June 30, 2004
Web Site Hosting
"So what's your web site?" comes the inevitable question. If you don't have your own properly hosted web site these days, it's almost as if you don't have a business card. "In the future everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes." said Andy Warhol (who was certainly famous for more than fifteen minutes). Well, it IS the future, Andy is long gone, and you can't be famous without the right web site hosting.
If you're new to the whole website hosting and building gig, get ready for an education and an investment in time. There are lots of things to do along the way. But thankfully, you won't have to make a huge investment in cash ...
First, you have to find and register a domain name. Having a real domain name is essential if you want folks to think that you're the real deal. It's just not cool to have a URL like http://www.myohsoveryverytlameISP.com/users/unclefrank853 (with apologies to Uncle Frank, in advance). Once you have your domain name squared away, you'll need to decide whether you can get along with cheap web hosting or bite the bullet and go for dedicated web hosting. (Hint: most folks will be just fine with the cheap hosting plans.)
And then you have to actually build the thing.
uh, yeah ...it's at this point you find out that getting your website hosted is easy. And that actually building the site is where you'll spend countless hours ... no make that days ... even weeks ... getting it done (not to mention right). Getting a basic website up and running can happen quickly. You can start building your site on your local computer before you even decide on a name or a web host. But perfecting it can take a lifetime.
If you have no desire to mess with HTML you can go with a host that provides online site building tools. (On the other hand, if you have no desire to mess with HTML whatsoever, you should re-evaluate whether you really want to build your own web site.)
You can find a basic web hosting plan for as cheap as $3 a month these days. That's pretty amazing considering what it cost back in the early days. You won't have a ton of features for that $3, but you may get all you need to start on the web walk of fame. The web hosting prices go up as the requirements rise for bandwidth and storage. A good web host will let you upgrade your hosting plan along the way, if you happen to need additional bandwidth and hard drive space. A sleepy little web site might never need to upgrade.
FWIW, I've built some websites around fairly obscure topics, like soccer replica jerseys just for kicks. No doubt you have some obscure areas of interest that deserve their own $3 a month web site hosting plans. :)
June 29, 2004
Enterprise Portal
What's a big company without a proper enterprise portal? a) a day without multiple sun sunshine, b) a home for under-informed employees, c) an enterprise portal-less entity, or d) all of the above? ... tick tick tick ... the correct answer is D! If you land in an enterprise portal-less planet, get ready to say "beam me up, Scotty ... there's no intelligent life here."
Scratching your head? Good! It's time to learn what an enterprise portal really is ...
An enterprise portal is an online doorway into the business organization. There are two basic types of enterprise portals: internal and external. In simple terms, the internal portal is an entry point for employees into the intranet, while the external portal provide gated entry for customers and partners to access the extranet. An internal portal might allow employees to access internal documents, such as human resources guidelines, while an external portal could allow customers to place and track orders.
When an employee or customer logs into the enterprise portal, it knows who they are. You might be familiar with this from the big portals like Yahoo. When you log into My Yahoo, for example, the portal system knows who you are and presents the information that's most important to you (assuming that you've taken the time to set it up properly). You get to see your news, your weather, and your stocks.
Enterprise portals work in a similar manner. Well, sort of ...
For many firms, the promise of the Internet has been delivered through the reduced cost of transactions. When a customer can interact with a organization without requiring human intervention--say at the research, ordering, or post-order stage--both the company and the customer are winners. Whether it's the initial placement of an order or checking the status of an existing order, an effective external enterprise portal allows the customer to get in and get what they need, on a 24/7 basis.
When John Doe the customer logs into the external portal, he can see--at a glance--that his order has shipped. John might even be able to get the FedEx tracking number. When John Doe the employee logs into the internal portal, he can quickly ascertain how many sick days he has left to squander before December 31 rolls around. John didn't need to bug a customer service or human resources rep. He just got his information and went on his merry way. At 3:16 AM on Sunday.
Needless to say, building an enterprise portal can be a monumental undertaking. It's not as simple as slapping some HTML down and stringing a bunch of pages together. Some vendors offer standalone products to provide the basics of document management and collaborative environments. If your portal needs are light, they're worth a look. But when things get serious--say when the portal needs to hook into a host of other corporate necessities including business intelligence, CRM, and ERP systems--you'll need to focus on the heavy-duty vendors.
Enterprise portal software and services are marketed by a wide range of firms, including IBM, Oracle, Sun, BEA, SAP, Sybase, Microsoft, Plumtree, intranets.com, Akamai, and many others.
June 28, 2004
ERP Software
ERP -- now there's a software acronym you don't hear every day. Exactly what is ERP software, you ask? ERP stands for "Enterprise Resource Planning." ERP software is a system that allows medium-to-large businesses automate their distribution, financial, human resources, manufacturing, marketing, sales, and project management functions. Whew, that's a lot!
With a focus on accounting, ERP software systems allow companies to plan and identify which resources are necessary to fulfill customer responsibilities. These systems typically employ a relational database to provide control over inventory and to deliver customer service functions, including order tracking.
That's a pretty tall order ...
Lean manufacturing is an oft-sited goal. Limiting the amount of inventory by tying it to actual orders helps keep the lid on costs. You'll need an effective ERP system to ensure that inventory volumes are under control. Like Goldilocks, you don't want too much or too little. Inventory levels should be "just right" to keep the line running at optimal levels. The faster your inventory turns, the better.
Keeping the customers happy is always a good core principle. With a proper implementation, you can reduce sales order fulfillment times, and get the goods into your customers' hands. Not only will your customers be pleased, but your bean-counters will be, as well. The faster you ship, the faster you bill.
You won't find a shelf full of shrink-wrapped Enterprise Resource Planning software at your local CompUSA or BestBuy store. (Although it might be fun to ask.) This is a highly specialized field and the tickets tend to be large. ERP software developers include: IBM, Syspro, WinMan, Epicor, Microsoft/Great Plains, and Made2Manage.
ERP software is a huge topic. Thankfully, there are lots of resources on the web where you can read up on the many benefits and choices. If you are using ERP software, we want to hear from you for a follow-up article. If you have a good ERP software story to share, please email me at erpsoftware-at-geekbooks.com
June 27, 2004
Help Desk Software
Help desk professionals are on the front lines. They need adequate backing from management in order to properly support their organizations. And that's where help desk software fits in ... the proper implementation of the right software can make a tough job a whole lot easier. The best help desk software allows support personnel to quickly resolve problems for their clients--whether they're internal or external--while keeping the lid on costs.
Of course, many Lockergnome readers sit on those front lines ...
Serious help desk software must provide solid call tracking and management capabilities. Experience shows that a dropped call will often lead to an unhappy (return) caller. To handle the calls with speed and authority, you'll need the right knowledge management and problem resolution tools. To the greatest extent possible, incidents must be managed with the resources at hand.
While help desk software may include some form of self-help for users, this capability is often lacking. But don't blame it on the software--it's the implementation that makes it or breaks it. Limited choices and short FAQs won't get the job done. Users want their questions answered quickly; while they might appreciate a FAQ, they won't appreciate it if they can't find what they're looking for. And in many cases, they won't (find it or appreciate it, that is).
Leading help desk software includes offerings from developers including Intuit (Track-It), PeopleSoft, BMC Software Remedy, UniPress FootPrints, Parature, GWI, and others. Some help desk software developers focus on specific markets. SchoolDude.com, for example, specializes on providing software for academic institutions. All in all, there are scads of choices in a busy market.
If you are using help desk software, we want to hear from you. If you have a great help desk story--whether it's of the success or horror genre--email me at helpdesksoftware-at-geekbooks.com (if you're on the help desk, you'll know how to turn that into a working email address ... ) ;)
June 26, 2004
Auto Insurance?
