Simply put, I hate that annoying auto-complete drop-down list that appears when I enter a word or phrase in the Google search edit field. 

Fortunately, someone much wiser than I discovered a URL that allows me to search Google free of drop-down list suggestions.  The URL is:

http://www.google.com/webhp?complete=0

I strongly urge you to bookmark this URL and pass it on to others.

“Piece at last, piece at last!  Thank God Almighty, piece at last.”

Mark

The following comes to us from LifeHacker.com: 

Mark

What To Do If You’ve Forgotten Your iPhone’s Passcode

Some passcodes are so effective that even you can’t remember what they are. If you’ve locked yourself out of your iPhone, it’s not to complicated to get back in. Here’s how.
The Methods That Don’t Work
There are plenty of methods on the internet claiming to help you bypass the password you’ve set on your lock screen but most of them are ineffective. Older versions of iOS had a bug that allowed you to sneak in by making a fake emergency call. This no longer works. Other tutorials suggest that you can delete the passcode file from your iPhone’s keychain directory using iExplorer, iPhone Browser, or SSH on your jailbroken device. That no longer works either. We even tested to see if Find My iPhone’s passcode lock tool would allow us to set a new passcode lock and overwrite the one you’d forgotten. It does not. 

While you’re welcome to try out any methods you do find online, we’ve tested as many as we could locate and only one works. If you’d rather not spend your time trying tricks that no longer work, read on for instructions on the official method that does.

The Method That Always Works
Restoring your iPhone is a surefire way to wipe out the passcode or password you can’t remember, but performing a normal restore won’t work as your passcode will prevent it. (Arrgh!) Fortunately, this is easy to override. Just follow these steps:

1.
Even when your iPhone is locked up, you can still sync it with your computer. Do that first so all your data is backed up in iTunes. If you’re using iCloud, you might want to switch it over to your computer for now just to be sure your information is safe.
2.
Put your iPhone into DFU mode. To do this, reboot your iPhone by holding down the power and home buttons simultaneously for about 10 seconds. When you see the Apple logo, let go of the power button but continue holding down the home button. Soon you will see an image displaying a USB cable, the iTunes icon, and a message that says “Connect to iTunes.”
3.
Assuming you still have your iPhone connected to your computer with iTunes open, you’ll also see a message telling you iTunes has detected an iPhone in recovery mode and needs to restore. Now you can click the Restore button in iTunes and then wait for iOS to download and install on your iPhone.
4.
Sync your iPhone with iTunes to restore all your data and you’ll have it back to normal with no password!
It would be great if there were a simpler method, like some of the non-working options mentioned earlier, but unfortunately you have to go through this DFU restore process in order to get things back to normal. On the plus side, you know your iPhone’s data is pretty securely locked down—so much so that even you couldn’t get in.

Click Here for the original article.

The following was written by Joe Tomasone:

SOME TIPS FOR SIRI AND IPHONE 4 S DICTATION

(I originally wrote this article for users of Nuance’s Dragon Dictation app.  However, since the same engine is used for Siri and Dictation (the feature that lets iPhone 4S users speak text instead of typing it), we thought that we should update and republish it for the benefit of new iPhone 4S users.) 

If you are the proud owner of a new iPhone 4S, it probably won’t belong before you dictate an email, text message, or something else using Siri or the new Dictation feature.   However, unlike the natural speech that Siri herself loves, Dictation needs a little bit of extra TLC in your speech to get everything exactly the way you want it.  So, when you are dictating text, remember to use these tips for improving the accuracy of your dictation.

First, in general, speak clearly and distinctly.   Dictation accuracy will drop if you are less than clearly enunciating your words.

FORMATTING:

Cap to capitalize a word: ‘I was shopping at cap Target”

Caps On for titles: “I was reading caps on The Washington Post”

All Caps to capitalize the next word: “Can we go now all caps PLEASE”

All Caps On and All Caps Off are Caps Lock: “This is all caps on NOT A JOKE all caps off so stop playing”

No Caps, No Caps On, and No Caps Off are the exact opposite of the above: “I like Amy and no caps amy”

Space Bar not only inserts a space, but can be used to prevent a hyphen in normally hyphenated words: ‘A long-lasting or long space bar lasting peace. ‘

No Space for words you want together: ‘Surf on the World no space Wide no space Web ‘

No Space On & No Space Off for words you want together: ‘I was running no space on reallyreallyfast no space off the entire time ‘

New Line starts the following text on a new line, and New Paragraph begins a new paragraph (effectively 1 and 2 carriage returns, respectively).

PUNCTUATION, SYMBOLS, OTHER TIPS:

Say punctuation: period  comma  apostrophe  open-parenthesis  close-parenthesis  asterisk  open quote  close quote.   Note that you do not need to say apostrophe for possessive names such as ‘Joe ‘s ‘.

There is a difference between a hyphen — like this — and a dash-like this.  Similarly, point (in numbers) and period have spacing differences.

Special symbols:  Note that many of these will automatically be placed in context, such as the dollar,cent, degree, percent, and at signs:

% – percent sign
© – copyright sign
® – registered sign
§ – section sign
$ – dollar sign
¢ – cent sign
° – degree sign
^ – caret
@ – at sign
£ – pound sterling sign
# – pound sign

Note: You must use cent sign explicitly.  Saying ‘The price is fifty three cents ‘ will yield ‘The price is $.53 ‘.   Say ‘The price is fifty three cent sign‘ to get ‘The price is 53¢’ “.

Email addresses should generally be prefaced with no caps on; most common domains (such as Gmail, Yahoo, etc) are recognized, but you may have to spell others.

Saying ‘www ‘ will result in the formatting of a URL: ‘www.isource.com/ ‘.  Oddly, unlike the desktop version, saying ‘http ‘ does not do the same thing in my testing.  I got ‘HDTV ‘ instead.

Hopefully this quick reference will help you make the most of Siri and Dictation.   Happy dictating!

