Over the years, I've often received interesting and entertaining communications from many of you. Others were like me, I could never really understand computers and felt anything I might send would come up short of being worthy to distribute to my friends and associates. Finally, after all these years, I have something that will provide a useful purpose for each of you. Once you've gotten it understood, please reply below so I'll know that it served the purpose of comprehending computers.

I really feel a lot more competent now, and I'm sure you will too. This is a fairly simple graphical diagram of just how a computer works. It's amazing how an animated diagram like this can simplify how an operating system performs all of its various tasks. Once you grasp this simple example, you will be well on your way to understanding computers.
http://blueballfixed.ytmnd.com/

P.S. If you get stuck, just stay with it, and it will become clear.

WMKV Computer Talk

Good morning all! It's Christmas Eve, and I'm getting ready to start the day with family - since we are geographically seperated we visit in the Cincinnati area today - and then it's off to points south where all of the rest of the family will gather at Gramdma and Grandpa's house for the rest of the Holiday!

Of interest in technology - my daughter's laptop, a two year old Gateway - suffered a kind of a cascade hardware failure, first the DVD-RW, then the wireless nic, then the CTL and shift keys on both sides of the keyboard. Really strange issues for the computer to develop.

Anyway - since she is a college student - when we purchased the laptop we also purchased a 3 year extended on-site service warranty. A 60 minute phone call to Gateway tech support has resulted in a service call scheduled for before she returns to school - and a promised installation of a new DVD-RW, RAM, NIC, and motherboard. Call it a new computer. Well worth the investiment on the warranty - and - I couldn't be more happy with the service she recieved. Call this one a shameless plug for the company - but good service is worth passing along!

Other than that - it's time to start the day. But I wanted to take a moment to wish all of you a Merry Christmas and nothing but the best for 2K7! May you know nothing but Joy and Good Things!

All for now - I'll see ya'll on the air next year!

aus

LINKS!!

As promised...

http://www.tankless-water-heater.com/

http://www.musicdirect.com/

http://www.engadget.com/2005/12/05/ions-ittusb-usb-turntable/

http://www.zzounds.com/item--NUMTTX1/

http://www.noradsanta.org/

Sick of Spam? Annoyed by atrocious advocacy in your inbox? Wonder how the spammer got your e-mail address, anyhow?

There's a world of e-mail education to be had at: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/PinayMom/189041/

Try it. You'll like it!

Here's a tour of our new studios...

Dave and I do battle in Studio A


I trim the Christmas tree


Cathy Bonewell waits for your call


Mike Martini wonders if he should be on the air


I do some pre-show Tai Chi


Where does this wire go?


Dave cooked up a mess of spaghetti. Does anyone have a zip tie?

Hey Tom I haven't posted anything since last week. Am I lazy? Uninterested? Apathetic? Nooo, I've been here -- http://www.addictinggames.com/
Enjoy, and don't forget to tune in tomorrow from 1 - 2 p.m.

JG

Download audio - very educational: http://www.econtalk.org/

Learn basic economics from some very fine teachers; Why "profit" is not a dirty word!

A successful show yesterday in the new studio. Thanks for listening and calling in. Here are some links to the shopping sites we spoke of:

http://www.overstock.com/
They sell almost everything at discounted prices. Some things are reconditioned and in "like new" condition.

http://www.couponcabin.com/
Coupons, codes, and deals.

http://www.naughtycodes.com/
Same thing - promotional codes, coupons, and deals.

http://www.fatwallet.com/
I haven't used this one yet. You tell me what it's like.

http://www.amazon.com/
You know it, you love it... and free shipping with orders over $25!

Happy shopping and please, please don't use a debit card online. Consider setting up a Paypal account or opening an Internet only credit card.

JG

A guy in Glendale (only a stone's throw from our new WMKV-FM studios) wants to put a For Sale sign on his 1970 Merc Cougar - and the village fathers won't let him. Something about luring onlookers into the roadway where they might be struck by a car...

Anyway, he claims a First Amendment right to advertise the car in a reasonable manner, and he's taking Glendale to task to protect his freedom of speech. http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/ is backing him in the court case.

