SEND A PERSONALIZED CARE PACKAGE TO A SOLDIER
I know you want to help our troops stationed overseas. That's why I started the Operation Komando Web site, Operationkomando.com. It provides all the information you need to send care packages to the troops. You'll find lists of both small-ticket and big-ticket items to send. You'll also learn where to send your care packages.

But maybe you'd like to make a more personal connection with a soldier. In that case, head over to Any Soldier. The site posts e-mail messages from soldiers. You can read about where they're stationed and what it is like to be serving in the military.

You can also request a soldier's address. That means you can send a care package directly to the soldier! It's a great way to help the troops!

By the way, I've updated my Operation Komando site. If you haven't visited it lately, take a look. And send something to the troops!

WAIT! THERE ARE MORE WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR TROOPS! 
You can also donate books, CDs and DVDs. Or donate money so that our men and women overseas can have video calls with their families back home. You can also sponsor care packages provided by the USO. I've put together a list of ways you can support our military.

I'm sure there's one thing that you can do to brighten a service member's holiday far from home. Check the list now by clicking here.

BELKIN, SONY ISSUE RECALLS
Belkin has recalled almost 69,000 SurgeMaster power strips. The plug molding and housing can detach, posing a shock risk. There have been seven reports of cracked molding, but none of injuries. Several models, all manufactured in 2003, are affected: F9G930-10, F9G930v10, F9G930-10-W and F9G930-10-SN. Belkin's site has replacement information.

In a related note, Sony has recalled 69,000 AC power adapters. The adapters can short-circuit due to failing insulation. Again, this poses a shock risk. The adapters were sold with Vaio computers sold after Sept. 2007. Adapters for docking stations sold after Sept. 2005 are also affected. Visit Sony's site to check your power adapters.

REMEMBER TO CHANGE YOUR CLOCKS
You have an extra hour this weekend! Daylight Saving Time ends tomorrow at 2 a.m. So, be sure to set your clocks back an hour before going to bed tonight. This is also a good time to change the batteries in smoke detectors. They need to be replaced once a year.

Speaking of clocks, here are some great links on Komando.com.

MY FAVORITE IPHONE APP OF THE WEEK 
Good photographs don't just happen. A lot of experience and knowledge go into truly great shots. But Nikon wants to help you take better photographs. So, it has launched the Nikon Learn & Explore app. It's a great asset for both novice and experienced photographers. It doesn't matter what brand of camera you're using.

When you open the app, you're presented with a grid of photos. Click one to see it close up. You can also read up on how the photo was taken. Or, see more photos by the photographer. You'll get some good ideas—and inspiration—from these photos.

TAP INTO SOME GREAT FREE SOFTWARE
There's no need to shell out $100 or more on a computer program! All you need do is visit my Download of the Day site. Search through hundreds of great programs and download the ones you want. There's no charge!

Each day, I feature one cool free program that you'll just love. No matter what type of program you need, you're sure to find it! Be sure to check back every day!

Here are some of my favorite free downloads from the past week:

Saturday's Download of the Day—You can do a lot with digital photos. But you don't always need a bulky photo-editing program. Sometimes a specialized tool will do. I've collected some of my favorites.

Preview of Sunday's download—Learning really is fun. And it doesn't have to stop after school. You can learn something new online right now.

Want direct access to over 300 free programs? Bookmark my Downloads page. Just go here and press Ctrl+D. That will add my downloads to your browser's favorites!

And remember this: If I say a program is free, it's FREE. There are sites on the Internet that sell free programs. There are also many ads on the Internet for similar programs, which aren't free. If somebody tries to charge you for a free program, back up. You've clicked on the wrong thing.

GET A GREAT VIDEO PICK AT MY SITE EVERY SINGLE DAY
There is a seemingly endless supply of videos online. But quality videos are few and far between. That is, unless you're at my Video of the day site! You'll find great videos that will make you laugh or cry. And they're safe for the whole family!

Here are my favorite videos from the past week:

Saturday's video—Every aspect of Halloween is about spooky fun. That includes everything on TV. I've collected some great old and new Halloween specials.

Preview of Sunday's video—How will your loved ones remember you after you're gone? One 6-year-old is touching lives long after her death.

GET MONEY SAVING COUPONS ONLINE FOR FREE
I love to save money. I bet you do too. When you're shopping online, be sure to check my Coupon Center for online coupons for over 40,000 sites! You'll get instant savings! Click here now and you'll land in my Coupon Center.

