Archive for April 2010
Make Your WordPress Blog Into a Book
WordPress is an excellent blogging platform. If you would like to create a PDF or a book for your blog, use BlogBooker.
BlogBooker allows you to import your WordPress Blog (it also supports other blogs).
- Log in as the Administrator
- Go to My Dashboard
- Go down to Tools and Click on Export (This will export your blog to an XML file
- Navigate to http://www.blogbooker.com/wordpress.php
- Select 6 x 9 for Lulu.com (Lulu.com publishes books on demand) or any size you want (You can also choose other on demand publishers or save the PDF
- Select and upload your XML file
- Click on Create Your Blog Book
Recovery CDs
Need a recovery CD after your computer crashes?
Here’s a few CDs that can help recover your data.
UBCD4win Ultimate Boot CD for Windows
UBCD4Win is a bootable recovery CD that contains software used for repairing, restoring, or diagnosing almost any computer problem. Our goal is to be the most complete and easy to use free computer diagnostic tool.
Trinity Rescue CD
Trinity Rescue Kit or TRK is a free live Linux distribution that aims specifically at recovery and repair operations on Windows machines, but is equally usable for Linux recovery issues.
INSERT (inside security rescue toolkit)
INSERT is a complete, bootable linux system. It comes with a graphical user interface running the fluxbox window manager while still being sufficiently small to fit on a credit card-sized CD-ROM.
Bootzilla for Windows
BootZilla is a compilation of tools intended for use in diagnosing and fixing viral and spyware-related infections on computers. It also has the ability to test memory and hard drives through the use of a BootCD function called BCD. Download
Computer Network Defence Operational Picture
Computer Network Defence Operational Picture (and yes Defence is spelled correctly) – earlier today we posted a security console on the web. Here is another one of the many you can find.
Internet Security Dashboard
MS-ISAC has an excellent dashboard that gives the latest security threats.
The Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) is a collaborative state and local government-focused cyber security entity that is significantly enhancing cyber threat prevention, protection, and response and recovery throughout the states of our nation.
Free Training in Office Applications for Tennesseans
Microsoft is offering free training for Tennesseans along with vouchers for taking select Microsoft Business Certifications. These vouchers are good for 90 days (exam vouchers) and one year for training vouchers. This is an excellent way to gain the skills and knowledge needed in the workplace.
Who should sign up? With a limited number of vouchers, everyone should sign up to train or take an exam while than can. Every job today uses computers in some way. Retail, Medical, Production and any industry you can image uses computers.
More advanced e-learning vouchers are being distributed for IT Professionals.
Microsoft Elevate America – Free Vouchers for Tennesseans
Want to boost your technology skills?
In cooperation with Microsoft Corporation, we are pleased to offer vouchers for E-Learning courses and select certification exams at no cost to you. Get the IT skills, Training and resources you need to compete for the jobs of today and tomorrow.
Apply for a voucher online today at -
and receive the following E-Learning courses and select certifications:
- Computer Basics for Beginners – No Voucher Required
Access basic computer concepts and skills. Perfect for those new to computers. - Intermediate Level, Business Worker Online Learning – Voucher Required
Select from: Microsoft Windows Vista, Office 2003 or Office 2007 online training. - Intermediate Level Certification Examns – Voucher Required
Certification Exams must be taken at a Certiport Testing Location.
Select from Office 2003 or Office 2007 exams.
(TTC Shelbyville is a testing location) - Advanced Level IT Professional Online Learning – Voucher Required
Select the training of your choice from Microsoft’s online learning library for IT Professionals and Developers. The cost of certification exams at this level is not covered by this program.
Note- All vouchers must be activated by July 26, 2010.
E-Learning is accessible for 12 months from activation date. Certification exams must be completed by July 26, 2010.
You must be a Tennessee resident (have Tennessee address).
“Elevate America is helping to make a life-changing difference for individuals and families across the nation,” said Jack Westerlund, Microsoft sales director for state and local government. “Microsoft is pleased to partner with the Tennessee Department of Labor to assist people across the state in gaining technology skills training they need to move forward in today’s economy.”
“Workers can take these free online courses from home, Tennessee Career Centers or Tennessee Technology Centers,” said Labor Commissioner James Neeley. “Offering immediate access to computer skills training will greatly improve recipients’ employment prospects.”
