Technology in the New Year!
Before we get into talking about technology, let me take a moment to remind you to make your New Year’s resolutions. Here’s an idea for all of you who have a hard time following through on your promises. Make a resolution to keep up on the latest technology trends and use that information to make your lives more efficient. And, if you need any help along the way, remember that Video Professor is always there to help you with all your computer learning needs. I hope you all have a great New Year and a truly blessed 2007.
Vista’s first vulnerability
Here’s the fist chink in the armor. According to published reports, the new Microsoft operating system, Vista, which has been touted as the most secure OS on the market, comes with a “minor” flaw. Programmers in recent days stated that they’ve contacted Microsoft about these flaws. Let’s hope that Microsoft can get them firmed up before the launch of the home editions on Jan. 30.
Read More >
Online holiday sales predicted to soar past retailers
I guess this comes as no real surprise to me. It was just so much easier to sit down in front of my computer to do all my holiday shopping than to fight the crowds in the mall. As long as you gave yourself plenty of time for shipping, you shouldn’t have encountered too many problems. According to comScore Networks, holiday sales online were expected to see a bump of 25 percent to $24.6 billion.
Read More >
iTunes vs. Zune: It’s no contest, yet
I talked about this battle for MP3 supremacy in a previous blog post. Back then I agreed with reports that said despite Microsoft having a decent competitor in the field now, Zune, they still had their work cut out for them. Apple had such a head start on Zune that the iPod completely dominates the market now. This report confirms that. This article will give you some good insight into the post-holiday traffic numbers posted on Apple’s iTunes compared to Zune.
Read More >
Off topic:
Checkmate
Seriously? I didn’t realize that the world of chess was so cutthroat. A player was banned from international competition for 10 years because he was using a cell phone earpiece to gain an advantage. Apparently the guy sewed the device into a hat that he’d pull over his ears. In a remote location, his buddies would feed him his next move based on a computer’s recommendation. People will go to any means necessary to gain an advantage, won’t they?
Read More >
Picks o’ the week!
Wow, it’s hard to believe that the final week of the NFL regular season is here. It seems like only yesterday we were chomping at the bit for training camp to be over. My picks have been very average this year. I’ve had some up weeks and some down. Last week I finished 2-1, which brought my overall record to 26-22 for the season. New England surprised me. I really thought the Jags would take care of the Pats. But what goes around comes around. I could have easily won the Jags pick, but I could have easily lost the Broncos pick. I haven’t seen a bizarre finish like that in quite some time. The “Bungles” botched an extra point attempt with 41 seconds left in the game that would have caused a tie. Instead, Cincinnati, after scoring what appeared to be the tying touchdown, had to line up for a desperate onside kick attempt. The Bengals recovered the kick, but wouldn’t you know it, an offside penalty wiped out the play. Cincy re-kicked. Denver recovered, and escaped with a 24-23 win. The Bengals now need a virtual miracle to make the playoffs. That’s what keeps us watching each week. Well, here are my final regular season picks of the year. Once the playoffs start, I’ll attempt to pick every game, but who knows how successful (or lack thereof) I’ll be.
Kansas City over Jacksonville: This game has playoff implications, though slight. Both teams still have a shot to get into the playoffs, but they need some help with Denver and the New York Jets in control. The Chiefs have been the most dominating home team in December in the past decade, so I see the trend continuing this week.
New Orleans over Carolina: My hat goes off to the job Saints head coach Sean Payton has done this season. He turned a train wreck into arguably one of the top sports stories of the year. Last week the Saints clinched a bye in the first round of the playoffs, but I don’t see a letup happening this week. The Saints want to win to keep the momentum rolling into the postseason.
Tennessee over New England: The Tennessee Titans were another great story the second half of the season. After starting the year 0-5, the Titans have won eight of their last 10 and find themselves in the playoff chase. Granted, they need a lot of help to get in, but what they’ve done has been great. I think they close out the regular season at home with a win, and though they probably still won’t make the playoffs, the win will give them something to build on for next season.
Happy New Year! Be safe out there.
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
Friday, December 29, 2006
Friday, December 22, 2006
John W. Scherer Video Professor Blog Dec. 22, 2006
Happy Holidays from the Video Professor!
I want to take a moment to wish you and yours a very happy and safe holiday season. Thank you for taking the time to read this blog every week. Hopefully you’ve enjoyed it and have been able to stay up to speed on some of the prominent issues in this technology-driven world. Video Professor has been helping people with all of their computer learning needs for almost 20 years now, and I hope you get some value from reading these posts each week. Have a great holiday. We’ll chat again after the New Year!
Are you a “re-gifter?”
Like most of us, you probably expect to receive one or two gifts this holiday season that you have no use for. What will you do with them? According to a recent survey released by eBay®, sixty-nine percent of respondents think there is nothing wrong with re-gifting an item. Well, so much for finding that perfect gift. What I don’t understand is why people would re-gift a present. Heck, why don’t they put the unwanted gifts up for auction on eBay? If they don’t know how to do that, Video Professor offers a tutorial teaching people everything they need to know about buying and selling on eBay. I think we stumbled onto the hottest business idea of 2007: Open an entire eBay store where people can buy discounted “re-gifts.”
Read More >
Off topic:
Digging out!
I want to send my very best wishes to all of the Coloradans who spent the majority of Wednesday and Thursday digging out from that huge blizzard. Talk about unfortunate timing. A major storm crippled the city a few days before one of the busiest travel weekends of the year. I especially feel bad for all of the travelers who got stranded at Denver International Airport because it was closed from Wednesday night until Friday afternoon. Good luck to everyone gearing up for some holiday travel. Please get there safely!
Picks o’ the week!
That’s the last time I pick the New York Giants. Just when you think you have that team figured out, they get knocked down a peg. I’m taking nothing away from what the Eagles were able to accomplish, but New York could have won that game. Do credit Philadelphia, however. A couple weeks ago when Donovan McNabb went down, everyone thought their season was over. Now, heading into this week’s game against Dallas, they can control the outcome of their season. If Philadelphia wins, they seize control of the NFC East with only one regular season week to go. Now that I have that off my chest, I can focus on this week’s picks. I still finished 2-1 last week, improving my overall record to 24-21 with two weeks remaining. Here are my picks for Week 16.
Jacksonville over New England: The Patriots have control of the AFC East, so this game is not as vital to them as it is to Jacksonville. Sitting at 8-6, the Jaguars are right in the hunt for one of the two AFC wild cards. Because they are at home and because they’ve been running the ball very well of late, I see Jacksonville pulling out a close one.
San Diego over Seattle: Here is the “no brainer” statement of the week: There is no better team in the NFL than San Diego. Philip Rivers is playing great, the defense is outstanding and oh yeah, did I mention LaDainian Tomlinson’s play? Last week he set an NFL record for most points scored in a single season, and he still has two more games to go. The Bolts travel to Seattle this week, and shouldn’t have a problem getting one step closer to securing home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Denver over Cincinnati: This is one of the best games on the NFL docket this week. The Bengals and the Broncos both sit at 8-6 in a logjam for a wild card spot. The winner of this game will have a leg up on the rest of the crowded pack heading into the final week of the season. Last week Denver bounced back from a four-game losing streak and looked impressive against Arizona. Rookie quarterback Jay Cutler enjoyed his finest day as a pro so far, and I look for Denver to carry over that momentum and squeak out a victory at home.
Once again, let me wish you a wonderful holiday season, and I hope you remain healthy and happy! We’ll see you again after New Year’s! Take care.
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
I want to take a moment to wish you and yours a very happy and safe holiday season. Thank you for taking the time to read this blog every week. Hopefully you’ve enjoyed it and have been able to stay up to speed on some of the prominent issues in this technology-driven world. Video Professor has been helping people with all of their computer learning needs for almost 20 years now, and I hope you get some value from reading these posts each week. Have a great holiday. We’ll chat again after the New Year!
Are you a “re-gifter?”
Like most of us, you probably expect to receive one or two gifts this holiday season that you have no use for. What will you do with them? According to a recent survey released by eBay®, sixty-nine percent of respondents think there is nothing wrong with re-gifting an item. Well, so much for finding that perfect gift. What I don’t understand is why people would re-gift a present. Heck, why don’t they put the unwanted gifts up for auction on eBay? If they don’t know how to do that, Video Professor offers a tutorial teaching people everything they need to know about buying and selling on eBay. I think we stumbled onto the hottest business idea of 2007: Open an entire eBay store where people can buy discounted “re-gifts.”
Read More >
Off topic:
Digging out!
I want to send my very best wishes to all of the Coloradans who spent the majority of Wednesday and Thursday digging out from that huge blizzard. Talk about unfortunate timing. A major storm crippled the city a few days before one of the busiest travel weekends of the year. I especially feel bad for all of the travelers who got stranded at Denver International Airport because it was closed from Wednesday night until Friday afternoon. Good luck to everyone gearing up for some holiday travel. Please get there safely!
Picks o’ the week!
That’s the last time I pick the New York Giants. Just when you think you have that team figured out, they get knocked down a peg. I’m taking nothing away from what the Eagles were able to accomplish, but New York could have won that game. Do credit Philadelphia, however. A couple weeks ago when Donovan McNabb went down, everyone thought their season was over. Now, heading into this week’s game against Dallas, they can control the outcome of their season. If Philadelphia wins, they seize control of the NFC East with only one regular season week to go. Now that I have that off my chest, I can focus on this week’s picks. I still finished 2-1 last week, improving my overall record to 24-21 with two weeks remaining. Here are my picks for Week 16.
Jacksonville over New England: The Patriots have control of the AFC East, so this game is not as vital to them as it is to Jacksonville. Sitting at 8-6, the Jaguars are right in the hunt for one of the two AFC wild cards. Because they are at home and because they’ve been running the ball very well of late, I see Jacksonville pulling out a close one.
San Diego over Seattle: Here is the “no brainer” statement of the week: There is no better team in the NFL than San Diego. Philip Rivers is playing great, the defense is outstanding and oh yeah, did I mention LaDainian Tomlinson’s play? Last week he set an NFL record for most points scored in a single season, and he still has two more games to go. The Bolts travel to Seattle this week, and shouldn’t have a problem getting one step closer to securing home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Denver over Cincinnati: This is one of the best games on the NFL docket this week. The Bengals and the Broncos both sit at 8-6 in a logjam for a wild card spot. The winner of this game will have a leg up on the rest of the crowded pack heading into the final week of the season. Last week Denver bounced back from a four-game losing streak and looked impressive against Arizona. Rookie quarterback Jay Cutler enjoyed his finest day as a pro so far, and I look for Denver to carry over that momentum and squeak out a victory at home.
Once again, let me wish you a wonderful holiday season, and I hope you remain healthy and happy! We’ll see you again after New Year’s! Take care.
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
Friday, December 15, 2006
John W. Scherer Video Professor Blog Dec. 15, 2006
Tech talk rings, are you listening?
Revolutionary inventions
As we all shuffle around the malls and electronics web sites this time of year trying to find that perfect gift for all the gadget lovers we know, take a step back and remember a few gadgets that completely changed the world. Compared to the advances we’ve made in technology in just the past five years, these gadgets look so basic now. But at the time they were invented, they revolutionized the landscape of technology. Where would we be today if the telephone, television or personal computer would not have been invented? I know Video Professor wouldn’t be around without the latter.
Read More >
Is the laptop a dinosaur?
We all know it’s inevitable. Just look at the way technology has downsized in the past 20 years. When Video Professor first started teaching people how to use their computers back in 1987, the PC took up every inch of their desks. Over the years, computers have gotten smaller and more portable, and laptops currently outsell desktop computers. What’s next, though? This is an interesting article that sheds a little light on the future of the laptop.
Read More >
MySpace takes the lead
For the first time in its relatively short existence, the extremely popular social networking web site MySpace® topped Yahoo!® as the most visited site. According to recent research, MySpace generated 38.7 billion page views in the United States in November, compared to 38.1 billion on Yahoo!.
Read More >
A better backup
Are you tired of burning and re-burning countless numbers of CDs backing up your data? Check out Mozy, a system that allows people to back up all their data on remote servers. The company offers 2 GB of storage capacity for free, or customers can get unlimited space for only five dollars a month.
Read More >
Off Topic:
Rudolph the red-nosed hot dog
I guess for some getting into the Holiday spirit means digesting a little piece of its lore. A Chicago hot dog vendor is serving up reindeer hot dogs. According to the manufacturer, the hot dogs are made from a combination of Blitzen, beef and pork. Because reindeer is such a lean meat, the use of beef and pork fat is needed. If you’re interested in dining on Donder, it will not be cheap. The reindeer dog is going for a hefty eight bucks a link.
Read More >
Picks o’ the week!
I want a do over. Last week didn’t happen. I guess that is what happens when I try to predict the upsets. Two of them just didn’t happen last week. Rethinking my picks, I should never have put any stock in Tampa. I really thought St. Louis would play Chicago better, especially at home, but the Bears proved they are a good team. Finally, I have to give a ton of credit to New Orleans. The Saints completely owned the Cowboys and continue to prove each week that they are legitimate contenders. Let’s hope for my records’ sake that I get back into the win column this week. Heading into Week 15, I’m only two games over .500 at 22-20. Let’s hope for the best.
Dallas over Atlanta: I think Dallas recovers from that loss last week to beat the Falcons. Mike Vick is a darn fine athlete, but his feet cannot possibly win every game. He’s going to have to learn how to pass more consistently. It’s just not going to happen this week. Cowboys win.
New York over Philadelphia: With Dallas losing last week, the NFC East really tightened up. Since the Cowboys have another tough game this week at Atlanta, the winner of this game can pull even for the division lead. I predict the Giants get by the Eagles, despite Eagles QB Jeff Garcia playing well of late.
Indianapolis over Cincinnati: For the first time in weeks, the Monday night game should be a really good one. The Colts host the Bengals, and Indianapolis is coming off of a pummeling at the hands of Jacksonville last week. Peyton and company will rebound after that loss and cool off the streaking Bengals.
Have a great week!
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
Revolutionary inventions
As we all shuffle around the malls and electronics web sites this time of year trying to find that perfect gift for all the gadget lovers we know, take a step back and remember a few gadgets that completely changed the world. Compared to the advances we’ve made in technology in just the past five years, these gadgets look so basic now. But at the time they were invented, they revolutionized the landscape of technology. Where would we be today if the telephone, television or personal computer would not have been invented? I know Video Professor wouldn’t be around without the latter.
Read More >
Is the laptop a dinosaur?
We all know it’s inevitable. Just look at the way technology has downsized in the past 20 years. When Video Professor first started teaching people how to use their computers back in 1987, the PC took up every inch of their desks. Over the years, computers have gotten smaller and more portable, and laptops currently outsell desktop computers. What’s next, though? This is an interesting article that sheds a little light on the future of the laptop.
Read More >
MySpace takes the lead
For the first time in its relatively short existence, the extremely popular social networking web site MySpace® topped Yahoo!® as the most visited site. According to recent research, MySpace generated 38.7 billion page views in the United States in November, compared to 38.1 billion on Yahoo!.
Read More >
A better backup
Are you tired of burning and re-burning countless numbers of CDs backing up your data? Check out Mozy, a system that allows people to back up all their data on remote servers. The company offers 2 GB of storage capacity for free, or customers can get unlimited space for only five dollars a month.
Read More >
Off Topic:
Rudolph the red-nosed hot dog
I guess for some getting into the Holiday spirit means digesting a little piece of its lore. A Chicago hot dog vendor is serving up reindeer hot dogs. According to the manufacturer, the hot dogs are made from a combination of Blitzen, beef and pork. Because reindeer is such a lean meat, the use of beef and pork fat is needed. If you’re interested in dining on Donder, it will not be cheap. The reindeer dog is going for a hefty eight bucks a link.
Read More >
Picks o’ the week!
I want a do over. Last week didn’t happen. I guess that is what happens when I try to predict the upsets. Two of them just didn’t happen last week. Rethinking my picks, I should never have put any stock in Tampa. I really thought St. Louis would play Chicago better, especially at home, but the Bears proved they are a good team. Finally, I have to give a ton of credit to New Orleans. The Saints completely owned the Cowboys and continue to prove each week that they are legitimate contenders. Let’s hope for my records’ sake that I get back into the win column this week. Heading into Week 15, I’m only two games over .500 at 22-20. Let’s hope for the best.
Dallas over Atlanta: I think Dallas recovers from that loss last week to beat the Falcons. Mike Vick is a darn fine athlete, but his feet cannot possibly win every game. He’s going to have to learn how to pass more consistently. It’s just not going to happen this week. Cowboys win.
New York over Philadelphia: With Dallas losing last week, the NFC East really tightened up. Since the Cowboys have another tough game this week at Atlanta, the winner of this game can pull even for the division lead. I predict the Giants get by the Eagles, despite Eagles QB Jeff Garcia playing well of late.
