Acronym Update 06/30/07

Dear Friends,

Here it is folks, the last update for June….

I hope these short bursts of data give you food for thought in regards your digital life and life in general. I know it will be tough to top the June print edition of The Acronym, but I’m already brainstorming on the August issue. Today actually marks the 10th year that I’ve been in business. For those of you who known me for all of that time or for the bulk of that time, you know that there were struggles along the way, but that I am an overcomer and now, a beacon of light to the dark world we live in. Thank you for all of it.

Today’s Topic: BEWARE of suspicious e-mail notifying you of e-cards (electronic greeting cards) sent to you by someone you know (supposedly). Any legitimate service like Blue Mountain, Hallmark or American Greetings (Yahoo Greetings) will clearly state who the sender is and give you a web address that looks legitimate. If they are asking you to click on a website with a numerical address (aka. IP address) do not do it. I have been working with Mac based and Linux based PC’s all week, and I did not have any problems, but I know most of you are using Windows — and these SPAM messages could cause real problems for you. Some abnormalities in the wording of these emails give them away. For instance, I could tell that they were typed by someone versed in British English and not American English.

Wishing us at least 10 more together,

Kevin

Acronym Update 06/22/07

Dear Friends,

…And now, the Autumn event you’ve all been waiting for,
Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority’s Hartford – area
Electronics Recycling Collection.

ONE DAY ONLY!! (see details below)

I’m bringing this event to your attention because I get asked frequently where people can recycle their old computers and electronics equipment. The CRRA has held these events in the Spring and Fall for several years now. It is a safe and free way to recycle these once great devices that have become paperweights, momuments, and in some cases – eyesores. The CRRA has traditionally served towns in central Connecticut, through its Mid-Connecticut project. You can find a list of these towns by clicking on the Mid-Connecticut link below. They also have a Bridgeport and Waterbury project that may serve the town you live in. Look on their website http://www.crra.org for complete details.

If you don’t live in a town served by CRRA, you should check with your town’s public works (or equivalent) department about electronics trash pickup. Furthermore, I know that Dell and Apple both offer to recycle your old computer for you when you purchase a new one.

HERE ARE THE DETAILS….

*when*

Saturday, November 10, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

*where*

CRRA Trash Museum, 211 Murphy Road, Hartford

*for whom*

Residents of Mid-Connecticut Project cities and towns http://www.crra.org/pages/member_mid_ct.htm
*WHAT*

Home electronics, including: computers, monitors, cell phones, TVs, VCRs, copiers, fax machines, printers, radios, stereos. (Electronics from businesses and institutions are not acceptable. )

*sponsors*

Participating municipalities and CRRA

Very Truly Yours,
Kevin

Acronym Update 06/09/07

Dear Friends,

Attention: The June 2007 print version of The Acronym is now online. Feel free to share this if you desire.

http://theacronym.com/wordpress/?p=32

Here are a few technical bulletins that you may find of interest:

1) In Connecticut, specifically the West Hartford area…. T-Mobile service has been reported to be increasingly unreliable over the past few months. T-Mobile positions itself as a “bargain play” in the cellular industry. They have added a lot of customers over the past few years, especially in Connecticut, and they have erected new towers to keep up with the demand. Barring defects with the towers themselves, it appears that they simply don’t have the number of towers and capacity to keep up with their growing customer base. I am not a T-Mobile subscriber, but I have nothing but positive things to say about them. They do have their shortcomings, ie. the smallest native service area in the U.S.A., but make up for it with their top notch customer service. If you are a T-Mobile customer and affected by an abnormal occurrence of dropped calls or problems making a call –> contact T-Mobile and voice your concerns. If enough people speak up, they may add additional towers. They have been known to be very responsive to customer feedback. If there has been a serious adverse effect on your cellular experience, don’t hesitate to ask for a bill credit as well.

2) Comcast HSI (cable internet) customers may already be aware of this, but many people notice a significant slowdown in speed between 4 and 10 PM. If you don’t, well that’s great! However, little or no effect during peak hours appears to be the exception and not the rule. People who have heavy download needs, ie. video gamers, those frequently downloading music and software applications, and people sharing large files put the most stress on available cable bandwidth. Since school is almost out for the summer, cable internet users may seem some alleviation from the “evening web surfer blues,” however, I wouldn’t rule out the degraded performance shifting to another time of day. If what I have described has become a serious problem for you, call Comcast and voice your complaints. Your concerns will be noted and if enough people in your area make themselves heard, Comcast does have the power to increase the available bandwidth that is being fed down the pipeline (a.k.a. the cable wires). If it’s absolutely unbearable, you may want to consider DSL.
Drop me an e-mail if other telecom providers are giving you fits. I always like to hear from you.

