Dave's Tips

True, I do have a 'Dave's Advice' page on this site.

That one's for love/dating/relationship advice.

So what are these tips?

Other stuff.

I have an engineering background, one of my old college friends is a top engineer for
General Motors, I'm a Microsoft Certified computer geek, I know so much about consumer
fraud I worked for the BBB for awhile...

I figured I'd share some of this with you.

When YOU have something you'd like added here... come talk to me at any of my parties!

Happy Reading!

A 'firewall' is a program that keeps you safe on the internet. It keeps bad people
from getting INTO your computer, and bad THINGS (such as spyware) from sending
information OUT of your computer.

Windows XP has a built-in firewall... but it only keeps things from getting IN. It lets
anything... and everything... out.

I recommend you download and install a very good, free firewall: ZoneAlarm.

You can find it at www.zonelabs.com. Click the button on the left. (Then search
through all their offers for the free firewall.)

Anti-virus software is also important. You already know that. But did you know you
can get a really good program... for free? It's called AVG. It updates by itself
whenever necessary, scans your entire system once a day, and doesn't charge you
$39/year for updates! You can download and install it from the link on the left.

Remember, though: Unless your computer is updated all the time, you are NOT
protected. Keep your anti-virus, firewall, and Windows updated!

Email: ANY e-mail that says "Send this to everyone you can" is fake. Microsoft
never said to do it, Norton didn't already check it, if you click 'here' you won't be
getting money or giving it to a sick child in Texas... so delete it!

If you forward a funny photo, that photo may be tracking every address it goes to.
And when you send an e-mail to thirty people at once... if ANY ONE of those
people doesn't have their anti-virus software up-to date, that virus just got all those
addresses. You've infected you and your friends because you thought an e-mail
was funny.

NEVER forward around an e-mail. That's how the bad guys win.

Boy, this can be confusing. However, MOST of us don't have to do anything. Why?
Very few people use rooftop antennas to get a signal.

If you have Cox cable, or DirecTV, or Qwest TV... or ANYTHING other than a rooftop
antenna... you don't have to do anything.

If you DO use an antenna, click the link to get more info. (It's easy! You'll be fine!)

Try getting a straight answer from the TV salesperson! Some work on commission, some
get bonuses for selling a certain brand, some stores turn the brighness up on the models
they make the most profit on. Here are some tips:

Plasma TVs use LOTS of electricity, but they have no bulbs to burn out. They get dimmer
over time, so you may need a new TV... in ten or so years.

LCDs and DLPs both use bulbs, which can cost hundreds of dollars to replace. When you
replace the bulb, though, you have a nice, bright, new looking TV.

Almost ALL new TVs have HD built in, meaning you can hook them to a cheap antenna and
get all your local channels in HD. For free. Visit antennaweb.org for details on how to do
that.

Fuel savers don't work. Additives you pour into your tank, metal devices that swirl the air
going into the engine, magnets you attach to your fuel line to 'align the particles'... NONE of
them do anything. This does explain, though, why some of these products come with a
'driving tips guide'. Follow those tips, and yes, you WILL get better gas mileage. But those
tips (accelerate more slowly, keep your tires inflated properly, etc) are FREE.

"Save on a gas guzzler!" Interesting how car manufacturers are telling you that since they're
discounting their vehicles so much, you can use that savings to pay for YEARS of gas...

Well, what happens at the end of those years? Now you're stuck with an unsellable vehicle...
that gets bad gas mileage! READ the window sticker!

"30mpg!" Yes, everyone's ads are now claiming great gas mileage. But that's the HIGHWAY
mileage, and some '30mpg highway' cars get 18mpg in town. What's even worse, some of
these cars require you to use premium fuel. Ouch.

If you're vehicle shopping, NEVER buy anything before reading a Consumer Reports buying
guide. It'll be the best pre-purchase money you ever spent.

I don't care what the photos show, Amish people don't build electric
fireplaces.

ANY sign stuck into the ground promising refinancing, a great deal on
mattresses, or a wonderful dating site... are bogus. I've had a number of
people ask about the signs for phoenixsingles.com and others. If you head
to the site, you'll see it's a one-page form asking for all your personal
information. Who's behind these websites? A huge, nationally known, very
expensive dating service. Once you complete the form, you've given them
permission to harass you at home, work, your cell phone, etc. NEVER fill out
anything on these sites.

In a related scam, you'll get a phonecall or e-mail to call an 800 number for
an 'important message'. It's an 800 number, so how can it hurt to call? The
national 'Do Not Call' system works well... unless YOU initiate the call. Once
you call this number, they now know whatever number you've called from.
Since YOU called THEM, they have the right to call you back... whenever -
and how often as - they want. Delete the message and/or e-mail.