Auto insurance is one of those can't live with it, can't live without slices of life. In most places you can't own a car without insuring it. And if you can't drive (in many of those same places), you can't make a living. But while we're all pretty much stuck with auto insurance, you needn't be stuck with a lame auto insurance company.
That's where the Internet comes to the rescue. When you do your auto insurance research online, you'll be a more informed consumer.
To that end, here are eight ways you can save on your auto insurance ...
1. Always shop around. Auto insurance premiums from company to company can easily range by 25% or more. Don't look for rhyme or reason, just look for a better deal.
2. Aim for the right fit. Some auto insurance companies may appear to specialize in certain demographics. One company, for example, may be kinder and gentler to young married couples than the next.
3. Check into higher deductibles for collision and comprehensive. Going with a higher deductible can easily save you hundreds of dollars per year.
4. Take a defensive driving course. It's customary for many auto insurance companies to give a 5% discount for defensive driving graduates. Check into courses from AARP and AAA.
5. Look for combo deals. If you insure both you car and home through the same company, you may be eligible for a healthy discount. Keep an eye out for companies that offer rebates to good policyholders.
6. Check with your insurance agent before you buy that new (or new used) car. Some models can cost considerably more to insure ... This is based on a number of factors including cost of repairs, theft, and accident history.
7. Check auto insurance rates online and in the real world. The best rates may come from either place. Progressive and GEICO, for example, have impressive websites, but a local independent insurance agent can shop around for you.
8. Pay your auto insurance bill in full, if possible. While paying by installments is convenient, it often incurs a per payment charge. Pay ten monthly payments, each with a $5 surcharge and you'll be out fifty bucks over the course of the year.
June 25, 2004
Home Equity Loan?
Drowning in debt? Home equity loans are one of the most popular ways to clean up personal debt while lowering monthly payments. When you take out a home equity loan, you borrow against the equity in your house. The loan is secured by a mortgage lien. There are two primary advantages of home equity loans: the interest paid may be tax-deductible, and the interest rate is often just a fraction of that paid on a typical credit card account. Both of these factors can add up to significant savings for borrower.
Homeowners often use the funds from their home equity loans for debt consolidation, home improvements, or other big-ticket purchases. Loan offers can come from many sources: from local banks, through direct mail, and via the Internet. With so many options, choosing the right loan and the right lender can be a difficult decision. But the bottom line remains clear: you can save a considerable amount of money.
How much, you ask? Lets take a look ...
Lets say you owe $19,500 or so in credit card debt. That's a significant sum to most folks. Now lets say that the credit card company is charging you 11.4% interest--not a great rate, to be sure. In this case, you might be paying more than $180 per month in finance charges. If you make the minimum payment of $200 per month, you'll likely never pay the loan off. Divide that $19,500 by $20 of principal per month and you'll end up with 975 months ... that's 81 years and change. 81 YEARS.
If you take out a ten-year home equity loan at say 5%, your monthly payments may be in the same $200 ballpark. The difference is that a larger portion of your payment each month will go towards paying down your principal. If you make only the monthly payment each month, you'll retire the home equity debt in ten years.
(LendingTree and other loan websites have calculators to help you figure out exactly how much you can save. The results may amaze you.)
Straight home equity loans enforce a certain amount of financial discipline. You borrow a set amount of money for a set amount of time. If you opt for a fixed rate loan, rather than a variable rate loan, you'll know exactly how much the loan will cost you over the long run. If you gamble on a variable rate, you may or may not end up ahead. Variable rates can be enticing, as the initial rate is usually less than that of a fixed rate. But a variable rate loan rises (and yes, falls) depending on its index. You'll never know exactly how much a variable rate loan will cost you over the long run until you've finished paying for it.
Is a home equity loan right for you? I can't answer that.
But I can honestly say that a home equity loan has saved me thousands of dollars over the years.
Maybe one day I'll have the means to pay for everything in cash. Until then, you'll know why I write from the splendor of Ranchero Indebto. :) Standard disclaimer: I'm not a financial professional ... I'm just a writer. I can speak about this stuff from personal experience. Your mileage may vary.
June 24, 2004
Now You Can iPod Your BMW, But What About My Honda?
Got an iPod and a BMW? Not me. But if I did, I'd be keen on the recent announcement from BMW and Apple about a nifty new iPod adapter that allows BMW drivers to "iPod Your BMW."
"Introducing the first seamless integration of iPod and automobile," the advertisement beckons. The idea behind it is pretty cool: hook an iPod into the factory sound system, to gain control over the MP3 player through the steering wheel controls. The iPod plugs into a hard-wired connector cable located in the glove compartment, thus eliminating the need for a shaky FM modulator or jury-rigged cassette wire setup.
I'm digging the idea. But I'll likely never have the opportunity to own a BMW. An iPod, for sure, but not a Beemer ...
“Apple and BMW have outpaced the industry around the innovation curve," Apple's Steve Jobs proudly croons. "This elegant solution enables auto enthusiasts to carry with them and enjoy their entire music collection everywhere they go, heightening their ultimate driving experience."
With the steering wheel controls you can adjust the volume, jump between tracks, shuffle playlists, or randomly tap into your music stream. The adapter makes the iPod look like a CD changer to the factory sound system, allowing you to create five distinct "BMW playlists."
The iPod adapter has a suggested retail price of $149. BMW states that the installation should take less than an hour. Multiply that by the shop's hourly rate and say ouch. Then again, if you're driving a BMW, you're bound to take it all in stride.
But don't get all revved up just yet. You won't be able to use the setup in your restored early-70s 2002, or even your late 90s 7-Series. The adapter works with 2002 or newer models of the BMW 3 Series, M3, X3 and X5 sport-utilities, as well as the Z4 Roadster and 02-03 5 Series. You'll need a recent iPod, too, as the adapter only works with iPod software version 2.2 or later (standard iPod) or the Mini iPod (version 1.1 or later).
An iPod adapter for the wicked cool Mini Cooper is in the works, as well ... it's expected some time this summer. At last, the clown car crowd will have a proper soundtrack to motor about ... :)
June 23, 2004
Tiki Bar
The latest d-i-y project at Ranchero Indebto is an indoor extravaganza--I'm building a set of shelves for our Tiki Bar. As it turns out, there's been something missing here (besides my sanity). So we're turning the wet bar into a full-fledged altar to everything Tiki. Why it took this long for it to become a Tiki Bar, I can't explain.
The latest round of Tiki-inspired craziness was spurred on by the first chapter of my new book. This is kind of hard to explain here, so you will just have to take my word on it for right now ... until you can get your hands on Creating Striking Graphics with Maya and Photoshop, that is. Now everyone's living room needn't be a den devoted to frozen cocktail indulgence, of course, but I'm not complaining.
I'd like to say that this outdoor Tiki Bar is in my backyard, alas it is not. But it is in the new book. :) Check out those wild Tiki Net Terminals. Crazy, man!
June 22, 2004
VOIP, Part III
I took the Voice Over IP (VOIP) plunge ... and the good news is it's cool and refreshing. Cool because it works, and works pretty well. Refreshing because it's blissfully cheap, at least for now. After much deliberation I decided on AT&T's Call Vantage VOIP service, early last month. Their introductory half price offer proved to be too hard to resist. Even at full price (which was $39.99 per month, back then), it seemed like a bargain. At $19.99 for the first six months, VOIP was absolutely irresistible.
The CallVantage VOIP installation package arrived via FedEx a few days after I placed the order. It had to sit untouched for a few days until I wrapped up my latest book ... but once the book was put to bed, I wasted no time installing the D-Link VOIP telephone adapter (TA). Installation was a simple affair. The VOIP TA looks a bit like an oversize conventional modem and is directly connected to my cable modem via Ethernet. It took some tweaking to get things worked out with the firewall router, which the TA feeds, but it wasn't insurmountable.
