According to a report from AP, California has dropped their attempt to ban plastic shopping bags. In their wisdom, the California legislature thought they were interfering with the personal liberties of people by taking away their plastic bags. The article also states the following:

The bill’s author, Democratic Assemblywoman Julia Brownley of Santa Monica, said lawmakers had failed Californians by defeating the measure. But she said the movement to ban plastic bags would continue despite the setback.

“It’s not a matter of if, but a matter of when consumers bring their own bags and become good stewards of the environment,” Brownley said in a statement early Wednesday morning.

The bill, AB1998, called for the ban to take effect in supermarkets and large retail stores in 2012. It would have applied to smaller stores in 2013.

Republicans and some Democrats opposed it, saying it would add an extra burden on consumers and businesses at a time when many already are struggling financially.

“If we pass this piece of legislation, we will be sending a message to the people of California that we care more about banning plastic bags than helping them put food on their table,” said Sen. Mimi Walters, R-Lake Forest.

One would think that from the statements above, that the California legislature was concerned about their constituents. But the real reason may be that these politicians may be concerned  more about their political futures than banning plastic bags. We are all frustrated with the way the government on both the state and federal levels are infringing on our lives and the way we live.

What do you think?

Comments welcome.

Source – AP

Don’t take my word for it – go to Time and read about Jeff recently insuring his fingers.  For one million dollars each.

Personally I think they’re undervalued.

During the past few weeks I have received quite a few comments to the three articles I have written concerning Straight Talk. Some of the questions that were asked, I did not have an answer. So I contacted Straight Talk Customer Service and this is their response to two of the issues I was asked about:

Dear Ron,

Thank you for your interest in Straight Talk Wireless. We are responding to your recent inquiry.

We understand that you would like to inquire if a Blackberry phone can be used with Straight Talk. We also believe that you want to inquire when AT&T service will begin.

We regret to inform you that you cannot use a Blackberry phone with Straight Talk since we are only able to activate handsets manufactured specifically for Straight Talk Wireless.

With regards to your concern about the service with AT&T, we are happy to inform you that we have already started the service. You can buy phones which has the sim card since these are the phones that are utilizing AT&T towers to have its service. However, we cannot assure that every area will have the coverage of the service. In order for us to check the availability of the service in a specific area, we need to have its zip code.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact one of our customer care representatives at 1-877-430-2355.  For your convenience, our representatives are available Monday-Sunday from 8:00 AM to 11:45 PM EST.

Thank you for being a Straight Talk Wireless customer.  We appreciate your business.

Sincerely,

Straight Talk Wireless

I hope this answer some of the question that were asked.

Comments welcome.

For a limited time and while supplies last, save up to $30 and Get a $10 Amazon Video On Demand Credit plus Free Shipping on the Roku HD-XR Player.

Amazon.com is now offering TV Shows from Fox and ABC for as low as $.99 cents on the Roku HD-XR Player. These are not just rentals like the Apple TV is limited by!

The Roku player instantly delivers HD-quality movies and TV shows directly to your TV over the Internet. The affordable Roku player is compact, easy to set up and intuitive to use.

• The Roku comes with everything you need to start watching within minutes of opening the box – the standard yellow, white and red cables, both Wi-Fi and Ethernet are built in, wireless remote and batteries. Start watching instantly anywhere you have a TV and a high-speed Internet connection.
• More than 50,000 titles are currently available from Amazon Video On Demand and Netflix, with many available in HD. 
• The Wall Street Journal, CNET, WIRED, and other publications have given the Roku player overwhelmingly positive reviews.

Now featuring extended-range wireless, Roku is the easiest way to stream instant movies and shows directly to your TV – over 50,000 and counting, from Netflix, Amazon Video On Demand, and more. The top-of-the-line HD-XR model uses the latest wireless standard (Wi-Fi “N”) to deliver the best quality video virtually anywhere in your home. It’s so easy and powerful; no wonder Roku is Netflix members’ top rated streaming player.

Get the Roku HD-XR Player at Amazon.com with FREE Super Saver Shipping on qualifying orders over $25.

