HerringLaw: Civil Rights & Discrimination Law in Iowa

and yet another backing up alternative!

Crash Plan

Seems like a really easy and useful idea, particularly for those things you keep forgetting to plug in and backup [such as laptops and the like].

Again:  it's not a Q of when your data will go 'poof' - it's when.

[GREAT discussion of pros and cons of online backup, in a movie format: Movie about online CrashPlan]

No More Excuses: Backing Up!

As I said, your drives/computers/data WILL crash or otherwise be destroyed.  Plus, what if you're in Seattle but you need or want something back home and didn't think to bring your computer with you?

Free or Low-Cost Online Storage Solutions!

Online Storage is not the answer to backing up and does not replace a backup strategy, but it can prove very useful and save your skin:  wildfires, tornados, floods, theft....poof, it's gone.

Get some online storage [limited space can be free and more expansive use can still be relatively inexpensive].  Upload what you want there and at least that data is (1) saved from destruction at home and (2) usually accessible wherever you are.

If you Google "comparison online storage" you get loads of links, but here are some initial helpful ones:

http://lifehacker.com/5064688/online-storage-feature+by+feature-comparison-chart 

http://www.consumersearch.com/online-backup-services 

http://tomuse.com/online-storage-backup-software.html

I have MobileMe [dotMac etc.] and use JungleDisk, know Mozy gives you 2G free, AmazonS3 is really good too = there are loads of choices and no excuse now for losing important data.

Apple's TimeMachine: I LOVE it!

So, I was looking for an 'old' [pre-09] email in my Mail program and for some reason [now forgotten = I might have done an archive, for all I know/remember] I couldn't find any in my now-running program.  No problemo.

I opened Time Machine. This program is an included part of Apple's Mac OSX Leopard operating system.  Not a separate purchase at all.   Found the 12/29/08 and 01/05/09 folders and restored both [made sure that I chose to restore both, not overwrite, and once done put the date on the folder, so they now say "Mail 12/29/08" etc. My 'original' current Mail folder is just fine and operating as it should be AND now I have a pre-newyears and post newyears copy of Mail and I can just burn the folders to a DVD and stop stewing....

Great program and just runs, doesn't force you to remember to run it.

And yes, I also use SuperDuper to make clones and full backups, but TM works great for what one needs, restoring a certain thing one finds one needs....Hurrah!!!

THE RULE:  Besides death and taxes, one reality of life is your computer/harddrive/data will fail.  Having reliable backups and a backup strategy is required!

DoNotCall Registry - for both landlines and mobile

Go to DoNotCall.gov and register your phone numbers and you can stop those irritating solicitations.  And you can file a complaint if you do get pestered.  I've registered my home and business number but had forgotten my mobile, but took care of that just today.

Your registration will not expire. Telephone numbers placed on the National Do Not Call Registry will remain on it permanently due to the Do-Not-Call Improvement Act of 2007, which became law in February 2008. Read more about it at http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2008/04/dncfyi.shtm.