The John Tesh Blog

Tired- again. But what's doing it might surprise you.

Okay- yesterday was Monday. That's why your feet were dragging most of the day, right? Except today's Tuesday. Still feel like you could just totally zonk out on the spot (well, if you could possibly get out of today's staff meeting without everyone noticing...)- so what gives?

If you feel like you're suffering a personal energy shortage (how's that for a fancy way to say- YOU'RE JUST PLAIN TIRED!)- then join the club: Fatigue is one of the most common complaint being reported to doctors. New York City internist Erika Schwartz, M.D., who specializes in treating fatigue says, "Being tired isn't just annoying—it's your body's cry for help. If you don't pay attention and correct what's making you tired, you will get sick."

I don't think anyone really expects that our energy levels are constant- day in and day out. It ebbs and flows according to daily, monthly and seasonal rhythms that are highly individual, explains Ken Goodrick, Ph.D., a psychologist at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. When you constantly feel drained, however, lifestyle habits are usually to blame. You're probably all too aware of the big-deal drains like taxes, toddlers and finding a parking spot, but Redbook points the finger at some sneaky factors that could be robbing you of energy and filling you with fatigue. Click on the energy busters below to find out how they sap your drive—and learn how to re-energize your life. 

Energy Buster: All Work, No Play

Acting like a serious, responsible adult is darned exhausting. All those routines, dripping with sameness, can get tedious. And your body registers boredom as tiredness. "The 24/7 push to be efficient and productive can wear you out physically and emotionally. Your brain needs downtime," explains Alice Domar, Ph.D., director of The Mind-Body Center for Women's Health at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.

Energy Booster: Be Serious About Fun

Build in pleasure throughout your day—open all e-mail jokes and pass them on, flip through a magazine, call a friend, daydream, waste time, play Twister with your kids, buy a CD and play it while you're car pooling. Instead of bogging you down, mini-breaks will buoy you and make your routine a little less routine.

Energy Buster: Shunning the Sun

"If there's not enough natural light, the body goes into sleep mode," Goodrick says. In a recent study involving more than 600 adults, researchers at the University of Massachusetts found that feelings of depression, hostility, anger, irritability and anxiety were highest in the winter and lowest in the summer. "Light exposure, diet and exercise, which all tend to vary with the seasons, may partially explain such mood differences," says coauthor of the study Morton Harmatz, Ph.D., a professor of psychology.

Energy Booster: Lighten Up

Sneak out for a 10-minute walk outside at least once during the day or when you're most tired—bright light has a caffeine-like power to make you more alert, says Goodrick. Get out even if it's cloudy; you'll get a lot more light exposure than you do in your office. If you just can't get out the door, spending a few minutes in a room that's drenched with natural light may also help.

Energy Buster: Barely Breathing

When you breathe shallowly (as you do most of the time), you aren't taking in enough oxygen; as a result, you're likely to have lower levels of oxygen and higher levels of carbon monoxide in your blood, which can make you tired, says Domar. Plus, when you don't get as much oxygen in your blood, your heart rate and blood pressure go up. That's taxing to your body.

Energy Booster: Belly-Breathing

Practice breathing from your diaphragm several times each day—when you're feeling tired or you're about to go into an energy-draining situation like a laborious meeting: Put your hand over your belly button. As you inhale, focus on making your stomach and chest move. This will automatically expand your lower lungs so you take in more air with each breath.

Energy Buster: Being a Desk Potato or a Sofa Spud

Sitting in one position for long periods of time can sap your energy, Schwartz says. Your body equates that stillness with going to sleep. Also, if you're staring at a screen (computer or TV), you tend to blink less frequently, leading to dry eyes and eyestrain. This can put you in the mood for shut-eye.

Energy Booster: Moving More

We just talked about getting out for some natural, energy building light- here are the small things- when you're not able to get outside. Stretch. Walk. Yawn (with your whole body). Stride to the bathroom. Frequent breaks will keep your body alert. Relieve eyestrain by focusing on something distant every 30 minutes or during commercial breaks, advises Margit L. Bleecker, M.D., director of the Center for Occupational and Environmental Neurology in Baltimore.

Energy Buster: Sleep Inconsistency

Your body's internal clock craves consistency, so if you spend your weekends staying up late and then sleeping in the next morning, you're giving yourself jet lag without even leaving town, says Margaret Moline, Ph.D., director of the Sleep-Wake Disorders Center at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. An erratic schedule can have a hangover effect, causing you to feel foggy long after you awaken. A study conducted at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston found that even if you sleep for enough hours, you're more likely to be irritable or downbeat if you wake up at a time other than what you're used to.

