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RSS

Wondering what this little RSS orange insignia that's popping up everywhere is all about? Believe it or not, so was I? I found out that it’s called Really Simple Syndication. OK and what does that mean, you ask? It's gotta be something really technical right? No, it actually serves a very good purpose.

RSS solves a problem for people who regularly use the web. It allows you to easily stay informed by retrieving the latest content from the sites you are interested in. You save time by not needing to visit each site individually. You ensure your privacy, by not needing to join each site's email newsletter. Many news-related sites, blogs and other online publishers syndicate their content as an RSS Feed to whoever wants it. What the RSS button does (aka RSS Feed) is allows you to indicate that you like a particular blog or podcast, and would like to stay current with their content. By clicking on the RSS button you’ll indicate that you would like to stay apprised to the latest publications or broadcasts. It’s as simple as clicking the button and will be notified every time someone posts a new thought on your favorite blog or podcast!

So, click the RSS button off to the side of this blog!

TOP BLOGS, ACCORDING TO CNET

With more than 14 million blogs in existence and another 80,000 being created each day, how is a person supposed to find the ones worth reading? Whenever I to research technology of any sort, I head over to CNet to check out their editorials and user reviews. Whether I'm shopping a color printer, digital camera, laptop or cell phone, I know I can always trust what they have to say. Last time I visited, I was a little surprised to find something entirely different...they are rating blogs that focus on technology. I thought you might be interested in their 100 choices because they could end up providing valuable information that you could use:

Top100 blogs according to CNet:

• 1080Eye
• Alice Hill's Real Tech News
• Apple Matters
• AppleInsider
• Ars Technica
• Between the Lines
• Beyond VC
• Boing Boing
• Burnham's Beat
• BusinessWeek's Blogspotting
• BusinessWeek's The Tech Beat
• BuzzMachine
• C:\PIRILLO.EXE
• Channel 9
• Cleantech Investing
• Cyberjournalist.net
• Dan Bricklin's Log
• Daring Fireball
• Declan McCullagh's Politech
• digg
• Doc Searls Weblog
• Engadget
• Fixyourthinking.com
• Freedom to Tinker
• Geek Culture
• Geek News Central
• Gizmodo
• GPS Review
• Groklaw
• Hypebot
• IEBlog
• iLounge
• Jeremy Zawodny's blog
• JKOnTheRun
• John Battelle's Searchblog
• Joi Ito's Web
• Jon's Radio
• Jonathan's Blog
• Justin's Guide
• Kim Cameron's Identity Weblog
• Kotaku
• Kottke.org
• Kuro5hin.org
• Lawrence Lessig
• Lifehacker
• Linux-Watch
• LonghornBlogs.com
• MacMinute
• Matt McAlister
• Micro Persuasion
• Microsoft Security Response Center
• Microsoft Watch from Mary Jo Foley
• Mini-Microsoft
• Molly
• MozillaZine
• Neowin.net
• New Media Musings
• O’Reilly Radar
• Om Malik on Broadband
• Ongoing
• PaidContent.org
• PCS Intel
• PhysOrg Weblog
• PressThink
• PVRblog
• Responsible Nanotechnology
• RFID Weblog
• Romenesko
• Schneier on Security
• Science Blog
• Scobleizer
• Scott Rosenberg’s Links & Comment
• Scripting News
• Search Engine Watch
• Seattle Post-Intelligencer Microsoft Blog
• Security Fix
• Seth Godin’s Blog
• Silicon Valley Watcher
• Slashdot
• Spamroll
• Sunbeltblog
• SunMink
• TaoSecurity
• Tech Confidential Blog
• TechCrunch
• Techdirt
• Tecosystems
• Terra Nova
• The Blog Herald
• The Gadgeteer
• The Internet Stock Blog
• The Mac Observer
• Things That … Make You Go Hmm
• Threadwatch.org
• TiVoBlog.com
• TVOver.net
• Venture Chronicles
• Vitalsecurity.org
• whatsnextblog
• XplanaZine

Internet Safety Training

Information on how children are utilizing websites such as MySpace and other social networking sites. Click here to view the training video.

Protect Yourself. Protect Your Identity.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOUR MORTGAGE ORIGINATOR PULLS YOUR CREDIT REPORT?

1. Your mortgage originator pulls your credit report from the credit bureaus to obtain your credit score and process your loan application.

2. The credit bureaus may place your personal information on a prescreened list (also called a trigger list).

3. Within hours the credit bureaus may sell the list to hundreds of companies. Your mortgage originator does not authorize the sale of your personal information and cannot stop it. Only you have the ability to stop this practice.

4. Within hours you begin to receive phone solicitations for mortgage products from numbers and companies you don’t recognize.