So how do I like it? Honestly? Well, if it wasn't all about the money ...
But it IS all about the money. By trashing my conventional phone line for the CallVantage VOIP service, I'll be saving hundreds of dollars per year. I'm getting rid of my conventional phone line with its expensive local and long distance service. Why? CallVantage gives me unlimited local and long distance calling. And tons of features. All at a fixed price that's a mere fraction of what I've been paying.
All told, my average conventional phone bills have been running in the $100 range. By going with VOIP, I'll be cutting that down to $20 for the first six months and $35 a month, thereafter. (AT&T slashed $5 off the monthly costs shortly after I signed up.)
It's not hard to put up with some shortcomings after doing the math.
CallVantage doesn't just includes all of the good stuff like Caller ID, Call Waiting, Call Forwarding, and Voice Mail. It takes those features and adds smarts to provide a "Locate Me" service when I want to be hunted down and a "Do Not Disturb" feature to keep out unwanted calls (while letting certain calls through). And when someone leaves a voice mail? CallVantage emails me to let me know about it ... and even lets me listen to the calls over the web, if necessary. But here's the trump card ... CallVantage includes a built-in, no-charge conference call feature that allows up to ten users per call. I'm itching to try it out.
Okay, so about those shortcomings.
Overall, the sound quality is just fine. But once in a while, the sound can get distorted or "computerish" on the other end ... nothing horrid, so far ... just a tad odd. And while I haven't had any problems browsing the web and using the phone simultaneously, I did run into some choppy lines when uploading huge files to an FTP server.
Although AT&T allows CallVantage customers to select a phone number from almost any location they'd like, it's almost any location. I was not able to select a phone number from my town, nor from the next town over. I ended up settling on an exchange from an even more so doing nicely, thank you part of the county. (Of course, I'm still calling from my room off the back of the garage.) I had thought about placing my number in a really exotic place ...
Website access is an issue. The CallVantage website requires Microsoft Internet Explorer, unfortunately. Needless to say, I won't be accessing it from my PC. The site does, however, support both MSIE and Safari on OSX so it's not a deal-breaker for me.
Fax machines are not supported. But since I haven't used my fax machine for months on end, if I do have to fax, I'll look into an online alternative.
If the power goes out, so does the phone service. Ah well, time to whip out the mobile.
All-in-all, I'm pretty happy with my new VOIP service. It doesn't make toast or mop the floor, but it does save me a considerable sum and it's far more versatile than the conventional line it replaced.
June 21, 2004
Predictive Dialers
WHOOPS! Looking for that article on Getting Better Digital Images in Photoshop?
Predictive dialers can be thought of as supercharged autodialers. A predictive dialing system is programmed to automatically dial a large group of telephone numbers. When a predictive dialer reaches a busy signal, fax machine, or unanswered line, it dumps the call. Live calls are automatically directed to a telemarketer.
As the name implies, predictive dialers use advanced programming to predict the outcome of a call. According to legend, a predictive dialer can turn a less then optimal list into a productive session by maximizing the time that telemarketers spend with potential customers. If you have something to sell over the telephone and you have little time to sell it, predictive dialers are designed to make your efforts more effective.
But if you're on the other end of the line, watch out ...
Consumers--make that you and me--tend to dislike predictive dialers with a passion. It's easy to tell when a predictive dialer has called your number. That long stretch of dead air after you pick up the line (where you typically say "hello, Hello?, HELLO???) is a dead giveaway. The predictive dialer is using that dead air time to route your call to a live attendant.
In a house with multiple phone lines, you can sometimes hear the different lines ring simulataneously. This is another tip off that you've been targeted by a predictive dialer. When that happens around here, I let those calls go to voice mail. But that brings up yet another wrinkle ...
Some predictive dialers are programmed to seek out answering machines. They leave messages that sound as if a real person has something of real imporantance to say. Their messages sound earnest, the voices even honest. And when they don't find the answering machines they're looking for, they hang up.
June 20, 2004
Storage Shed Cleanup
We cleared a whole lot of junk out of the storage shed last week. We flattened all of the seats in the battlecruiser, threw down a plastic tarp and emptied all kinds of stuff out of the shed. "Dump Day" is one of the coolest things about Montgomery Township (sad fact that it is). For twenty bucks, we get to take four loads of junk to the township's container facility. They're open twice a month during the spring and fall and once a month during the summer and winter.
Dump day doesn't quite make up for the fact that we have to pay for our garbage pick up. In Rocky Hill, the garbage pick up (twice a week in the summertime!) is included in the taxes, as is the twice a year throw it out on the front lawn junk day.
June 19, 2004
Photoshop Training, Pt. III
Want to make your digital images really pop in print? It's time to get back to the Photoshop training basics! In the first two installments of our series on getting the most from your digital images in Photoshop, we focused on some basic scanning advice and provide a bit of background on highlights, shadows, and contrast. Understanding those topics will give you a good grounding. While the program may change from version to version, the essentials of Photoshop training for print production hold true.
With that in mind, lets touch on the topics of selective color adjustment, sharpness, and image resolution ...
Selective Color Adjustment
Selective color adjustment is one of the last steps in completing a color separation. Selective color adjustment allows the user to adjust CMYK values within colors. For example; reducing the cyan value in the red without affecting any other colors such as blues and yellows.
Up to this point we adjusted the white, black, gray, and contrast of the image. These four steps in the process will change the appearance of the image dramatically. After adjusting these four steps, the colors in the image should typically improve. If however they do not, selective color adjustment is necessary.
To understand selective color adjustment, you’ll need to understand wanted and unwanted colors. For example; the wanted colors in red are magenta and yellow. The unwanted color is cyan. Cyan and black control saturation in red. The only way to brighten a red that consist of solid magenta and yellow is to reduce the cyan and/or black.
Some scanners provide you with this capability directly in the scanner software. If your scanner does not, Photoshop has a selective color adjustment that also allows correction in whites, blacks, and grays.
Look Sharp
Sharpness can either be applied on the scanner or after the initial scan. It’s a good idea to apply sharpening after the final tone adjustments. Unsharp masking (USM) as it is often refered to, works by examining where light and dark gray levels meet. The process then creates a fringe effect between the light and dark gray levels.
Think about an image of a person wearing a white shirt and black slacks. The point where the shirt and slacks meet is a prime example of where USM will apply a fringe effect. The white area will take on a slight white line where it meets the dark slacks. The dark area will take on a black line, creating the illusion of sharpness. Because you’ve adjusted the tones throughout this process, it’s best to apply USM when the tones are close to their final setting.
Specify the Right Resolution
Choosing the proper resolution before making the final scan can save valuable time and storage space. The rule of thumb is that the resolution should be 1.5 - 2 times the line screening. For example; a image printed at 150 LPI should be scanned in at 225 - 300 pixels per inch. You may have read that anything more is a waste of time. In most cases this is true, however, not all images are created equal! Most high end scanners allow the operator to scan at a high res mode to improve overall quality.
Images with lines or patterns can benefit from a higher input resolution. For example; the vent of a monitor that is made up of horizontal lines may look jagged with the normal suggested resolution. Increasing the resolution to 350 pixels can reduce the jaggedness.
This section on selective color adjustment, sharpness, and resolution originally appeared in The Photoshop Plug-Ins Book.
June 18, 2004
NY Liposuction
Open up the papers and get ready to be bowled over by the ads for NY liposuction centers. Who said that New York doesn't suck in the summertime? The NY Liposuction specialists are going at it whole hog. It kinda makes you wonder. ... does anyone keep track of the gross tonnage removed by liposuction in NY every year? I'd reckon that number must be on the rise.
