The fact that you’re reading this probably means that you’re on the Internet right now.

And that your intelligence is probably at least above-average.

But I have no idea whether you’re a good and admirable person or not.

For all I know, you may be a cybercriminal. [more...]

Regular readers of this Journal know that I don’t trust online services with any of my private or confidential data.

And although I post messages in online computer support forums nearly every day, I have no need to participate in any “social networking” sites.

Judging by the emails that I receive, most users of online services and social networking sites [more...]

Regular readers of this Journal know that I’ve never trusted free online service providers like Google or Yahoo! with any of my personal or confidential data.

And I have absolutely no interest in storing any of my data — confidential or not — “in the cloud.”

So, instead of using online applications that [more...]

Chutzpah: n. (Slang) — 1892, from Yiddish khutspe “impudence, gall” from Heb. hutspah. The classic definition is that given by Leo Rosten: “that quality enshrined in a man who, having killed his mother and father, throws himself on the mercy of the court because he is an orphan.”

You would be hard-pressed to find a corporation that [more...]

It’s been proven over and over again.

Sports fans can’t do it.

Political pundits can’t do it.

Even television meteorologists with college degrees and [more...]

Regular readers of this Journal know that, in the past several months, I found several great deals on my local Craigslist, and they were all cash deals, done face-to-face, with sellers who live near me.

Years ago, I occassionally bought items on the eBay auction site, where I would bid on an item and then wait for the seller to ship it to me. I didn’t have any bad experiences with eBay, but I stopped using it after [more...]

The Web has a lot to offer — from email and Web surfing, to shopping and bill-paying, to Web site creation and social networking.

But we all know that it also has several annoying features; things that aren’t bad enough to make you stop visiting the sites that you like, but are bad enough that you [more...]

Regular readers of this Journal know that I’m a staunch supporter of computer users’ privacy rights.

And it drives me crazy that an increasing number of those users are willing to trade the security and confidentiality of their private data for a little added convenience.

Many of you have written to tell me that you [more...]

It wasn’t the first time that he had done it.

Or the first time that he was caught.

In fact, this is the second time that he will be punished — with what is possibly the longest prison sentence ever handed down for such an offense: [more...]

oo-ee oo-ee ooooh — wa-wah-waa.

I’m sure that fans of classic films instantly recognized that as the opening notes of the theme song from the iconic 1967 Clint Eastwood spaghetti western.

Good luck trying to get it out of your head. It’s still in mine as I write this.

Anyway, here’s some good news about [more...]