5. Within days you begin to receive mail solicitations for mortgage products.

WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR

1. The “bait-and-switch” scheme. This scheme is run by companies who get business by luring consumers in with low rates and then switching the loan product.

2. Solicitations (phone and mail) that appear to be from your current mortgage company. Always confirm who you are speaking with.

3. Solicitations asking for pin numbers, passwords, your mother’s maiden name and/or your social security number.

4. If you believe you have been the target of one of these deceitful practices or some other abuse of the system, please report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

1. Opt-Out of prescreened offers.

2. Register with the Do-Not-Call Registry, www.donotcall.gov.

3. Contact the Federal Trade Commission.

4. Contact Congress.

5. Stop other forms of direct marketing by visiting the Direct Mail Association's Web site at: www.dmaconsumers.org/consumerassistance.html.

Worried? Want To Do More To Protect Your Information?

Voice your concerns by calling your Congressional Representative at 202-224-3121.

FAQs

WHAT IS A PRESCREENED OFFER OF CREDIT OR INSURANCE?

A firm offer of credit or insurance is defined as any offer of credit or insurance to a consumer that will be honored if the consumer is determined, based on the consumer's credit report, to meet the specific criteria used to select the consumer for the offer, subject to certain confirmation requirements.

WHAT IS OPT-OUT?

Opting-Out refers to the process of removing your name from lists supplied by the Consumer Credit Reporting Companies, Equifax, Experian, Innovis and TransUnion (“Credit Bureaus”), to be used for firm (pre-approved /prescreened) offers of credit or insurance. Your rights as a consumer under the Fair Credit Reporting Act include the right to "Opt-Out" for 5 years or permanently.

HOW TO OPT-OUT

You can opt-out by visiting www.optoutprescreen.com or through the toll-free telephone number, 888-567-8688. When you call or visit the website, you’ll be asked to provide personal information, including your home telephone number, name, Social Security number, and date of birth. The information you provide is confidential and will be used only to process your request to opt out.

DOES EXERCISING MY RIGHT TO OPT-OUT AFFECT MY ABILITY TO APPLY FOR CREDIT OR INSURANCE?

No, removing your name from these lists does not affect your ability to apply for or obtain credit or insurance.

DOES OPTING-OUT IMPROVE MY CREDIT SCORE?

No, since inquiries for firm offers for credit or insurance are not used in calculating credit scores, Opting-Out does not improve your credit score. Similarly, inquiries for firm offers for credit or insurance do not reduce your credit score.

HOW DO I CONTACT THE FTC?

Federal Trade Commission

Consumer Response Center

Room 130600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20580

www.ftc.gov/credit/

5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1

The timer counted down

I can’t believe it’s finally here. Friday, June 29th. After months of hype . . . endless promotional campaigns . . . lots of media exposure; the anticipation; the build up.

At 6 p.m today hundreds came to the Apple Store in Victoria Gardens and local AT&T retail outlets, with 3 things in their pockets and purses (an i Pod, a PDA, and a cell phone) hoping to leave with just one thing . . . the new Apple iPhone.

Everybody had the same goal in mind, to be among the first to lay their hands on Apple’s new I Phone before everyone else.

Does it live up to the hype? You be the judge!

Pros - The iPhone offers an amazing resolution, with a clear, bright screen, and organic-looking buttons and an interface with all kinds of visual cues to let you know what you can and can’t do. For example, when viewing photos, you scroll with a finger flick to the left and right. But what happens when you try to scroll up and down? If nothing happened, you’d think there was something wrong. So instead, Apple has made it so the image moves up a couple of centimeters but “bounces” quickly back down. In other words, it lets you know the phone recognized your action but also shows you the action cannot be done. Also, the “finger pinch” action for zooming in on things will make you smile the first few times you do it.

The iPhone offers a 3.5-inch screen that offers widescreen viewing that looks so good that you can put your laptop in the overhead bin on long flights and watch movies and TV shows on the iPhone.

Cons - AT&T’s EDGE network is as slow as everyone says it is—going to even the simplest Web page takes minutes. But if you are on a Wi-Fi network, things are relatively speedy. You’re not going to throw away your laptop in favor of browsing on the iPhone. But you will use the Net features for quick information hits while you’re in an airport, stuck on a bus, in class, and so forth.

The iPhone’s camera is only a 2-megapixel camera phone with all the limitations of any other camera phone—it has no flash, no zoom and, while the entire screen becomes the viewfinder, it does a poor job of capturing motion or images in low-light conditions.

I was also disappointed to learn that the iPhone will not wirelessly sync with your Mac but syncing is still fairly easy.

