Your kid’s a Pirate.

I know, I know you thought they went as a cute fairy or a scary ghost this Halloween.   Well, I hate to break it to you but, you’re wrong, they went as a pirate. Actually if they are a “normal”  teen they’ve been pirates for quite some time.

Here’s the stats.

Globally 95% of all music downloads are illegal according to the IFPI study released at the beginning of  the year.  So according to the IFPI if you download music you are most likely doing it illegally.

But  don’t worry too much because your teens don’t think it is as bad as other forms of stealing. That should help ease the blow huh?

If your kids are like the teen in the recent Microsoft study “Only half of the teens surveyed (48%) indicated a punishment  was appropriate for illegal downloading, compared to 85% who say getting caught taking a mobile
phone out of someone‟s locker at school, 89% stealing a video game, DVD orCD and 90% stealing a bike.”

And it’s not just music.  iPhone/iTouch apps are pirated, Movies, TV shows, and software are all  downloaded illegally via Point to Point (P2P) programs.  Now not all P2P traffic is illegal but it definitely is a high percentage.

Take a look for any of these programs on your computer:Kazza, Limewire,  Bearshare, uTorrent, Azureus.

See a full popular torrent list here http://netforbeginners.about.com/od/peersharing/f/torrentclients.htm

Our advice:

So whether or not your teen dressed up like a pirate, knocked on peoples doors and demanded free music this Halloween weekend you still should open up the dialogue on this topic with them and give them some of the free and paid alternative below. Not only will you help them make better music downloading choices but you will also be helping them to minimize the risk of viruses, inappropriate content (vids, pics, etc.) and the Feds. knocking on your door.

Download responsibly.  Below are some great sites:

Pandora Radio– Free online radio
lala.com– free full song previews plus 10 cent web stored purchases
Spotify.com (currently only avaliable in the UK) free online music plus a premium paid subscription with additional features.
Good list of free music sites here http://mashable.com/2008/06/30/free-legal-music-sites/
Itunes–  Download for .99 – 1.39 cents.
Amazon– download for .69 cents

Last Links:

• More stats on iPhone app piracy–  http://www.pinchmedia.com/blog/piracy-in-the-app-store-from-360idev/
• Full .pdf of the IFPI’s report on Music Piracy– http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/DMR2009.pdf
• Microsofts report on teen views about illegal downloading–

Do your kids think before they post? Well if you are part of the National average they probably don’t. The good news is that average is falling, maybe in part to these commercials being broadcast around the nation. Have you seen them? If not it well worth the 1 minute of your time.

Take a look right here.   If you want to watch all of the video.

Now what about you? Yes you. Did you know most HR departments Google you prior to hiring? People that start a new dating relationship Google each other too. Yes it is true, the Internet really does change the way we live.

The Rub:

Now it’s time to get personal… Have you ever posted a funny video of your kid online? What happens when that kid grows up? Do his friends find that rather embarrassing video?

Darren Kuropatwa on his Blog “A Difference” sums it up rather nicely below:

Searching YouTube for David After Dentist reveals over 1800 results. In classic YouTube fashion, the video has been remixed and parodied. You’ll also find that since the video went viral there is now a blog collating all the remixes, parodies, other humourous and viral videos, an Amazon store, various other ways of monetizing the video of a 7 year old boy who went to the dentist, was medicated, and took a while to fully recover his senses.

I wonder how young David is going to feel about all this in five years; when he’s in high school. As he struggles to establish his own identity and “fit in,” how will he feel if (when?) this video resurfaces and spreads throughout the school?

I wonder if David’s parents have fully thought through the future ramifications for David; from the point of view of his future self.

Now since there are already 33,204,700 views you might as well watch it too.

Last Links

• Cox Teen Internet Survey results–  http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=76341&p=irol-newsArticle&t=Regular&id=998134&
• David After 5 Years –  http://adifference.blogspot.com/2009/03/david-after-5-years.html
• Full List of Videos — http://www2.prnewswire.com/mnr/adcouncil/26474/

Here is a quick list to help you all out find the info you need fast.

• Need more info on teen tech safety? Done.
• Wondering what the best teen tech trends video is (other than ours)? Done
• More places to learn about how to make your WiFi work + Phishing advice?  Done.
• Check it all out below.