There won’t be any free wireless broadband in your future, if the FCC gets its way. Nope, some may think broadband access is a right, but it certainly won’t be subsidized by the government.

The original plan would not have been totally free, nor would it have been supported by the government. It would have been more like the original NetZero and dial-up access – supported by ads.

[ComputerWorld]

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has closed the door on a controversial proposal for a way to use a chunk of wireless spectrum, but continues to consider how best to deploy the valuable spectrum.

The FCC notified M2Z on Friday that it would not support a plan based on the company’s proposal to offer free wireless broadband services.

The idea first came to light in 2006 when M2Z asked the FCC to give it spectrum so that it could build a national broadband network that would deliver Internet services to people for free. The network would be advertising-supported and would also offer a faster service for a fee.

In late 2007, the FCC turned down M2Z’s request. But former FCC Commissioner Kevin Martin then sought comment on a new proposal that was similar to M2Z’s but required that interested operators bid in an auction for the spectrum. The proposal specified frequencies in the 2155 MHz through 2175 MHz band, also known as the AWS-3 band.

Many existing mobile operators vehemently opposed the plan, which would have resulted in a free offering to compete with their services. The FCC went so far as to conduct tests in an effort to determine whether services in the relevant spectrum band would cause harmful interference to existing mobile services.

Proponents and opponents of the plan interpreted the results of the tests in their own favor.

It’s sad that an agency like the FCC cannot see through something like that. Why can’t the FCC show it has some intelligent people working there, and quit making excuses?

In a statement on Wednesday about the FCC’s decision not to support the proposal, M2Z pointed to broad support for its idea. It said that more than 50,000 people signed a petition and 20,000 people sent letters and e-mails to the FCC and members of Congress supporting the proposed rules. In addition, 300 local, state and federal officials from all 50 states wrote to the FCC in support of the proposed rules, M2Z said.

But the FCC may have decided that the opposition was greater than the support. "We gave careful and thorough consideration to the proposal, but ultimately determined that this was not the best policy outcome," Ruth Milkman, chief of the FCC Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, said in a statement. "We remain vigilant in our efforts to facilitate the universal deployment and adoption of broadband, especially through the much-needed reform to the universal service fund."

Per recommendations made in the National Broadband Plan, the FCC is looking for other spectrum bands that it might pair the AWS-3 band with. That would give an operator a wider swatch of spectrum to work with and, depending on the pairing, could offer them better deals on equipment that has already been developed for use in other parts of the world.

 

I think that since the bandwidth is limited, it should be licensed by need – those with the greatest need should have access, and those who can afford other access methods can look elsewhere.

The plan calls for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to develop reports on the potential for such pairings by Oct. 1. If such pairing isn’t recommended, the FCC is expected to adopt final rules for how to use the spectrum this year, with the idea of auctioning the spectrum next year.

The CTIA, a trade group representing the interests of mobile operators, said it was very pleased with the FCC’s decision. "It is an important step as it supports the efforts by the FCC, Congress and the White House to bring additional spectrum to market so the wireless ecosystem can continue to provide our consumers with the most innovative industry in the world," Steve Largent, CTIA’s president and CEO, said in a statement. "As we had argued throughout the proceeding, a designer allocation auction that would be tailored for one company was not in the public’s interest, especially when that company was offering broadband service that is slow by even yesterday’s standards."

 

The speed is something that may be argued about, but those who are in need can certainly wait a bit longer and are also not in a position to quibble about the lack of blistering speed for their connections.

The important thing is access, not the speed of access – as long as it is better than dial-up, it would be useful to those needing it at the most basic level.

Once again, the FCC is on the wrong side of the argument; something that nothing seems to be able to change.

§

I live now on borrowed time, waiting in the anteroom for the summons that will inevitably come. And then – I go on to the next thing, whatever it is. One doesn’t luckily have to bother about that. Agatha Christie

¤

®

Users of iTunes 10 are already complaining about the small size of the album art in iTunes 10. Luckily, you can change the size to make it bigger.

