This Month's: Links, Tips, News and Fun Stuff       

Inside this edition:

Our Top 10 Lists 
↓      ↓  

Consumer Corner:

In the Spotlight:
« Halloween »

UNEMPLOYED in Pa:
« Helpful Resources »

Favorite Links this month:

Stuff to Email Friends:

Websites  in  Pa:

more sites
on the route53 network:

Or ... if you have a
business or product
you wish to promote?
Inquire re: Advertising !!!

— a quote worth remembering —

"Old telephone books make ideal personal address books.
Simply cross out the names of people you don't know."
— Author: Martha Stewart

Welcome to the October edition of Ron's Newsletter.
                Remember the saying, Spring forward, Fall back?
Well, this month we — change our clocks — and fall back and lose an hour because time reverts to Standard Time at 2 a.m. on the last Sunday of October, which is the 31st ... which of course is Halloween. Also, many fire departments encourage people to change the battery in the smoke detector when they change their clocks, because it can be so easy to forget otherwise. Did you know the idea of changing the clocks was first proposed by William Willett of London in 1907? It's true. So ... have a great Halloween! — Now, go read, click and enjoy.

Comments invited.

C YA  nEXT mONTH,
  

«  Now, some news you may have missed  »

Have you seen my 'black box'?... Also called Event Data Recorders or ERDs, "black boxes" are being installed in new cars and trucks. These devices record data about speed, direction of travel, brake application, etc. for use in accident investigations just as they do with plane crashes. See a list of which American vehicle models are equipped with ERDs.

Halloween is a celebration of WHAT?... The name Halloween is Scottish in origin and it's from the 5th century BC, in Celtic Ireland of All Hallows Eve, or All Saint's Day.

One story says that, on that day, the disembodied spirits of all those who had died throughout the preceding year would come back in search of living bodies to possess for the next year. It was believed to be their only hope for the after-life. The Celts believed all laws of space and time were suspended during this time, allowing the spirit world to intermingle with the living.

Naturally, the still-living did not want to be possessed. So on the night of October 31, villagers would extinguish the fires in their homes, to make them cold and undesirable. They would then dress up in all manner of ghoulish costumes and noisily paraded around the neighborhood, being as destructive as possible in order to frighten away spirits looking for bodies to possess.

Soldiers' War Blogs Detail Life in Iraq... Iraq war blogs are as varied as the soldiers who write them. Some sites feature practical news and war pictures. Some question the war, some cheer it. While some military bloggers (or milbloggers) say their commanders have encouraged their online literary ventures, a few say their commanders have shut them down. CBFTW: My War | Doc in the Box | Dagger Jag

If you've installed SP2, on your Windows XP, then you might be interested in the Microsoft KB article 883792. It answers the most frequently asked questions about the new Windows Security Center, including what it is and how it works.

Clinical Research... ClinicalTrials.gov provides regularly updated information about federally and privately supported clinical research in human volunteers. It also gives you information about a trial's purpose, who may participate, locations and phone #s. Also search for clinical trials at National Cancer Institute. Also, if interested, there are clinical trials that are actively recruiting patients to participate.
Related Links: Newly Approved Drugs | See all types of cancer |
Dictionary of Cancer Terms | See State Cancer Statistics |
Compare Cancer deaths in Pennsylvania Counties versus U.S.

National Coming Out Day... is observed on October 11 in the U.S. by members of the gay community. The day commemorates October 11, 1987, when 500,000 people marched on Washington for gay and lesbian equality in an effort to give a familiar face to the gay rights movement.

Attention: 401(k) plans Users... Dissatisfied with your existing plan? Interested in a new retirement plan? Lost your job recently and would like to explore your rollover or transfer options? Let me show you a plan that will guarantee you at least a 7% return and still be invested in the market. Whichever does better, the market or the guarantee. You are guaranteed not to lose any money.
Contact Dudurich Investment Associates for more information. Call (800)448-4778. (be sure to mention this ad when you call.)

Free Travel Brochures... Use Travelinformation.com to select the latest FREE travel brochures, vacation guides, maps & travel planning kits — and have them mailed to you free of charge. These free vacation guides are what every traveler needs to plan their next vacation.

Survey Sez !... Premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance in the U.S. increased 11.2 percent this year, five times the rate of growth in workers' earnings according to a recent survey. As a result, health-care costs continue to affect hiring and remain a No. 1 issue in collective bargaining unions. As health-care costs surge, workers are shouldering a mounting share of the financial burden, particularly for family coverage. The annual premium for a plan covering a family of four averaged $9,950, or $829 a month, in 2004, the survey found. Workers contributed 10 percent more than they spent the prior year. Since 2001, employees' share of health insurance costs has soared 49 percent. For details on the survey, go here.

'Oil Prices' Surge... World oil surplus production capacity is currently near its lowest point of the past 3 decades, providing an extremely limited cushion in the event of unexpected world oil market disruptions. "Oil prices could conceivably rise to $60 in the near future," said Jason Kenny, the oil and gas analyst with ING Financial Markets. Heating oil accounts for about 25% of the yield of a barrel of crude, the second largest "cut" after gasoline. The price of oil is up 75 percent from a year ago.
Related Links:
Gas and Oil Market Info | Who's profiting from high prices? | Fuel-Saving Tips | Gas Theft is Increasing | Cars that don’t guzzle gas.

Jessica Simpson will wear... Daisy Duke's short shorts in the upcoming Dukes of Hazzard movie ... The buxom blonde won out over competitors such as Britney Spears and Mandy Moore. This will be Jessica's big screen debut. The film is based on the television series which centered on the erratic driving habits of the Duke cousins behind the wheel of their 1969 Dodge, the General Lee. The show ran from 1979 to 1985. read more.

