On the Internet, everybody knows you're a dog.

In July 1993 the New Yorker Magazine published a cartoon by Peter Steiner showing a dog sitting in front of a computer. The caption read, “On the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog." Oh the changes that fourteen years can make. Today, not only will they know you are a dog, they will know the color of your spots, the length of you coat and the brand of dog food you like.

Among the myriad benefits of the Internet, personal privacy remains a serious issue that has garnered much attention of late. Most recently Google® has been in the news as it has been ordered by the US courts to hand over data that contains information from every clip ever played on its popular YouTube® video sharing website. It has been reported that the data file, which has more than 12 terabytes of information, contains the IP address and viewers’ ID.

What this means is if you ever watched a video on YouTube®, that video and your identity may be able to be matched. Most likely not a problem if you were watching singing cats and dogs, perhaps problematic if you were just curious if there really was a video on how to make a nuclear bomb.

There are so many examples of how various companies and organizations both real and virtual gather, store and use information about you. Once you make your first purchase on Amazon.com®, the next time you log on you will be greeted with list of suggested books and other items. This list is developed specifically for you based on previous purchases and in some cases even casual browsing. This can be a great asset when you are looking for new books that you may have missed within a category of interest. It can also funny when you are presented with a list of pre-school classics because the last time you were on Amazon.com® you bought a gift for your grandson.

It is not only online that information about you is gathered. The discount cards that are promoted by Kroger and other grocery outlets help the company track your individual buying habits. Each item you purchase can be tracked if you use the bar coded plastic card when you check out. This way the store can target what coupons they may wish to send to you in the mail.

It is no coincidence that if you were recently online looking at convertibles that your US mail box and your email box will all of a sudden have several advertisements for new convertibles from variuous automakers..

So much of our personal information is available. Typing your phone number into the Google® serach box will most often give your address. The Hamilton County Auditor’s website http://www.hamiltoncountyauditor.org/ has information about your home, property taxes, improvements and even contains a recent photograph and block diagram of your house.
There is not much we can do to protect our personal information from being collected if we are going to continue to enjoy the benefits of modern technology. We can however insist that the use of this information is scrutinized by our leaders and that our right to privacy is protected.

On the Internet, everybody knows you're a dog.

In July 1993 the New Yorker Magazine published a cartoon by Peter Steiner showing a dog sitting in front of a computer. The caption read, “On the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog." Oh the changes that fourteen years can make. Today, not only will they know you are a dog, they will know the color of your spots, the length of you coat and the brand of dog food you like.

Among the myriad benefits of the Internet, personal privacy remains a serious issue that has garnered much attention of late. Most recently Google® has been in the news as it has been ordered by the US courts to hand over data that contains information from every clip ever played on its popular YouTube® video sharing website. It has been reported that the data file, which has more than 12 terabytes of information, contains the IP address and viewers’ ID.

What this means is if you ever watched a video on YouTube®, that video and your identity may be able to be matched. Most likely not a problem if you were watching singing cats and dogs, perhaps problematic if you were just curious if there really was a video on how to make a nuclear bomb.

There are so many examples of how various companies and organizations both real and virtual gather, store and use information about you. Once you make your first purchase on Amazon.com®, the next time you log on you will be greeted with list of suggested books and other items. This list is developed specifically for you based on previous purchases and in some cases even casual browsing. This can be a great asset when you are looking for new books that you may have missed within a category of interest. It can also funny when you are presented with a list of pre-school classics because the last time you were on Amazon.com® you bought a gift for your grandson.

It is not only online that information about you is gathered. The discount cards that are promoted by Kroger and other grocery outlets help the company track your individual buying habits. Each item you purchase can be tracked if you use the bar coded plastic card when you check out. This way the store can target what coupons they may wish to send to you in the mail.

It is no coincidence that if you were recently online looking at convertibles that your US mail box and your email box will all of a sudden have several advertisements for new convertibles from variuous automakers..

So much of our personal information is available. Typing your phone number into the Google® serach box will most often give your address. The Hamilton County Auditor’s website http://www.hamiltoncountyauditor.org/ has information about your home, property taxes, improvements and even contains a recent photograph and block diagram of your house.
There is not much we can do to protect our personal information from being collected if we are going to continue to enjoy the benefits of modern technology. We can however insist that the use of this information is scrutinized by our leaders and that our right to privacy is protected.