1. Click the double-arrow next to Album by Artist.

2. Select the desired size.

• Small
• Medium
• Large

Like everyone, I hear people complaining about the lack of broadband choices in their area. Having been one of these people in my recent past — stuck with cable only at the time — I feel their pain. But what about broadband access for those who are completely devoid of any cable or DSL options, much less access to fiber?

At this site, I was alerted to one guy who needed a solution for his telecommuting needs so he could keep his software company going, even while at home. It’s a grand idea, but as you can see from the above link, getting something up tall enough to hit a wireless repeater is something of an art in and of itself.

What remains a bit of a mystery here is which ISP is being used. I know of some wireless ISPs (not the usual 4G types) in parts of southern Washington and northern Oregon, but in the boonies of Indiana, I’ve no idea as the site neglects to share this tidbit.

At the end of the day though, it reflects what can be done with a small investment, LOTS of time, along with some elbow grease and a pass from the FCC. Want wireless Internet? Chances are even in the boonies, there may be options if you are willing to make the commitment to the effort.

• Essentials of UWB (The Cambridge Wireless Essentials Series)
• When disaster strikes: will your network pull through? Switching to wireless broadband is essential to a quick recovery.(technology support): An article ... (Technological Horizons In Education)
• High-Gain Wireless Antenna

Looking at the newest iPod Nano, I am tempted to say that they have jumped the shark with this one. My daughter has a 4th Generation model, which I really like. I have wanted one for quite a while, but really did not want to spend that much on a music player for myself.

I was really jazzed by the feature changes of the 5th generation model, and was really about ready to get one, and now, after looking at the several sites that are covering the newest addition, I am more sure than ever I want a 5th generation model.

Apple has given, but they have also taken away with this newest one, and for my tastes, they took away all the features I liked, and put in unnecessary features to bolster the price.

[TechConnect]

iPod shuffle check, next up is the new iPod nano, which has received a major makeover and is 46% smaller and 42% lighter than its predecessor, includes a built-in clip, and has a multi-touch display, volume buttons, and a battery life of up to 24 hours.

The updated iPod nano includes VoiceOver support and will be available in seven colors and two capacities – 8GB ($149) and 16GB ($179. Next, iPod touch…

While some will always think smaller is better, at some point, I believe that things that must be directly handled get too small, and this is it. However, I’ll be the first to admit I am probably in the minority, and many will love this unit, even though it does not do video, at all, has no video camera, and the games are gone.

[CNet]

The big news, of course, is that the Nano has ditched its time-tested scroll wheel navigation for a miniscule touch screen, measuring a smidge over 1-inch square (1.5 inches diagonally). The includes iPhone-like icons for music playback, photos, settings, Nike+, clock, radio, and Genius Mixes, as well as more specific shortcuts for audiobook playback, artists, genres, playlists, podcasts, etc. The icons are arranged in sets of four, spread out across multiple home screens, similar to iOS devices, such as the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.

Once you get beyond the gee-whiz factor of the postage stamp-sized touch screen, though, you begin to realize that the new Nano design makes some sacrifices. The video camera that Apple included on last year’s Nano has been discarded. The video playback and video rental capabilities of the past three generation of Nano has also gone away. Remember click-wheel games (Vortex, Maze, Klondike), notes, contacts, calendars, stopwatch, and alarms? Well, they’re gone too.

So no video, no camera, none of the games I liked, and a smaller screen (1.8” vs. 1.5”) does not make me say “Ooh, I must have one!”

I will either be looking elsewhere ( I have recently been looking at a Sony player, among others ) or I will stay with my little Sansa that I got refurb’ed for $15, and put the extra cash into a better something for rebuilding my main music system, which will be ultimately more satisfying, as it will be higher fidelity, and much more flexible.

§

Download Opera – A faster and more secure Web browser.

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®

If not having the latest or greatest technology doesn’t bother you, Best Buy is offering a Samsung 50″ 3D HDTV for a low price of only $989.99. Why is this HDTV so inexpensive? First of all the set is in 720p. Second the TV uses Plasma technology instead of the newer LED technology. But if these two minor specifications don’t bother you, this TV may be right for you.

