CW: CuteWriting

NYC Midnight's Creative Writing Championship 2009

2009-06-17T05:55:00.000-07:00

[A guest post by Nathalie Raben from NYC Midnight]

Get those ball points ready to roll with NYC Midnight's 2009 Creative Writing Championships. This flash fiction contest invites writers from all regions to compete against one another in a World Cup-style writing race. For each challenge, writers are placed in different heats and assigned a specific genre and object. They then have a specific amount of time to pen their 1,000 word short stories, which will then go before a panel of esteemed judges in the professional writing world. Feedback will be provided for each story, and winners will be ranked challenge by challenge in a point system that mirrors the World Cup. All participants are competing for a chance to win up to $2,000 in cash and prizes.

Devising creative contests in nothing new for NYC Midnight, an organization that derives its' name from the all nighters often associated with creative thinking. Registration for the Creative Writing Challenge closes on Wednesday, June 17th, 2009.

Twitter Widgets in Image Format

2009-06-01T22:07:00.001-07:00

[A guest post by Bishal Adhikary from Tech Tips and Tricks]

Twitter has become a way of life for the tech savvy that are into Web 2.0 and blogging. A Twitter widget with the latest updates is indispensable for blogs these days. Generally, the Twitter widgets embedded on blogs are Flash based or generated via Javascript. There are many tools that help you create a Twitter widget. You can also create a custom Twitter widget using Google Spreadsheets. But do you know that you can also show your twitter updates on blogs as images? The best thing about images is that they can be used anywhere—forums, blogs, MySpace etc.

Tweetsnap [Tweetsnap.com]: When you open up tweetsnap, you will see a simple page with a field to enter your twitter username. After you enter your name and hit the Find button, you'll see your most recent tweet on a nice bluish Twitter widget that is in image format (png). Below it, you'll find snippets of code to copy and paste on your site. Just copy what's desirable for you and use it on your blog, forum etc.

TwitterSticker [Twittersticker.com]: This one lets you choose from a couple of images. Select one among the four different types of images. Now go ahead and enter your twitter username and customize the font, rotation, text wrap, etc. One great option about TwitterSticker is that you can set an angle for your text so that it appears diagonally on the badge.

SayTweet [Saytweet.com]: It first asks you to upload one of your images. You can also add a group photo of you and your friends. This amazing tool lets you add your Twitter update on this image in speech bubbles. The unique feature of this is that you can add multiple Twitter usernames and show tweets from everyone. I think it's the coolest way to display tweets.

So play around with these tools and get a pretty twitter badge to put in your site, forums, or anywhere else. You can also embellish your twitter page by creating a custom Twitter background.

A Spyware Guide: Detect and Prevent Infection

2009-05-16T18:38:00.001-07:00

The Anti-Spyware Coalition (ASC), which is a group of academics, anti-spyware companies, and consumer organizations, defines spyware as:

"Spyware is a term for Tracking Software deployed without adequate notice, consent, or control for the user."

Spyware programs are installed into your system without your knowledge, in order to show you unwanted advertisements. They can record your personal data and browsing trends for showing better targeted ads. Unlike viruses or Trojans, spyware may not damage your software or operating system. They can, however, slow down your system a lot.

How Do Spyware Infect A System?

Facetime Communications, an online security company, estimates that almost 80 per cent of the world's computers are affected by spyware. Spyware installation can happen through various means. Most of them rely on the security loopholes in the host system. Here are some of the tactics by which they infect a system:

1. Automatically: Some spyware, such as Claria Corporation's tiny program called Gator, get installed without any notification. This happens when you visit a web page infected by the spyware. Only if you have set your browser security to the high level, you will get a notification of this installation.

2. By Tricking Users: Some spyware trick users with a message stating that the system is infected by viruses and Trojans, with a button to start scanning. If you click this button, it will spark a spyware installation instead.

3. As Browser Add-ons: Sometimes, spyware applications are installed as browser's add-ons. Installing unverified toolbars, buttons, or other functionalities to your browser may cause this. Therefore, it is recommended that you install add-ons only from the browser's official website, which contains verified components only.

4. With Software Packages: Sometimes spyware programs are bundled with the installation packages of other software. This is the case with many Peer-to-Peer file sharing applications. The issue here is that if you remove the specific piece of spyware, the original application may not run properly. So, many people see it as an unavoidable risk.

5. Through Unknown E-mails: Viewing and clicking links on emails from unknown senders may not always be safe. Some of these links may be already infected by a piece of spyware looking to expand its presence.

What It Does?

Many spyware usually don't install once, but multiple times. Some even have the ability to reinstall themselves after detection and deletion. Once installed, the spyware sets itself to start automatically every time the operating system starts. Here are some of the activities it can do:

Degrades system performance by taking up RAM (memory) space.
Gives numerous unwanted pop-up ads, rendering browsing almost impossible.
Steals personal information, such as credit card and social security numbers.
Configures system settings to initiate download of more spyware.
Changes browser settings, such as the default home page.
Disables firewalls and antivirus software.
Creates troubles in your system's connectivity to the Internet.
Dials to expensive telephone numbers and networks when you try to dial-up to the Internet.
Redirects you to affiliate URLs to secure commissions from your purchases.

These are only a few of what spyware can do. They can be extremely effective in making a fortune for the people who engage in distributing them.

