VPN set up on a Macintosh

These instructions for setting up a VPN on a Mac work for Tiger and Leopard.  I can't verify for other OSes yet:

Click on the WLAN (wireless LAN) indicator (near the upper right hand corner).

Click on Open Network Preferences

Click on the + near the lower left hand corner of the Network window that appears

For interface, choose VPN

For VPN type, put PPTP

For service name, put **Company Name** VPN

Click Create

For server address, put **FQDN of VPN server**

For account name, put your login name (i.e. john or jsmith depending on your company's policy)

For encryption, leave it at Automatic

Click Authentication and put in your password

Click Connect

And then it should connect.

electrical in other countries

I found this great resource for the types of plugs and voltages around the world - helpful when traveling:

http://kropla.com/electric2.htm

Live OneCare for computer optimization

I've always looked for easy wasy to optimize systems.  Usually, it just consisted of removing unnecessary items from msconfig.

But when researching the conficker worm, I came across Live OneCare's virus scanner which also does some registry optmization, which I will incorporate into my computer optimization routines.

The Live OneCare routine needs to be run out of IE and is located here:

http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/default.htm