Speaking as a father, I know you probably haven’t picked out a Father’s Day gift yet even though dad’s big day is exactly a week from now. It’s okay, we understand you’re busy what with work and all. You should really call your mother more though, she worries.

Anyway, if you’re still looking for a great gift for your old man, allow me to assist: these slick wireless earphones incorporate dual microphone technology and customizable equalizer profiles so the classic sounds of The Big Bopper come through like never before.

Also, I know it took most dads I knew forever to make the switch to one of those newfangled electric tooth-brushes, and so another outstanding option for the man who has everything (that he could think of in 1963) is the quip electric toothbrush, designed as the perfect brush with carefully calibrated vibrations and a low profile design built to deliver a perfect clean.

Finally, like many classic patriarchs I take pride in never getting sick. At least if you count common annoyances like the cold or flu…did have a bout with a stomach virus on a trip to South America, but that’s another story.

I attribute my relatively clean bill of health to three things: regular exercise, a reasonably decent diet, and these vitamins, which are formulated to provide the supplementary dietary compounds that can keep men like me vigorous well past the ripe old age of 46.

Ad Astra

The human race lost a couple of very special members to suicide last week…it’s a difficult concept to contend with. I personally know people who have attempted to take their own lives. I also knew a few who have succeeded. It never gets any easier to talk about.

The nature of our existence–the full weight of the human condition–can be a curious thing, and as I’m sure I don’t have to tell you, your results may vary. There are no easy answers on this topic, but this line from Woody Allen often comes to mind: “life is divided into the horrible and the miserable.”

Hard to argue, but I like to think there are moments of happiness scattered around in there like the marshmallows in Lucky Charms…finding them can make our slow march to the inevitable much more bearable. Try to enjoy the ride while you can.

YouTube on Your Time

If you’ve ever found yourself frustrated because you can’t watch your favorite YouTube videos when you’re on a long flight with no Internet connection or deep underground in your secret lair, you’ll be happy to know there’s is a way.

This PC Mag article goes into detail about downloading videos for offline viewing…the hours will fly by as you watch your favorite TV show recaps, recipe videos, and dubbed movie scenes anywhere and anytime.

The Last Word

Okay scouts, that’ll just about do it for this week. Thanks for checking your email bright and early for this latest eclectic edition of “Brad’s Blog!”

I’ll be back in your inbox right on schedule next time, but if you want to chat about some geeky greatness (or hear that story about South America) don’t be shy about dropping a line!

The post Share-Worthy – Celebrate life and Dad too in this weeks Brad’s Blog first appeared on Archway Computer.

Like pretty much everyone else, I’ve had my NCAA bracket busted beyond recognition in the first couple of rounds.

With 134 such games in the books at tip-off, a 16 seed had to come out on top against a #1 ranked team one of these years, and nobody told the Retrievers of tiny University of Maryland-Baltimore County that they were 20-point underdogs in their opening round game.

UMBC fell short in their next game after a valiant effort against perennial contender K-State, their day in the sun did give us the enduring delight of their official Twitter account. On the court, I was impressed with the way both coaches handled the unprecedented situation…these are just kids, but the lessons they learn will last a lifetime so kudos to them.

This year’s tournament seems unpredictable even by March Madness standards, with 5 of the games decided by two possessions or less and even the rare overtime Tournament game. In fact, this is the first time I can remember all four #1 seeds falling before the Sweet 16, which softens the blow of my Bruins ending up among the early exits.

Surfing Excursion Included

Got a cruise planned and want to stay connected without spending a small fortune in daily satellite Internet fees? Well, if you have a phone with mobile hotspot feature, there just might be a way.

Most cruises stay relatively close to the coastline for most of the route to save on fuel costs, meaning you can use their frugality against them by using your LTE as a connection point so you can save your budget for those elegant a la carte dining options.

An Influx of Input

We use Crewhu to collect critical feedback from our customers and generally get an idea of how well we’re doing our job. I personally read every review that comes in, it’s a little time consuming but I feel the insight I gain is more than worth the effort.

As our team grows–we’re over 30 people now–I’m getting more response with it than ever before, and I’m happy to report we have a stellar reputation among the people we serve, which reflects their commitment to excellent service as well as my skill in hiring capable staff.

