Dilbert author recovers from long-time voice dysfunction October 28, 2006
Posted by Kathy in Uncategorized.add a comment
This isn’t about hardware, software, the Internet, or hardly anything having to do with technology. However, the “Dilbert” comic strip holds wide appeal for geeks and non-geeks alike. I’m a big fan myself, having discovered Dilbert during my days in a cubicle. (On my first read I thought someone had been very creative to put a documentary in cartoon form. )
Until I saw the story below, I didn’t realize that author Scott Adams has suffered for 18 months with a condition called spasmodic dysphonia, which rendered him unable to engage in normal speech. More fascinating than the dysfunction itself is that Adams came up with an amazing way to “trick” (some might say “hack”) his brain into speaking again.
At the end of this post, Adams requested that readers comment on the happiest moment of their lives, so there are hundreds of contributions guaranteed to give even the most hard-nosed hacker the warm fuzzies. If you want to feel good, follow the link below.
Fishnet Radio Supplement: Kathy on Christian Ladies Business Radio October 25, 2006
Posted by Kathy in Also from LTF Tech, Internet Radio (Podcast).add a comment
Kathy Montgomery is a guest on Christian Ladies Business Radio, an Internet radio program hosted by Demetria Zinga. In this interview, Kathy talks about recognizing and avoiding phishing scams, as well as the benefits of the Firefox web browser.
Free AOL: AIM Phoneline October 6, 2006
Posted by Kathy in Internet.2 comments
This is one of the new services being provided by AOL, which has recently made available free (to those with an Internet connection) its online service, which had been a subscription service for years. AIM Phoneline (the free plan) consists of a real local phone number with always-on voicemail. If you have the software running on your computer, you can answer calls, but you can’t make outgoing calls — that comes with the $9.95/month plan. I like the idea of an having a separate, personal voicemail number that I don’t have to pay for. I was about to sign up the other day until I noticed in the terms that you can’t do outgoing calls — but I’ve decided that’s not a big deal for me. I may still give it a shot and report back on how it works.
Skype, forgotten father of consumer Internet phone October 6, 2006
Posted by Kathy in Internet, Software.add a comment
It’s only forgotten because I forgot about it. In all the hubbub about digital phone services provided by pioneers like Vonage and latecomers like Verizon and Time Warner Cable, I forgot that Skype has been doing this since 2003. (While I don’t know for sure whether they were first, in Internet years, they’ve been around.) Skype provides free software that you can use to talk for free to anyone else who has the Skype program — all you need is a comptuer (naturally), a fast Internet connection, speakers, and a computer microphone. Optionally, you can buy incoming and outgoing service that lets you get calls from and make calls to regular phones. You can purchase voice mail, too.
I downloaded Skype and signed up for a free account. I since forgot about it. This is probably because I don’t know anyone that uses Skype. Although, what a great cost-saving way to call people. I have heard recorded phone calls made by Skype users and they’ve sounded better than landline calls. The service has a stellar usefulness factor; I just haven’t found a use for it yet. (I’m currently a Vonage user and virtually all my calls are included in my plan.) I post this in case a reader hasn’t yet heard of this product and would like to give it a try. (Beats long distance charges.) Perhaps the perfect use for this software will dawn on me one day and I’ll pick it up — so to speak — and not be able to put it down. Actually, for now I might have more use for the free voicemail included in AOL’s new AIM Phoneline service. I’ll write about that next.