What IS a resume?... a Resume is a self-promotional document that presents you in the best possible light, for the purpose of getting invited to a job interview. How far back should you go in your Work History? Should you fold your resume? What is the most common resume mistake? What do you do if you have gaps in your work experience? Find the answers here.
Also see: Tips for Resume Writing | Sample Resumes

Did you know?... the Trade Act programs assist individuals who have become unemployed as a result of increased imports from foreign countries. TAA Programs | Services For Laid Off Workers | Dealing with Job Loss.

... and ... because Halloween is this month... Did you hear about the Unreleased Car Ad that was Cancelled for being too spoooookkkeeee? The story goes like this. Upon completion of filming a new car ad, the production team noticed a ghostly appearance arrives halfway into the film. Therefore the ad was never put on TV because of the unexplained phenomenon. Watch it and look closely, if you dare.
Attention:
If you frighten easily, please do not view the movie. (Not for kids, no way!) Now that you've been warned, watch at your own risk.

    J-O-K-E  of  the  M-O-N-T-H

Two "blonde" guys were working for the city works department.

One would dig a hole and the other would follow behind him and fill the hole in.

They worked up one side of the street, then down the other, then moved on to the next street, working furiously all day without rest, one guy digging a hole, the other guy filling it in again.

An onlooker was amazed at their hard work, but couldn't understand what they were doing. So he asked the hole digger,

"I'm impressed by the effort you two are putting into your work, but I don't get it, why do you dig a hole, only to have your partner follow behind and fill it up again?"

The hole digger wiped his brow and sighed,

"Well, I suppose it probably looks odd because we're normally a three-man team, but today, the guy who plants the trees called in sick."

Find the best sites fast!
Browse the Internet with our web site directory. Quick access to over 1000 hand-picked * useful links, categorized to save you time. Experience the Ultimate Road to the Internet on ... www.route53.com

« Computer Tips: »

Change your Cursor.
Have a little fun with your cursor. To change your cursor on your computer:
->  from your control panel
->  open the mouse icon,
->  select pointers then browse,
->  select one you like,
->  click open then apply

Time for a Quiz:
What's the difference between a
girlfriend and a wife? answer
45 lbs
What's the difference between a
boyfriend and a husband? answer
45 minutes
(to hide the answer, click it again)
...BUT...
Remember, and don't forget
just don't ever click this arrow.

   How to check your clock.... Setting your computer's clock (date and time) is a function of the operating system. Windows users can verify their clock settings from the "Date/Time" icon in the Control Panel or by double clicking the time display at the bottom right corner of your screen.

Send this Newsletter to a Friend!

What's the difference between
MEMORY and STORAGE?
People often confuse the terms memory and storage, especially when describing the amount they have of each. The term memory refers to the amount of RAM installed in the computer, whereas the term storage refers to the capacity of the computer's hard disk. To clarify this common mix-up, the information stored on a hard disk remains intact even when the computer is turned off. However, any data held in memory is only temporary and is lost when the computer is turned off, RAM stands for (Random Access Memory).
More Memory = LIFE IS GOOD.
With a memory upgrade, applications respond more quickly, Web pages load faster, and you can have more programs running simultaneously.
In short, additional memory can make using your computer a lot more enjoyable.
How Much Ram Do You Need?
How to Install Memory?
But increasing the speed of the memory itself is only part of the solution of maximizing PC performance.

Choose the Right Kind of Ram
Adding RAM to your PC usually delivers the most bang for your upgrade buck, but only if you buy the right kind of memory module for your PC. There are more types of PC RAM than there are lattes at Starbucks. Begin by checking your system's user manual to identify the types of RAM your PC's motherboard supports. If you don't have the manual, visit the manufacturer's Web site and search for downloadable manuals or other tools that might help you find the information you need. For more help, read this article from the January 2004 issue of PC World magazine.

see last month's Newsletter?

Did You Know?
There is a free, downloadable program that tells you what software and hardware are installed on your pc system. All you have to do is download and install it. It's Belarc Advisor. The utility scans your machine and gives you a wealth of information about your system. It generates a profile of everything installed, from your main circuit board to software. Version, manufacturer, and serial numbers are listed, as well as statistics such as available memory slots and hard drive space. It tells you how much memory is installed and what kind of motherboard you have. So whether you're troubleshooting or shopping for an upgrade,
it can be helpful.
Get it here.

ActiveScan
from Panda Software
a FREE online antivirus scanner will scan your PC and discover any malicious code. It scans, disinfects and eliminates viruses from all parts of your system, hard disks, compressed files and all your e-mail. It is updated at least once a day, so each scan will be able to detect even the latest viruses. You don't need to install any programs, just connect to the Internet and simply click whenever you want to clean your computer.

ActiveScan detects and eliminates viruses that have entered your PC, but, they could still re-enter. For permanent protection, Panda offers a range of solutions to protect you PERMANENTLY.

====================
Bumper Sticker Sighting:
====================

What part of "No concessions"...
didn't you understand?

   keyboard shortcuts
.... you can open the Start menu without your mouse and taskbar by pressing the Windows key on the keyboard, and again to close.
and
Use the F11 command to open the window in Full Screen Mode, then again to go back.

====================
this just in:
====================

Carmen Electra goes on
Manhunt
The actress-model will host Bravo's upcoming reality competition "Manhunt: The Search for America's Most Gorgeous Male Model." For eight episodes, 15 men will compete in a series of challenges in hopes of snapping up a one-year contract with the IMG modeling agency. The former "Baywatch" babe begins her search on Oct. 12.

(I knew there was a reason
I liked reality TV.... woo hoo)
Go Carmen .... Go Carmen

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