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♦ WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2007 6A Setting up video oven the Internet; 2 monitors best Dear TechnoFiles: My husband and I just retired to ; Warner Robins and miss our son and grandkids. We talk on the phone and send e-mail messag es, but it’s not enough. I saw on a TV program where you can have a camera and microphone connected to your com puter and be able to see and talk with someone on the Internet. We have a cable modem, as does my son. How can we set this up so we can see the grandkids? - Ann i » f Dear Ann: ; Congratulations on your , retirement! I hope you enjoy living in Central Georgia as much as we do. It’s actu ally quite easy and inexpen sive to set up video over the . Internet and both you and Big stories testing our perspective By GEORGEAYOUB Morris News Service Alberto Gonzales. Michael Vick. Michael Vick. Alberto Gonzales. Any way you write it, the recent A 1 and Mike Show was huge, with enough res ignation, remorse, recrimi nation, regret, rebukes and reprimands to sour even the best cosmic karma. You know the details: * Attorney General and First Pal Gonzales stepping down amid accusations that he lied about the firing of Justice Department lawyers and that his office was too political to hit the high notes on that liberty-and-justice for-all deal. * National Football League quarterback Vick pleading guilty to bad-boy dogfighting charges stemming from his Bad Newz Kennels, which bred and trained pit bulls for competitive combat. The attorney general of the United States leaves after an impasse with Congress that brought us to the brink of a constitutional crisis, and most of us yawn. A pop-culture icon and role model for our kids is looking at a prison term for, among other thifigs, killing dogs, and we shrug as if to say, “Hey, we’ve seen worse.” The problem, I suppose, is that we have. The two most compelling comments about all this came from Gonzales, who said his troubles were noth ing compared to his immi grant father’s struggles, and Vick, who declared in a master stroke of under statement that it was time for him to grow up. I am not arguing the merits of either man the Gonzales and Vick positions have been picked clean over the entire summer but rather cautioning against becoming inured to such events. Only taking sides, which our information infrastruc ture best supports, does little else beyond taking sides. Being informed and discussing how politics plays out in the Justice Department can be invalu able, however. So, too, can a bright light focused on the inner workings of a shadowy sport with animal cruelty as its inherent underpinning. The difference between simply lining up and being informed is subtle but criti cal. Almost as important as not losing our perspective with a yawn or a shrug. George Ayoub is senior writer at The Grand Island (Neb.) Independent. He can be reached at george. ayoub@morris.com. your son already have the main component in place - high speed Internet access. The simplest way to get started is to purchase a web camera. These little cameras can cost as little as S3O and are readily available at major retailers, office supply stores or electronics stores. Set-up is a breeze by fol lowing the directions on the included CD-ROM and the camera will simply connect to your USB port on your computer once the software is loaded. Some cameras have a built-in microphone, but I recommend purchasing a headset with a microphone and headphones. A headset will make it easier to hear you and the headphones will eliminate any echo that might be picked up by your speakers. Your computer should have n Sept. 16th @ First Christian Church Disciples of Christ 100 N. Houston Rd. Warner Robins All children and families welcome as we lack off our new Sunday School Studies on old & new testament bible stories r- '-vi-. & X' , ■ Please join us at 9:30 tor doughnuts, juice ft activities Come See Our Newly Expanded Showroom! Mi4tU Oasrfit i Uutnt StUctUm OfUfhtinf Fixturtt ■■SOUTHERN ■3 LIGHTING HOME LIGHTING CENTER Est. 1987 Fans, Framed Prints Lamps & Framed Mirrors Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30-5:30 H9O Sat 10-2 pm We make your business insurance our business. e want to he your business partner when it lOkMOcomes to your contracting insurance protection. Contact us today for quality POi business protection from Auto-Owners Insurance Company. Well take care of your business r /Y insurance, while you take care %s4uto- Owners Insurance C l.tf« Home c nr Business ° 7m/tfc/SoKWM!’ t*''' J&S\ \ L McNeal Insurance Agency 1717 Russell Pkwy • Warner Robins, GA 31088 g Del Taco is HOT on tbe 45jjjP Trail Par Franchisees in Houston! _ :MJf Del TaCO, America’s #2 Mexican QSR chain with nearly 500 units, is bringing its exciting and popular drive-thru concept to Houston. We offer exclusive territories to grow, and real estate development is handled hy professionals, creating a near “torn-key’’ opportunity for select, qualified restaurant operators. Candklates must have operational experience, excelent credit and at feast S3OOB liquid to be invested. Come meet with ustetlsms this time-sensfflve opportunity. % www.deltaco.com / franchise@deltaco.com ‘ Jason and Tina Ashford TechnoFiles microphone and headphone ports for you to plug this in to. Again, this is an inexpen sive item, costing as little as S2O. Once you have the hard ware (the camera and head set), all you’ll need is the software. Assuming you’re running Windows XP or Vista, all you need to do is get a pro gram called Windows Live Messenger, which you can download for free at http:// get.live.com/messenger. Of course, your son will A 929-0624 2508 Moody Road Coil fcodoy to arrange a meeting with Eric Edwards, Dei taco’s Southeast franchise Recruitino Director, while he is here m Houston interviewing candidates onSeptsmteriatt-ittk (800)580-4877 OPINION need to duplicate this on his end. How easy (and cheap!) can that be? •So, for around SIOO, you and your husband can see and hear your son and grand children in real time. Isn’t technology great? - Tina Dear TechnoFiles: I’ve seen in some people’s offices two monitors on their desks and since I’m not ter ribly computer liter ate I always assumed it was because they were connected to two sepa rate computers. I asked recently just out of curi osity and they told me, no, they were actually connected to ONE com puter! How and why would someone want that? - Greg in Warner Robins. Dear Greg: I H MHi "PHI Home Equity Line,of Credit 50c% Prime minus f "j add* -50%variable 0 BBS OOF Arn thereafter 4-month fixed introductory rate when opened with a Freedom Checking account * Get $50,000 for $218.75/Month" FREE from high payments • FREE from hassle • FREE from fees"* PLUS, open a Colonial Freedom Checking account and receive one FREE NSF/overdraft fee and cash-back rewards. 