1. Best Online Safety blog: Read Ann Collier’s blog for a weekly update on trending topics.
2. Best Video of Teen tech use today: You have to watch “Growing up Online” from PBS (Best of all you can watch it all online for free!)
3. Keep your network safe at home: Let the government bail you out on this one.  On Gaurd Online (great site for concise info on a number of pertinent topics).
4. Stats, Stats, Stats: Everyone loves stats.  The Pew Research Group has them. (click on topics and find a wealth of statistically drenched reports for tech).
5. The Best Resource of All: Us!  Remember to check out our video, our quick sheets, and of course our bundles.  Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or subscribe to our Email delivery of our content.  Help us, help you!

Thanks again for all of your questions!  Keep them coming at questions@ NoParentLeftBehind.net or ninja@ Nplb.net

The answer may very well lie in an online persona created in an online world like IMVU.

Executive Summary:

What’s IMVU? It’s a virtual world combined with a chat program that lets a user create an Avatar (physical representation of themselves) to use in the online world.
IMVU is free to start but if you like it you can pay for virtual currency so that you can “buy” new cloths, a house, furniture, etc. IMVU reported making 1 million per month back in June of 2008. See interview here.

Basically IMVU is a world where you’re kids may be trying on a different persona and exploring an overly sexual online world on the cheap.

Pros:

• IMVU runs much faster than other online worlds such as second life.
• It is a fun environment to explore and add to with purchases of clothes, household items and the like.
• Fun to meet new people and talk with a face to the words (though I’m sure everyone isn’t really a size 4 in real life)

Cons:

• As in any virtual world, you can be anyone that you want to be.  A girl, a guy… any image you want to portray.
• IMVU doesn’t have a wide selection of overweight Avatars.  Pretty much everyone is super attractive, with disproportional, measurements, muscles, and way too much skin.
• You could spend a lot of time pretending to be someone you are not.

Overall IMVU is a good idea but to sell it they have really overly sexed it up.  Maybe there are areas in the IMVU landscape that don’t have a ton of people shouting “wanna sex” but I couldn’t find them.

Last links:

• Interview from June 2008 can be found here
• IMVU the site is here
• Short list of stats on IMVU can be found here

A: You need a personal geek…

Personal Trainers, In-home Chefs, Chauffeurs…  Where’s the Personal Geek?  I mean, doesn’t the normal lay-person have the right to their very own personal geek?  I say, “Yes!”.  And you should too.

Rebuttal

Personal Geeks are so 2008.  This is a different generation with different problems.  What the parent of today teens needs is a Network Ninja! A person with the style, grace, and no-nonsense approach to fixing a wide range of technological issues with ninja like speed.

The Decision?

Network Ninja by a landslide.

If I had my way you all would have your own personal geek, network ninja, or someone from the “geek squad” on 24/7 alert for you tech needs, just a phone call away (a big red phone of course).
But, the reality is you don’t and you probably never will so… what’s a parent to do?  Ask us questions of course!  This month we are your person geeks, your network ninjas, you’re one-stop tech question help!  So dial us up with your questions.  We’d love to answer them. Just email us at ninja@nplb.net and we’ll get back to you with ninja like speed and/or post your questions/answers directly on our site.

Executive summary:

For free tech help by a network ninja email your questions to ninja@nplb.net
Yup, FREE… just because we like parents like you.

Last links

None this time.  Just shoot us an email.  ninja@nplb.net

I’m writing this article from inside my car, in a car wash. I bought all the extras, plus the undercarriage wash so that I’ll have time to tell you what I need too. Why I am in a car wash you ask?

Well, thanks for asking… let me tell you. It’s because of the spyware… It all started last week. I saw the ad pop up that said that I had won a free new IPod. Seriously, who can resist a free IPod? So, after I filled out the 2 surveys I clicked on that button that said it would make my computer faster… BAM! Kick it up a notch huh? Well, not exactly. Now my computer is running slower than a herd of turtles stampeding through peanut butter… in the winter… in Alaska.

So, here I sit in the car wash so “they” don’t find me… ya… the spies. Can you think of a safer spot? I didn’t think so. Not only am I enclosed in my car, in a building, but I’m also covered with soap and that’s got to be worth something. Anyway, I’ve got the spyware on my computer and now I bet it’s letting in all of it’s other spy friends, from all over the globe.

So, what do I do now to get it all off of my computer? Well the soap doesn’t seem to be doing a thing but I do have some other options.