In addition the HDTV is described as:

Product Features

Ultraslim design (2-3/4″ deep)

Ideal for wall mounting (with optional mounting kit, not included). VESA compatible 400mm x 400mm.

Check out the link below for more information.

Source – Best Buy

Picked up these ideas from a trip to Whole Foods Market (slightly modified with things I had like canned peaches (or frozen peaches) for the peach tea and frozen berries. (I used what I had on hand rather than making the extra trip for things).

Summer Fruit Slushies

Serves 4

This drink is using the natural sugars in the fruit to make it sweet.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup concord grape juice
1 cup seedless red or green grapes
1 cup honeydew melon chunks
2 cups ice cubes

Directions:

Pour juice into a blender. Drop in fruit and ice. Put the lid on and blend until smooth. Serve

and enjoy!

Green Breakfast Smoothie

Serves 2

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk or rice milk
1 1/2 cups packed baby spinach
1 1/2 cups frozen cherries or other berries

Need more sweet? Add a banana!

Directions

Put everything in the blender and puree until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve.

Peach – Berry Iced Tea

Serves 8

Ingredients

8 Black Tea Bags
1 Can Peaches
1 cup frozen or fresh blueberries or frozen sliced strawberries
add sugar to taste if needed

Directions

Put 6 cups water into a medium pot and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat, add tea bags, cover and steep 6 to 7 minutes; discard tea bags. transfer fruit to a large pitcher Either smash the fruit with a wooden spoon or if you have to use a food processor to get everything mixed up. Add 3 cups ice cubes to pot with hot tea and stir until melted; pour tea into pitcher with fruit. Serve immediately over ice, or chill until ready to serve.

Honey Mustard Chicken and Veggie Kabobs

Serves 8

Use leftover chicken and veggies from these kabobs to make salads or wrap sandwiches. Feel free to substitute with tofu or any other kabob-friendly meat or seafood you wish.
Ingredients

1/4 cup honey mustard, plus more for serving
3 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons canola oil or extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 1/4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts and/or thighs, cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks
1 pound button mushrooms
1 large eggplant, cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks
2 bunches green onions, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
2 red bell peppers, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
2 boxes (about 6 ounces each) rice pilaf mix, prepared

Directions:

If you’re using wooden skewers, soak them in water 20 to 30 minutes. Preheat grill to medium heat. In a small bowl, whisk together mustard, lemon juice, oil, salt and pepper. Thread chicken, mushrooms, eggplant, onions and peppers onto skewers; brush all over with mustard mixture. Grill, turning occasionally, until chicken is cooked and vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Arrange skewers on a platter over the rice pilaf and serve with honey mustard on the side for dipping.

Source: Whole Foods Market

Photo Credit: NikkiL

For more information on the latest news and trends on being green check out, The Ecomaker.

Well, perhaps cured is too strong a word….

In any case, Ren (aka Satan) was diagnosed diabetic a while back.  When we needed syringes I referred to them as Cat Darts.  The vet said they had tremendous luck with cats they treated, some coming off insulin entirely.  We said go.

The first set of tests revealed little.  Last week they revealed that Ren was fine.  Today it was confirmed after a week without insulin: he no longer required it.

This is tremendous news for all concerned!

Not sure how Ren feels about it – he loves attention and doesn’t mind getting shots.  We will have to keep him out of the dog food, though.

For the medically-minded, he was treated with what I believe is called glargine.  Ask your vet.

Of course, they did not implement it first, which is, after all, what counts.

That is the crux of the story coming from Download Squad. The people at Microsoft Research would have us believe that all the work was done long ago on this “new” technology. It may have been, but then what were they waiting for? The release being held up for almost any reason makes absolutely no sense.