The website has a survey quiz that is worth your inspection and consideration.

Just in time for winter it's my new favorite waste-of-time website. I strongly caution you not to view this website if you are at work, need to be productive today, or don't have a few hours to kill.

Go to - http://www.linerider.com - to get started.

Then cruise over to - http://www.linerider.org - to see what people who have way more time and creativity than you can do with it.

Have fun and don't forget to wear a scarf!

JG

I just received an e-mail "revealing a secret code" you can use if you're ever forced to withdraw from an ATM during a robbery. Being of the skeptical sort, I checked the story out at snopes.com - and you can too: http://www.snopes.com/business/bank/pinalert.asp

What further amused me about the e-mail I received was that it referred to a "PIN number" and "ATM machine". I was expecting it to say something about a "one-year anniversary".

Speaking to you live from the Department of Redundancy Department...

Astute listener Gary B. forwarded this link. It previews the new Microsoft Windows Vista OS start up "tune."

http://channel9.msdn.com/Showpost.aspx?postid=151853

Happy listening. I hope the new OS works as good as it sounds.

JG

Here in Cincy we've been suffering (heh...) through nearly the same sunny, warm, dry weather as John & family in Orlando - see http://www.wunderground.com/US/FL/Orlando.html and http://www.wunderground.com/US/OH/cincinnati.htm for current details. (See, John, you could have stayed home & saved the effort...)

Last Tuesday & Thursday WMKV reran our show from back on May 2, and this coming week the rerun will be from Sept. 5. Both featured our first-of-the-month guest Dave Ausdenmoore, and the upcoming week's show also has a guest talking wi-fi. No call-ins, of course, during these "encore" shows, just listen & enjoy.

BTW - as soon as I get some good shots I'll post the newest member of our family, a 7-yr-old male Lhasa Apso named Coco! He's very pretty, & trying very hard to be a good boy, but since he's been an orphan for a while, it's a bit of struggle. Stay tuned!

Sooooo - "You are now connected!"

Happy Thankgiving from Orlando! Sorry it was a repeat broadcast this week. Unfortunately, we'll do another taped program next week. We will be back live on Tuesday, December 5.

In the meantime we are having fun at Disney and with our Florida friends. They live here and work for Disney. We will have a traditional turkey meal today. If you need some last minute cooking advice visit -

http://www.butterball.com

That's all for now. Some photos of the action to follow...
Have a great holiday -- JG

Terror and excitement on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Nice Hat

No live show this week. This turkey is going to Orlando, Florida for some Disney Magic with the wife and kids. Don't worry though, I'll take the digital camera and laptop for some Magic Kingdom blogging. Check back in a few days.

If you are flying this week it is a good idea to look at the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) website. Look at the list of banned substances and sizes -- gels, liquids, lip balm, etc... It can be a bit confusing. Last time I flew a few weeks ago there was a giant can full of confiscated stuff. Look at the list so yours complies with regulations.

Happy traveling!

JG

http://www.tsa.gov

It's Friday and, well... it's Friday, so here's my new favorite frivolous website.

http://www.nobodyswatching.tv

Enjoy!

JG

Get a (second) life!

http://www.secondlife.com

Not happy with your current life? Well... just hop on over to secondlife.com and be whoever/whatever you want. Fly, breath underwater, be young and buff, the sky's the limit. Tom could even have a full head of hair!

Second Life is a 3-D virtual world entirely built and owned by its residents. Since opening to the public in 2003, it has grown explosively and today is inhabited by a total of 1,409,203 people from around the globe.


Computer Talk listener Nancy reports she attends Greatful Dead concerts, sells homemade wings, and meets interesting people.



Enter at your own risk. Some content my be offensive and you will probably waste way too much time once you start.

JG (still in my first life)

Greetings all!

Maybe I'm making up for lost time on the blog? <>

Following is a CERT statement concerning the latest issues with the Microsoft Windows operating systems. This is kind of a follow-up to my message yesterday. What follow are the reasons why you should update your operating system. But remember my thoughts from yesterday - I can think of several folks for whom updating the operating system caused more problems than it fixed. Can you say Damocles Sword?

