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Technology.Advisor.com is the guide to choosing and using computers, networking, digital media systems, wireless, the Internet, and gear and gadgets of all types.

Richard Rider Rant
How Competition Can Benefit You
Let 'em compete for your business
By Richard Rider, San Diego Tax Fighters chairman

A small financial tip for these hard times: If you have cable TV service, AT&T is starting to compete in some areas. Not to say they are necessarily better, but the competition itself is indeed beneficial.

I just called my cable company, Time Warner, and told them that I was considering switching to AT&T cable and high speed Internet services. That prompted the sales clerk to suddenly note that I was under an "old" plan (established less than a year earlier), and that now there are better deals.

Richard Rider Rant
Will Reduce My Carbon Footprint for Cash

Much is being made of "reducing our carbon footprint." I'm in favor of that -– to a point. I look for carbon-reducing steps that also save me money and/or make my life more pleasant! As I see it, if a carbon reducing strategy costs more, then often the wisdom of selecting that option is highly suspect.

For instance, I like using energy-saving florescent bulbs. I've used the big florescent lights in my fully equipped, professional office in the home for about 30 years. I also use the newer compact florescent bulbs whenever they fit with the demand, which fortunately is most of the time.

Technology.Advisor.com
Phone Numbers at Your Fingertips
A better telephone, at last.

Have you ever wanted to call someone but had to stop and look up the number, even ones you dial often? Have you wished you could remember the important ones so you don't have to look them up? Have you ever had a hard time hearing the person on the line, but didn't want to keep asking them to speak up? Here's the phone for you!

Health.Advisor.com
Help Paramedics Help You
Provide essential information even when you can't.

In an emergency, time is crucial. The Vial of Life is a simple yet effective way to quickly get vital medical information into the hands of emergency responders, such as firefighters, paramedics, and police.

A Vial of Life kit contains a medical information form and two stickers. You fill out the medical form, which contains information about any medical issues, allergies, medications, and contact information for your doctors; place the form in a baggie and tape it to your refrigerator door, then place one sticker on the baggie and another on your front door.

Cool!
Nice kit! It really is helpful in terms of saving time in case of emergency isn't it? Somehow it will generate easy procedures for medications in case one will need it. Just like a diagnostic kit...

TV.Advisor.com
Easy on the Ears

Have you ever walked into your mom and dad's house and been blasted by the TV volume? To them, it sounds normal; to you it's too loud to even think, much less carry on a conversation.

One solution is TV Ears, a hearing device that lets people with mild to severe hearing loss hear the television clearly without disturbing others.

Security.Advisor.com
Help Emergency Services Help You
ICE campaign aims to help paramedics know who to contact in case of emergency.

Many of us carry a mobile phone with the phone numbers of our loved ones stored in a list of contacts, so if we were to get in an accident, the paramedics would have that information at their fingertips, right?

Technology.Advisor.com
Keep in Touch: Setting Up a Webcam
Use your computer and a webcam to video chat with family and friends, whether they're next door, or on the other side of the world.
By Anton Anderson, Productivity Consulting founder and senior partner

Keeping in touch face-to-face with family, co-workers and friends is not easy. So we often fall back on communicating by phone and e-mail. But there's a better way: video chat. It's easy and virtually free!

Family.Advisor.com
Record Your Family's Memories
Don't put off preserving your own family's unique history for generations to come.
By AnnMarie Garcia

My nephew, Connor was working on a project for school and needed to interview my dad about his time in the Army during World War II. As it turns out, my father had a lot to say (but only with much prodding) because he was a young private, 18 years old in 1943, who was shipped off to fight in Italy, wounded in both legs by sniper fire, and back to the United States before he turned 19. And that was only one of his many interesting lives!

HawkTrek
How Much Longer Can We Travel for Business?

I want to travel safely. I bet you do too. What does this require? No ice picks, no lighters, no baseball bats -- no problem. I don't want to be on a plane with possible weapons. No toothpaste, no deodorant, no double lattes? They could be ways to smuggle explosive ingredients on board, though (thankfully) it has never happened. But what about gear with batteries?

Airlines and batteries
It is a great point that you make on here about batteries and the insulation issue, especially on airplanes. Airlines should put more consideration into this, thanks for the info.
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