omg! Yahoo! | Stealthwear | Friday Fun

Let’s get things rolling, and help the weekend arrive..
(AKA “A few Items of Interest”)

Beardless Ben Makes First Post-Oscars Appearance

First up, Silk (the web browser in my Kindle Fire) recommended to me a website, which, I had never heard of. It’s named omg! Yahoo!. Naturally, I click on anything “Recommended for Paul”, so I discovered that omg! features the latest Celebrity Gossip and photos (Did you know that Affleck has shaved his beard? And that Aaahnahld S. has a new gal pal?) and more. (As in.. plenty of ads..)

OMG. Please pass me a barf bag! But if your tastes and “likes” include Access Hollywood and/or ET, be sure to check out the great pics the stalker parasites paparazzi snapped of Famous People today.

Do you .. Yahoo?

(Must be a ‘glitch’ in their algorithm.. I have never looked at “Hollywood news”, Celebrity, or Gossip items… and I don’t Yahoo!)

* Very interesting (to me) .. How To Avoid The Predator Drone. Well.. that’s what I might have named the article.. But check out: DIY Anonymity on the Internet

“A recent fashion show in London presented Stealth Wear, meant to explore “the potential for fashion to challenge authoritarian surveillance.” Featuring an “anti-drone hoodie,” to thwart thermal imaging, with an “off pocket” to mask mobile phone location signals, these fashion accessories may exemplify a larger trend — the drive to find personal means to maintain anonymity in response to ever more powerful and ubiquitous methods used to track our activities, both licit and illicit.” Read more..

* Oracle investigating after two more Java 7 zero-day flaws found

“Polish security researchers have discovered yet more zero-day vulnerabilities in Java, the beleaguered Web plug-in, that led to the successful intrusion of Facebook, Apple and Microsoft in recent weeks.” Read more..

* A free version of Microsoft Office? (Legal???) Are Microsoft’s free Office Web Apps good enough for you?

“When you think of Microsoft Office, you probably think of retail software that commands a premium price. Surprise! The latest iteration of the Office Web Apps are free and surprisingly powerful. How do they stack up against Google’s offerings?” Read more..

[ah.. the wonders of the cloud..]

* Reader submitted ‘podcast’.. Why internet addiction is a controversial diagnosis

“Isaac Vaisberg is a self-described recovering Internet addict. He’s getting treatment through a pioneering new program in Washington State. And this spring, Internet Use Disorder will be officially recognized as an area that warrants further study. But not everyone thinks this is progress.” Listen

[IUD.. I thought that was something different..]

Okay. Enuff dat. Here’s our Friday Fun Video:

well… omg!

Update: What can you (Dear Reader) tell me about Fandango? Various young people have told me that it is THE website and smartphone app for anyone considering going to the movies… (Use the “Leave a Comment” link, below.)

Today’s quote: “The secret of success is learning how to use pain and pleasure instead of having pain and pleasure use you. If you do that, you’re in control of your life. If you don’t, life controls you.” ~ Tony Robbins

Copyright 2007-2013 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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All we really have, in the end, are our stories.
Make yours great ones. Ones to be proud of.

A Big Question For A Little Monday

* The more I use Windows 8 Developer’s Preview Edition (on my Desktop), the more I do not like Metro.
So much for the idea that my comfort would grow with familiarity…
But, that’s just me. Perhaps others will feel the opposite.
While this is a very early “beta” I am playing with.. I don’t see anything here that would make me want to spend to “upgrade” from Windows 7. I hope that changes as official release draws nearer.

* The subject of the Internet causing divorces has come up in conversation several times for me lately. It seems many people believe the Internet is causing more and more marriages to fail.. an epidemic, to quote a few.

I admit, smart business people, and media types,  have been quick to declare a new disease: Internet Addiction.. and yes, World of Warcraft is often cited. Some two years ago now, I wrote: Is Your (inner) Child Addicted to the Internet?, which is not only a good read, but contains a link to an assessment test you can take.

I will also admit, I have an opinion in terms of the question “is the Internet causing a higher divorce rate”, but today I will ask, not tell. What do you think?

Thanks in advance for your ‘feedback’.

* What’s new in the world of tech toys, devices, and gadgets? Well, the CES is where you go to see tomorrow’s technology.

Can’t remember if I ever mentioned it here.. not a big fan of Mondays…

Today’s quote: “The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom.” ~ Isaac Asimov

Copyright 2007-2011 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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Is Your (inner) Child Addicted to the Internet?

Two recent events have reminded me to ponder the social implications of Internet Addiction– one, the power (once again) went out for a lengthy duration here at T4E Headquarters; and, two, my nephew’s father wanted to take him for his first fishing trip.
At a lake.
Out in the boondocks.
Where there is no Internet. (Thus, no Swords & Dragons Quest Guild Wars*) My nephew is 12.

We use our computers, and the Internet, for lots of different purposes (see Why We Compute) and some of us, like me, even conduct our businesses online. For us, service interruptions can seem minor inconveniences, or disastrous business events.
12 year-old boys (well, my nephew anyway) use computers and the Internet to play games, and an interruption seems like the END OF THE WORLD.

Dr. Orzack, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in the treatment of cyber-addiction, and member of the Harvard Medical School faculty, lists the Symptoms of IA:

* Having a sense of well-being or euphoria while at the computer
* Inability to stop the activity
* Craving more and more time at the computer
* Neglect of family and friends
* Feeling empty, depressed, irritable when not at the computer
* Lying to employers and family about activities
* A child’s grades fall and the teacher notes that he/she is falling asleep in class

When I lose my Internet service, not only am I unable to assist clients with Remote Sessions, but I experience a good dose of #5 on that list. I joke with friends that I experience Internet “withdrawal” (and I show them my trembling hands). But I am not an addict, not like some of the people who have appeared in the headlines– I have not lost my wife/house/job/friends.

And, honestly, I don’t think my nephew is that bad off either.. he did go on the fishing trip and enjoyed it.
But I am concerned. I know that these MMORPG’s are designed to be addicting, and that they take hundreds of hours to play enough to “advance” in. I know that my nephew spends far too much time with his online games (like, all his free time).
And.. I know that his behavior (getting home from school and going straight to the computer) is considered “normal” these days.
(And mom can keep an eye on him.. and he’s not out doing risky things like skateboarding, climbing tall trees, riding motorscooters, or running with sharp sticks..)

I am not an expert. I cannot tell you if you, or your child is an Internet Addict. I cannot predict the future, and see how my nephew is “going to turn out”. I can only tell you that Internet Addiction is real, and that it is a subject worth consideration. And, there’s an online addiction assessment test you can take if you have suspicions/concerns.

If you think you, or your child is an addict, there is a large community of help available. Enter “Internet Addiction” into a search engine, and start seeking it.

* A game name I made up.

Photo courtesy of WiredParentPad, What Every Parent Ought to Know About World of Warcraft.
Also, please see Video Game Addiction – True or False? and Detox Centers for Computer and Internet Related Addictions

Copyright 2007-8 © Tech Paul. All rights reserved. post to jaanix

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