Click Here for the original article.

At the time of this post, there are only two privacy settings from which you may choose when making a telephone call on the iPhone 4 S, to either show your outgoing Caller ID or to BLOCK/hide your outgoing Caller ID.  Whichever you choose, there is no officially supported method to override the selected setting for each person in your Contacts list. 

For the record, I, like thousands of others, strongly urge Apple to tame this particular white elephant that has taken up residence in its proverbial orchard.

To override iPhone 4 S Caller ID settings, do the following:  

NOTE 1:
The following assumes that iPhone 4 S is set to BLOC/hide outgoing Caller ID.

NOTE 2:
The following has been verified for iOS 5.

NOTE 3:
The following has been verified on the AT&T Wireless Network, only.

1.
From the Contact List, select a Contact whom you wish to see your Caller ID.

2.
In the telephone number Edit Field, insert the prefix *31# before the telephone number.  For example, *31# (888) 555-1212

3.
Save the changes.

NOTE 4:
You may direct dial a telephone number using this prefix, as well.

NOTE 5:
After adding the above listed prefix to a Contact telephone number, you will no longer be able to send a text message to that telephone number.

NOTE 6:
Since using a prefix in a Contact telephone number will prevent the Contact from being displayed during an incoming call, I suggest that you add an additional telephone number to the Contact mirroring the original telephone number but without the prefix.  For example:

Contact Name:  Mark
Mobile:  *31# (888) 555-1212
Other:  (888) 555-1212

This will allow the Contact to be displayed during an incoming call and provide a valid number to which you may send text messages.

NOTE 7:
At the time of this post, you cannot use Siri to dial a telephone number containing [*31#]; however, you can ask Siri to display a Contact’s information and then select the desired number to dial, manually, by tapping it on the Touch Screen.  Example Siri Command:  “Display the contact information for Mark Marcus.”

NOTE 8:
If Siri is turned off, on your iPhone 4 S, then you can, as always, use the standard iOS 5 Voice Commander, found on both iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4, to auto-dial a Contact’s telephone number even if said telephone number includes the [*31#] prefix.

Mark

Since October 7th, when iPhone 4 S went on pre-order, I decided for various sundry reasons not to purchase in favor of continuing to use my beloved iPhone 4.  Since the 14th, however, I have been delightfully inundated by so many of you calling, texting, or emailing to either ask questions or confirm that you are so darn glad you took the plunge and updated to 4 S (Smile); I just couldn’t stand it anymore; the pressure was too great and I, in the “blink of an iPhone”, (get it (Smile)) decided to get one also.  

Unlike with my previous two purchases of iPhones in which I pre-ordered and was literally the first person to walk into an A T & T Wireless corporate store on the day of release, this time I had done none of my usual reconnoitering such as meeting the store manager a day or so earlier.

This time, while on the way to a restaurant with my cousin whom I have not seen in over 30 years, I decided to go to an A T & T Wireless corporate store to which I had not previously patronized.

We were greeted at the door by a lady who, like so many sales people today, began blabbing out some script that is supposed to make the customer feel warm and fuzzy; this script only made me feel disgusted and belittled.  Since I was with my cousin, who has never seen me “handle my business”, as it were and who would, no doubt not understand my curtness, I decided to play along with the hostess by answering her very basic and very disarming questions:  “My name is Mark.”  “Yes, I am an A T & T Wireless customer.”  “Yes, I am happy with A T & T Wireless.”  “This pretty young lady is my cousin.”  “Thank you for saying we look like a cute couple, did I mention she is my cousin?”  “Yes, I heard there is a new iPhone now being sold.”  “Really?  Colors to choose from?”  “Yes, I know my wireless number.”  “She is not an A T & T Wireless customer.”  “Yes, I have some questions about the phone.”  “Yes, I know what a Smartphone is.”  “No, we’re not out on a date, did I mention she is my cousin?” “Yes, I would like to speak to a knowledgeable sales employee.”  “No, we don’t live around here.”.

With jaws clinched, we walked deep into the bowels of the store to wander around until my name was called. I will tell you that, after the “conversation” with the greeter, I was ready to postpone my purchase for another day in another land.

After about 10 minutes, a small framed man walked up to me, stuck out his hand, and introduced himself.  In that instant, I realized that this entire experience was, for me anyway, going to be little more than a trek through talk-time-technology Hell!

With this in mind I swiftly shook his hand, put my finger up to my lips, signaling him to stop and listen, and, stepping away from my cousin, stood beside him.  Then, with a very carefree demeanor I explained to him that I own both an iPhone 3GS and an iPhone 4; that I beta test for both iPhone and Microsoft; that I used to be a customer service sales employee in a technology retail store; that I am low-vision, that it had been a long day; and that I would greatly appreciate not being “handled”.  This took less than two minutes to say, at the end of which he politely said, “No problem.  How can I help you?”  I told him that I wanted to purchase a 64GB iPhone 4 S, black-on-black-on-black.

He said, “OK.  Lets go see if we have any left. Would you like to take my arm? Then we can walk over to the counter.”  Even though I did not require his assistance as the store was very well lighted, I accepted his invitation as a means to forge a bond that I hoped would translate into streamline and sincere conversation.  My cousin walked behind us clearly surprised at how things were unfolding.

The sales representative informed me that he did, in fact, have plenty of the 64-gigs in stock.  I informed him, after authorizing him to access my account, that I was well aware of all the charges, restrictions, constrictions, subscriptions, etc to which I would have to agree in order to complete the purchase.

He went to get the phone.  Upon his return I informed him that, regardless of A T & T Wireless’ general policy, I would not be using/activating the SIM card that ships with the iPhone 4 S; I gave him several reasons including that I did not want my incoming call wait time to be reset, I did not want my voicemail messages to be lost, etc.  I concluded by informing him that I, not he, would transfer the SIM card from the old phone to the new.