I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't bother to cross the NY border to find a doctor for a liposuction procedure. Nope, if I were going to get it done, I'd probably get it done right here. Not that I'd consider getting it done, mind you. I think the whole thing is pretty scary. I only know one person that has gone through liposuction. Now I'm not naming names, but this person has easily gained more weight after the surgery then she lost via. Talk about scary. You should hear the messages from the Thanksgiving Day parade people on her answering machine, asking how many ropes she'll require for this year's event.
"Bite the Big Apple," Mick sang. "Don't mind the maggots."
Did your favorite star get their liposuction done in New York, Beverly Hills, or abroad? Now that's the question ...
June 17, 2004
How I (Finally?) Beat Spyware
I think I've finally solved the spyware infestation on my PC, at least for now. While sometimes feel like I've beaten the topic of spyware to death in the last month and a half or so, this nasty stuff has beaten the living daylights out of me. I have lost untold hours, no ... make that days in the effort to remove spyware from my primary Windows computer. Through it all, this has been a frustrating task. Every time I thought I had the nasty intruders beat, they came back, as if to say "Nyah Ha!"
This week, I took the upper hand. I vowed to eradicate the infestation, and at least for now, it looks like I have. Removing spyware isn't rocket science. But you have to be persistent. I made a lot of missteps and wasted plenty of time along the way. In hindsight, it's clear that I took three key steps ...
Every single one of the problems I encountered was enabled by Microsoft Internet Explorer (MSIE). Spyware exploits Internet Explorer (and the Windows operating system), plain and simple. I'm convinced that by shutting down Internet Explorer, and nailing down the coffin tight, I finally took charge of my PC.
1. I got the right anti-spyware tools. After trying out StopZilla and Spysweeper (both nice programs in their own right), I went back to Spybot Search and Destroy ... then I added Lavasoft's Ad-Aware to the mix. I've seen many folks rave about the combination of Spybot and Ad-Aware. I'll join that chorus. It's frequently observed that one program catches what the other may have missed. And that was certainly true in my case.
2. I stopped using Microsoft Internet Explorer as my web browser. But I didn't just switch back to Mozilla (and Mozilla Firefox). I went into Internet Explorer's Options box and turned everything off. And I mean everything.
After selecting Tools > Internet Options > Security > Custom Level, I went into the checklist and disabled anything related to ActiveX. I disabled file downloads and Java. I disabled the installation of desktop items and the launching of programs and files in an IFRAME. And I disabled every single scripting option.
3. Through it all, I spent much more time on my iMac. I'd switch over to the iMac while in the midst of running Spybot and Ad-Aware. (This happened more frequently than I would have liked. Running Spybot and Ad-Aware multiple times each day was frustrating, to say the least.) And now that I'm not using Microsoft Internet Explorer on my PC, I use it (infrequently) on the Macintosh to check out those few (unfortunate) websites that require the use of MSIE.
The thing that most drove me nuts? Spyware would reinstall itself and spawn popup windows even when MSIE was not running. It was like there was a ghost in the machine. I'd walk away from my desk, thinking that my system was clean, only to find the screen covered in popup windows upon my return. It was then that I realized how important it was to turn off all of those options in MSIE. That action alone takes the remote controls away from the nefarious spyware developers.
While my PC is no longer showing any spyware symptoms, I know that there are still some evil files sitting on the hard drive. But because I have shut down MSIE for good, those evil files can do no harm. (Well ... that's what I hope ... at least!)
My pain and suffering should is not for naught. I'm telling you my story because this story can save you time and heartache. If you want to remove spyware from your computer, you may want to follow these steps:
1. Download and install Mozilla, Mozilla Firefox, or Opera.
2. Turn off all of MSIE's options (as above), then close the program and never launch it again.
3. Download and install both Spybot and Ad-Aware.
4. Clean your system with back-to-back runs of Spybot and Ad-Aware.
Now with luck, this will be my last article about the mechanics of eradicating spyware. I have my fingers crossed that I have finally rid my PC of unwelcome and uninvited trespassers ... and I hold that hope for you, too ... :)
June 16, 2004
Digital Photo Printing
With a hard drive stuffed with images, I've begun to investigate digital photo printing options. My old HP color printer just isn't up to the task (it's not up to much, actually ... it's offline more than it's online). While I hope to get a suitable desktop digital photo printer one day, it doesn't look like that will be in the cards anytime soon. So I've started to look into the many online digital photo printing services, as well as the options available in the bricks & mortar world.
There's a whole raft of digital images from my new book that I'd like to get printed for promotional purposes. And I have a slew of great shots that I just took at the beach. Time to go shopping! I've heard that our local Target and Walmart stores have cool do-it-yourself digital photo printing kiosks. But seeing as I have never been (nor will I ever go) into a Walmart store, I'll have to limit my big box photo experiment to Target. Wouldn't you know that one of my favorite soccer moms gave me a coupon for 25 free digital prints a while back ... but alas, the coupon has expired.
Thankfully, there are a host of free digital photo print offers online ...
Special introductory offers are the norm. Any one of these online photo companies may offer 10, 15, 20 or more free 4 x 6 prints to entice you to sign up and use their services. Sample all the services and you'll end up sitting on a big stack of prints ... but don't forget that you'll probably have to pay shipping charges.
UPDATE: Online Photo Print Pricing Chart (12/04)
Shipping's perhaps the biggest downsides to online digital photo printing ... you'll likely have to pay shipping charges and you'll have to wait for those prints to be delivered. If you can wait, that's great. But if you're in a hurry, you'll probably head off to a local store.
There's a huge difference in technology between what you can do on the desktop and what can be done with conventional photo processing. In most cases, conventional prints will look a whole lot better.
Basic desktop inkjet printers use four colors of ink (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) to spray out the image. This limits the image quality, when compared to more expensive methods. Higher-end inkjets add additional inks for more vibrant colors. But if you're really serious about printing digital photos at home, you'll probably opt for a specialized dye sublimation printer.
No matter which home route you take, you better be ready to shell out for some expensive supplies. Specialized ink (or dye) and paper isn't cheap. The great thing about digital photography, of course, is that you'll only print out the great photos. You'll save tons of money by not printing out all of the crummy shots ... whether at home or with a photo printing service.
There seems to be no end to the online digital photo houses.
Just like in the real world, there's a place to print your photos on every block. The best-known players include Shutterfly, Ofoto, Dotphoto, and Snapfish. There are moms & pops as well as big corporate entries. Sony, for example, is behind ImageStation, while Ofoto is a Kodak company. And Agfa, as you might expect, is the proprietor of AGFAnet.
And those local moms & pops? If they don't offer digital printing services now, they better get on the stick or get ready to shut down.
June 15, 2004
Tim O'Reilly Mans the Spam Cannon Again
The first time that Tim O'Reilly spammed me, he was almost apologetic. I guess since I didn't bother to opt-out (I was afraid that perhaps that action might add me to another spam list), Tim felt that he didn't have to open with an apology.
I guess I should feel special that Tim has extended a "web2vipw" discount code. Oh so very special. I'm one of an elite group that happened to be in Tim's address book, to which he must have felt it would be proper to send unsolicited commercial email.
Bwahahahahha
I guess I'll never write a book for Tim. :)
-----Forwarded Message-----
From: Tim O'Reilly
Sent: Jun 15, 2004 5:42 PM
To: (my email address)
Subject: VIP Web 2.0 Conference Savings Expire Soon -- Register Today!
Last month I emailed you about the Web 2.0 Conference -- The
Web as Platform, October 5-7 at the Hotel Nikko in San Francisco.
