Cannot fathom who in their right frame of mind would want to do something so stupid and surely doom planet Earth, but what would happen if you printed Twitter?

Infographic by Cartridge Save for printer cartridges

Photo by tiseb

I’ve been using wireless broadband connection for a few years and sometimes I would click on the “view available networks” option to discover many unsecured wireless network being detected. Anybody looking for free bandwidth can just tap into these unsecured networks can do so without breaking a sweat and easily utilize it for malicious or illegal activity.

This is a disconcerting trend and I cannot understand why people choose not to secure their wireless networks which range usually extends beyond our homes into a street or a neighboring property. Do they love WiFi so much that they want to share their wireless love all around?

While it is an offence to tap into a wireless network without authorization, owners should put the onus on themselves to take preventive steps to secure their networks from exposing to security risks.

Here I share 4 simple steps of how I secure my wireless network:

1. Chang default settings
The default login user name and password for accessing the router’s web-based configuration menu is commonly set as “admin” and “password” respectively. Make sure to change these default settings the first time you login.

The default name for the router’s service set identifier or SSID usually corresponds to the brand of the router – e.g. “linksys”, “dlink” or “default”. Leaving the factory-set SSID unchanged makes it a more attractive target for would-be hackers. Again, make sure to change the default SSID.

2. Stay invisible
Most (if not all) routers have the option to turn off broadcasting of the SSID. Hackers with “sniffing” software will still be able to sniff out your network but it would at least remain invisible to neighbors and casual passer-by.

3. Set up encryption
Open or unencrypted networks are like houses with wide-open doors. Unencrypted networks are susceptible to snooping – anybody within range can access into.

It is prudent to set up encryption on your wireless network. The newer standards WPA2 and WPA are better secured than WEP which skilled hackers can broke into. Even so, setting up at least WEP is better than no encryption as anyone looking for a free “ride” is likely to choose an open network over encrypted ones.

4. Turn off router when not in use
Switching off the router is the ultimate way to keep out intruders, you can save on electricity costs too. You’ve just got to flick that switch.

The above 4 steps have served to protect my wireless network well so far. Do you take preventive measures to protect your wireless network? How effective or ineffective are the measures you’ve taken?

Hence, it was with much anticipation that I looked forward to the released of FireFox 3 on 17 of June 2008, and what did you know? I got the latest version of course, and in the process of downloading the browser helped set a world record for the most software downloads in 24 hours!

So if you have been looking for a more secure web browser, or want to be in the forefront of cutting-edge surfing experience, or maybe you just think it is time for a change then take the plunge and give the new Firefox 3 a whirl.

Download Firefox 3

International Shutdown Day is back for the second year running, this time on 3rd May, 2008.

Shutdown Day was founded with the sole purpose of spreading awareness about the pitfalls and dangers that lie in the excessive use of television, computers, and computing equipment like game boxes, cell phones, music players, online social websites, etc. that impinge on social space and interaction amongst our communities.

That means no television watching, no computers, no Wii gaming, no blogging, no twitter, no IM, who can stomach all that and still remain sane in this Internet age?

The idea of Shutdown Day project is simple – just shutdown your computer for one whole day of the year and involve yourself in some other activities: outdoors, nature, sports, fun stuff with friends and family – whatever, just to remind yourself that there still exists a world outside your monitor screen.

Because we have become so accustomed to a life dominated by our computers and the Internet, we sometimes forget there is a beautiful world waiting for us to enjoy outside the computer screen.

In a personal capacity, I fully support this crusade and have pledged to shutdown my laptop and get disconnected from the web on Shutdown Day. That means no emails, no blogging, no IM, no twitter, no Youtube, – get totally unplug.

As much as I applaud the founders for starting this movement, I must say one of the points in the “Take Action” page had me scratching my head in wonderment.

Aren’t we suppose to shutdown our computers on Shutdown Day? Then why are the founders asking us to “Register online on Shutdown Day”? I really can’t reconcile with that point.

Can you survive for 24 hours without your computer? If you are brave enough to take up this challenge, go pledge your support for the cause to pull the plug – at least for a day. It’s time to hit the beach and ride the surf!

Photo from ButterflySha

If you have already booked a table for that lavish dinner, pre-ordered the bouquet of roses, and had the full celebratory works all planned out way ahead, then well and good for you.  For those still struggling to find any restaurant with tables available, I say forget about it! Yes, ditch all those last minute plans, save yourselves from being exploited by businesses quick to bank on the notion that how much you spend equate how much you love your partner and join me on an eco-friendly and meaningful Valentine’s Day.