Energy Booster: Regular Sleep

Establish a regular bedtime and wake-up time, and try not to stray from it, even on the weekends. If you want to get more sleep on a particular night, go to bed 20 to 30 minutes earlier—it will be less jarring to you, says Lauren Broch, Ph.D., director of education and training at the Sleep-Wake Disorders Center.

Energy Buster: Mild Dehydration

A lot of people are walking around in a mild state of dehydration," says Susan Kleiner, a registered dietician in Mercer Island, Wash. "When you feel thirsty, you've already lost 2 to 3 percent of your body fluid." Even this mild dehydration can make you feel tired or lethargic: Your blood volume lowers, which means you don't get as much blood to your brain and your heart has to pump harder.

Energy Booster: Drinking More Water

Think about when you're going to drink just like you'd plan your meals. Try toting a water bottle around with you. Aim for at least nine cups of H2O per day if you're mainly sedentary and closer to 12 if you're active. To make plain water more appealing, add lemon or orange wedges or make a Thermos of herbal (noncaffeinated) tea. Increase your water intake by eating more soup, fresh fruits and vegetables.

Energy Buster: Bright Lights at Night

Normal levels of indoor lighting can be enough to disrupt your brain's notion of night and day. Bright lights can reset your body's internal clock, making it hard for you to nod off when you want to and wake up on time, Moline says. According to research from Brigham and Women's Hospital, brightly lit settings seem to reduce and delay the secretion of sleep-inducing melatonin.

Energy Booster: Dim Lights

Dim the overhead lights in your living room or bedroom a few hours before bedtime; turn on a reading lamp instead.

Energy Buster: The Vitamins-Plus-Coffee Breakfast

This common meal substitute is actually a vitality drainer. "Vitamins are not a source of energy," says Nancy Clark, R.D., author of Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Guidebook. Skipping breakfast altogether is another dead end: If you start the day without taking in calories, your metabolic rate and other functions slow in order to preserve energy. As a result, you wind up feeling droopy. "Putting breakfast in your body will give you more sustained energy through the morning," says Clark. Not hungry in the morning? You probably ate too much the night before.

Energy Booster: A Good Breakfast

To get a steady release of energy all morning long, eat a meal that combines protein and carbohydrates: peanut butter on a bagel, leftover cheese pizza, an energy bar, cereal or an egg with whole-wheat toast. You'll burn the carbs quickly—you'll feel a surge of energy in a short period of time. And protein, which stays in your stomach longer, gives you staying power, explains Chris Rosenbloom, R.D., associate professor of nutrition at Georgia State University in Atlanta.

Energy Buster: Overdoing Exercise

Working out every day may not be a good energy strategy, especially if you're a beginner or trying to get back in shape. "The body needs time to recover after exercise, to replenish energy stores and repair muscles," says Richard Cotton, chief exercise physiologist for the American Council on Exercise in San Diego.

Energy Booster: Take a Day Off

To figure out if you deserve a break today, start taking your pulse first thing in the morning before you get out of bed: If it's more than five beats above normal the morning after you've exercised vigorously, either exercise lightly that day or take the day off, Cotton advises. Or you could get in the habit of working out every other day. (Just don't take off more than two days in a row, because you may fall out of the exercise habit.)

Energy Buster: Toting Around Extra Pounds

Gaining as little as 5 pounds can cause fatigue. "If your body's carrying extra weight, it's exhausting," says Schwartz. "It also puts extra strain on your heart, which can make you tired."
Energy Booster: Dropping Them

You know the drill: Stop filling up on junk food, high-fat treats or large quantities of sweets and get back to the basics of healthy eating. Start exercising portion control—you may be surprised at how much you've actually been eating. With each pound of weight you lose, you'll feel a rise in energy.

Energy Buster: Slouching

Poor posture doesn't just make you look tired, it creates the feeling as well. "When the joints aren't aligned properly, the whole body has to work so much harder," says Sherry Brourman, a physical therapist in West Los Angeles and author of Walk Yourself Well. Poor posture places excess strain on your back and hips, which can make you feel tired and achy.

Energy Booster: Good Posture

How to tell if your posture is correct? While gazing down—without craning your neck—you should be able to see the tops of your shoes, Brourman says. Another quick alignment check: Whether you're moving, sitting or standing still, your head should be lined up over—not sticking out in front of—your body, so your ears are directly over your shoulders.

Energy Buster: Too Much Noise

Noise is stress. "It compromises your quality of life and has damaging physiological effects," says Arline Bronzaft, Ph.D., former professor of psychology at Lehman College at the City University of New York. "Your pulse rate and blood pressure increase, your adrenaline surges; anything that puts added stress on the nervous system eventually depletes your energy." Noise is also a stressor because you are not always in control of it. During the day, you may be able to tune out a certain amount of noise, "but you have to work harder to complete tasks because you're actively working to try to ignore the sound," explains Bronzaft. Ultimately, that's physically exhausting.

