Are you getting the Internet speed you're paying for?
When you surf, do you feel like you're watching grass grow? It could be that things are moving slower than your Internet service provider promised.
It may not by your ISP's fault. There are a lot of connections on the Internet. For example, a slow router could be the reason.

Regardless, you should check your speed. And that's easy to do. Click on the following link to have your connection speed tested for FREE.
http://www.speedtest.net/
After going to the speed test site, click on the yellow pyramid to start the test.
Don't worry that your upload speed is much slower than your download speed. Most of the time you'll be downloading information.
My Road Runner connection advertises "up to 5Mbps downstream" and as you can see by my results, (over 6 Mbps) it wasn't a problem at the time I tested it. The speed of the connection can change depending on demand and time of day.
If your speed is consistently slow, you'll want to contact your ISP service.
You'll also find some neat features like comparing your results with others and displaying previous speed tests you've done over time in a nice line graph by clicking the Results tab.
You can see below that I started testing when I had issues with speed, and my results after several separate tests.

Free Photoshop?

Creating an account with Adobe Photoshop Express
Before using Photoshop's new Express you'll need to create an account. It only takes a few simple steps.

1. Go to http://www.photoshop.com/express
   
2. Click on the “Join Now” button and you'll get the screen shown above.
   
3. Fill in your name and REAL email address (Adobe will send an email to verify who you are)
4. Write down the email address you used and the password. This will be your login and pw for Photoshop Express.
5. The Personal Sharing URL is going to be your address you share with others with your photos. For example you might want to use your name: http://johnsmith.photoshop.com
6. Uncheck that you want communications from Adobe
7. Check the next box that you agree to their Terms of Use and click Continue.
8. Check your email address you gave Adobe and click the link to finish the registration process.

Complete online video tutorials for using Photoshop Express:
http://www.photoshopexpresstechniques.com/

My video pick for the month - Getting straight answers from politicians?

Free GPS for your phone?
If you haven’t plunked out the bucks for a GPS system yet, make sure you check out “Google Mobile”.
I prefer a mobile GPS systems rather than something installed in a vehicle.
First, a mobile GPS system is a lot cheaper. Second, it’s mobile! You can keep track of your favorite fishing spots, keep track of where you are when you go hiking, take it with you when flying somewhere, etc.
We have one GPS unit that my husband takes with him. He can set it on the dash of his car when he needs it for driving, or take it with him when he travels. I don’t have the need for one that often so I use Google’s Mobile map information. You can download Google Maps to your phone or get driving directions from point A to B. Why spend the money on an extra GPS unit when you only occasional help and, you can do it with your cell phone?
For more information:
http://www.google.com/mobile/
Also, check out Google's "My Location" on how cell phone towers can be used as a GPS tool.
http://www.commoncraft.com/mylocation