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Remember the last time you were at an ATM trying to get a quick 20 dollars for a date? Did you notice that the little screen of the machine seemed to have an after-image “burned” into it? We call that screen-burn. It occurs when the same image stays on certain computer screens for days on end. Older computer monitors had this problem, so someone created a software program called a screensaver. The theory was pretty sound. A graphic, sometimes a random pattern would constantly change the image on the screen preventing screen burn from occurring. Some of the screensavers got pretty cute. In fact, entire companies were established that exclusively produced this software. There is a deep, dark secret that these companies don’t want you to know, though. Listen closely: Today’s monitors DON’T need screensavers. They are incapable of developing screen burn.

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

More Information

Screensaver.com
http://www.screensaver.com/

Yet More Screensavers
http://www.ratloaf.com/

Top 100 Screensavers
http://www.top100screensavers.com/

Did you know that the Government has more information on the Internet than all other companies and organizations, even Microsoft. Why is that? Why would the government be in a frenzy about moving their information to the Net? Well, as with all things in Washington, it has to do with money. As you already probably know, the government, by law, is required to make certain information available to the public. Now how did they do that? Did you ever hear of the GPO (the government printing office)? Millions of brochures, reports, and books were generated every day to meet this legal requirement. What the government soon realized, though, was that by using the Internet, they could dramatically cut their printing expenses, by putting the same information online.

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

More Information

Library of Congress
http://www.loc.gov/

White House
http://www.whitehouse.gov

Texas Government
http://www.texas.gov/

They’re watching you.  Every move you make?  They know where you go and what you do, at least on the Internet.  The culprit: spyware.  Simply put, spyware is software loaded on your system that allows a company to monitor your surfing habits.  Usually, their motivations are simply financial.  They want to know what products you’re interested in, what you buy online, etc.  Usually you get spyware whenever you download a supposedly “free” piece of software.  Folks, make sure you read those terms and conditions when installing software.  I know good and well, a bunch of you just hit next, next, next, until the software is installed.  Believe it or not, most spyware is legal, because technically, you agreed to have it installed when you hit the “next” button on the Terms and Conditions.

More Information

What is Spyware?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spyware

Need to quote a web page? Forget retyping it. Just use the clipboard! The clipboard is a temporary memory storage area in Windows that allows you to copy or move information very easily between applications. To use it, first make sure you have both your web browser and your word processing program open at the same time. Now, switch to your browser, take your mouse and highlight the text you want to copy. Pull down the Edit Menu and choose “copy.” Switch to your word processor, click the “edit” button on the menu bar and choose paste. The text will magically appear in your document. You may need to clean it up a bit, but at least you don’t have to retype it. Now, don’t forget, copyright rules do apply. Don’t plagiarize anything.

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

More Information

US Copyright Office
http://www.copyright.gov

Copyright Myths
http://www.templetons.com/brad//copymyths.html