Energy Booster: Lowering the Decibel Level

Tell your coworkers (or kids) to tone it down. If noise is preventing you from getting a good night's sleep, consider buying some earplugs or cancelling out unwanted sounds with a white-noise machine. (Even the constant whir of an electric fan muffles noise.) Decrease noise from the street by sealing or weather-stripping windows and doors. Heavy drapes, upholstery and plush carpeting can also absorb sound.

Nighty-night...well, maybe not just yet- get through your day first, okay?

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

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Hackers are becoming stronger- keep yourself protected with stronger passwords

Keeping yourself protected online becomes a larger issue year by year, as hackers who want to steal your identity seem to stay ahead of the game in coming up with new ways to do it! Put that against a backdrop of economic uncertainly and losses everywhere, and it's a recipe, potentially, for your disaster!  Experts say the stronger your personal passwords you use for online accounts, the better.  Unfortunately, the same experts find that, sadly, most of our personal passwords are way too easy to crack. Here's a beautifully crafted set of guidelines to help you create beautifully crafted passwords, from PC World's Michael Scalisi:

When it comes to password strength, educating users is just as important as enforcing policies.

While security has never been more important than it is today, the fastest way for an IT professional to become the most despised person in the company is to start enforcing a strong password policy. A policy perceived as overbearing may cause people to write down their passwords on a sticky note near their computers, circumventing its very purpose. Your policy will be ineffective if users don't know how to create strong passwords that are easy to remember.

Left to our own devices, Scalisi says people will choose passwords that are simple for them to remember. They'll use their spouse's name, their dog's name, their favorite sports team or a recent vacation spot.

Scalisi also reports that occasionally while working on a user's computer, he'll need to log on as that person after a computer reboot. But maybe by that time, the user has wandered off, not wanting to hover over the IT guy. He says that, generally, he prefers not to know other people's passwords, so he doesn't usually ask. In this situation, he'll take a guess at the password, and has been right a surprising number of times- even dealing with the most powerful people in the company! It's easy for him to guess simply glancing around the offices and note what users obsessions are- what their interests are. Clearly, password policies are needed.

By using the following tips, people will be able to create easy-to-remember passwords that follow these typical requirements: at least eight characters long and with at least three of the following character types: uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers and special characters.

Substitute numbers for letters and vice versa.  (o instead of 0, 4 instead of A, 1 instead of L, E instead of 3)

• Substitute words for numbers (one, two, three...)
• Combine both of the above (0ne, thr33, flve)
• Use capitalization in random places (bLue, happY)
• Use special characters (!@#$%^&*(){}[]) to punctuate and separate words
• Create passwords out of words, numbers or phrases you'll remember
• Misspell words

Using these tips, you can create memorable passwords that will be nearly impossible to guess. Here are some examples of converting memorable information into a complex password

We'll start with some easy ones:

• Friday becomes frYday!
• Robert becomes #robERt#
• 867-5309 becomes 8siX753o9

More complex passwords:

• 19 Peach Place becomes: 0ne9peacHpl!
• I love Jill becomes: eYelov3Jill
• My dog Fritz becomes MeyedogfrltZ

While some of these examples look nearly indecipherable, it's also obvious that they're not difficult to memorize -- as long as you know the originating word, number or phrase and the basic methodology used to create it. By educating users on how to create strong passwords, the security of the company is stronger, and users will benefit additionally by have safer personal experiences with online banking and social networking.

Ready to bolster a few passwords now?  Gr8!  hAve a souper weakEnd!

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

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Three Ways to Simplify Your Money Management

It's not your imagination, nor or you turning into some sort of old 'fogie' for believing that managing your money is a lot harder than it used to be.  It is getting harder.

You have to make a lot more decisions than folks did a generation or two ago, and be much more up on your financial toes than your grandfolks perhaps did.

Instead of one health plan, you may need to choose from half a dozen- if you can afford coverage at all. Instead of an employer-provided traditional pension, you have to manage your own 401(k) and figure out not only how much to save but how to invest- without losing it all.

Instead of a single credit card with a relatively low rate- all that was available to most households in the 1970s- you probably have a wallet full of options, all with different rates, terms and due dates to monitor.

Fortunately, technology is riding to the rescue. I love the advice from MSN Money's Liz Pulliam Weston, and she's rounded up- again!- totally-make-great-sense tips for having an easier time managing your finances.  Used properly, it can help you stay on top of your  money with minimal effort. Liz spells out these tips in her book "Easy Money: How to Simplify Your Finances and Get What You Want Out of Life", and could go a long way towards helping you streamline your financial life:

Simplify and de-clutter

Use direct deposit. This should be a no-brainer, but many people who are eligible for direct deposit of their paychecks don't ever sign up. Perhaps it's an irrational fear of electronic transactions holding them back, but they should get over it. Direct deposit is easier, faster and safer than running around with a live check in your wallet.