Upon hearing this, he replied with something totally unexpected but that I think I will never forget.  He said, quite matter-of-factly, “Mr. Taylor, you clearly know more about this than I do so we will do it your way.”

After handing me the tool used to eject the SIM card drawers, he folded his arms and patiently waited while I made the transfer; after which, I returned the tool to him, powered on the phone, answered the three or four setup questions, and confirmed that the SIM was working properly.

The salesman was even more delighted than I in so far that he did not have to take the steps necessary to activate a new SIM and register it to my account.  With a smile in his voice, he informed me that from now on, when dealing with those upgrading from an iPhone 4 to an iPhone 4 S, he will simply transfer the SIM from the old phone to the new.

Please note that I was able to transfer the SIM card because, in this case, both the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4 S use the same size SIM card.

I completed my purchase in about 15 minutes at the end of which I spoke to the store manager informing him how pleased I was with the extraordinarily refreshing customer service I received from a salesman who both accurately assessed as well as graciously assisted his customer.

As for my cousin?  She was delighted and made me promise to go with her when she is ready to upgrade her phone.  She offered to pay for dinner; I refused, of course but as is often the case, it’s the thought that counts.

Mark

The following comes to us from CNET:

Mark

HOW TO CUSTOMIZE GOOGLE+ PRIVACY SETTINGS
After several Facebook privacy scares, many have flocked to Google+ for better security, selective posting to “Circles,” and a fresh start in social networking. But if you’re not careful, you might make the same privacy mistakes on Google+. 

Buried around Google+ are many privacy options for posts, photos, and your profile. Here’s how to customize those settings:

Customize Google+ privacy
Posts:

Although you might be compelled to post publicly for better exposure, beware that all public posts are indexed by Google.

Disable reshare: If you’re using Circles to keep certain posts limited to close friends and family, adopt “Disable reshare.” After posting, click the arrow to the right of the post, and select the option there.

Photos
Change album visibility: Go to your profile > Photos > View all albums. The little icons next to the album names signify each album’s visibility: public (a globe), private (a lock), and limited (two heads). To change the visibility for any album, select it, click the link next to “Visible to,” and enter Circles or e-mail addresses.

Control photo tagging: By default, anyone can tag you in photos. To change this, go to Google+ settings (upper right), then scroll down and select which circles can tag you.

Profile
Go to your profile and hit “Edit profile.” From here, you can click on any element in your About section to change its visibility. Other tabs in your profile, like Buzz and +1, also have privacy options you may adjust.

Change “search visibility”: In the “Edit profile” mode, scroll down to the bottom of your About section and find “Search visibility.” If you don’t want your profile to show up in search results, click it and uncheck “Help others find me in search results.”

Hide or expose Circles: When people visit your profile, they can see who’s in your circles and who has included you in theirs. Hide either or both of these modules by clicking “Change who is visible here” in the left sidebar of your profile.

The following comes to us from LifeHacker.com

Mark

HOW TO SHARPEN A KITCHEN KNIFE
by Alan Henry

A dull knife is a cook’s worst enemy, and easily the most dangerous tool you can have in your kitchen. Thankfully, keeping your knives in good condition to use isn’t terribly difficult, and you probably already have the tools required to do it. 

Honing or sharpening a knife is not a science. You’ll find different people do it in different ways, all of which can get the job done. Still, there is an easy and repeatable way to go about it that doesn’t involve potentially cutting yourself. Here’s how.

The first thing to clear up is the difference between honing a kitchen knife and sharpening one. When most people at home use a “honing steel” or “butcher’s steel,” or that long metal rod that comes in the center of a knife block, to “sharpen” their knives, what they’re really doing is honing them.
The difference is that a honing steel straightens out the blade of a knife, making the edge straight and ready to use. As you use a knife, the tip of the blade will eventually bend and curl so you don’t get a real blade-on cut at the very tip. The best you can really do at home is to hone your knives regularly to keep the cutting edge straight, for most at-home cooks, this makes the knives “feel” sharper.
Actual knife sharpening is something you’ll probably want to have professionally done, but more on that later. First, let’s look at how you can keep your knives well honed.

The most common knife honing tool is a honing steel, or a butcher’s steel. They’re ideal for regular, per-use maintenance, and for bringing your knives back into alignment so they cut cleanly with each use. Most knife sets come with them, and most department stores sell them, and since they’re so common, we’ll focus on those.

Honing steels aren’t the only things you can use to keep your knives in working order. You could always buy a sharpening stone or water stone, which is usually a flat, rectangular stone that can come in coarse or fine grades depending on the type of knife you want to hone and how sharp you’d like it. You can also buy honing kits, which usually come with multiple sharpening stones of different grades. While we focus on honing steels, the same tips apply to sharpening stones as well.

As for manual or automatic knife sharpeners you can buy from department stores? They vary highly in quality by price and manufacturer, and they’re no real substitute for doing it yourself with a honing steel that you probably already have. Plus, some low-end sharpeners can do more damage to your knives than good. We suggest you avoid them altogether, save some cash, and do it yourself.

Don’t go waving your honing steel and knife around in the air like a television chef. Anchor your honing steel with a towel or dishcloth on the countertop, and hold the steel vertically with the point down into the towel. Then hold your knife perpendicular (at a 90-degree angle) to the center of the honing steel.
Now tilt the knife halfway between perpendicular and parallel to the steel. That should put your blade at a 45-degree angle. Tilt the handle halfway again between 45-degree and parallel to the steel. This should put your knife about 22-degrees from the honing steel. The angle is important because most western knives are molded with a blade that’s 20 degrees off of vertical on either side. Practice holding your knife at this angle so you’re familiar with how it feels. If you’re using a sharpening stone, the rule still applies: the angle is important, even though the sharpening method will differ.

Once you have the angle down, it’s time to hone your knife. Move the knife forward to the heel of the knife is just touching the honing steel. Keeping the knife at a 22-degree angle, pull the knife back towards you, all the way across the blade until you pass the tip. Move the knife to the other side of the steel, and repeat the process on the other side of the knife.