I'm certain that there are a lot of folks for whom the updates have worked well. I'm just putting it out there so that readers can make an informed decision.

Good things only -

aus

National Cyber Alert System
Technical Cyber Security Alert TA06-318A
Microsoft Security Updates for Windows, Internet Explorer, and Adobe Flash

Original release date: November 14, 2006 Last revised:
Source: US-CERT
Systems Affected
* Microsoft Windows * Microsoft Internet Explorer * Adobe Flash
Overview:
Microsoft has released updates that address critical vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows, Internet Explorer, and Adobe Flash. Exploitation of these vulnerabilities could allow a remote, unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service on a vulnerable system.

I. Description
Microsoft has released updates to address vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows, Internet Explorer, and Adobe Flash as part of the Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary for November 2006. The most severe vulnerabilities could allow a remote, unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service on a vulnerable system. Microsoft has included updates to Adobe Flash, which is installed with Internet Explorer.

Further information is available in the Vulnerability Notes Database.

II. Impact
A remote, unauthenticated attacker could execute arbitrary code on a vulnerable system. An attacker may also be able to cause a denial of service.

III. Solution
Apply updates from Microsoft
Microsoft has provided updates for these vulnerabilities in the November 2006 Security Bulletins. The Security Bulletins describe any known issues related to the updates. Note any known issues described in the Bulletins and test for any potentially adverse affects in your environment.

System administrators may wish to consider using Windows Server Update Services (WSUS).

IV. References
* US-CERT Vulnerability Notes for Microsoft November 2006 updates - <http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/byid?searchview&query=ms06-nov>
* Securing Your Web Browser -
<http://www.us-cert.gov/reading_room/securing_browser/>
* Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary for November 2006 -
<http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms06-nov.mspx>
* Microsoft Update -
<https://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/>
* Windows Server Update Services -<http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/updateservices/default.mspx>

The most recent version of this document can be found at:
<http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA06-318A.html>
Feedback can be directed to US-CERT Technical Staff. Please send email to
<cert@cert.org> with "TA06-318A Feedback VU#377369" in the subject.

For instructions on subscribing to or unsubscribing from this mailing list, visit
<http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/signup.html>.

Produced 2006 by US-CERT, a government organization.
Terms of use:
<http://www.us-cert.gov/legal.html>

Revision History
November 14, 2006: Initial release

END

Well ya'll have been active on the blog, I've just been doing casework!

And unfortunately, I will be spending most of Thursday and Friday at the target range - I say unfortunately only because of the weather forcast - John's site was helpful there! Pray for snow - that's way better than rain!

Little new in the tech front, I've had several calls from folks that I help out from time to time who have reported that their computers didn't work after the latest batch of Microsoft upgrades. I'll recommend to readers and listeners to move slowly on making the upgrades and upgrade only those aspects of the OS that you need this go round. I'm not saying that anything is broken in the updates, but it sure looks like I could be!

All for now - cya in a couple weeks - and I'll try to check the blog more frequently!




WMKV Computer Talk

Ever wonder what it looks like at WMKV during Computer Talk? Here's a behind the scenes look...

Tom, 10 minutes to air time...

5 minutes to go...

and he springs into action!

Here's me after the show helping a caller with a computer problem


Now you know what you are missing.

JG

I love to learn & use new words - Phyllis Martin's "Help for Hearache" is a favorite of mine. It runs @ 9:30 AM on Tuesday & Friday on 89.3 and WMKVFM.ORG. And if you use a word incorrectly - she'll straighten you out.

But the words John uses are something else - I am always wracking my poor old brain trying to decode what he is saying. The jargon of the younger generation! I'm afraid trying to follow his newspeak is futile though.

But I can FIGHT BACK! Check out http://www.sciencegeek.net/lingo.html and you too can be a technogeek! ;)

Well, well... Tom has finally figured out how to make posts. Congratulations Tom.

It is super warm today but one of my most-visited websites, weather.com, tells me I will be riding indoors tomorrow. The hour-by-hour feature is invaluable.