Here are 5 un-traditional ways you can celebrate a meaningful and waste-free Valentine’s Day with your loved ones:

1. Forget flowers

Flowers grown with pesticides and sent via air-freight will add to Mother Earth’s woes and leave a large carbon footprint. Instead, try growing a chilli plant which symbolizes “You’re hot” in no uncertain terms to your crush

2. Save an acre of rainforest for your Valentine

Instead of a red rose that has probably been grown thousands of miles away and will wilt within days, present your Valentine with a gift of lush, tropical rainforest saved in perpetuity on their behalf. For every £25 donated, half an acre (2000 square meters) of threatened wildlife will be saved forever.

3. Invest for your Valentine on Kiva.org
Kiva lets you connect with and loan money to a specific entrepreneur in a third world country – empowering them to lift themselves out of poverty. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates from the entrepreneur you’ve sponsored. As loans are repaid, you get your loan money back. Excellent karma.

4. Donate Free Rice
Spend a quiet evening with your love in front of the PC instead of some mosquito infested parks, and do your part to reduce world hunger.

5. Hunger Notes
Take a hunger quiz and make a free contribution to help hungry people. During February 2008, Hunger Notes will contribute $.075, the equivalent of one cup of rice, to Project Concern International for its program to provide support to orphans and vulnerable children and their families In Ethiopia.

The above 5 quirky ways of celebrating V-Day with your loved one will propel your relationship to new heights and giving you both the satisfaction of knowing you have helped protect threatened wildlife, reduced harmful gases released into our increasingly threatened environment, helped the poor stand on their two own feet and contributed to reduction in world hunger. A unique and noble way to celebrate V-Day indeed!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

The rice is paid for by the advertisers whose names you see on the bottom of your vocabulary screen. This is regular advertising for these companies, but it is also something more. Through their advertising at FreeRice, these companies support both learning (free vocabulary for everyone) and reducing hunger (free rice for the hungry).

The rice is distributed by the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), the world’s largest food aid agency, working with over 1,000 other organizations in over 75 countries. See where the rice goes to.

Before I end this post with a video about FreeRice, I urge you to go over to Free Rice and make your contributions to help reduce world hunger. Spread the words to your families and friends. Remember, no amount is too small, every grain counts!

No seriously, the above pranks were just a load of fun made possible by MagMyPic. MagMyPic.com allows you to upload your photos to create your own fake magazine covers! MagMyPic.com is an affiliate marketing effort that works to distribute and market subscriptions to each of the magazines displayed on MMP while providing a fun and entertaining way for users to display their picture.

Give your pics a shot at the limelights, go have some fun at MagMyPic!

It’s three weeks into the new year—so the question is, how are those resolutions coming along? If you are having a tough time sticking to those resolutions, be it to lose weight, quit smoking, exercise regularly, then help is on hand in the form of a free web-based tool called stickK.

stickK is a web-based company that helps you achieve your personal goals through “Commitment Contracts.” You create a contract obliging you to achieve a specific goal within a specific time-frame. By doing so, you put your reputation at stake. You may also choose to wager money to give yourself added incentive to succeed. If you do succeed, you get your money back. If you fail, the money is forfeited to charity, or to one of several causes, or to a person of your choosing. stickK’s services are absolutely free.

After creating your “Commitment Contracts”, you can share them with everyone or a select group of friends in order to help yourself stay accountable. In addition, you can also designate a third-party (a close friend or family member) as the Referee to monitor your progress and verify the accuracy of the reports you submitted. If you prefer to work alone, you can opt for the honor system without a Referee. Just remember that having someone to whom you’re accountable increases your chances of success!

Besides putting your reputation on the line, you can increase the stake (optional) by waging money on your contracts. If you accomplish your goals at the end of the contract period, you get your money back. Otherwise, your money goes to charity or someone you have designated in advance. Years of economic and behavioral research show that people who put stakes – either their money or their reputation – on the table are far more likely to actually achieve a goal they set for themselves.

Wouldn’t it just kill you to hand over your hard-earned money to someone you can’t stand or to charities whose causes go against your personal beliefs? That would be some mighty strong incentive to achieve your goals now, ain’t it?

I am sticking my SMART blogging goals with stickK to help me track and be publicly accountable for the goals I’ve set.

I want to cap off an amazing year by holding this holiday movie theme party to share with all my readers and fellow friends. Please enjoy yourself, go ahead, make lots of noises, and do invite your friends over to this party! Without further ado, let’s get the shows on the road.

Update: A little mouse told me the videos were not viewable with IE. No problem viewing with Firfox.

Courtney Tuttle as Santa’s Elve #1
Deborah Peterson as Santa’s Elve #2
Prija Phaphouampheng as Santa’s Elve #3
Monika Mundell as Santa’s Elve #4
Yours truly as Santa’s Elve #5

Garry Conn as Santa’s Elve #1 on roof
Lori as Santa’s Elve #2 on roof
Prija Phaphouampheng as Santa’s Elve in chimney
Monika Mundell as Santa’s Elve on the ground
Yours truly as Santa’s Elve on the ground