Gone Biking!

There will be no new blog material added for 10 days or so. I am riding RAGBRAI again this year so will be gone thru July 27th. Going to take a break from new technology and use some pedal power instead.

Gone Biking!

There will be no new blog material added for 10 days or so. I am riding RAGBRAI again this year so will be gone thru July 27th. Going to take a break from new technology and use some pedal power instead.

Battery Powered TV and DTV Converters

I get questions like this often….

… Now my question, to which I believe I know the answer: I have one of those handy, portable 2.2" LCD TVs that runs off of a few AA batteries. No radio - it is TV only - but has VHF/UHF bands, telescoping antenna, contrast/brightness control, etc. Nice little TV, good to have during storms, power outages, etc, but of course it is analog only. With no apparent way to feed a digital signal into it, is this a soon-to-be doorstop, albeit a little one? I assume that the answer is "yes, it is a soon-to-be doorstop". Have you run across any "second life" uses for something like this? I hate to just junk it (don't worry; I'll make sure it gets in the proper recycling channel), but if there is any other way for me or somebody else to use it, I'd appreciate knowing about that.

Regards,
Tom Harrison Township

The short answer is that you could make this TV work post February 2009 but is most likely not worth the effort or expense. You could attach a wire from DTV converter to the actual VHS antenna. You would need to find a way to power the DTV converter. A hobbyist would look at this as a fun project. Most of us would find it a hassle.

The underlying question is a good one and relates to a similar issue of using radios that have TV bands. Many, like me, use these when "Duke's Hamsters" go in strike and the power goes out to listen to the TV weather and news. These radios will no longer work post February 2009.

While they are still scarce, there are and will be more small digital TV’s that will run on batteries just like Tom’s. The one’s on the market right now, one from Toshiba and Coby are very pricey. Just like all electronic devices they will soon be affordable. Same will hold true for radios with TV bands that will receive the audio form DTV stations.

Battery Powered TV and DTV Converters

I get questions like this often….

… Now my question, to which I believe I know the answer: I have one of those handy, portable 2.2" LCD TVs that runs off of a few AA batteries. No radio - it is TV only - but has VHF/UHF bands, telescoping antenna, contrast/brightness control, etc. Nice little TV, good to have during storms, power outages, etc, but of course it is analog only. With no apparent way to feed a digital signal into it, is this a soon-to-be doorstop, albeit a little one? I assume that the answer is "yes, it is a soon-to-be doorstop". Have you run across any "second life" uses for something like this? I hate to just junk it (don't worry; I'll make sure it gets in the proper recycling channel), but if there is any other way for me or somebody else to use it, I'd appreciate knowing about that.

Regards,
Tom Harrison Township

The short answer is that you could make this TV work post February 2009 but is most likely not worth the effort or expense. You could attach a wire from DTV converter to the actual VHS antenna. You would need to find a way to power the DTV converter. A hobbyist would look at this as a fun project. Most of us would find it a hassle.

The underlying question is a good one and relates to a similar issue of using radios that have TV bands. Many, like me, use these when "Duke's Hamsters" go in strike and the power goes out to listen to the TV weather and news. These radios will no longer work post February 2009.

While they are still scarce, there are and will be more small digital TV’s that will run on batteries just like Tom’s. The one’s on the market right now, one from Toshiba and Coby are very pricey. Just like all electronic devices they will soon be affordable. Same will hold true for radios with TV bands that will receive the audio form DTV stations.

Converter Box Coupons by US MAIL or FAX

You can now order DTV Converter Coupons by US Mail or Fax. Just Click Here to download an application.

You can still order via phone at 1-888-388-2009 or Click Here to order on line.

TTY users can use 1-877-530-2634.

Converter Box Coupons by US MAIL or FAX

You can now order DTV Converter Coupons by US Mail or Fax. Just Click Here to download an application.

You can still order via phone at 1-888-388-2009 or Click Here to order on line.

TTY users can use 1-877-530-2634.

Help Others With DTV Issues

Over the past few months I have written extensively in this blog about the upcoming analog TV shutdown next February. We have discussed your options for continuing to receive your favorite channels and how you can apply to the Federal Government for coupons to help pay for set top DTV converters if you need them.

