Articles written by Jason Garland

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About me - Jason Garland

Jason Garland is a professional computer technician and has been for over ten years. He enjoys photography, hiking, kayaking, early music, writing, birding, and of course technology. In 2008 he graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Comparative

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Business > Nonprofits Volunteering: How to find the time: 1 of 9
Those of us short on money but still longing to give back to our communities rely on being able to do so with our talents, skills or brawn. Unfortunately, while writing a check only takes a few minutes, volunteerism requires significant chunks of time, something that many potential philanthropists just don't have.Finding the ... More..
Computers & Technology > Spyware & Adware What are the best spyware removal tools?: 2 of 11
As a professional computer technician, I spend a lot of time chasing down malicious spyware and adware on other people's computers. Needless to say, I've used just about every legitimate spyware removal tool on the market, but there are only a handful that I turn to consistently. Spyware removal can sometimes require skills a... More..
Education > College Study Tips Tips for getting good grades in college: 2 of 8
Are you scared or worried that college will be too difficult, or that you'll lose your scholarship because of bad grades? Moving on to college is a challenge that affects every aspect of a person's life, so it doesn't help that college classes also raise the bar considerably when it comes to study-time, reading load, and your... More..
Computers & Technology > Software & Web Development Understanding buffering: 1 of 4
Waiting for a video or song to buffer on the Internet is probably as common these days as sitting in traffic waiting for a stoplight to change. In many ways the two activities are similar. They both serve to direct the flow off traffic and both are irritating because we have to wait around for our turn.Buffering on computers,... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Baby Safety Tips for keeping children safe around outdoor holiday decorations: 1 of 3
Nothing spreads Christmas cheer quite like a spectacular display of colorful lights and Santa-inspired yard decorations. Both children and adults alike love to see their favorite Christmas characters come alive in the front yards of their friends and neighbors, and people love to oblige with roof-climbing Santas, waving Frost... More..
Computers & Technology > Virus Protection & Maintenance Beware of this Facebook worm virus: 17 of 39
Do you trust your friends?Of course you do, and that's exactly what virus programmers are counting on these days as they ratchet up attacks against popular social networking sites like Facebook. The latest incarnation of Web 2.0 viruses is called Koobface, and it takes advantage of unsuspecting Facebook users by propagating i... More..
Computers & Technology > Software (Other) How to use msconfig to speed up your computer: 3 of 6
"My computer has been running really slowly. Can you help speed it up?"As a professional computer technician, this is the one complaint and request I hear most often. Unfortunately, a slow computer can be the symptom of a number of different problems. However, there's one utility built in to Microsoft Windows that can make a ... More..
Computers & Technology > Software & Web Development Batch file: What it does: 3 of 6
If you were using computers back in the days of MS-DOS, then you probably remember how tedious it was to type a series of commands at the DOS prompt to do something as simple as create a directory in a specific folder or delete a block of files. The batch file anticipated that users would sometimes perform functions requiring... More..
Computers & Technology > Operating Systems How to inactivate Microsoft Windows' Hidden Files feature: 1 of 2
Windows power users are a finicky bunch who love to toy around with their installations and tweak the settings from time to time. Often this requires getting at files that Windows normally likes to keep hidden away from the average user. Files are hidden by turning on the "Hidden" attribute located in the File Properties box.... More..
Computers & Technology > Cameras Guide to lens filters for digital cameras: 1 of 1
Getting great photos out of your digital SLR takes technical know-how, a good eye, and a little luck. So if you've ever perused through a monthly travel magazine and wondered how the photographer managed to get the sky over Tahiti to look so blue, or how he got the waterfalls of the Amazon Basin to look like a rush of liquid ... More..