Use your monitor as a ruler

If you ever find yourself in a quick pinch for a ruler to measure something, use your monitor.  Try iruler.net.  When you go there, it will determine your monitor size and resolution and display a nice ruler in the middle of the screen that is exact according to your monitor dimensions.  Yes, it works, I had to verify that a 2.5 sata hard drive was indeed 7 millimeters instead of the standard 9.5 millimeters and it verified it for me. 

That was fast Verizon!

Less than 24 hours after announcing a silly "convenience fee" to actually pay your bill, Verizon has changed their minds and rescinded the yet to be implemented fee.  Seems like the general public and federal government had a serious problem with the idea.  It's nice to see the general public not sit back and take it anymore.  On another note, after seeing the beating that GoDaddy has taken for supporting SOPA, three other giant companies that supported SOPA, no longer do.  Sony, Electronic Arts and Nintendo are no longer backing the legislation. 

New website, why do I have to register? You don't now

Registering for websites is a pain in the neck,  sometimes you just want to check out the site and be done with it. Here's a quick, easy workaround to having to register each time you end up at a new website: Try BugMeNot.

BugMeNot has a database of legitimate usernames and passwords for various sites that require you to register in order to access content. You can use BugMeNot in several ways.

The simplest approach is to go to the BugMeNot website and enter the name of the site where you want to log in. BugMeNot will produce a list of usernames and passwords that you can use instead of registering yourself.

If you'd rather not go all the way over to the website each time, you can download an extension for Firefox (BugMeNot Firefox) or Chrome. On other browsers you can use a bookmarklet (located in the menu of the BugMeNot website; just drag the bookmarklet into your browser's bookmark toolbar) to get instant BugMeNot login credentials.

BugMeNot does not give out credentials for sites that are behind a paywall, however, so you can't avoid paying for content by using this service.  Give it a shot

I was wrong, the hard drive shortage has already begun

Awhile ago I spoke about the pending hard drive shortage that will drive up prices in 2012.  I was wrong, it has already begun.  Tonight I went looking for a hard drive for a customer in need of one for a laptop.  Prices have pretty much doubled,....everywhere.  I typically go to Newegg to make myself feel better that the prices really are not that high, but even there.....geez.  Oh well, what can you do?

Go to MIT for free....sort of

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has announced a new program that will expand the university's free online courses and allow would-be students to earn official certificates from a program called MITx.  All you need is an Internet connection and the dedication to take the courses.  Slated to start in 2012, anyone is eligible to take the courses.  Learn more here or check out the MITX website.

Have some fun...Let it snow

Go to Google and simply type in "let it snow" and just watch.  Google loves to throw Easter Eggs at you.  For those unfamiliar, Easter Eggs is a term in the software industry for when those who write software, throw in hidden features that are not told to the general public.  Typically done in the gaming industry.  If you wait long enough, simply hit the defrost button....