That's true, John.  AOL and Yahoo will both start using the "Goodmail"
sender-verification service, which charges senders up to about a penny per email to get a magical seal of approval that will let the email past AOL's and Yahoo's filters.  AOL and Yahoo say that because spammers won't pay, this charging for inbound mail "will help identify legitimate mail and reduce junk email, identity-theft scams and other scourges that plague users." Wow, sounds great!

Except for a few teensy little details: First, and most obviously, there's the highly questionable idea that, if you can pay a penny per email, you're legit.  It's like buying an indulgence from the church in the middle ages:
All it takes is some disposable income, and you can buy your way out of being labeled a sinner, er, I mean spammer What a marvelously cynical way of doing business: If you can pay, you must be a good guy!  (Yes, there's more than that to sender verification, but it remains in essence a simple means test.)

Plus, the majority of people who'd worry about being "verified" are legitimate emailers who'd never spam in the first place.  So, sender verification services--- like most of the other half-baked antispam tools in use--- tend to punish the innocent.

But it gets worse: You see, as part of the deal with Goodmail, AOL and Yahoo will share in Goodmail's revenue.  That means that AOL and Yahoo have a profit motive for using Goodmail.  AOL and Yahoo now will make money from both ends of the email delivery process--- a potential gold mine for them:
Not only will they be charging their customers to read their mail (via the normal subscriber fees) but now AOL and Yahoo will also try to charge for sending email into the AOL system.  Kind of puts a different spin on it, doesn't it?  What a deal for AOL and Yahoo!  They should replace the famous "you've got mail" clip with a simple "ka-ching!" cash-register sound.

Goodmail has competitors, and they're understandably unhappy--- why should Goodmail get all the business; and why should other sender-verification services get their mails blocked?--- so AOL and Yahoo are tapdancing to find a way to make this work.  Whatever they come up with, I'm sure they'll spin it as "service to customers" and "protecting our customers from evil spammers" rather than as a way for those companies to make millions of extra dollars in new revenue.

Legitimate large-volume emailers, especially those with free or low-cost services (like this newsletter) also aren't happy with the deal.  I've heard of none--- not a single one--- who's planning to go along with the AOL/Yahoo plan.

I'm going to continue to send my newsletter the same way as always.  I'm not a spammer and never have been.  Everyone who gets this newsletter has specifically requested it; and some--- the Plus!  subscribers, bless them---
even pay to defray my costs.  I am not going to run up my costs further for the privilege of getting the newsletter past the AOL and Yahoo filters.  And I'm not going to charge you money so I can transfer it into AOL's or Yahoo's pockets.

If you're an AOL or Yahoo user, I urge you to check for announcements from the companies on how to manage your filters and mailboxes under the new system.  My newsletters aren't spam; and I'll send them to any address you specify.  But all I can do is send them: You, and your mail provider, have to let them in.

More broadly, I don't think sender-verification will reduce spam an iota; and it raises all kinds of questions about the motives of AOL and Yahoo for using it; and about the wisdom of allowing self-appointed, for profit "verifiers" to set themselves up as arbiters of who's legitimate or not.
The Electronic Freedom Foundation--- hardly a spammer or friend of spammers, agrees that this kind of sender verification is a very bad idea:
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/archives/004398.php

After fielding criticism from e-mail senders and other stakeholders for its plan to eliminate its free, merit-based whitelist, America Online has reversed its earlier decision and will continue to offer its Enhanced Whitelist in addition to its new CertifiedEmail service.

"The Enhanced Whitelist is going to remain in place as long as it continues to serve our members," AOL spokesman Nicholas Graham told ClickZ News. "We had a very successful week of discussions, both internally and externally with stakeholders and e-mail partners. We recognized the value of an Enhanced Whitelist for our members, as well as the marketplace."

AOL announced last week that it would begin implementing a per-message fee for commercial e-mail senders to gain certain privileges, such as the automatic display of images and hyperlinks. Those privileges had previously been available for free to senders who earned placement on AOL's Enhanced Whitelist for good sending behavior, and who maintained very low complaint rates.

When it made that announcement, AOL said that by mid-year it would phase out the Enhanced Whitelist in favor of CertifiedEmail, a new cryptographic solution it launched in partnership with Goodmail. Under that program, senders who become accredited by Goodmail and maintain low complaint rates can pay a per-message fee to bypass AOL's content filters and have images and hyperlinks displayed automatically. E-mails are still only delivered to AOL users who have opted-in to receive marketers' messages. 
much more to read:  http://www.clickz.com/news/article.php/3583201

Redecorating With Personalized Style  Worldstart featured this one.  It is a fun one to mess with.  You need XP and the ability to follow directions.

