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holiday

Time doesn’t stop in roaming areas

I went to Moab today with some folks from church. I love the beautiful drive and there are some nice places to eat there.

In addition to the scenery, I also enjoy the drive because only about half of it has cell coverage. Typically, I don't like travelling through areas without coverage, but when I am travelling with friends I don't worry so much about emergencies.

Once in a while I would think, "I wonder if anyone is trying to call me," then I would stop thinking that and enjoy the drive. After a while, I stopped wondering about my cell phone at all.

It wasn't until I was about 10 minutes from home on the way back that I decided to check my messages. I was only gone for about 6 hours. "You have 18 messages."

The computer glitch fairy is back on duty

I mentioned in one of my articles last week that my calls had slowed way down. Whether is was due to JUCO (Junior College World Series) or the holiday or just a lack of computer problems, I don’t know.

Whatever the reason was, it seems like people’s computers are going nutz in full force. The number of calls today from people needing me to come by their home and fix their computers was in the double digits.

I am writing this just to let everyone know that the computer glitch fairy is out there and she is placing her wand on systems wherever she goes.

She can be thwarted though. I have found that she avoids computers that are running antivirus and antispyware programs. She also avoids systems that are keep cool with plenty of air circulation. She seems to fear computers that are using Mozilla Firefox but she loves computers with Norton Antivirus and AOL.

How about a joke

Memorial Day week is always slow for business. Partially due to the holiday and partially due to the Junior College World Series (JUCO) that comes to town.

Since I don’t have much to relate about technology today, I will share a bad joke that I heard last night from some friends.

Ghandi was very old and frail but that never stopped him from walking without shoes whever he went. Even on the hot sand he walked barefoot, the calluses had built up over his life so that he could feel nothing on the bottoms of his feet.

Perhaps it was the life of service to others or his spiritual beliefs, but many of his followers claimed that Ghandi had special unexplained powers. He also was a strict vegetarian who attributed his long life to a daily dosage of garlic. However, this steady habit also gave him extremely bad breath.

Holiday Greeting Cards

Holiday Greeting Cards

Using the techniques discussed this month you can create a stand-alone post card style greeting card, or make the photos on the front or inside of your greeting cards much more personalized.

Although the card above does not look that much like one you would send out for the Holidays, it uses several important effects and techniques that are only limited by your creativity.

Unique Digital Photo Holiday Gifts

You’ve take a bazillion digital photos so far this year or have a shoe box of great old photos. This holiday season, put those photos to fun use by creating unique gifts with them.

Using tools you already have, you can create photo t-shirts, aprons, and carry bags. All you need is the perfect photo, an ink jet printer, an iron, and special iron-on paper. Ink jet iron on paper can be found at any office supply or large retail store. All the major ink jet printer makers make their own brand of iron paper, and I suggest matching the paper with your printer.

Use any photo editing or publishing program to come up with a fun design, then print it directly on the iron-on paper. You do have to remember to print the ‘mirror or reverse’ image of the design so that it transfers properly to your project. To find the mirror or reverse option, click to the properties or settings section of your printer before you hit the print button.

Recycling Your Old Computer

If you received or bought yourself a new computer during the holidays (or any time), many options are available for the use of your old computer. In addition to passing on a still useful machine, remember that in many cities throwing out old computers or monitors is illegal.

First and foremost BEFORE giving away your computer, make sure you purge it of any of your personal information. If your computer came with restore CD’s, use them to restore the computer back to its original state. If you don’t have restore CD’s , you will have to uninstall programs manually and delete your email, financial data, etc on your own.