Don't Trust Sites that Don't Support Firefox
Many people are now discovering that Internet Explorer is full of security holes and making the switch to Firefox, a far superior browser by Mozilla. Even the Department of Homeland Security recommended that users switch from IE to another browser. However, some people might argue that they don't want to make the switch because all websites don't necessarily support Firefox. However, rather than avoid Firefox, you should just avoid the sites that don't support it. Holes Holes and More IE Holes Those who are up-to-date on internet security, know that Internet Explorer is constantly plagued with security holes. Type "IE Security Holes" into google and you'll get over a million search results listing articles ranging all the way back to 2000 and before. Let's review just a few in chronological order.
- In 2000 CNET reported that IE was "open to a potentially dangerous vulnerability allowing a malicious programmer to take over a computer through local and remote folders."
- In May 2002 PC World reported "Microsoft Patches Six IE Security Holes - Vulnerabilities in latest versions of Web browser could allow attackers to run code on your PC."
- In June 2004 BBC ran an article entitled "Web browser flaw prompts warning," saying that "Users are being told to avoid using Internet Explorer until Microsoft patches a serious security hole in it."
- And in recent news, August 29, 2005, Microsoft investigates a new hole in IE. An independent security researcher in California found that, "If a user browses to a bad Web site, malicious software can be installed on their PC without their knowledge." - ZDNet
It doesn't seem to end, and as one opinion columnist wrote "Rest assured, we'll all be dealing with IE vulnerabilities for a long, long time." - Informationweek.com Sometimes holes are good though. For example, 9 out 10 Law enforcement officials prefer you to use IE because it makes it easier for them to see which websites you've visited while investigating your computer. In IE's defense, Microsoft creates patches for all these holes, but really, I don't want to spend my valuable time downloading and installing patches all the time. Just give me something that works the first time. So why doesn't Firefox have so many security holes? Well, Firefox is developed by the Mozilla Organization, a non profit organization that made the browser code "open source". Because the code is open source, computer geeks from all over the world have been able to see the code and detect if there were any security holes. Any major hole should have been found and fixed by now. Also, because IE is a Microsoft product and more widely used, it is a larger target for hackers. Better Standards It has recently been discovered that Internet Explorer 7 will not support the new CSS standard, CSS2. CSS Standards are important because they make sure that all websites look the same on all browsers. So why would IE7 not support common internet standards? One can only speculate as to why IE 7 won't support CSS2. Perhaps Microsoft likes broken browsers because it helps their monopoly. If they don't support standard html, then developers have to write to IE standards. In this way, they're forcing people to write broken html. I don't know if I want to visit a site that's written only to support broken html. Developers should care about standards, especially if they want me to give them my personal information or credit card number. Or maybe, IE can't support CSS2. One blogger explained that because IE7 is coming out this summer, they don't have time to make it support CSS2 Firefox on the Rise Up-to-date web developers care about security and standards. With more than 80 million users and counting, Firefox continues to spread like fire and the internet community has taken notice. Most computer geeks are now using Firefox and creating websites that support it. Those who aren't, aren't paying attention, or don't care. In that case, I don't plan on using their website. It's all about trust When you make a purchase online, you're not just trusting a company to fulfill your order, you're trusting them to keep your information safe and secure. If their programmers are using IE as their only browser, then they don't care about security. Don't give them your credit card.
Meet Rikey Austin: Creator of Tales from Alice's Bear Shop
When they were young, Rikey Austin's three sons listened to her stories about teddy bears and their adventures. Her characters include Cobby, who fell overboard during a boat trip around the bay, and Mary-Jane, who was so busy with shells, buckets, and flags that she didn't notice the tide coming in. Part of Russ-Berrie's Alice's Bear Shop Collection, Cobby is an adorably soft 15� tan bear wearing blue denim overalls. Cobby is also available in a miniature, 6� version. His pal and fellow Alice's Bear Shop cohort, Mary-Jane, is a fuzzy, 14.5� light tan bear wearing a plaid dress and matching bow. Cobby and Mary-Jane's creator, Rikey Austin, lives with her family in Lyme Regis, England, a coastal town that served as the backdrop for the movie The French Lieutenant's Woman and gives her bear tales a hint of salt and sea. Although she has tried her hand at sewing, Rikey confessed, "I'm much safer with a paint brush." Fortunately, her best friend, Jo Farmer, has the sewing skills to bring Rikey's sketches to life. From Rikey's sketches, Jo created patterns and crafted the first handmade bears. "Jo is a real artist," said Rikey. "She said it couldn't be done, and then she did it!" After initial meetings with Chris Robinson, President of Russ's International Division, Rikey and Jo met with members of the Russ design team. "We were very unprofessional," Rikey said. "We giggled at big meetings and cried when we first saw the bears on display. At the moment, I don't think we can believe that this isn't a dream. I keep thinking I'll wake up any moment." In addition to Cobby and Mary-Jane, Alice's Bear Shop includes five other Russ bears created by Rikey Austin.
