Technology and legal pressure have changed
spammers’ terms of trade. They long relied on sending
more e-mails from more computers, knowing that some
will get through. But it is hard to send 100m e-mails
without someone noticing. In 2008 researchers from the
University of California at Berkeley and San Diego posed
as spammers, infiltrated a botnet and measured its
success rate. The investigation confirmed only 28 “sales”
on 350m e-mail messages sent, a conversion rate
under .00001%. Since then the numbers have got worse.
But spammers are a creative bunch.
of tricking
consumers into a purchase, they are stealing their money
directly. Links used to direct the gullible to a site selling
counterfeits. Now they install “Trojan” software that
ransacks hard drives for bank details and the like.
Spammers also have become more sophisticated
about exploiting trust. In few places is it granted more
readily than on social-networking sites. Twitter, a forum for
short, telegram-like messages, estimates that only 1% of
its traffic is spam. But researchers from the University of
California at Berkeley and the University of Illinois at
Champaign-Urbana show that 8% of links published were
shady, with
of them leading to scams and the rest to
Trojans. Links in Twitter messages, they found, are over
20 times more likely to get clicked than those in e-mail
spam.
Nor is Facebook as safe as it seems. As an
experiment, BitDefender, an online-security firm, set up
fake profiles on the social network and asked strangers to
enter into a digital friendship. They were able to create as
many as 100 new friends a day. Offering a profile picture,
particularly of a pretty woman, increased their odds. When
the firm’s researchers expanded their requests to strangers
who shared even one mutual friend, almost half accepted.
Worse, a quarter of BitDefender’s new friends clicked on
links posted by the firm, even when the destination was
obscured.

(Adapted from http://www.economist.com/node/17519964)

Ten Tips for Microsoft Word and Excel

Our latest tips tell you how to make Microsoft Office 2010's word
processor and spreadsheet apps perform some handy tricks that
Microsoft has documented poorly.

By Edward Mendelson

PCMag.com's Microsoft Office 2010 tips collection
continues, this time with ten tips for Word and Excel users. Most
of these tips are fairly straightforward, and most apply to the
most recent versions of Office. Some of them, however, offer
new twists for the latest version of Office. Expert users will be
familiar with some of these ten tips, but we hope that any user
will find at least a few of these to be useful.
What kind of tips am I talking about this time? Finding
ways to perform poorly documented functions in Word and
Excel. One of these tips, for example, tells you what to do when
Word inserts a horizontal line across the page when you only
wanted to type a few dashes. In the past few months, everyone
in my family has tried and failed to wrestle an unwanted
horizontal line out of a Word document. It might not sound like a
big issue, but once you've got it in your document, good luck
finding help from Microsoft on how to get rid of it.

Some software vendors, like Adobe, continue to provide
help systems that work like improved versions of traditional
software manuals. In those apps, every menu item, every
toolbar icon, is carefully explained, and with a little patience you
can find all the information you need. Microsoft, provides
you with a kind of information supermarket, with huge essays
about topics you don't care about, dozens of selections when
you only need one, and no consistent way to find the information
you want.


Combine Portrait and Landscape Pages in a Word Document

Microsoft Word expects you to organize your documents
in a highly-structured but not very intuitive way. If you want to
format most of a document in portrait mode, but one or two
pages in landscape, you simply change the orientation
of the current page. Instead you need to insert a section break
before and after the text you want to format in landscape mode,
and then apply landscape orientation to the section that you
created. Place the insertion point at the point where you want
landscape orientation to begin. On the Page Layout tab, choose
Breaks, then, under Section Breaks, choose New Page. Then
move the insertion point to the end of the text you want to format
in landscape, and insert the same kind of break. Then put the
insertion point anywhere between the two breaks; return to the
Page Layout tab, and click the down-pointing arrow at the lower
right of the Page Setup group. In the Page Setup dialog, on the
Margins tab, select Landscape orientation, then go to the "Apply
to" dropdown and select This Section.
(Adapted from http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,
2379207,00.asp#)

Is Windows 7 Worth It?
Harry McCracken, PC World
Monday, October 19, 2009 10:00 AM PDT

