Welcome
to this week's edition of the Computer Kindergarten Newsletter.
Today is Sunday, October 4, 2009
In this Issue:
Special Feature: Spot a Work at
Home Scam
Featured Computer Term: Windows
Vista Flip
This Week's Topic: Top 24 People
Search Sites and Email Address Directories
Question: Navigate the Start Menu
with the Keyboard
Websites of Interest: Eggless
Cooking; Motor Mouths; SkinDeep; Repayment Calculator
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Special Feature: Spot a Work
at Home Scam
The
following aricle is by Laureen
Miles Brunelli of About.com
http://workathomemoms.about.com/bio/Laureen-Miles-Brunelli-48181.htm
The
first rule in spotting work-at-home scams is keeping in mind that old adage: If
it seems too good to be true, then it probably is.
When
you find an opportunity for working at home through an email, a website, print
publication, TV, postal mail or even a friend, check it out. Do
research before you send money. These websites can help.
* Better Business Bureau
* USPS Fraud Inspection
Service
* Federal Trade Commission
And
then use just good old common sense while keeping in mind some of these tricks
that Internet con artists commonly use. Typically, anything that advertises as
being a "legitimate" work at home job is anything but.
What
to Look For
Be
wary of Internet business start up opportunities or anything that requires you
to pay money, which also includes some websites that claim to put you in touch
with employers who hire for work-at-home jobs.
* Unusable Contact
Information
Scroll
right to the bottom of a site. Most legitimate companies have links to real
contact information and sometimes their address and phone number at the bottom.
Scams, on the other hand, only try to look as if they are reachable. Often, the
only contact information is email form where you type in your information and
it supposedly relays it to the company. There is no way of knowing who, if anyone, receives these emails, but now they have your
address, but you don't have theirs.
If
there is an email address, what kind is it? If it is gmail,
yahoo, hotmail or other free email accounts, be wary. Legitimate companies
usually have their own domain. Though, having a domain is certainly no
guarantee of legitimacy.
* Sponsored Links or Google
Ads
Paid
advertising links promoting work-at-home jobs or businesses are rarely
legitimate. These links can be found in the top shaded boxes or right columns
labeled "Sponsored Links" or "Sponsored Results" in search
engine results from Google, Yahoo, Ask.com, Dogpile
and others.
Also
look out for Google Ads on otherwise legitimate websites, like this one. These
ads are placed on pages based on keywords found in the text. Because I am
writing about "work-at-home jobs," ads targeting those
keyword are likely to be placed on the page in the section labeled
"Sponsored Links."
Legitimate
employers looking for potential workers usually take a more targeted approach
than paying for an ad that reaches thousands of people who simply did an
Internet search. But scams must cast a wide net to find prey.
* Don't Be Fooled by .org Domains
Anyone
can get a .org domain; there is no requirement to
prove non-profit status. Don't assume a website with a
.org domain is a non-profit. Some of these .org websites purport to do consumer
reviews of work-at-home sites. If an organization is a non-profit, then it will
likely state that somewhere on its site. If it does not, then you must assume
it is a for-profit site.
* No Details
If
the main point of the website or ad is that you can telecommute or work from
home, but it's light on details of what exactly you
would be doing, be suspicious. Legitimate telecommuting job ads usually will
first advertise the line of work and then mention that telecommuting is
possible.
* The
"Don't-Be-Scammed" Scam
Often
websites that use the .org domain (as well as others with different domains)
will claim to show you the few legitimate work-at-home jobs out there. Either
they are trying to sell you a book or DVD, which is likely to be of
questionable value if it arrives at all, or their sole purpose is to point you
toward their own scams. They say they've reviewed dozens of work-at-home
opportunities and only found two that they recommend. Of course, there are
links to these two, but if you evaluate these websites carefully, you'll see
that all signs point toward scam.
* The Devil's in the Details
Read
everything carefully. If it seems unclear exactly what you will receive or
would be expected to do, that's probably no accident. Look for asterisks and
disclaimers, though often these are added to make a web page look legitimate.
Envelope-stuffing schemes are known for deeming work submitted as unacceptable
quality and refusing to pay. The clause about how unacceptable work will be rejected
is in the informational materials, but the definition of what is unacceptable
is not.
* Emotional Sales Pitches
This
is really where you need to use your own common sense. When websites use an
emotional sales pitch (often with a voiceover on the webpage), saying "You
deserve this" or showing the fabulous cars and homes of its success
stories, be very suspicious.
