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TIME SAVING WEBSITES:
"evite.com"

While online conversation is timely and ever available, there is still no real substitute for getting together in person.

http://www.evite.com

EVite, is short for electronic invitation or 'Vite for short. If the people that are to attend all have email addresses or fax machines, you can simplify the process of authoring and sending out the invitations. Even better, it will also send out reminders on your behalf prior to the event.

Becoming an EVite member is pretty straightforward. Sign up by giving them some information about you; your name, email etc. Once you have completed registration you are ready to schedule your first event.

First, you choose the name and type of the event, and then the system guides you clearly through each step allowing you to create and send out your invitations.

Give it a try for your holiday gatherings. It really makes the planning easy.  

 

NEW FAQs:

"What is involved in creating a website?"

I get asked this all the time. Like many things, "It depends...," is the answer.

Most people that are asking, would either like a small personal website or a small marketing website. These are very similar things and not too hard to set up on many free or nearly free web servers.

The real issue in both cases is, "What do you plan to say?"

Start with your favorite word processor such as Microsoft Word or Works. Your goal is to create an outline of your information and then a more detailed set of information called, "Content".

These small websites exemplify the early Internet adage, "Content is king." What your website says is more important than how you say it. The only thing worse than a crazy graphic-rich website that says nothing, is to have no website at all.

There a website memorializing such bad websites. It is called Worst of the Web". Its URL is:

http://www.worstoftheweb.com/new/

If you have something useful to say, and spend an adequate amount of time writing an outline and the paragraphs to support it, you will have a fine website.

The next amount of work is to develop the page organization or information architecture, followed by the page design and layout. We will consider these at greater detail in a future tips article.

If you need more immediate help with your website or just have questions, please feel free to call or email us.

 

 

NEW GADGETS: "Robot Floor Vac"

We're a long way from "Rosie" of the Jetsons version of the future, but home robots are becoming a reality.

The "Roomba Floor Vac Robot" is at approximately $200, a strangely affordable new item. Its available through the Sharper Image catalog and according to it, "vacuums and sweeps automatically -- even when you're asleep or out of the house."

Info from Sharper Image

It sounds really interesting. Next we will be looking for even more rare items; something to pick up Legos or scrub a kitchen floor.

Please share your neatest gadgets, and we'll be sure to pass them on.

 

 

HOME NETWORKING

Make DSL Setup Easy

There are two main hurdles to starting DSL service. The first is the wiring/connection outside your location and the second is the wiring/connection within your location.

Handling the outside your walls challenge is all about one word - relationship. Choose an ISP that you trust and whose customer service is excellent. When you establish service you get the DSL equivalent of a dialtone, but when things go wrong, it's all about customer service.

I most strongly recommend Bellsouth here in Atlanta, because their customer service is excellent, 24/7 service hours, and they also are the folks that operate the central office (or CO) that the DSL runs to.

http://www.bellsouth.net

If you are a Mindspring/Earthlink customer take heart. They are pretty good too, but slightly less accessible.

The key phrase in ordering the service is, "External Ethernet DSL Modem". This will afford you maximum flexibilty when setting it all up within your wall.

Your internal configuration is straight forward to the modem they will send you. You place filters on all the phone lines in the house EXCEPT for the one that will take the DSL signal into the house. Then attach the DSL modem to that line. The modem's signal light will blink until the DSL circuit is verified, then it will shine solid.

From the modem to the rest of your network will vary greatly according to your needs. If we can help make the transition easier, please call or email us.

 

 

ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT:
"bigideafun.com"

http://www.bigideafun.com

What to do, when you have a few minutes and don't want to install a game? Play one online. At our home, we are fond of the Veggie Tales characters so we were happy to discover their website full of games and multimedia pages.

Veggie Pile-up is similar to Tetris and pretty entertaining.

If you haven't tried it yet, I hope you will, and let us know if you liked it.  

 

--dedicated to the glory of God--
Philemon 1:6

6 I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.