          Reading about a new operating system can tell you only  so much about it: After all, Windows Vista had far more features  than XP, [CONJUNCTION] fell far short of it in the eyes of many  users. To judge an OS accurately, you have to live with it. Over  the past ten months, I've spent a substantial percentage of my  computing life in Windows 7, starting with a preliminary version  and culminating in recent weeks with the final Release to  Manufacturing edition. I've run it on systems ranging from an  underpowered Asus EeePC 1000HE netbook to a potent HP  TouchSmart all-in-one. And I've used it to do real work, not lab  routines. Usually, I've run the OS in multiboot configurations with  Windows Vista and/or XP, so I've had a choice each time I turned the computer on: [MODAL] I opt for Windows 7 or an
older version of the OS? The call has been easy to make, because Win 7 is so pleasant to use.
          So why wouldn't you want to run this operating system?  Concern over its performance is one logical reason, especially  since early versions of Windows Vista managed to turn PCs that  ran XP with ease into lethargic underperformers. The PC World  Test Center's speed benchmarks on five test PCs showed  Windows 7 to be faster than Vista, but only by a little; I've found  it to be reasonably quick on every computer I've used it on - even the Asus netbook, once I upgraded it to 2GB of RAM. (Our  lab tried Win 7 on a Lenovo S10 netbook with 1GB of RAM and  found it to be a shade slower than XP; for details see "Windows 7 Performance Tests.").
           Here's a rule of thumb that errs on the side of caution: If  your PC's specs qualify it to run Vista, get Windows 7; if they  don't, avoid it. Microsoft's official hardware configuration  requirements for Windows 7 are nearly identical to those it  recommends for Windows Vista: a 1-GHz CPU, 1GB of RAM,
16GB of free disk space, and a DirectX 9-compatible graphics  device with a WDDM 1.0 or higher driver. That's for the 32-bit  version of Windows 7; the 64-bit version of the OS requires a  64-bit CPU, 2GB of RAM, and 20GB of disk space.
           Fear of incompatible hardware and software is another  understandable reason to be wary of Windows 7. One  unfortunate law of operating-system upgrades - which applies  equally to Macs and to Windows PCs - is that they will break  some systems and applications, especially at first.  
           Under the hood, Windows 7 isn't radically different from  Vista. That's a plus, since it should greatly reduce the volume of  difficulties relating to drivers and apps compared to Vista's  bumpy rollout. I have performed a half-dozen Windows 7  upgrades, and most of them went off without a hitch. The
gnarliest problem arose when I had to track down a graphics  driver for Dell's XPS M1330 laptop on my own - Windows 7  installed a generic VGA driver that couldn't run the Aero user  interface, and as a result failed to support new Windows 7  features such as thumbnail views in the Taskbar.
           The best way to reduce your odds of running into a  showstopping problem with Windows 7 is to bide your time.  When the new operating system arrives on October 22, sit back  and let the earliest adopters discover the worst snafus. Within a few weeks, Microsoft and other software and hardware   companies will have fixed most of them, and your chances of a  happy migration to Win 7 will be much higher. If you want to be really conservative, hold off on moving to Win 7 until you're  ready to buy a PC that's designed to run it well.
           Waiting a bit before making the leap makes sense;  waiting forever does not. Microsoft took far too long to come up  with a satisfactory replacement for Windows XP. But whether  you choose to install Windows 7 on your current systems or get  it on the next new PC you buy, you'll find that it's the  unassuming, thoroughly practical upgrade you've been waiting  for ? flaws and all.

                                                 (Adapted                    from  http://www.pcworld.com/article/172602/windows_7_revi...)

IMPORTANT NOTICE

CAUTION
PROPERHANDLINGOFTHE FINECARTRIDGES
Handle the FINE Cartridges of this product properly, observing
the cautions noted below. Improper handling causes
malfunction or other problems in the product, as well as
damage to the FINE Cartridges.
Note:

1) When you install the FINE cartridges in the product, insert
the FINE Cartridges into the FINE Cartridge Holder
carefully not to knock them against the sides of the holder.
Also be sure to install them in a well-lit environment.
For details, refer to your setup sheet.

2) Do not attempt to disassemble or modify the FINE
cartridges.

3) Do not handle the FINE Cartridges roughly such as
applying them excessive pressure or dropping them.

4) Do not rinse or wipe the FINE Cartridges.

5) Once you have installed the FINE Cartridges, do not
remove them unnecessarily.

(Taken from Canon Inc. 2008 - Printed in Vietnam)

IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS

For your protection, please read these safety
instructions completely before operating the appliance, and
keep this manual for future reference.

Carefully observe all warnings, precautions and
instructions on the appliance, or the one described in the
operating instructions and adhere to them.