Get true overdraft protection. Real overdraft protection links your checking account to a savings account, line of credit or credit card. Money is drawn from one of these sources if you write a check or initiate a debit card transaction for more than you have in your account. The annual cost is reasonable -- $20 to $50 is typical -- and you may pay another small fee anytime you use the overdraft.

What you don't want is "courtesy overdraft" or "bounce protection" that many banks and credit unions automatically offer their customers. That "service" can cost you $30 to $40 every time you make an over-limit transaction, and those fees can add up quickly. Take as example someone who racks up more than $200 in bounce fees buying songs for an MP3 player; because of an overdraft- even by a mere dollar!- each 99-cent tune could trigger a $30 fee. Be very careful navigating around overdraft protection; in the end, your bank will profit from the "courtesy" extended toward you.

Consolidate your accounts. Clutter isn't limited to the tangible stuff in your home. You also can create financial clutter when you have accounts all over the place. Too many accounts make it harder for you to adequately monitor your money, and you may pay more account fees than if you were able to maintain higher balances in fewer accounts.

For example, you could:

• Roll 401(k)s from previous employers into your current plan or into an individual retirement account (IRA).

• Combine IRAs as long as they're the same kind and they're all yours. You can't combine yours with a spouse's, for example, or combine regular IRAs with Roth IRAs -- at least not without serious financial consequences.

• Combine taxable brokerage accounts. If you have different goals for the various accounts you have now, you could consider maintaining separate accounts but at least consolidating them with the same brokerage house.

Trim your credit cards. The more cards you use, the more due dates and interest rates you're forced to monitor. If you pay off your balances in full, consider carrying just one card in your wallet, with another at home as a backup. If you're carrying credit card debt, consider leaving all your cards at home. Don't close accounts, since that could hurt your credit scores, but stop using them until you've retired your debt.

Consider two checking accounts. Consolidation isn't always best. If you have trouble figuring out how much money you can spend and how much needs to be reserved for bills, consider a two-account system.

Folks who utilize a two-account system typically have their paychecks deposited to a checking account at a brick-and-mortar bank -- often one that offers free checking if you use direct deposit. They have a second checking account they use to pay bills. If they can't get the second account free from their bank, or their bank doesn't have free online bill pay, they use an online bank, such as ING Direct, that offers fee-free checking and bill-pay services.

Next, they total all their bills for the year, using the previous year's bills as a guide, and divide the result by the number of paychecks they get each year. They set up automatic transfers so that this sum is whisked every payday to the second account.

Some go further by setting up automatic payments for most or all of their bills. Others prefer to control when bills get paid using the online bill-pay system that comes with their second account.

This two-account system takes a little effort to set up and monitor, but done right you'll eliminate uncertainty about whether you can cover your bills. What's left in the first account is the cash that's available for spending on clothes, eating out, etc.

A schedule for success

Set up a high-yield savings account. Saving for retirement and paying off credit card debt need to be the first and second priorities for most folks. Once you're on track there, though, you should consider building up an emergency fund, and today's high-rate online savings accounts can help you accomplish that. Accounts offered by ING Direct, Emigrant Direct and HSBC Direct, among others, are FDIC-insured and offer attractive rates. They typically link directly to your checking account at your brick-and-mortar bank. Set up automatic transfers so you don't have to think about saving -- you just do it.

Create alerts. Banks, brokerages and credit card companies will send you e-mails to alert you to all kinds of events: when your checking account drops below a certain level, for example, or when your credit card payment is due. Get online access to your accounts and explore the possibilities.

Move your due dates. If you have too many bills falling due at the same time, see if you can shift some to another time of the month. Many credit card companies, for example, will allow you to pick your own due dates.

Create a bill calendar. Even if you have e-mail alerts, you still should have all of your bills' due dates mapped out on a calendar. This can be a calendar on the wall, on your desktop or on your phone. The only requirement is that it be a calendar you look at daily. You're responsible for paying your bills even if you don't receive a statement, and this calendar can help make sure you don't wind up paying unnecessary late fees or inadvertently ruining your credit. (A single skipped payment on a credit account can knock nearly 100 points off your credit scores- what a big YUK.)

Pick the no-brainer options. If you really love picking individual stocks or researching the heck out of your mutual fund choices, go with that. If you want an easier route, though, seek out funds that do the heavy lifting for you. "Life cycle" and "target date maturity" funds not only choose the investments but re-balance them regularly so you don't have to mess with figuring out how much of your 401(k) to put in stocks and how much in bonds.