If you are regular reader of my column you will remember that that I have been stressing that if you are a cable or satellite service subscriber, you need to do nothing, as both the satellite and cable companies are going to continue to offer you an “analog friendly” signal. You will be able to watch programs on your current analog set. That is great news for the vast majority of TV viewers in the Cincinnati area because they are in this category. Nevertheless, a 2006 study showed that more than 100,000 homes in the area still used over-the-air broadcasting as their sole method of watching TV.

That’s a lot of people who continue to receive TV using none of this new technology. For those individuals to continue to watch TV post February of next year, they must either replace their set with a digital TV or buy a DTV converter for their old TV. Unfortunately many of these persons are elderly or shut ins and don’t understand what they need to do. Many don’t realize that they are eligible for the coupons.

I suggest that even if you don’t need a coupon for yourself, you go ahead and apply for them. When they arrive you can give them to someone who needs a converter. This is perfectly legal as long as you don’t sell the coupons.

Who my need one? Good examples are persons living in nursing homes or extended care facilities. Many living there have had trouble getting coupons since there is usually a single street address for the facility and the government did not take that into consideration when it set up the program. It provides only two coupons per mailing address. Many individuals living in these facilities are the very people who need the DTV converters the most and many not only can’t get out to buy one, but don’t have a coupon to help defray the cost.

If you have a friend or relative in this situation, ask them if they know about the February cut off and if they need help making sure that they will be able to watch TV post digital transition. It may be the guy down the street or your wife’s favorite aunt.

Even if you have cable, there is another reason to get a DTV converter. If the cable goes out you will not be able to switch to receiving over-the-air if you don’t have a converter. Also, many of us have second or third sets in the bedroom or garage not connected to cable. Each of these will be useless without a converter.

It may seem like I am devoting an inordinate amount in this column to this issue. Getting ready now, sending for the coupons now, and purchasing and installing the converters now, will save a ton of hassle later. Finding a converter box or someone to help you install it on Wednesday, February 18, 2009 will not be easy. Let’s hope that the only snow you see on that morning will be on the ground and not on your TV screen.

Help Others With DTV Issues

Over the past few months I have written extensively in this blog about the upcoming analog TV shutdown next February. We have discussed your options for continuing to receive your favorite channels and how you can apply to the Federal Government for coupons to help pay for set top DTV converters if you need them.

If you are regular reader of my column you will remember that that I have been stressing that if you are a cable or satellite service subscriber, you need to do nothing, as both the satellite and cable companies are going to continue to offer you an “analog friendly” signal. You will be able to watch programs on your current analog set. That is great news for the vast majority of TV viewers in the Cincinnati area because they are in this category. Nevertheless, a 2006 study showed that more than 100,000 homes in the area still used over-the-air broadcasting as their sole method of watching TV.

That’s a lot of people who continue to receive TV using none of this new technology. For those individuals to continue to watch TV post February of next year, they must either replace their set with a digital TV or buy a DTV converter for their old TV. Unfortunately many of these persons are elderly or shut ins and don’t understand what they need to do. Many don’t realize that they are eligible for the coupons.

I suggest that even if you don’t need a coupon for yourself, you go ahead and apply for them. When they arrive you can give them to someone who needs a converter. This is perfectly legal as long as you don’t sell the coupons.

Who my need one? Good examples are persons living in nursing homes or extended care facilities. Many living there have had trouble getting coupons since there is usually a single street address for the facility and the government did not take that into consideration when it set up the program. It provides only two coupons per mailing address. Many individuals living in these facilities are the very people who need the DTV converters the most and many not only can’t get out to buy one, but don’t have a coupon to help defray the cost.

If you have a friend or relative in this situation, ask them if they know about the February cut off and if they need help making sure that they will be able to watch TV post digital transition. It may be the guy down the street or your wife’s favorite aunt.

Even if you have cable, there is another reason to get a DTV converter. If the cable goes out you will not be able to switch to receiving over-the-air if you don’t have a converter. Also, many of us have second or third sets in the bedroom or garage not connected to cable. Each of these will be useless without a converter.

It may seem like I am devoting an inordinate amount in this column to this issue. Getting ready now, sending for the coupons now, and purchasing and installing the converters now, will save a ton of hassle later. Finding a converter box or someone to help you install it on Wednesday, February 18, 2009 will not be easy. Let’s hope that the only snow you see on that morning will be on the ground and not on your TV screen.