Indianapolis over Cincinnati: For the first time in weeks, the Monday night game should be a really good one. The Colts host the Bengals, and Indianapolis is coming off of a pummeling at the hands of Jacksonville last week. Peyton and company will rebound after that loss and cool off the streaking Bengals.
Have a great week!
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
Friday, December 08, 2006
John W. Scherer Video Professor Blog Dec. 8, 2006
It’s beginning to look a lot like tech talk!
The Holiday travel season is here
The Holidays are right around the corner and millions of people will be making their travel plans online. Video Professor launched a new tutorial this week that can turn anyone into an online travel expert. The “Learn Online Travel” tutorial teaches users everything they need to know about booking a trip online, including:
• Comparing and getting the best prices on airfare and rentals
• Finding the best deals for accommodations and restaurants
• Learning about domestic and international travel bargains
We researched thousands of travel-related web sites and put together a comprehensive tutorial that will help save you a ton of money in travel costs.
For more information about this tutorial or any Video Professor product, visit http://www.videoprofessor.com/.
Read More >
Finding the perfect gift
Are you like me in that you struggle every year trying to find the perfect gift for that special someone? I stumbled onto a web site this week that can help. Offering dozens of gift ideas tailored to a person’s likes, http://www.gifts.com/ comes up with the perfect gift based on the criteria you feed the search engine. It’s definitely worth checking out if you haven’t finished your shopping yet.
Read More >
Great gadgets
Can you tell that I’m thinking about my Holiday shopping this week? Here is a story I found detailing some of the hottest gadgets on the market this year. Are you sick of vacuuming? Try the iRobot Dirt Dog. Do you need a new gaming system and don’t want to drop a grand on a PS3? Why don’t you check out Nintendo Wii?
Read More>
Off Topic:
A true hero
It saddened me to read about James Kim’s unfortunate passing. For those of you who didn’t see the story, Kim’s family was stranded in a car in the Oregon wilderness. Kim left his family to search for help. Rescuers said that he covered nearly eight miles of terrain on his quest, but unfortunately he could not find help before he passed away. His family was eventually rescued. My thoughts and prayers go out to James Kim and his entire family. He is a true hero in my book.
Read More >
Picks o’ the week!
Well last week didn’t treat me very well. Only Dallas came through for me. Denver lost at home to Seattle in Jay Cutler’s NLF debut and Miami couldn’t get it done against the Jaguars. Right now my record stands at 22-17 going into Week 14. Let’s see if I can rebound.
Dallas over New Orleans: This is the game of the week. The Cowboys and the Saints look like the cream of the NFC crop this season. I know there are a lot of people waiting for the wheels to fall off the Saints’ bandwagon, but I think they are a legitimate team. On the other side of the ball, the Cowboys and Tony Romo are playing very, very well. Dallas wins a tight one.
Tampa Bay over Atlanta: I don’t like how inconsistent Michael Vick is. One week he will look like the MVP and the next, he can’t complete a pass. Tampa still has a very strong defense, and I think they will be able to pull off the upset at home.
St. Louis over Chicago: Rex Grossman is not a very good quarterback. That could be the biggest “no brainer” comment in the history of the world. His 1.3 quarterback rating last week should have tipped you off. The Bears are very lucky that their defense and special teams are scoring machines lately. The luck, however, will run out this week. St. Louis wins at home on Monday night.
Talk to you next week!
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
The Holiday travel season is here
The Holidays are right around the corner and millions of people will be making their travel plans online. Video Professor launched a new tutorial this week that can turn anyone into an online travel expert. The “Learn Online Travel” tutorial teaches users everything they need to know about booking a trip online, including:
• Comparing and getting the best prices on airfare and rentals
• Finding the best deals for accommodations and restaurants
• Learning about domestic and international travel bargains
We researched thousands of travel-related web sites and put together a comprehensive tutorial that will help save you a ton of money in travel costs.
For more information about this tutorial or any Video Professor product, visit http://www.videoprofessor.com/.
Read More >
Finding the perfect gift
Are you like me in that you struggle every year trying to find the perfect gift for that special someone? I stumbled onto a web site this week that can help. Offering dozens of gift ideas tailored to a person’s likes, http://www.gifts.com/ comes up with the perfect gift based on the criteria you feed the search engine. It’s definitely worth checking out if you haven’t finished your shopping yet.
Read More >
Great gadgets
Can you tell that I’m thinking about my Holiday shopping this week? Here is a story I found detailing some of the hottest gadgets on the market this year. Are you sick of vacuuming? Try the iRobot Dirt Dog. Do you need a new gaming system and don’t want to drop a grand on a PS3? Why don’t you check out Nintendo Wii?
Read More>
Off Topic:
A true hero
It saddened me to read about James Kim’s unfortunate passing. For those of you who didn’t see the story, Kim’s family was stranded in a car in the Oregon wilderness. Kim left his family to search for help. Rescuers said that he covered nearly eight miles of terrain on his quest, but unfortunately he could not find help before he passed away. His family was eventually rescued. My thoughts and prayers go out to James Kim and his entire family. He is a true hero in my book.
Read More >
Picks o’ the week!
Well last week didn’t treat me very well. Only Dallas came through for me. Denver lost at home to Seattle in Jay Cutler’s NLF debut and Miami couldn’t get it done against the Jaguars. Right now my record stands at 22-17 going into Week 14. Let’s see if I can rebound.
Dallas over New Orleans: This is the game of the week. The Cowboys and the Saints look like the cream of the NFC crop this season. I know there are a lot of people waiting for the wheels to fall off the Saints’ bandwagon, but I think they are a legitimate team. On the other side of the ball, the Cowboys and Tony Romo are playing very, very well. Dallas wins a tight one.
Tampa Bay over Atlanta: I don’t like how inconsistent Michael Vick is. One week he will look like the MVP and the next, he can’t complete a pass. Tampa still has a very strong defense, and I think they will be able to pull off the upset at home.
St. Louis over Chicago: Rex Grossman is not a very good quarterback. That could be the biggest “no brainer” comment in the history of the world. His 1.3 quarterback rating last week should have tipped you off. The Bears are very lucky that their defense and special teams are scoring machines lately. The luck, however, will run out this week. St. Louis wins at home on Monday night.
Talk to you next week!
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
Friday, December 01, 2006
John W. Scherer Video Professor Blog Dec. 1, 2006
Tech talk!
It’s heeeerrrrreeee!
Well it’s about time. The much ballyhooed release of Microsoft Vista is finally here. The software giant launched the business version of the new operating system this week; the consumer version is not due out until late January 2007. There are quite a few things in this new operating system that people will need to learn. Video Professor will launch its tutorials for the operating system following the consumer release. The new operating system has some tremendous upgrades, including enhanced security. According to Microsoft, the operating system is the most secure product on the market. Check back on our web site, www.videoprofessor.com, for more information about Vista closer to the launch of our tutorials.
Read More >
The grass is greener, and real
Kids: Get outside and play. According to a recent study, parents think their kids are spending too much time online. I agree. There are so many great things people can discover on the Internet. Video Professor knows this, and that’s why one of our most popular software tutorials is “Learn the Internet.” But, kids need to discover the world around them. It’s so much better to play in real, green grass rather than run through a virtual garden.
Read More >
First down!
It’s amazing how sometimes things that seem fairly simple are actually very complex. I came across this article regarding how TV broadcasts show the first down marker at a football game. You know the yellow line that goes across your screen that shows where the offense needs to go? I had no idea it was this complicated.
Read More >
Off topic:
Roy-nderful!
I wanted to extend belated congratulations to Patrick Roy for his recent induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame. I’ve been in Denver for quite some time, and I have to admit that Roy’s impact on the sports scene around these parts was almost as great as John Elway’s. Okay, before all you die-hard Broncos fans start e-mailing me, I fully know what Elway means to this city. What I’m saying is that the impact Roy made on Denver and the NHL is just as great. The Quebec Nordiques moved to Denver prior to the 1995-96 season, and, before their arrival, they were a good team that hadn’t reached the next level. Midway through the team’s first season in Denver the Avs traded for Roy, and he became the catalyst that propelled them to their first Stanley Cup—and Denver’s first major sports championship. Without Roy between the pipes, there is no way the Avs would have won the Stanley Cup that season, not to mention the second cup they won in 2000-01. Roy is one of those rare, transcendent athletes who shape the landscape of the sport in which they play. Similar to the impact Michael Jordan made on the NBA, Babe Ruth made on Major League Baseball and Joe Montana made on the NFL, Patrick Roy changed the way professional hockey is played. Congratulations, Patrick!
Picks o’ the week!
I’m starting to become a broken record. I finished 2-1 again last week. I just can’t seem to get over the hump and pick that perfect week. Overall this season I’m 21-15 heading into Week 13.
I will kick myself if I don’t make a few comments on the quarterback situation in Denver. Since April, when the Broncos selected Jay Cutler with the 11th overall pick, the media has been clamoring for him to become the starting quarterback. They wrote Jake Plummer off the minute the Commissioner announced the pick. Well, I have to agree. I jumped off “The Snake’s” bandwagon a long time ago, especially after his performance in last year’s AFC Championship game. The move to Cutler needed to be made. Granted, it needed to be made before the season started, but it’s better late than never. The Broncos offense has been stagnant in all but two games this season. A contingency of Jake backers have been saying that the defense hasn’t been playing up to par lately and that they were the cause of the back-to-back losses. The defense has only allowed more than 20 points on two occasions this season (Indianapolis and San Diego) and, in both cases, had the offense made a play or two, they could have won the game. Don’t blame the defense. The offense needs to be more consistent and more dynamic. I strongly believe that Cutler can easily be the spark the team needs as they fight for a playoff spot.
Denver over Seattle: Well, I guess it’s only fitting that after defending the move to swap Cutler for Plummer that I pick Denver. I really think that the Broncos can win at home. Cutler will struggle early on as he fights rookie jitters, but I fully expect him to regain his composure and lead the team to victory.
Dallas over New York: This should be a whale of a game. Despite the fact that the Giants have struggled of late, I think they play well on Sunday. This game is HUGE, and should pretty much decide who wins the NFC East. Dallas has been playing great and Tony Romo looks very, very good. I think Dallas will escape with a win. Oh, by the way, did you see the comments some of the Giants players have been making this week? That never bodes well the week leading up to the biggest game of the year.
Miami over Jacksonville: Look out for the Dolphins. Over the past four weeks, they’ve been one of the NFL’s toughest teams. Take away that horrendous start and the Dolphins would be in the postseason hunt right now. With a win Sunday, they could get to six with four games remaining. If they stay hot and win three of the last four, they’ll be right in the thick of it. An AFC team will realistically need 10 wins to get into the playoffs this year, but Miami could make it interesting.
Have a good week!
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
It’s heeeerrrrreeee!
Well it’s about time. The much ballyhooed release of Microsoft Vista is finally here. The software giant launched the business version of the new operating system this week; the consumer version is not due out until late January 2007. There are quite a few things in this new operating system that people will need to learn. Video Professor will launch its tutorials for the operating system following the consumer release. The new operating system has some tremendous upgrades, including enhanced security. According to Microsoft, the operating system is the most secure product on the market. Check back on our web site, www.videoprofessor.com, for more information about Vista closer to the launch of our tutorials.
Read More >
The grass is greener, and real
Kids: Get outside and play. According to a recent study, parents think their kids are spending too much time online. I agree. There are so many great things people can discover on the Internet. Video Professor knows this, and that’s why one of our most popular software tutorials is “Learn the Internet.” But, kids need to discover the world around them. It’s so much better to play in real, green grass rather than run through a virtual garden.
Read More >
First down!
It’s amazing how sometimes things that seem fairly simple are actually very complex. I came across this article regarding how TV broadcasts show the first down marker at a football game. You know the yellow line that goes across your screen that shows where the offense needs to go? I had no idea it was this complicated.
Read More >
Off topic:
Roy-nderful!
I wanted to extend belated congratulations to Patrick Roy for his recent induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame. I’ve been in Denver for quite some time, and I have to admit that Roy’s impact on the sports scene around these parts was almost as great as John Elway’s. Okay, before all you die-hard Broncos fans start e-mailing me, I fully know what Elway means to this city. What I’m saying is that the impact Roy made on Denver and the NHL is just as great. The Quebec Nordiques moved to Denver prior to the 1995-96 season, and, before their arrival, they were a good team that hadn’t reached the next level. Midway through the team’s first season in Denver the Avs traded for Roy, and he became the catalyst that propelled them to their first Stanley Cup—and Denver’s first major sports championship. Without Roy between the pipes, there is no way the Avs would have won the Stanley Cup that season, not to mention the second cup they won in 2000-01. Roy is one of those rare, transcendent athletes who shape the landscape of the sport in which they play. Similar to the impact Michael Jordan made on the NBA, Babe Ruth made on Major League Baseball and Joe Montana made on the NFL, Patrick Roy changed the way professional hockey is played. Congratulations, Patrick!
Picks o’ the week!
I’m starting to become a broken record. I finished 2-1 again last week. I just can’t seem to get over the hump and pick that perfect week. Overall this season I’m 21-15 heading into Week 13.
I will kick myself if I don’t make a few comments on the quarterback situation in Denver. Since April, when the Broncos selected Jay Cutler with the 11th overall pick, the media has been clamoring for him to become the starting quarterback. They wrote Jake Plummer off the minute the Commissioner announced the pick. Well, I have to agree. I jumped off “The Snake’s” bandwagon a long time ago, especially after his performance in last year’s AFC Championship game. The move to Cutler needed to be made. Granted, it needed to be made before the season started, but it’s better late than never. The Broncos offense has been stagnant in all but two games this season. A contingency of Jake backers have been saying that the defense hasn’t been playing up to par lately and that they were the cause of the back-to-back losses. The defense has only allowed more than 20 points on two occasions this season (Indianapolis and San Diego) and, in both cases, had the offense made a play or two, they could have won the game. Don’t blame the defense. The offense needs to be more consistent and more dynamic. I strongly believe that Cutler can easily be the spark the team needs as they fight for a playoff spot.
Denver over Seattle: Well, I guess it’s only fitting that after defending the move to swap Cutler for Plummer that I pick Denver. I really think that the Broncos can win at home. Cutler will struggle early on as he fights rookie jitters, but I fully expect him to regain his composure and lead the team to victory.
Dallas over New York: This should be a whale of a game. Despite the fact that the Giants have struggled of late, I think they play well on Sunday. This game is HUGE, and should pretty much decide who wins the NFC East. Dallas has been playing great and Tony Romo looks very, very good. I think Dallas will escape with a win. Oh, by the way, did you see the comments some of the Giants players have been making this week? That never bodes well the week leading up to the biggest game of the year.
Miami over Jacksonville: Look out for the Dolphins. Over the past four weeks, they’ve been one of the NFL’s toughest teams. Take away that horrendous start and the Dolphins would be in the postseason hunt right now. With a win Sunday, they could get to six with four games remaining. If they stay hot and win three of the last four, they’ll be right in the thick of it. An AFC team will realistically need 10 wins to get into the playoffs this year, but Miami could make it interesting.
Have a good week!
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
John W. Scherer Video Professor Blog Nov. 22, 2006
Technology and Turkey!
Because of the Thanksgiving Holiday, I’m posting my blog a little early this week. I know you all eagerly anticipate my stellar NFL picks each week, thus I wanted to make sure I got them posted before the pigskins fly on Thursday morning. But with an early posting, there hasn’t been too much new technology news to discuss.
New software helps parents monitor their children online
For some time, I have been very active trying to help people protect themselves from dangers lurking on the Internet. Video Professor offers a number of tutorials that teach people how to keep their computers safe. And with this blog, I would like to point people to other useful software. Webroot recently released new software that will help parents monitor their children’s online usage. ChildSafe, available for about $40, lets parents screen the sites their kids visit and also get a detailed activity report of use. The biggest thing parents can do to keep their kids safe is to make sure they stay one step ahead of them.
Read More >
The new Office 2007
It seems like nary a week goes by that we don’t see big press regarding Microsoft’s pending launch of Vista. This week is no different. With the launch of Vista, Microsoft is also revamping its complete Office suite. The article below gives a pretty comprehensive overview of the new Office products. If you are having trouble with the new Office products after you upgrade, make sure you visit Video Professor’s web site. Our new tutorials on Office 2007 will be out in February.
Read More >
Picks o’ the week!
I’m not an “I told you so” guy, but how about those Cowboys? Ok, I know I’m not the only one in the world to make that prediction. We all knew it was only a matter of time before the Colts lost. How good is Tony Romo? He’s one botched field goal attempt away from being 4-0 as a starter. Not bad. He’s breathed life back into the Cowboys, and with the New York loss to Jacksonville, Dallas finds themselves tied for first place in the NFC East.
Here is the real reason I’m not an “I told you so” guy. If I’m going to talk about games I accurately predicted, I also have to talk about my misses. I was completely wrong about San Diego. I figured that with Denver’s defense and the home field advantage, the Broncos would certainly win last week. They have dominated the Chargers at home in recent years and I thought the trend would continue this year. I was wrong. LaDainian Tomlinson sparked the Chargers with four touchdowns and took control of the AFC West. I can’t remember seeing an individual performance from a running back since, well, the week before when Tomlinson scored four touchdowns against Cincinnati. Are you kidding me? He scored eight touchdowns in two weeks? I don’t think anyone can argue that there is a better player in the league right now. Wow!