Really,
if their product or opportunity is that great, why must they try to convince
you with such an off-topic plea? What you want to hear are details about the
opportunity they are presenting … not a rags-to-riches fairy tale.
* High Pressure Tactics:
"The Next 23 People to Click…"
Or "Free
Today Only!" What's the hurry? They are counting on you to make a quick
decision to fork over your money. A measured look at their site might reveal
suspicious information.
* As Seen On…
Some
sites will tout mentions in well-known publications, like the USA Today or The
New York Times, but then do not provide links. You've got to wonder why they
decline to offer proof. If no link is provided, then I assume they are either
lying or the coverage was unfavorable. Sometimes they will say well-known
companies like Coca-Cola use their services. Their hope is that by simply
associating themselves with a trusted brand they will appear more trustworthy.
* "Christian"
Business Opportunities
Simply because a
business says it is "Christian" is no reason to believe it is. Con
artists are not above using religion to sell their snake oil. As with the
"As Seen On…" scam, they are just trying to associate
themselves with something trustworthy. Along these same lines are sites that
pepper their web pages with Bible quotes.
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Featured Computer Term: Windows
Vista Flip
In
previous versions of Windows, holding down the Alt key on the keyboard and then
pressing and releasing the Tab key would open a window that listed each
currently open program. You could
click on the program you wanted, bringing it to the front of all the other open
windows.
In
Windows Vista, the same keystrokes will display thumbnails (small pictures) of
the currently open windows and the Desktop. To select the program you want, either
click on the thumbnail with the mouse, or hold down the Alt key and keep
pressing the Tab key until the program you want is highlighted. Select the Desktop and all windows will
be minimized.
Windows
Flip 3D is a similar feature and possibly more useful, since it displays a much
larger picture of each open window.
To use it, hold down the Windows Logo key (this has the Windows flag on
it; usually located on the bottom left of the keyboard between the Ctrl and Alt
keys). Press and release the Tab
key. This displays all the open
windows in a 3-dimensional stack.
To select the program you want, either click on the window with the
mouse, or, with the Windows Logo key held down, press the Tab key until the
window you want is at the front of the stack.
Windows
Flip and Flip 3D are very helpful features of Windows Vista, useful for anyone
who works with many open windows, or even just to
quickly view the Desktop.
Is there a computer term or phrase that you'd like to see an explanation
of? Email it to
info@computerkindergarten.com and we'll put the term and its definition in an
upcoming newsletter.
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Today's Topic: Top 24 People Search
Sites and Email Address Directories
Question: I have been trying to locate some old
friends with whom I have lost touch over the years. Can you tell me how to use the Internet
for this?
Answer:
Here
is a great article with lots of resources to help you in your search:
The
following article is by Heinz Tschabitscher of
About.com
http://email.about.com/bio/Heinz-Tschabitscher-1215.htm
Searching
for people online? Looking for an email address? Look closer and find friends
old and new as well as business contacts with these email address directories
and people search engines.
Here
are your 24 best bets.
* All email address
directories
* How to find anybody's
email address
1.
Pipl People Search - Free People Search Site
In
real time, Pipl scours databases and directories such
as ICQ, Amazon profiles, flickr or SEC records to
find information and people web search engines do not see.
http://www.pipl.com/
2.
Wink People Search - Free People Search Site
Wink
aggregates from both social networking sites and the web to find people's web
presences — including ways to send them an email.
http://wink.com/people-search
3.
Intelius People Search - People Search Site
Accessing
various public records, Intelius provides
comprehensive email address search for the U.S. and can reveal the person
behind an email address, too.
https://www.intelius.com/email-search-name.html
4.
LinkedIn People Search - Free People Search Site
LinkedIn
worldwide network of professionals can be searched by name, industry, company,
region and more. Of course, LinkedIn offers means to get in touch.
http://www.linkedin.com/
5.
Spock - Free People Search Site
Spock
finds people not only by name and location but also by tags and, well, just
about anything related to them.
http://www.spock.com/
6.
LexisNexis Public Records - People Search Service
For
serious research: LexisNexis's public records and private database search
covers hundreds of millions of people and businesses.
http://law.lexisnexis.com/public-records
7.
my.email.address.is - Free People Search Site
My.email.address.is
is a meta search engine for email addresses (and not
just for mine). It scans the most popular email address directories including
Yahoo! and AOL.
http://my.email.address.is/
8.
yasni - Free People Search
Site
yasni scours social
networks, the web, blogs, Amazon wishlists and its
own records for whomever you seek. If your search is fruitless, you can swiftly
create a missing person ad.
http://www.yasni.com/
9.