In a previous tip, we talked about how to choose your desktop theme from those available on your system. Those are pretty basic. You can also modify them or create your own!

Note: These directions are for XP users. Other versions of Windows will look slightly different and have the settings in slightly different places. Look in the Control Panel for a starting point.

All right, let's get started. Right-click your desktop and choose Properties.

The Display Properties window will appear. Click the Themes tab and select the theme you want to change. Just be sure to Save your changes with a new theme name. Otherwise, your changes will be lost when you select a different theme. In the Save As window that opens, notice the file extension. This means you can use .theme in the search function to find all the theme files on your PC!

Now it's time for the fun part! Let's tinker with the individual pieces of the theme: backgrounds, icons, screen savers, color schemes, window and button styles, font sizes, mouse pointers and sound schemes.

To change your background, go to the Desktop tab and pick one from the list or Browse the picture files on your PC until you find one you want to use for your wallpaper. DO NOT CLICK OK. For our example, I'll be going with an island theme. If you want to change the icons Windows uses for your programs, folders or files, click the Customize Desktop button. I'm going to leave these alone because I tend to recognize things visually, and I don't want to confuse myself looking for the program with the green blobby icon!

Next, let's pick a screen saver for our new theme. Click the Screen Saver tab and choose one from the list, then fine-tune it with the Settings button. If you're concerned about someone hopping on your PC, you can password protect your screensaver. Just be sure to remember your password! Again, DO NOT CLICK OK.

Under the Appearance tab we can pick the window and buttons rules and the font settings. I'm going to select XP style windows, which is the silver color scheme, so it will coordinate with the island picture. I tend to get eyestrain by the end of the day, so I'm going to make the text larger. If you click the Advanced button, you can adjust individual settings for certain windows. The Effects button changes how windows visually behave. DON'T CLICK OK...YET. Leave the Display Properties window open.

Now, let's change the mouse scheme and the sounds. Go to the Start menu and select the Control Panel and then (XP) Mouse or (Classic) Printers and Other Hardware, then Mouse. This will look different in the Classic view than in the XP view. Either way, the Mouse Properties box will appear.

Change the Pointers and Pointer Options under their respective tabs. You can Browse for other pointer images. When you have them just right, click OK in the Mouse Properties window.

For the sounds, go back to the Control Panel and choose Sounds and Audio Devices Properties. In the window that appears, choose the Sounds tab. If a previous owner has put a sound scheme in place (like Sponge Bob 2001, for example), you'll see it there. You can also pick a specific sound for each event that your computer performs. You can also Browse for additional sounds like music clips and voice clips. When you have everything as you like it, click OK.

All right! Now you can go back to the Display Properties window and select the Theme tab. You'll see your new theme name(modified). Save As whatever name you want your finished new theme to have and click OK.

Microsoft has confirmed the existence of a flaw in its USB 2.0 drivers for Windows XP Service Pack 2 that can cause a notebook to consume power at a faster-than-expected rate when using a peripheral device.

The issue, first uncovered by Tom's Hardware two weeks ago, appears to affect certain Intel-based notebooks running Windows XP Service Pack 2. When a peripheral device was connected to a USB (universal serial bus) 2.0 port, the notebook's battery life plunged at a greater rate than would normally be expected from the use of a peripheral such as a mouse or storage key. At the time that details of the flaw were published, Intel denied its processors or chipsets were the responsible for the issue. And Microsoft refused to confirm to CNET News.com until yesterday that the software company was responsible for the battery performance problem .

Microsoft published a Knowledge Base article on the subject in July 2005, but made that information available only to PC vendors and partners, a company representative said in a statement. The software maker is not releasing the article to the public, but a copy was posted on Slashdot that industry sources have confirmed was the original article.

In that article, Microsoft outlined a problem with its USB 2.0 drivers that prevents a mobile processor from entering advanced sleep states designed to minimize power consumption. On Tom's Hardware's testing, the effect was even more pronounced on Intel's new Core Duo processors, which are capable of entering a deeper sleep state than older Pentium M chips. Other tests by reviewers such as Anandtech found the problem affected notebooks with a variety of Intel processors. It was not clear whether the issue also affected notebooks with Advanced Micro Devices' Turion or Athlon 64 processors.