REMEMBER TO SHARE
I love sharing fun sites and videos with you. I also love passing on handy tips and advice. And now, you can share the love with your friends and family. Just click the Share button next to articles you’d like to share. Enter your name and e-mail address. Then, add your friends’ e-mail addresses (up to five). Add a personal note and click Send E-mail. They’ll thank you for it!

You can also share via your favorite networking sites. You’ll notice several icons at the bottom of the share box. For example, you’ll see Facebook and Twitter. Click one of the buttons to go to the site and automatically post the link.

If you don’t see the site you want, click the green button at the right. You’ll get a menu that lists dozens of other networking and blogging sites. You’ll even get the option to send the link via text message!

PRIVACY AND SECURITY TIP: Using tech to watch elderly parents
We all hope our parents can be self-sufficient their entire lives. But that isn't always the case. Being able to check in on elderly parents is important. And you can do it from wherever you are. I'll give you some great options in the second hour of my show.

STILL TO COME: Useful tips, important news and a few laughs!

 CAN YOU USE AN IPHONE WITH VERIZON'S SERVICE?
Tania wrote from Dayton, Ohio, where she catches the show on WHIO 1290 AM. She plans to buy an iPhone. She's heard Verizon Wireless may start carrying the iPhone. If that happens, she'll want to switch from AT&T. She wants to know what the implications would be.

Currently, the iPhone is only available on AT&T in the United States. But Verizon reportedly has been negotiating with Apple to carry the iPhone.

I think it is unlikely that Verizon will get the iPhone. The Verizon network uses CDMA technology. This is different from AT&T's GSM network. Apple would need to manufacture a CDMA iPhone for Verizon. It may not see that as a good investment.

So, what does all of this mean to you, Tania? You couldn't use an AT&T phone on Verizon. If you were to transfer, you'd need a new iPhone. Also, you'd need to pay AT&T an early termination fee. All said, such a switch would cost you $400 or more.

When you select a cellular provider, think long term. You want to choose a provider that you can stick with for two years or so. Otherwise, you'll pay dearly to make the switch. It doesn't make sense to sign a contract you plan to break.

Now, a lot has been said about AT&T's service. I've had lots of dropped calls, and coverage is spotty. But I love my iPhone. Many people stick with AT&T because of the iPhone.

I recommend that you try the iPhone and AT&T's service. If you're not happy, cancel your contract. Do this within 30 days, and you won't owe AT&T a fee. The iPhone can also be returned, although you'll pay a 10 percent restocking fee.

If you prefer Verizon, consider an Android phone. Google's Android software is much like the iPhone's. And Android is available on a number of phones. You should have more choices. Learn if Android is right for you. My tip will tell you about all the great features Android packs.

For more help with iPhones, don't miss these great tips:

SPICE UP YOUR GPS UNIT WITH NEW ICONS
Bill in Modesto, CA, catches the show on KFIV 1360 AM. He has a Garmin Nuvi GPS unit. He's tired of the car icons included with the unit. A friend suggested that he download new ones. Bill wants to know if this is possible. If so, he wants to know how it is done.

Yes, Bill, you certainly can change the car icons. They represent your position on the map. Many other Garmin GPS units let you change icons, too. Downloading and installing them isn't terribly difficult.

Start by visiting the Garmin Garage. Click All Vehicles to see the available choices. You'll find a number of cars and trucks. There are also airplanes, helicopters, people, animals and objects. Click the one you want to download. On the next page, click Download Vehicle.

Now, connect your GPS unit to your computer. Click Download and then Open, if needed. Click Extract and browse to the Garmin/vehicle folder on your GPS unit. Now, double-click the Unplug or Eject icon in your computer's notification area. Click Stop and then OK.

Now, you'll need to change the icon on the GPS unit. Touch Settings and select Map. Next, select Vehicle. Finally, select the icon you would like to use.

GPS is a must-have technology. But it can pose risks. For more help balancing the pros and cons, visit my site:

NO, MICROSOFT HASN'T AXED MOVIE MAKER
Dan wrote from Seattle, where he catches the show on KTTH 770 AM. He upgraded to Windows 7 this week. And he's having regrets. That's because Microsoft has removed Movie Maker from Windows 7. He doesn't want to spend more money on software. So he'd like recommendations on programs to replace Movie Maker.

I've been hearing this a lot, Dan. It's true that Movie Maker isn't in Windows 7. Other programs like Mail are also missing. But that doesn't mean they're really gone.

Instead, Microsoft has put them online. Windows Movie Maker and Mail are still free. You'll just need to download them. These programs are part of the Windows Live Essentials pack.

Windows Live Essentials includes other handy programs. For example, there's Writer for creating and posting entries to blogs. And there's Windows Live Photo Gallery for editing, managing and sharing photos. You'll also find family safety tools and an instant-messaging program.