Tennessee will receive 11,500 vouchers for Microsoft Business Certification training, 11,500 vouchers for Microsoft Business Certification exams, and 2,875 vouchers for advanced Microsoft IT Professional online learning….See the Governor’s announcement in full.
VidCoder – Allows Working with DVDs
Rick sent over this DVD utility -
VidCoder is a DVD ripping and video transcoding application for Windows. It uses HandBrake as its encoding engine.
Calling directly into the HandBrake library gives it a more rich UI than the official HandBrake Windows GUI.
VidCoder requires Net 4.0
Boot Multiple ISOs from a FlashDrive
Want to boot multiple ISOs from a flashdrive? Richie found this great utility. MultiBootISOs is found down this page’s vast listings. Take a look at the dozens of listings for utilities you can add to this utility.
Older Tools, Links and Utilities That May Come in Handy
Dawn sent a great link over that has many resources. Although these links and utilities may be somewhat outdated, they are a great resource.
Lego Computer
We posted a hulk mod earlier in our blog but you HAVE to see the lego computer…. look at the details.
McGruff SafeGuard – Protect Your Kids
Because we serve thousands of students and the community we are often asked how to protect children on the internet. An early posting on this blog featured K9 Web Protection. Rick over at Whats On My PC just featured another excellent program McGruff SafeGuard which also helps to protect your kids online. Go read an his excellent review.
Ubuntu 10.04 Review
As a technical blog for students, we search the internet for useful utilities and articles that help with their careers. Over at TuxRadar an excellent article and review of Ubuntu 10.04 was posted with screenshots. We encourage our students to discover all operating systems available. Because of the dynamic world we live in, the more versatile an IT professional is – the more likely they will succeed.
Gimp Tutorials
Gimp is a great alternative to PhotoShop. Want to learn Gimp? Tuxradar has a 90mb zipped file with Gimp tutorials.
Here’s the Link
And remember Gimp is not just a Linux application…
Make Bootable Live USB drives for Linux
Want to make bootable live USB drives for a variety of Linux? Use UNetbootin
With greater than 20 versions supported, you can use this software on Windows or Linux.
MTU Settings for Ubuntu
Setting your MTU settings adjust your internet connection. With my connection, a default setting of 1500 causes some webpages not to display at all (i.e. Ebay, Microsoft, etc.)
My optimal settings are 1492 to change yours, open a terminal and type:
sudo ifconfig eth0 mtu 1492 (that is eth and zero)
When you reboot, the MTU will return to 1500 – to make it permanent you will need to edit one of Ubuntu’s files:
First type -
sudo gedit /etc/network/interfaces
Then carefully edit your file
iface eth0 inet static
address 192.168.137.10
network 192.168.137.0
gateway 192.168.137.1
netmask 255.255.255.0
mtu 1492
You should now restart your network with:
sudo /etc/init.d/networking restart
Check the new value type:
sudo ifconfig -a
BEFORE
AFTER
Chrome Stats for Nerds
Chrome has a cool interface (kinda hidden). Open Chrome and open several tabs. Now hit the Shift and Esc keys.
Not only can you see what is using your CPU but your network. The stats details gives detailed information about each of the processes.
Automatically posted.
Top Processes in Ubuntu
Want to find the top running processes in Ubuntu? Go to the Terminal and type Top. Top will refresh automatically.
Jon Ward ( a former student and a Linux natural) commented on this posting and I’m posting it here because he is absolutely right -
Use htop instead. it’s a much cleaner interface with more precise information. it’s *much* easier to read. ~ Jon
To the readers from me, here’s how to install -
go to terminal and type – sudo apt-get install htop
Network Troubleshooting Flowchart
Excellent Networking Troubleshooting Flowchart. Link to Chart
Don’t forget Netsh commands and TCP/IP Reset.
Power Supply Calculator
Ben found this handy power supply calculator over at ASUSTeK.
Also go over and look at their Startup Problems (Troubleshooting Tips).
or take a look at their Troubleshooting guides!
Blippy Leaks Fifth Credit Card Number to Google’s Cache
And I just told my students this would happen…..
Blippy shows what people just purchased a fad apparently with security problems….
Blippy Leaks Fifth Credit Card Number to Google’s Cache | News & Opinion | PCMag.com.