One more note: Other than the Denver at Kansas City game, this year’s Thanksgiving slate of games is pretty bad. Miami at Detroit? Tampa Bay at Dallas? Ugh! After having to sit through those dogs, at least the NFL will give us something decent to watch in primetime.
After finishing 2-1 last week, I’ve now run my record to 19-14 moving into Week 12. Here are my thoughts.
San Francisco over St. Louis: Mike Nolan has the 49ers playing very well. And, who would have thought that a chronically injured running back, Frank Gore, would be able to make such a powerful impact? San Francisco will pick up an important road win and will continue to be in the hunt for the NFC West crown.
New England over Chicago: The Bears have earned two tough road wins the last two weeks, but that string comes to an end Sunday. The Patriots put together their most complete effort of the season last week (granted it was against Green Bay) and that momentum will carry over at home this week.
Baltimore over Pittsburgh: The Steelers definitely aren’t the same team they were last season, but they will show some life this week. They are battling one of their most bitter rivals. Unfortunately, they don’t have what it takes to get the win. Baltimore will be too tough, especially at home. With all the attention being put on the Colts and the Chargers, the Ravens are just flying under the radar in the AFC. This will be a blessing for them once the playoffs start.
Happy Thanksgiving!
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
Because of the Thanksgiving Holiday, I’m posting my blog a little early this week. I know you all eagerly anticipate my stellar NFL picks each week, thus I wanted to make sure I got them posted before the pigskins fly on Thursday morning. But with an early posting, there hasn’t been too much new technology news to discuss.
New software helps parents monitor their children online
For some time, I have been very active trying to help people protect themselves from dangers lurking on the Internet. Video Professor offers a number of tutorials that teach people how to keep their computers safe. And with this blog, I would like to point people to other useful software. Webroot recently released new software that will help parents monitor their children’s online usage. ChildSafe, available for about $40, lets parents screen the sites their kids visit and also get a detailed activity report of use. The biggest thing parents can do to keep their kids safe is to make sure they stay one step ahead of them.
Read More >
The new Office 2007
It seems like nary a week goes by that we don’t see big press regarding Microsoft’s pending launch of Vista. This week is no different. With the launch of Vista, Microsoft is also revamping its complete Office suite. The article below gives a pretty comprehensive overview of the new Office products. If you are having trouble with the new Office products after you upgrade, make sure you visit Video Professor’s web site. Our new tutorials on Office 2007 will be out in February.
Read More >
Picks o’ the week!
I’m not an “I told you so” guy, but how about those Cowboys? Ok, I know I’m not the only one in the world to make that prediction. We all knew it was only a matter of time before the Colts lost. How good is Tony Romo? He’s one botched field goal attempt away from being 4-0 as a starter. Not bad. He’s breathed life back into the Cowboys, and with the New York loss to Jacksonville, Dallas finds themselves tied for first place in the NFC East.
Here is the real reason I’m not an “I told you so” guy. If I’m going to talk about games I accurately predicted, I also have to talk about my misses. I was completely wrong about San Diego. I figured that with Denver’s defense and the home field advantage, the Broncos would certainly win last week. They have dominated the Chargers at home in recent years and I thought the trend would continue this year. I was wrong. LaDainian Tomlinson sparked the Chargers with four touchdowns and took control of the AFC West. I can’t remember seeing an individual performance from a running back since, well, the week before when Tomlinson scored four touchdowns against Cincinnati. Are you kidding me? He scored eight touchdowns in two weeks? I don’t think anyone can argue that there is a better player in the league right now. Wow!
One more note: Other than the Denver at Kansas City game, this year’s Thanksgiving slate of games is pretty bad. Miami at Detroit? Tampa Bay at Dallas? Ugh! After having to sit through those dogs, at least the NFL will give us something decent to watch in primetime.
After finishing 2-1 last week, I’ve now run my record to 19-14 moving into Week 12. Here are my thoughts.
San Francisco over St. Louis: Mike Nolan has the 49ers playing very well. And, who would have thought that a chronically injured running back, Frank Gore, would be able to make such a powerful impact? San Francisco will pick up an important road win and will continue to be in the hunt for the NFC West crown.
New England over Chicago: The Bears have earned two tough road wins the last two weeks, but that string comes to an end Sunday. The Patriots put together their most complete effort of the season last week (granted it was against Green Bay) and that momentum will carry over at home this week.
Baltimore over Pittsburgh: The Steelers definitely aren’t the same team they were last season, but they will show some life this week. They are battling one of their most bitter rivals. Unfortunately, they don’t have what it takes to get the win. Baltimore will be too tough, especially at home. With all the attention being put on the Colts and the Chargers, the Ravens are just flying under the radar in the AFC. This will be a blessing for them once the playoffs start.
Happy Thanksgiving!
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
Friday, November 17, 2006
John W. Scherer Video Professor Blog Nov. 17, 2006
Let’s talk technology!
Do you Zune?
Should Apple be worried? Is Zune going to be hotter than Elmo TMX this Holiday Season? Who knows? It’s been a long time coming, but Microsoft finally stepped up to the plate and is trying to challenge their rival. Microsoft launched its own MP3 player this week in hopes of taking a significant chunk out of the iPod’s market penetration. Unless Microsoft comes up with a way to market Zune as the hottest product on the market, like Apple did a few years back, they won’t even make a dent. I guess Video Professor needs to offer a learning lesson on managing your music files and give suggestions on what MP3 players will give you the best value.
Read More >
A tough road ahead
I’m all for competition in the business world, but I really think Zune is going to have a tough go of it. The iPod has such a head start that it is going to be nearly impossible for Microsoft to catch up — especially if Apple keeps making deals so that the iPod can penetrate every aspect of our lives. This week, company officials announced a deal with six airlines that will allow travelers to connect their video iPods to monitors and watch their videos and movies in the comfort (or lack thereof) of their seats. What’s next, hook ups in our showers?
Read More >
New Windows Updates
Here is another public service announcement from your friends at Video Professor. Our computer tutorials have been teaching people how to protect their computers for years. We can teach you all the tricks, but if you don’t keep your software up-to-date, you’ll still be in trouble. Microsoft released some security patches this week, so if you haven’t done so already, you’d better download them.
Read More >
And, if you are ever looking for more information about computer safety, or any computer-related topic really, our web site, www.videoprofessor.com, has a robust resource library with hundreds of great articles containing plenty of info. Click here to check out the library.
Off topic:
The new Evil Empire
I remember the days long ago when it was fun to bash the New York Yankees for overspending to build their roster. My, how the past two years have flown by. Steinbrenner would spend millions of dollars more than other owners to build his championship team. The only problem is that the boys in pinstripes haven’t won a World Series title since 2000. It used to be so much fun to laugh at the Yankees; it was fun until last week when the boys from “Chowder Nation” did the same thing. There is a young pitcher in Japan, Daisuke Matsuzaka, who has the potential to become the next Cy Young. He has nasty stuff, great control, more than 1,300 strikeouts, a career ERA of less than three and he’s only 26. Don’t get me wrong, Matsuzaka is a phenomenal talent, but nobody can accurately predict how he will pitch in the Majors. Red Sox management is so enamored with this young stud that they paid $51 million to the Seibu Lions simply for the rights to negotiate a contract with Matsuzaka. The Sox could conceivably come to a deal with the pitcher for say $15 million a year over the next three years. That is a pretty common salary for a top pitcher. If that happens, they will have close to $100 million invested in a guy that has yet to prove himself against top AL hitters like Derek Jeter, Jermaine Dye, Alex Rodriguez and Joe Mauer. I’m not completely ready to stop laughing at the boys in pinstripes, but it’s getting harder and harder for me to respect other teams that do the same thing. That is, unless this whole stunt was just a ploy to prevent the Yankees from buying another top talent. Hmmmmmm.
Read More >
Picks o’ the week!
I bounced back! After a couple of 1-2 weeks, I’m back to my winning ways. Granted, I wasn’t perfect last week, but I’ll take 2-1. Thanks, Kansas City. The NFL is wonderful. I should have lost two games last week, but thanks to a second half meltdown by the Bengals, I was able to pull out a win. San Diego scored 42 points in the second half to win a thriller in “the Nati.” What is this bizarre NFL world we are living in? A Marty Schottenheimer-coached team is capable of posting 49 points on the road while Mike Shanahan, an offensive genius, can only get his team to score 17 against the pathetic Raiders? Funny I mention the “Bolts” and Broncos. They play under the lights Sunday night, and I think this game should be the game of the week. I’ll give you my prediction later.
A quick note on New England: I gave you a reprieve after losing at home to Indianapolis. That can be forgiven. I still thought you were a legitimate contender. But after that stunt you pulled Sunday at home against the Jets, I’m getting ready to write you off. Three home losses in your first nine games is unacceptable.
Now that I have that out of my system, let’s move onto my picks. I’m 17-13 heading into Week 11.
Denver over San Diego: Did I mention that this has the makings of a great game? I know Denver’s offense struggled last week against Oakland, while San Diego posted 49 on the road. Denver is at home, however, and they are a different beast. Plus, here are a couple of compelling stats I saw this week that prove the Chargers struggle in the Mile High City: 1) LaDainian Tomlinson, arguably the best running back in the NFL, averages only 52.8 yards a game in Denver. 2) The Chargers have lost six straight in Denver and since 1987 are a measly 2-17 against the Broncos in Denver. Ouch!
Baltimore over Atlanta: The Ravens scare me. They are quietly becoming a force in the AFC. Their defense is playing very well, conjuring up images of 2000. But what surprises me is that the offense is starting to click. They have pretty much flown under the radar recently, with all the publicity going to Indy, Denver and New England. But, this team is 7-2, and if they take care of business Sunday, they’ll have a share of the second-best record in the AFC.
Dallas over Indianapolis: Yes, you read that correctly. The Cowboys, despite being the most dysfunctional family in the entire NFL, will beat the Colts at home. I have no rational thoughts to back up this prediction. Call it a gut feeling. The way the NFL has played out this season, a Cowboys win certainly wouldn’t shock me.
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
Do you Zune?
Should Apple be worried? Is Zune going to be hotter than Elmo TMX this Holiday Season? Who knows? It’s been a long time coming, but Microsoft finally stepped up to the plate and is trying to challenge their rival. Microsoft launched its own MP3 player this week in hopes of taking a significant chunk out of the iPod’s market penetration. Unless Microsoft comes up with a way to market Zune as the hottest product on the market, like Apple did a few years back, they won’t even make a dent. I guess Video Professor needs to offer a learning lesson on managing your music files and give suggestions on what MP3 players will give you the best value.
Read More >
A tough road ahead
I’m all for competition in the business world, but I really think Zune is going to have a tough go of it. The iPod has such a head start that it is going to be nearly impossible for Microsoft to catch up — especially if Apple keeps making deals so that the iPod can penetrate every aspect of our lives. This week, company officials announced a deal with six airlines that will allow travelers to connect their video iPods to monitors and watch their videos and movies in the comfort (or lack thereof) of their seats. What’s next, hook ups in our showers?
Read More >
New Windows Updates
Here is another public service announcement from your friends at Video Professor. Our computer tutorials have been teaching people how to protect their computers for years. We can teach you all the tricks, but if you don’t keep your software up-to-date, you’ll still be in trouble. Microsoft released some security patches this week, so if you haven’t done so already, you’d better download them.
Read More >
And, if you are ever looking for more information about computer safety, or any computer-related topic really, our web site, www.videoprofessor.com, has a robust resource library with hundreds of great articles containing plenty of info. Click here to check out the library.
Off topic:
The new Evil Empire
I remember the days long ago when it was fun to bash the New York Yankees for overspending to build their roster. My, how the past two years have flown by. Steinbrenner would spend millions of dollars more than other owners to build his championship team. The only problem is that the boys in pinstripes haven’t won a World Series title since 2000. It used to be so much fun to laugh at the Yankees; it was fun until last week when the boys from “Chowder Nation” did the same thing. There is a young pitcher in Japan, Daisuke Matsuzaka, who has the potential to become the next Cy Young. He has nasty stuff, great control, more than 1,300 strikeouts, a career ERA of less than three and he’s only 26. Don’t get me wrong, Matsuzaka is a phenomenal talent, but nobody can accurately predict how he will pitch in the Majors. Red Sox management is so enamored with this young stud that they paid $51 million to the Seibu Lions simply for the rights to negotiate a contract with Matsuzaka. The Sox could conceivably come to a deal with the pitcher for say $15 million a year over the next three years. That is a pretty common salary for a top pitcher. If that happens, they will have close to $100 million invested in a guy that has yet to prove himself against top AL hitters like Derek Jeter, Jermaine Dye, Alex Rodriguez and Joe Mauer. I’m not completely ready to stop laughing at the boys in pinstripes, but it’s getting harder and harder for me to respect other teams that do the same thing. That is, unless this whole stunt was just a ploy to prevent the Yankees from buying another top talent. Hmmmmmm.
Read More >
Picks o’ the week!
I bounced back! After a couple of 1-2 weeks, I’m back to my winning ways. Granted, I wasn’t perfect last week, but I’ll take 2-1. Thanks, Kansas City. The NFL is wonderful. I should have lost two games last week, but thanks to a second half meltdown by the Bengals, I was able to pull out a win. San Diego scored 42 points in the second half to win a thriller in “the Nati.” What is this bizarre NFL world we are living in? A Marty Schottenheimer-coached team is capable of posting 49 points on the road while Mike Shanahan, an offensive genius, can only get his team to score 17 against the pathetic Raiders? Funny I mention the “Bolts” and Broncos. They play under the lights Sunday night, and I think this game should be the game of the week. I’ll give you my prediction later.
A quick note on New England: I gave you a reprieve after losing at home to Indianapolis. That can be forgiven. I still thought you were a legitimate contender. But after that stunt you pulled Sunday at home against the Jets, I’m getting ready to write you off. Three home losses in your first nine games is unacceptable.
Now that I have that out of my system, let’s move onto my picks. I’m 17-13 heading into Week 11.
Denver over San Diego: Did I mention that this has the makings of a great game? I know Denver’s offense struggled last week against Oakland, while San Diego posted 49 on the road. Denver is at home, however, and they are a different beast. Plus, here are a couple of compelling stats I saw this week that prove the Chargers struggle in the Mile High City: 1) LaDainian Tomlinson, arguably the best running back in the NFL, averages only 52.8 yards a game in Denver. 2) The Chargers have lost six straight in Denver and since 1987 are a measly 2-17 against the Broncos in Denver. Ouch!
Baltimore over Atlanta: The Ravens scare me. They are quietly becoming a force in the AFC. Their defense is playing very well, conjuring up images of 2000. But what surprises me is that the offense is starting to click. They have pretty much flown under the radar recently, with all the publicity going to Indy, Denver and New England. But, this team is 7-2, and if they take care of business Sunday, they’ll have a share of the second-best record in the AFC.
Dallas over Indianapolis: Yes, you read that correctly. The Cowboys, despite being the most dysfunctional family in the entire NFL, will beat the Colts at home. I have no rational thoughts to back up this prediction. Call it a gut feeling. The way the NFL has played out this season, a Cowboys win certainly wouldn’t shock me.
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
Friday, November 10, 2006
John W. Scherer Video Professor Blog Nov. 10, 2006
Talking Tech!
No e-mail for you
I thought teenagers were the target market for e-mailing, but apparently not. According to a new survey, teens between the ages of 13 and 17 are less likely to communicate via e-mail. After thinking about it, I guess it makes sense. We are moving into a world of instant gratification, and I guess kids don’t want to wait for e-mails. Instead, instant messaging is the way to go. Most teens prefer to communicate using AOL Instant Messaging or MSN Messenger services. Plus, with social networking taking over the Internet, kids simply must prefer MySpace to e-mail.
Read More >
Cleaning up your Web reputation
Are you a little worried about information about you that lives on the Internet? Are you searching for a new job and a little worried that your potential employer will see some embarrassing photos from spring break your junior year of college? Well if you have a Web rep that you’re a little ashamed of, you may be in luck. A new company, ReputationDefender, can help rid the Net of your past. They can contact server hosts and ask them to remove certain information that you may regret now.
Read More >
Vista is near
After much speculation as to the launch date of Microsoft’s much anticipated new operating system, company officials announced this week that they will begin selling Vista to customers on Jan. 30, 2007.
Read More >
Search by sight
This is a pretty cool search engine. For me, there have been countless times that I’ve seen a product but didn’t know the name and just couldn’t find it. By using a new search engine, Like.com, you can search for something using a photo. Pop the photo in and let the Web find your match.
