternative to Internet Explorer. Since Microsoft won't let anyone other than XP users have Internet Explorer 7 when it is issued, you may really want to look into other ways to browse the internet. Here is an excellent Firefox installation guide.

Opera is another browser available. The latest incarnation is version 8.0. You can download an ad driven copy here -> Opera. After using the ad free version for a while it has to be reported that this is a nice browser. It's just not worth $30.00 or so when Firefox is a free download that does a better job. The verdict is not completely in on Opera, but it is not happy with Blogger and has a few other issues. Anyone using Opera? Post a comment or email. Be nice to get different opinions.

Several other browsers are available. Go to MajorGeeks and click on Browsers in the 'Files' list. There are many alternatives and a lot of add on tools in this list. Avant and Maxthon have been used here and found not impressive, especially Avant. Netscape is getting good reports since they adopted the Firefox engine. Just remember that Netscape was the whiner that created all the hoopla about Internet Explorer being bundled with Windows for free back a few years ago. NOTE: It is sad that MajorGeeks actually has a link to the gross, putrid Yahoo Toolbar in this list.

"Life is a great big canvas; throw all the paint on it you can."
-Danny Kaye

Arnold is enjoying the nice weather

Occasionally old pages that have been recommended are revisited. I've mentioned Weather Watcher at Singer Creations several times and thought it would be nice to see what has been going on at this site. If you noticed no link this site then good for you. Sorry, while browsing around I noticed one of his sponsoring links is the awful Weatherbug. ANYTHING connected with Claria, in my not so humble opinion, sucks!!! No one despises this junk more than your resident possum watcher. All right, enough with the negative vibes. Time to be happy!

Get outside. Go for a walk. Eat lunch in the park. Grab the kids, wife, girlfriend, boyfriend, the dog or cat and watch the sunset. Have a casual day.

"Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others, cannot keep it from themselves."
-James Barrie

I pray

Prayers for the people. Stop listening to the dissenters like Mr. Jackson and offer hope up for those afflicted. If you don't pray, then at least sit in silence for a moment. Props to everyone that has helped with the Katrina crisis. Folks, the survivors need ALL of us to stand behind them. Lend a hand and shore up this great nation instead of using mean spirited negative attacks to tear it down.

"I try to avoid looking forward or backward, and try to keep looking upward."
-Charlotte Bronte

Loss and Gain Concerning the Cathode Ray Tube

Maynard G. Krebs has left the building. Bob Denver passed away. Most will remember him for his roll as Gilligan, but Maynard was a hoot! He was a beatnik character on the Dobie Gillis show. Very, very old TV and also some of the funniest stuff I've seen. Way ahead of its time. I think TVLand or some network is airing it locally. Check it out. Be sure and watch the interaction between Maynard and Dobie's Dad.

There's a new TV show available for download. The name of this show is NerdTV. Yes, it's for real. It is a Robert Cringely vehicle supported by PBS. The first hour long show is an interview of an Apple dude that has seen the opensource light. Opensource, you know, that Free BSD and Linux stuff that is free to download and use. It's also VERY stable. Anyway, Andy Hertzfeld was the original MacIntosh systems programmer and he talks about his love of opensource software. Hey, I am not making all this up. No Zamboni here. This is for real. My geekmeter is off the scale.

"In general my children refuse to eat anything that hasn't danced on television."
-Erma Bombeck

EDIT: Anyone that has signed up for GMail can download and install Google Talk. This is an awesome instant messaging program. My email addy is cybersouth@gmail.com. Ad me to your list! If you need an invitation to GMail then send me your email address. I have almost 100 invitations left. Hey, 2.5gigs of web storage space is downright awesome. Believe me folks, this is the best email client in the solar system.

Just leave a note in a mayonnaise jar on the steps of Funk & Wagnalls

Does anyone know of a freeware calendar/scheduler program that can be used on a network? Different trial versions have been downloaded. They ended in miserable failure. Several attempts have been made to use Sunbird, but trying to use webdav requires extra doses of medication. Very frustrating.

Why is this type of software needed? Take Emporer Mofat of Zamboni, for example. Emporer Mofat has a very busy schedule and several people have been hired to keep up with his various activities. They sometimes make conflicting appointments because the Emporer has a large office complex on several floors in the royal palace. Emporer Mofat is a kind and considerate ruler and tolerates the glitching of an otherwise smooth workflow. But the vassals and minions are constantly frustrated because they cannot do their job to the utmost efficiency which would please Emporer Mofat and they LIVE to make him happy.