Spyware Cleaning Options:

1. Spybot Search and Destroy (make sure it is the safer-networking.org link) http://www.safer-networking.org/index2.html
   • This is a nice little program. Download it, Donate to keep it free, install it, and then do what the prompts say. It will get your computer “fairly clean” in no time.
2. AdAware (click on the Free version) ( www.lavasoft.com )
   • Good 2^nd option. I like to run them both… but then again I’m the paranoid one writing this from the above said car wash.
3. Bit Defender Online Scanner (or paste this link into your browser: http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/# )
   • This one seems to take care of it all… viruses, Trojan horses, Spyware, Adware, you name it. Try the online scanner but make sure that you change the 2nd action to “quarantine” not delete (just in case it is something that you did want).
   • Currently Bit Defender is ranked in the top ten of many antivirus/antispyware articles!

If those don’t work you might go find a professional and let them take a gander, which would be the most prudent thing to do.

You could always take it to a car wash if, but it doesn’t seem to be helping mine… uh oh.. here come that final blower thing. I’ve got to go, until I get this Spyware all removed I’m going to have to go into hiding. I can’t afford anymore car washes.

Good luck, stay clean. Air Dry Done. … Got to go.

Last Links

Bit Defender Online Scanner (see above)

AdAware (see above)

Spybot Search and Destroy (see above)

Microsoft: What is Spyware (decent article on what spyware is and isn’t)

Going deeper: What is Spyware (very nice, concise article on spyware)

Step 1: Don’t click on links until you know what they are to.  Basically if it has a link, especially in the subject line, be wary.

Step 2: Search out the subject line text and/or link.  Simply put the subject line of the text into google (highlight it, cut and paste) and you will see a list of sites that are shouting for you to not click your virus infected Facebook link.

Step 3: Delete any messages that are in your inbox that you know are infected.

That’s it.  Short and sweet.  Have a nice day and be cautious!

Playin’ With Fire Trailer from Mark Schreiber on Vimeo.

Playing with fire is our ’sister’ site for teens.  Take a look at the video trailer and be sure to share it with your kids.

www.playinwithfire.org

So the question is, “Do you really need one?” Valid question.  Thanks for asking.  We’ll get right to it and give you the Pros, Cons, executive summary, and of course some quick links to help you make up your mind if you don’t believe us.  Let’s go!

Executive summary

The Kindle is an electronic reader device for e-books that uses a reflective e-paper type technology that basically makes the screen look and act like paper.  Let’s be honest.  Who really likes to read from a computer screen?  I sure don’t and I have one of the nicest brightest screens around (LED backlit) but it still doesn’t compare to the kindle for readability or for power consumption.  Yep, the Kindles battery can last for days!  It can do this because the Kindle only uses power to put the words on the screen and then it turns off the power leaving your words statically in place.  Turn the page, power flashes on, puts the new page up and shuts back off.

So, “great” you say but why buy it?  Especially at just ofver $350.  Thank you.  Another great questions.  Read the “Pros” below and maybe you can answer it for yourself.

Pros:

• Can surf the web from the Kindle for free… Anywhere (that’s right, download Kindles light browser and surf the web from the Kindle!) The internal Antenna connects to a cell network WITHOUT a monthly fee!  3G network!  Free! Very nice.
• Readability!  The screen technology is even better in bright light, just like paper.  So, read away.
• Amazing battery life. Will let you read any of the 90,000+ books available for almost 7 days without recharging.

Cons:

• A bit ugly and only black and white.  The electronic ink technology hasn’t gotten color down, maybe in a few years.
• The price.  $359.00 currently but you do get free access to 3G wireless networks in the USA.  Definitely a perk.
• Can’t flip a page.  It still doesn’t replace a book for sure. Can’t flip ahead to see how many pages till the end of the chapter.

Overall it still doesn’t replace a book but for avid readers and commuters you can’t beat it especially since you can surf the web, check email and read your books all on one device without a monthly fee… I guess you just pay for it up front.

Last Links:

• Amazon’s official page with specs and a video http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00154JDAI/ref=pe_36320_11963560_pe_t3
• A well written review on Squido0 for the Kindle 2  http://www.squidoo.com/AmazonKindleReview
• How the Kindle 2 works. Hey you better be able to tell people how it works when they see you reading this cool device.