Read More >
Beware of your BlackBerry
I’ll stick with a pen and paper. That’s a joke, but you will get my point. I’m a business owner, Video Professor, and some of my employees are jumping on the PDA bandwagon. Am I going to have to pay higher medical insurance premiums because constant PDA use is causing arthritis? I’ve been saying it for years: the more that technology betters our lives, the more it can hurt.
Read More >
Off Topic:
There is a pro for everything
Are professional video gamers really necessary? What’s more surprising, that there are actually professional video gamers or the fact that the top pros can pull down a low six-figure salary? A high-school dropout at the age of 16 is now a top video game pro at 19 and pulling down a great salary. But according to the lad, it’s not all fun and games. My recommendation to teens, don’t take this route. Stay in school and cherish your education.
Read More >
Picks o’ the week!
I have this picks thing figured out. That’s for sure. In the past two weeks, I’m 2-4 after only picking one game correctly last week. I guess this is what the powers-that-be wanted in the NFL. There is so much parity right now. The team that really stands above and beyond anyone else is Indianapolis. Peyton and company are playing so well right now. That was an absolutely huge win for the Colts last Sunday in New England. Granted, Tom Brady did the Patriots no favors by throwing four interceptions, but give the Colts a ton of credit. Give them credit until the playoffs roll round. We’ll see if they can avoid another January swoon. As we move into Week 10, I’m at 15-12 overall. Let’s see if I can rediscover my winning ways.
San Diego over Cincinnati: San Diego is surging, and that’s pretty easy to do when your running back scores six touchdowns in two weeks. How good is LaDainian Tomlinson? There is certainly no back in the NFL that I would rather have on my team. To keep pace with Denver, who plays the lowly Raiders at Oakland on Sunday, San Diego needs to take care of business on the road. Plus, Cincinnati is one Chad Johnson eruption from finally imploding.
Philadelphia over Washington: I just can’t figure out this Washington team, and neither can anyone else. One week they won’t be able to do anything, and the next they pull out an improbable win. Did you see what they pulled off last week against Dallas? That was a gut wrencher for the ‘boys. I think Philly at home is just too tough for a very inconsistent team to handle.
Kansas City over Miami: Was that shocking upset win a sign of good things to come from the Dolphins? I don’t think so. Despite pulling off a huge upset last week at Chicago, the ‘fins are still chock-full of problems including, among other things, at quarterback. Speaking of QB, Herm Edwards certainly has a conundrum on his hands. He lost Trent Greene but said that a player would not lose his starting job due to an injury. With the way Damon Huard has been playing in relief, however, it’ll be hard to pull him out of the lineup.
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
No e-mail for you
I thought teenagers were the target market for e-mailing, but apparently not. According to a new survey, teens between the ages of 13 and 17 are less likely to communicate via e-mail. After thinking about it, I guess it makes sense. We are moving into a world of instant gratification, and I guess kids don’t want to wait for e-mails. Instead, instant messaging is the way to go. Most teens prefer to communicate using AOL Instant Messaging or MSN Messenger services. Plus, with social networking taking over the Internet, kids simply must prefer MySpace to e-mail.
Read More >
Cleaning up your Web reputation
Are you a little worried about information about you that lives on the Internet? Are you searching for a new job and a little worried that your potential employer will see some embarrassing photos from spring break your junior year of college? Well if you have a Web rep that you’re a little ashamed of, you may be in luck. A new company, ReputationDefender, can help rid the Net of your past. They can contact server hosts and ask them to remove certain information that you may regret now.
Read More >
Vista is near
After much speculation as to the launch date of Microsoft’s much anticipated new operating system, company officials announced this week that they will begin selling Vista to customers on Jan. 30, 2007.
Read More >
Search by sight
This is a pretty cool search engine. For me, there have been countless times that I’ve seen a product but didn’t know the name and just couldn’t find it. By using a new search engine, Like.com, you can search for something using a photo. Pop the photo in and let the Web find your match.
Read More >
Beware of your BlackBerry
I’ll stick with a pen and paper. That’s a joke, but you will get my point. I’m a business owner, Video Professor, and some of my employees are jumping on the PDA bandwagon. Am I going to have to pay higher medical insurance premiums because constant PDA use is causing arthritis? I’ve been saying it for years: the more that technology betters our lives, the more it can hurt.
Read More >
Off Topic:
There is a pro for everything
Are professional video gamers really necessary? What’s more surprising, that there are actually professional video gamers or the fact that the top pros can pull down a low six-figure salary? A high-school dropout at the age of 16 is now a top video game pro at 19 and pulling down a great salary. But according to the lad, it’s not all fun and games. My recommendation to teens, don’t take this route. Stay in school and cherish your education.
Read More >
Picks o’ the week!
I have this picks thing figured out. That’s for sure. In the past two weeks, I’m 2-4 after only picking one game correctly last week. I guess this is what the powers-that-be wanted in the NFL. There is so much parity right now. The team that really stands above and beyond anyone else is Indianapolis. Peyton and company are playing so well right now. That was an absolutely huge win for the Colts last Sunday in New England. Granted, Tom Brady did the Patriots no favors by throwing four interceptions, but give the Colts a ton of credit. Give them credit until the playoffs roll round. We’ll see if they can avoid another January swoon. As we move into Week 10, I’m at 15-12 overall. Let’s see if I can rediscover my winning ways.
San Diego over Cincinnati: San Diego is surging, and that’s pretty easy to do when your running back scores six touchdowns in two weeks. How good is LaDainian Tomlinson? There is certainly no back in the NFL that I would rather have on my team. To keep pace with Denver, who plays the lowly Raiders at Oakland on Sunday, San Diego needs to take care of business on the road. Plus, Cincinnati is one Chad Johnson eruption from finally imploding.
Philadelphia over Washington: I just can’t figure out this Washington team, and neither can anyone else. One week they won’t be able to do anything, and the next they pull out an improbable win. Did you see what they pulled off last week against Dallas? That was a gut wrencher for the ‘boys. I think Philly at home is just too tough for a very inconsistent team to handle.
Kansas City over Miami: Was that shocking upset win a sign of good things to come from the Dolphins? I don’t think so. Despite pulling off a huge upset last week at Chicago, the ‘fins are still chock-full of problems including, among other things, at quarterback. Speaking of QB, Herm Edwards certainly has a conundrum on his hands. He lost Trent Greene but said that a player would not lose his starting job due to an injury. With the way Damon Huard has been playing in relief, however, it’ll be hard to pull him out of the lineup.
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
Friday, November 03, 2006
John W. Scherer Video Professor Blog Nov. 3, 2006
Technology Tell All!
Video Professor’s production team earns honors
Before we get into talking about some technology, I want to congratulate Video Professor’s long-time Director of Production Chip Hopkins, and his entire staff, for once again earning prestigious Aurora Award recognition. For their work on the Video Professor’s “Learn How to Buy and Sell on eBay®” tutorial, the team won the Platinum Best of Show Award in the Technology/Computer Training category. In addition, lessons from the “Learn Wireless Networking,” “Learn the Internet with the AOL Service,” and “Learn How to Buy and Sell on eBay” tutorials earned Gold Awards in the same category. I am extremely proud of Chip and his team. The quality tutorials they have been producing for nearly 20 years are the best in the market, and it is wonderful to know that they are being recognized for all their hard work.
Has air safety really improved?
Apparently not. It is pretty scary what can be accomplished with a computer and an Internet connection these days. A graduate student at Indiana University developed a web site that allows people to print fake boarding passes, allowing travelers to circumvent the government’s no-fly list. Now before we call the authorities to have this guy arrested, know that he created the site to prove to the powers-that-be how easy it really is to pull one over on the TSA. Since 911 the TSA has been preaching to us about how much safety on airlines has improved. Has is really? We need some competent folks in there making sure they stay one step ahead of the terrorists.
Read More >
Too much information
It’s a darn good thing that Video Professor has a tutorial teaching people to “Learn the Internet.” According to Netcraft, a company that watches the web, there are more than 100 million web sites. Netcraft has been monitoring the web since August 1995, and they said that only 18,000 web sites existed back then. The 50 million mark was surpassed in May 2004 and, in only a little more than two years, that number has doubled.
Read More >
Uh, I need to take that back…
I bet Mark Foley wishes he would have used this product. The United States Representative from Florida certainly could have avoided his troubles if he would have used software to erase his online past. That or he could have not sent inappropriate messages in the first place. But anyway, there is new technology that allows people to erase the private e-mails they wish they never would have sent. Check out this review of VaporStream’s new product.
Read More >
Off topic:
Earning their keep
One problem that has plagued Major League Baseball in recent years, other than steroids, is that a growing number of fans cannot buy into the fact that pampered players are breaking the bank and not earning their keep. Does Alex Rodriguez truly earn every penny of the $252 million contract he signed? Well, if you’ve ever wanted to figure out mathematically if a player deserves his millions, go to the web site created by Information Builders Inc. They have developed a site that allows fans to analyze a player’s statistics in conjunction with their salary to see if they are worth the money.
Read More >
Picks o’ the week!
Up and down, up and down. The minute that I start thinking I’ve figured out how to pick the winners in the NFL, I get popped the next week. Last week, thanks to Minnesota imploding at home and Baltimore’s defense taking control, I finished the week 1-2. The only thing that saved me was an absolutely incredible passing effort put in by Peyton Manning and the Colts against the Broncos. I guess Denver’s vaunted defense has a little more work to do before it can be compared to the 1985 Chicago Bears or the 2000 Baltimore Ravens. Coming into the game, Denver’s defense was allowing less than eight points a game, but Peyton and company had no trouble racking up 34 points. So, heading into Week 9, I’m at 14-10 overall.
New England over Indianapolis: This has the makings of the game of the week. Arguably the two superior teams in the AFC are gearing up for a mid-season clash in Foxboro. Both teams are coming off impressive wins last weekend, and this game could be huge in determining home-field advantage at the end of the year. The Patriots have owned the Colts in recent years, and I foresee more of that same dominance this weekend.
Denver over Pittsburgh: What was Steelers coach Bill Cowher thinking last week? With Big Ben coming off a concussion and still dealing with a myriad of other ailments, he still played against a pathetic Oakland team. Still feeling the effects, Ben threw four interceptions and Pittsburgh was handed an embarrassing loss. Well, I see more of the same for the defending Super Bowl Champions this week. Even though they are at home, Denver will eek out a tough win and the Steelers will be left to lick the wounds of a 2-6 start.
Dallas over Washington: I know this rivalry isn’t what it used to be, but it’s still pretty good. Washington, however, is not. I do not think they have what it takes to beat the Cowboys. It looks like Tony Romo was the answer for “America’s Team” last week and it seems that he can keep Terrell Owens in check, at least for the time being. I think that Dallas will pick up an important division and road win.
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
Video Professor’s production team earns honors
Before we get into talking about some technology, I want to congratulate Video Professor’s long-time Director of Production Chip Hopkins, and his entire staff, for once again earning prestigious Aurora Award recognition. For their work on the Video Professor’s “Learn How to Buy and Sell on eBay®” tutorial, the team won the Platinum Best of Show Award in the Technology/Computer Training category. In addition, lessons from the “Learn Wireless Networking,” “Learn the Internet with the AOL Service,” and “Learn How to Buy and Sell on eBay” tutorials earned Gold Awards in the same category. I am extremely proud of Chip and his team. The quality tutorials they have been producing for nearly 20 years are the best in the market, and it is wonderful to know that they are being recognized for all their hard work.
Has air safety really improved?
Apparently not. It is pretty scary what can be accomplished with a computer and an Internet connection these days. A graduate student at Indiana University developed a web site that allows people to print fake boarding passes, allowing travelers to circumvent the government’s no-fly list. Now before we call the authorities to have this guy arrested, know that he created the site to prove to the powers-that-be how easy it really is to pull one over on the TSA. Since 911 the TSA has been preaching to us about how much safety on airlines has improved. Has is really? We need some competent folks in there making sure they stay one step ahead of the terrorists.
Read More >
Too much information
It’s a darn good thing that Video Professor has a tutorial teaching people to “Learn the Internet.” According to Netcraft, a company that watches the web, there are more than 100 million web sites. Netcraft has been monitoring the web since August 1995, and they said that only 18,000 web sites existed back then. The 50 million mark was surpassed in May 2004 and, in only a little more than two years, that number has doubled.
Read More >
Uh, I need to take that back…
I bet Mark Foley wishes he would have used this product. The United States Representative from Florida certainly could have avoided his troubles if he would have used software to erase his online past. That or he could have not sent inappropriate messages in the first place. But anyway, there is new technology that allows people to erase the private e-mails they wish they never would have sent. Check out this review of VaporStream’s new product.
Read More >
Off topic:
Earning their keep
One problem that has plagued Major League Baseball in recent years, other than steroids, is that a growing number of fans cannot buy into the fact that pampered players are breaking the bank and not earning their keep. Does Alex Rodriguez truly earn every penny of the $252 million contract he signed? Well, if you’ve ever wanted to figure out mathematically if a player deserves his millions, go to the web site created by Information Builders Inc. They have developed a site that allows fans to analyze a player’s statistics in conjunction with their salary to see if they are worth the money.
Read More >
Picks o’ the week!
Up and down, up and down. The minute that I start thinking I’ve figured out how to pick the winners in the NFL, I get popped the next week. Last week, thanks to Minnesota imploding at home and Baltimore’s defense taking control, I finished the week 1-2. The only thing that saved me was an absolutely incredible passing effort put in by Peyton Manning and the Colts against the Broncos. I guess Denver’s vaunted defense has a little more work to do before it can be compared to the 1985 Chicago Bears or the 2000 Baltimore Ravens. Coming into the game, Denver’s defense was allowing less than eight points a game, but Peyton and company had no trouble racking up 34 points. So, heading into Week 9, I’m at 14-10 overall.
New England over Indianapolis: This has the makings of the game of the week. Arguably the two superior teams in the AFC are gearing up for a mid-season clash in Foxboro. Both teams are coming off impressive wins last weekend, and this game could be huge in determining home-field advantage at the end of the year. The Patriots have owned the Colts in recent years, and I foresee more of that same dominance this weekend.
Denver over Pittsburgh: What was Steelers coach Bill Cowher thinking last week? With Big Ben coming off a concussion and still dealing with a myriad of other ailments, he still played against a pathetic Oakland team. Still feeling the effects, Ben threw four interceptions and Pittsburgh was handed an embarrassing loss. Well, I see more of the same for the defending Super Bowl Champions this week. Even though they are at home, Denver will eek out a tough win and the Steelers will be left to lick the wounds of a 2-6 start.
Dallas over Washington: I know this rivalry isn’t what it used to be, but it’s still pretty good. Washington, however, is not. I do not think they have what it takes to beat the Cowboys. It looks like Tony Romo was the answer for “America’s Team” last week and it seems that he can keep Terrell Owens in check, at least for the time being. I think that Dallas will pick up an important division and road win.
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
Friday, October 27, 2006
John W. Scherer Video Professor Blog Oct. 27, 2006
Straight Tech Talk!
He hasn’t got mail…
Technology is not completely wasted on the President of the United States. According to a recent interview President Bush is a fan of Google, but is reluctant to use e-mail. He, like many, is cautious about the way e-mails can sometime spread. What he says on e-mail could easily be the next headline of the Washington Post. Maybe Video Professor should send the White House a copy of our “Learn Outlook” tutorial.
Read More >
Online video growing
It’s a good thing I started a company to teach people how to use their computers and didn’t start a TV manufacturing company. The tube’s days may be numbered. Ok that’s a little extreme, but who knows where technology will take us in the future. As online video sites such as www.YouTube.com continue to grow, people may eventually shift to online TV viewing rather than sitting in front of the plasma. In this on-demand world, why wait for your show to come on when you can download it at a moments notice?
Read More >
The next big thing
So you want to be discovered? Are you looking for your big break in the entertainment world? If you YouTube, you may be on your way. You just don’t know it yet. Apparently talent agencies are combing the popular video portals for the next big thing. Talented writers, directors and producers are getting noticed and the entertainment landscape is changing.
Read More >
Off topic:
Needless violence on the gridiron
Despicable. There really isn’t any other way to describe what happened last week at a peewee football game for five and six year olds. In case you didn’t hear about it, a father of one of the players got into an argument with the coach over playing time. Bad words turned into fisticuffs that led to the father pulling out his handgun. He pulled a weapon on somebody because he felt his kid wasn’t getting ample playing time? Where is our society heading? It’s nearly impossible to make it through a day without seeing a needless act of violence in the news. It’s ridiculous and it needs to stop. The kids just wanted to have a little fun on the gridiron, but now they are left with tragic memories.
Read More >
I am Dracula, and I bid you welcome . . .
With Halloween just a few days away, I was very disappointed to read this story. I love the creepy, crawlies. I love the things that go bump in the night. I love mummies and Frankenstein. And I really love vampires. A researcher at the University of Central Florida came up with a formula that debunked the vampire myth. Well even if bloodsuckers don’t roam our streets for real, I’ll still believe at least one night a year.
Read More >
Picks o’ the week!