Do this four or five times (as long as your knife isn’t way out of alignment) and your blade should be ready for use. It’s a good idea to do this each time you’re about to use one of your knives to keep the blade in alignment and to make sure its safe to use.

Honing your knives regularly is important, but then a knife’s blade actually dulls or starts to chip, as opposed to slipping out of alignment, there’s little you can do to bring it back. Granted, with proper care, some people can get by the entire life of their knives using a honing steel and taking good care of their blades.

Still, if your favorite knife just isn’t what it used to be and you hone it regularly, its time to take it to a professional knife sharpener. It’s a good idea to have your knives professionally sharpened regularly – maybe once a year for your most-often used blades. Professional sharpening services can run anywhere between $10 to $25 per knife, depending on length and type. Compared to the cost of new knives, it’s a bargain.

Finding a professional sharpener isn’t too difficult. If you have a local butcher or farmers market in your area that sells meat and poultry, odds are there’s someone there willing to re-edge your knives for a small fee. Alternatively, you can check out this Wall Street Journal article that lists a number of sharpening-by-mail services. Just send your knives away, and in a few days or weeks, they come back to you with fresh edges.

Honing knives is a skill most people who spend any time in the kitchen should know, but when it comes to sharpening knives, or learning to professionally sharpen them, there’s no single right way to do it, no magic technique. Many professional sharpeners study under someone else for years before taking up the skill themselves.

Exercise caution always when honing your knives, and especially if you want to learn to sharpen them and apply a new edge. There’s nothing like using a knife that’s been freshly sharpened. However, proper maintenance and honing can make your favorite kitchen knife last for years.

The following article, by the Automobile Club of Southern California will explain how potholes are formed and how to protect your vehicle against them.

Mark

POTHOLES: CAUSES AND PREVENTATIVE MEASURES

While many of us have come across a pothole, we still ask questions like, what causes potholes; how do I avoid them once they appear; who should I report a pothole to for repair; or, if the vehicle is damaged by a pothole, can I recover the repair costs? 

Causes
A pothole is caused by the failure of the road due to fatigue, or failure of the surface caused by age or overloading. The surface begins to crack and break up as vehicles continue to pound it, eventually forming a hole as chunks of the pavement are thrown out of the damaged area. Potholes are also created when the roadway is stressed by trucks and buses, which can cause a movement of the road’s subsurface resulting in surface failure. Water penetrating the failed pavement accelerates the process and further weakens the area which is why more potholes appear after it rains. Additionally, freezing weather accelerates the process since water expands when it changes to ice and breaks away even more of the surface.

Possible damage
Tiny potholes grow into larger ones that can damage your vehicle’s tires as they hit the edges of the hole and force the sidewall against the rim and damage it. Vehicle alignment can be knocked out of kilter and suspension parts can be damaged or broken when you hit a pothole hard enough. Some manufacturers warn that you can actually trigger your vehicle’s airbags if you hit a very large pothole with enough force. Please refer to your owner’s manual.

What can you do to avoid potholes or minimize the damage?
Simple everyday maintenance of your tires and safe driving habits will help you avoid or reduce the damage to your vehicle if you’re unable to avoid a pothole or have a jarring encounter with one.

Maintain proper air pressure in all tires to provide the proper cushion between the pothole and the rim of the tire. Don’t over-inflate your tires as this makes the tire too stiff and can make suspension damage from a pothole impact more likely.
Check your owner’s manual or look at the placard on the driver’s door jam, inside the glove box door, or on the fuel filler door for the correct tire inflation pressure (don’t use the rating on the side of the tire as this is the maximum inflation pressure, not the manufacturer’s recommended pressure).
Watch for potholes by leaving plenty of space between your vehicle and the one in front of you. Before swerving to avoid a pothole, check surrounding traffic to determine if it is safe to change lanes.
Maintain a safe speed for the weather conditions. If you can’t avoid a pothole, slow down, if possible, and avoid braking directly over a pothole since that will shift weight forward and place additional loading on the front suspension and tires, increasing the potential for damage.
Hitting a pothole at high-speed increases the chance of damage to tires, wheels, and suspension components. High speed also increases the chance of losing control of your vehicle, especially if a series of potholes occurs on a curve or badly-weathered roadway. Keep a firm grip on the steering wheel to help maintain control.
Beware of, and avoid standing water that may conceal a deep pothole.
Motorists who suspect their vehicle may have been damaged by a pothole should take their vehicle to a qualified repair facility where it can be carefully inspected and serviced, if necessary.

Reporting potholes for repair
The person or parties responsible for maintaining the roads and highways can be a mix of city, county, and state responsibilities. When reporting a pothole, use your best judgment where to start. If it is on the street in front of your home, the city is likely the best place to start. If it’s a bigger roadway it may be a county road, or if it is clearly marked as a state route, it is the state’s responsibility. Look for the department of public works, street maintenance division, or municipal service agency, depending on your location. Please make the effort to report potholes as the car you save may be your own.

Filing a damage claim
Did you know that you may be able to recover the cost of damages caused by a pothole from the city, county, or state, depending on the circumstances?

If the unthinkable happens and you have damage to your vehicle as the result of a pothole, you can try filing a claim against the city, county, or state to recover the cost of repairs. Recovering your costs for damage is not a sure thing, since every jurisdiction has its own set of rules and claims procedures.

You will need to provide a repair bill, or at least two estimates, the location of the pothole, as well as the time and date of the incident. Include the police report if one was filed. Always send copies, so if the paperwork is lost or misdirected, you can make additional copies. And remember, time is of the essence.

Lastly, you need to determine who is responsible for the road. Some governments have online forms for you to fill out while others require a phone call. But, whatever agency is involved, you might want to go the route of the telephone so you can speak with someone to get the full story on what the rules are for your jurisdiction. Your position is stronger if you can prove the agency responsible knew about the existence of the pothole before you suffered a loss.