Bill Gates Did More Than Program Computers

I have been known to speak irreverently and harshly about Microsoft®. Most often these diatribes are prompted by some “blue screen” error or other irritation emanating from my computer. Even if it is something I did wrong, I am prone to blame the crew from Redmond, Washington. Well, that crew now has a new captain. The end of June marked the end of one of the most storied business careers ever, as Bill Gates stepped down from day-to-day management of Microsoft® and will now serve only as the board Chairman.

As a college student in 1975, Bill was the quintessential math nerd. There were the glasses and the tussled hair. I’m not sure if there was a pocket protector, but I bet there was a slide rule or two hanging on his belt. He was hardly what the blue bloods of industry would have predicted to become one of the most influential persons of the century. His innovations are not only in the technology arena, but permeate new business management practices and more important, modern philanthropy.

It was due in large part to what he conceived in college, what he developed in the proverbial garage, and what he sold to some skeptical suits at IBM, that our world today is radically changed and can barely function without the computer. If you step back and reflect on how our home life, our work life and even our leisure pursuits have changed in the 30 some years since he and his college buds founded Microsoft®, you can’t be anything but amazed.

While he and his colleagues have contributed greatly to the technology we use and enjoy, it is only part of much broader contributions. For example, the collaborative and participatory management style used to develop software is now taught at the very university from which he dropped out. Once only found in the cubicles of Silicon Valley and Redmond, Washington, the informal work environment, less hierarchical chain of command and collaborative approach to problem solving are now just as prominent at P&G, Kroger and GE as they are at Cisco, Google and Apple.

What is even more impressive to me is what Gates and his wife have decided to do with the fortune that he has amassed by working with the bits and bytes. Mr. Gates is said to be the third richest person in the world. Now that he has relinquished his day job, he and his wife are concentrating on the operation of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The foundation has already made a big impact on major health and education improvement in this country and around the world especially in sub-Sahara Africa. Gates brings many of his experiences honed at Microsoft® to the foundation. He gets the best of the best to find new, creative and effective ways to address humanitarian issues.

To be sure, we should not elevate him to sainthood. There are those pesky antitrust suits that keep coming up. You do have to say, though, that it has not been a bad career for a smart skinny kid who dropped out of college.

Bill Gates Did More Than Program Computers

I have been known to speak irreverently and harshly about Microsoft®. Most often these diatribes are prompted by some “blue screen” error or other irritation emanating from my computer. Even if it is something I did wrong, I am prone to blame the crew from Redmond, Washington. Well, that crew now has a new captain. The end of June marked the end of one of the most storied business careers ever, as Bill Gates stepped down from day-to-day management of Microsoft® and will now serve only as the board Chairman.

As a college student in 1975, Bill was the quintessential math nerd. There were the glasses and the tussled hair. I’m not sure if there was a pocket protector, but I bet there was a slide rule or two hanging on his belt. He was hardly what the blue bloods of industry would have predicted to become one of the most influential persons of the century. His innovations are not only in the technology arena, but permeate new business management practices and more important, modern philanthropy.

It was due in large part to what he conceived in college, what he developed in the proverbial garage, and what he sold to some skeptical suits at IBM, that our world today is radically changed and can barely function without the computer. If you step back and reflect on how our home life, our work life and even our leisure pursuits have changed in the 30 some years since he and his college buds founded Microsoft®, you can’t be anything but amazed.

While he and his colleagues have contributed greatly to the technology we use and enjoy, it is only part of much broader contributions. For example, the collaborative and participatory management style used to develop software is now taught at the very university from which he dropped out. Once only found in the cubicles of Silicon Valley and Redmond, Washington, the informal work environment, less hierarchical chain of command and collaborative approach to problem solving are now just as prominent at P&G, Kroger and GE as they are at Cisco, Google and Apple.

What is even more impressive to me is what Gates and his wife have decided to do with the fortune that he has amassed by working with the bits and bytes. Mr. Gates is said to be the third richest person in the world. Now that he has relinquished his day job, he and his wife are concentrating on the operation of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The foundation has already made a big impact on major health and education improvement in this country and around the world especially in sub-Sahara Africa. Gates brings many of his experiences honed at Microsoft® to the foundation. He gets the best of the best to find new, creative and effective ways to address humanitarian issues.

To be sure, we should not elevate him to sainthood. There are those pesky antitrust suits that keep coming up. You do have to say, though, that it has not been a bad career for a smart skinny kid who dropped out of college.