JG

Every once in a while someone asks about WMKV-FM:

1. Why isn't our signal stronger?
Our transmitter power is 410 watts effective radiated power, and that's all the FCC will allot to us on 89.3, because there's another station in Louisville with 100 times our power, and we have to "protect" them. (Yeah, right...) Fortunately we are on the web, and have been for many years, so even someone in Springdale, Utah, or Saskatoon or Shanghai or Singapore, can receive us equally well.

2. Why do we say "Reading, Ohio" when the studios are in Springdale?
Before there was a WMKV-FM, the Reading High School operated on this frequency. In 1995 we took over their operation, but the city of license remained Reading OH. After approval from the FCC, we moved the studios to the Maple Knoll campus in Springdale. But our transmitter remains in Reading.

Well, it's time I get serious about blogging. Thanks to all the fine folk who call in to Computer Talk - you are what make the show what it is. (I get a kick out of listeners who have no computer, don't have a clue what we're talking about, but listen anyway for the banter!)

One of these days I need to upgrade to a box with a DVD burner etc. As John knows, I'm only a bit behind the times, and a pennypincher. Listeners, can I have a suggestion or two from you?

Great show yesterday.

It appears that Ohio's electronic voting efforts went okay. Just ink in your vote on a piece of paper then feed it into the shredder-like scanning machine. Aus was right. It did look like I was shredding my vote. Hmmm... why didn't anything I voted for pass?

ATTN: Podcasters!!!

You can listen to podcasts of the show at the odeo.com link posted on the left, or listen through iTunes software.

If you already have iTunes installed on your computer then,
1) make sure you are connected to the internet
2) launch iTunes
3) go to the "iTunes Store" in iTunes (in the left column menu)
4) click on "Podcasts" under the "iTunes STORE" menu
5) type WMKV into the search window
6) click on the show you want to hear
7) you can also subscribe to the podcast for free and have the most recent show automatically down loaded to your iTunes

If you do not have iTunes installed...
1) go to apple.com
2) click on software and follow the links for downloaded iTunes -- it is FREE

As always, write or call with questions.

JG

BTW -- Tom was distracting me so much during this week's show I did not get a chance to mention my site of the week, which is... zappos.com. It is the ultimate online shoe shopping experience.

Enjoy!

JG

A quick post show post ---

Thanks to all for listening and calling today. Congrats to contest winner Randy for the call about Goldfish crackers in the printer. Your tickets are in the mail.

Petro from Atlanta, GA referenced some really cool software that allows you to record multiple streams of internet audio and video, then let's you play them back at your leisure. Sort of like your own podcast. Look at Petro's comments from the previous post for his review of Replay AV. I put a link to it on this site. By the way, don't do anything that may damage your computer just because we told you so blah, blah, disclaimer, etc., etc...

That's it for now.

JG

Happy Halloween from the Computer Talk crew. We will do a "best computer horror story" show today. Be prepared to call in and tell us about your scariest computer moments. You know, like spilling coffee on the keyboard, clicking the buy button 10 times before your realized your order was processing, hitting the "send" button on that email then realizing it was going to the wrong person, etc...

JG

Ahhh... What a perfect Saturday afternoon. After an early morning bike ride I am sitting at the kitchen counter drinking espresso while the spaghetti sauce cooks. The kids are huddled around the iMac playing some sort of game while I, on the G4, am blogging. Isn't WiFi a wonderful thing? Now if I could just figure out how to wirelessly network the new HP printer. It doesn't have an Ethernet port, just USB. Any thoughts??

Don't forget to set you clocks back tonight!

JG

...my Mac just freeze up? John, you are so dense - it's because it's a MAC!

Tom, it's about time we got our own blog. Why didn't you do this sooner? I mean, why didn't I do this sooner?

Anyway, great show this week (Tuesday, October 24). Lot's of good questions. Thanks to Pam for calling with suggestions about spoken text. Congratulations also to our quiz winner, whose name I can't quite remember, for answer the question about the 5th anniversary of the iPod. Your movie tickets are on the way... sure they are.

My site of the week, which I did not get to because we ran out of time is --- www.worldseries.com As of this posting, it is all knotted up at 1 - 1. I personally think the Cardinals are going to win, but I would not mind seeing Detroit take it. Let's hope for no more rain-outs.

Cheers for now,

JG