The condition of our nation’s highways
Visit TRIP, the road information program, a national transportation group, for additional information about the deteriorating conditions of our nation’s highways, infrastructure, and related issues. You can also search for information on a state-by-state basis which may help when you plan your next trip.

TRIP reports that the worst offenders for potholes are major metropolitan areas like New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Baltimore. TRIP estimates that 33 percent of America’s major roads are in poor or mediocre condition. In March 2008, TRIP reported that despite some progress, California again topped the list of states with the worst roads.

These poor roads create additional operating costs from accelerated vehicle deterioration, additional maintenance needs, and increased fuel consumption. TRIP also reports that the increase in traffic, particularly commercial traffic, is putting significant wear and tear on urban roads all over the country, and that our level of road maintenance (which has been an easy target for budget-cutters during the recession) is not keeping up with the level of deterioration.

Although many of us may not have experienced vehicle damage directly from potholes, we are still feeling the overall effect of our deteriorating highways in the form of increased traffic congestion and its associated costs.

Recently, I was involved in an automobile accident involving three vehicles.  Fortunately, no one was seriously injured.  After we all determined that no life-threatening damaged was suffered, the driver and passenger of one of the cars involved had no idea how to proceed. 

The following article, by the Automobile Club of Southern California will answer many questions as to what you should do when involved in an automobile accident.

Mark

WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT?

In the event you are involved in an auto collision, first take a deep breath and carefully survey the scene around you. Evaluate your condition; are you injured? Can you safely exit your car? Collect your thoughts before you act, and keep tensions under control. Make sure you turn the engine off and turn off any accessories (like headlights) that are not necessary. Most importantly, be polite and do not accuse anyone of causing the accident. Keeping a cool head and carefully exchanging information will allow you to meet your legal obligations while preserving your legal rights and options. Also, keep the thought in the back of your mind that sometimes an “accident” is no accident. 

What are my responsibilities and options?

Do I have to stop? Yes. Most state laws require you to stop whether the accident involves a moving vehicle, a parked vehicle, a pedestrian, or someone’s property. If you drive away, even if the accident is not your fault, you can be charged with a “hit and run” which has severe penalties.
Is anyone injured? Immediately take care of any injuries and obtain medical assistance if required. It is usually best not to move someone who is badly injured, since you can make the injury worse. Move them only to avoid the chance of being hit by other vehicles or to pull them out of a hazardous situation like a burning car.
Prevent additional injuries. Individuals involved in minor accidents, with minor or no injuries, should consider moving the vehicles to the side of the road so other traffic does not collide with them and further magnify the problem. If the vehicles are badly damaged to the point that they can’t be moved, turn on the emergency flashers, or if handy, set out warning triangles or emergency flares if it is safe to do so.
Call the police or highway patrol (911) even if the accident seems minor. Be prepared to give the exact location of the accident so they can reach you quickly. Explain the situation and be sure to mention any injuries so it can be determined if an ambulance and/or fire engine is needed.
Exchange Information:
From you: Give each driver involved in the accident your driver’s license number, home address, phone number, and insurance company and policy number information
From the other driver(s): Get the same information and also record the color, make, model, year, and license plate number for each car involved; Get the names and phone numbers of any passengers
From witnesses: Get names and phone numbers, if possible, of any witnesses
What other information should I get from the scene of the accident?

Gather as much information as safely possible. Sketch out the accident and positions of the vehicles involved. Note the exact location of the accident and how it happened. Record the date, time, weather, and road conditions when it occurred. Photograph the accident location and the cars involved if you have a camera and if it is safe to do so (use your cell phone camera if you have one). Also, record the damage to your car and photograph it, if possible.

Police Report: Cooperate with the police as they fill out their report, and respond honestly to questions. Be specific including only facts: “I was traveling at 35 miles per hour.” Do not complicate things for yourself by saying “it is my fault” to anyone at the accident scene, including the police officer(s) taking the report. (It may turn out the other driver was more at fault). Get the names and badge numbers of the police officers and other first responders involved. Write down the police department(s) that are involved. Ask the police officer when and where you can get a copy of the police report if one is made. Some police departments will not fill out a report if the damage is minor and no injures are involved.
Report the Accident: Make sure you report the accident to your insurance company immediately so they can start the claims process and get your vehicle repaired, etc. Consider calling from the scene of the accident to facilitate this. Additionally, when you get home, write a detailed account of what happened as soon as you can after the accident. Include all the details you recorded at the scene. Include the time of day, weather conditions, and road conditions. This account will be very useful when filing an insurance report or, if you are involved in a court case because of the accident.

AAA members (with AAA insurance) receive the added benefit of AAA Accident Assist (in states operated by Auto Club Enterprises). This is a program designed to provide an immediate and complete solution for members involved in an accident.1 When used from the scene, Accident Assist provides for expedited towing service that will quickly and safely provide transport to a repair shop in AAA’s Immediate Repair Program or a shop of the member’s choice. AAA will contact friends or family members on our member’s behalf, can immediately arrange for rental vehicle assistance1, and even complete the claim notice on the phone or at a time of the member’s choosing.

If a member elects to have their vehicle repaired at a AAA Immediate Repair Program facility, AAA Accident Assist also saves time by scheduling a repair without having to wait for an adjuster. All repairs carry a lifetime warranty on workmanship2 for the repair.

Other Recommendations:

Do not discuss the financial limits of your auto insurance policy
Do not discuss who is responsible for the accident with anyone other than the police or your insurance company
Do not sign anything at the scene of the accident other than the police report. (Or your citation if one is issued)
Refer anyone who calls you regarding the accident to your claims adjustor and discuss the details only with your insurance representative
In addition to carrying your cell phone with you (but we advise against using it while driving), make an “emergency kit” for your glove box that contains a pen and paper for making notes and drawing out the accident scene. Add a disposable camera to photograph the accident and vehicles involved. Consider carrying a flashlight, blanket, first aid kit, jumper cables, and warning triangles or highway flares in your trunk just in case.