FreshAddress.com - Free People Search Site
FreshAddress.com
links old and new email addresses, but its always up
to date database can also be searched for other criteria.
http://www.freshaddress.com/find/
10.
123people.com - Free People Search Site
With
most comprehensive coverage in German-speaking Europe but working worldwide,
123people.com scours the web, phone books, people directories and social
networking sites for people and their addresses.
http://www.123people.com/
11.
MyLife - Free People Search Site
Hand
MyLife a name and approximate age, and it will often
find the person you seek. After registering, you can see their details, too.
http://www.mylife.com/
12.
MySpace.com Find a Friend - Free People Search Site
The
space to meet friends on the web is heavily populated. The chances are good you
will find and be able to contact lost friends through MySpace.com.
http://www.myspace.com/
13.
Facebook Friend Finder - Free People Search Site
You
can find everybody on Facebook by college, company,
school or name.
http://www.facebook.com/find-friends/
14.
Plaxo Pulse Search - Free People Search Site
After
becoming a Plaxo member yourself, you can search
— and contact — others in their directory.
https://www.plaxo.com
15.
Email Finder Reverse Email Lookup - People Search Site
Email
Finder finds more than email addresses. It looks up the person behind an email
address, in fact, with a detailed profile — for members only.
http://www.emailfinder.com/
16.
Reunion.com People Search - Free People Search Site
After
registering yourself (which puts you in the directory), Reunion.com turns up
comprehensive results that get you back in touch with people you knew. You can
also search by school, for example, and find out who's looking for you.
http://www.reunion.com/people-search
17.
Yahoo! People Search - Free People Search Site
Find
people in Yahoo's large directory of email addresses based on name, location,
old email address (!) or organization name...
http://people.yahoo.com/
18.
XING - Free People Search Site
Popular
in Europe, XING helps you find and connect to businesses and their people.
http://www.xing.com/
19.
ICQ White Pages - Free People Search Site
Search
the directory of ICQ users with numerous criteria to find old and new friends,
and their email addresses.
http://www.icq.com/people/?advanced=1
20.
MyFreeEmailSearch - Free People Search Site
MyFreeEmailSearch aggregates results from other people
search engines as well as the web and public databases to find whomever you
seek.
http://www.myfreeemailsearch.com/
21.
PeekYou People Search - Free People Search Site
You
can search PeekYou's profiles for people (and a way
to contact them) by name, company or school.
http://www.peekyou.com/
22.
ZoomInfo.com People Search - Free People Search Site
Finding
names on the web and connecting the dots with artificial intelligence and
natural language interpretation, ZoomInfo.com has assembled a great profile for
just about anybody on the net. It does not have email addresses or ways to
contact for everybody, though.
http://www.zoominfo.com/
23.
yoName - Free People Search
Site
yoName will scour social
networking sites and blogs for the name, user name or email address you seek
— and return somewhat random but potentially useful results.
http://www.yoname.com/
24.
Search the Usenet Addresses Database - Free People Search Site
If
you know the person you are looking for has been online for some time, you can
try searching this database of people who posted to Usenet from 1991 to 1996.
http://usenet-addresses.mit.edu/
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Question: Navigate the Start
Menu with the Keyboard
I
have arthritis and sometimes have much trouble using the mouse. I use some keyboard shortcuts that I
have found in this newsletter which are very helpful. Do you have any shortcuts for using the
menu? I would like to be able to
open programs in the menu without using the mouse.
Answer:
You
can use the keyboard to maneuver through the Start menu and open programs. Here are the steps:
Press
the Windows Logo key on the keyboard.
This key is usually found on the bottom row, two or three keys to the
left of the spacebar. It has the
same design on it as the Start button.
Press
the up arrow key once to highlight All Programs.
Press
the right arrow key to open All Programs.
Use
the up and down arrow keys to navigate through the programs list.
To
open a submenu, press the right arrow key.
Press the left arrow key to close a submenu.
Highlight
the program you want to open and press the Enter key on the keyboard.
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Websites of Interest:
Eggless Cooking
If
you are watching your cholesterol, take a look at the egg free baking recipes
on this website.
http://www.egglesscooking.com/
Motor
Mouths
Which
new cars get the best reviews.
http://motormouths.com/
SkinDeep
This
site lists safety information for over 40,000 cosmetics and personal care
products.
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/
Repayment
Calculator
From
the United States Federal Reserve, here is a tool to help you calculate how
long it will take to pay off your credit card.
http://www.federalreserve.gov/creditcardcalculator/Default.aspx