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I'll be the first person to say that I don't particularly care about the debate over healthcare. I care about healthcare, just not the debate. I'm not big on "discussions" where there are 100 million people who all claim to have THEE answer to the problem and also know who's to blame. My only comment is that there is enough blame to go around.

One industry that's still behind the woodshed getting a serious beating is the pharmaceutical industry. This Mike-Tyson-in-his-prime whipping has inspired me to share my 12 doses of technology chill pills.

Technology is like a pill...

1. There's something for everything. And there's always another one to deal with the side effects of the previous one. It never stops.
2. Even the simplest technologies can have destructive side effects if combined indiscriminately.
3. Sometimes lifestyle changes are more important than a technology prescription.
4. Whether you like it or not, some times you do need a professional's opinion.
5. What you see on the commercial is not always for you.
6. You may already have what you need in your medicine cabinet. Just because it's been there for a while doesn't mean it won't work.
7. You should always have the important ones with you at all times.
8. Even those prescribed for serious issues can be used for recreational purposes.
9. If used properly, your life should be better to some degree.
10. When you do see a professional, always be upfront and honest.
11. There's often an "off label" use that can be beneficial to you.
12. What you use for your personal life effects your professional life and vice versa.

These are in no particular order. It's just the way they matriculated out of head. If I felt like re-writing the list, I would have placed #9 as #12 for dramatic effect. If technology isn't making your life better, something is wrong.

"A kiss without a hug is like a flower without the fragrance."  -Proverb

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denity... a  premier technology concierge

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“for when you need to choose & use^sm technology”

serving the washington, dc metro area

Ever since we were children, we were told not to laugh at people when they get in trouble. I try very hard to practice this. HOWEVER! Every now and then, I come across this little TV channel called MSNBC. On said channel, there's often re-runs of a reality show called To Catch A Predator. For those that don't know, To Catch A Predator is "a reality television show that featured a series of hidden camera investigations by the television news-magazine Dateline NBC devoted to the subject of identifying and detaining those who contact people below the age of consent (or individuals whom they believe to be such) over the Internet for sexual liaisons."

Let me be clear, I think that what these individuals are doing is alarming, disheartening, frightening, ghastly, hideous and unnerving. I do enjoy laughing at them while they squirm and spit out some of the most outlandish lies that you will ever hear. Below is a video clip from one of the craziest episodes I have ever seen. (The content is obviously mature but it is made for TV.)

Once again, you ask: Where is he going with this? He's going to drop some morsels on how to choose & use^sm technology to protect the children in your lives while they are on the internet. If you need motivation to keep reading, check out the video clip.... I'll wait.

[Waiting for  1 mins and 34 secs]

To Catch A Predator Clip:

Some of you may not realize how integral the internet is for today’s kids. It has taken me some time to fully grasp it. I didn’t know what email was until I got to college and even then, I still didn’t understand it. And if you’re thinking “we didn’t even have computers when I was in college," you definitely need to read on.

Parental-control software can help you stay hip to the game. Here are some key features that you should consider when purchasing such software.

1. Customized Settings: The ability to establish individualized (per user) configurations is essential. Chances are that you and your child don't need the same internet and software settings. Unless you want them to be able to do the same things you can, you will want this feature.
2. Website Filtering: Back in the day, if you ever forgot the “s” in www.craigslist.com, you understand how easy it is to come across something that you may deem inappropriate. You should also understand the need for website filtering. This can help you keep your lovely offspring from accidentally (or deliberately) wandering to inappropriate websites. This is another key element in parental-control software.
3. Access Control: Controlling how long Junior and his sister spend on the computer is another feature that you shouldn’t overlook. If they aren’t on the computer, they can’t get into internet trouble (at least not on the computer). Parental-control software that can establish set times and/or total/maximum amount of time that specific users can access the computer should be considered.
4. Remote Notification: Imagine this; your children actually use the computer when you’re not around. I know it’s hard to imagine but work with me. The ability to send an e-mail or text message when someone tries to access a banned site could be very useful. It may also be helpful to be able to make configuration changes remotely.
5. Open Mouth: Don’t just set rules and restrictions without opening your mouth and talking to your kids.  You may want to get their "input" on the rules rather than just laying down the law. Giving them "input" doesn’t mean that you have to implement their suggestions. Remember who the adult is and act like it!

Here are some products worth checking out. I'm not endorsing any of them. Just giving you a place to start.

• Bsafe Online
• CyberPatrol Parental Controls 7.7
• Net Nanny 6.0
• OnlineFamily.Norton
• Safe Eyes 5.0

I don't care what you do. Just do something. It's for the kids... your kids.

"A hug is like a boomerang - you get it back right away." - Bil Keane (Family Circus)

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denity... a premier techlife concierge

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for when you need to choose & use^sm technology

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serving the washington, dc metro area

Do you remember the (stupid) commercials where a guy ran around a city asking people if they "got megapixels?" That was the figurative birth of consumers' American Idol like obsession with megapixels in cameras. And many savvy manufacturers jumped on this and made the megapixel the dominant camera spec or, at least, the most prominent. This phenomenon is similar to the coronation of the MPG (miles per gallon) when gas was around $823.52 per gallon. Car makers promoted the high MPG on a lot of their cars even though the cars themselves weren't the best of quality. Most of those cars were glorified bumper cars no bigger than a bicycle with a child-trailer attached. And just like megapixels, all the boys flocked to the girls with the big MPG's. I'm not saying megapixels (or MPGs) are insignificant. I'm saying that more megapixels (and MPGs) is not always better. Please note, I'm speaking relative to the "point-and-shoot" cameras that most of us buy and are included in cell phones, which I hate (I think posing for cell phone cameras at a wedding should be against the law). The expensive DSLR's are another topic for someone else on another day.

A common analogy is to look at pixels as little buckets that can "catch" light. And a megapixel isn't actually a thing. It's a million of those little light buckets (pixels). So, a camera with 2 megapixels has 2 million pixels. As with all digital cameras, a picture is taken by capturing light in the buckets and the more buckets, the better the picture quality... up to a certain point. The size of the buckets is the key because they are stored on a fixed size "table" called a sensor. If the table size is fixed, the only way you can fit more buckets on the table is to make the buckets smaller. Now, going back to my car analogy, where size mattered. Though a BMW 5 Series is smaller than a BMW 7 Series, you can make an argument that they are very close in overall quality. However, there is a noticeable drop in size and quality from the 7 Series to the 3 Series. The point I'm making is that as the buckets (pixels) in a camera get smaller, the quality of the pictures will eventually take a hit.

I can't make a blanket recommendation on the number of pixels you should look for but 5-6 megapixels should be fine for most people. This should give you high quality 4x6 and 5x7 photos. Considering, most photos never raise up off the camera or computer they're stored on, you could even get away with 4-5 megapixels. Please, keep in mind that I'm just giving you guidelines. You should always do some research and read reviews or (shameless plug alert!) hire Denity Technology Solutions to do it for you.

It counts as technology, so go hug your refrigerator. It's been good to you.

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denity... a premier techlife concierge

subscribe and follow on twitter (@TechHugger)

for when you need to choose & use^sm technology

www.denity.com