Of course, you don't need to stick with Microsoft's tools. You may use this opportunity to try some new software. For example, Thunderbird is a popular free e-mail program. You can get it from my site. For video editing, there's VirtualDub. Try Picasa for editing and organizing your photos. Again, both are free on my site, along with hundreds of other great free programs!

MAC USERS: GET MORE FROM YOUR APPLE REMOTE
Garry in Phoenix listens on KFYI 550 AM. He just bought a MacBook Pro. And he purchased an Apple Remote to go with it. He enjoys using it to run Front Row. But he wonders if that's all the remote can do.

For years, most Macs came bundled with a remote. This is no longer the case. Now, it only comes with the Apple TV. But one can be purchased ($20) for any Mac with a built-in IR receiver. That includes iMacs, Mac minis and MacBook Pros.

Front Row makes it easy to access all of your stored media. It can be launched and controlled via the remote. But the remote has several other tricks up its sleeve.

You can put your Mac to sleep from across the room. Simply depress the Play/Pause button until a remote icon flashes on screen.

Also, you can control applications like iTunes, QuickTime and Keynote. Play and pause music. Fast forward and rewind videos. Switch slides in a presentation. There's no need to stay at the keyboard.

The remote can also be useful if you use Boot Camp. Holding the Menu button while booting your Mac launches the System Picker. Use the arrow buttons to highlight the right bootable partition. Click Play/Pause to pick one.

Now, Macs will respond to any Apple Remote by default. This is great if you have multiple Macs in different rooms. But maybe you only want it to control a single Mac. Hold down the Play/Pause and Menu buttons. A symbol will tell you when the two are linked. That Mac will now only respond to that remote.

More useful tricks for Mac users:

New!
Every operating system has useful, time-saving shortcuts, and my Guide to Time-Saving Shortcuts for Mac OS X will show you exactly what they are and how to use them. Whether you're a longtime Mac user or just switching, you'll find plenty of helpful information you can use every day. It's only $4. Order yours by clicking here.

PAY IT FORWARD: I'm sure at least one person you know might benefit from these tidbits. So, spread the love. Forward this newsletter to all your friends. Encourage them to de-stress, too, and sign up for our newsletters!

GET UNBIASED BUYING ADVICE WHENEVER YOU NEED IT
Visit the Komando.com Buying Guide. Here, you can find unbiased advice on buying laptops, desktops, TVs, monitors, scanners, video cards, digital cameras, software, audio, printers, cell phones, networking gear, handhelds, memory cards and, well, let's just say a heck of a lot more!

DON'T STOP YET – THERE'S MORE YOU NEED TO KNOW: 

PUBLISH YOUR OWN BOOK FOR FUN AND PROFIT
Everybody has a story to tell. And November is National Novel Writing month. So, you may be working hard to pen your novel. Next up: landing a publisher.

Interesting a traditional publisher is no small feat. In the bad old days, years of work often resulted in nothing. Not any longer.

More and more writers are choosing to self-publish. Using online services, books can be published inexpensively and easily. And you can make money along the way, too!

Do you have a Web site or blog? If you do, help support The Kim Komando Show! Linking to my site is easy. Plus, I just added new artwork to post on your page. You'll find instructions and the artwork here. Thank you for your support!

 A LITTLE ABOUT ME:
Did you know that I host two national radio shows? I have a Digital Minute that airs Monday through Friday. I also host a three-hour show on the weekends. Over 460 radio stations in the great United States broadcast my shows. Plus, from here in the desert come all kinds of tidbits about living a digital lifestyle. You can read my weekly column in over 100 Gannett newspapers across the country. And I write two columns a week for the USAToday Web site.

HAVE A QUESTION? CALL ME THIS WEEKEND!
If you have a question about something digital, let me help! It takes just three easy steps: 1.) Call the LIVE broadcast. That's this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the East Coast, or, if you live on the West Coast, 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. 2.) Know the phone number. It is, of course, toll-free 1-888-825-5254. 3.) Talk to me. That's all there is to it!

STILL TO COME IN THIS ISSUE: 

Jay in Dallas catches the show on KRLD 1080 AM. He and his wife are actors. They have their reels on their Web sites. But he would like to spruce them up a bit.

Jay would like to convert them to Flash and edit them. The videos are currently in WMV format.

Well, Jay, you're going about things the wrong way. Edit your videos first, then convert them.

Flash videos are not easy to edit. It is difficult to find Flash players, let alone editing software.