Generate a card listing you and your family member’s medical conditions or allergies that may require special attention if you are treated for injuries sustained in an accident by anyone other than your regular doctor. Additionally, generate a list of personal emergency contact numbers which would be helpful and keep the lists in your glove box.

If your vehicle needs to be towed from the accident scene, take the time to remove all of your personal items, including your home and office keys (leave the car keys), your garage door opener, other valuables, and important personal items. Remember to find out where your vehicle is being taken.

If you are a AAA member, obtain a Club brochure “Protect Yourself in Case of an Accident.” The back page contains the following information which is something to consider, especially in today’s economy.

Beware of Fraudulent Accidents

Up to 10 percent of accidents are fraudulent. Here are some tips that can help you avoid becoming a victim. Look for the following signs:

Vehicles that change lanes frequently
Drivers who look frequently into the rear view mirror or passengers who look behind frequently
Vehicles with no working brake lights
Older model vehicles, often with previous damage
Vehicles traveling at slow speeds
Two vehicles, driving side by side, that appear to be communicating with each other (planning an accident)
Drivers who have planned fraudulent accidents may appear angry, aggressive, or threatening in order to intimidate you.

Most Common Scenarios:

The vehicle in front of you suddenly stops
Your vehicle is boxed in and you are forced into a collision
Another driver yields the right of way to you (usually in a parking lot) and then appears to deliberately run into you
Common targets of such accidents are people driving alone, very young or elderly drivers, and drivers of luxury cars. We suggest that you always drive defensively and avoid tailgating. If you believe that you are a victim of a fraudulent accident, inform the police immediately.

1
Accident Assist is for insured members only. Repairs, rentals, and other benefits are subject to policy coverage and limits

2
Warranty excludes parts and materials and is non-transferable.

The following tip comes to us from SimpleHelp.net

Mark

How To Link To A Specific Spot In A YouTube Video

A lot of times you want to show your friends a cool video, the cool part doesn’t happen later in the timeline. You can tell them the action takes place at the 2:03 mark for example, but wouldn’t it be more cool to just link to that spot? Here is how to do it. 

1.
Go to YouTube and sign in with your Google account.
 
2.
Start watching videos, and when you find something cool you want to share right-mouse-click on the timeline at the point where you want to start sharing the video.
 
3.
Select Copy Video URL at Current Time.  This will copy the URL you will provide to those with whom you want to share the video at the desired time-code.
 
4.
Now choose the method by which you wish to share the URL such as via email or instant message.

5.
Finally, Paste the URL into the message and send it to your friends.

That’s all there is to it.

The following tutorial comes to us from SimpleHelp.net

Mark

HOW TO REMOVE PROGRAMS AND FEATURES NOT LISTED IN PROGRAMS & FEATURES IN WINDOWS 7

Just like in XP, some programs, components, and Features aren’t listed in the Programs and Features section in Control Panel. You might be wondering how to remove some of those in Windows 7. Today we show you how.

Turn Windows Features Off

1.
Back in the XP days, we covered how to uninstall Windows Components that aren’t listed in Add/Remove Programs. The Add/Remove Programs section in Control Panel has been renamed to Programs and Features in Windows 7. 

Just like in XP some programs such as Games, Internet Explorer, Windows DVD Maker and others aren’t included in the Remove list. For this tutorial we’ll turn off the Windows DVD Maker which is located in the Start Menu.

2.
To remove or turn it off, click Start and type Programs and Features into the Search box and hit Enter.

3.
That opens Control Panel – click on Turn Windows features on or off hyperlink on the left panel.

4.
The Windows Features window will come up and you’ll see a list of the different features you can turn on or off. There is a checkmark next to the ones that are currently on.

5.
Expand the Media Features tree and simply uncheck the box next to Windows DVD Maker. Then you’ll see a confirmation Dialog Box, just click Yes.

6.
Then click OK in the Windows Features window.

7.
You’ll see a progress screen while the feature is turned off. Notice it can take several minutes, but in my experience it took less than one. Depending on the feature you remove your results will vary.

8.
After it’s done, close out of the Windows Features box and Control Panel. Then when you open the Start menu, Windows DVD Maker no longer appears.

9.
It’s no longer in the Start Menu, but to ensure it’s turned off type dvdmaker.exe into the Search box in the Start Menu and hit Enter. You’ll first notice that there are no results found under the search results in Start.

10.
It won’t be found anywhere in your PC.

Microsoft Components and Features are integrated deep into the OS and this method doesn’t actually uninstall them. However, if there are ones you don’t use, you can easily turn them off.
Click Here for the original article.

Here is an article that I hope you will find as interesting as I.

Mark

NASA DISCOVERS MAGNETIC “FOAM” ON THE BORDER OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM

You would never know it from Earth, but the entire Solar System is encapsulated in a massive magnetic field produced by the sun. The border between that magnetic field and interstellar space is called the heliopause. Astrophysicists used to think it was a smooth, discrete barrier: one moment you’re in the Solar System, and after breaking through it, you’re outside and subject to interstellar wind and radiation. Now, thanks to data collected from Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, both of which have recently passed through this zone, we know it’s not a simple barrier at all – it’s actually full of magnetic “bubbles,” millions of miles wide. 

The same way the Earth’s magnetic field protects us from most of the cosmic rays and radiation from the sun, the Sun’s magnetic field keeps much of the dust, debris, and radiation out of the Solar System. The Voyager probes are the first man-made objects to pass through the heliopause, and scientists were braced to see the two tiny space probes to pass through and immediately begin picking up massive amounts of radiation from the interstellar wind. That’s not quite what happened.