1 Visit your nearest Colonial Bank office today. To locate an office near you, % COLONIAL BANK n a go to www.colonialbank.com or call (877) 502-2265. You’ll like it here ~ fiSif £2007 Colonial Bank N A Member FDfC *7he Annual Percentage Rate fAPR} : wi» be fixed at 5.25% for four months when a Freedom Checking account is opened. The APR wB be feted M 3M518 6.75% for four months if a Freedom Checking account is not opened. After four months, the APR will vary and wdl be equal to The Wafl Street Journal Prime Rate plus a mecgweCOrrero?. tne Prime Rate k 8 25% APR and the margin is as Sow a? 0% This means your currenf rate after four months would be 7 75% Your rates may be higher based on several factors induing your credit history and the percentage r* equity available in your home. Maximum foar-w-vakj* (LTY) for this offer is 89.9%, contingent on total indebtedness in the home The APR may change on the first day of each monthly billing cycle. Should there be a change in The Wafi Street Journals Prime Rate prior to loan dosing, rates are subject to change. The maximum AW is 18%. °*Thfc is an interest-only payment based on l fully drawn line of credit with an APR of 5.25% for the founmomh introductory period. Sank may pay all dosing costs (except hazard and flood insurance premiums) for Hoes up to $250,000 if the mmai advance ts SIO,OOO or more and the balance does not fall below $7,500 during the first 90 days. Should the initial advance be less than SIO,OOO, or the $7,500 balance not be maintained dur ing the first 90 days, the dosing costs paid by Colonal will be charged to your line of credit Closing costs generally range between S3OO and $1.500. depending on the amount of the line of credit If your brie is above $250,000 you may be responsible for paying documentary stamps and intangible taxes. There is an annual maintenance fee of $75, winch can be waived for the fim year if ycur initial credit line advance is as at least $ 10.000 and a principal balance of at least $7,500 is maintained for the first 90 days on lines of $250,000. Opening a Freedom Checking account does not guarantee approval for a Freedomline HElOCThis offer is subject to credit approval. Property insurance required. At the end of 15 years, the remaining balance is due in full. Minimum loan amount is SIO,OOO. Existing Colonal Bank Equity Lines may be modified by paying a $250 modification fee. Offer subject to change or termination. Offer not valid for properties in Texas. fWhen opened in conjunction with a Coionial Freedom Checking account, which requires a SSO minimum opening deposit and is available to individuals. If your Colonial Online Banking, Colonial Check Card, and e-Statement service are not maintained for the bfe of the account, the account will convert to another Colonial checking account to be determined at Colonel’s discretion. Nonsufficient Available Funds Fee (NSF) and overdraft fee winner eligibility renews automatically each year on account anniveisary date. Cash-back rewards on signature and PIN-based transactions drawn off of a Freedom Checking account only 53307 53320 - j MIDDLE GEORGIA f I IfIRTHOPAEDIC ‘ V %/ W Surgery & Sports Medicine -Mr Formerly Houston Orthopaedic 3051 Watson Blvd. Warner Robins, GA 31093 (478) 953-4563 We’re Open Saturdays 8:30 -11:30 a.m. Beginning Sept. 8* -f open to new patients 4- open to existing patients with new + doctors rotate weekly 4- one doctor on duty 4- Middle Georgia Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine has been serving Houston County and Middle Georgia for more than 10 years. All physicians have stellar reputations and skilled in all disorders of the musculoskeletal system, including fractures, ligament injuries, herniated discs, tendonitis, arthritis and general orthopaedics. They are also trained in various specialized areas. P. Jeffrey Jarrett, MD, K. Scott Malone, MD, Daxes M. Banit, MD, Jeffrey C. Easom, DO, William B. Wiley, MD, Derrick D. Phillips, MD |5,3421 'Having two computer monitors Is a huge improvement in productivity and convenience. Such a setup simply allows you to have greater screen real estate... Assuming you have the computer setup for it, having two computer monitors is a huge improvement in pro ductivity and convenience. Such a setup simply allows you to have greater screen real estate some you can have more windows open at any one time; it’s especially useful with document prepa ration. At home and work, I have one monitor set for land scape and another moni tor set for portrait, which gives me the ability to keep from constantly opening and closing windows containing soyree material for my docu ment. www.mgo.md HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL You can drag windows between the two screens, or you can have your email You must have a compat ible display card in order to have two monitors (or more some people aren’t content with just dual monitors but diminishing returns set in after two in my opinion). Current computer sys tems can be upgraded for SSO or so depending on how fancy and/or powerful you want you want your com puter monitor to be. Once you use a dual moni tor system, you’ll feel con strained by a single monitor system and will never want to go back! - Jason Sijlg i 53336