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Bits from Bill

Technology thoughts leaking from the brain of Bill Pytlovany

Home from Hilton & Albany Medical CenterYesterday

A quick note of thanks to all the kind messages regarding my recent surgery.  I’m happy to report I’m home recovering in the hands of my loving wife Cindi.

Special thanks to the folks at Hilton Garden Inn which is connected to Albany Med. I decided spending the night before the surgery would give me an hour or so more sleep and a comfortable place to rest for Cindi while I spent the night nearby in the hospital. Unfortunately, the very loud guest in the next room was not in on the plan. I called down to the desk to request a different room and Brandon upgraded us to an especially nice quiet corner suite. I’ll be booking a hotel in the Hilton family on our next trip.

Albany Medical Center viewed from Hlton Gardan Inn.

At this moment, I can’t remember the names of all the wonderful doctors, nurses and others at Albany Medical Center. They were wonderful and did a fantastic job at making me comfortable.

I’ll post again

Anterior Cervical Discectomy and FusionNovember 18

This will be my last post for at few days at least.  Tomorrow, I’m having what Dr Cheney assures me is a text-book procedure at Albany Medical Center.  I’m told it’s very common and I’ll be back to work in a couple weeks.

It’s amazing how many people tell me they know someone who has had this procedure. I’m surprised at how many people have had their throat cut open, their cervical discs removed, replaced with new bone and then fused together with a little clip.

While it sure doesn’t sound like fun, I’m looking forward to the relief it will provide.  For the last few months I’ve been connecting to my office computer via my ThinkPad and GoToMyPC so I’m looking forward to sitting up straight again.

Feel free to read through some of my older posts and check out the search box for previous topics.  BitsFromBill.com will be three years old next week. I’ll have some time to come up with some new topics and will be posting again as soon as I get a chance.

If you found me searching Google because you have neck problems stop back and I’ll tell you how it goes.  One of my old friends helped creat

Photo From Your IPAddress Has Been UploadedNovember 17

It starts with an innocent message that you think comes from one of your Facebook friends. Below is a classic example of social engineering designed to steal your password.  It didn’t take a brilliant hacker to come up with this scam. It just took someone with evil thoughts and no life.

I noticed this message on a friends Facebook page this morning and my experience told me right away that something smelled funny. When I cautiously went to the web page listed via my test machine it all become clear.

First, they try and scare you.

 

It might seems safe because they only want your Email right?

If you entered your password, it’s time to go to Facebook
and other sites listed before and change i

Start Your Holiday Shopping NowNovember 15

It's never too early to start your holiday shopping and this year I have some recommendations I promise will be popular with your loved ones.

Bakugan Starter Pack 

My recommendation for kids is Bakugan, Bakugan, Bakugan.
They will be the hottest item under tree this year and you better purchase now. I predict you’ll have a hard time finding these in December.
Bakugan Battle Arena

We’re already

Technologizer, New Playground for Harry McCrackenNovember 15

Last year I wrote about the adventures of former PC World Editor, Harry McCracken.  I had the pleasure of getting to know Harry while on vacation in early 2007. He’s a true gentleman and an absolutely classic geek.

• Harry McCracken Doesn’t Hate Apple (5/4/2007)
• Harry McCracken Is Having a Good Day (5/10/2007)
  
  

Last year, Harry left his 13+ year position with PC World due to a conflict between editorial content and pressure to please advertisers. PC World owners IDG recognized the folly of their directive and asked Harry to return which he did.

Now Harry has left the hard copy publishing world behind to start a new venture called “Technologizer”. This time he left PC World in good hands as he starts his new job, expanding his editorial coverage of the industry.

Technologizer includes a social network element thanks to technology from Ning.com. Technologizer, A Smarter Tech Community is