stopwastingmytime.org

• The Economist
• Science News
• Harper’s
• Psychology Today
• Time
• Newsweek
• National Geographic
• Popular Science
• Discover

Audio

*Michio Kaku – Physics of the Impossible

Video on Netflix and Hulu (in order of importance)

• The Warning – Frontline
• Breaking the Bank – Frontline
• ISLAM: What the West Needs to Know
• The Atheist Tapes
• George Bush’s War –Frontline
• Sick Around the World – Frontline
• Sick Around America – Frontline
• Deliver Us From Evil
• No End in Sight

-This document was originally written for BPC customers purchasing mini-ITX computers but is helpful to all persons with a new pc.

1. Microsoft Office 2010 Beta installation file is on desktop. I am not sure how long this beta will run but it should run for several months. If not, you can uninstall and purchase a copy of Microsoft Office Student and install it.
2. Freebox Jukebox is installed but you will need to configure it and add music files.
3. Windows is configured to boot without a password which allows it to go to the desktop without a login. If you add a password you will have to login before you are taken to the desktop.
4. ffdshow codecs are installed.
5. hard disk and dvd burner are SATA.
6. use the top, center slot on the card reader for sd memory cards. sd card should be inserted with the label facing upward.
7. If you ever need to reinstall windows use the keyfinder program on the desktop to obtain your installation key which is a 25 character COA key. Do not use the keycode on the COA on the side of the box because this is for Vista. The Vista license is/was an upgrade-able license which Microsoft distributed before the final release of Windows 7. It is a valid license but will only work to install Vista.
8. Re-installation disk is labeled W7HP 32-bit. Please do not give this to anyone to use or copy. You may copy it, though to maintain a backup for your own use.
9. 4GB of Memory is installed. Windows will only utilize 3.12GBs regardless.
10. DVD-R/W does not need third-party software as it is no built-in.
11. Anti-virus not installed. We recommend using Microsoft Essentials download. Norton and McAfee are problematic and do not provide adequate phone support. We recommend staying away from those two vendors.
12. Jukebox was installed in XP Service Pack 1 compatibility mode and “Run as administrator” was checked.
13. Homegroup password is for sharing your files locally. Please read up on this if you intend to share files locally.
14. Wireless adapter drivers are located on c:\drivers\wireless\. Use the Vista driver for use with Windows 7.
15. Wireless antenna requires line-of-site without any obstructions. Walking in front of the antenna and the wireless router may cause it to disconnect. Simply reconnect to establish connection to router.
16. Power supply is designed to  push air against the top of the case creating a heatsink out of the case. Keep this area free and clear of books, papers, etc.
17. 28 years of system building has led us to recommend ALWAYS TURNING OFF YOUR COMPUTER WHEN NOT IN USE. This will easily double the life of the PC from 2-5 years to over 6 years.
18. Computer may be left on constantly if that is a requirement. Components designed over that past 5 years insure longevity of components that are required to run continually.
19. You may move, delete or copy desktop shortcuts and files to provide a cleaner look to your interface.
20. If you were not a fan of Microsoft Office 2007 and preferred the Microsoft Office 2003 version you will like the Microsoft Office 2010 beta.
21. Openoffice.org is great place to download a microsoft compatible Wordprocessor, spreadsheet, etc. This is a fantastic program and it is free.
22. Card reader only shows individual “drives” if you have inserted  specific card into one of the slots. This is a new feature of Windows 7 and keeps the user from clicking on endless drives trying to find something.
23. DVD is drive D.
24. Operating system is installed on C in a 100gb partition.
25. Drive K is a 200gb partition to store your data. Microsoft gurus recommend storing all of your important data on a separate partition because of the prospect of having to reinstall windows after an update, antivirus problem or any other problem.
26. If you reinstall windows do not format the old partition as all of your old stuff will be automatically moved to a directory called Windows.old or Windows.001 which makes it easy for you to retrieve important information which was not backed up.
27. Backup daily.
28. Adobe Acrobat Reader is not installed.Feel free to download and install.
29. Adobe Flash is not installed. Feel free to download and install.
30. I have bookmarked the Zotac site and the Zotac Downloads for this board in your internet explorer browser.
31. We recommend Mozilla’s Firefox as a recommended browser as it will display CSS3 and Web 2.0 websites more consistently.
32. Motherboard drivers are located in the c:\drivers folder . Zotac disk is included but refrain from using unless you are installed Windows XP and run this only after reinstalling Windows XP. It will not autorun and produces an error with Windows 7. Refer to the bookmark titled Zotac Drivers to download the latest drivers from the manufacturer.
33. Backup c:\drivers at your earliest convenience.
34. IMPORTANT: Sound is the number one problem closely followed by internet connectivity.
Avoid sound problems by installed the c:\drivers\audio_for_Vista driver ONLY if you are reinstalling Windows 7. Windows Vista and Windows 7 absolutely require a special sound driver. This driver is not on the driver’s disk and is located in the c:\drivers directory.
35. A backup copy of the drivers has been installed on your K: drive. Backup immediately to cd or dvd rom.
36. Update WARS! – Microsoft, McAfee, Google, Norton and especially Adobe and Apple are constantly downloading updates to your computer. As a safety measure, Microsoft may include updates that cause other products listed above to hiccup, fail, reboot, etc. This is to be expected and is extremely frustrating. National security bulletins warn us daily of computer hackers from Russia, Western Europe and other locations who are continually trying to hack our banks and companies with large databases filled with credit card numbers and social security numbers. This threat is not immediate for the average home PC user but Microsoft includes patches in their updates to thwart these attacks. Always update on a daily basis and if needed, reinstall Apple, Adobe or any program that hiccups. Make sure you use the Add/Remove programs feature to Un-stall first, then re-boot, then reinstall.

