» 2010 » June Mrs. Mecomber's Scrapbook

60% Americans Don’t Know… Do You?

June 17, 2010 — Mrs. Mecomber

Yikes.

Did you know that photocopiers store images of every single document copied on the machine, on a huge hard drive? Did you know that this data is filled with medical records, sensitive information, Social Security numbers, bank information, and more? And did you know that these copiers are often resold to buyers, both foreign and domestic, with that hard drive and all that information intact?

I didn’t!

This video is shocking.

I’d really like to know why copiers have this technology in place, anyway. I know that my small copier here at home has a memory, and stories the last few documents (so I hope) in its memory, in case I want to reprint or re-fax a document. But, really, it’s not a convenience to store so much information. It’s easy enough just to rescan the documents if there’s an error. I think it’s grossly criminal to store EVERY SINGLE document in detail. Why is this? Is there some law that demands this? Why would copier manufacturers invest in such large hard drives to do such a thing…. and then not tell the consumer that the copier stores all this data?

Posted in computers, crime, surveillance. Tags: Big Brother, copiers, fax. 2 Comments »

The Motherlode of Keyboard Shortcuts

June 4, 2010 — Mrs. Mecomber

While researching a few geeky computer websites, I came across this really great website: Windows Vista Keyboard Shortcut Commands. Or, as I now call it, The Motherlode of Keyboard Shortcuts. It’s really cool! Definitely one to bookmark. I type ALLLL day, and all use the keyboard commends I know. This list has a ton of them!

Posted in desktop utilities, Windows. Tags: commands, keyboard, shortcuts. 1 Comment »

Using Internet Resources for Land Contracts

June 4, 2010 — Mrs. Mecomber

Looking for a seller offering Home Land Contract? Look on the web! A land contract is a legally binding contract between seller and buyer– a seller allows the buyer to repay a home loan in installments while the buyer lives in the home. It’s an interesting way to buy a home– it eliminates the middleman (the bank) and allows the buyer and seller to make transactions between each other. I know of a few people who have purchased such home (the homes were usually damaged or in need of renovation), but these folks got incredible deals on the homes. There’s a good resource at HUD, too– see the resource overview on buying a home.

It’s not easy to find land contracts; it’s not like they are advertised very much. But the Internet has some great resources available to you- TheLandContract.com is one of them. You can search by location (zip code, city, state) and by price. The listings are usually very comprehensive– most have photos and very detailed information, such as extras, amenities, square footage, and etc. It’s a greta resource if you’re looking for a land contract. Plus, if you are like me and just want to keep tabs on the housing market in your area, it’s good to browse the listings. And if you are considering to offer a land contract for your home, check out the articles at the website for more information on how to go about it.

Posted in Internet, websites. Tags: housing, Internet, real estate. Comments Off »

Finding a Home on the Internet

June 3, 2010 — Mrs. Mecomber

No no, not finding an Internet home! Rather, using the Internet to find your next home!

Back in the “olden” days (like, 10 years ago!), we used to have to rely on word of mouth or generous realtors to discover foreclosed homes. Realtors are usually not forthcoming about foreclosed homes, since these properties are usually sold at much lower prices, and the commission is smaller. I remember trying to locate some foreclosed homes when i was house-hunting, and it was nearly impossible to find anything.

But the Internet has changed everything. Now, you can go online and look for affordable housing options, and you can also search for Foreclosures online! Very cool! Search the website by location, price, bedrooms and baths, and more. Many listings have detailed information and/or photos, such as tax information, included appliances, and real state company contact information.

The Internet has made us all do-it-yourselfers! I am still amazed at how great a resource the Internet is!

Posted in deals, Internet. Tags: databases, resources, search engines. 1 Comment »

Build Great Backlinks

June 2, 2010 — Mrs. Mecomber

If you are a blogger, you want amazing backlinks! Backlinks are links that people place on their websites that link back to your websites. Quantities of good backlinks are good for your blog– your blog gets more attention, your content gets read, and maybe advertisers want to give you money.

Here’s a good, basic article on how to get “Amazing Backlinks.”

I have found that this kind of stuff can easily be a full-time job in of itself. Building a hugely popular website can consume countless (precious) hours as you monitor every blip in your stats, monitor search engine keywords, and more. And I find it a boring chore. I prefer the more passive route: writing good articles and *hoping* that people discover you. It’s not rocket science, but at least I get some sleep.