We've received an overwhelmingly positive response to the
Web 2.0 Conference from attendees, potential participants and
the press. There have been a significant number of requests
for invitations, and we will officially open conference
registration to the public later this week. Before we do this,
I wanted to give you another chance to reserve an early VIP
space. Register today with discount code "web2vipw" for savings
up to $700 on the full three-day conference with workshops
(or use discount code "web2vip" for two-day conference only):
http://conferences.oreillynet.com/cs/web2con/create/ord_web2
The Web 2.0 Conference speaker roster has grown to include Marc
Andreessen, Chairman and Co-Founder of Opsware, Inc, Martin
Nisenholtz, CEO, New York Times Digital, and Lisa Gansky, Chair
and President, Ofoto, in addition to some of our already
confirmed industry leaders such as Marc Benioff, Jeff Bezos,
Mark Cuban, John Doerr, Mary Meeker and Kim Polese.
The three-day Web 2.0 Conference program offers a day of
workshops and two full days of plenary sessions. In the
workshops you'll learn how to leverage platform businesses
such as Amazon, eBay, Google and Salesforce, as well as how
to turn a proprietary business into a platform.
Sample Sessions include:
* So, Is This a Bubble Yet?
* The Architecture of Participation: How Customers Build
Your Business
* The Killer Map
* Can Media Be a Platform?
* The Search-Find-Obtain Economy
* Music As a Platform
* From the Labs: Internet Innovations
We've also expanded our workshops and plenary sessions to
explore the full spectrum of Internet industry issues, as seen
through the prism of the Web as Platform. Please visit us online
at http://www.web2con.com for a complete list of speakers
and sessions.
Register today -- we'll only be offering the VIP price through
the end of this month. Register today with discount code
"web2vipw" for savings up to $700 on the full three-day
conference with workshops (or use discount code "web2vip" for
two-day conference only):
http://conferences.oreillynet.com/cs/web2con/create/ord_web2
I look forward to seeing you in October.
Tim O'Reilly
O'Reilly Media, Inc.
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June 14, 2004
Extreme Garden Shed Makeover
I'm planning an extreme garden shed makeover. And it's gunna be a good one, lemmetellya. I am
June 13, 2004
AOL Instant Messenging Without Wires
Instant Messaging has taken over our house. Okay, so maybe not the house ... but at least one of the computers. My twelve-year-old daughter, like so many kids, has become addicted to AOL Instant Messenger. The problem is, we're a bit short on Internet-connected computers at the moment. So the kid's instant messaging addiction has caused a bit of a computer squeeze.
Motorola wants to ride to our rescue. Their IMfree Wireless Instant Messenger promises to "free up the family computer without putting a stop to the fun of instant messaging." Motorola boasts that the "portable, convenient IMfree device goes where your kids want to go — from their bedroom to the backyard — without wires or additional monthly fees." Well, that all sounds great, I guess ...
An IMfree handhold would free up a computer. (And it would surely cost a whole lot less than buying a brand new computer.) But I'm not sure that it's something that would be a positive development, overall. I don't know if I want my kids to be able to chat with half a dozen buddies at a time, at an advertised distance of up to 150 feet from the base station. Quite honestly, I don't want my pre-teens to retreat to their rooms with an Internet device. We'd never see them. And we'd never know who they're talking to ...
Internet messaging addiction--be it real or imagined--is something to be reckoned with. At least here at ranchero indebto. It's pretty cool that the kids get to stay in contact with their pals over the summer, whether they're across down or across the country. But I worry that they're spending way too much time online.
Motorola says that their new technology allows for up to seven IMfree Wireless Instant Messenger devices to be used with each wireless base station. That's both cool and insane. Imagine a family with half a dozen of these little wireless devices ... each in the hands of a teenager (or pre-teen). Think of all that thumb-typing! Think of all the reclusive behavior!
Of course, if Motorola wants to send us an IMfree Wireless Instant Messenger to evaluate, we'd be obliged to take it for a spin ... ;)
June 12, 2004
Garden Shed Story
I was in the midst of putting up a shelf in the bar for the Tiki mugs, when I had to run out to the garden shed to look for some nails. Like all good geek daddies, I keep my nails in old coffee cans. As I walked into the shed, I saw that there were three cans on the shelf.
I took the first can down, looked inside, and saw a bunch of drywall screws. I put the first can back on the shelf and took down the second. Strike two ... it was full of roofing nails. With just one coffee can left on the shelf, I hoped for the best.
When I looked inside the third can, I knew I hit paydirt. It was full of exactly the right kind of nails for the job. My eyes dwelled sentimentally over the can full of nails.
And then I noticed something odd.
The nails were moving!
My eyes quickly focused and I realized that it wasn't the nails that were moving.
It was a small swarm of yellowjackets!
I paused for just a moment as I mouthed the words (that I won't bother typing), before I flung the can of nails across the lawn.
Then I mouthed the words again. Bees are one thing. A lawn full of nails is quite another.
If there's one thing I hate about my garden shed in the summer, it's the yellow jackets ... I hate to get stung, but having had the experience of stepping on a nail as a kid (while going barefoot, of course) was even worse ...
So now, I'm looking for a big ol' magnet ...
June 11, 2004
Ergonomic Seating
The ergonomic seating situation in my home office needs to be rethought. Things have gotten a good bit busier here and I can't get along with just my trusty old Herman Miller Aeron chair anymore. The only other chair in the room isn't exactly a sterling example of ergonomic seating--far from it. A dilapidated ladderback rescued from a garage sale hardly qualifies as being ergonomic ... torturous is more like it. So I've been looking through the catalogs and websites, in search of the latest and greatest (and hopefully not the most expensive) ergonomic seating solutions.
The Herman Miller chair was admittedly expensive. Labeled by many as the poster boy chair for dotcom excess, the Aeron really does do a nice job of supporting the lower back with a fully adjustable lumbar support. I've had far fewer incidents of back pain after switching to this chair. I really like the adjustable armrests, too. They provide plenty of support for those long stints at the keyboard.
Unfortunately, pain-free seating days are a thing of the past. Since adding the iMac to the office, I've been plagued by a new set of phantom pains ...
I didn't have a spare desk when I brought the new machine home. So it landed where so many computers have landed before: on our tiny old dining room table. Now here's a piece of furniture with sentimental value ... one of the very first pieces of furniture we purchased ... and one that has primarily played a role of work (rather than dining) surface over the years. Of late, it had been serving as the catch-all table, filled with the laser printer, scanner, telephone, wireless router, and VOIP box.
When the new box came home, the table became a desk, once again. Unfortunately, ergonomics had nothing to do with the decision.
Truth be told, the table's work surface isn't at a bad height ... the problem is that the keyboard sits just six inches too high. And no matter how I adjust my super-duper ergonomic chair, I just can't get the right match of keyboard-to-shoulder ratio. Like Dean Martin sang, "ain't that a kick in the head!" Well, not the head, actually, but the shoulders. This temporary setup is provoking intense pain in my shoulders and I'm praying that I can find the right combination of an ergonomic chair and computer desk.
If money weren't an object, I'd swing right out and buy some more expensive designer gear. Alas, that's just not in the cards this month. (The Aeron has been hanging around ranchero indebto since the height of the dotcom boom.) While I've learned to say away from the totally el cheapo stuff, (I've learned from experience), I can't swing for a plush setup. Seeing that the old dining room table is far from an heirloom, I'm giving due consideration to the installation of a keyboard drawer--that would solve the angle and height problem.
June 10, 2004
Recruiting Software
With today's crop of recruiting software, the memories of filling out those tedious job applications by hand are but a thing of the past. Once a job prospect fills out an application online, the recruiting software kicks into high gear. The best recruiting software allows for pre-qualification based on job-specific questions. With the right software, companies screen and rank job applicants before the proverbial stack of applicants reaches the recruiter's desk.