In the private Knowledge Base article, Microsoft outlined a fix that involved modifying the registry key for USB 2.0. However, since then the company has realized that this is an impractical fix for most users, and is working on a new fix that could involve a BIOS update patch, a company representative said in a statement.
more at:  http://news.com.com/Microsoft+driver+flaw+saps+battery+strength/2100-1012-6040586.html?part=dht&tag=nl.e433

OSX/Leap-A worm spreads via iChat instant messaging softwareExperts at SophosLabs™, Sophos's global network of virus, spyware and spam analysis centers, have announced the discovery of the first virus for the Apple Mac OS X platform. The virus, named 
OSX/Leap-A (also known as OSX/Oompa-A) spreads via instant messaging systems.

The OSX/Leap-A worm spreads via the iChat instant messaging system, forwarding itself as a file called latestpics.tgz to contacts on the infected users' buddy list. When the latestpics.tgz archive file is opened on a computer it disguises its contents with a JPEG graphic icon in an attempt to fool people into thinking it is harmless.

The worm uses the text "oompa" as an infection marker in the resource forks of infected programs to prevent it from reinfecting the same files.

"Some owners of Mac computers have held the belief that Mac OS X is incapable of harboring computer viruses, but Leap-A will leave them shellshocked, as it shows that the malware threat on Mac OS X is real," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos. "Mac users shouldn't think it's okay to lie back and not worry about viruses."

Experts at Sophos are continuing to examine OSX/Leap-A and will issue further information shortly. Sophos customers have been automatically protected against the worm since 12:25 GMT, 16 February 2006.

"This is the first real virus for the Mac OS X platform," continued Cluley. "Apple Mac users need to be just as careful running unknown or unsolicited code on their computers as their friends and colleagues running Windows."

Sophos advises all computer users, whether running PCs or Macs, to practise safe computing and keep their anti-virus software updated. 

Experts at SophosLabs™, Sophos's global network of virus, spyware and spam analysis centers, have warned users not to fall for a new hoax spreading across the internet, posing as a warning of a non-existent virus.

The Olympic Torch hoax warns email users to be wary of emails with the subject line "Invitation", and claims that it has been classified as "the most destructive virus ever."
The hoax claims that the "virus simply destroys the Zero Sector of the Hard Disc". Sophos is receiving an increasing number of reports of the hoax from users who are concerned it may be genuine.

"The warning is clearly nonsense and no such virus exists," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos. "However, hoaxes and chain letters like this are not harmless - they waste time and bandwidth, and can be a genuine headache for support departments. Users need to think ask themselves whether everything they are told can be believed."

Part of the hoax message reads as follows:

Do not open any message with an attached filed called "Invitation" regardless of who sent it. It is a virus that opens an Olympic Torch which "burns" the whole hard disc C of your computer. This virus will be received from someone who has your e-mail address in his/her contact list, that is why you should send this e-mail to all your contacts. It is better to receive this message 25 times than to receive the virus and open it

"Hoaxes like this exist because it's so easy to forward an electronic warning to all of your friends and colleagues, and many people who may be suspicious of the warning decide it's better to be safe than sorry." continued Cluley. "People should think very carefully before they send a message on to all of their contacts, as they may be perpetuating an irritating hoax. You should always check to see if it is believable, and not a known hoax, before even considering sending it onto other computer users." 

Trend Micro, more commonly referred to as Housecall, offers free virus scans and in most cases can fix damage down by a virus or worm that your computer may have contacted.  The program works well.  The first time one uses the free program it is necessary to download a small program. Trend Micro walks you through the process.   Then the virus scans are quite simple for each return.  Go to http://housecall.antivirus.com/  then choose the link   "Scan without registering".  Follow the directions.

You should disable any anti virus program that you have running.  If you do not have a virus program I recommend that you use one of the programs offered above first and then download and install one of the free programs listed below or install any anti virus program you have purchased.

AVG Free
AVG Free Edition is the well-known anti-virus protection tool. AVG Free is available free-of-charge to home users for the life of the product! Rapid virus database updates are available for the lifetime of the product, thereby providing the high-level of detection capability that millions of users around the world trust to protect their computers. AVG Free is easy-to-use and will not slow your system down (low system resource requirements).
http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/2/lng/us/tpl/v5

Avast
Avast has been "anti virusing" for quite awhile.  The following info comes from their download page:   Avast! Home is now free of charge for HOME users for NON-COMMERCIAL use. You can find more info here.
http://www.avast.com/eng/down_home.html
Note: This product is free for home non-commercial use after registration!
HINTS:   Click on the English Version Link and download the installation file.  Then click on the installation file and follow the directions.  You will need to return to the download page and click on the link to get the registration key.   It will be sent to you in an email after you provide some registration information.  This will give you 14 months of coverage including any updates which can be set to auto download.  You can reregister for additional free coverage at the end of the 14 months.
You will want to browse around and choose from the many options available for operation.  This process will take some time and digging.

