Blogcritics Author: Jamison Braly

How to Avoid Becoming a Victim of Identity Theft: Interview with Jeremy Duffy

Jamison Braly — Sun, 8 Jun 2008 20:48:25 EDT

If the CEO of LifeLock can't prevent his ID from being stolen, who of us can avoid becoming a victim?
With the recent news about the CEO of LifeLock having his identity stolen, I looked around the web searching for ways we could prevent ourselves from becoming a victim without having to pay monthly or annual fees. Luckily, most of what companies like LifeLock and Free Credit Report do can be done by you and me for free.In my search, I ran across...

My Adulterous Affair With Craigslist (Don't Tell eBay...)

Jamison Braly — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:52:35 EDT

Craigslist versus eBay! Who will win in this no-holds-barred cage match of the ages?
If you have read any of my previous writings about my thoughts on eBay you know that I refer to it as the Internet’s Wal-Mart and a business that has come a long way from its origin.eBay used to be a place you could sell used items around your house for a profit. Lately, however, eBay has pandered to the “career eBay-ers” to the...

Interview with Joshua Sipper, author of Runaway Swimmer

Jamison Braly — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 22:22:18 EDT

Writing your first book doesn't guarantee you will get published, but knowing the right steps ahead of time can help.
Joshua Sipper grew up in a small town called Luverne, Alabama where his rich family history and Native American heritage inspired him to write his first full length novel, Runaway Swimmer.Though Joshua's novel has not yet been picked up for publishing, he did go through all the necessary steps to get a book published, something few of us can...

EBay, The Internet's Wal-Mart

Jamison Braly — Wed, 9 Apr 2008 18:36:15 EDT

Once a site flowing with milk and honey, eBay turns into the dumping ground for poor service and high prices.
July 13th 2000. My first eBay purchase. I remember I had decided to build my first computer around 8 years ago. I had just gotten married a few months before, had no kids, and could remember my 21st birthday as though it were the year before… because it was. Wow… I feel old.The item was a CD-R drive; black to match the black computer...

Wii Would Like To Complain

Jamison Braly — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 01:51:55 EDT

While Wiis are great, I still have complaints. What were Wii developers thinking when they designed the Wii?
First, let me preface by saying that I am a huge Wii fan. It is the first console I have owned in over 10 years. In my gaming career I have owned an Atari 2600, the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Super NES, and the Nintendo 64. Every console that came out thereafter had controllers with about 523 buttons on them (more added with each...

Microsoft and Bill Gates Play Catch Up

Jamison Braly — Wed, 5 Mar 2008 06:09:29 EST

Microsoft makes a huge announcement: they will begin being just like Google in the coming years, only pricier.
Well, Microsoft has done it again. Playing the classic “My software can beat up your software” game.In this virtual playground, where Google is the handsome, young football player who goes to church and makes straight A’s, Microsoft sits on a bench feeding pigeons with a furrowed brow saying “I can do that too” each...

Interview with a Scam Baiter

Jamison Braly — Sat, 1 Mar 2008 19:06:29 EST

Know how to spot an e-mail scam and what to do if you get one.
No doubt, you have gotten at one time an e-mail claiming to be from a prince in Nigeria or some far-of country, stating that his father has died and left him a large sum of money and that this prince wants to share his wealth with you, a complete stranger...This is merely a example of thousands of variations of an e-mail scam. Scams that people...

What Can You Do To Stop Spam?

Jamison Braly — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 23:09:26 EST

We all get spam email on a daily basis, but is there actually anything we can do to prevent it, or at least reduce it?
Many people I work with complain to me about junk e-mail (spam). Many times, the best answer I can give them is, "Welcome to the Internet!" In many cases you literally can do nothing. However, there are things you can do to perhaps prevent yourself from getting more in the future. The most important thing to remember when it comes to reacting to...

Is Your Wireless Network Secure Enough?

Jamison Braly — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 21:52:23 EST

Most folks who have a wireless network in their home have not secured it. Here's how.
I received a question recently from a parent (and proud grandparent) regarding wireless security.Q: I have two computers at home, one a PC connected to my router by a cable and the other a laptop that is connected wirelessly to the router. In setting up the router I did have to put in something called an encryption key as part of the set-up...