How to Check if a Link is Safe to Click On.

Have you ever wondered if a web site is safe to visit? Here is a simple process for checking out the link before you click on it:
First click on this safe link to Norton Safe Web, then bookmark that page. Norton provides a free online tool for checking web addresses to see if they are safe for you to visit. It's very easy to use and its FREE.

Here are the steps:

1. Open Norton Safe Web in its own tab.
2. Right click with your mouse on the link you are concerned with.
3. Select Copy Link location.
4. On the Norton Safe Web page next to "Is this site safe?" right click your mouse in the box, then select paste.
5. Then suspect web address should have been pasted into the box. Now hit "enter" on your keyboard.
6.  Norton then will open up a page with a complete report on the site. 

Its easy to use, its FREE, and takes the worry out of clicking on a link.

PureSync an Easy To Use Free Synce and Backup Program

Syncing files between computers has always been a pain for me, I use a couple different computers to work on various writing projects, and keep photos stored with my projects to go along with the writing. My wife and I also share the photos we take on a shared drive so we can both use them to post on Facebook to share with our groups of friends.

I’ve used some of the syncing features of Windows in the past but I wasn’t really happy with how it worked. Plus syncing seems to work differently depending on which version of Windows you are using. With a bit of searching I found a free program called PureSync by Jumping Bytes software. PureSync has an easy to use interface that allows you to not only Sync your files, but to also backup and mirror your drives.

PureSync can run automatically when your computer boots, or manually with a one click sync of the folders and files you want managed.

PureSync has a personal version that is donationware, and a professional version for business use that has a few extra features like the ability to use FTP, and compress and encrypt backups all for about 15 Euros.

i2PDF Converting Scanned Documents to PDF the Quick and Easy Way

One of the things that I had to do recently is to send signed documents to someone via email. They sent me the forms that I needed to sign, then I needed to send back signed documents in PDF form. This is how I did it with Free software:

The best way to do this is to scan your documents with your scanner, or (if you don't have a scanner) take a digital picture. Make sure to save the files in JPG format on your computer. Then put those picture files together into a PDF file, and send the completed PDF to it's destination as an attachment in an email message.

But how do you do this without buying some expensive piece of software to convert those pictures into a PDF? With a very simple and easy to use program that is completely free called i2PDF. This program is so easy to use grandma could use it.

Open the program, then drag the picture files into the window, you can drag the file names around so they are in the order that you want them in the PDF file.

Then hit the "Build PDF" button and click "OK" at the next screen. There are options on this page if you feel you need to change something, but usually you won't have to do anything here.

Then select where you want the PDF to be saved, and Whala you have your PDF document ready to send off to your recipient.

The Everblade Challenge

OK, OK, it's not my usual post. But, it is hardware and it was FREE. Tony over at Blog Catalog sent me an EverBlade to review, I wasn't sure exactly what I was going to receive when the package showed up in the mail and I'll have to admit I was a little surprised.

The EverBlade claims to "Make Your Razor Blade Last 4 Times Longer" by protecting against Rust & Corrosion that dull your blades. That's kind of a tall claim for this As Seen on TV product but what the heck I'll see what it can do.

I made a trip over to the dollar store and picked up a couple of items for the test, a twin pack of Old Spice Titanium Twin razors, and a can of Barbasol shaving cream. I normally use an electric razor so I needed to get these fresh new items for the test.

My test will be simple. Shave half of my face with a blade that is placed in the EverBlade, and the other half with the blade I do nothing to. I will make notes as to whether or not I can tell the difference. If after 30 days I can't tell a difference I may continue the test until I feel some sort of change.

I will be posting the results in August and will fill everyone in at that time.

9/15/11 - I tossed the non-EverBlade razor today, it was getting painful to use. The razor that sits in the EverBlade is still comfortable to use. I will update when I finally toss that one. So far I would have to say that the EverBlade works.

10/1/11- I replaced the crappy test razor I was using in the Everblade today. Not because the razor was getting bad to use, I wanted to us the Everbalde with a nicer razor.
My final word on the Everblade is that it does work, it probably won't save you a million dollars, but it's nice to have a sharp razor when I want to use one. I think that's the real value of the Everblade. I like it and give it a thumbs up!