Thanks Adrian for this great article.

Posted by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

We have received a nomination request for I cabbages for his historic work on un-swindling the swindling Kindle.

It seems that an enterprising hacker has busted Amazon’s Kindle for PC DRM.

The hacker, going by the name i♥cabbages, has released an app called Unswindle that decrypts Kindle content and transforms them into Mobi format.

The hacker seems to have some admiration for Amazon’s DRM implementation on the PC:

The Kindle proper and Kindle for iPhone/iPod app both use a single “device” encryption key for all DRMed content. K4PC uses the same encryption algorithms, but ups the ante with a per-book session key for the actual en/decryption. And they seem to have done a reasonable job on the obfuscation. Way to go Amazon! It’s good enough that I got bored unwinding it all and just got lazy with the Windows debugging APIs instead.

It’s been possible to decrypt some Amazon Kindle content for some time using a tool called MobiDeDRM, but this is the first time that it’s been possible to decrypt Kindle content on the PC. Given that even hardcore DRM such as that implemented on Blu-ray discs was busted, the chances to Amazon’s DRM holding out for long was negligible.

Note: I say that it’s possible to decrypt some files as opposed to all files because there’s no way to decrypt “Topaz” files which contain embedded fonts.

Big business versus the lone hacker is a cat and mouse game. I guess that either Amazon’s lawyers or programmers will be working over the Holidays, depending on which counterattack the book giant takes.

Update for Web folders which microsoft removed in Vista and Windows 7. More bad news for Windows 7.

I don’t care what the hell you’re doing, you need to stop RIGHT NOW, open a new tab, and visit dominos.com

So I’m rummaging through my cabinets and refrigerator at 7:30 tonight, and I saw a coupon on the Domino’s coupon. At that point, I had made up my mind that I wanted pizza. So I pick up the paper to further inspect their offer, and I decide that it’s a good enough deal to take part in.

I chose to take the antisocial approach and order online. Little did I know that I would be exposed to a whole new world of pizza, via dominos.com.