Spyware Prevention

Today, spyware programs are more prevalent than viruses or Trojans just because they can help make a lot of money. In order to prevent them from infecting your system, you need to follow a few strategies. Here are they:

Pop-up Blocking: Most of the browsers have the built-in functionality to detect and block pop-ups and pop-unders. You need to activate this feature. Refer to your browser's technical documentation for this purpose.

In case of Mozilla Firefox, you can block pop-ups from Tools->Options->Content tab.

In case of Internet Explorer, you can do this from Tools->Pop-up blocker->Settings.

Disable Scripting and ActiveX: Microsoft's ActiveX technology is used to run certain interactive scripts through your browser interface. This can, however, open an easy door to spyware. So, disable ActiveX and such other forms of scripting in your browser.

To disable ActiveX in IE, go to Internet options->Security. Choose the Internet icon, and click Custom level. You will find the option to disable ActiveX scripting among several other security settings.

Set High Browser Security: Set your browser to notify you of any installations or unauthorized activities. You can do this in IE from Internet Settings->Security tab.

Use Anti-spyware: There are several professional anti-spyware programs available. Purchase and use one such reputed program besides your firewall and antivirus.

Tips:

Don't click inside any pop-ups. Just close it as soon as it opens.
Before trying to install any new software you download, scan it with your anti-spyware program.
Don't install unverified browser plug-ins from third-party websites.
Keep your anti-spyware program updated and running all the time.
Don't click links or open attachments in emails from unknown senders.

Famous Spyware Programs

Here are a few well-known spyware programs. These tiny applications garnered a lot of attention from users and programmers worldwide at the times they appeared.

1. CoolWebSearch: This piece of spyware appeared in 2003. It is capable of changing the user's browser home page and showing pop-up ads to sites including pornographic ones.

2. Internet Optimizer: This spyware program redirects users, who accidentally types in a wrong URL, to a page full of advertisements.

3. Zango: Currently, this spyware program has a lot of promoters who get paid for making people install it into their systems. It collects the data regarding websites people visit, in order to display targeted ads. It also redirects users to affiliate tracking URLs to bag commissions from their purchases.

4. Popcorn.net: This piece of spyware was distributed by an online movie download service; it shows pop-up ads on user systems. It caused a lot of complaints at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

Conclusion

On a daily basis, new spyware applications spring up and affect many systems. A huge number of computer users don't have any security software installed. Many people also do online transactions involving credit cards and other sensitive data, without encryption. These people are the primary target of spyware distributors. Spyware programs can easily transmit these sensitive data to third-parties. So, be very careful when using online services to send important data.

Creating Presentations Online

2009-05-12T02:51:00.000-07:00

You may have noticed that in some of the previous posts, I have included online presentations, most of which are viewable directly from the browser, without having to download and view privately. Though you can create presentations using MS Office PowerPoint, Apple Keynote, or Open Office Impress and upload the files for online viewing, it seems easier to create the presentation itself online. In this article, let's see how you can do that.

1. Google Docs

Go to docs.google.com and sign in using your Google account. Google Docs provides a complete feature-rich presentation tool. Adding slides, describing them, adding pictures, animations, and videos with Google presentation tool are pretty easy. If you wish to use your offline presentation, you can upload it. The formats that can be uploaded include Microsoft and Open Office versions.

The completed presentations can be viewed online with a Google account. They can be embedded to any website.

2. Empressr

Empressr, which is a free online presentation tool lets you create a free account to create and store your presentations online. The service adverts itself as a free storytelling tool. Empressr lets you create slides with a lot of features, including embedding images from an image library, video, audio, and slide transitions.

Empressr is still in beta and you are allowed to create as many presentations as you wish at this period. You can store all these presentations securely in the Empressr server and can be shared with all your friends.

Adding tables, shapes, and charts to the presentations is also very easy with Empressr now.

3. Preezo

This presentation tool, Preezo, also enables you to upload PowerPoint presentations and convert them into the online form. Rich with slide layouts, text formatting functions, and slide transitions, Preezo is a great tool. Like Empressr, Preezo also lets you create libraries of images, which can be reused in different presentations. Preezo has a very usable interface, which reminds us of PowerPoint.

These presentations can then be published in Preezo and embedded to other websites using the HTML code provided.

4. 280Slides

280Slides is a business-purpose presentation creator that has interface similar to Apple Keynote. This feature-rich presentation can be tried free in the beta status.

Usage of Need and Dare

2009-05-03T19:35:00.001-07:00

Both need and dare can be used as auxiliary verb and main verb. When used as auxiliary verb, it works just like other modal auxiliaries, such as 'can', 'may', 'will', 'shall', etc. When used as main verb, they are like any other verb, such as 'run', 'go', 'come', 'take', 'work', 'joke', etc. Examples:

As auxiliary verb:

They needn't walk home, they can catch a bus.
How dare you disobey my orders?
Need you really take that risk?
She dare not make the first move at any cost.
I need drive to Joe's immediately.

As you have seen, dare and need don't agree with the subject or use 'to' when used as modal auxiliary. It's just like 'can' or 'may': such as, "I may drive to Joe's immediately", "Can you really take that risk?"

Used as normal verb:

I need to get the attestation before applying.
She does dare to do a lot of things.
Do you dare to compete with me in this?
Does she need any more help?

Now, it's just like any other normal verb. It agrees with the subject and does take 'to'.