In another scenario you have Emporer Mofat's neighboring country, Bootalia, that is ruled by a triumvirate consisting of Cornelia, Julia and Licinia. They do not need one calendar, but three so their centurions, etc. can post to each individual leader's schedule. This can be server based or on each individual machine of the leaders. Everyone would be networked, have access to the three schedules and be able to read or post to them. This would leave the leaders more time to spend with their husbands and boyfriend, Julius, Pompey and Crassus.

Another neighboring country, Accountia, is actually split into two different areas. The ruling faction is another benevolent ruler named Cleopatra. Of course her title is Countess. Coordination between the two areas is important. Her workers are busy with tasks at hand and need to find a way they will not overlap appointments, blocks of the pyramids, etc. This will have to be done with a LAN and a WAN and possibly a snake. Yes, I know this will probably involve the mysterious webdav. Ahhhhh, the dilemna of scheduling is a mighty one.

So, does anyone know of a freeware calendar/scheduler? Or even a decent shareware program that doesn't require voodoo spells to install and implement. Inquiring minds wanna know.

"I am definitely going to take a course on time management... just as soon as I can work it into my schedule."
-Boone

Labor Day 2005 Observations

New event at the Annual Microsoft Non-Intermural Games; Chair Hurling. Favorite to win at the time of this writing is team leader Stevie "Hissyfit" Ballmer. Behind the scenes reports are saying that Bill Gates is trying to supply him with more employees leaving the company for Google so he can do the exit interviews and practice his event. Distance will not be the only factor that determines the winner. Judges will rate style, lack of character and idiocy for each contestant. An insider informed me, "Stevie's use of expletives and smutty language are sure to make him 'shoo in' to win the Blue Ribbon." You can read about Hissyfit's training regimen at BBC News.

Remember the book 1984, by George Orwell, published in 1949? Didn't read it? Here's the complete book online. Don't understand or comprehend science fiction? Take a look at the SparkNotes. This was read early in life; seems I remember watching the pterodactyls fly by the window while conjuring up a mind's image of the horror attached to such an oppressed society. Anyone else find it amazing how much companies try to control us and how lenient the government is when it comes to invasion of privacy? Where's this going? Click here. Seems Blu-Ray has adopted the anthem of spyware thugs -> Subjugate thyself!

Thanks to all that are helping in the Katrina aftermath. Thank God our nation is responding efficiently to this horrible crisis. Yesterday, I received an email and was asked an opinion about Kanye West's remarks Friday night during the NBC live televised fundraiser concert. Here goes. 'Even a fool has a right to embrace freedom of speech.' You can quote me on that.

"People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use."
-Soren Kierkegaard

Coffee is in my immediate future

Just read a funny article at Slashdot. It's about what people have in their laptop cases. The comments are hilarious. There's also a great article about the state of Massachusetts dropping Microsoft Office in favor of an opensource office suite. Microsoft is launching a pay per search thangy, shucks, just click on the link and take a look. This is one of my all time favorite pages. It has great depth and links to a world of neat information.

Overslept. Think it has anything to do with that 2 hours research on infrared emitters and receivers around 1:00am this morning? Running a cable today at Beagle and Mudslingrs. Then it's time to see if the new belts can be properly routed on the riding mower. It won't go in forward gear. The yard is so tall my neighbor and friend Larry has offered to help mow. Some sticks were picked up yesterday, enough to create a nice bonfire. Everyone enjoy the day and remember those suffering in your prayers today. By the way, my lardbutt will be suffering if I have to use the push mower.

"Three-fourths of the Earth's surface is water, and one-fourth is land. It is quite clear that the good Lord intended us to spend triple the amount of time fishing as taking care of the lawn."
-Clark

Katrina and six string music

A soon to be 15 year old wandered through the lobby of a local inn where he is staying with relatives until the okay is given for the family to return home to Louisiana. He noticed someone playing a guitar and sat down to listen for a while. The guitarist asked where he was from and did he like guitars? The young fellow answered affirming his love of the instrument. After a few minutes, the lad mentioned that he supposed to receive a guitar for his birthday next week, but acknowledged that it was doubtful such a gift would be possible due to the loss of property, his Dad's job destroyed by Katrina. He was not whining, just stating facts. A young, gentle soul trying to be considerate of those around him. A rare thing seen this day and time.

