Getting a program on your computer is easy. Getting it off can be more difficult, though. First rule: Never drag the program to the trash can to get rid of it. When a program installs itself, it usually puts bits and pieces of itself all around your system. Chances are you will miss some of these pieces if you try to the brute strength method of deleting. Here’s the correct, and cleaner method of removing unwanted programs using Windows. Click on the “Start” button, and then on “settings.” Then click on Control Panel. A window will pop up with many icons. Double-click on “Add/Remove Programs”. Once the window opens, you will have a list of all the programs you have on your system. Click on the program you want to get rid of, and hit the “Add/Remove” button.

I’m Eric Spellmann…taking you to the Next Level.

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Uninstall the Right Way
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-3000_7-6218544.html

Remember when you were a kid and made up secret codes to communicate to your friends. Granted, they were probably pretty simple (the letter “A” was replaced by “1″, “B” became “2″, and so on), but you did feel secure knowing your messages were safe. Although your methods were simplistic, you were encrypting your messages. Encryption is the process of scrambling a message or data so that others cannot understand it. Of course, for it to be useful, the receiving party must be able to descramble it, using a key of some kind. Today’s encryption methods are much stronger than your grade school techniques. In fact, the latest encrypting algorithms cannot be broken by today’s computers. That’s why its safe for you to use your credit card online.

I’m Eric Spellmann…taking you to the Next Level.

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What is Encryption?
http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid14_gci212062,00.html

The Basics
http://www.infomosaic.net/Encryption.htm

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know
http://www.crypto.com/

A webcam is a little camera hooked up to the World Wide Web. Every few minutes, it snaps a picture and posts it on a website. People from all over the world can see what’s going on in the area covered by the camera. Webcams are everywhere: online news departments, dorm rooms, retail computer stores, even people’s homes. What would drive someone to allow the entire world into their private life? Well, theories of closet exhibitionism aside, many stores use it for security. They can check on their store 24-hours/day from home or anywhere on the web. Scientists can use it to track experiments without having to be in the lab. I’ve even heard a story about families that are apart at Christmas setting up a Webcam to facilitate a virtual family reunion.

I’m Eric Spellmann…taking you to the Next Level.

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What is a Webcam?
http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci211738,00.html

List of Live Webcams
http://www.earthcam.com/

Finding legislative information has always been difficult. In the past, you’ve heard me talk about the Thomas Archive that contains information on national matters before the House of Representatives and the Senate. But what about State congressional information? Well, the state of Texas has one of the most comprehensive government web sites on the planet. Called, “Texas Legislature Online”, this site offers the visitor instant access to what’s going on in Austin. Search through any bill before the house or senate and find out who wrote it, what it says, and best of all, what its status is. You can also find out if your congressman has an e-mail address and how to contact him if he doesn’t. The site, at texas.gov, is laid out well, offering even the casual visitor easy access to what they are looking for.

I’m Eric Spellmann, taking you to the Next Level!

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Texas Online
 http://www.texas.gov/

Texas Legislature
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/

Thomas Archive
http://thomas.loc.gov