This post is from from my other blog here

Just like last year...

At this moment, you and your kids are likely either (a) out and about, and not using the computer at all, or (b) holed up in the air conditioning playing endless games of Millsberry (totally addictive for 8-year old girls) or Soduku on the computer. Certainly not any sort of schoolwork or research. It's probably been a while since you really took a close look at all those "updates are ready for your computer" messages, lurking down in the task bar or hidden beneath 15 browser windows full of Webkinz games and characters.

Take a couple of hours, before the Fall school and activity rush begins, and whip your computer and young Internet users back into shape!

1) Windows and Java updates - check for updates, and keep Microsoft and Sun happy.

2) Back up all your stuff - especially all the photos from Summer vacation, plus last year's tax forms. Also, re-locate all your application software installation CDs, especially the stuff that came with your computer, for system restore purposes.

3) Take a quick troll through your junkmail/bulk mail folders - maybe something's been missed, but then clear it all out.

4) Is your perimeter protection still active? Firewall on, Pop-ups being blocked, Anti-virus running, updated and with a recent full scan?

5) How about wireless - view local wireless connections, does your SSID show up as an unsecure connection in your neighborhood?

6) Content protection - is your adware and/or content filter software still running, and been updated recently? Is Google still set to SafeSearch?

7) Might be a good time (in Internet Explorer) to empty the cache (temporary files), clear the cookies and offline files, re-check your privacy settings. (Before you do this, think through all the userids/passwords you use, and write down all you know.)

8) Review your checking and visa account for the past few months....any strange transactions? Maybe it's a good time to pull your credit report.

9) If you're really motivated, and your kid's computer and/or printer hasn't seen an adult in many months (ugh, please don't let this happen!), protect your investments and run things like Registry First Aid, Disk Cleanup and Defragmenter, and take a look through the active processes (under Task Manager), noting whether a bunch of junk or suspicious programs are eating up cycles and memory. About twice a year, I actually write down all running process names, look 'em up on the Internet, and follow any guidance I find to remediate, remove or otherwise fix issues. I usually find plenty of parasites to remove. Run the diagnostic self-test and cleaning routines for the printer, and get some extra ink cartridges now!

10) Review Internet Safety guidelines and your expectations/agreement with your children, for them to use the computer. (Go to Whizkids Computer Training for more information).

Bring on the school year!

This post is from from my other blog here

Here's some good telework news from a local blog...

Transportation Telework Blog from Reston Limos

This post is from from my other blog here

....per this press release: "Today, the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), with support from companies including CA, McAfee, Microsoft, and Symantec, as well as education organizations such as the Consortium of School Networking and, State Education Technology Directors Association called upon state leaders across the United States to work with their states' education leaders to ensure cyber security, safety and ethics lessons are integrated in every classroom.

The “No Child Left Behind Act” requires students to be technology literate upon completion of the 8 th grade. Accordingly, the National School Boards Association reports that 96 percent of school districts say that at least some of their teachers assign homework requiring Internet use. However, there is still no formal education on how to stay safe, secure and ethical online."

"Called on states' education leaders?" They've been "called on" many times, both by industry and legislative initiatives....I think the term is "remind".

This post is from from my other blog here

Here's something we've been doing for a few clients, that's truly a business in itself, and likely quite valuable to clients in this economic downturn - "Real Estate Online List Management".

While online marketing of Real Estate properties isn't new (though many Real Estate agents still neither understand it nor do it sufficiently), the actual logistics and methods for maintaining listings on various directories, forums, and boards can be very challenging and time consuming. That's where you come in.

Real Estate agents should be listing everywhere, especially with online services that target local areas....including Craigslist, Oodle, Edgeio, Trulia, etc. Doing this for a few clients, we've come up with a very good list and method for keeping these up to date (including SEO text), leveraging some tools like a spreadsheet and simple XML formats...things that should be easy to pick up for an ex-professional like you!

If you're interested in learning more, let us know....let's gauge interest in this idea. This is especially ideal for those with a real estate background!

-Kelly

This post is from from my other blog here

According to this article, information security , a concern for lowered productivity and a lack of trust in employees are the biggest concerns management may have about allowing workers to telecommute. The conflicting messages are due, in part, to executives struggling with the knowledge that telecommuting offers a competitive advantage against their long-ago bad experiences with off-premise employees. However, some employers are encouraging workers to telecommute as a way around traffic congestion and unprecedented gas prices. Tax breaks to encourage telecommuting and car pooling are being proposed and some employers use it as a way to attract and retain talent.