The guitarist thought about this after the young man left. His heart lifted to churn his thought processes and so began a search. After talking to a local merchant that sells musical instruments he was armed with information about a decent guitar and amp. Then he consulted the parents to make sure they approved. They were overwhelmed, especially with his generous offer to let them give this cherished present to their son as if they had made the purchase. They insisted that the guitarist do the honor. Well the instrument has been purchased and very soon there will be an extremely happy 15 year old in Tupelo that is from the Lake Pontchartrain area.

The guitarist, a native of Tupelo that is employed at the mentioned inn, said, "When you're 14 or 15 you just need to celebrate your birthday."

Thank you "Ashby Rhett Culpepper, III, Esq.", for being a kind, generous person. Thanks Jim for being a friend.

"The deed is everything, the glory naught."
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Would Wagner or Mozart use this browser?

Recently, Opera granted keys to interested users for their ad-free browser. After obtaining one, I've installed this software and used it a few days. Good looking structure and the speed is fast enough. Three things stood out immediately. 1->No popups. 2->It doesn't like GMail. 3->Some important tools are lost in The Blogger posting area. This reminds me of KDE's Konqueror in use on my Linux PCs. Fortunately, Konqueror does not have a problem with GMail even though it is not on the GMail approved list. Will keep using this alternative way to surf the internet and report later. For a free download of the ad-driven version of Opera click here.

Firefox is still the leader in the recent browser battles. They have to gain control over the increase of popups though. The bad guys are still hammering away trying to force garbage on our PCs that we don't want. If you go to a site and the popup blocker stops an ad then DON'T return to this site. Email the webmaster of the page and tell them why you won't return. Gee, think people will do this? Internet Explorer 7 is on the horizon and will be available only to XP and Vista users. Why does Microsoft keep shooting that foot? Does Bill Gates have plans to venture into the Linux realm? Sure seems like he's headed that way. Remember, he injected 150 million dollars into non-voting shares of Apple in 1997.

NEW LINK: Please click on Cybersouth Links just under the picture above and check out the new Computing.net search link at the top of the page. For many years this site has been a great resource for curing various problems computerese. Just type in your query, select the category and enjoy the results!

Anyone having problems with Windows Updates? Please comment.

"I have never heard enough classical music to be able to enjoy it; & the simple truth is, I detest it. Not mildly, but with all my heart. To me an opera is the very climax & cap-stone of the absurd, the fantastic, the unjustifiable. I hate the very name of opera - partly because of the nights of suffering I have endured in its presence, & partly because I want to love it and can't."
-Mark Twain

Browse the list and read the quote

Hats off to Morgan Freeman, Harry Connick, Jr., Wynton Marsalis, Tim McGraw, Dave Mathews Band, Green Day, Ellen DeGeneres, Leonardo DeCaprio, Ludacris, Alicia Keys, Master P, Russell Simmons, Matt Lauer, Jerry Lewis and many others for helping with the relief efforts that will go to the victims of the Katrina disaster. Want to donate and don't know how or where? Here's a partial list:

American Red Cross
1-800-HELP NOW (435-7669) English,
1-800-257-7575 Spanish;

Operation Blessing
1-800-436-6348

America’s Second Harvest
1-800-344-8070

Donate Cash and/or Volunteer

Adventist Community Services
1-800-381-7171

B'nai B'rith International
1-888-388-4224

Catholic Charities, USA
1-800-919-9338

Christian Disaster Response
941-956-5183 or 941-551-9554

Christian Reformed World Relief Committee
1-800-848-5818

Church World Service
1-800-297-1516

Convoy of Hope
417-823-8998

Corporation for National and Community Service Disaster Relief Fund
(202) 606-6718

Feed the Children
1-800-525-7575

Lutheran Disaster Response
800-638-3522

Mennonite Disaster Service
717-859-2210

Nazarene Disaster Response
888-256-5886

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
800-872-3283

Salvation Army
1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769)

Southern Baptist Convention -- Disaster Relief
1-800-462-8657, ext. 6440

United Jewish Communities
1-800-462-8657, ext. 6440

Union for Reform Judaism

United Methodist Committee on Relief
1-877-277-2477

People, there are folks out there that really need your help. If someone knows about an organization that needs to be added to this list please use the comments or email me - cybersouth@gmail.com. God Bless all that are active in this humanitarian effort.

"And now abideth faith, hope and charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."
I Corinthians

Cafe Du Monde is closed today

The floodgates in New Orleans that usually keep water from flowing into the city may be opened to let water out if they can, in fact, get them open. Another concern is fuel storage tanks floating free and spilling into the area creating the strong possibility of fire. Read about it at The Times Picayune. This is a local newspaper in the New Orleans area and a pertinent source of topics relevant to this awful tragedy. Another informative, up to date site is MississippiPolitical. Thanks and props to CW for an awesome job of keeping us informed about current matters concerning this dilemna.