POWER SOURCES - This set should be operated
only from the type of power source indicated on the marking
label. If you are not sure of the type of electrical power supplied
to your home, consult your dealer or local power company. For
those sets designed to operate from battery power, or other
sources, refer to the operating instructions.

OBJECTAND LIQUID ENTRY - Never push objects
of any kind into the set through openings as they may touch
dangerous voltage points or short out parts that could result in
a fire or electric shock. Never spill liquid of any kind on the set.

ATTACHMENTS - Do not use attachments not
recommended by the manufacturer, as they may cause
hazards.

CLEANING - Unplug the set from the wall outlet
before cleaning or polishing it. Do not use liquid cleaners or
aerosol cleaners. Use a cloth lightly dampened with water for
cleaning the exterior of the set.

OVERLOADING - Do not overload wall outlets,
extension cords or convenience receptacles beyond their
capacity, since this can result in fire or electric shock.

ACCESSORIES - Do not place the set on an
unstable cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table. The set may
fall, causing serious injury to a child or an adult, and serious
damage to the set. Use only a cart stand tripod, bracket, or
table recommended by the manufacturer.

WATER AND MOISTURE - Do not use power-line
operated sets near water - for example, near a bathtub,
washbowl, kitchen sink, or laundry tub, in a wet basement, or
near a swimming pool, etc.

SERVICING - Do not attempt to service the set
yourself as opening or removing covers may expose you to
dangerous voltage or other hazards. Refer all servicing to
qualified service personnel.

SAFETY CHECK - Upon completion of any service
or repairs to the set, as the service technician to perform
routine safety checks (as specified by the manufacturer) to
determine that the set is in safe operating condition.

(Adapted from SONY manual - Sony Corporation - 2000 - Printed in Japan).

When I talk with librarians about thinking of themselves
as designers, sometimes they demur. "Designer? I can't even
draw a stick figure!" But you don't need to. Whether you know it
or not, you're already a designer.

Every time librarians create a bookmark, decide to house
a collection in a new spot, or figure out how a new service
might work, they're making design decisions. This is what I like
to call design by neglect or unintentional design. Whether library
employees wear name tags is a design decision. The length of
loan periods and whether or not you charge fines is a design
decision. Anytime you choose how people will interact with your
library, you're making a design decision. All of these decisions
add up to create an experience, good or bad, for your patrons.

When we are mindful of our roles as library experience
designers, we can make more informed design choices. This
awareness can provide better experiences for our patrons and
demonstrate that we care about them.

Really. People will notice, [CONJUNCTION] not
necessarily consciously, if we [VERB] the time to think about
them when we're developing our services. The secret here is not
to think of library patrons, users, or customers: we need to think
of people. We need to consider their lives and what they're trying
to accomplish. This act, which can only be done by cultivating
the skill of empathy, is the most important ? and perhaps the
most difficult ? part of user experience design.

(Adapted from
http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6713142.html?nid=2673
&source=title&rid=1105906703)

Subways

Posted on Friday March 27th, 2009 by Jebediah Reed
To give some sense of the pace of public works
construction in China, the city of Guangzhou is planning to open
83 miles of new subway lines by the end of next year.
Meanwhile, New York ? a city of about the same size ? has
been playing around with the 1.7-mile Second Avenue line for
decades now. China also builds subways rather cheaply ? $100
million per mile versus $ 2.4 billion per mile in the Big Apple.

Not surprisingly, projects there are more aggressive in all
respects: there are 60 tunnel boring machines operating in
Guangzhou, while only one is slated for the Second Avenue
project; workers put in five 12-hour shifts a week (and if they
don't like it, they can go pound glacial till); and seizing property
is a breeze.

An article in the Business section of today's NY Times
(Clash of Subways and Car Culture in Chinese Cities by Keith
Bradsher) [VERB] a smart look at the forces at play as China
goes on a transit infrastructure spending spree while it
simultaneously becomes evermore sprawling and car-centric.

Here's one interesting passage, [CONJUNCTION] the
story is worth reading in its entirety:

Western mass transit experts applaud China for investing
billions in systems that will put less stress on the environment
and on cities. But they warn that other Chinese policies, like
allowing real estate developers to build sprawling new suburbs,
undermine the benefits of the mass transit boom.

Mr. Chan Shao Zhang , a 67-year-old engineer in charge
of the works in Guangzhou, defended Guangzhou's combination
of cars and subways, saying that the city built a subway line to a new Toyota assembly plant to help employees and suppliers
reach it.

