When Oprah says "don't text and drive" will people listen?

According to the Harvard Center of Risk Analysis, cell phone use contributes to 6 percent of all crashes, which equates to 636,000 crashes, 330,000 injuries, and 2600 deaths each year.

Oprah Winfrey just announced her “Hang Up and Drive Campaign” to educate consumers on distracted driving (i.e. texting, phone calls etc.) On her show today (Monday, January 18, 2010) she had guests on who have lost loved ones to distracted-driving crashes. Furthermore, a law was passed on January 1, 2010 that banned texting while driving in the state of Illinois (a law that has been in act since October 2008 in Chicago.)

So, texting and cell phone talking and electronic distraction while driving is illegal in Illinois... for good reason.

Something of value on YouTube??? It's possible,

I'm not a big fan of YouTube, even if there is good content out there, or very funny content with laughing babies or juggling hippos. Too much consumer-generated content, too slow to wait for video and too much time wasted.

But, reading Hemispheres on United Airlines last week, I learned there is something out in that vast wasteland. YouTube Edu -- here you can listen to and watch lectures and presentations from the academic world... online & free. Just launched in 2009, it contains lectures and coursework from over 100 universities. An interview in The Wall Street Journal states the content just from the Univ. Minnesota contains 200 lecture-based courses in literature, history, law, engineering and other subjects.

I know what I'm watching tonight...

Social Media Handbook: New book out in January 2010

If you're wondering what to make of all the cross-traffic on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter... wonder no more. I've put together a small book called Social Media Handbook, and will announce its availability here next month.

While most of the social media sites are temporary blips on the radar, more companies are using them to reach the friends of the friends of their friends, and the impact on society is undeniable.

I myself am a Twitter quitter, but participate in Facebook and LinkedIn, just enough to say I'm out there.

But this kind of stuff... just not worth any energy:

Connect with Twitter?

"Would you like to connect TweetMeme and Twitter together to be able to easily and quickly tweet your links? You will be able to edit your tweets before they are tweeted."

Hmmm. I think I'll just say 'no.'

Favorite new toy: Windows 7 under the tree

If you're wishing for a new computer, I hope you find a Windows 7 PC or laptop under your tree. If you have a Windows XP computer with enough power, memory and disk space, you can get by with a shiny new Windows 7 DVD and install it over Windows XP.

It's not quite as easy as opening a box with a fully configured Windows 7 set up on a hot new computer, so here's a link to some resources to help you if you choose to upgrade over Windows XP.

The Windows 7 Easy Transfer process will copy all your data files to the new computer (cross-over cable required)


Microsoft installation guide for each version

TechFlash guide to loading Windows 7 over XP

Holiday Gift Idea #1

If you have a techie on your holiday gift list, perhaps he/she is too smart to need Computer Ease, but here's a great gift idea...

For the techie who has everything and no pockets to carry it all....


Acccording to the Scottevest.com web site, this jacket has:
# Patented Personal Area Network (PAN)
# Interior cell phone pocket (connects to PAN)
# Interior iPhone/iPod/iTouch pocket (connects to PAN)
# Travel documents pocket
# PubPocket - typically large enough to hold a magazine, eBook reader or small netbook
# Camera pocket and ID/business cards pocket
# Eyeglass pocket, including chamois with versatile clip
# Magnetic pocket closures

it even has "Clear Touch fabric, allowing a traveler to see and control their iPod and cell phones through the fabric." Quite possibly the coolest way to stay warm this winter!

Helen Gallagher

Reverse Ingenuity

Here's a twist: Converting a PDF back to Word. Most people ask me for help increating a PDF but we used to need the full version of Adobe to make a .pdf editable.

This is the answer - and it's a free download from www.pdftoword.com

Windows 7 features continue to impress

Besides the fresh new look and fast performance of computers running Windows 7, here are a few more impressive reasons to move up or to add a Windows 7 computer to your life.

Easily partition the large hard drive into two. Why? With Windows on C: and your data all on D: if there is a system crash and you need to reload Windows, it won't disturb your data.

Use Windows Easy Transfer software to copy from old to new. (Cable required). TIP: Clean out all your temp files before copying.

Windows has a Backup utility.

If you have more than one Windows 7 computer at home, you can use a wi-fi signal to share files.

What's missing? So far -- Outlook and Outlook Express. Outlook Express is gone forever, in favor of Windows Live, which encompasses mail and calendar programs. Outlook is still available in certain versions of Office 2003 and 2007.