Wow,

Last night folks from LTOL were invited by Stefanie Oliveri of Cabona's of downtown Truckee Cabona's, Jack Ass Ridge, Isabella O's, etc, etc, etc to be her guest at the Tahoe Music.org kick off event at Homewood's new amphitheatre created for the music festival.
Kenny Loggins was the first entertainer to use this new venue, along with his son Crosby Loggins? We think anyway that he was Kenny's son with being the same last name. Anyway a GREAT time was had by all, even if there was a mixup with the seating arrangements. We really didn't care, we just liked the venue.

So, thanks Cabona's! Thanks Stefanie! We can't wait to see you at David Samborn

Well them hackers are at it again. NOW we have to be worried about web ads spreading a virus to our computers. In May a website was infected and then went on to infect over 50,000 computers just by the web banner on the website. Also in May an anti virus firm just under 7 percent of web sponsored links were 'suspicious'. Ok, so what does this mean? Here it is in a nutshell. You decided that you want to pay less for a ink cartridge for your printer. Instead of going to a local or a chain store to get your new cartridge, you do a web search. You find 20 different places that will sell you an ink cartridge for less then 15.00. NOW comes the hard part, one of these sites you just 'Googled' is also a virus download site and you don't know which one to pick. Which one of these 'Googled" sites is the bad one, which one or ones are safe?? This is getting bad because the internet is now going through a time of 'not being safe' again. It is being reported that 80% of all malicious codeon the INternet is found in or on online ads. (WSJ Thursday 19th, 2007). So, we could go on and on but the simple fact is this is probably going to be the next bad thing that happens with a virus and honestly it is hard to protect yourself against.

Almost looks like we are making up our own words now doesn't it? Well we didn't the WSJ did, again. "Happy Blogiversary" is on the Pursuits page of the Saturday WSJ today and well we thought we would stop and wish everyone a 'Happy, Happy'.

What does that mean? Blogs are 10 years old, and the LTOL Tech Blog is a year old, what a set of milestones eh? People blog about anything to the guy that cut them off in traffic, to is anyone out there, to the latest and greatest movie that they just saw and everything in between. Blogs have launched political candidates, raised MILLION'S of dollars and have reported on the war in Iraq.

The LTOL Tech Blog doesn't do any of that of course, we just try to help you stay savvy on all things technical.

But on such an auspicious day, who cannot stop and say: "Happy Blogiversary!!!"

Ever have one of those 'oops' moments? Suddenly your desktop no longer the way it was before you downloaded that 'smiley face' helpful program. All you have now is a wallpaper of someone from Baywatch. Well, check this out:

Microsoft has done another cool thing for home users, it is called "Steady State". What this does is after you download this free program from Microsoft is let you put your computer BACK the way it was before you had an 'oops' moment.

So, go to: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/sharedaccess/default.mspx

Find "Steady State" and download it and let us know what you think. We think it's pretty nifty. As an aside this program is a part of the parental controls in Windows Vista.

Hi,

Very rarely will I use this forum for something political, but this time I really can't help myself. Our President, President Bush wants to allow logging in the Sequoai national forest, where he once made a speech talking about the importance of our national parks system. (Ironic eh?) While I am not known for being a tree hugger in any sense of the word the wonder and majesty of this national park is just awe inspiring. The LTOL .... family? Anyway went up there and had the experienc of walking through the trees, driving through the trees, and just feeling the 'wow' of the place. This place is older then dirt, the trees have been here longer then the USA has been a country, since before the Magna Carta was signed in 1215 A.D.

So, please go to the sierraclub.org website and check out what they have to say, even if you don't desire, can't afford, or just don't want to join they have an email click you can do to email the govt. to stop even considering desecrating such a wonderful, old, and I have to use the words again: awe inspiring place just to destroy something to make toothpicks or something equally absurd. Please, Please, Please check out this site and do what you can: https://secure2.convio.net/sierra/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=211

Thank you and your children will thank you too!!!

Zanos Pizza here in Truckee is some of the best pizza that we have had here at LTOL. Not only do they take care of you at Zanos Pizza of Truckee, good healthy portions, quick and EFFICIENT service, no not just that, you are made to feel welcomed when you walk into their restaraunt. Zanos Pizza, Truckee doesn't serve just pizza, no they serve a full range of great italian food items. Zanos Pizza, Truckee is located across the street from the 7-11 on Donner Pass Road, near the Truckee Fire Station, and has plenty of parking. Zanos Pizza in Truckee also has a really nice deck out back for those of us that like lots of fresh air. But, let us get the main point across, Zanos Pizza here in Truckee gets ***** (That is 5 stars) our highest rating we give so way to go and well is it lunch time yet??? Zanos Pizza in Truckee is one of our favorites!!!!

Well the iPhones are out and a lot of people seem to want one. It has some nifty features but let us first realize something? It's a phone, it's a cool phone from Apple, you can use it a lot like an iPod, but it's a phone using AT&T and Cingular systems. Here in Tahoe? They are not known for their great reception, a new phone is not going to improve signal. Also a LOT of headsets aren't going to fit into the slots on the iPhone that work on the iPod, bad design flaw on Apple's part but it is what it is. Belkin makes a nifty sleeve for the iPhone that allows it to stand up when it is in the 'cradle' holder.

Want to know what I think? It's the first, wait a few months, heck wait till December when everyone ELSE has worked out the bugs and you get all the benefits.

On a side note: Good bye Joan, you will be missed, see you next time around.

There is a new virus out, came out the end of last week and it looks like it is just making it's rounds here in the Truckee/Tahoe area. It is called the "Post Card Virus" and it is an attachment virus. The virus comes from someone you know saying that they have sent you a video postcard, or an email postcard or even just a postcard attachment, something like you could send from Disneyland/Disney World for example. It then infects your machine and it's really hard to get off. The things you can do to protect yourself is to make sure you have the latest updates from your anti virus program. We of course strongly reccomend PC-Cillin from Trend Micro. This can be downloaded from our website of: www.ltol.com then go to tools and then ta dah, you're there. We also suggest getting the latest updates from Microsoft: www.microsoft.com Be careful out there.

We always strongly suggest that if you don't know where an email is coming from, that you just delete it for safety sake. Photo's and postcards are tough to give suggestions on, this is vacation season, and getting a postcard from someone seems pretty safe, but it looks like little is safe out here in the online universe.

We do have the cutest kittens here at LTOL from the www.hstt.org, the Humane Society of the Tahoe Truckee region. They do a great job and we feel privelaged to have the oppurtunity to host cats and kittens for them. Right now we have two kittens that have already been adopted that are just waiting to get to a 'weight' so they can get 'fixed'. Stop by, have a look and see if a kitten is for YOU!!

Now, I'm not suppose to talk about this, so I won't but if you want to email me and ask about "Pagan, Defender of Technology", newest Super-Hero installment, well I am pretty sure I can keep you up to date.