Jesse Mueller For help in solving a Rubik’s Cube, there are countless YouTube videos and tutorials out there that will teach you how to solve this fiendish device. Or you can use this simple website to tell you exactly how to solve your Cube, in 25 moves or less. I’ve tried it, and it works astonishingly well. … Read more
ABCMouse was recently punished by the FTC, to the tune of $10 million. They were fined for a variety of deceptive practices, including recurring charges to customer credit cards for membership renewals that were either not disclosed or difficult to terminate. Auto-renewal traps are nothing new. ABCMouse is certainly a big name, but many other … Read more
If you are color blind or have any other vision sensitivities, check out the color filters in your computer. Most operating systems offer these built-in tools, to make your screen easier to see and use. In Windows 10, go to Start -> Settings -> Ease of Access -> Color Filters. On MacOSX, go to Apple … Read more
1TB or 2TB flash drives are not cheap! If you’ve seen an ad or an offer for a Terabyte Flash Drive for a low price ($20-30), it is a scam. While terabyte-sized flash drives are finally coming to market, they are still expensive (~$150-200). “Fake” flash drives are for sale, though, on Amazon and similar … Read more
For many years, I’ve recovered data from defunct computers for my customers. But having changed to a remote support role, this service is one of the few things I can no longer offer. So, I think it’s time I describe this process in detail, in case some of you are comfortable doing it yourself. Update … Read more
Once or twice a year*, your computer needs dusting! Their grills and cooling elements attract dust, and too many years of particulate build-up can lead to overheating and shorter lifespans. An inexpensive can of compressed air is all you need to knock loose any accumulated dirt. Here’s an example of what to buy: https://www.amazon.com/Falcon-Compressed-Disposable-Cleaning-DPSJB/dp/B0000AE67M Shoot … Read more
A common email scam starts with a message, stating you made a purchase, when you truly didn’t. The Thank-You-for-Your-Purchase Scam may appear to come from Microsoft or any number of well-known companies. Click here or here to view some examples of this scam. $500 for “Microsoft Windows Defender Firewall Online”? Many people will miss that … Read more
The pandemic has many citizens looking to vote by mail this autumn, and the time to get ready for this is now. If voting by mail is permitted in your state, it will take some paperwork & waiting to get you confirmed for it. For those interested, go to https://www.usa.gov/election-office and choose the state in … Read more
UPDATE: In May 2023, this app was retired. For more info, please see: The Commonwealth of Virginia now offers an app that will help in the fight against COVID-19. If you install and activate this free app, it will notify you if you might’ve been exposed to (someone with) the coronavirus. For more information and … Read more
Faxing is almost extinct, but a few companies and industries still ask customers to fax them. This can be a real inconvenience, since most of us no longer have a fax machine. Or a landline, for that matter! If you need to fax without having a fax machine of your own, consider: Many libraries, some … Read more