Don't procrastinate -- aggregate

Monitor your money. People who wait for their statements to arrive in the mail typically catch fraud later than those who monitor their accounts online, according to Javelin Research & Strategy, an online research firm. Real-time access to your accounts can help you prevent overdrafts and over-limit fees, too. You can try bouncing from site to site to check all your accounts, but you have better options.

Your bank may offer account aggregation, which allows you to view accounts held at other institutions. If you're comfortable having your transactions aggregated online, you can use sites such as Wesabe, Mint and Yodlee.

Many people would prefer personal-finance software programs like Microsoft Money and Quicken. These programs, which live on your computer rather than online, allow you to automatically download transactions and keep track of your finances while providing some powerful financial-planning software. Recent updates have vastly improved cash-flow-forecast features, which can show you in advance when your checking account is about to run on fumes. (Microsoft is the publisher of MSN Money.)

Each of these 10 options requires some upfront effort on your part, but after your systems are in place you'll be able to stay on top of your money in just a few minutes a week. If that isn't a worthwhile goal, I don't know what is, and what if you could have a little more "me-time", instead of "bill-time"?  Sounds pretty good.

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.

I love lists.  I've learned to use them in my own life.  Lots of advantages, here, friend, so you can imagine my pleasant surprise upon finding this timely, and oh-so-useful list of the 22 ways you can protect yourself from identity theft.  Please- print this off if you like- read it and use it to make sure that what you've worked so hard for doesn't get mired in years of bureaucratic tape because someone decided  you had a lot to offer, so to speak.  It's important stuff, and here's what to keep in mind, from MSN Money:

• Keep your confidential information private. Your bank or credit card company won't call or e-mail to ask for your account information. They already have it.

• Keep an inventory of everything in your wallet and your PDA, including account numbers. Don't keep your Social Security card or any card with your Social Security number, such as an insurance card, in your wallet.

• Order and review your credit report. You are allowed one free report each year from each of the three major credit agencies. Order reports here; it is the only place to get them for free.

• Stop getting banking and credit card information in the mail. (Check out "Go paperless for safer banking.")

• Monitor your bank and credit card transactions for unauthorized use. Crooks with your account numbers usually start small to see if you'll notice. The sooner you catch them, the easier the problems are to clear up.

• Keep your vehicle registration and insurance forms in a sealed envelope in your glove box and lock it and your car when at home or away.

• If you conduct business online, use your own computer. A public computer is less secure, as is wireless Internet.

• Look for suspicious devices and don't let anyone stand nearby when you use an ATM. Take your card and receipt with you. Keep your PIN in your head, not in your wallet.

• Don't store credit card numbers and other financial information on your cell phone. (See "Is your cell phone spilling your secrets?")

• If you're job hunting using résumé Web sites, don't apply unless the employer has a verifiable address.

• Once you no longer need to store them, shred any bills or statements that have your personal information on them. (See "Purge your financial paperwork.")

Protect your computer from vulnerability:

• Keep system and browser software up to date and set to the highest security level you can tolerate. Install antivirus, antispyware and firewall protection, and keep them up to date as well. (I listed two free services last week .) When possible, use hardware firewalls, often available through your broadband connection router.

• If you use wireless Internet access, make sure you get help from someone who understands wireless security when you set up your access point or router.

• Back up your data and store it away from your computer.

• Don't open e-mails from strangers. Malware can be hidden in embedded attachments and graphics files.

• Don't open attachments unless you know who sent them and what they contain. Never open executable attachments. Configure Windows so that the file extensions of known file types are not hidden.

• Don't click on pop-ups. Configure Windows or your Web browser to block them.

• Don't provide your credit card number online unless you are making a purchase from a Web site you trust. Reputable sites will always direct you to a secure page with a URL starting with https:// whenever you actually make purchases or are asked to provide confidential information.

• Use strong passwords: at least six characters, including at least one symbol and number, and no reference to your name or other personal information. Use a different password for every site that requires one, and change passwords regularly.

• Never send a user name, password or other confidential information via e-mail.

• Consider turning off your computer when you're not using it or at least putting it in standby mode.

• Don't keep passwords, tax returns or other financial information on your hard drive. 

It's a long list, but the steps are not overwhelming, and definitely worth 'checking off' what you've already done, but still need to look into doing.  Protection is a good thing!

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.

 

Computer clean-up time...yes, you probably need to!

OK, it's not as critical as maintenance on your car...well, in most cases it isn't.  But it is super important- who wants to deal with a computer crash?  And what I found out is that what you don't know can hurt you - big time - when it comes to what's hiding in your PC.  This is a great checklist, from ARA Lifestyle.  From "naturally" occurring registry errors to more insidious threats like spyware, hidden problems can slow your computer performance to a crawl or even cause it to crash.

