SURFING the INTERNET

Good Morning!

Most of us use the Internet - for business, pleasure, and social media... Twitter, MySpace, and Facebook are a few of the popular choices. For people like me who live twenty miles from 'town,' it is a connection to ALL things! It is a wonderful way to network, find old and new friends, long lost relatives, and play!

However, it is important to be safe by being a responsible "web surfer." There are predators surfing the Internet, too, trying to steal identities for unlawful purposes. Therefore, you must be conscientious with the personal information that you supply on a profile page, following these tips will help to deter online hackers.  Simply skip these questions or be very broad with your answers:

1. Do not post your birth date. Instead use Baby Boomer, Gen X, etc.

2. Do not furnish your mother's maiden name, EVER. 

3. Do not list current or previous addresses. Instead use a location -  Northeast, Southwest, Coast, Middle America, etc.

4. Do not share the school you attended. Instead be a smarty pants and say, "Yes, I attended a school!"

Another piece of information Internet thieves look for is, "We'll be out of town this weekend." If you gave your actual address - basically, you have invited them to steal from you! Another rule to make a habit, do not open any e-mail from someone you do not know.  Also, do not click a link that is unfamiliar. Hackers use this method quite often to gain access to your account and/or spread computer viruses.

All of this information is common sense and we know to beware, but it never hurts to be reminded.

Do you shop on Craigslist? If you do, first go to Craiglook.com. Here, the classified items are organized by photos, which saves opening all the ads to find your items. A great time saver!

The Internet can help if you are feeling "blue" and need a laugh - go to: ItsNature.org/category/cute where you will find super, funny animals. To find humor - go to: MyHumor.org or CleanJoke.com. Want to watch a funny video? Go to: KidFriendlyVideos.blogspot.com or with supervision for children go to: TV.com for episodes of shows like America's Funniest Home Videos. Most TV shows are available here and are not all PG!

Now, if you need a good cry and missed Extraordinary Measures when it was in theaters - rent it! It stars Harrison Ford, Brendan Fraser, and Keri Russell trying to find a cure for a rare genetic disorder their two children have. Be sure to have tissues!

Well, now you will surf the net safely; have a shortcut to shopping on Craigslist; three links to make you smile, and a movie to make you cry... I hope these make this a great MONDAY.

Next time, gardening in raised beds... it's not to late, if we hurry!

Remember, "Y'all come back, ya' hear!"

 

FRIDAY !

Got my coffee,

Got my cigarettes,

Got my computer,

and took my prozac.

It's gonna be a great DAY!

     

T. G. I. F.

Enjoy this weekend with family and friends.

Come back on Monday, OK?

WHO'S ON FIRST?

Again, kudos to my friend and online buddy, Mona, for this computer humor! Enjoy! You have to be old enough to remember Abbott and Costello, and not too old to REALLY understand computers, to fully appreciate this. For those of us who sometimes get flustered by our computers, please read on... If Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were alive today, their infamous sketch, "Who's on First?" might have turned out something like this: COSTELLO CALLS TO BUY A COMPUTER FROM ABBOTT ABBOTT: Super Duper Computer Store. Can I help you? COSTELLO: Thanks. I'm setting up an office in my den and I'm thinking about buying a computer. ABBOTT: Mac? COSTELLO: No, the name's Lou. ABBOTT: Your computer? COSTELLO: I don't own a computer. I want to buy one. ABBOTT: Mac? COSTELLO: I told you, my name's Lou. ABBOTT: What about Windows? COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here? ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows? COSTELLO: I don't know. What will I see when I look at the windows? ABBOTT: Wallpaper. COSTELLO: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software. ABBOTT: Software for Windows? COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track expenses and run my business. What do you have? ABBOTT: Office. COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything? ABBOTT: I just did. COSTELLO: You just did what? ABBOTT: Recommend something. COSTELLO: You recommended something? ABBOTT: Yes. COSTELLO: For my office? ABBOTT: Yes. COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office? ABBOTT: Office. COSTELLO: Yes, for my office! ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Windows. COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, let's just say I'm sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal. What do I need? ABBOTT: Word. COSTELLO: What word? <>ABBOTT: Word in Office. COSTELLO: The only word in office is office. ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows. COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows? ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue "W". COSTELLO: I'm going to click your blue "w" if you don't start with some straight answers. What about financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can track my money with? ABBOTT: Money. COSTELLO: That's right. What do you have? ABBOTT: Money. COSTELLO: I need money to track my money? ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer. COSTELLO: What's bundled with my computer? ABBOTT: Money. COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer? ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge. COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much? ABBOTT: One copy. COSTELLO: Isn't it illegal to copy money? ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money. COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money? ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT! A few days later: ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you? COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off? ABBOTT: Click on "START". originally posted by: Glenda Bohannon Sales Director Mary Kay Cosmetics www.marykay.com/gbohannon

SUNDAY CARTOONS

My version of them ... I hope they gave you a chuckle on this Sunday morning. Enjoy your Sunday with family and friends. God Bless you, every one! Remember, "Y'all come back, ya' hear!"

Mercy me ...

Oh my ... enjoy! Like I said ... mercy me! You know you laughed, OK, it is PG-13, but it is so funny. Girls, especially, if you are there, been there or headed there ... See ya' next week!

Oops! I missed my Monday blog!

So sorry! 

My ISP is revamping and I have had major computer problems that started during the night Sunday. I spoke with them again this afternoon and I hope the worst is over. 

Our family is having little "crisis" every where we turn. I realize we all have it tough and I am trying to be positive, but it sure is hard sometimes. I will be making a new "I am thankful for ... " list, doing that always get my priorities in the RIGHT order!

In our area, SC, there will be an eclipse tomorrow night, best time to view 10 pm to 10:30 pm EST. 

The elections ... scary ... not sure what I will do when it comes time to vote. Have you made your choice? Please vote, it is so important; a right we worked so hard to get - yet it now seems so easy to not exercise our right to make the decision who will be the President in 2008. Give it some serious thought between now and then!

I feel scattered ... a long day ... time to study, then to bed - I hope by 3 am. I promise to be here next Monday (it is on my calendar!) with a brighter outlook and something interesting to say!

Until then ... think HAPPY!  ;)