Solid candidate, requisition, and interview management functions are some of the key pieces to consider. Recruiters should have access to the complete database of candidates and must be able to easily manage each job opening. It's essential to keep the applicants and requesters in the loop with regard to interview scheduling. Kind and competent recruiters don't want to leave anyone hanging ...
Serious recruiting software lets companies take charge of their career website, complete with online job postings, applications, and a high-level of applicant feedback. The best software allows for a fully customized appearance that fits in with the rest of the company website. Needless to say, complete security and privacy of applicant data is mission-critical.
There's a trend to move enterprise hiring management functions from in-house operations out to a service model. This cuts down on the level of support necessary within the corporate walls.
Recruiting software is typically not an inexpensive proposition. Some recruiting software developers, such as Recruitforce.com, sell their software on a monthly or yearly plan, on a per-seat basis, while others sell their software on a per-server/site basis.
Some of the more popular developers in the recruitment space include Recruitmax, Cluen, Projectix, Main Sequence PCRecruiter, eEmpACT, and mindSCOPE.
June 09, 2004
Student Loan Consolidation
Just now, a student loan consolidation pop-up appeared on my computer. I happen to think that student loan consolidation is an important subject. But I'm just not sure why this appeared in front of my face at this very moment. I've been fastidious about running my new favorite programs to avoid seeing things like this. So when an advertisement for student loan consolidation hit my screen, I figured I'd go and check it out.
The pop--with a blazing reversed headline that read "Student Loan Refinancing" with a promise to reduce my payments by $100 to $500 per month"--took me directly to a form that sought to procure information. The student loan consolidation eligibility form--which boasted that "The Next 2 Minutes Could Save You Hundreds of Dollars" and promised a whole bunch of things.
It all smelled bad, but I was taken aback by one key field ...
I suppose that they thought I would rest assured by the claims that "This is a free, U.S. Government program (no fees or other charges)" and that there were "No credit checks" and :"No pre-payment penalties". I guess they thought I would be happy to "have to write just one check each month for your student loans" and that my "payment will be reduced by as much as 60% each month" ...
But I wasn't buying it.
And I definitely didn't buy their claim that "All information is secure and confidential" ... not when the company tried to procure my social security number from a form spawned through an invasive adware pop-up window.
I guess I was supposed to fall for the button that read "Am I Eligible? Find Out Instantly!"
As if.
To their credit (or not), the alleged student loan consolidation company stated that they would take the information without a social security number. But they would not take that information over the Internet without the SS#. Nope. If you wanted to check for eligibility without submitting that number, you had to call their toll-free number.
I'm a lucky guy. I don't have to worry about a whole bunch of student loans hanging over my head. Then again, I'm not a 7-Series BMW driving orthopedic surgeon, either. (Oh wait, those guys don't have to worry about student loan consolidation, either.)
If you believe that student loan consolidation might make sense for you, look for one that's reputable. Not one that advertises via spyware.
Advertisers need to learn that there's a right way and a wrong way to place ads on the Internet. Placing ads via invasive adware/spyware pop-up schemes is the wrong way--whether it's for student loan consolidation, dating services, or what have you ...
Student Loan Consolidation Links
June 08, 2004
Plasma Television
Plasma screen televisions are the coolest. They might not run the coolest, but man, Plasmas sure look the coolest. I've wanted a plasma screen television since the very first time I saw one. I'm not positive what it was that first attracted me, but I'd reckon that it was the flatness of it all. I've dreamed of a television that I could hang on the wall ever since I was a little kid. Of course it was mere science fiction, back then. I remember watching Star Trek for the very first time--amazed at the huge television screen at the front of the the bridge of the Starship Enterprise. Now if that huge screen wasn't a premonition of a plasma TV, I don't know what was.
And I remember walking into a Gateway store and seeing an (almost) affordable flat screen plasma television for the very first time. It was at that moment when I realized it was only a matter of time until plasma TVs would be truly affordable to the masses ...
Gateway put the pressure on to lower plasma television prices. And I'm heartened to see that the prices continue to drop dramatically. I've seen entry-level 42" screens for a good bit less than $2500. Of course, the high-end HDTV models can easily cost twice that amount, it's great to see the prices move downward, overall.
Walking into a Best Buy (or other big box electronic store) these days is a bit like walking through Times Square--or through a gargantuan Las Vegas casino hotel sports book. The lure of the giant screen televisions is inescapable.
But I'm not ready to buy a plasma television just yet. Quite honestly, there are still thousands of reasons why not ... and just about every one of those reasons has George Washington's picture on it.
LCD televisions are putting pressure on the plasma screens in smaller sizes. And really nice conventional flat screen monitors have become incredibly inexpensive when compared to the LCDs and plasmas. Prices on conventional widescreen projection TVs have plummeted and the Digital Light Projection (DLP) TVs look to be a sweet alternative to the bigger plasmas.
But it's not just about the money.
There's a buzz that the picture quality of some early plasma TVs isn't holding up over time. It's one thing to spend the cash. But it's quite another to have a piece of technology that won't just be outdated in short time, but shabby.
"Gee, remember that Superbowl when your plasma TV was brand new and the picture was crisp? How many years ago was that?"
The electronics industry has gotten really really good at producing conventional televisions. The oldest TV here at ranchero indebto is over twenty years old ... it's never been in the shop and it still works just fine. When the new plasma and LCD technology can boast that reliability, I'll get right in line to flash the plastic.
Until then, I'll just be browsing (and slobbering) ...
June 07, 2004
Compact Fluorescent Bulbs
Want to cut your electric bill? Check into compact fluorescent bulbs! They can save a dramatic amount of energy in the long run. After procrastinating for years, I've bitten the bullet and installed compact fluorescent bulbs in almost every light fixture here at ranchero indebto. And I'm reaping the benefits in more ways than one. Not only are compact fluorescent bulbs more energy-efficient, they last for years. Thats' right ... years. We're talking five years or more, depending on the bulb. Think about not having to change a home full of burned out light bulbs ... especially in those pesky hard-to-reach places ...now that's brilliant!
Compact fluorescent bulbs put out considerably more light per watt when compared to conventional incandescent bulbs. This allows you to use a lower watt bulb, which requires less electricity. A 13 watt compact fluorescent bulb, for example, might put out a roughly equivalent amount of light as a 60 watt incandescent. This saving adds up pretty quickly. If you have a master bathroom that uses half a dozen 60 watt conventional bulbs, you'll end up saving some serious wattage ... at a 47 watt per bulb savings, it adds up to a whopping 285 watts. And not only are they more energy-efficient, they produce less heat, to boot.
But there are some places where you can't use compact fluorescent bulbs ...
While compact fluorescent bulbs fit into conventional sockets, their size can make for a difficult fit at times. I've had trouble fitting some larger wattage compact fluorescent bulbs into certain fixtures. I've solved this problem by going with a lower wattage bulb.
If you have a favorite lamp that uses a lampshade that clamps onto a conventional bulb, you won't be able to use a spiral fluorescent bulb. Now this may seem obvious, but think about it ... do you know how the lampshade is mounted on each and every lamp in your home? I know I didn't ...
Don't use a standard compact fluorescent bulb in a fixture that has a dimmer. I found this out the hard way. Standard compact fluorescent bulbs do not like dimmers ... the bulbs will quickly go bad and by the sound of my experiment, there may be other hazards involved, as well.
The only downside I can see to compact fluorescent bulbs is their initial expense. But I consider that expense to be a wise investment ... one that will reap years of energy and time savings.