Subways have been most competitive in cities like New
York that have high prices for parking, and tolls for bridges and
tunnels, discouraging car use. Few Chinese cities have been
willing to follow suit, other than Shanghai, which charges a fee of
several thousand dollars for each license plate.

The cost and physical limitations of subways have
discouraged most cities from building new ones. For instance,
only Tokyo has a subway system that carries more people than
its buses. The buses are cheaper and able to serve far more
streets but move more slowly, pollute more and contribute to
traffic congestion.

China has reason to worry. It surpassed the United
States in total vehicle sales for the first time in January, although
the United States remained slightly ahead in car sales. But in
February, China overtook the United States in both, in part
because the global downturn has hurt auto sales much more in
the United States than in China.

There are many countervaling forces ..X.. China has
passed its own stimulus package and the government is eager
to put people to work, create economic activity, and build
modern infrastructure. The Guangzhou project is part of major
national transit buildout. But the nation's cities are also sprawling
beasts, and in that sense, more suited to cars than trains. Not
shockingly, many Chinese prefer the former.

(Adapted from http://www.infrastructurist.com/2009/03/27/-
building-a-subway-is-96-percent-cheaper-in-china/)

Old Tray, New Tricks: Windows 7's Taskbar and window
management tweaks are nice. But its changes to the
System Tray - aka the Notification Area - have a huge
positive effect.

Changes in Windows 7 transform the System Tray from
an intrusive eyesore (in Windows Vista) into a useful set of
shortcuts and other controls.
In the past, no feature of Windows packed more
frustration per square inch than the System Tray. It quickly grew
dense with applets that users did not want in the first place, and
many of the uninvited guests employed word balloons and
other intrusive methods to alert users to uninteresting facts at
inopportune moments. At their worst, System Tray applets
behaved like belligerent squatters, and Windows did little to put
users [PARTICLE] in charge.
In Windows 7, applets can't pester you unbidden
because software installers can't dump them into the System
Tray. Instead, applets land in a holding pen that appears only
when you click it, a much-improved version of the overflow area
used in previous incarnations of the Tray. Applets in the pen
can't float word balloons at you unless you permit them to do so.
In Windows 7, applets can't pester you unbidden
because software installers can't dump them into the System
Tray. Instead, applets land in a holding pen that appears only
when you click it, a much-improved version of the overflow area
used in previous incarnations of the Tray. Applets in the pen
can't float word balloons at you unless you permit them to do so.
It's a cinch to drag them into the System Tray or out of it again,
so you enjoy complete control over which applets reside there.
More good news: Windows 7 largely dispenses with the
onslaught of word-balloon warnings from the OS about
troubleshooting issues, potential security problems, and the like.
A new area called Action Center - a revamped version of Vista's
Security Center - queues up such alerts so you can deal with
them at your convenience. Action Center does issue
notifications of its own from the System Tray, but you can shut
these off if you don't want them pestering you.
All of this helps make Windows 7 the least distracting,
least intrusive Microsoft OS in a very long time. It's a giant step
forward from the days when Windows thought nothing of
interrupting your work to inform you that it had detected unused
icons on your desktop.

(Adapted from
http://www.pcworld.com/article/172602/windows_7_review.html)

WINDOWS 7 REVIEW
Windows 7 gets the basics right. Here's what you need to know
about the new OS.
Harry McCracken, PC World
Monday, October 19, 2009 2:00 pm
What if a new version of Windows didn't try to dazzle
you? What if, instead, it tried to disappear except when you
needed it? Such an operating system would dispense with glitzy
effects in favor of low-key, useful new features. Rather than
pelting you with alerts, warnings, and requests, it would try to
stay out of your face. And if any bundled applications weren't
essential, it would dump 'em.

It's not a what-if scenario. Windows 7, set to arrive on
new PCs and as a shrinkwrapped upgrade on October 22, has a
minimalist feel and attempts to fix annoyances old and new. In
contrast, Windows Vista offered a flashy new interface, but its
poor performance, compatibility gotchas, and lack of compelling
features made some folks regret upgrading and others refuse to
leave Windows XP.

Windows 7 is hardly flawless. Some features feel
unfinished; others won't realize their potential without heavy
lifting by third parties. And some long-standing annoyances
remain intact. But overall, the final shipping version I test-drove
appears to be the worthy successor to Windows XP that Vista
never was.

(Adapted from
http://www.pcworld.com/article/172602/windows_7_review.html