It cannot be stressed enough to give money, blood, time and prayers. NOLA, the Mississippi Gulf Coast and surrounding areas are devastated. Thank God my friends and family are safe. Returning to this area will not be easy for them. We must pull together as a mighty nation and reach out to help those in need. Such havoc in this historical area that I love dearly is sad enough, but the plight of the people tugs at my soul.

Donate to the Red Cross. Help the saints, sinners and all concerned go 'marching in' again.

"It is every man's obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it."
-Einstein

Riders on the Storm

It looks like a disaster area around the beach house. No major damage, but the streets are full of debris and water is standing in small pools everywhere. It amazes me that when weather is sane and pretty in this area a local yokel weatherman will interrupt TV to tell us about storms in Texas or Louisiana. Last night I think that horse's butt was hiding somewhere. TV coverage sucked. Here we are in the midst of a tropical storm at 7:00pm and they are showing clips from 6:00am that were filmed over 300 miles away. Go figure.

The storm shelter is decent, but not my cup of tea. People in the neighborhood use it. Last night after I knew that my daughter and son-in-law in Baton Rouge were okay, things became anticlimatic. Went to bed somewhere between 9:00pm and 10:00pm and slept with the windows open. Arose late this morning and trying to survive an earache. Has anyone ever died of one? One of these days I hope to be ailment free. We should have intermittent showers and sunshine today. Haven't seen our star shine this morning. Still raining.


If Arnold, opossumus germanicus austriabodicus, was in the front yard oak tree last night he received one bang up ride. Never seen it whip around like that. Some of the branches were beating against the veranda. If it had blown over the massive wisteria vine would probably have held it upright. Now it's time to put the hanging plants back out and start picking up limbs that have blown off the trees. Thanks to all those that have been concerned. Many calls were received last night and this morning. Your emails are appreciated too.

Have a pleasant day and remember those people in Florida and on the Gulf Coast in your prayers.

"Storms make trees take deeper roots."
-Dolly Parton

Catergory 5 or 4? Katrina, not cable

No wind yet. And it's not raining. That will change drastically before the day is over. Most of the regular readers know that my oldest daughter and her husband reside in Baton Rouge, LA. Talked to her at 11:00pm last night and they are staying due to his duties as a physician. Fortunately, he will be able to return home during the most intense hours. It's my guess he will start making rounds at the hospital in another hour. They have filled the tubs and 'battened down the hatches,' LOL. She went to the grocer late last week and their stock of emergency supplies has been replenished.

The track of Katrina is still on course for a collision with New Orleans. The Weather Channel Geeks are predicting severe power outages and extremely high water levels. Our friends there have evacuated as have those on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Baton Rouge is over an hour away from New Orleans and it seems most residents there are staying. Yes, I am worried. This day will center around an important phone call from crawdad country. Have I mentioned lately how much I love both of my awesome daughters?

"I know a girl
She puts the color inside of my world"
-John Mayer, Daughters (for complete lyrics try lyricsdepot)

Be careful where you step on the computer trail

Had any experience with StopSign? This is a supposed "antispyware, antivirus tool" that grabs your machine and dumps popups/ads onto it while gleaning information about you. The parent company is eAcceleration. Vaguely I remember something about them and occasionally see this show up in the Spybot S&D list as well as Ad-Aware. If you have had experience with this malware please get in touch. Trying to help someone rid their machine of this infection. Garbage like this is written by people that are horse turds on the computer trail of life.

Let's go over some basic protection ideas. Hey, this is not a claim to have the perfect defense and the beach house gladly receives any input from people that have alternatives. This formula works here and on many networks in this area. Far be it from me to not incorporate a new idea into the protection scheme. If you remember, CCleaner was added to the arsenal just a month or so ago.

ROUTERS: A good router helps alleviate some of the stress. Not a switch or hub - a router. The router must be next to the internet connection. Yes, you can use a router on dialup, but the device has to be capable of handling a dialup connection. A router can be used with one computer. No, you cannot use wireless on a dialup due to lack of bandwidth. If you are using a small network, here is an excellent site that goes into detail about the various aspects -> Schmidt Consulting. This is indepth, precise and well written.