In summary, with compact fluorescent bulbs you'll save electricity through greater energy-efficiency. You'll end up buying far fewer replacement bulbs and will literally go for years without changing a burned out bulb. In the long run, you'll save a considerable amount of money on your electricity bills and untold hours of mundane bulb changing. And in its own little way, you'll help make us just tiny bit less dependent on foreign oil.
Check out the U.S. Department of Energy for more info on Energy-Efficient bulbs.
June 06, 2004
Spam Filtering
My personal spam filtering efforts have jumped up a notch since the first time I wrote about the topic of spam filtering, back in April. The latest change came about just this week, when my trusty (yet spam filter free) version of Eudora croaked. I'm not exactly sure what stuck the fork in my copy of Eudora, all I know is that I was unable to open any of my mail folders. Of course, this made my day quite difficult. Rather than panic (okay, so maybe I did panic a bit), I set off to find a program to take the reigns--at least for a while. I had been using the free ad-supported version of Eudora for quite some time. But I was a bit bummed to learn that I needed to upgrade to a paid version of Eudora to take advantage of its spam filtering capabilities.
Like a zombie that returns to the shopping mall, I gravitated back to the Mozilla mothership. It had been a while since I last visited (to pick up a copy of the most excellent Firefox browser). I thought that perhaps I would load the latest copy of Mozilla to take advantage of its email client. But what I found was even better ... an email client that I'd never seen before: Mozilla Thunderbird. To my great pleasure, I discovered that Thunderbird comes with a spam filter built into the program ...
Previously, I filtered my spam load by half. I did this with three key moves:
I began by abandoning an old legacy email address that I had been carrying around for years and years. With this simple move, I eliminated a huge amount of unsolicited commercial luncheon meat.
Then, I made a simple change to my email server, dumping all email that was not specifically addressed to a real live email address. Poof! Another large chunk of the spamload was filtered directly into the void.
And finally, I started using Mailwasher to delete unwanted email from my mailserver, without ever having to download it to an email client. Deleting the email without downloading saves time and avoids sending any mail opening pings back to the spammer.
After downloading and installing Mozilla Thunderbird, I began training its spam filters. Thunderbird uses adaptive filters to analyze each and every email to determine which pieces have the most likelihood of being spam. You can choose to have the suspected spam deleted or moved to a special folder. All-in-all it's been fairly easy to use. The more mail I mark as spam, the more pieces it catches. I'm planning to pause using Mailwasher, in order to give Thunderbird plenty of spam to train its filters.
Some folks get their kicks by training their dogs. Well, woof. I like training my spam filter!
BTW, Thunderbird includes a spell checker as well ... alas, it didn't recognize words like spam and Thunderbird ...
June 05, 2004
Business Card Printing
Need to get some business cards printed? When you mix the magic of the Internet with your favorite Windows desktop publishing and design applications you have a world of possibilities at your fingertips! In the old days, business card printing was primarily the realm of graphic designers, local print shops, and specialty printers. (And the worst part was the wait.) Nowadays, anyone with a web browser and a credit card can design and order up a stack of business cards that will be quickly printed delivered just days after you push the send button.
I've used the Internet to have two sets of business cards printed over the years. The first set was a super-fast set of black-and-white cards that I designed for myself. The second set was a full-color design that I created for a member of my family. With both projects, I received the cards in record time and at a reasonable cost ...
I designed my quick-n-dirty black and white business cards online. It was a simple point, click and type affair. While they're not fancy in any way, the cards' simplicity help them stand out from the crowd. I used Copperplate typefaces for a more formal appearance and lightened the look up a bit with a whimsical piece of clip art. In all, they've done a fine job of representing the Chief Instigating Officer of geekbooks.com.
We decided to go all out on my relative's full-color business cards. The cool retro design goes a long way to represent his company. I pulled out all the stops and used CorelDRAW to create the design, ringing all the bells and sounding all the whistles along the way. The gold gradients and spiffy highlights make the card look like a million bucks. After finishing up the design and getting the approval, I sent VistaPrint a rasterized version of the artwork -- 300 dots per inch (DPI) at the final printed size.
No matter whether you use Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Macromedia Freehand or CorelDRAW, rendering a full-rasterized version is perhaps the safest way to send full color artwork to a business card printer. Rendering a bitmap ensures that all of the image has been committed to dots (rather than vectors). And most importantly, sending a rasterized version eliminates the risk of forgetting to include individual design elements or fonts. (Just be sure to save an untouched vector version of the artwork--you may need to make changes to the business card design down the road.)
There are lots of other choices to make when printing business cards, in addition to choosing whether to print in black and white or full-color. First off, you'll need to decide if you want to print on one or both sides of the card. And you'll need to know what kind of paper stock to use. When in the printer's verison of Rome, speak like a Roman printer ... it's essential to know the nomenclature.
If you print full-color on one side and just black on the back, it's referred to as a 4/1 (four over one) job ... that is, the four process colors (CMYK - cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) on the front and just black on the back. A 4/4 (four over four) business card has full-color printing on both sides.
Most printers will provide you with your choice of paper stock. Choose carefully, because the paper stock can greatly effect the finished appearance of the business cards (as well as the cost). Full-color cards tend to look nice with coated (shiny) stock, while most cheapie black-and-white cards are printed on matte stock.
Raised lettering (or thermography) can be an elegant option for black and white cards. The raised letters are created with a post-press procedure, where the cards are dusted with powder (while still wet) and baked in a special oven. Thermography isn't nearly as popular as it once was--you may not be able to find it at many online printers. Thermography might add a day or days to the delivery time, as well.
Needless to say, if you're thinking about printing business cards with an online service, be sure to shop around. There are lots of great deals out there, but there are some that may sound too good to be true, too. If you want the most color for the least amount of money, watch for business card printers that offer a discount on their cards if you allow them to print their logo and contact information on the back of the card.
June 04, 2004
Father's Day Gifts for Hair Challenged Geek Daddies
Father's Day is just around the corner and you're probably still looking for the perfect gift. There isn't much time left to shop, but I have a handful of hairy hints that just might do the trick. Geek Daddies are notorious for not spending enough time tending to personal grooming. Father's Day presents a special chance for you to give that special something that keeps on giving, all year long. Sure, some folks might think of these gift ideas as gags, but other folks will see them for what they are: acts of personal grooming kindness.
With that in mind, it's my pleasure to present to you a shamelessly commercial list of Father's Day Gifts for Hair Challenged Geek Daddies, from the good folks at over-the-counter.com:
Nose and ear hair removers top the chart. There's nothing more upsetting than realizing that you have grown a forest of hair in places where hair shouldn't be seen. The Remington Precision Nose and Ear Trimmer has zippy little rotary blades that that will whisk unwanted hairs from Dad's nose, ears and eyebrows. What Dad wouldn't be happy to unwrap a nose and ear hair trimmer!
And if old pop has a serious overabundance of hair (in other places where hair shouldn't be growing), you might want to help him out with a kind gift of a hair remover of one kind or another.
If your geek daddy likes to experiment with facial hair as much as I do, he'll be overwhelmed with joy when he receives a Norelco Beard And Moustache Trimmer This nifty pop-up trimmer will help Pop trim his goatee and sideburns to perfection, by virtue of its ergonomic design that provides for maximum maneuverability and fabulously convenient cordless operation. Cordless is definitely the way to go! Now if only my family would read this column ... I'd be in facial hair experimentation heaven!
Shaving should be a joy not a chore. If you have deep pockets, check out the Braun Syncro System Shaver ... Braun says that this little beauty provides their closest, most comfortable and convenient shave ever. The ultra-high speed motor delivers a staggering 8500 RPMs ... that's 500 more than a high-revving 2004 Honda S2000!