Much has been said about Gmail’s new priority inbox — all of it good! — but it turns out that Microsoft Research has been working on similar technology since the 1990s.
Not only is there a slew of research papers detailing how the technology works (it sounds very similar to Gmail’s priority inbox), but Microsoft also has a bunch of well-targeted patents filed as far back as 1999!
Is this just another case of Microsoft being beaten to the market? Back in 2007 Microsoft Research released the Outlook Mobile Manager which seems to forward prioritized email to your mobile device. TechFlash also points out that some of the announced updates for Hotmail sound like they use the same Microsoft Research technology. I think this is more a case of Gmail simply being more nimble than Hotmail; a case of Google being less bogged down by bureaucracy and conservatism. I fully expect Hotmail will receive the same (or better) priority inbox technology in the next few months.

Or not. As I said, what could be the reason for holding this in abeyance? Try as I might, I cannot think of one. Microsoft needs to worry less about priority mail and more about getting the mail to its users. There are times of day during the week when mail cannot be retrieved, period. If there was such as thing as emergency e-mail, that might take care of it, but when you can’t get to it at all, it is a real pain.

I know that is yet another reason why I use the offline mail route with Windows Live Mail or Outlook (depending on machine)…if you need to get at something archived, you can, while trying to do this with webmail cannot be done.

And once Hotmail has a priority inbox, I can’t imagine Microsoft will continue to let Gmail use the same technology — especially if Google offers the priority inbox to its business and enterprise Google Apps customers. But at the same time, I can’t believe Google would spend time developing and implementing a service only to have it quashed by Microsoft. I wonder how this one will play out…

We will have a fight of some kind, it is almost certain. But while some continue to put all of their eggs in one basket, I have an account with Google, several with Hotmail, one with my ISP [Verizon] and one with GMX. I highly recommend GMX, both for their mail regularity and for the interface, which I like as well as GMail, and you can do webmail, POP3, or IMAP.

I suppose I’ll use the priority feature of Hotmail, if I ever need to, but I really don’t see that day, as when something is a priority with me, I use the phone – its very nature indicates higher priority than something that can so easily be ignored, letting the messages pile up without ever doing anything, or really being bothered by something.

At least the phone makes you want to answer it or shut it off.

§

Quote of the Day:
Recommend to your children virtue; that alone can make them happy, not gold.
–Ludwig van Beethoven

®

Microsoft is bringing back their Windows 7 Family Pack for $149.99. The package will contain 3 upgrade licenses of Windows 7 Home Premium. According to one article Microsoft is celebrating the first year of Windows 7 and wants to share the festivities with all consumers. In order to qualify for the offer you will need to be using a valid copy of either Windows XP or Windows Vista. In addition the article states that:

“Starting October 3 in the U.S., Windows 7 Family Pack will be available for purchase at participating retailers and online at the Microsoft Store,” Microsoft’s Ashley Brown revealed.

At the same time, the return of the Windows 7 Family Pack special deal will not be limited to customers in the United States.

As before, Microsoft will expand the availability of the Family Pack to customers in additional markets worldwide.

“For those of you who don’t live in the U.S., Family Pack may be coming your way too. It goes on sale in Canada, UK, Germany, France, Australia and many other markets on or after Oct. 22 (Windows 7’s 1 year anniversary!),” Brown added.

I’m hearing that Windows 7 Family Pack availability could begin as soon as October 5th for Canadian customers, just two days after it goes live the US, but this specific detail still remains to be confirmed.

Though the official release date of Windows 7 was actually October 22nd, 2009, it doesn’t matter that Microsoft is jumping the gun. A deal like this should be well accepted,

Comments welcome.

Source – Softpedia

You don’t need me to tell you that going to college isn’t cheap because that’s a fact of life. Expenses can seem to grow by leaps and bounds in areas that you may not have even been expecting. One area in particular that has caused a lot of stress for college students and their parents is the cost of textbooks. Some of these textbooks are so expensive that you’d think each page was covered with gold. Even if you decide to not buy new textbooks and instead go for used ones, you’ll still have to pay more than may be reasonable. Because of this, renting textbooks can be a very appealing and economical approach, and BookRenter will help college students find what they’re looking for.