After going “O-fer” a couple weeks back, I got back on track last week going 2-1. Overall this year, I’m not too bad, sitting at 13-8 going into Week 8. I have a couple comments about the week that was. First: Just when you think Jake “The Snake” was turning it around, the old Jake came out in the fourth quarter. Denver was in control of the game at 17-0 in the fourth and the defense looked poised for a road shutout. What does Jake do? He throws an interception resulting in the Browns gaining possession inside of Denver’s red zone. An easy drive later, and the lead has shrunk to 10 with a lot of time left to play. Denver shut Cleveland down after that, but Jake should never have put them in that position. Cincinnati got a must win over Carolina. Do you agree that Carson Palmer just doesn’t look right? Finally, I’m never trusting Arizona again. After that debacle on Monday night a couple weeks ago, they lose to the winless Raiders. Wow. Dennis Green, your days look to be numbered. Ok, now that I’ve gotten that out of my system, let’s move on to my Week 8 picks:
New Orleans over Baltimore: How can you not root for this Saints team? Wow, talk about your surprises. This early-season success is giving that wonderful city and state a shot in the arm. Way to go Saints. Keep it rolling at home this Sunday. Baltimore still has a good defense, but their offense is offensive. Coach Billick will be calling the plays for the Ravens after sacking his O-coordinator before their bye week, but it won’t matter. Saints will roll.
Indianapolis over Denver: This has the makings as the NFL’s game of the week in my opinion. Denver’s defense has been unreal so far this season, but it has not faced an offense as powerful as the Colts. Denver’s only hope for victory is to limit Peyton and boys to fewer than 20 points. If this game becomes a shootout, Denver is in trouble. That troubled offense can’t keep up with the Indianapolis scoring machine.
Minnesota over New England: After what Minnesota did to Seattle last week, Monday night’s game just got a lot more interesting. This should be a great game. The Patriots always show up for big games and I think Minnesota is a very legitimate team this year. At the end of game, however, I think Minnesota at home will pull out a squeaker.
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
He hasn’t got mail…
Technology is not completely wasted on the President of the United States. According to a recent interview President Bush is a fan of Google, but is reluctant to use e-mail. He, like many, is cautious about the way e-mails can sometime spread. What he says on e-mail could easily be the next headline of the Washington Post. Maybe Video Professor should send the White House a copy of our “Learn Outlook” tutorial.
Read More >
Online video growing
It’s a good thing I started a company to teach people how to use their computers and didn’t start a TV manufacturing company. The tube’s days may be numbered. Ok that’s a little extreme, but who knows where technology will take us in the future. As online video sites such as www.YouTube.com continue to grow, people may eventually shift to online TV viewing rather than sitting in front of the plasma. In this on-demand world, why wait for your show to come on when you can download it at a moments notice?
Read More >
The next big thing
So you want to be discovered? Are you looking for your big break in the entertainment world? If you YouTube, you may be on your way. You just don’t know it yet. Apparently talent agencies are combing the popular video portals for the next big thing. Talented writers, directors and producers are getting noticed and the entertainment landscape is changing.
Read More >
Off topic:
Needless violence on the gridiron
Despicable. There really isn’t any other way to describe what happened last week at a peewee football game for five and six year olds. In case you didn’t hear about it, a father of one of the players got into an argument with the coach over playing time. Bad words turned into fisticuffs that led to the father pulling out his handgun. He pulled a weapon on somebody because he felt his kid wasn’t getting ample playing time? Where is our society heading? It’s nearly impossible to make it through a day without seeing a needless act of violence in the news. It’s ridiculous and it needs to stop. The kids just wanted to have a little fun on the gridiron, but now they are left with tragic memories.
Read More >
I am Dracula, and I bid you welcome . . .
With Halloween just a few days away, I was very disappointed to read this story. I love the creepy, crawlies. I love the things that go bump in the night. I love mummies and Frankenstein. And I really love vampires. A researcher at the University of Central Florida came up with a formula that debunked the vampire myth. Well even if bloodsuckers don’t roam our streets for real, I’ll still believe at least one night a year.
Read More >
Picks o’ the week!
After going “O-fer” a couple weeks back, I got back on track last week going 2-1. Overall this year, I’m not too bad, sitting at 13-8 going into Week 8. I have a couple comments about the week that was. First: Just when you think Jake “The Snake” was turning it around, the old Jake came out in the fourth quarter. Denver was in control of the game at 17-0 in the fourth and the defense looked poised for a road shutout. What does Jake do? He throws an interception resulting in the Browns gaining possession inside of Denver’s red zone. An easy drive later, and the lead has shrunk to 10 with a lot of time left to play. Denver shut Cleveland down after that, but Jake should never have put them in that position. Cincinnati got a must win over Carolina. Do you agree that Carson Palmer just doesn’t look right? Finally, I’m never trusting Arizona again. After that debacle on Monday night a couple weeks ago, they lose to the winless Raiders. Wow. Dennis Green, your days look to be numbered. Ok, now that I’ve gotten that out of my system, let’s move on to my Week 8 picks:
New Orleans over Baltimore: How can you not root for this Saints team? Wow, talk about your surprises. This early-season success is giving that wonderful city and state a shot in the arm. Way to go Saints. Keep it rolling at home this Sunday. Baltimore still has a good defense, but their offense is offensive. Coach Billick will be calling the plays for the Ravens after sacking his O-coordinator before their bye week, but it won’t matter. Saints will roll.
Indianapolis over Denver: This has the makings as the NFL’s game of the week in my opinion. Denver’s defense has been unreal so far this season, but it has not faced an offense as powerful as the Colts. Denver’s only hope for victory is to limit Peyton and boys to fewer than 20 points. If this game becomes a shootout, Denver is in trouble. That troubled offense can’t keep up with the Indianapolis scoring machine.
Minnesota over New England: After what Minnesota did to Seattle last week, Monday night’s game just got a lot more interesting. This should be a great game. The Patriots always show up for big games and I think Minnesota is a very legitimate team this year. At the end of game, however, I think Minnesota at home will pull out a squeaker.
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
Friday, October 20, 2006
John W. Scherer Video Professor Blog Oct. 20, 2006
Let’s talk some tech!
Internet Addicts
I could see this becoming a bigger problem than it is now. Are you an Internet addict? Heck, if you’re reading my blog, you just may be. Ha! There is so much information on the Web and not enough time to surf it all. Video Professor has been teaching folks for years how to use the Internet. Maybe we should slow down a bit? I’m joking. It’s a great tool to help us in life. But like anything else in life, moderation is the key.
Read More >
An iPod is born
There are quite a few stories on the Web trying to dissect the true origin of the iPod. Well, according to Wired, here is how the iPod came to be. Regardless of how it started, it has certainly revolutionized the music industry.
Read More >
The next big thing...
Speaking of Apple, according to analysts, they plan to roll out a new cell phone as early as next year. Could Apple possibly strike gold twice? I won’t put anything past Steve Jobs and his marketing gurus.
Read More >
Is the Vista near?
The beta 2 version has been out for a while and Microsoft is frantically fixing the bugs, but officials at the software giant say that Vista is still on schedule to ship on time. With that, Video Professor will be right behind the release with helpful tutorials breaking down the ins and outs of the new operating system.
Read More>
It’s about time
Microsoft made more news this week with its much-anticipated release of Internet Explorer 7. After many, many beta tests and many, many months of development, the browser is finally available. It has been five years since Microsoft last released a new browser, Internet Explorer 6, and some experts say that has led to a loss in market shares. Popular browsers, such as Mozilla’s Firefox, have slowly been nibbling at Microsoft’s customers. And speaking of Mozilla, the company released a new version of Firefox this week too.
Read More >
Off topic:
Immortalizing your fandom
I’m a big-time sports fan. I love to watch baseball, football, basketball and even hockey. I’m not sure, however, that I’m THIS big of a fan. A company called Eternal Image has cut a deal with Major League Baseball to sell urns and coffins so baseball fans can represent their team in the afterlife. In addition, they are trying to work similar deals with the NFL, NHL and even NASCAR.
Read More >
Traffic is going to get a lot worse
Wow, can you even grasp how big a number 300 million is? Seriously, what does that really mean? The US Census Bureau announced this week that the population in the United States has passed 300 million. I thought traffic was bad now.
Read More>
Picks o’ the week!
What a difference a week makes. I guess I was too confident and football karma went against me. After picking three correct two weeks ago, I was rewarded with a goose egg last week. Ouch! I was pretty confident with the games I picked last week, and I guess I can take solace in the fact that they were all close games. Seattle knocked off St. Louis on a last-second field goal, Carolina narrowly escaped Baltimore and the New York Giants pulled off the road upset. That’s how it goes from week to week in today’s NFL. There is so much parity in the league right now. That is evident by the fact that the Bears, who looked dominating in the first five weeks of the season, frankly got lucky against Arizona. In a game that Chicago should have won by 10 points, the Bears escaped with a 24-23 win. And, they didn’t even score an offensive touchdown. Weird things happen in this league. Well, going into Week 7, I’m 11-7 overall this year. Humbly, I give you my picks for this week.
Cincinnati over Carolina: Carolina has won four straight. Cincinnati appears to be reeling lately. This should be a pretty easy pick, right? That’s what makes the NFL great. I think Cincinnati will get back on track this week, especially at home. They have something to prove after last week’s embarrassing loss to winless Tampa.
Denver over Cleveland: I think this is a pretty easy game to pick. Denver is the better team and should win, despite their offensive woes of late. There is some great intrigue surrounding this game, however. Almost every week we see a situation that a player returns to play against his former employer. But in this game, the entire starting defensive line for Denver returns to Cleveland for the first time since they all played for the Browns. Do you think they’ll have a chip on their shoulders?
Arizona over Oakland: This is a dog of a game, but it’s certainly fun to talk about. Oakland is pathetic. There is nothing more to say. Arizona is in the same class. The second-half meltdown that Arizona suffered last week was legendary. How do they bounce back from that? In a normal situation, I’d say it’s impossible. But fortunately for the Cardinals, they get to play Oakland.
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
Internet Addicts
I could see this becoming a bigger problem than it is now. Are you an Internet addict? Heck, if you’re reading my blog, you just may be. Ha! There is so much information on the Web and not enough time to surf it all. Video Professor has been teaching folks for years how to use the Internet. Maybe we should slow down a bit? I’m joking. It’s a great tool to help us in life. But like anything else in life, moderation is the key.
Read More >
An iPod is born
There are quite a few stories on the Web trying to dissect the true origin of the iPod. Well, according to Wired, here is how the iPod came to be. Regardless of how it started, it has certainly revolutionized the music industry.
Read More >
The next big thing...
Speaking of Apple, according to analysts, they plan to roll out a new cell phone as early as next year. Could Apple possibly strike gold twice? I won’t put anything past Steve Jobs and his marketing gurus.
Read More >
Is the Vista near?
The beta 2 version has been out for a while and Microsoft is frantically fixing the bugs, but officials at the software giant say that Vista is still on schedule to ship on time. With that, Video Professor will be right behind the release with helpful tutorials breaking down the ins and outs of the new operating system.
Read More>
It’s about time
Microsoft made more news this week with its much-anticipated release of Internet Explorer 7. After many, many beta tests and many, many months of development, the browser is finally available. It has been five years since Microsoft last released a new browser, Internet Explorer 6, and some experts say that has led to a loss in market shares. Popular browsers, such as Mozilla’s Firefox, have slowly been nibbling at Microsoft’s customers. And speaking of Mozilla, the company released a new version of Firefox this week too.
Read More >
Off topic:
Immortalizing your fandom
I’m a big-time sports fan. I love to watch baseball, football, basketball and even hockey. I’m not sure, however, that I’m THIS big of a fan. A company called Eternal Image has cut a deal with Major League Baseball to sell urns and coffins so baseball fans can represent their team in the afterlife. In addition, they are trying to work similar deals with the NFL, NHL and even NASCAR.
Read More >
Traffic is going to get a lot worse
Wow, can you even grasp how big a number 300 million is? Seriously, what does that really mean? The US Census Bureau announced this week that the population in the United States has passed 300 million. I thought traffic was bad now.
Read More>
Picks o’ the week!
What a difference a week makes. I guess I was too confident and football karma went against me. After picking three correct two weeks ago, I was rewarded with a goose egg last week. Ouch! I was pretty confident with the games I picked last week, and I guess I can take solace in the fact that they were all close games. Seattle knocked off St. Louis on a last-second field goal, Carolina narrowly escaped Baltimore and the New York Giants pulled off the road upset. That’s how it goes from week to week in today’s NFL. There is so much parity in the league right now. That is evident by the fact that the Bears, who looked dominating in the first five weeks of the season, frankly got lucky against Arizona. In a game that Chicago should have won by 10 points, the Bears escaped with a 24-23 win. And, they didn’t even score an offensive touchdown. Weird things happen in this league. Well, going into Week 7, I’m 11-7 overall this year. Humbly, I give you my picks for this week.
Cincinnati over Carolina: Carolina has won four straight. Cincinnati appears to be reeling lately. This should be a pretty easy pick, right? That’s what makes the NFL great. I think Cincinnati will get back on track this week, especially at home. They have something to prove after last week’s embarrassing loss to winless Tampa.
Denver over Cleveland: I think this is a pretty easy game to pick. Denver is the better team and should win, despite their offensive woes of late. There is some great intrigue surrounding this game, however. Almost every week we see a situation that a player returns to play against his former employer. But in this game, the entire starting defensive line for Denver returns to Cleveland for the first time since they all played for the Browns. Do you think they’ll have a chip on their shoulders?
Arizona over Oakland: This is a dog of a game, but it’s certainly fun to talk about. Oakland is pathetic. There is nothing more to say. Arizona is in the same class. The second-half meltdown that Arizona suffered last week was legendary. How do they bounce back from that? In a normal situation, I’d say it’s impossible. But fortunately for the Cardinals, they get to play Oakland.
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
Friday, October 13, 2006
John W. Scherer Video Professor Blog Oct. 13, 2006
Tech, tech and more tech!
This is one way of keeping kids safe
You know you and I have read numerous times in this space that it’s the parents’ responsibility to keep their kids safe when surfing the Internet. Well, here is one way to do that. A recent complaint filed in San Antonio is holding the parents responsible for what their kids do online. Read the attached link for the details of the story. I totally agree. Yes, the kids too should be held accountable for their actions, but so should the parents. There are too many potential dangers for kids out there. Parents; the burden lies with you!
Read More >
The Wal-Mart of the cyber world?
Pretty soon, it appears, that Google will own every significant property in the cyber world. There will be more Google fingerprints on the Web then there are Wal-Mart stores in the U.S. Last week Google gobbled up www.youtube.com for a reported $1.65 billion. Don’t you think that’s a pretty steep price to pay for a site that has yet to generate any revenue? I guess Google doesn’t care about that. Can you blame them? YouTube drives a tremendous amount of traffic everyday, as evidenced by more than 100,000 video views a day. For them, eyeballs are a lot more important than revenue.
Read More >
Microsoft distributes new patches
Here’s a heads up, in case you did not see the news from Microsoft. The software giant said the six new patches would help fix holes in the software allowing hackers access to your computer.
Read More>
I’m feeling old
Can you believe that the VHS is 30 years old? Holy cow! I remember vividly the battle between Beta and VHS and who ultimately won out. I have to give a lot of credit for the success of Video Professor to the VHS. When we started producing computer tutorials more than 19 years ago, all Video Professor lessons were for the VCR. My, how times have changed. Customers can now get all our lessons on CD-rom or via our web site at www.videoprofessor.com, a far cry from the days of the tape.
Read More >
Picks o’ the week!
Hey, I’m getting pretty good at this. After going 3-0 last week, my overall record is now 11-4. There were some exciting games last week, and I didn’t make a pick for any of those. The three I did pick turned out be to yawners. Philadelphia dominated the Cowboys (well late in the second half that is), Chicago absolutely rolled Buffalo and the Chargers handled the defending Super Bowl champions.
After five weeks in the NFL, I think we are finally seeing some teams emerge. “Da Bears” are for real. That defense is arguably the best in the league and the offense is starting to roll with young Rex Chapman. The biggest surprise for me, however, is the Broncos. Everyone expected them to be good and possibly contend for a Super Bowl appearance. But what is shocking is how they are doing it. The Mike Shanahan-led offense has been pathetic at best while the defense is reminiscent of the 2000 Ravens. What they did to Baltimore on Monday night was superb. Granted, Baltimore doesn’t have a potent offense, but Denver dominated that game defensively. They forced three Steve McNair interceptions and the offense did just enough to get over. I see Denver getting their offense back on track, especially in the next two weeks. They play Oakland and Cleveland in their next two games. They should get healthy. If the defense keeps playing the way it is, and if the O can get on track, look out. Enough about that, let’s get to the picks for Week 6. (And don’t look for me to cop out and take Denver as one of my winners this week. WAY too easy!)