The iPhone is not the Perfect Device. But it’s a real cool piece of technology that does a lot of things surprisingly well – And we know the next generation will only get better!

The Credit Card Companies Strike Again!

Hitting Consumers Where It Hurts

When it comes to developing innovative ways of burying consumers in debt, the credit card companies take the cake. According to MSNBC, credit card fees alone have skyrocketed from $2.6 billion to $21.5 billion since 1980. Plus, in addition to late charges, some credit card lenders add insult to injury by applying interest rates, in some cases as high as 31.99%, to an existing balance!

But, of all of the credit card companies' sneaky tricks, the most egregious by far has to be the "universal default clause", a provision that allows lenders to tack on an exorbitant "penalty" interest rate even when the borrower's account is paid on time. That's right. The default clause, a common practice among lenders today, allows for an increase to the ridiculous penalty interest rate if a consumer is late on any of his or her bills, including things like utilities. According to the advocacy group Consumer Action, while most default interest rates hover around 30%, it's not uncommon to see a penalty rate of up to 35%. Some analysts have even reported rates in excess of 40%!

Buried in the fine print, the default clause and other terms and conditions of a credit card account can be easily amended by the lender with a simple written notification that usually accompanies the monthly statement. Some reports suggest that many consumers end up trashing the notification, along with the usual pile of unwanted marketing material enclosed in the envelopes, without ever reading it.

If you have large credit card balances and don't think you can handle your monthly credit card payments doubling overnight, a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) could be less expensive than credit financing, depending on your situation, and it may even be tax deductible.

If you or someone you know has an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) or Hybrid ARM that's about to adjust to a higher rate, the universal default may be the last of your worries right now.

Did you know:

• Many ARMs holders are facing 50% or even 100% increases in their monthly mortgage payments once their ARMs reset?
• There is no cap on the first adjustment of most subprime loans?
• Credit standards are tightening and, with each passing day, you may no longer qualify to refinance?

Please call us right away for a free consultation. Together, we'll sit down, analyze your debt, and make sure you're taking full advantage of every opportunity available to you.

Time To Vacation. . .

But Where Does Your Mail Go When You Want To Get Away?

Think about what lands in your mailbox...bank statements, credit card bills, and maybe even DVD's. Where do they all go when you're gone? If you've been asking a nosy neighbor to pick up your mail - or worse, letting your mail pile up in the box-there's a better option and it's easier than ever!

Whether you're on vacation or an unexpected business trip, you can rest easy knowing your mail is safe and sound by asking the Post Office to suspend delivery while you're gone. They'll hold your mail from 3 to 30 days, and then resume normal delivery on the date you specify. It's convenient, easy to do, and most of all it’s SAFE!

Make It Even Easier with the Internet

Now you can notify the Post Office to hold your mail in two minutes flat without even leaving your house. Just hit this link, and you can quickly fill out the form online: USPS Mail Hold. If your area isn't served online, simply call 1 800 ASK USPS (1 800 275 8777) and a representative can assist you.

Then, have the time of your life...without worrying about your mail while you're gone!

Caution: Children Swimming This Summer

Protect Your Family from Summer Tragedy

Last summer, Jim Sahnger, a contributing editor for our newsletter, shared a very personal story. Jim almost lost his 13-month old son, Sterling, when he nearly drowned in their backyard pool. Jim and his family were lucky. Sterling survived, with no lingering effects.

The unfortunate truth is that this summer many families will not be as lucky as the Sahngers. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death for children ages 1 to 14, surpassed only by car accidents. For children ages 1 to 4, it is the leading cause of accidental death.

If you are a parent, or know anyone who has children, we ask that you please read Jim’s account of that almost tragic day.

This request is not an attempt at sensationalism or the melodramatic. We believe that this topic is a highly important one. By reading and forwarding this article, you may just save a life and, at the same time, spare countless people from the pain that one family nearly experienced.

Here is Jim’s story...

While on the phone with my 10-year old son, Paul, I heard a scream and then nothing. Concerned for the safety of my family, I called back only to hear Paul answer the phone, crying inconsolably. The only words I could make out were "Sterling", "dead", and "pool". After a few moments, he said, "Dad, I have to call 911!" The line went dead.

My name is Jim Sahnger, and I am one of the contributing editors for your monthly newsletter. In March of 2006, my youngest son Sterling, 13-months old at the time, nearly drowned in my family's backyard swimming pool.

I had left my home not 30 minutes prior. Surely I had misunderstood Paul. Surely this was a mistake. The drive home was one of my longest ever. Thoughts ranging from "How could this happen?" to "I can't believe my son just died," went through my head.