Instead, the two probes passed through multiple magnetic barriers, some of which were millions of miles wide. NASA scientists would see the amount of radiation spike for a while, and then vanish again, and then spike, and vanish, over and over until it finally spiked and stayed put for several years. The two Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 actually passed through the zone in 2007 and 2008, respectively, and both probes experienced the same phenomenon. The events completely puzzled NASA scientists, who could only interpret the activity as the probes moving out of a strong magnetic field, and then back in, and then back out again.

Ultimately, they came up with a new theory: that the heliopause is not a discrete barrier at all, but is instead made up of a heliosheath, or “foam zone,” made up of smaller magnetic “bubbles” that border the edge of the Solar System. To figure out why they exist, you have to remember that the Sun itself is traveling through interstellar space, orbiting the center of the galaxy once every 200 million years, itself careening through space.

As the sun moves, the magnetic field cuts through the interstellar wind like a boat through water. Just like a boat through water, there are waves and breaks along the front. They theorize that the bubbles are caused by turbulence and disruptions on the surface of the Sun’s magnetic field. The sun is also rotating and moving inside of that field, and as the sun moves and spins, the magnetic field moves and spins with it, adding to the turbulence.

In the end, this means that the border between our Solar System and deep space is actually a very violent and turbulent zone to pass through. It doesn’t mean much for physical objects, direct light, or even massive energy pulses like those emitted by gamma-ray bursts, but it does represent a complete shift in the way we thought the sun behaves with the space around it. Astrophysicists now turn to the question of what the heliosheath is for, and whether it, like the heliopause, serves to keep interstellar wind out of the Solar System, where it would irradiate all of the planets inside. Considering how long it took the Voyager probes to get through the heliosheath, it’ll be a while before we know for sure. 

Click Here for the original article.

When reading the following, tears came to my eyes as I ponder the principles that encompass the United States of America Flag.  As you read, perhaps you will experience the same as you realize that we do, indeed, live in interesting times that you wouldn’t want to miss for anything in the world. 

Mark

The flag of the US when folded !

All Americans should be given this lesson.  Those who think that America is an arrogant nation should really reconsider that thought.  Our founding fathers used GOD’s word and teachings to establish our Great Nation and I think it’s high time Americans get re-educated about this Nation’s history.

Pass it along and be proud of the country we live in and even more proud of those who serve to protect our ‘GOD GIVEN’ rights and freedoms.

I  hope you take the time to read this … To understand what the flag draped coffin really means … Here is how to understand the flag that  laid upon it and is surrendered to so many widows and  widowers.

Do you know that at military funerals, the 21-gun salute stands for the sum of the numbers in the year 1776?

Have you ever noticed that the honor guard pays meticulous attention to correctly folding the United States of America Flag 13 times?  You probably thought it was to symbolize the original 13 colonies, but we learn something new every day:

1.
The 1st fold of the flag is a symbol of life. 

2.
The 2nd fold is a symbol of the belief in eternal life.

3.
The 3rd fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veterans departing the ranks who gave a portion of their lives for the defense of the country to attain peace throughout the world.

4.
The 4th fold represents the weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in time of war for His divine guidance.

5.
The 5th fold is a tribute to the country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, ‘Our Country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong.’

6.
The 6th fold is for where people’s hearts lie.  It is with their heart that they pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America , and the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.

7.
The 7th fold is a tribute to its Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that they protect their country and their flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of their republic.

8.
The 8th fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day.

9.
The 9th fold is a tribute to womanhood, and Mothers.  For it has been through their faith, their love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great has been molded.

10.
The 10th fold is a tribute to the father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of their country since they were first born.

11.
The 11th fold represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon and glorifies in the Hebrews eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

12.
The 12th fold represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in the Christians eyes, God the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.

13.
The 13th fold, or when the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost reminding them of their Nations motto, ‘In God We Trust.’

After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under General George Washington, and the Sailors and Marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones, who were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, preserving for them the rights, privileges and freedoms they enjoy today.

There are some traditions and ways of doing things that have deep meaning.
In the future, you’ll see flags folded and now you will know why.

Share this with the children you love and all others who love what is referred to, the symbol of ‘ Liberty and Freedom.’

The following was sent to me by a friend and I find it so interesting I had to pass it on.  I have not verified the details so reader discretion is advised.

Mark

THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU DIDN’T KNOW
 
1.
Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the U.S. Treasury.

2.
Men can read smaller print than women can; women can hear better. 

3.
Coca-Cola was originally green.

4.
It is impossible to lick Your elbow.

5.
The State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work: Alaska.

6.,
The percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28%

7.
The percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%

8.
The cost of raising a medium-size dog in the United States to the age of eleven: $16,400

9.
The average number of people airborne over the U.S. in any given hour: 61,000.

10.
Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.

11.
The first novel ever written on a typewriter: Tom Sawyer.

12.
The San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments.

13.
Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history: Spades – King David, Hearts – Charlemagne, Clubs -Alexander, the Great, Diamonds – Julius Caesar.

14.
111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321

15.
If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in the air, the person died because of wounds received in battle. If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.

16.
Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4:  John Hancock and Charles Thomson.  Most of the rest signed on August 2, but the last signature wasn’t added until 5 years later.

17.
If you were to spell out numbers (one, two, three, etc), how far would you have to go until you would find the letter “A”?  One thousand.

18.
What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers and laser printers have in common? All were invented by women.

19.
What is the only food that doesn’t spoil? Honey.

20.
In the United States, on which day of the year are there more collect calls than any other? Father’s Day.

21.
In Shakespeare’s time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes, the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the phrase, “Goodnight, sleep tight.”

22.
It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride’s father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month, which we know today as the honeymoon.

23.
In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts… So in old England, when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them “Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down.”  It’s where we get the phrase, “mind your P’s and Q’s.”

24.
Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim, or handle of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some service. ‘Wet your whistle’ is the phrase inspired by this practice.

25.
YOU KNOW YOU ARE LIVING IN 2011/2012+ when…
1. You accidentally enter your PIN on the microwave..
2. You haven’t played solitaire with real cards in years.
3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of three.
4. You e-mail and text the person who works at the desk next to you.
5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends is that they don’t have email/SMS.

