Blogging, that is web logging, is one way to put your thoughts on the Net for all to read and comment on. Some use it as a diary or daily journal, others for commentary and opinions on every aspect of daily life.

A simple way to get started is to use MSN Spaces which enables you to restrict readers and comments from those on your MSN Messenger contact list. If you're not at all shy, then allow everybody to read and comment. It only takes a few minutes to decide on a title and a colour scheme (which you can alter at any time later on). Your blog space can have a photo album so it's a convenient way to share all your latest shots with family and friends.

Another popular free blogging tool is at www.blogger.com where you can set up your own space. Blogging has become so popular because many more people now have access to broadband. If you only have dialup, then consider installing w.blogger so you can prepare your blogs off-line and later upload them.

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Windows Media Player has several options available for ripping your music so it's worth checking the help document for all the options. WMP 10 in particular enables you rip to either WMA format or MP3 format. MP3 is now an older format and on the basis of size for quality is a poorer alternative to WMA. However, if your portable player only supports MP3, you'll have to use it.

When ripping to your hard drive, use the best quality given the available space but with today's large hard drives you won't have to worry too much. The poorest quality in WMA format compresses a full CD to about 30Mb whereas at a better setting such as 192Kb/sec (i.e., more information is stored so you hear a better sound), you'll need about 90Mb.

Because there's the chance to make money from adware and spyware, it's become the biggest curse for all computer users. Until now free tools such as Ad-aware and Spybot Search and Destroy have been adequate but they can be compromised. Some tools are very basic in their detection method and simply look for possible suspect file names or company names. Giant Corporation had developed a very sophisticated detection method, similar to heuristic detction used by some antivirus tools, for their anti-spyware software so Microsoft bought it and are adapting and testing it for Windows XP.

Microsoft will make its anti-spyware program a free download for Windows XP users as soon as testing finishes. webDotWiz has installed the test version and it's quietly sitting on his machine watching for any nasties.