A little pro-active maintenance, however, can go a long way towards preventing problems. Keeping your PC "clean" and running at its best is as simple as establishing a routine maintenance schedule and using the right kinds of software to address the most common problems. The good news is, many of these maintenance tasks can be automated, thanks to software developers who understand how busy the average PC user is - and how baffling trouble-shooting can be.

Here are three key "cleaning" tasks that you should perform on a regular basis (at least once a week):

Run a Registry Cleaner

If your computer is slower now than when you first bought it, the problem may be registry errors. Installing and removing software, playing online games, application crashes and upgrades of software problems can all create "natural" errors in your PC's registry. They accumulate over time and the more errors you have, the higher the likelihood that you'll experience trouble.

To protect your system, you've got lots of options.  Try the steps offered on eHow- they're free, and pretty easy.  You can also install a one-click tool called Advanced Registry Optimizer 5 (ARO 5). The software ferrets out and corrects registry errors. Manufacturer Sammsoft offers free trials of ARO 5 so people can check their systems for errors, but it will cost you after the trial- be aware of that.  It's available at Sammsoft.com for the download of their free trial. Once the download is complete, just click "run" to install ARO 5. The program will scan and diagnose your PC's registry, tell you how many errors it found and then fix the first 20 errors for free. If you're satisfied with the trial version, you can upgrade to the full unlimited commercial system for around $30.

Out Spyware

Did you know that 61 percent of PCs have spyware on them? And of those infected, 92 percent of users didn't know spyware was present on their computers, according to a poll by AOL and the National Cyber-Security Alliance.

Spyware - software that gets installed on your computer without your knowledge or consent - is considered a serious security threat. Not only can spyware collect information about your Internet usage, it can install additional software, hijack your browser, change your computer settings and slow down your computer performance.

Scan for spyware daily if you are on the Internet often and download frequently. Many companies offer completely free anti-spyware software for download.

Be Vigilant to Viruses

With so many other computer threats cropping up, it may be easy to overlook virus protection. But viruses continue to be a major threat to computer security, costing consumers and companies billions of dollars worldwide each year to prevent virus transmission and clean up after infection.

The best defense is a good offense when it comes to computer viruses. There are reliable free protection services available, like AVG Free Anti-Virus, or Avast! Anti-Virus Free Home Edition, or you can subscribe to a virus protection software.  All will provide constant updates since new viruses emerge and old ones evolve into new forms every day- it's a matter of preference if you go for free or paid. Scan for new viruses at least once a week- more frequently if you are a heavy Internet user or receive large volumes of unsolicited e-mail.

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.

Summer months energy tips for saving (and going a little greener, too!)

I don't imagine you enjoy the thought of high energy bills this summer, or power grids through the neighborhood that can power out with upcoming heat waves.  This season also poses a dilemma for the eco-minded. Crank up the AC, and you'll burn through countless kilowatts- not to mention your budget. Listen to your green conscience, and you'll pay with sweat.

But Whole Living has this simple rundown of how we're maxing out our carbon footprints, spending more money than we need to, and how we can, instead, maximize the efficiency of our homing the heat. In fact, by eliminating wasteful habits and power guzzlers, you could cool your home with up to 50 percent less energy and save more than $400 on annual utilities. With 100 million tons of heat-trapping CO2 emitted every year as a result of residential air-conditioning, your new habits will amount to nothing less than a step toward global cooling.

Window Units
They can't compete with central air's efficiency for whole-house cooling, so use window units only in contained areas. For maximum comfort, keep fan speed on high except on the most humid days, when you'll want low speed to remove more moisture. If it's time for a new unit, choose one with the Energy Star label for greatest efficiency; since oversized units tend to waste energy, select an AC sized for the space you intend to cool (visit energystar.gov for guidelines).

Thermostat
Give the air conditioning a rest when you're away for even a few hours. Set programmable thermostats to kick in half an hour before you return home unless you have heat-sensitive indoor pets. Cranking the thermostat to penguin-worthy temperatures won't cool the house faster, since AC works at full throttle until a set temperature is reached. With every degree you lower it, cooling costs increase by about 7 percent.

Electronics
Unplug small appliances whenever you can. Computers, cell phone chargers, and other electronics often continue to use power -- and radiate heat -- even when turned off. To simplify, plug items into a power strip that you can use as a master switch.

Lights
Incandescent bulbs put more energy into generating heat than light, so replace high-use bulbs with compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs). They burn cool and bright with only a third of the power required by incandescents.

Window and Fans
Position a fan to blow air out a window. But if you're lucky enough to have a strong wind, set the fan to blow in the same direction to maximize air flow. Close nearby windows to keep exhausted air from flowing back in and open those on the other side of the house (ideally in cool, shaded areas). In a multilevel home, place the fan in a top-floor window and open windows on lower floors, where air is cooler. For windows that catch direct sun, use blackout blinds or heavy drapes to minimize solar heat gain.