ANTIVIRUS: AVG Antivirus rocks! If you insist on using Norton's, Symantec or whatever they are named today go ahead. Just use the Antivirus program. Stay away from Norton Internet Security (NIS) and Norton System Works. You will pay good money for software that is sluggish and hard to use. If you are using McAfee Antivirus, God help you not only with computers, but with everyday decisions in life. Some folks like AntiVir, Trend-mirco, and there are other programs that create protection from the baddies. After 5 years of using AVG...well, if it's not broke, don't fix it! Don't forget that AVG has a free edition for non commercial users.

ANTISPYWARE: Spybot Search & Destroy, Lavasoft Ad-aware SE, and Javacoolsoftware's Spywareblaster are a must. They are free downloads and all can be found at MajorGeeks. You can donate or upgrade. Please consider helping out these folks that provide us with great tools. While at MajorGeeks, go look at their Geekwear section and other areas. I like this site. Back to the anti-spyware stuff - just installing the programs won't cut the mustard. You have to setup properly, update and scan on a regular basis. They won't work by just residing in your program list. An additional area of this site is under development that will provide a step by step installation and usage guide. This is taking some time, but there will be pictures! If you click on the line just below the beach house pix above, you can find individual links to these wonderful programs.

BATTERY BACKUP: Throw away that $10.00 power strip and get a real backup unit. Please see the post dated Tuesday, August 23, 2005.

Hope this helps. Please feel free to send input or make a comment. As Red Green says, "We're all in this together."

"A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing."
-Emo Philips

Let's all go to the lobby

I love movies. Sometimes a good black and white classic is a great escape from a fast paced world. Just sit back with the remote, turn on the DVD, and enjoy the magic in comfortable surroundings. The trip to the Malco is made on occasion. Star Wars, Revenge of the Sith, was seen on the first day it was shown and so were the three Lord of the Rings films.

Going to the theater can be troublesome. Nowadays many parents do not teach their children manners. During the first LOTR film, I had to get up, go out and find the manager to stop some 15 year old brat from kicking the back my seat. This was after giving serious thought to jerking him up and dragging him with me. I have that technology. How rude for this ill-mannered urchin to come between Frodo and me?!?!

On the other hand, during the second LOTR classic we saw a young man get down on his knee and propose to a young lady. She accepted. He had put up a series of pictures interlaced with the ads that ran before the previews. This ended with an onscreen, "Will you marry me?" There was a spotlight on him as he proposed. Everyone stood up and applauded. Very warm and refreshing. There were tears of joy in some eyes. Smiles were abundant.

The outrageous price of popcorn and soft drinks also dampens the spirit of a night out at the cinema. This is covered by Ken "Caesar" Fisher in a very insightful article at ArsTechnica titled Hollywood faces the music: bad movies mean bad ticket sales. There are some interesting comments; just click the "Discuss" button at the bottom.

Now I must work up the courage to go see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. A friend emailed several weeks ago and highly recommended this Johnny Depp vehicle. Hopefully, there won't be any rude monsters at the late showing.

"For me, the cinema is not a slice of life, but a piece of cake."
-Alfred Hitchcock

This brings a smile to my face

Ever tried to escape the throes of AOL? Okay, you think you have eliminated AOL from your computer? Do a search and type in AOL. Tell it to search your "C" drive. Aha! You only thought it was gone. You have seen the light and the dark side of the force still lurks trying to do evil to your style of computerese.

There is actually a free download over at MajorGeeks that helps you remove AOL. Sad that someone had to spend time and write a piece of software that gives us the ability to eliminate something we DON'T want on our PCs. Sounds like malware, huh?

Back to the topic at hand; Charles Jade has a great article about justice in America at ArsTechnica. The title of the post is You got fined! No small fine either. Thanks and props go out to our Northern friends in the state of New York for setting an example of how to deal with this annoying, "internet provider." Now if the folks in the Mississippi legislature will pay attention...

"There is little success where there is little laughter."
-Andrew Carnegie

Things Google

If you use any type of instant messaging download Google Talk. This will be huge. After using their simple interface and understanding the ease of making voice calls it is apparent Google has once again taken a technology and put a very positive spin on it. Even though GAIM is the beach house interface, it saddens me to use the spyware plagued Yahoo service in any shape, form or fashion. GAIM lets you use most of the known IMs inside their software eliminating the background clutter. If you need a Gmail account (you do) please email me for an invitation. It's easy to enroll, the installation is quick and this is the best email service in the solar system. Hey, they give you 2 gigabytes of online storage space!

Must crawl to the Flexeril. That falling off a ladder early this week was dumb, dumb, dumb. K, outta here before I lapse into turbowhine.

"The worst pain a man can suffer: to have insight into much and power over nothing."
-Herodotus