St. Louis over Seattle: Upset warning: I think the Rams, especially at home, can pull this upset off. It won’t be the biggest upset since Broadway Joe guaranteed victory in the Super Bowl, but it’ll be pretty big. St. Louis is quietly turning out to be one of the better teams in the NFC. Throw in the fact that Seattle is without Shaun Alexander and the Seahawks could be in for a long day.
Baltimore over Carolina: After the tough loss endured at the hands of the Broncos last week, I see the Ravens getting back on track to beat the Panthers at home. The game will still be a typical, ugly Ravens game, but they’ll do enough to get it done. Baltimore is too tough at home, and they should have a chip on their shoulders.
Atlanta over the New York Giants: This has the makings of a good game, in my opinion. Atlanta is a good team and Michael Vick is an electric player. New York is also showing improvement and is looking like they can hang with some teams. At the end of the day, however, I think the Falcons’ rushing attack will prove to be too much for the G-men.
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
This is one way of keeping kids safe
You know you and I have read numerous times in this space that it’s the parents’ responsibility to keep their kids safe when surfing the Internet. Well, here is one way to do that. A recent complaint filed in San Antonio is holding the parents responsible for what their kids do online. Read the attached link for the details of the story. I totally agree. Yes, the kids too should be held accountable for their actions, but so should the parents. There are too many potential dangers for kids out there. Parents; the burden lies with you!
Read More >
The Wal-Mart of the cyber world?
Pretty soon, it appears, that Google will own every significant property in the cyber world. There will be more Google fingerprints on the Web then there are Wal-Mart stores in the U.S. Last week Google gobbled up www.youtube.com for a reported $1.65 billion. Don’t you think that’s a pretty steep price to pay for a site that has yet to generate any revenue? I guess Google doesn’t care about that. Can you blame them? YouTube drives a tremendous amount of traffic everyday, as evidenced by more than 100,000 video views a day. For them, eyeballs are a lot more important than revenue.
Read More >
Microsoft distributes new patches
Here’s a heads up, in case you did not see the news from Microsoft. The software giant said the six new patches would help fix holes in the software allowing hackers access to your computer.
Read More>
I’m feeling old
Can you believe that the VHS is 30 years old? Holy cow! I remember vividly the battle between Beta and VHS and who ultimately won out. I have to give a lot of credit for the success of Video Professor to the VHS. When we started producing computer tutorials more than 19 years ago, all Video Professor lessons were for the VCR. My, how times have changed. Customers can now get all our lessons on CD-rom or via our web site at www.videoprofessor.com, a far cry from the days of the tape.
Read More >
Picks o’ the week!
Hey, I’m getting pretty good at this. After going 3-0 last week, my overall record is now 11-4. There were some exciting games last week, and I didn’t make a pick for any of those. The three I did pick turned out be to yawners. Philadelphia dominated the Cowboys (well late in the second half that is), Chicago absolutely rolled Buffalo and the Chargers handled the defending Super Bowl champions.
After five weeks in the NFL, I think we are finally seeing some teams emerge. “Da Bears” are for real. That defense is arguably the best in the league and the offense is starting to roll with young Rex Chapman. The biggest surprise for me, however, is the Broncos. Everyone expected them to be good and possibly contend for a Super Bowl appearance. But what is shocking is how they are doing it. The Mike Shanahan-led offense has been pathetic at best while the defense is reminiscent of the 2000 Ravens. What they did to Baltimore on Monday night was superb. Granted, Baltimore doesn’t have a potent offense, but Denver dominated that game defensively. They forced three Steve McNair interceptions and the offense did just enough to get over. I see Denver getting their offense back on track, especially in the next two weeks. They play Oakland and Cleveland in their next two games. They should get healthy. If the defense keeps playing the way it is, and if the O can get on track, look out. Enough about that, let’s get to the picks for Week 6. (And don’t look for me to cop out and take Denver as one of my winners this week. WAY too easy!)
St. Louis over Seattle: Upset warning: I think the Rams, especially at home, can pull this upset off. It won’t be the biggest upset since Broadway Joe guaranteed victory in the Super Bowl, but it’ll be pretty big. St. Louis is quietly turning out to be one of the better teams in the NFC. Throw in the fact that Seattle is without Shaun Alexander and the Seahawks could be in for a long day.
Baltimore over Carolina: After the tough loss endured at the hands of the Broncos last week, I see the Ravens getting back on track to beat the Panthers at home. The game will still be a typical, ugly Ravens game, but they’ll do enough to get it done. Baltimore is too tough at home, and they should have a chip on their shoulders.
Atlanta over the New York Giants: This has the makings of a good game, in my opinion. Atlanta is a good team and Michael Vick is an electric player. New York is also showing improvement and is looking like they can hang with some teams. At the end of the day, however, I think the Falcons’ rushing attack will prove to be too much for the G-men.
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
Friday, October 06, 2006
John W. Scherer Video Professor Blog Oct. 6, 2006
Let’s talk about technology!
Free Wi-Fi is expensive
What is good for us is not good for cities. Many cities across the country are rushing to install free Wi-Fi in a race to keep up with technology. But it can be quite costly. Some experts are estimating cities will spend upwards of $700 million to build their wireless networks. Is this cost going to get passed down to us? Are we headed for a case of when free is not really free?
Read More >
Good news for Microsoft
We may be reaching the Vista on time. According to recent reports, Microsoft’s new and much anticipated operating system, Vista, is due to hit shelves on time next year. There had been much talk that Microsoft was not going to meet its deadlines, but analysts are expecting it to come out on time. That means that Video Professor will be right in step, providing you the most in-depth training of the latest operating system on the market.
Read More >
Are we getting too lazy?
Seriously? Is this what this country is coming too? I know work ethic has waned over the past decade, and the rise of the Internet has made slacking even easier, but this is ridiculous. Attention employers, be on the look out for more sick time abusers. There is a web site out there that allows people to record their sick message the night before and the site will automatically deliver it to your voice mail before you get to work. For innovation, I give it an “A,” for productivity, an “F.”
Read More >
Technology and football
Technology has helped football become America’s pastime. It has certainly passed baseball in terms of popularity. When most people think of technology in the game, they instantly think of how the Internet helps them track their fantasy teams. Well, technology really does more than that. In fact, it can help keep the players safe on the field. Check out a few ways that technology is helping players.
Read More >
With a heavy heart…
My thoughts and prayers go out to all the families and friends of the people who have needlessly suffered in the wake of the recent events in Bailey, CO. and Lancaster County, Pa. It makes me sick when I pick up the newspaper and see innocent people suffer like this. I wish I could do more to help make these incidents stop forever and maybe someday, if we all work together, we can help stop these attacks from happening.
Picks o’ the week!
I’ll take a 2-1 week, which bumps my overall record to 8-4 on the season. Heck, if I would have said I’d be four games over .500 going into Week 5, you would have thought I was crazy. I should have been 3-0 though, but “Marty-ball” had to show its ugly face. With a 13-6 lead going into the fourth quarter, San Diego allowed Baltimore to score nine points in the final stanza and steal the game. Now I know Baltimore was at home and Baltimore has a great defense, but San Diego lost control of the game. They were dominating the action, until Marty decided to go ultra conservative with the playbook. Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers only attempted eight passes in the second half. It’s one thing to try and protect a lead, but a team will never win in the NFL if it plays the entire second half trying not to lose. Cliché warning: Teams have to play a full 60 minutes in the NFL, or they will get bitten. Anyway, I digress. Here are the games I like this week:
Philadelphia over Dallas: This should be the game of the weekend. T.O. (Terrell Owens), the controversial wide receiver, makes his return to familiar confines. T.O. left Philly last year in a cloud of controversy and found a new home in Dallas. Combine that with the circus of last week’s alleged suicide attempt, and this event could be monumental. Oh yeah, there will be a football game too, and I like Philly to win and win big.
Chicago over Buffalo: The way the Bears are playing right now, how can you bet against them? The Bears dominated Seattle last Sunday night and shot themselves to the top of the list as far as NFC dominance. With a stellar defense and a very capable offense, the Bears look like the team to beat in the early going.
San Diego over Pittsburgh: OK, I didn’t learn my lesson. I know I took the Chargers last week and I know it burned me. But San Diego returns home after a bitter loss, and I think they’ll rebound. They play the Steelers, who don’t really have things clicking yet. Big Ben needs to regain his form from a year ago if Pittsburgh has any chance to get back to the Super Bowl.
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
Free Wi-Fi is expensive
What is good for us is not good for cities. Many cities across the country are rushing to install free Wi-Fi in a race to keep up with technology. But it can be quite costly. Some experts are estimating cities will spend upwards of $700 million to build their wireless networks. Is this cost going to get passed down to us? Are we headed for a case of when free is not really free?
Read More >
Good news for Microsoft
We may be reaching the Vista on time. According to recent reports, Microsoft’s new and much anticipated operating system, Vista, is due to hit shelves on time next year. There had been much talk that Microsoft was not going to meet its deadlines, but analysts are expecting it to come out on time. That means that Video Professor will be right in step, providing you the most in-depth training of the latest operating system on the market.
Read More >
Are we getting too lazy?
Seriously? Is this what this country is coming too? I know work ethic has waned over the past decade, and the rise of the Internet has made slacking even easier, but this is ridiculous. Attention employers, be on the look out for more sick time abusers. There is a web site out there that allows people to record their sick message the night before and the site will automatically deliver it to your voice mail before you get to work. For innovation, I give it an “A,” for productivity, an “F.”
Read More >
Technology and football
Technology has helped football become America’s pastime. It has certainly passed baseball in terms of popularity. When most people think of technology in the game, they instantly think of how the Internet helps them track their fantasy teams. Well, technology really does more than that. In fact, it can help keep the players safe on the field. Check out a few ways that technology is helping players.
Read More >
With a heavy heart…
My thoughts and prayers go out to all the families and friends of the people who have needlessly suffered in the wake of the recent events in Bailey, CO. and Lancaster County, Pa. It makes me sick when I pick up the newspaper and see innocent people suffer like this. I wish I could do more to help make these incidents stop forever and maybe someday, if we all work together, we can help stop these attacks from happening.
Picks o’ the week!
I’ll take a 2-1 week, which bumps my overall record to 8-4 on the season. Heck, if I would have said I’d be four games over .500 going into Week 5, you would have thought I was crazy. I should have been 3-0 though, but “Marty-ball” had to show its ugly face. With a 13-6 lead going into the fourth quarter, San Diego allowed Baltimore to score nine points in the final stanza and steal the game. Now I know Baltimore was at home and Baltimore has a great defense, but San Diego lost control of the game. They were dominating the action, until Marty decided to go ultra conservative with the playbook. Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers only attempted eight passes in the second half. It’s one thing to try and protect a lead, but a team will never win in the NFL if it plays the entire second half trying not to lose. Cliché warning: Teams have to play a full 60 minutes in the NFL, or they will get bitten. Anyway, I digress. Here are the games I like this week:
Philadelphia over Dallas: This should be the game of the weekend. T.O. (Terrell Owens), the controversial wide receiver, makes his return to familiar confines. T.O. left Philly last year in a cloud of controversy and found a new home in Dallas. Combine that with the circus of last week’s alleged suicide attempt, and this event could be monumental. Oh yeah, there will be a football game too, and I like Philly to win and win big.
Chicago over Buffalo: The way the Bears are playing right now, how can you bet against them? The Bears dominated Seattle last Sunday night and shot themselves to the top of the list as far as NFC dominance. With a stellar defense and a very capable offense, the Bears look like the team to beat in the early going.
San Diego over Pittsburgh: OK, I didn’t learn my lesson. I know I took the Chargers last week and I know it burned me. But San Diego returns home after a bitter loss, and I think they’ll rebound. They play the Steelers, who don’t really have things clicking yet. Big Ben needs to regain his form from a year ago if Pittsburgh has any chance to get back to the Super Bowl.
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
Friday, September 29, 2006
John W. Scherer Video Professor Blog Sept. 29, 2006
Talking About Technology!
Get out and vote!
What a great idea. Our forefathers gave their lives so Americans can have the right to vote. Unfortunately, turnout at the polls is less than desirable in most elections, especially in elections that don’t involve electing a new President. It’s my opinion that our younger generations of people are the ones who don’t take full advantage of this precious right. I’m glad to see that www.MySpace.com is taking measures to help voter turnout. The popular web site has made it easy for people to register to vote directly through the social networking site. Jeff Berman, who is a senior vice president at MySpace, said "Young people in this country are really engaged in what's happening in their community and want to make a difference. The key is to make it easy for them to get engaged. By putting these tools on MySpace and putting it in front of their eyes, you make it far more likely they will use them."
Read More >
Web making college choices easier
One of the biggest decisions a young person and their family will make is choosing the right college. With so many options available for higher education, the task of choosing where to matriculate can be daunting. If you’re a parent and need help, read this article. It has some great tips on how to find the right fit for your college-bound teen. Whether you have questions about location, campus info, curriculum or financial aid information, this may help find some answers.
Read More >
Can you spare a few extra hours?
Is it possible to get some more daylight? Can we slow down how fast the world revolves so we can get all our work done? According to a new study families are cramming 43 hours worth of activity into a 24 hour day. Technology keeps making our lives better, right?
Read More >
Going once, going twice… Sold!
This three-year-old must have used Video Professor’s “Learn How to Buy and Sell on eBay®” tutorial. This young Londoner was able to purchase a pink convertible on the popular auction site before his parents realized what had happened. The mom was surfing around eBay and thought she had logged off. But after just a few clicks, the young buyer was able to purchase a $16,000 car. Fortunately for the family, the owner of the car had a sense of humor and did not make the family finalize the purchase.
Read More >
Picks o’ the week!
I describe last week as “what could have been.” I went 1-2 on the week, but it could have easily been 3-0. That is why today’s NFL is so compelling. You just never know what’s going to happen each week. Denver took care of business on the road at New England. The final was 17-7, but that was a complete domination by the Broncos. They had Tom Brady confused all night. Granted, Brady doesn’t exactly have an arsenal to throw to right now, but Denver’s D needs some credit. As for the other two games I picked: Jacksonville couldn’t get it done, even though they were in control for a good portion of the game. As for the Vikings, they’ll wish they had that game back later in the season. They had every opportunity to pull off the upset and get a leg up in the NFC North, but give Chicago credit for fighting back. Anyway, I’m 6-3 on the season (though I could easily be 8-1). Here are the games I like this week:
Carolina over New Orleans: Wow, what an emotional win for the Saints last Monday night. The crowd at the Superdome was the best it has been in years. Everything seemed to go right for the Saints. They are a much improved team this year, but I think their winning streak comes to an end this week. The Saints will have a hangover from last week, and they play in a very hostile environment, against a Carolina team that is hungry to get even at 2-2.
San Diego over Baltimore: If you like hard-nosed, smash-mouth, defensive football, this is the game for you. Both defenses have played great so far, and what a treat it will be to see two of the league’s best linebackers, San Diego’s Shawne Merriman and Baltimore’s Ray Lewis, playing in this game. It’s going to be a battle, that’s for sure, but I give the edge to the Chargers. Baltimore has a great defense, but their game against the Browns last week proved that their offense still needs a lot of work. San Diego, with LaDainian Tomlinson, should be able to score enough to get the road win.
New England over Cincinnati: I look at this as another “let down game.” Cincinnati is coming of a HUGE win against their most-hated rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers. They have had to deal with some distractions this week, as linebacker O’Dell Thurman was arrested for a DUI and subsequently suspended for the remainder of the season by the NFL. Two other players were in the car at the time, though they were not charged. Combine that with the fact New England should be chapped after last week’s home loss to Denver, and I think the Patriots will pull off the win.
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
Get out and vote!
What a great idea. Our forefathers gave their lives so Americans can have the right to vote. Unfortunately, turnout at the polls is less than desirable in most elections, especially in elections that don’t involve electing a new President. It’s my opinion that our younger generations of people are the ones who don’t take full advantage of this precious right. I’m glad to see that www.MySpace.com is taking measures to help voter turnout. The popular web site has made it easy for people to register to vote directly through the social networking site. Jeff Berman, who is a senior vice president at MySpace, said "Young people in this country are really engaged in what's happening in their community and want to make a difference. The key is to make it easy for them to get engaged. By putting these tools on MySpace and putting it in front of their eyes, you make it far more likely they will use them."
Read More >
Web making college choices easier
One of the biggest decisions a young person and their family will make is choosing the right college. With so many options available for higher education, the task of choosing where to matriculate can be daunting. If you’re a parent and need help, read this article. It has some great tips on how to find the right fit for your college-bound teen. Whether you have questions about location, campus info, curriculum or financial aid information, this may help find some answers.
Read More >
Can you spare a few extra hours?
Is it possible to get some more daylight? Can we slow down how fast the world revolves so we can get all our work done? According to a new study families are cramming 43 hours worth of activity into a 24 hour day. Technology keeps making our lives better, right?
Read More >
Going once, going twice… Sold!