Thanks for your support,

Kevin

The Acronym (June 2007)

THE ACRONYM
A Technology and Lifestyle Newsletter.
Published Periodically Since 1999
June 2007 Edition (Volume: 9 Issue: 3)

June 1, 2007

Dear Readers,

I want to dedicate this issue to the young and the “young at heart.” Throughout the 10 years that I have provided computer consulting services in central Connecticut, some of my most memorable experiences have come when working with “active adults” (age 55+) and teenagers.

I won’t ever forget the smiles I’ve helped create on grandparents’ faces who found a new dimension in retirement living by learning how to use a personal computer. A PC in the home of a “golden citizen”, provides a meaningful diversion after a round of golf, a chance to communicate (affordably) with a distant friend on a regular basis, a means to continue learning – the life process that should never cease, and most importantly a chance to catalog shop without buying gas, getting stuck in traffic or listening to annoying salespeople.

A lot of my experiences with teenagers do not belong in my corporate wall of fame or digital scrapbook. The scrap heap or the recycle bin is a more fitting spot for these scenarios. My mind travels back to a cold winter night when America Online was still regarded with the same pleasantries as Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. Two very loving parents called me because their desktop PC had slowed down to a snail’s pace. “Kevin I just don’t understand it,” they said. “Can you check and see why our Internet browser is so slow?”

Well…..I did and they were SHOCKED at the reason why!!

Here is an important lesson for all who don’t know this already. Your computers save files on your hard drive when you browse the Internet. This data contains website graphics, passwords, and other common information about you. These files can have their upside , but they do save a record of nearly every click you make. In the Internet Explorer browser, you have to manually erase “temporary Internet files” and “cookies” when you clear them out. I’ve talked at length about the advantages of the Firefox browser in the past, but one of its strengths is that it can delete the crumbs you leave behind automatically.

Back to memory lane and the slow PC…..

I’m going to try to say this diplomatically… When I looked through the temporary Internet files that 12 year old Johnny had been browsing, we found evidence of multiple websites focused on the theme of “leather goods” and the games that adults, who aren’t horse trainers or cowboys, play with them. I had to pick Mommy’s jaw up off the floor and re-attach it after she saw this debauchery. I deleted all the files, and did my best to child-proof the computer. Keeping kids safe online was not as easy 6 or 7 years ago. Johnny hemmed and hawed, because he thought these restrictions were a punishment. That was just the beginning. Later on, when Daddy caught wind of what happened, Johnny learned the true meaning of “raw hide.”

In this edition of “The Acronym,” I will share websites, applications, computer models, and gadgets that I believe can be very useful to the elders among us.

The feature article this month, entitled “A Message For Teens and 20’s: The Str8 Life Ain’t So Bad,” is intended for teens and those in their 20’s. It is perhaps the most heartfelt, impassioned article I have ever written in “The Acronym.” Please share it with your children if they fall into this age group. With all of the mixed messages they are being fed, and in some cases force-fed today, I am offering sound principles that can nudge them in the right direction or even pull them back from the brink of no return.

Clients with children talk to me about the issues their loved ones face at nearly every appointment. They pay for their shelter, food, and clothing but are prisoners in their own homes. Due to my “unique” family structure and youth, I am in a key position to reach families who are hanging to their last straw of hope.

I want to use the gifts that I possess, both natural and supernatural, to bring restoration and healing to those who have no where to turn. It is my vision to exploit these special qualities to the fullest to the benefit of my clients and my community.

Forever Yours,
Kevin

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Kevin
“The Computer Evangelist”
In Business Since 1997
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Phone: 860.916.9457
E-mail: kevin@whconsult.biz

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Update: I kept a promise that I made to you in the April edition of “The Acronym.” Shortly before the Easter holiday, I donated the proceeds from one client visit to the Town That Cares fund here in West Hartford, CT to be used for our food pantry.

Public Service Announcement:
Even though summer is almost here, there are still many families in our communities that go without adequate food. Students are home for the summer and not receiving the benefit of subsidized lunch programs that feed them during the school year. Help a needy family directly, if you know of one. If not, your town probably runs or is affiliated with a food pantry that you can contribute to. Additionally, larger organizations such as America’s Second Harvest, The Salvation Army, and Operation Blessing also do a wonderful job of aiding those whose only want is a hot meal. Furthermore, I know these 3 charities are good stewards of the funds that are entrusted to them. I challenge you to make an effort to help the hungry in the coming weeks.