Central Air
If you have central AC, schedule annual servicing. Visits cost up to $100, but repairs and tune-ups that increase efficiency soon pay for themselves. If you want to invest in a new system, look for a seasonal energy efficiency rating (SEER) of at least 14 to qualify for up to $300 in tax credits. But take note: Credits only apply to home improvements made through the end of this year. Tax credit or no, you stand to earn significant savings by replacing a system sold in the 1990s, which can guzzle up to 40 percent more energy than today's most efficient systems.

Freezers
Don't keep extra refrigerators and freezers in unconditioned spaces, such as garages, where heat tends to build up. Save more energy by opting for a chest freezer, which loses less cold air when opened. Keep all freezers relatively full for maximum efficiency.

Appliances
Run appliances such as clothes dryers and dishwashers at night to avoid peak energy rates and the humid heat they generate. Excess humidity is more than uncomfortable- it can also be expensive, since air conditioners use extra energy to process the moisture.

Ceiling Fans
Partner ceiling fans with AC to make rooms feel at least 4 degrees cooler (so you can raise the thermostat and save energy without feeling the heat). Turn fans off when you leave the room; windchill makes you feel cooler but doesn't drop room temperature or ventilate the house. Opt for counterclockwise rotation, which pulls hot air up and away.

Cooking
Take advantage of summer weather and cook outdoors, as prolonged baking or stovetop cooking makes AC work overtime. Too muggy outside? Use a microwave or toaster oven, which use less energy and generate less heat. When you need to use a burner, keep pots covered to cook food faster and minimize humid heat in the kitchen.

Stay cool- enjoy your week!

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

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Bargains you may not have considered in a rough economy

Want some good news about the crummy economy? If you’ve got money to spend, you can find a lot of great bargains, because when buying slows down, prices drop. So, if you’re one of the 90% of workers who’s still employed – and you’ve got some cash on hand – here’s what to shop for, courtesy of the financial experts at Time magazine:

• Cameras. 77% of all households already have a digital camera,  and sales are way down. So, manufacturers are offering steep discounts to entice buyers to upgrade – or buy a second camera for a family member. Right now, you can find modest point-and-shoot digital cameras for less than $100, 10-megapixel cameras and camcorders are available at half price – which is less than $200, and high-end digital cameras with interchangeable lenses are hundreds of dollars less than they were just two years ago.  
• High-end clothing. Clothing orders were placed months before the bottom dropped out of the market. So you’ll find plenty of deals at every price point. However, you’ll find the biggest discount in  tuxedoes, formal dresses, and high-quality cashmere sweaters, scarves and blankets.  
• You can also find bargains on furniture and other items for the home. Tons of inventory reductions and “going out of business” sales mean you can find furniture and decorative items at 70% off – which is right around wholesale price. Some of the best bargains are high-end towels and bedding from websites like Overstock.com. Many flat-screen TVs cost half what they did two years ago.   
• One final great buy in a bad economy: Computer memory. If your computer’s more than two years old, it probably has less than one gigabyte of RAM, which can make it run painfully slowly with today’s more-demanding programs. Right now there’s a huge oversupply of computer chips, which means you can get 4 gigabytes of extra memory for $50 – down from $200 just two years ago. 

Of course, don’t splurge if you’re having trouble making ends meet, and don’t run up your credit cards on these things. If you have cash saved up and your job’s on solid ground, take advantage of these bargains, because once the economy starts to recover, these bargains will be history.

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

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Forget your password again? Then how about making it harder!

Do you have trouble remembering your computer password? Got a folder, or an office stacked with sticky notes?  Then create a better one that might actually be harder to crack, and should help you save a tree if you can stop using sticky notes!

Here’s how, courtesy of Mark Burnett, author of "Perfect Passwords":

• Write longer passwords – not shorter ones. Why? Because a phrase is easier to remember than a single word, and harder for hackers to crack. Try something like “Roller Skate 28 is great.”
• Use your brain’s memory bank. Are you quick to recall song lyrics or recite movie lines? Then, make the most of your love for Alanis Morissette or The Godfather. Like part of Marlon Brando’s line: “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.”
• Create a fake email address – like “greeneggs @ Dr. Seuss.com.” If you find it easy to remember actual email addresses, you’ll find it easy to remember fake ones, too.
• And write down clues instead of copying down your exact password. That way, nobody will be able to find your access code, and you can always figure out what it is. For example, Alanis, The Godfather, skating, and Dr. Seuss.
• Finally, make a security check. Google your password. If you get a thousand hits or more – choose a different one. Why? Because hackers add popular words and phrases to the database they use to crack codes.

In a time where we hear about one case of identity theft after another, your best defense might be a happy memory! 

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

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Crash, bang, and you could be out of luck (and precious computer documents!)

