If you’re a ‘computer guy’ you have to read this daily column. The stories are all very likely true, submitted by readers. Usually very funny. Bet you never thought of yourself as a pilot fish….

Shark Tank

Q: What’s a pilot fish?
A: There are two answers to that question. One is the Mother Nature version: Pilot fish are small fish that swim just ahead of sharks. When the shark changes direction, so do the pilot fish. When you watch underwater video of it, it looks like the idea to change direction occurred simultaneously to shark and pilot fish.

Thing is, sharks go pretty much anywhere they want, eating pretty much whatever they want. They lunge and tear and snatch, but in so doing, leave plenty of smorgasbord for the nimble pilot fish.

The IT version: A pilot fish is one of the workers. Not a honcho, not a shark.

The tricks for both kinds of pilot fish are finding a shark they can live with and staying out of range of its teeth. And to always stay alert and away from those tooth-packed jaws. A moment’s inattention could end the pilot fish’s career.

That’s life at the reef.

Free Online Bookmark Manager

BookKit.com is a free online tool, which provides an easy and elegant way to manage your bookmarks. Here are the main
features of the service:

• Easy-to-use and extensive tool to manage bookmarks online
• BookKit Desktop IE Bookmark Synchronizer to imperceptibly and quickly syncronize your local IE bookmarks with the BookKit web service
• Support for the popular FireFox Bookmark Synchronizer Plug-In (by Torisugari)
• Import utilities, which allow you to upload FireFox and Safari bookmarks into BookKit server
• Tracks updates and validity of the bookmarks
• Provieds a number of useful utilities (Remove duplicate links, Remove invalid links, Sorting etc)
• Supports international encoding. Use any charecter set you like
• Is fully supported for Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Safari
• Use any encoding (language) for bookmark names and descriptions
• No popup ads
• It is a Free Service and it will stay free forever. However, we will still gladly appriciate your donations 🙂

OK, you probably are an ubergeek if this floats your boat, but damn it is cool… I’ll give it a try in the coming days and let you know how it works out.

Tom’s Hardware Guide PCs & HowTo: Windows In Your Pocket – Introduction

All it takes is a minor error in the Windows Registry or a virus infection, and your operating system can become unbootable. But with a properly configured USB flash drive on hand, you’ll always have a compatible replacement no further away than your pocket or keychain. In addition, the flash drive can also provide a secure browser and virus scanner, and lets you take your favorite DVD burning and Office software with you wherever you may go.

If you’re a web-dogin geek, you’ll love this.

/* Position Is Everything */ — Modern browser bugs explained in detail!

We’re Big John and Holly Bergevin, and together we built this site to explain some obtuse CSS bugs in modern browsers, provide demo examples of interesting CSS behaviors, and show how to “make it work” without using tables for layout purposes.

FIREFOX 1.5 IS OUT, JUST GET THE DAMN THING!

A Better Web Experience
Firefox 1.5 has an intuitive interface and blocks viruses, spyware, and popup ads. It delivers web pages faster than ever. And it’s easy to install and import your favorites. Packed with useful features like tabbed browsing, Live Bookmarks, and an integrated Search bar, Firefox will change the way you experience the Web, for the better.
Faster Browsing
Enjoy quick page loading as you navigate back and forward in a browsing session. Improvements to the engine that powers Firefox deliver more accurate display of complex web sites, support for new Web standards, and better overall performance.
Automatic Updates
The new Software Update feature makes it easy to get the latest security and feature updates to Firefox. Firefox automatically downloads these small updates in the background and prompts you when they are ready to be installed.
Tabbed Browsing
Use tabbed browsing to open multiple web pages in a single browser window, and quickly flip back and forth. Drag and drop open tabs to keep related pages together.
Improved Pop-up Blocking
Firefox’s built-in pop-up blocker has been enhanced to block more unwanted pop-up and pop-under ads.
Integrated Search
Tap into the power of the Web’s most popular search engines with the built-in Search bar, and easily add new engines.
Stronger Security
Firefox keeps you secure when you’re browsing the Web, closing the door on spyware, worms, and viruses. The Firefox community of developers and security experts works around the clock to monitor security issues and release updates to better protect you.
Clear Private Data
Protect your privacy with the new Clear Private Data tool. With a single click, you can delete all personal data, including browsing history, cookies, web form entries and passwords.
Live Bookmarks
Stay up to date with your favorite Web sites and blogs. Use Live Bookmarks that update themselves automatically with the latest content from the Web.
Accessibility
Firefox 1.5 delivers easier navigation for everyone, including those who are visually or motor-impaired. Firefox is now the first browser to support DHTML, which enables Web content to be read aloud – even new kinds of graphics-rich content. Users may navigate with keystrokes rather than mouse clicks, reducing the tabbing required to navigate documents such as spreadsheets. Firefox 1.5 is also the first browser to meet government requirements that software be easily accessible to users with physical impairments.
Customize Firefox
Select new button controls for your toolbars, install extensions to add new features, or change the look of your browser with themes – the way Firefox looks and works is under your control.
Next Generation Web Support
Innovative new Web applications and services deliver a richer Web experience. Support for open Web standards in Firefox ensures you can get the most out of this emerging class of Web-based tools.

Blog This: » The six dumbest ways to secure a wireless LAN | George Ou | ZDNet.com

The six dumbest ways to secure a wireless LAN by ZDNet‘s George Ou — For the last three years, I’ve been meaning to put to rest once and for all the urban legends and myths on wireless LAN security. Every time I write an article or blog on wireless LAN security, someone has to come along and regurgitate one of these myths. If that weren’t bad enough, many “so […]

Excel VBA Examples

Anohter page with some good Microsoft Excel VBA.