THE ACRONYM
Published periodically since 1999
http://www.theacronym.com

Staff
Publisher: Kevin
kevin@whconsult.biz
Editor: Susan
Next issue: August 2007
The Acronym is distributed to readers throughout Connecticut and the world on a bi-monthly basis. The Internet version
(http://theacronym.com) includes exclusive online updates. Our reader demographic includes: retirees, students, corporate professionals, small business owners, an others — encompassing the entire spectrum of the computer literacy scale. If you would be interested in advertising in a future edition of The Acronym please contact us by e-mail. You are welcome to pay for a voluntary subscription at an annual rate of $12. Please make check payable to “West Hartford Consultants LLC.” Mail to: PO Box 370483. West Hartford, CT 06137.

Digital Treasure Chest: Resources and Innovations for the Young at Heart
by Kevin

Your old ‘63 Corvair Monza convertible has rolled up to the curb. That rear engine is running and I’m driving. Hop in, buckle your seat belt, and enjoy the ride…… We’re going to cruise down Interstate 2007 – Information Superhighway.

** Did you just retire?? Can’t bear to wait in line to apply for Social Security benefits. No problem. If you have a computer, you can cut to the front of the line. All the information you need can be found on http://www.ssa.gov
You can submit all of your paperwork electronically in a very simple, straight forward set up. If they require any documents from you, they will provide you with the appropriate address.

**Are you already enjoying your retirement, but want to monitor your Social Security account online. Visit http://www.ssa.gov/onlineservices/
If you don’t already have one, click ‘Get a password’ and a temporary password will be sent to you in the mail (not e-mail) in about 2 weeks. From there you will be able to go back to this website, and create a permanent one.

**Interested in basic banking and financial information? Want to know the best CD rates and loan rates? Check out http://www.bankrate.com. It is an invaluable resource, in my opinion.

** You probably have a need to type simple letters from time to time, but don’t like the hassle of opening up a complex application like Word. No problem. Create a free account with Google Documents & Spreadsheets. http://docs.google.com
It’s easy to do, and you’ll be able to start typing a document in a matter of minutes. Google has plenty of storage space!! Your files will be saved online inside your Google Docs account.

**Have you never really gotten into using e-mail? Are complex e-mail programs frustrating? Your best bet would be to create a free web-mail account from a reliable provider. You will be able to compose your email right inside your web browser. My top picks for you are 1) Gmail – http://www.gmail.com , 2) Yahoo Mail – http://mail.yahoo.com, and 3) AOL – http://webmail.aol.com

**Do you want to create a simple website for yourself so you can interact with your friends and family in one convenient location — the Internet. I would never point my customers toward that waste dump known as MySpace. Stay away from the riffraff and establish your web presence on Facebook.com, a much classier alternative to DisGrace (aka MySpace). If super squeaky clean is what you are looking for, try Xianz.com – Christian Social Fellowshipping site.

**Is a new car in your plans for you this year? Would you like to read about cars so that you can compare models and sort fact from fiction before you step into the dealership? Edmunds.com is for you. I am not a “car person” or a mechanical person, but this website is one of my favorites. You can research new vehicles and used models back to 1990. Comprehensive model reviews are available along with Edmunds trademark valuation system, known as TMV (True Market Value). Don’t get stuck paying MSRP or taking a petty discount. See what buyers are truly paying for that model in your area.

I have saved these bookmarks for you at http://del.icio.us/kevinbct/ac0607

NOTICE: If you are over 30, this month’s Feature Story was not intended for you and probably won’t even make sense. If you have a young one at home or in your life between 13 and their late 20’s – I urge you to share this with them. They may never hear a message like this again in their lives. I’ve printed this section on colored paper to personalize it for the young reader. You may tear off the next 2 pages for them. Thanks!! – Kevin

Acronym Update (06/01/07)

Dear Friends,

It brings me great joy to send out these Acronym Updates as a supplement to the print editions of The Acronym. Just so you know, I mailed out the print edition TODAY!! Some of you may receive it Saturday, but definitely on by Monday or Tuesday for the rest of you. I will post it in its entirety on http://theacronym.com within one week, but I wanted to give all of you print readers first priority.

Here is a preview of the June edition. This issue has a particular theme, focusing on the ‘young and young at heart’. My opening comments feature a humorous tale from the consultant’s archives. On pg. 3 there is a resource bank filled with websites that I thought active adults and senior citizens would enjoy. Note, you can access these links by typing http://del.ico.us/kevinbct/ac0607 into the address bar of your web browser.

The Feature Story of this issue is intended for teens and 20-somethings. It is printed on canary yellow paper and is stapled separately from the front section. Please share it with the youngster(s) living in your home or individuals age 13 to 29 that are important to you. I have written this message in language they would understand and relate to. Through getting to know you over these 10 years, I know that your loved ones have been through a lot. There are a lot of mixed messages being given to youth, by so called “solid citizens” who are driven by greed. The plea that I have made to young people in this month’s The Acronym is a message they may have never heard before. Don’t be shocked if it changes their life and changes them for the better! That was precisely my intention!

Happy Reading,

Kevin