This three-year-old must have used Video Professor’s “Learn How to Buy and Sell on eBay®” tutorial. This young Londoner was able to purchase a pink convertible on the popular auction site before his parents realized what had happened. The mom was surfing around eBay and thought she had logged off. But after just a few clicks, the young buyer was able to purchase a $16,000 car. Fortunately for the family, the owner of the car had a sense of humor and did not make the family finalize the purchase.
Read More >
Picks o’ the week!
I describe last week as “what could have been.” I went 1-2 on the week, but it could have easily been 3-0. That is why today’s NFL is so compelling. You just never know what’s going to happen each week. Denver took care of business on the road at New England. The final was 17-7, but that was a complete domination by the Broncos. They had Tom Brady confused all night. Granted, Brady doesn’t exactly have an arsenal to throw to right now, but Denver’s D needs some credit. As for the other two games I picked: Jacksonville couldn’t get it done, even though they were in control for a good portion of the game. As for the Vikings, they’ll wish they had that game back later in the season. They had every opportunity to pull off the upset and get a leg up in the NFC North, but give Chicago credit for fighting back. Anyway, I’m 6-3 on the season (though I could easily be 8-1). Here are the games I like this week:
Carolina over New Orleans: Wow, what an emotional win for the Saints last Monday night. The crowd at the Superdome was the best it has been in years. Everything seemed to go right for the Saints. They are a much improved team this year, but I think their winning streak comes to an end this week. The Saints will have a hangover from last week, and they play in a very hostile environment, against a Carolina team that is hungry to get even at 2-2.
San Diego over Baltimore: If you like hard-nosed, smash-mouth, defensive football, this is the game for you. Both defenses have played great so far, and what a treat it will be to see two of the league’s best linebackers, San Diego’s Shawne Merriman and Baltimore’s Ray Lewis, playing in this game. It’s going to be a battle, that’s for sure, but I give the edge to the Chargers. Baltimore has a great defense, but their game against the Browns last week proved that their offense still needs a lot of work. San Diego, with LaDainian Tomlinson, should be able to score enough to get the road win.
New England over Cincinnati: I look at this as another “let down game.” Cincinnati is coming of a HUGE win against their most-hated rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers. They have had to deal with some distractions this week, as linebacker O’Dell Thurman was arrested for a DUI and subsequently suspended for the remainder of the season by the NFL. Two other players were in the car at the time, though they were not charged. Combine that with the fact New England should be chapped after last week’s home loss to Denver, and I think the Patriots will pull off the win.
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
Friday, September 22, 2006
John W. Scherer Video Professor Blog Sept. 22, 2006
Technology Today!
ID Theft playgrounds
Do you ever wish it was 1950 again? I know, the grass is always greener, but you have to think it was a much simpler time. I highly doubt that Ward and June had to deal with some of the same things we deal with today. As much as technology helps our lives, it often times makes it more of a hassle. More and more Americans use the Internet to bank, pay bills and manage their retirement accounts. For every person that signs up for these services, it gives hackers more fuel. Identity theft is rampant we all know that. Some studies show that ID theft cost the US economy more than $56 million last year. Read this story. It shows how easy it is for thieves to buy and sell our personal information in chat rooms. Chat rooms for thieves are what convenience stores are for us. You need a social security number and an address? No problem, that’ll be five bucks.
Read More >
Don’t leave anything behind
I am thankful, however, that there is plenty of good in the world. As the number of thieves rise, so does the number of things we can do to protect ourselves. Firefox is testing a new browser that will enable you to surf the Internet and leave little or no trace. As you surf, this new browser will automatically change your IP address, making it more difficult for hackers to find you. Click below to read more about this new browser.
Read More >
Get off your Soapbox
Do you YouTube? I bet you do. With more than 100 million downloads each day, I’m willing to wager that more people YouTube than we think. Well, Microsoft has taken notice and wants to jump on the horse. In the coming weeks, the software giant will begin testing a new site called Soapbox (http://soapbox.msn.com) in an effort to get their piece of the advertising pie. In business, if you can’t beat them, copy them!
Read More >
A significant Internet vote
I really wouldn’t be surprised if someday we begin casting our votes via the Internet. Yes, we have a very long way to go in terms of security, but with the advances we’ve already made in the past five years, the sky is the limit. A recent study shows that more and more Americans are turning to the Internet to gather information about the candidates they will support in the upcoming November election. It stands to reason that someday, we’ll no longer have to bear long lines at the polls to cast our votes.
Read More >
DSL use on the rise
It stands to reason that someday we’ll use the Internet for everything. We already use the Web to shop, gather info and stay in contact with friends and family. What next? High-speed Internet use continues to surge. According to recent findings, worldwide DSL use rose 38 percent in the past 12 months. The 56K modem better watch itself. I think it’s headed to the endangered species list.
Read More >
Be cautious of a new AOL IM worm
As you know, Video Professor teaches people how to use and get the most out of their computers. I feel it is my duty to pass along information I find about potential Internet threats. Here is a warning to all AOL Instant Messenger users. Apparently there is a new Trojan Horse on the loose that is masquerading as a JPEG file. If you open it, it can play havoc on your computer. Read the attached story for more information.
Read More >
Picks o’ the week!
Ok, admittedly my three picks last week weren’t exactly shockers. Cincinnati was heavily favored, and they took care of business at home. Washington, with Mark Brunell as QB, isn’t off to the best start, and it’s no surprise that Dallas handled them. The only game I picked that could have been a stretch was taking Jacksonville over the defending Super Bowl Champion Steelers. But, after further review, Pittsburgh didn’t have much of a shot. Jacksonville is very, very tough at home, and nobody knew how Big Ben would play in his first game back. But, at the end of the day, I’m 5-1 on the season and confident heading into Week 3. And, just in case you think I made some easy picks last week, here are three games that go against the grain. Here are my picks.
Jacksonville over Indianapolis: The Jaguars treated me last week so I’m going to continue on this bandwagon. Jax has a potent defense and I think they can go in to the RCA Dome and come away with an upset. If any team can stifle Peyton and company, it’s the Jags.
Denver over New England: There will be a lot of people who will think I’m crazy for making this pick. Denver on the road vs. an undefeated team? Plus with Jake Plummer playing the way he’s playing, Denver should lose by two touchdowns. Right? That’s exactly why I think they’ll win. Coach Shanahan will have a great game plan, and Jake will surprise a lot of doubters.
Minnesota over Chicago: For a team that many experts wrote off well before training camp began, the Vikings are playing well. They are at home Sunday and play a very confident Bears team. Rex Grossman has the Bears playing well, but I think that comes to an end Sunday. Minnesota will win, improving to 3-0 on the year, and all the “experts” will have to eat crow.
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
ID Theft playgrounds
Do you ever wish it was 1950 again? I know, the grass is always greener, but you have to think it was a much simpler time. I highly doubt that Ward and June had to deal with some of the same things we deal with today. As much as technology helps our lives, it often times makes it more of a hassle. More and more Americans use the Internet to bank, pay bills and manage their retirement accounts. For every person that signs up for these services, it gives hackers more fuel. Identity theft is rampant we all know that. Some studies show that ID theft cost the US economy more than $56 million last year. Read this story. It shows how easy it is for thieves to buy and sell our personal information in chat rooms. Chat rooms for thieves are what convenience stores are for us. You need a social security number and an address? No problem, that’ll be five bucks.
Read More >
Don’t leave anything behind
I am thankful, however, that there is plenty of good in the world. As the number of thieves rise, so does the number of things we can do to protect ourselves. Firefox is testing a new browser that will enable you to surf the Internet and leave little or no trace. As you surf, this new browser will automatically change your IP address, making it more difficult for hackers to find you. Click below to read more about this new browser.
Read More >
Get off your Soapbox
Do you YouTube? I bet you do. With more than 100 million downloads each day, I’m willing to wager that more people YouTube than we think. Well, Microsoft has taken notice and wants to jump on the horse. In the coming weeks, the software giant will begin testing a new site called Soapbox (http://soapbox.msn.com) in an effort to get their piece of the advertising pie. In business, if you can’t beat them, copy them!
Read More >
A significant Internet vote
I really wouldn’t be surprised if someday we begin casting our votes via the Internet. Yes, we have a very long way to go in terms of security, but with the advances we’ve already made in the past five years, the sky is the limit. A recent study shows that more and more Americans are turning to the Internet to gather information about the candidates they will support in the upcoming November election. It stands to reason that someday, we’ll no longer have to bear long lines at the polls to cast our votes.
Read More >
DSL use on the rise
It stands to reason that someday we’ll use the Internet for everything. We already use the Web to shop, gather info and stay in contact with friends and family. What next? High-speed Internet use continues to surge. According to recent findings, worldwide DSL use rose 38 percent in the past 12 months. The 56K modem better watch itself. I think it’s headed to the endangered species list.
Read More >
Be cautious of a new AOL IM worm
As you know, Video Professor teaches people how to use and get the most out of their computers. I feel it is my duty to pass along information I find about potential Internet threats. Here is a warning to all AOL Instant Messenger users. Apparently there is a new Trojan Horse on the loose that is masquerading as a JPEG file. If you open it, it can play havoc on your computer. Read the attached story for more information.
Read More >
Picks o’ the week!
Ok, admittedly my three picks last week weren’t exactly shockers. Cincinnati was heavily favored, and they took care of business at home. Washington, with Mark Brunell as QB, isn’t off to the best start, and it’s no surprise that Dallas handled them. The only game I picked that could have been a stretch was taking Jacksonville over the defending Super Bowl Champion Steelers. But, after further review, Pittsburgh didn’t have much of a shot. Jacksonville is very, very tough at home, and nobody knew how Big Ben would play in his first game back. But, at the end of the day, I’m 5-1 on the season and confident heading into Week 3. And, just in case you think I made some easy picks last week, here are three games that go against the grain. Here are my picks.
Jacksonville over Indianapolis: The Jaguars treated me last week so I’m going to continue on this bandwagon. Jax has a potent defense and I think they can go in to the RCA Dome and come away with an upset. If any team can stifle Peyton and company, it’s the Jags.
Denver over New England: There will be a lot of people who will think I’m crazy for making this pick. Denver on the road vs. an undefeated team? Plus with Jake Plummer playing the way he’s playing, Denver should lose by two touchdowns. Right? That’s exactly why I think they’ll win. Coach Shanahan will have a great game plan, and Jake will surprise a lot of doubters.
Minnesota over Chicago: For a team that many experts wrote off well before training camp began, the Vikings are playing well. They are at home Sunday and play a very confident Bears team. Rex Grossman has the Bears playing well, but I think that comes to an end Sunday. Minnesota will win, improving to 3-0 on the year, and all the “experts” will have to eat crow.
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
Friday, September 15, 2006
John W. Scherer Video Professor Blog Sept. 15, 2006
Tech, tech and more tech!!
Identity theft is no laughing matter
You can trust me when I say that ID theft is a problem. Last year, I was a victim of someone who stole a significant amount of money from me. There are many things you can do to protect yourself. Here is a helpful article that breaks down what ID theft is and how you can protect yourself. If you have more questions, Video Professor offers a tutorial on identity theft protection and recovery, and has many helpful resources on our web site, www.videoprofessor.com.
Read More >
Feel safe when you search the Net
One of the ways people can find out who you are, the first step toward them stealing your ID, is gathering the personal information you leave on search engines. Every time you Google something, you potentially leave behind little traces of who you are. There are things you can do to help eliminate traces of yourself on the Web. An advocacy group that helps raise awareness for net crimes released some tips on how to keep you safe when searching.
Read More >
Big Brother is watching himself
We all complain that the government spends way too much money and often times, what irritates us is how the money is spent. Well if you’ve ever wanted to keep tabs on how your tax dollars are being spent, the Government is now making it a little easier. By early 2008, a database will be open to the public that details how much Uncle Sam spends on projects, grants and other things. They’ve watched us for years, now we get to turn the tables.
Read More >
Is Apple finally getting in to our living rooms?
For years, computer companies have been trying to bridge the gap between our PCs and our TVs. Someday very soon these two pieces of equipment will merge. Multitasking is not just for busy people, but it is also for busy pieces of consumer electronic devices. Our cell phones, MP3 players, cameras and our home PCs will also be our TV receivers. Don’t you want to be able to surf the Web while watching CSI?
Read More >
Off topic:
Stab your friend in the back (or leg)
What happened to friendly competition? Teammates compete against each other for jobs on the gridiron, but at the end of the day, they’re supposed to support one another. Apparently the back-up punter at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley didn’t think so. Because he must have really wanted to be the No. 1 punter on the squad, he needed to take matters to the parking lot. Allegedly, Mitch Cozad attacked incumbent punter Rafael Mendoza in the parking lot and stabbed him in the kicking leg. Subsequently, Cozad has been suspended from the football team and kicked out of the dorms until the investigation is complete.
Read More >
Picks o’ the week!
Well, I nearly pulled off the perfect weekend by picking three road teams. What happened to the Broncos? It is one thing to lose on the road, but to play as badly as they did, that was ridiculous. Jake “The Snake” Plummer did nothing to keep the finicky fans in Denver happy. He was responsible for four of Denver’s five turnovers, throwing three interceptions and fumbling once. It was not exactly a good start, especially after his performance in the AFC Championship game last year. There is a contingency of fans that are already clamoring for the rookie, Jay Cutler, to take over the reigns. With a few more performances like last week, maybe Coach Shanahan will pull the trigger. Any way, I’ll take a 2-1 record after Week 1. Here are the teams I like this week:
Cincinnati over Cleveland: After picking up an impressive win against the Chiefs in one of the league’s toughest stadiums, Arrowhead, the Bengals play their home opener against the Browns. Despite apparent improvement from the Browns, after a decent Week 1, the Bengals will just be too tough, especially at home.
Dallas over Washington: I know both teams have been down in recent years, but this is still one of the NFL’s best rivalries. The season series opens in The Big D this week and I look for the Cowboys to win. Both teams are coming off Week 1 losses, so motivation won’t be a problem. I think the boys, with T.O., will impress their home crowd.
Jacksonville over Pittsburgh: The defending Super Bowl champions, though they picked up a win to open the season, are faced with a tough, tough road trip this week. The status of Ben Roethlisberger is still in question. He says he’s ready to play, but Bill Cowher may have a different opinion.
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
Identity theft is no laughing matter
You can trust me when I say that ID theft is a problem. Last year, I was a victim of someone who stole a significant amount of money from me. There are many things you can do to protect yourself. Here is a helpful article that breaks down what ID theft is and how you can protect yourself. If you have more questions, Video Professor offers a tutorial on identity theft protection and recovery, and has many helpful resources on our web site, www.videoprofessor.com.
Read More >
Feel safe when you search the Net
One of the ways people can find out who you are, the first step toward them stealing your ID, is gathering the personal information you leave on search engines. Every time you Google something, you potentially leave behind little traces of who you are. There are things you can do to help eliminate traces of yourself on the Web. An advocacy group that helps raise awareness for net crimes released some tips on how to keep you safe when searching.
Read More >
Big Brother is watching himself
We all complain that the government spends way too much money and often times, what irritates us is how the money is spent. Well if you’ve ever wanted to keep tabs on how your tax dollars are being spent, the Government is now making it a little easier. By early 2008, a database will be open to the public that details how much Uncle Sam spends on projects, grants and other things. They’ve watched us for years, now we get to turn the tables.
Read More >
Is Apple finally getting in to our living rooms?
For years, computer companies have been trying to bridge the gap between our PCs and our TVs. Someday very soon these two pieces of equipment will merge. Multitasking is not just for busy people, but it is also for busy pieces of consumer electronic devices. Our cell phones, MP3 players, cameras and our home PCs will also be our TV receivers. Don’t you want to be able to surf the Web while watching CSI?
Read More >
Off topic:
Stab your friend in the back (or leg)
What happened to friendly competition? Teammates compete against each other for jobs on the gridiron, but at the end of the day, they’re supposed to support one another. Apparently the back-up punter at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley didn’t think so. Because he must have really wanted to be the No. 1 punter on the squad, he needed to take matters to the parking lot. Allegedly, Mitch Cozad attacked incumbent punter Rafael Mendoza in the parking lot and stabbed him in the kicking leg. Subsequently, Cozad has been suspended from the football team and kicked out of the dorms until the investigation is complete.
Read More >
Picks o’ the week!
Well, I nearly pulled off the perfect weekend by picking three road teams. What happened to the Broncos? It is one thing to lose on the road, but to play as badly as they did, that was ridiculous. Jake “The Snake” Plummer did nothing to keep the finicky fans in Denver happy. He was responsible for four of Denver’s five turnovers, throwing three interceptions and fumbling once. It was not exactly a good start, especially after his performance in the AFC Championship game last year. There is a contingency of fans that are already clamoring for the rookie, Jay Cutler, to take over the reigns. With a few more performances like last week, maybe Coach Shanahan will pull the trigger. Any way, I’ll take a 2-1 record after Week 1. Here are the teams I like this week:
Cincinnati over Cleveland: After picking up an impressive win against the Chiefs in one of the league’s toughest stadiums, Arrowhead, the Bengals play their home opener against the Browns. Despite apparent improvement from the Browns, after a decent Week 1, the Bengals will just be too tough, especially at home.