6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.

7. Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen.

8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn’t even have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.

10. You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee.
11. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. : )
12 You’re reading this and nodding and laughing.
13. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message.
14. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.
15. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn’t a #9 on this list.

AND FINALLY………….
NOW U R LAUGHING at yourself!
 
At least 75% of people who read this will try to lick their elbow!

Generally speaking, I am not a fan of roast beef sandwiches; however, the following recipe has opened both my mind and my taste buds to the limitless possibilities.  (Smile) 

Mark

THE ULTIMATE ROAST BEEF SANDWICH

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better sandwich anywhere than this one. A restaurant quality hoagie roll filled with thinly sliced beef dripping with phenomenal sauce and melted provolone cheese – this is what a sandwich is all about!

Preparation Time:  5 minutes..
Cook Time:  5 minutes.
Bake Time:  3 minutes. 

INGREDIENTS
A.
1 can (10 1/2 ounces) Campbell’s® Condensed French Onion Soup 

B.
1 tablespoon reduced sodium Worcestershire sauce 

C.
3/4 pound thinly sliced deli roast beef 

D.
4 Pepperidge Farm® Classic Soft Hoagie Rolls with Sesame Seeds 

E.
4 slices deli provolone cheese cut in half 

F.
1/4 cup drained hot or mild pickled banana pepper rings 

STEP:
1.
Heat the oven to 400°F.

2.
Heat the soup and Worcestershire in a 2-quart saucepan over medium-high heat to a boil. Add the beef and heat through, stirring occasionally.

3.
Divide the beef evenly among the rolls. Top the beef with the cheese slices and place the sandwiches onto a baking sheet.

4.
Bake for 3 minutes or until the sandwiches are toasted and the cheese is melted.  Spoon the soup mixture onto the sandwiches.  Top each sandwich with 1 tablespoon pepper rings.

EASY SUBSTITUTION:
You may substitute 1/2 of a 11.25-ounce package Pepperidge Farm® Texas Toast (4 slices), prepared according to package directions, for the rolls in this recipe.  Serve the sandwiches open-faced.

Tip:
Serve potato salad or three-bean salad from the deli on the side. For dessert (if you’re not too full!) serve brownie sundaes.
       
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: 
“There is no technique, there is just the way to do it. Now, are we going to measure or are we going to cook?”
Frances Mayes

The following article, by Sascha Segan, is one I suggest you read.

The Failure of Mobile Broadband
AT&T’s new service plans show that 3G wireless carriers just can’t compete with home Internet.
Click Here To Read More.

Mark

I recommend the following to anyone who loves enchiladas.

EASY CHICKEN & CHEESE ENCHILADAS

Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 40 minutes.

INGREDIENTS

A.
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell’s® Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup (Regular or 98% Fat Free)  

B.
1/2 cup sour cream 

C.
1 cup Pace® Picante Sauce 

D.
2 teaspoons chili powder 

E.
2 cups chopped cooked chicken 

F.
1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese 

G.
6 flour tortillas (6-inch), warmed 

H.
1 small tomato, chopped (about 1/2 cup) 

I.
1 green onion, sliced (about 2 tablespoons) 

PREPARATION:
1.
Heat the oven to 350°F. Stir the soup, sour cream, picante sauce and chili powder in a medium bowl.

2.
Stir 1 cup soup mixture, chicken and cheese in a large bowl.

3.
Divide the chicken mixture among the tortillas. Roll up the tortillas and place seam-side up in a 2-quart shallow baking dish. Pour the remaining soup mixture over the filled tortillas. Cover the baking dish.

4.
Bake for 40 minutes or until the enchiladas are hot and bubbling. Top with the tomato and onion.

Ingredient Note: Stir 1/2 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed, into the chicken mixture before filling the tortillas, if desired.

Serving Suggestion: Serve with iceberg lettuce salad mixed with carrots and red cabbage and a red wine vinaigrette. For dessert serve prepared refrigerated flan.
Makes: 6 servings (1 enchilada each).

Kitchen Clip 
To warm the tortillas (this step makes them easier to fill and roll), wrap them in very lightly moistened paper towels and microwave at 10-second intervals on high power until pliable.

Mark

Click Here to download/view Apple’s iOS User Guide in PDF format.

Mark

In this approximately 17 minute episode of the Candle Shore Podcast, I share a story produced by 60 Minutes, that recounts the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Louis Allen. 

To any nation that views itself as the social and political standard by which other nations should be judged, I say the following:  “Physician heal thyself!”

Mark
Episode:  Louis Allen, A Cold Case That Makes The Blood Boil

In episode 87 of the Candle Shore Podcast, I showcased a marvelous device for brewing virtually any kind of tea on the planet.  In this post, I offer you one, if not the best, resource for finding the perfect loose tea to brew.

Introducing TeaVana.  Take it from me, your favorite tea-meister, whether you visit in person or shop online, TeaVana is the place to find the perfect tea for the tea-lover in you.

About Teavana
Great tea works wonders. The delicious tastes and health benefits make tea a wonderful beverage – much better than the unhealthy alternatives. The Teavana dream began with an idea that people would enjoy fresh, high-quality tea in a place that was part Tea Bar, part Tea Emporium. We wanted to introduce people to the aromas, textures, and beneficial qualities of loose leaf teas while enlightening them with the history and variety of teas available. And this is how Teavana was born. 

As our name implies, Teavana’s goal is to be a heaven of tea and to offer our customers the healthy lifestyle and wonderful tastes of tea. This unique name is meant to describe the experience each customer has with our tea and our staff.
 
After considerable research, only those teas with rich flavors and superior health benefits are selected for Teavana. We opened our first tea emporium in Atlanta, Georgia. Since then we have opened over 150 Teavana locations throughout the US and Mexico.

Mark