Do your geek daddy's shoulders look like they've been dusted with a freak summer snowstorm? Slip some Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo into his Father's Day gift bag.
Is Dad getting a little too gray in the beard and long in tooth? Well, we can't recommend anything about the tooth problem, but we can point you in the direction of the Just for Men Hair Color and Just for Men Mustache, Beard, and Sideburn color.
And finally, if Dad's getting just a little too thin on top, he doesn't have to stand in line at the grocery or drugstore with his arms full of Rogaine and Minoxidil ... give him the gift that keeps on giving (hair).
June 03, 2004
Animation Training
In my opinion, animation training should be taught to middle school english and art students. This might seem like a bold (or crazy) statement to some, but to me, it just makes good sense. Animation is a common language--we've all grown up on a cartoon diet! But take a look at the computer labs in today's schools. Too many of those computers are devoted to teaching students about the use of mundane business applications, without enough emphasis on the fundamentals (rather than the mechanicals). Classic animation training would maximize the value of our investment in technology as it provides a cross-disciplinary curriculum that involves elements of writing, art, math, and science in a team-building environment.
Solid animation training would provide the kids with a way to express themselves that they could have only imagined. Training in classic animation theory and technique brings many benefits. Training kids in the art of storytelling, story boarding, and animation principles will allow them to become better communicators. We've been living in the animated age since the days of Steamboat Willie. In today's world, it's impossible to escape animation as you go about your daily life. And unfortunately, it's become impossible to escape bad animation, as well--just think about how many horrid Power Point presentations you've had to sit through ...
If your local school district offers animation training, I offer a tip of the hat. But if they don't, let me offer some insight on how you can take the topic of animation training into your own hands.
Earlier this spring, I wrote a bit about my minor role in co-authoring The Art of Cartooning with Flash. I'll readily confess that I am just a student of animation. But I have been truly fortunate to have learned from two marvelous practitioners of the modern craft.
Here's just a hint of what I've learned ...
Animation training comes in many forms. But the best way to start is to simply watch cartoons ... not just any cartoons, mind you, but the classics. You'll want to start with the best of the classic Disney films, as well as the golden age Warner Brothers cartoons. You'll be wise to go for the DVD versions, rather than VHS. With a good DVD player, you can stop the film and deconstruct the animation techniques frame-by-frame.
Once you have assembled a small film library, you'll want to head to the bookstore. There are two key books that you'll need to pick up to further your quest.
| The Illusion of Life - Disney Animation, written by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston is a time-honored look at how the greatest Disney classics were created. This gorgeous full-color book has earned a place on the coffee tables and desks of nearly every serious student of animation. This book is full of beautiful artwork that tells the story behind the Disney studio's initial discoveries and stunning implementation of animation technique. The stuff that the masters learned in the 1920s and 1930s still rings true today. | |
| Preston Blair's evergreen Cartoon Animation is nearly as ubiquitous--it's a fast and fun look at the basic techniques of classic animation. Blair's work has been copied often in modern animation tutorials, and unfortunately, often copied quite poorly. His depiction of character movement is among the most important pieces of the puzzle. Learning about the basic theories behind the line of action, the differences between walk cycles, and the successful implementation of anticipation-action-reaction is key. |
Once you've begun to digest the information in these to books, you'll never look at animation the same way again. As your animation training progresses, you'll begin to see the common language that lies beneath the surface of each and every professionally animated piece you see on television or in the movie theater.
As you master the basic principles, you'll be eager to experiment. And here's where the computer comes into play. But when I say play, I don't mean that it's going to be a bunch of fun and games. Creating good animation is a good bit of work, whether you choose to use a 2D animation program like Macromedia Flash (or better yet, Toon Boom), or a full-out 3D animation program like Maya.
It's important that you understand the basic principles of animation before you set out to learn a complicated program. Get that why down before you embark on the how.
While you can easily start your animation training at home, you'll make the most of your time if you can take part in formal classroom animation training--for oh so many rasons. I'll tackle that topic in an upcoming column.
June 02, 2004
PDA Phones
PDA phones and wireless handhelds rock ... For oh so many reasons. I'm typing this column from the beach with on my wireless handheld Danger Hiptop (a.k.a: T-Mobile Sidekick) PDA phone. Believe it or not, I'm laying here in the sand, staring into a beautiful blue sky. Yes, indeed, I am a geek. But I just can't help myself ... PDA phones and wireless handhelds make all kinds of amazingly geeky things a reality. Why just now I had to stop thumb typing to help bury my son's feet in the sand.
For the last year and a half, this little PDA phone has allowed me to keep up on my business no matter where I've been. I've checked into my mission-critical web apps from airport shuttles and instant messengered while waiting for a plane. I've used the stopwatch to keep track of the time in my team's soccer games. And I've emailed with my toes in the waters of the Florida Keys. (Okay, so I emailed with my thumbs, but my toes were still in the water.)
Truth be told, I've taken to leaving my laptop at home when I go on the road. I lead the danger(ous) hiptop life, with my PDA phone as my only electronic tether to the online world.
Don't get scared off by the thumb typing thing. It's really not that bad on a fair sized wireless device like the Sidekick. I can crank along at perhaps twenty words per minute after I get warmed up. It can take a little while to get accustomed to it, but once you do, you'll fly along. A simple spell checker helps smooth out some of the bumps.
While I may not be happy with some of T-Mobile's policies, I am quite pleased with their Sidekick plan. For $40 a month, I have an all-you-can-eat data plan (the phone time is admittedly light). All-you-can-eat data means all the web, all the instant messaging (SMS and AIM), and all the email you can cram into a month. Now if only my daughter had borrowed my Sidekick, she wouldn't have run up that $150 instant messaging bill.
T-Mobile now offers even cheaper data plans. And even better, the funky little device (now in color!) costs about $50 after rebates when purchasing a new plan. That's right ... just fifty bucks. You can find the details at LetsTalk.com and other sources online.
I like to refer to my Sidekick as a poor man's Blackberry. It's a versatile device ... Not the be all end all, to be sure, but a nice little way to tide me over until I can afford a beefier wireless handheld.
I know that one day (maybe soon), I'll have to give up this wacky little wireless handheld for something newer and more colorful. Until then, it's still doing the job (knock wood). But if I had my druthers (and a fat wallet), I'd be doing the wireless thing with something like the Handspring Treo 600 ... If only the price would drop into a less stratospheric price range ... and if only the device would become available on one or two additional networks ...
June 01, 2004
Internet Mortgage Lead for Free?
I write about Internet mortgage leads because the subject fascinates me. A few days ago, I penned a short piece about the many Internet mortgage lead offers that land on my desk. They continue to flow into my inbox.
Please don't take me wrong. I'm all for the concept of generating Internet mortgage leads. But I feel quite strongly that they should be generated in an ethical manner. Our economy is fueled by the phenomena of refinancing. It's essential that the refinancings continue unabated. Just do it the right way, I say.
With that in mind, I offer the latest example of an offer for a free Internet mortgage lead:
Hi there,I am an account executive at [Internet mortgage lead company name removed]. We are currently generating 700-900 leads a day through pop ups, telemarketing and opted in emailing. We would like to offer you a free lead in your area. This lead would be no more then 24 hours old.
Simply, give me a call or respond to this email, and we will provide you a free lead to try out with no obligation. Due to all the bogus lead generation companies out there, we know we must go the extra mile to gain customer confidence. We look forward to doing business with your company.
Best Regards,
[name removed]
Account Executive
[Internet mortgage lead company name removed]
phone [removed] ext. [removed]
fax [removed]
Needless to say, I am dubious about the account executive's claim of "opted in emailing" ... since his message was sent without a personal salutation and lacking the proper can-s-p-a-m items, such as a working unsub link and a snailmail address.
:)