While pulling up to the house, I began looking for confirmation that what I'd heard on the phone was a mistake. The pit that developed in my stomach was indescribable as I saw over ten emergency vehicles parked in front. They all had one purpose, to save my son's life.

Sterling had crawled through an open door to a pool deck where the barrier gate had been left opened. He inevitably made it to the pool and fell in.

I have a responsible, very attentive family and thought that we were always aware of Sterling's whereabouts. If this could happen to us, it could happen to you or someone you know and love.

We were lucky. Paul had seen Sterling floating in the pool after he'd been in an estimated two and a half minutes. In just 30 more seconds, Sterling could have experienced irreparable brain damage; and after a few more minutes, we could have lost him forever.

Sterling was released from the hospital after seven hours and multiple tests to determine if he'd suffered any harm from the lack of oxygen. To see Sterling today, you would never know what took place that day in March.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission states that every year 300 children drown in a swimming pool, usually owned by their family. The commission also states that 2,000 children are treated annually for submersion injuries. Several things can be done to prevent those you care about from becoming a part of these statistics. The tips you're about to read apply to everyone with young children, but they're especially relevant to those who own a pool of any size.

• Install a self-closing pool gate. This is first and foremost for any pool owner. For a little one, it can act as a final barrier between the house and your pool. A rigid pool cover is also a great tool, but it should always be used in conjunction with the self-closing gate.
• Prepare yourself for emergencies by having every family member who's reached the appropriate age certified in CPR.
• Keep a phone by the pool in case someone needs to call 911. This will save a lot of time during a worst-case scenario.
• Clear the pool and surrounding area of any toys that may attract toddlers.
• Equip your home's back door and pool gate with a buzzer that sounds when opened. You can also buy alarms that float in the pool and sound any time the water is disturbed.
• Plastic or inflatable pools are often un-gated and carry a huge risk. The tendency is to keep them filled since it is rationalized that the child can stand up in the water and they'll be OK. It’s best to drain these types of pools after every use. It only takes several inches of water for a child to drown.

If your family does not own a pool, your child's water safety still requires due diligence. It's not enough to simply know where children are at all times. Whether you're at the beach, lake, or a pool, keep your child within arm's reach. Do not rely on babysitters or anyone else to do this. Keep your child close to you.

It is also a good idea to choose your swimming locations carefully. On-duty lifeguards are a plus but should not be relied upon completely. Keep a close eye on waves and current conditions as they can easily pull a child under water.

Swimming lessons are a good idea but can provide a false sense of security for those with younger children. Revisit lessons every summer until you are 100% sure your child is a competent swimmer.

While it's popular to forward jokes, funny videos, and other information to family and friends, we encourage you to forward this story for a different reason. The purpose is not to make someone laugh, but rather to potentially help save lives.

© Copyright 2007. All About News, Inc.

The Secret - The Phenomenon Everyone's Talking About!

This message isn’t about real estate, but it is something we thought you might be interested in. You may have heard all the excitement about 'The Secret' after it was featured on Oprah a couple months back. ‘The Secret’ talks about The Laws of Attraction, and how your attitude affects your life…

If you haven't seen the movie as yet, you can check it out by clicking the image below. In the meantime, check out this quick preview. If you watch this video clip once every morning (maybe right when you sit down at work in the morning), it will definitely start your day in a positive way, and remind you how much power you truly have.

You Tube's Even Taught Me Some New Tricks!

FOR SALE

5486 Pepper Tree Pl

Situated High in the Hills of Alta Loma

Enjoy Elegant Living with a Distinct Equestrian Flavor

The New $85 Computer!

The computer industry is constantly producing faster, smaller, cooler machines in an attempt to get you to shell out big bucks. And while some people are willing (and able) to pay upwards of $1,000 for a PC, what about the rest of us? Do we really need, or want, all of the the bells and whistles crammed into today's PCs? I don't know about you, but in an average month I probably use less than half of the applications my computer is capable of.

The average consumer spends around $741 on a personal computer today - signifigantly less than the $912 we spent three years ago according to the Consumer Electronics Association. Surprising, considering advances in technology mean new PCs have more processing power, memory and other features than ever before.

Truth be told, most consumers don't really need to upgrade. A bare-bones computer suits them just fine - and they can now get one for as little as $85.

That unbelievable price is is for Norhtec's Microclient JrSX, a desktop PC the size of a large novel. Now, the Microclient is not a hugely powerful PC; it has only 128 megabytes of RAM and a 300-megahertz processor. It does not come with the extras - like a keyboard or monitor (although these items can be purchased fairly cheaply on sites like Amazon.com) and instead of a hard drive, it's designed to store data on flash cards.

Interested? You can get more information and purchase one on the Norhtec website.