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'R.D.D.'
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he fast lane continues ..
OK. So now I have a fast internet connection. What do I do with
it?
Downloads: The first thing you should ensure you have
done is to have run the Windows Update function (Win9x and higher) and apply all
the critical updates. It is in you program list somewhere or just navigate to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com
and follow the onscreen directions. You also need to make you have an anti-virus
program installed and updated. I recommend Norton
Antivirus or AVG (and
for non-commercial home use there is even an AVG6
Free version). I usually recommend the Ad-Aware program for
identifying and removing spy/parasite-ware programs. Go to C/Net www.downloads.com
and search for 'ad-aware'. I also like the free version of ZoneAlarm
for a personal firewall.
As an aside, the download rates I have been experiencing average
about 150k/sec vs 4.5k/sec with a dialup modem - 33.3 times faster. That means I
can download in 1 minute what used to take 33.3 minutes. Cool! Remeber, however,
that occasionally your download speed will be less than optimal due to
restrictions in the speed that the site at the other end of the line can feed
you the data.
Video / Sound: OK, for the 80+% LDS population in
Magrath, the official LDS Church website at www.lds.org
will be popular. From the main page click on the Broadcast
link halfway down in the right hand column. There you will find links to
streaming video for past General
Conferences, streaming audio for the Online
Audio Scriptures, plus links to BYU
TV and BYU Radio.
Of course, there are other neato video and sound links .. but I
think free is really cool. So, check out Music
on Yahoo's offerings at launch.yahoo.com.
You have to sign up for a free yahoo account to access the site, but once
registered you can listen to streaming audio and even watch online music videos.
Movie trailers are also cool and free. Try a Google Search for specific movie
names of interest . Also check out the Warner Brothers site at warnerbrothers.com
.. and don't miss the excellent online cartoon at gothamgirls.com.
I like to listen to talk radio stations. Here in town I often
listen to QR770 out of Calgary, but after 11PM the station powers down and we
get mostly static or cross-talk from US stations. However, if I go to www.qr77.com
and click on the 'listen live' button I get static free reception of
that station in my office. Yay! Maybe your favorite station is also live on the
net or perhaps you will find a new favorite out of Hawaii or Lower Slobovia. I
do a Google Search for 'listen live talk radio' or 'listen live news radio' to
find great choices.
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