Students can save 75% or over $500 per year, which means that more money will be available for ramen. You can choose how long you’d like to rent a textbook to see the various pricing options that are available. Shipping is free both ways, so you won’t have to pay a dime to receive or return the textbooks. This resource helps you save money in one area of college, and that means that there’s only a thousand other areas that you can try to do the same thing with.

• One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest [VHS]
• The Kite Runner
• The Shack
• Interpreter of Maladies

BookRenter is a post from: Windows Fanatics

You are invited to a Murder Hunt!

As a guest at the beautiful Nasse House in the English countryside, you are invited to take part in a thrilling mock-murder game. While visitors follow clues to figure out “whodunit,” those in charge find themselves with a rising sense of uncertainty. Could an insider be using this charade as the perfect disguise for some despicable scheme?

With famed detective Hercule Poirot in attendance, help uncover the possible motives leading to a buried secret. Find hidden clues, decode messages, solve complicated puzzles and link crucial facts to unravel a story of deception, dark secrets and a fatal end. Is this Murder Hunt innocent fun, or a Dead Man’s Folly?

Following the success of Death on the Nile (Game of the Year, 2007) and Peril at End House with over 27 million downloads, the Agatha Christie PC game series delivers pure suspense to mystery fans worldwide and Dead Man’s Folly brings another Queen of Crime’s classic tale to life.

• Unlimited & unrestricted game play
• Experience the suspense and mystery through 48 challenging seek and find levels
• Explore 15 gorgeous locations on an English country estate as you take part in a mock-murder game
• Uncover clues, solve complex puzzles and reveal the truth behind a dark secret
• Earn rewards for solving the Murder Hunt, then unlock “Find All” mode to be able to uncover all hidden items in the game!

Download and play Agatha Christie: Dead Man’s Folly! ($6.95)

Agatha Christie: Dead Man’s Folly is a post from: Windows Fanatics

CurrPorts is freeware that displays the list of all currently opened TCP/IP and UDP ports on your local computer.

[Discovered via Major Geeks]

[61.9K] [Win95/98/Me/2k/XP/Vista/7] [FREE]

[Photo above by johntrainor / CC BY-ND 2.0]

• PLANEX 8 Ports Fast Ethernet Switch FX-08EW Designed in Japan
• Enterasys Platinum Distributed Forwarding Engine - Switch - Managed - 48 ports - Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet - 10Base-T, 100Base-TX, 1000Base-T + 1 x Expansion Slot (empty) - PoE - plug-in module
• Enterasys 12-Port Diamond Distributed Forwarding Engine Switch
• Cam2Life Plug & Play MPEG4 Wireless Network IP Security Camera with Night Vision, Records Clear Video with Sound - Features Remote Viewing, Scheduling, Motion Detection and Email Notification - Easy to Use, Zero Setting Required
• Cam2Life Plug & Play MPEG4 Wireless Network IP Security Camera, Records Clear Video with Sound - Features Remote Viewing, Scheduling, Motion Detection and Email Notification - Easy to Use, Zero Setting Required
• Clearing & forwarding at Nigeria ports: A guide to travellers, importers, exporters & customs agents
• Port forwarding: Packet Forwarding, Network Address Translator, TCP and UDP Port, Local Area Network, Port Number, Secure Shell

CurrPorts v1.83 is a post from: Windows Fanatics

David Spark attended our recent Gnomedex on behalf of Dice. He stopped me for a couple of moments to talk about my ideas for this year. While we have no pre-planned agenda, a theme tends to emerge as we book our speakers. This year, the theme ended up being about the power of an individual.

We each have the power to do and to create without anyone asking us to. You have to get out there and do whatever it is you’re passionate about. Technology and social media have become our enablers.

Our presenters this year each had a story to tell. They created something without anyone’s approval and gathered interest as a result of their work. They are individuals with power — the power to create change.

Oh, and have you joined the community on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube yet?

• A Whack on the Side of the Head: How You Can Be More Creative
• A Whack On the Side of the Head
• A Whack On the Side of the Head: How to Unlock Your Mind for Innovation

Creation Driven By The Power Of Tech is a post from: Windows Fanatics

One of the easiest ways to customize Office 2010 to meet your own needs is to add the commands that you frequently use to the Quick Access toolbar. For example, if you frequently use the E-mail command, you can add it to the toolbar where it is easily accessible.