On the other hand, WMV files are easily edited. In fact, you may have the software you need—Movie Maker.

It is included with Vista and XP. But you'll need to download it if you're on Windows 7.

With Movie Maker, you can easily add footage. Or, remove parts of your reel. You can also add fun effects and transitions. And put in music or a voice-over.

Once you've edited your video, it is easy to convert. Use Zamzar. It's fast, free and easy. You can also use the free Riva FLV Encoder.

Or, you may wish to upload your videos to a sharing site like YouTube or Vimeo. These sites will automatically convert them. Then embed them in your site.

PROTECT YOUR IDENTITY WITH 90-DAY FREE TRIAL 
You need to protect your identity. It's your lifeline. No other company protects your identity better than ProtectMYID.com. Now, you can try it free for 90-days to the first 1,000 listeners who switch from any other identity protection service, like LifeLock. Enter promo code KIM when prompted during the ProtectMyID.com registration process. It's that simple. Try ProtectMyID.com and you'll agree. It's simply the best. I use it and you should, too! Click here for your FREE 90-day trial now!

DO YOU HAVE A NEW ADDRESS? 
Let us know so you don't miss a single issue of our free newsletters. It's easy. Just use our Change of Address form at the Komando Newsletter Center. Click here to access it now.

FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK & TWITTER
Facebook: Join me at http://www.facebook.com/kimkomando
Twitter: I'm at http://www.twitter.com/kimkomando

STILL TO COME IN THIS WEEKEND'S EDITION:

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A TREAT ON THE RADIO I'm on the radio each weekend, providing the latest information on our digital world. My Digital minutes are quick tips during the week. Audio of my shows is available on demand through Kim's Club.

SAMPLE MY SPOOKTACULAR STATIONS
More than 465 stations air my shows. You can hear me all over the country on these fine stations: Chicago (WLS 890 AM); San Francisco (KNEW 910 AM); Houston (KPRC 950 AM); Atlanta (WBS 750 AM); Windsor, Ontario (CKLW 800 AM); Tampa, FL (WGUL 860 AM); Baltimore (WBAL 1090 AM); Rochester, NY (WHAM 1180 AM); McAllen, TX (KURV 710 AM); Boise, ID (KIDO 580 AM); Reno, NV (KKOH 780 AM); Fayetteville, NC (WFNC 640 AM); Palm Springs, CA (KPSI 920 AM); Waco, TX (KWTX 1230 AM); Bend, OR (KBND 1110 AM); Bangor, ME (WVOM 103.9 FM); Alexandria, LA (KSYL 970 AM); Winchester, VA (WINC 1400 AM); Medford, OR (KCMX 880 AM); Dubuque, IA (WDBQ 1490 AM; Panama City, FL (WYOO 101.1 FM); Texarkana, TX (KTFS 940 AM); and more!

FIND ME ON A MAP NEAR YOU
Find me near you by following a couple easy steps. First, head to my locator map. Click an area near you. Enter your e-mail address and wait for your instant reply!

KIM'S CLUB THRILLER 
Beware of ghouls posting on my Message Board, goblins accessing premium content and ghosts downloading my on-demand audio. Members have access to 80% more content. And you'll get a free book (a $14.95 value) by signing up now!

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KIM'S TIPS FOR KOMANDO KIDS: How to safely post kid photos
Parents like to share photos of their kids. The Web makes it easy. But are all the places to share photos safe? No. Does that mean you need to pull your photos off the Web? No. You can share and stay private. Listen to the third hour of my show for the details.

Need to find a radio station near you? No problem! Click here to use the official Kim Komando Show Locator Map. With over 450 stations, there's probably one near you. But if there isn't, you can always download the shows with a Kim's Club membership. It's only $5.95 per month.

CONTEST SITE: Room Makeover Sweepstakes
Good Housekeeping is giving away ten $2,500 IKEA gift cards. Open to residents of the 48 contiguous United States. Must be 18 or older. Deadline: 5/31/10.

FREEBIE OF THE WEEK: Have a blast
Get a free sample of PowerBar Gel Blasts energy snacks. They're formulated to boost your workouts. Open to U.S. residents. Deadline: 12/31/09.

FREEBIE FROM KOMANDO.COM: Create your own font
Are you bored with the default fonts in your computer? Then, create your own custom font. It's a fun weekend project. And this little tool makes it easy.

FREEBIE FROM CARBONITE: Free 15-day trial (www.carbonite.com/kim)
It's simply the best online backup. It's the one that I use. Get a free 15-day trial. Use promo code Kim.