I get to the home page, click order, type in my name and address, and that’s when I am presented with the most incredible, prodigious, astounding pizza-building, awe-inducing machine I have ever had the privilege of laying my unworthy eyes upon.

In this beast of a configurator, you can choose the crust you want, and the toppings and how much of each topping you would like. After you choose your pizza, you can order sides, like chicken, breads, and salads, you can choose your drinks, and even desserts.

When you’re all done placing your order, an indicator of  steps your delicious Domino’s pizza has taken in order to reach your ambrosial-food starved stomach, is displayed. You get to track your pizza in the process, now how freakin’ cool is that?! You get to see when the order is placed, prepared, put in the oven, boxed, and delivered.

This is one service that inspired me, as I write this, I am sticking long-anticipated, wonderfully prepared, and most appreciated  piece of pizza ever delivered on the face of this planet.

This is where I tell you, my dear friend, to stop whatever you’re doing at this moment, and take time to relish in the absolute wonder of dominos.com website, service, and food, whether or not you are hungry. Contrary to popular belief, it is indeed NOT about the food, it is about the experience.

I want to nominate the guys at www.IentuitiveWebsites.com to the Hall of Fame for their outstanding podcast series available on iTunes (search for IntuitiveWebsites on iTunes).
I can’t say enough about their CEO Tom Young and his staff of dedicated professionals for producing these outstanding podcasts on iTunes.
Give us MORE!
This company gives “minimalism” an entirely new meaning when it comes to Google Adwords campaigns and overall website design. They really consider the consumer when they put together their content. Their approach is the future when it comes to website design, blogging and web marketing. Take a look at their site…lots of open space but lots of “beef” at the same time. None of that adsense, microsite stuff here!
Listen to their podcasts and then email them and tell them to hurry up and get some more done!
Thanks again guys for all the great information! I just had to nominate you to our Hall of Fame for your dedicated approach to providing as much information to listeners as you do. It is so refreshing!
My two favorite podcasts was the two-part series on social media…short and sweet-totally to the point. No time wasting by these guys! Pay attention to their suggestions about taglines…very rich!

PhoneHog’s Offers are Empty Promises!

PhoneHog is a website which offers the promise of a free phone card for performing click fraud on a list of sites listed in their interface. Avoid PhoneHog at all costs. Phonehog is the kind of wesite that Google needs to shut down. Phonehog is a dangerous website which will load your inbox full of spam and cause you to miss important emails that you will overlook because you are too busy deleting all the spam emails they are sending you.

PhoneHog Is a MONUMENTAL WASTE OF TIME!

Phonehog is a complete and total waste of time. Avoid this type of time-wasting behavior. With our country in crisis over high oil prices, health care problems and unprecedented unemployment we recommend sending an invoice to PhoneHog for $100 for “Wasting Your Time!”

PhoneHog Receives Our “Monumental Total Waste of Time Award!”

This week’s winner for “#1 Total Waste of Time Website!” goes to Phonehog.com. This group of losers needs to close up shop and learn what it means to be an American. Tacking advantage of unsuspecting consumers by monopolizing their time which would normally be spent with family, friends or other important tasks is completely un-American!
Avoid this loser of a website!

I would like to nominate Speedcheck to this week’s Hall Of Fame for their contribution to time saving efforts in traffic control

Visit their site at

SpeedCheck

Okay, this is very, very basic. The technology has existed forever. If we landed a man on the moon in the sixties we ought to be able to syncronize a few traffic lights. Here is an excerpt from Speedcheck

A 1995 report from the Texas Department of Transportation concluded that a traffic light synchronization program in Texas saved drivers 20.8 million gallons of gas, 22 million hours of delay time and 729 million stops. The program covered 1,348 intersections in 43 cities and in 1995, cost $7.7 million dollars to implement. The total savings to drivers by way of fuel consumption and delays alone is estimated at $252 million in the first year. This comes out to a whopping $32.30 in savings for every dollar spent on the project!

Save money with syncronized traffic lights

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