To customize the quick access toolbar, click the down arrow to the right of the Quick Access toolbar. By default there are only three quick access icons enabled. That is, Save, Undo and Redo. To enable one of the other commands, simply select the appropriate command so a check appears beside it. Once enabled, the icon appears on the Quick Access toolbar.

[Photo above by konradfoerstner / CC BY-ND 2.0]

• MICROSOFT Office Professional Academic 2010 - T6D-00123
• Microsoft Office Home and Student 2010 with free Dell Wireless Mouse
• HP Notebook DV6TSE-Genuine Windows 7, Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-720QM Quad Core processor (1.6GHz, 6MB L3 Cache) with Turbo Boost up to 2.8 GHz, 8GB DDR3, 1TB HD, 1GB ATI Mobility Radeon(TM) HD 5650 Graphics [HDMI, VGA], Blu-ray ROM with SuperMulti DVD+/-R/RW, Intel Wireless-N Card, Bluetooth,Webcam, Fingerprint Reader, 15.6" diagonal High Definition LED HP Brightview Widescreen Display (1366x768), Microsoft(R) Office Starter 2010
• Microsoft Outlook 2010 - AE Full Retail Version
• Microsoft Ergonomic Natural Wireless High Definition Laser Mouse 6000 with Revolutionary Ergonomic Design, Unprecedented Comfort, Customizable Buttons, 4-way Scrolling, Instant Viewer & Magnifier
• Microsoft Office 2010 Plain & Simple
• Microsoft Office 2010: Introductory (Shelly Cashman)
• Office 2010: The Missing Manual
• Microsoft Office 2010 Home & Student (Disc Version)
• Microsoft Office 2010 Professional (Disc Version)
• Microsoft Publisher 2010
• Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust

Add Commands To The Quick Access Toolbar In Office 2010 is a post from: Windows Fanatics

Windows 7 lets you customize the notification area by adding or removing icons. Take for example, the volume icon. If you don’t use the volume icon in the notification area, why not just remove it?

To remove the volume icon from the notification area in Windows 7:

1. Right click an empty space on the taskbar and click Properties.
2. Click the Customize button within the Notification area section.
3. From the Notification Area Icons window, click the Turn system icons on or off link.
4. Click the drop down arrow beside Volume and select Off.
5. Repeat step 4 for any other icons you want to remove such as the clock, network, or power icons.
6. Click OK.

You can add the volume icon back to the notification area by repeating the steps above, only select On when you reach step 4.

• The Magical Music of Disney
• Gypsy of the Sea
• Treffer Versenkt
• Qatar Presses Ahead With Orders To Become World's Biggest LNG & GTL Exporter.: An article from: APS Review Gas Market Trends
• Coastwatch: UNC Sea Grant; Currituck: The Struggle to Move Ahead and Remain the Same (January 1991)
• "Ahead of the mails": A brief story of the transportation of the U.S. mail by sea, 1848-1860

Remove The Volume Icon From The Notification Area In Windows 7 is a post from: Windows Fanatics

The simplest things are the hardest to master. The Experts’ Guide to 100 Things Everyone Should Know How to Do provides unparalleled insights into how to accomplish your daily tasks better — more resourcefully, more effectively, and more efficiently — in a collection of brief, entertaining how-to essays by 100 of the world’s leading authorities. Topics include:

• Interpersonal skills, such as how to listen by Larry King
• Etiquette essentials, such as how to set a formal table by Peggy Post
• Home pointers, such as how to paint a room by Bob Vila
• Beauty basics, including how to apply lipstick by Bobbi Brown
• Cooking tips, such as how to barbecue by Bobby Flay
• Health hints, such as how to breathe by Bikram Choudhury
• Athletic advice, including how to hit a tennis ball by Jennifer Capriati

The Experts’ Guide To 100 Things Everyone Should Know How To Do is a post from: Windows Fanatics