Mills Gifts' Land of the Free Bear Thanks Soldiers, Helps Military Charities
The Land of the Free Bear from Mills Gifts is the perfect way to say thanks to the men and women fighting overseas. This plush bear plays heartwarming messages from family members of soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines for service men and women to listen to. The Land of the Free Bear, wearing a camouflage fatigue jacket, is reading a letter from home and holds the airmail envelope in his other paw. He wears a dog tag saying "Land of the Free...Because of the Brave," which can be removed and worn. By pressing his foot, listeners can hear the messages of actual military members' families to their loved ones overseas. Some 10 percent of the manufacturer proceeds from the Land of the Free Bear will be donated monthly to two military charities: Fisher House Foundation and Pen Pals for Soldiers.
Waterford's Holiday Heirlooms 2005 Ornaments Continue Rich Irish Tradition
Few people celebrate Christmas with the zest and zeal of the Irish, and Waterford's latest Christmas ornaments reflect that traditional heritage. The world-renowned Irish crystal maker's new Holiday Heirlooms 2005 Ornaments continue the Irish holiday tradition with both fanciful and familiar icons of Irish heritage and Gaelic lore. New mouthblown, hand-decorated ornaments for 2005 include the Holiday Heirlooms 2005 Lustre Harp Angel Ball Ornament, which is a lustrous grass-green color with a fanciful handpainted white angel playing a harp. Also new for the Christmas season is the Holiday Heirlooms 2005 Lismore Lyle Snowman Bell. This ceramic bell from the Holiday Heirlooms North Pole Collection features Lyle the snowman dressed in a wintery sweater, hat, scarf, and mittens. He smiles with pleasure as he holds his favorite treat...ice cream! The base of the bell is decorated in Waterford's classic Lismore pattern. It is dated 2005 on the back. An Irish ornament collection wouldn't be complete without including a tip o' the hat to St. Paddy's Day, and the Holiday Heirlooms 2005 Irish Shamrock Ball Ornament does just that. This vibrant green Irish Shamrock Ball Ornament features delicate handpainted clovers and is dated 2005. Many of Waterford Crystal's Holiday Heirlooms ornaments from earlier years are also still available through online retailers.
Gunds LIFE Bear Helping Fight Breast Cancer
Val Skinner has been an LPGA touring golf professional since 1983. When her friend and fellow golfer Heather Farr was diagnosed with breast cancer, Val and her fellow LPGA golfers were shocked. Twenty-four-year-old women are not supposed to get breast cancer. And they are not supposed to die at 28. When that happened, Val knew she had to do something. That was the beginning of the Val Skinner Foundation and LIFE, or LPGA Pros In the Fight to Eradicate Breast Cancer. Every year the LPGA sponsors a prestigious golf tournament, with the proceeds going to the largest private funder of breast cancer research and education, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (Komen Foundation), and to the Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ), a National Cancer Institute designated clinical care center in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Gund, as an official corporate sponsor of the foundation, has provided generous contributions to the cause as well as introducing the Gund LIFE teddy bear collection to help promote breast cancer awareness and early detection. The teddy bears are made of soft pink plush and feature the LIFE logo on the foot, with the "L" forming a pink breast cancer ribbon. Each LIFE bear's hang tag includes information on proper breast self-examination techniques, and a portion of each sale benefits LIFE and the Val Skinner Foundation. The LIFE bears are available in several sizes, and there's even a LIFE bear driver cover--a soft pink plush bear wearing a golf sun visor, with a stretchy knit stocking to protect your golf club.