Seems that these days if my 86 year old father in law can surf the web, anyone should be able to pick up on it easily, right?

Wrong-o Wrong-OH! Maybe it's Muncie Indiana but I can't think of so many people in a college town like this where 100% of literally every single  factory is shut down--and still don't have knowledge about a computer can help them make money. Anybody you know who can't afford a computer or internet service? Tell them "the library is free!"

(Oh, the factory thing...gotta thank greedy business getting all those tax cuts for padding their own pockets while the people who helped create the wealth are sucking on bone marrow, and that these days is in short supply due to more and more bankruptcies -- If email forwarding made folks money we'd all be voting in favor of big business tax cuts and celebrating the $700 billion dollar bailout on yachts in Tahiti.

But hey! Maybe we can all work at Walmart and live in their  parking lot! Hmmm...Walmart Tent City! No health or wage or union benefits, but all the free samples you can eat ....ge whiz and hot diggity!

You know the funny part, with running an internet franchise and all to help get myself in that $250,000 bracket in a few years, we can't lose. Some of us share our money. Others hoard it. It's more blessed to give than to receive. But that's not just on the money end. . . . it's also blessed to give knowledge because ignorance is a really ugly witch.

So for people who don't know beans about the internet--much less how to make money online--I figured there's nothing wrong with teaching by example. Everything is moving to the internet. I can sit at my computer and not worry about a dress code. I can have bad breath and transact communications and my computer doesn't care. I can look at prices and compare them without owning a car. If I choose to chat online I don't have to worry about how my hair looks. 

So for those who have no idea how to browse online, here's a bit of advice for those who think the computer is something one only uses at work or something to play with.

(This is for those who are a bit internet-shy--which should be no one here on authorsden but hey, there's always a newbie somewhere in cyberspace.)

When first logging onto the internet, focus your eyes on the very tip-top of the computer screen. You should see a long horizon blank line that may have “http://www.(something) in it.

Psst. . . that's the browser window! You pass the hardest part of the "I don't know how to use the internet" test. But there's MORE!

Click your cursor in that window at the end of whatever address is there. Example: If you are a Comcast customer like we are, at the tip-top of your screen you’ll see the following:

If this spot was the tip-top of your computer screen, below you’d see this below:

File    Edit   View  History  Bookmark  Tools   Help

                                                     [RIGHT HERE IS YOUR BROWSER WINDOW]

What is the purpose of the Browser Window?
Your computer’s “browser window” is a tool used to view websites on the internet. It looks like a long narrow space preceded by the letters “http” or “https” and serves as a "window" to the world wide web. (otherwise known as the internet).  It is where you type web addresses such as www.whatever.com, or www.whatever.info. or www.whatever.org or www.whatever.info etc etc.

The easiest way to find it is to look for a little “house” icon that is usually to the left of the browser window. The red "X" in the top right of the browser will close the "window".

Happy surfing, and don't type in words like "pantyhose" when the young kids are in the room unless you want to see a big hairy dude in fishnets. There's a little thing out there called "password control." So check with your internet service provider on how to protect your kids from unsavory content.

It's YOUR house, and it's YOUR computer. It's also called "responsible parenthood." --that bit of advice was free. We can't fear what we are not afraid of...so parents, let's learn these things.

blessin's, to y'all,

cynth'ya

P.S. For those who are afraid that something might go "boom" and blow up online, here's an exercise that's nice on the eyeballs as well as the wallet.

Type www.TheRandLGroup.com  or just be lazy and click the link so it puts itself in the browser window.  Can't mess this up if you tried to practice browsing. . . .

Now dial this number: 212-461-2620 available 24/7. Lots of good browsing practice and a bit of education in business as well (FYI only). It's a great practice tool for people who want to learn how to point, shut down a window and click because our friend Phyllis does it very well in audio format. And our breath doesn't even need to be fresh when on the website! (smile).

Enjoy the practice time.

   © 2008 cynth'ya lewis reed
all rights reserv’d