Why do I use [at] for my email address instead of @ on websites?

Have you ever wondered how so many spammers get your email address? One place they look is on websites. There are millions of web-robots crawling the internet looking for email addresses. If you have an email address listed on your web page, these web robots will find it and add it to their list given enough time.

And if you put the address in a clickable "mailto:" link, they're sure to find it.

Now I know pefectly well that spammers will get my email from others places, but listing my address with the [at] has definitely helped. In the grand scheme of things, I don't suppose it matters all that much, it's just a geeky kind of thing to do.

Of course you don't have to do this for printed material, just web pages!

read more...

Can I get my old printer to work with my new computer?

Question: I have an older printer but it still works great. I'd like to keep using it. I recently bought a new computer and I can't find a port on my new computer for my old printer cable. Do I have to buy a new printer or can I get my old printer to work with my new computer?



Answer: You can plug your old printer into your new computer with a USB to Parallel printer cable. I suggest the Sabrent 5 ft. USB to Parallel Cable Model SBT-UPPC from Amazon.com.



read more...

Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas

Happy Holidays from Lynchburg, VA.

read more...

Axis and Allies, Revised Edition

Axis and Allies is a favorite strategy board game in the Meredith house. Since you have to burn a few vacation days to play it, the holidays are the perfect time to break it out and conquer the world.

Wikipedia features a brief description and history of the game (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axis_and_Allies).

Play Axis and Allies, Revised Edition, online against the computer or other opponents at Game Table Online (http://www.gametableonline.com). You have to register but the experience is just about as good as it gets and there's no setup time.
read more...

Blokus, An Awesome Strategy Board Game!

Blokus is a relatively new strategy board game that's become a craze among board game lovers around the world. It's super-easy to learn, challenging, fast-paced, and highly addictive! Our family can't get enough. Old and young alike will love this game.




Wikipedia has a great introduction to the game, including an overview of gameplay and strategy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blokus).

Todd Decker has some strategy tips at his website (http://homepage.mac.com/ptdecker/2006/02/blokus_strategy.html

Play online for free at the official blokus website (http://www.blokus.com).




read more...

Consulting Bio and Credentials for Tim Meredith

Here's a professional Bio and Transcript for Tim Meredith, MCSE, MCSA, MCP, CompTIA A+, Network+.

Scroll to the bottom for a printable pdf version of Tim Meredith's bio and Microsoft transcript.

Tim Meredith, Systems Engineer

Tim@HolstonIT.com (423) 534-3418

Credentials:

· Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (Windows Server 2003), Systems Administrator (Windows Server 2003) and Technology Specialist (Windows Vista)—MCP ID: 6371246
· CompTIA Certified Professional: Network+ and A+ IT Technician—Career ID: COMP001007699259
· Virginia Tech, B.A. Political Science & Economics, 1992.

Experience:

Global IT Manager, Razorfish, Inc.
· Administering all Microsoft server and desktop solutions for a $5 billion international software development company with offices in 8 different countries.
· Working with a global team under the vice-president of corporate technology.
· Integrating new acquisition infrastructure, personnel, and processes in a frenetic environment.
· Training local IT directors and team leads in technical and process solutions and facilitating long range needs assessment and planning.
· Developing and documenting IT processes and workflows for global project rollouts.
· Designing and administering Microsoft Active Directory services for 2000 employees in 18 offices worldwide.
· Covering everything from low-level help desk calls to building/migrating server rooms to presenting executive level reports and documentation.

Director of Information Technology--USA Offices, Conduit Communications, Inc.
· Managing all IT responsibilities for two USA offices as director of information technology for a highly technical and demanding internet solutions company.
· Administering a 25+ server infrastructure spanning multiple sites including ISS, Exchange, and SQL.
· Supervising new office infrastructure rollouts and office relocations.
· Managing network service provider connections and routers for two USA offices plus virtual private network connections with international sites.
· Installing and supporting teleconferencing equipment for office connections between Boston, New York, London, and Amsterdam.
· Planning and implementing failsafe, backup, and recovery plans across all platforms.

Help Desk Technical Lead and Manager, Entec @ FleetBoston
· Troubleshooting all hardware repairs and upgrades on desktops and laptops.
· Installing and servicing Microsoft operating systems, Microsoft Office products, and 3rd party software.
· Solving critical and difficult IT problems as a top-tier desktop infrastructure support lead.Managing help desk tickets and ensuring prompt, courteous IT services in a corporate environment.


Bio Tim Meredith Systems Engineer

Get your own at Scribd or explore others: consultant bio

MS Transcript Tim Meredith

Get your own at Scribd or explore others:

read more...

Secure Passwords for WPA-PSK

Secure your Wi-Fi network! WPA-PSK crackers like airmax, KisMAC, and coWPAtty can crack weak passphrases and compromise a Wi-Fi network. For an ultra-secure WPA passphrase, check out an excellent random password generator by Steve Gibson over at Gibson Research Center... (https://www.grc.com/passwords.htm). Lisa Phifer writes an excellent article about WPA-PSK cracking at Wi-Fi Planet (http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/article.php/3667586). She also points to a WPA passphrase generator at kurtm.net (http://www.kurtm.net/wpa-pskgen/) and WLAN Key Generator at darkvoice.dyndns.org (http://darkvoice.dyndns.org/wlankeygen/).

read more...