The Computer Guy's Space

Well, if you follow me on Facebook or Twitter then you know I’ve been testing Foursquare (4SQ) the past week or so.

I have now unlinked my FaceBook account from my Foursquare account for security reasons.

Here is my assessment.

It is a social networking site that allows a user to know where all their friends are at any given time.  What do I mean?  Well if all your 4SQ friends are consistently posting their locations as they move about, then everyone knows where the action is.  And, they can “compete” to see who scores the most points around town since points are assigned as you post your locations.

You can also leave “tips” about locations.  Like, I left a tip that Panera Bread has good coffee and really good shortbread cookies.  And I suppose you could tell your friends places to avoid as well.

Another feature is you can earn such things as being “elected” mayor of a given location.  All you have to do is be the most frequent visitor to a location and you automatically are “elected” mayor.  Essentially you elect yourself!  For right now I am the “Mayor” of Panera Bread in Owensboro.  Imagine that!

Overall the program seems like it could be a fun service to use provided:

Parents monitor their kids updates

Parents make sure their kids do NOT connect their Foursquare Account to any other account unless:

They do not have any friends on their other SN accounts that they do not know extremely well.

Are careful to know which of their friends are connected.

Never give out too much info.  For example…if your kid is 13 and he/she posts “the beaches in FL are wonderful right now,” well most anyone would assume the kid was there with parents which means the house is empty!  Great time to burglarize the place.

Explore 4SQ for yourself and let us know what you think.

Dennis “The Mayor” Wilson

We just put together a really good package for anyone wanting a Dell laptop with MS Office 2007 Small Business Edition with Adobe Standard.  (Adobe Standard is full blown Adobe, not just the reader.)  It comes with Windows XP Home and it has a touch screen!  This unit it is only 10.1 inches so it is very portable yet still larger than the standard 8.9” NETbook.  It also does NOT have a CD or DVD player included.

If you were to purchase MS Office 2007 Small Business Edition with Adobe Acrobat Standard separately the suggested retail is around $800!

Your price for the whole package is $823 plus shipping and tax.  If you pay by cash or check there is a $23 discount.  Then we will charge $149 for setup and configuration and will include installing all updates and patches plus anti-virus software and our remote support software.   *** This package is only available to delivery in Kentucky. *** 

Dennis H. Wilson, Head Computer Guy

The Computer Guys LLC

3520 New Hartford Rd. Suite 404

Owensboro, KY  42303

(270) 344-4286 Voice - Office

(270) 570-3611 Voice - Cell

Dennis @ TheComputerGuysLLC.com

All quotes for Dell equipment are subject to change every Thursday as Dell changes pricing on Thursdays.  All hardware/software warranty, if any, is provided by the manufacturer, not The Computer Guys LLC.

Our goal here at The Computer Guys LLC is to exceed your expectations, so please let us know immediately if you feel, at any time, we are not accomplishing our goal. We are continuously striving to be the best and want your experience to be as convenient and enjoyable as possible. We want you to know that we truly appreciate your business.

A big thanks to Kevin Bruner who first showed this to me. 

GIBSON-PIKE-POSEY-VANDERBURGH-WARRICK-SPENCER-UNION KY-WEBSTER-

HOPKINS-CHRISTIAN-HENDERSON-DAVIESS-MCLEAN-MUHLENBERG-TODD-

INCLUDING THE CITIES OF.FORT BRANCH.PETERSBURG.POSEYVILLE.

EVANSVILLE.BOONVILLE.ROCKPORT.MORGANFIELD.DIXON.

MADISONVILLE.HOPKINSVILLE.HENDERSON.OWENSBORO.CALHOUN.

GREENVILLE.ELKTON

1217 PM CST MON FEB 8 2010

WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO NOON CST TUESDAY.

THE NATL WEATHER SVC IN PADUCAH HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR SW IN & WESTERN KY.WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO NOON CST TUESDAY. THIS IS AN UPGRADE FROM THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY.

* A POWERFUL WINTER STORM SYSTEM CONTINUES TO TAKE SHAPE IN THE PLAINS STATES.& WILL BE MOVING IN WITH ITS ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL TONIGHT.

* DRY AIR WEDGED ACROSS THE LWR OH.TN.& WABASH RIVER VALLEYS WILL BE STUBBORN TO YIELD TO MOISTURE THAT WILL BE STARTING TO OVERRUN THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON. BY THIS EVENING HOWEVER.THE CONTINUED MOISTENING OF THE ATMOSPHERIC COLUMN SHOULD RESULT IN WHAT WILL BE THE BEGINNING OF SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL.

* STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF AROUND 4 INCHES ARE EXPECTED ACROSS MUCH OF SW IN & WESTERN KY TONIGHT.

LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS TO 5 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE S. PENNYRILE REGION OF WESTERN KY.SOUTH TOWARD THE TN BORDER. SLIGHTLY LWR AMOUNTS IN THE 3 TO 4 INCH RANGE MIGHT OCCUR NO. OF THE OH RIVER ACROSS PORTIONS OF SW IN. BUT ON AVERAGE AROUND 4 INCHES IS THE MAIN ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL THREAT FOR THIS WARNING. THE ACCUMULATING SNOW SHOULD BE TAPERING OFF TUES MORNING WITH THE WARNING ENDING BY MIDDAY TUESDAY.

* SNOWS TO 4 INCHES OR MORE WILL CAUSE DANGEROUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS. IN ADDITION STRONG WINDS WILL COME IN LATER TUESDAY LASTING THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

Over the years we have had a number of clients that have asked about file sharing sites, such as the ones above, and want to know whether they should or shouldn’t download files from these types of sites.

I have tried to find the best way to explain it, besides the fact that my understanding is that it is illegal, it also is dangerous.

The analogy I am getting ready to use may offend some readers and I am sorry if it does, but it really makes the point.

Would you go to an orgy?  (Please don’t answer that I don’t want to know.) 

If you would go to one, would you participate even though no precautions were being taken to prevent STD’s?

When you download files, i.e. music, from file sharing sites, it is akin to going to an orgy where you don’t know everyone and you know that nobody will be taking any precautions.  Besides the moral aspect, it is just plain dangerous and not a very smart thing to do.

So, please uninstall LimeWire and all other file-sharing programs and then delete all the files you have downloaded.  If you don’t you may end up having to hire a professional to get rid of the stuff you “catch.”

And as always, if you need assistance, we are here to help.

Dennis “The Anti-File Sharing Guy” Wilson