A friend lost power- dramatically last Fall through an incredible windstorm.  When her power was restored days later, she found that her home PC had been pretty severely fried.  The documents and pictures that she was able to retrieve (not many), with expert help at a pretty big CASH OUTLAY, taught her an incredible lesson- and one that I want to learn before a big computer crash of my own. 

What frustration to have to work to retrieve so many things, and that's assuming you can remember what you may have lost if your hard drive crashes.  These days, too, losing data from your computer could be more than just frustrating- it could cost you a great deal of money and time, especially if it's a business related computer!  Computer techies recommend performing a back up once a month.  ehow.com is a great resource for lots of "how to's", and here's a pretty straightforward step by step for how to back up your important data on your computer.

The first step in backing up your data is deciding what you're going to use- a CD/DVD, USB flash drive, additional hard drive, or website. Flash drives are very convenient, and they can travel where you are, and of course, a CD/DVD is also a reliable choice.

Next consider what you will be backing up.  It might be pictures, personal documents, or maybe a school or work project.  Go through your files and folders to make sure you've located everything you want to put on either a USB flash drive or CD/DVD.  Next, create a separate folder first, and name it something like "back up."  What you're doing is finding a temporary "house" for your data until you actually move it to the CD or flash drive.  You can do this by going to your My Documents folder within your computer and selecting "Organize" if running Vista, or "File" for other operating systems and "Create" "New Folder" (rename something to indicate that it's your file back up.)

Now, you're ready to copy files to this new folder.  A simple way to copy the data to your back up folder would be right click on the file or folder you wish to back up and select copy from the drop down menu. This will copy the data and you can then go back to your back up folder and double click on it to open it, right click on an empty space within the folder and select paste from the drop down menu. Your data should now appear within the backup folder.

Next, insert your back up device into the computer, whether you're going with the USB flash drive, or a CD/DVD. Go to start>my computer>and select the name and drive letter of your device. This will open up the device on your screen. Then go to your back up folder and select the entire folder with your mouse.  While still holding down the left mouse button, drag the folder into the device, and you should see your entire back up folder now in the new media (CD/DVD or USB flash drive.)

Keep the CD/DVD or flash drive in a safe and dry place.  And, again, the advice from many computer experts- do this once a month.  You might just want to take a look again at your son's 10th birthday party someday, and a complete hard drive failure where you've stored those pictures will pretty much make that impossible.  Store away!

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.

Are You Connected But Clueless?

Are you plugged into what is taking place around you? You may not be, despite the emails you're answering, the music you're listening to on your iPod Touch, or the hours you spend watching satellite television and viewing anything you desire on your DVR.

With all these wonderful media plug-ins, do you have any idea about what's taking place in the lives of people?  Your parents may be living near or far away.  How did their day go? Do you know what's going on in the lives of your brothers and sisters?  Of course, some of you may not want to know due to the potential for emotional turmoil. 

According to Charles Sykes, in 50 Rules Kids Won't Learn in School, we must consider that when we turn off all the noise around us using electronic media, we are also shutting off our connection to our inner selves. 

Though modern media allows you to fill your head 24/7, it is an artificial world.  We watch hours of manufactured drama on YouTube. We use the modern technology to provoke synthetic emotions while listening or watching someone else's experiences and unplugging from our own. The danger is we can use media to drive real people into a category of white noise and electronic clutter.

It's alarming to discover that today's kids are over-saturated by digital influences - an average 6.5 hours a day with various media, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.  However, we often forget while they are watching TV, they may be on a cell phone, playing  games on an electronic device or surfing the Internet on a laptop computer.  With that in mind, kids are really exposed to the daily equivalent of 8.5 hours of media.

When our kids complain about the hour of homework they have to complete or the 30 minutes of chores they must do, we need to put their griping into perspective. 

Sykes suggests the downside is that you and I most likely spend less time sitting down and talking with real people. We wonder why we don't have strong families and friendships.  Our eye-to-eye interaction with people in the same room is sadly lacking.

Instead, we chose to occupy the same space with other people watching TV or some other form of electronic entertainment. We may be in the same room with our spouses,  but occupy different universes.  Couples, families and single people need to spend several hours a day unplugged talking to one another, reading a favorite book or working on a long overdue project. 

We may think that answering emails, researching on the Internet or playing computer games while having conversations with people is a way to sharpen our multi-tasking skills. Yet, we are still treating real people in real time as though they are background noise. 

In addition, because the high speed electronic media world is able to provide instant gratification, when we don't experience the same gratification in relationships, we tend to shut down.  We become resistant to work out problems and are easily frustrated.  Why can't my spouse be as responsive to me as accessing website pages at lightning speeds?

The best action is to model for your kids that real relationships with real people and doing real things is a better alternative to an overexposure to digital media.

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.