FREEBIE FROM GOTOASSIST: Free 30-day trial (www.gotoassist.com/kim)
Help people remotely work on their computers. Fix problems remotely without having to travel! Kim Komando Show listeners get a 30-day free trial. Use promo code Kim.

FREEBIE FROM PROTECTMYID.COM: Free 90-day trial
Every 79 seconds, someone in America becomes a victim of identity theft. Use the ID theft protection company that I do. Kim Komando Show listeners get a 90-day free trial. Use promo code KIM when signing up.

GET A COOL SITE EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK
There are plenty of great sites on the Web. But who has time to find them? Every day, I pick one great site and share it with you. Try it for a week and you'll love it!

In case you missed any this past week, here's a list of some of our favorites:
• Ingredients in search of a recipe 
• Find local deals 
• Edit RAW files for free 

Do you get my free Cool Site of the Day newsletter? Sign up now by clicking here.

Stay with us. There's lots more to cover:

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THIS WEEK'S FOCUS: 5 cool desktop applications for photos
You can do a lot with digital photos. But you don't always need a bulky photo-editing program. Sometimes a specialized tool will do. I've collected some of my favorites.

Need to find a radio station near you? No problem! Click here to use the official Kim Komando Show Locator Map. With over 450 stations, there's probably one near you. But if there isn't, you can always download the shows with a Kim's Club membership. It's only $5.95 per month.

Let's keep it going; there's plenty more to cover:
• SECURE COMPUTING: Facebook users are at risk

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Brought to you by my book, Complete Guide to Computer Security & Privacy. Order your copy today!

BREDLAB TROJAN TARGETS FACEBOOK USERS
A new attack is targeting Facebook users. Almost 750,000 members have received phony password reset messages. They say the recipient's password has been resent for security reasons. The message directs the recipient to open an attached file to retrieve the password.

The attached ZIP file contains the Bredlab (or Bredolab) Trojan downloader. It downloads numerous malicious programs. For example, it will install scareware. This attack is continuing to spread. Don't fall for it!

Don't let the malicious goblins get you this Halloween. Good security software will protect you from most online attacks. Visit my Security Center. I've got everything you need, and it's all free.

Become a fan of the show on Facebook. Click www.facebook.com/kimkomando now.

THE END IS IN SIGHT, BUT I WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK
• Identify the people in your photos

I have thousands of digital photos. All are organized by date. That's handy. But I want to organize them by face. It would take a tremendous amount of time to do this manually. I've heard of facial recognition software. How well does it work? What do you recommend?
Becky in Tucson, AZ, listening on KNST 790 AM

Digital photography is both a blessing and a curse. It is easy to capture all of life's important moments. It is also easy to capture those not-so-important moments!

The result: We're taking hundreds—even thousands--of photos a year.

Keeping all these photos organized can be a hassle. Photo file names are usually not descriptive. That makes it difficult to find the photos you want.

Facial recognition can help. It uses biometrics to identify people in photos. For example, it may measure the distance between facial features. These measurements are, for the most part, unique.

Learn more about these programs in my Killer Tip, on my site. I also discuss the limitations of facial recognition software. Then, learn how to get up and going!

NEW LINKS ALWAYS DESIRED 
We have new linking artwork for your blog, online profile, Web site and wherever else you'd like to post it. Help us tell the world to go Komando. Just paste the code on the appropriate page within your site. It's that simple!

FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK & TWITTER
Facebook: Join me at http://www.facebook.com/kimkomando
Twitter: I'm at http://www.twitter.com/kimkomando

Thank you for your support of The Kim Komando Show! Remember, Komando.com is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! I'll see you there!

Kim:)

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THESE ARE FRIGHTFULLY BAD!
What do you get when you cross a ghost with Bambi?
Bamboo

Why don't witches ride their brooms when they're angry?
They don't want to fly off the handle

What do you get if you drop a pumpkin?
Squash

Why don't skeletons cross the road?
They don't have the guts

What happened to the guy who couldn't pay his exorcist?
He was repossessed

Who won the skeleton beauty contest?
No body

HAVE A QUESTION? CALL ME THIS WEEKEND!
If you have a question about something digital, let me help! It takes just three easy steps: 1.) Call the LIVE broadcast. That's this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the East Coast, or, if you live on the West Coast, 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. 2.) Know the phone number. It is, of course, toll-free 1-888-825-5254. 3.) Talk to me. That's all there is to it!

I WANT 100,000 FACEBOOK & TWITTER FRIENDS

FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK & TWITTER
Facebook: Join me at http://www.facebook.com/kimkomando
Twitter: I'm at http://www.twitter.com/kimkomando

Hugs to all!

Kim:)

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