NOISES FROM THE BASEMENT

1) Timely Tips - "ARRRG! Do a Backup"
2) File Find! - "IE-SPYAD"
3) Sites-Seeing - "Nigerian Scam\Regrets Only"
4) Email Funny - "Raymond"
5) They Said It - quotes to give one pause
6) Hodgepodge - that what fits no where else

Welcome once again to another week of Noises From The Basement! An extra-special welcome to first-timers, glad to have you aboard!

Mother Nature is threatening with thunderstorms coming in from the East, so let's dive right in!

From the Do As I Say, Not As I Do Department: Literally minutes away from sending out the big "Return of NFTB" issue, I found myself in a world of hurt. Here's my tale of woe, read on if ye dare!

It had been a busy morning. I was putting on the finishing touches on Noises, and adding a last few stragglers to the subscriber database. I hit the "Add" button...nothing. The mailer software locked up. (But that's not the problem I want to write about today.) Since it was the first time I had used it on my new machine under Windows XP, I wasn't too worried; I figured a simple reboot and try again.

I ran shutdown, walked away, and returned to find - no boot! I later determined that a software upgrade I was testing had created 148,000+ files on the root drive, something Windows still doesn't appreciate too much. (But that's not the problem I want to write about today.) Using a variety of magical incantations, I was able to determine that all my data still existed on the hard drive - I just couldn't get to it!

What was the real problem that day? The fact that I had not, much to my shame, backed up my critical data files in a very long time. School work, file references, updated websites, customer and subscriber information, financial and tax info.. well, you get the idea. I stood to lose countless hours and invaluable information because succumbed to my procrastinating ways.

With a small dollop of skill, an investment in an upgrade,  and a terrific shovelful of luck I was able to get my system back up and running with no loss of data. And you'd better believe the first thing I did was to head back to Fred Langa's great series on backups, for a refresher on what I should have been doing all along! Fred put me back on track, and I vow never to let my backup schedule fall behind!

How about YOU? Whose email address, what files, what programs, or graphics or photos would YOU lose forever if your hard drive gave up the ghost today? Better see Fred!

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2) File Find! - "IE-SPYAD"

IE-SPYAD is a Registry file (IE-ADS.REG) that adds a long list of known advertisers, marketers, and spyware pushers to the Restricted sites zone of Internet Explorer. Once IE-ADS.REG is "merged" into your Registry, most direct marketers and spyware pushers will not be able to resort to their usual "tricks" (e.g., cookies, scripts, pop-ups, et al) in order to monitor and track your behavior while you surf the Net. IE-SPYAD will not block banner ads in Internet Explorer; what it will do is:

• stop obnoxious script-based pop-ups that clutter your screen and force unwanted advertising on you;
• block the cookies typically attached to banner ads and which are used to monitor and track your travels around the Internet;
• prevent the use of ActiveX, Java, and scripting -- active content technologies that can be used to compromise your privacy and security;
• protect you against auto-installing crapware from spyware pushers (e.g., BonziBuddy, Gator) that can invade your system, monitor your computer and Internet use, and trash your PC.  [87 KB\EXE]

IE-SPYAD can be downloaded from the author's site.

Bonus Tip: AtGuard/Norton Internet Security users will want to look for AGNIS, too - a nice utility that expands the block list for all versions up to 4.0.

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What is the third-largest industry in the country of Nigeria? If you've ever received an unsolicited fax, email, or letter concerning Nigeria with an "opportunity" to make money, you've seen it! Billions of dollars have been scammed worldwide, most times originating from Nigeria and West Indian nations. The 419 Coalition Website has good background about the many variants of this scam. Normally, you're better off just deleting spam when it hits your Inbox, however when you receive "Nigerian scam" emails, the U.S. government would like you to file an online complaint at the  Internet Fraud Complaint Center  - where you'll also find other fraud preventative measures you can take when dealing with internet auctions, credit-card fraud, and non-delivery of merchandise.

Our next featured site taps into another universal human tendency - to have regrets. Not too long after our first independent action, came the realization that there were better choices that could have been made. Regretsonly.com is the creation of Barry Cadish, author of "DAMN! Reflections on Life's Biggest Regrets". It is his belief that "by writing candidly about our regrets and openly sharing them, we can inspire each other to make better choices."

Barry updates his Current Regrets page with at least five new regrets submitted by other visitors every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (if so moved, you can submit your regrets, too!) What would you do differently if you had a second chance? What did you learn from your decisions? What advice do you have for others who may face similar choices? Bookmark Regretsonly.com and drop back often - you'll find some heartfelt advice, some open wounds, a touch of humor, dreams and frustrations; everything that makes us human!

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Anyone remember Hot Chocolate's "I Believe in Miracles (You Sexy Thing)" from the early '70's? Raymond does!

As a follow-up for those of you who liked last week's Alien Song, I have another animation that you'll also like! I'd like to introduce you to Raymond, a singing/dancing/groovin' mouse with attitude who woos a piece of cheese - located strategically (of course) on a mousetrap.

Raymond is the handiwork of Michael Loeck, a gifted young animator who earns his daily bread as a network tech support rep! Visit his site at Immortal3d.com and browse his collection of 3D stills, then download this week's Email Funny, "Raymond". I wouldn't be surprised at all to see this artist's name in the credits of a big-screen hit some day down the line...

4.6 Mb\MPEG Slower Connection CLICK HERE

11.9 Mb\MPEG Faster Connection CLICK HERE

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"Not only do we have a right to know, we have a duty to know what our Government is doing in our name... If there's a criticism to be made today, it's that the press isn't doing enough to put the pressure on the government to provide information." - Walter Cronkite

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< * > Vanishing Links-Two professors recently collaborated to develop three graduate-level biochemistry courses for high school teachers. Students can sign up for a course any time and take it at their convenience. Sounds easy, right? Not for the professors. Each month, the two spend about four hours checking the 515 hyperlinks to ensure that students have up-to-date materials. After 20 months, 18.8 percent of the total links had disappeared. Over 11 percent of dot-org links, 18.4 percent of dot-edu pages and 42.5 percent of dot-com addresses were lost since the study began. < * > Sweet Revenge-Comedian Tom Mabe turns the table on telemarketers, calling them in the middle of night offering to sell sleep aids! < * > Don't Believe The From: Line Some people have received messages from dead friends, others from defunct ezines; others receive filth from supposedly friendly sources. Internet Armageddon? No, just the K L E Z worm winding it's way down the Info Superhighway. Got an up-to-date virus scanner? < * > Malware Uninstalls Ad-adware!- Radlight software 3.03 R5 (which comes bundled with WhenU's SaveNow and New.net), silently uninstalls Ad-aware or other privacy software! < * >

G'nite, and thanks for reading!

Dave Gretz

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 Dave Gretz,
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