Another good free program is:
http://www.free-av.com/
This one installs a bit easier than Avast.

Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.4 - product description
Application to scan for spyware, adware, hijackers and other malicious software.
Choose one of the sites to download from.
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html

Ad-Aware Personal provides advanced protection from known data-mining, aggressive advertising, Trojans, dialers, malware, browser hijackers, and tracking components. This software is downloadable free of charge.
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

Here are a few sites of many that can help you determine if an email is a hoax or real.

http://www.snopes.com/
http://vil.nai.com/VIL/hoaxes.asp
http://kumite.com/myths/
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.html
http://www.scambusters.org/VirusHoaxes.html
http://www.sophos.com/virusinfo/hoaxes/
http://www.truthorfiction.com/
http://www.quatloos.com/

10x10 is ever-changing, ever-growing, quietly observing the ways in which we live. It records our wars and crises, our triumphs and tragedies, our mistakes and milestones. When we make history, or at least the headlines, 10x10 takes note and remembers.

Each hour is presented as a picture postcard window, composed of 100 different frames, each of which holds the image of a single moment in time. Clicking on a single frame allows us to peer a bit deeper into the story that lies behind the image. In this way, we can dart in and out of the news, understanding both the individual stories and the ways in which they relate to each other.

10x10 runs with no human intervention, autonomously observing what a handful of leading international news sources are saying and showing. 10x10 makes no comment on news media bias, or lack thereof. It has no politics, nor any secret agenda; it simply shows what it finds.

With no human editors and no regulation, 10x10 is open and free, raw and fresh, and consequently a unique way of following world events. In 10x10, we respond instinctively to patterns in the grid, visual indicators of relevance. When we see a frequently repeated image, we know it’s important. When we see a picture of a movie star next to a picture of dead bodies, we understand the extremes that exist in our world. Scanning a grid of pictures can be more intuitive than reading headlines, for it lets the news come to life, and everything feels a bit less distant, a bit closer to heart, and maybe, if we're lucky, gives us pause to think. If you'd like to learn more about 10x10, you can read how it works.
http://www.tenbyten.org/now.html

Access the site to use the Comparison Calculator (designate a city and compare your salary needs to another city. I was surprised that Living in Williamsport Housing healthcare and utilities cost significantly more than Pittsburgh while groceries and transportation were less.
There is a box full of financial information pertaining to living costs by selected areas in the USA.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - Sixty-five of the nation's 299 biggest real estate markets are severely overpriced and subject to possible price corrections.  That's according to the latest (third quarter) Housing Market Analysis conducted by National City Corp, a financial holding company, in conjunction with Global Insight, a financial information provider.

The report named Naples, Florida as the most overvalued of all housing markets in the United States. A single-family, median-priced home there sells for $329,970, 84 percent more than what it should cost -- $180,956 -- according to the analysis.

National City arrives at its estimates of what the typical house in these markets should cost by examining the town's population densities, local interest rates, and income levels. It also factors in historical premiums and discounts for each area.

Other markets deemed wildly overpriced included Merced, California (by 77 percent), Salinas, California (75 percent), and Port St. Lucie, Florida (72 percent).

Undervalued markets were College Station (-23 percent), El Paso (-18 percent), and Killeen (-16 percent), all in Texas. That state dominated the discounted markets list with nine of the 10 most undervalued housing markets. Montgomery, Alabama was No. 8 among the undervalued markets.

The data did produce some evidence of prices moderating, according to National City's chief economist, Richard DeKaser.

Much more here plus the COMPARISON CALCULATOR:
http://money.cnn.com/2005/12/29/real_estate/buying_selling/handicapping_housing_markets/index.htm

1. "We're just waiting for you to screw up."
Many things can bump your credit card interest rate into the red zone, but nothing faster than what's called "universal default." You can make all your credit card payments religiously and for a long time, but fall behind on your electric bill and, suddenly, you're a deadbeat — who will be charged accordingly. Rates can change on short notice, from low and reasonable to 25 percent or more.

Card companies claim that what they're doing is managing risk. Consumer groups disagree, charging that it's all about profit, since many people in universal default aren't deadbeats by any reasonable definition. Say, for example, you're disputing a charge on a medical bill or waiting for an insurance snafu to resolve itself. If a billing clerk kicks it to collections, you're in universal default. Or suppose your credit score drops — a common event that may be entirely unrelated to your bill-paying behavior. That's also likely to push your interest rate higher. 
Click to read the rest of #1 and other nine:
http://www.smartmoney.com/10things/index.cfm?story=january2006