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.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
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.
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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.
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