Dallas over Washington: I know both teams have been down in recent years, but this is still one of the NFL’s best rivalries. The season series opens in The Big D this week and I look for the Cowboys to win. Both teams are coming off Week 1 losses, so motivation won’t be a problem. I think the boys, with T.O., will impress their home crowd.
Jacksonville over Pittsburgh: The defending Super Bowl champions, though they picked up a win to open the season, are faced with a tough, tough road trip this week. The status of Ben Roethlisberger is still in question. He says he’s ready to play, but Bill Cowher may have a different opinion.
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
Friday, September 08, 2006
John W. Scherer Video Professor Blog Sept. 8, 2006
Talking Tech!!
Less talking, more driving!
We are all guilty of driving poorly from time to time. Some of us are guilty of this all the time. We all get distracted, but on the highways, it seems that we are too easily distracted. Nobody these days pay attention to the road. But can you blame us? There is too much going on. We have to fiddle with our iPods, text message a buddy, conduct a conference call on our cell phone and, oh by the way, DRIVE! Apparently the legislators in California are implementing some stricter laws regarding cell phone use in cars. The only way we are truly going to put an end to it is to ban all cell phones in cars. Is this possible? Probably not, but it can’t hurt.
Read More >
Microsoft sets Vista prices
We can see the Vista! Well, that’s if Microsoft doesn’t delay it again. Targeted for sometime early next year, Microsoft will release its new operating system, Vista. This week, pricing for the new operating system was leaked, though Microsoft would not confirm. To get a full version, you'll need to pony up $399 and $259 for an upgrade. If you want to upgrade your home version, it'll be about $100. Once you upgrade, make sure you visit http://www.videoprofessor.com/ if you have any questions or need help.
Read More >
Get your hard drive squeaky clean
Everyday it gets tougher and tougher to protect the private information we store on our home computers. Without the proper protection, hackers can invade your system and steal all your sensitive information. Even with the right protection, however, what do we do when the time comes to get a new computer? Check out this article for some tips on sanitizing your hard drive.
Read More >
Phishy, Phishy
If you’re worried that Microsoft’s Internet Explorer isn’t as safe as it could be, well, they are making some improvements. The software giant announced this week that more advanced anti-phishing technology is going to be included in IE 6 and IE 7. Working with Digital Resolve, Microsoft’s IE browser will do a much better job of detecting phishing and scam sites, keeping you much safer while surfing.
Read More >
Schools struggle with gadgets
Now that school is back in session, teachers and administrators will have it a little harder. In the past, it was tough to keep a kid’s attention anyway, but now, adding the latest gadgets to the mix, and keeping them straight is a full-time job. I hope teachers are doing more to limit cheating. What’s stopping a kid from text messaging a pal during a test to get all the answers? Or, what’s stopping a kid from storing answers and notes on their PDA? I hope that schools are making kids turn their gadgets off when they step foot into the classroom. Let them use their phones on their own time.
Read More >
Off topic:
It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
Ok, that may be a little bit of a stretch, but the football season is here. The NFL officially kicks off this weekend and college football is in full swing. I love this time of year. Fall is just around the corner and the pigskins are flying. If you look up a few of the great match ups this weekend, how can you not love this time of year? On the college side, the two biggies are Penn State taking on Notre Dame and Ohio State traveling to Austin to face the Longhorns. We couldn’t have scripted a better week 2 game than No. 1 vs. No. 2. In addition, in Denver we all get entertained by the Rocky Mountain Showdown, pitting Colorado against in-state rival Colorado State. Now, before you bog me down with a ton of e-mails saying both teams aren’t worth the grass they play on, for the state of Colorado, it’s a great rivalry game. Plus, it’s being played at Invesco Field at Mile High, allowing 75,000+ rowdy fans to enjoy the game. I know, CU is coming off of a humiliating loss to Division I-AA Montana State, and CSU hasn’t seen the Top 25 in quite sometime. But when these teams hook up, it’s always an exciting game. Heck, in each of the last two years, CU has won on virtually the last play of each game.
Did I mention that the NFL is starting this week? I figured some of you might not have heard. Ok, I know that’s impossible, the way the NFL marketing machine works. There are some pretty intriguing NFL match ups this week. Cincinnati travels to KC, where Arrowhead is always one of the toughest stadiums in the league to play. We’ll see how Bengals QB Carson Palmer can do coming off that knee injury in the playoffs last year. Dallas plays at Jacksonville, which is normally a dog of a game, but we all get to see that circus named T.O. make his Cowboys debut. Finally, what I think will be a great game is Manning vs. Manning. The Colts and older brother Peyton travel to New York to battle baby brother Eli’s Giants. Denver is at St. Louis, by the way. The Broncos should really not have a problem with the Rams and first-year head coach Scott Linehan, but that’s what we all said about Denver last year when they lost to Miami with first-year head coach Nick Saban.
Picks o’ the week!
Because it’s football season, I’m changing the usual “Site o’ the week” post to “Picks o’ the week.” WARING: If you are using my vast football knowledge (wink, wink) to make picks in your office pool, you’ve come to the wrong place. If anything, do the opposite! Each week I’ll pick three NFL winners and will keep a season-long tally. Here are the teams I like this week.
Denver over St. Louis
Seattle over Detroit
Indianapolis over N.Y. Giants
(Oops, did I just pick three road teams?)
Have a good week!
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
Less talking, more driving!
We are all guilty of driving poorly from time to time. Some of us are guilty of this all the time. We all get distracted, but on the highways, it seems that we are too easily distracted. Nobody these days pay attention to the road. But can you blame us? There is too much going on. We have to fiddle with our iPods, text message a buddy, conduct a conference call on our cell phone and, oh by the way, DRIVE! Apparently the legislators in California are implementing some stricter laws regarding cell phone use in cars. The only way we are truly going to put an end to it is to ban all cell phones in cars. Is this possible? Probably not, but it can’t hurt.
Read More >
Microsoft sets Vista prices
We can see the Vista! Well, that’s if Microsoft doesn’t delay it again. Targeted for sometime early next year, Microsoft will release its new operating system, Vista. This week, pricing for the new operating system was leaked, though Microsoft would not confirm. To get a full version, you'll need to pony up $399 and $259 for an upgrade. If you want to upgrade your home version, it'll be about $100. Once you upgrade, make sure you visit http://www.videoprofessor.com/ if you have any questions or need help.
Read More >
Get your hard drive squeaky clean
Everyday it gets tougher and tougher to protect the private information we store on our home computers. Without the proper protection, hackers can invade your system and steal all your sensitive information. Even with the right protection, however, what do we do when the time comes to get a new computer? Check out this article for some tips on sanitizing your hard drive.
Read More >
Phishy, Phishy
If you’re worried that Microsoft’s Internet Explorer isn’t as safe as it could be, well, they are making some improvements. The software giant announced this week that more advanced anti-phishing technology is going to be included in IE 6 and IE 7. Working with Digital Resolve, Microsoft’s IE browser will do a much better job of detecting phishing and scam sites, keeping you much safer while surfing.
Read More >
Schools struggle with gadgets
Now that school is back in session, teachers and administrators will have it a little harder. In the past, it was tough to keep a kid’s attention anyway, but now, adding the latest gadgets to the mix, and keeping them straight is a full-time job. I hope teachers are doing more to limit cheating. What’s stopping a kid from text messaging a pal during a test to get all the answers? Or, what’s stopping a kid from storing answers and notes on their PDA? I hope that schools are making kids turn their gadgets off when they step foot into the classroom. Let them use their phones on their own time.
Read More >
Off topic:
It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
Ok, that may be a little bit of a stretch, but the football season is here. The NFL officially kicks off this weekend and college football is in full swing. I love this time of year. Fall is just around the corner and the pigskins are flying. If you look up a few of the great match ups this weekend, how can you not love this time of year? On the college side, the two biggies are Penn State taking on Notre Dame and Ohio State traveling to Austin to face the Longhorns. We couldn’t have scripted a better week 2 game than No. 1 vs. No. 2. In addition, in Denver we all get entertained by the Rocky Mountain Showdown, pitting Colorado against in-state rival Colorado State. Now, before you bog me down with a ton of e-mails saying both teams aren’t worth the grass they play on, for the state of Colorado, it’s a great rivalry game. Plus, it’s being played at Invesco Field at Mile High, allowing 75,000+ rowdy fans to enjoy the game. I know, CU is coming off of a humiliating loss to Division I-AA Montana State, and CSU hasn’t seen the Top 25 in quite sometime. But when these teams hook up, it’s always an exciting game. Heck, in each of the last two years, CU has won on virtually the last play of each game.
Did I mention that the NFL is starting this week? I figured some of you might not have heard. Ok, I know that’s impossible, the way the NFL marketing machine works. There are some pretty intriguing NFL match ups this week. Cincinnati travels to KC, where Arrowhead is always one of the toughest stadiums in the league to play. We’ll see how Bengals QB Carson Palmer can do coming off that knee injury in the playoffs last year. Dallas plays at Jacksonville, which is normally a dog of a game, but we all get to see that circus named T.O. make his Cowboys debut. Finally, what I think will be a great game is Manning vs. Manning. The Colts and older brother Peyton travel to New York to battle baby brother Eli’s Giants. Denver is at St. Louis, by the way. The Broncos should really not have a problem with the Rams and first-year head coach Scott Linehan, but that’s what we all said about Denver last year when they lost to Miami with first-year head coach Nick Saban.
Picks o’ the week!
Because it’s football season, I’m changing the usual “Site o’ the week” post to “Picks o’ the week.” WARING: If you are using my vast football knowledge (wink, wink) to make picks in your office pool, you’ve come to the wrong place. If anything, do the opposite! Each week I’ll pick three NFL winners and will keep a season-long tally. Here are the teams I like this week.
Denver over St. Louis
Seattle over Detroit
Indianapolis over N.Y. Giants
(Oops, did I just pick three road teams?)
Have a good week!
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
Friday, August 18, 2006
John W. Scherer Video Professor Blog Aug. 18, 2006
Let’s talk tech!!
The Great Wall!
What is the world coming too? Not a week goes by that I’m not warning you about something lurking in cyberspace. Through our computer tutorials, Video Professor has taught you about identity theft, spyware, viruses and all of the dangers lurking. Protection software is not enough. You also need a reliable firewall. A firewall is software that builds a barrier around your computer, keeping malcontents out. In addition to the Video Professor Internet safety tutorial, here is another resource that will help. Make sure you do some research and find the firewall that is best for you.
Read More >
Stop “Googling”…
Or at least stop using it as a verb. To Google, or not to Google, that is the question. Apparently the brand police at Google will begin cracking down on misuse of their name. They are a little peeved that the term Google has infiltrated our vernacular. That’s the problem with success. I wonder what the Q-tip, Xerox and Rollerblade people think about this.
Read More >
Kick the TV to the curb
When it comes to a free hour, you would think that a lot of people would prefer to sit in front of the TV and “veg.” Well, technology has changed that apparently. According to a survey conducted by RealNetworks, 31 percent of people over 18 would rather sit down to play a casual game online than watch the tube. They also discovered that 49 percent of folks would rather partake in online gaming than go to the movies. Now that’s one I can understand. With the lack of blockbusters Hollywood has produced lately, I’d rather save my 15 bucks, or whatever it costs these days, and spend my time doing something else.
Read More >
Don’t just casual game, build your own
Video games are taking over society. Not since the days of Pong, has so much attention been paid to the gaming industry. So many different games are available to us nowadays. I guess it’s not just for kids anymore. Microsoft wants us to take it to the next level. They will soon launch software that enables people to create their own games for the Xbox console. Who wouldn’t want to build themselves into a game? The biggest question though will be: Do we make ourselves the heroes or villains?
Read More >
You’re being watched
We all used to think it was “the man,” or the government who was watching us. I’m willing to bet that marketers are bigger perpetrators. If you’re using various search engines, you are leaving behind data that helps marketers identify your likes and dislikes. Don’t worry, it’s not personal information like your name or address, but info on your shopping habits and surfing preferences. According to Jeff Marshall, senior vice president of Starcom IP, “Search behavior is the closest thing we have to a window into people’s intent. When people are gathering information to make a choice that means they are often going to spend money.”
Read More >
Off topic:
Relevant Information: Who needs it?
Is it more important to be able to correctly identify a few of the seven dwarfs or to know who makes up the Supreme Court? I think it’s pretty scary that more people can name two dwarfs than can name two Supreme Court justices. That’s a pretty grim view of American society. If we want to maintain our edge as the world’s superpower, we all better pay attention, get smarter and take back control. I’m not saying that there aren’t a ton of very smart and talented people in this country; I just think that there are more important things to have knowledge about than who is Homer Simpson’s son.
Read More >
A note to NFL babies: Shut up and play!
I’m a little sick of T.O.’s attitude. No, I’m a lot of sick of T.O.’s attitude. In fact, I’m getting sick of a lot of players’ attitudes around “the League” this year. It’s high time that you babies grow up and starting acting like men. Quit your whining, quit fighting with coaches and do what you’re paid to do. Play the game and play the game like it should be played. You get paid to play. Your coach gets paid to put you in the position to win the game. Listen to them and it’ll make your lives easier.
Read More >
Site o’ the week
Have you ever had to send a file that was just too big for your e-mail server? If you need to go large, go to yousendit.com. On that site you can e-mail files up to 100 MB for free, and as an added bonus, they’ll scan it for viruses too.
http://www.yousendit.com/
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
The Great Wall!
What is the world coming too? Not a week goes by that I’m not warning you about something lurking in cyberspace. Through our computer tutorials, Video Professor has taught you about identity theft, spyware, viruses and all of the dangers lurking. Protection software is not enough. You also need a reliable firewall. A firewall is software that builds a barrier around your computer, keeping malcontents out. In addition to the Video Professor Internet safety tutorial, here is another resource that will help. Make sure you do some research and find the firewall that is best for you.
Read More >
Stop “Googling”…
Or at least stop using it as a verb. To Google, or not to Google, that is the question. Apparently the brand police at Google will begin cracking down on misuse of their name. They are a little peeved that the term Google has infiltrated our vernacular. That’s the problem with success. I wonder what the Q-tip, Xerox and Rollerblade people think about this.
Read More >
Kick the TV to the curb
When it comes to a free hour, you would think that a lot of people would prefer to sit in front of the TV and “veg.” Well, technology has changed that apparently. According to a survey conducted by RealNetworks, 31 percent of people over 18 would rather sit down to play a casual game online than watch the tube. They also discovered that 49 percent of folks would rather partake in online gaming than go to the movies. Now that’s one I can understand. With the lack of blockbusters Hollywood has produced lately, I’d rather save my 15 bucks, or whatever it costs these days, and spend my time doing something else.
Read More >
Don’t just casual game, build your own
Video games are taking over society. Not since the days of Pong, has so much attention been paid to the gaming industry. So many different games are available to us nowadays. I guess it’s not just for kids anymore. Microsoft wants us to take it to the next level. They will soon launch software that enables people to create their own games for the Xbox console. Who wouldn’t want to build themselves into a game? The biggest question though will be: Do we make ourselves the heroes or villains?
Read More >
You’re being watched
We all used to think it was “the man,” or the government who was watching us. I’m willing to bet that marketers are bigger perpetrators. If you’re using various search engines, you are leaving behind data that helps marketers identify your likes and dislikes. Don’t worry, it’s not personal information like your name or address, but info on your shopping habits and surfing preferences. According to Jeff Marshall, senior vice president of Starcom IP, “Search behavior is the closest thing we have to a window into people’s intent. When people are gathering information to make a choice that means they are often going to spend money.”
Read More >
Off topic:
Relevant Information: Who needs it?
Is it more important to be able to correctly identify a few of the seven dwarfs or to know who makes up the Supreme Court? I think it’s pretty scary that more people can name two dwarfs than can name two Supreme Court justices. That’s a pretty grim view of American society. If we want to maintain our edge as the world’s superpower, we all better pay attention, get smarter and take back control. I’m not saying that there aren’t a ton of very smart and talented people in this country; I just think that there are more important things to have knowledge about than who is Homer Simpson’s son.
Read More >
A note to NFL babies: Shut up and play!
I’m a little sick of T.O.’s attitude. No, I’m a lot of sick of T.O.’s attitude. In fact, I’m getting sick of a lot of players’ attitudes around “the League” this year. It’s high time that you babies grow up and starting acting like men. Quit your whining, quit fighting with coaches and do what you’re paid to do. Play the game and play the game like it should be played. You get paid to play. Your coach gets paid to put you in the position to win the game. Listen to them and it’ll make your lives easier.
Read More >
Site o’ the week
Have you ever had to send a file that was just too big for your e-mail server? If you need to go large, go to yousendit.com. On that site you can e-mail files up to 100 MB for free, and as an added bonus, they’ll scan it for viruses too.
http://www.yousendit.com/
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
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