Declaring is Caring?

I was recently given a dose of constructive criticism, namely that I could be more vocal in my praise of the amazing techs that do the heavy lifting around here.
They’re the smartest team of customer focused technical people I have ever had the pleasure to work with. It’s just that “effusive” isn’t a word that’s often used to describe me.

In any event, I get that everyone likes to hear that they’re doing a good job, and this piece helped me consider how my leadership style comes across. Maybe this sounds like you?

The Last Word

Seems like that’s a fine place to put a bookmark in things for the week, so thanks as always for making space in your routine for the latest addition to the “Brad’s Blog” catalogue. I shall return to your inbox in six days’ time, your spam filter permitting. If you’d like to chat before that, hail my email and I’ll find the free time. Have a great week!

The post Busted Brackets and Cheap Cruise Connections first appeared on Archway Computer.

Well, it’s been a couple of days and I’m still recovering from the big game–that is, UCLA extending its win streak by taking down archrival USC at home on Saturday. The Lady Bruins even threw in a victory over their counterparts from Southern Cal Monday night just for good measure.

With the pair of victories both squads are looking like viable Tournament entries, which is always an exciting development, especially after last season when both teams made the Sweet Sixteen. We’re a basketball school, always have been…what can I say?

Spy Screen

Do you consider yourself paranoid? It’s not the absolute worst mode of operation, just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean someone isn’t out to get you. Well, for you shifty-glancers and triple-checkers out there, I present to you the HP Elitebook.

The EliteBook’s main feature is its HP SureView screen that is only fully visible from straight on and fades at an angle, so your trade secrets, account balances, password entries, and other private screenings remain for your eyes only.

Amazon Tracking

Speaking of paranoia, Amazon has unveiled the next phase of its plan to completely take over all facets of your life.

Not content with robotic listening devices that record all your conversations while controlling your music and electronic locks that give strangers access to your home when you’re not around, now the company that has spent years finding out exactly what you like and where you live is getting into the insurance game.

Tinfoil hat off, this latest direction for the e-commerce titan is sure to shake up the industry in interesting and unpredictable ways. Imagine your health insurance being tied to your lifestyle purchases such as fitness equipment, activity trackers, and delicious snacks on demand. Amazon is putting a lot of their muscle behind this, so we’ll just have to see where it goes.

Top Terminals

I spend a lot of time in airports, and while some are pretty much the worst combination of a bus station and a warehouse, others are actually pretty cool. This site spotlights some of the most fascinating features of airports from around the world, from the extravagant world class retail space you would expect in Dubai to the live music stages in Nashville. Good info for a long layover, wouldn’t you say?

The Last Word

Well, that’s quite enough for this week! Thanks as always for checking out this exciting episode for Brad’s Blog! I’ll be back on schedule when scheduled, but until then don’t be afraid to shoot me an email!

The post Stealth Screens and Insurance by Amazon first appeared on Archway Computer.

Did you know that streaming services like Hulu and even YouTube have different content based on what country your account is currently based in?

It’s all due to convoluted licensing and distribution details that can be neatly summed up by the phrase “because money,” but that doesn’t make it any less annoying when I’ve just watched Season 1 and 2 at home and can’t make my way through season 3 on a night’s layover abroad.

Well, at least I couldn’t before I discovered this nifty little resource, Nord VPN. At less than $4 a month on a two year deal, this versatile tool allows you to mask your location so you can access all the content that your subscription monies are paying to finance, and also makes your browsing experience much more secure which is pretty good too.

Seller’s Remorse

Speaking of finances, we recently encountered a strange situation where cybersecurity concern Appriver (which I’ve always loved) began issuing back charges to our clients for sales tax on long past transactions, in some cases amounting to several years worth of sales taxes for enterprise resources like Office 365.

I always like to stay on top of the recommendations I make to our customers–that way they trust your recommendations–and browsing the NetVU boards turned up the revelation that it wasn’t just our clients…apparently this is a widespread practice they’ve enacted.

Now, I’m not a lawyer. I don’t play one on TV, and I didn’t even stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. However, I know this doesn’t seem quite right…personally, I would consult a legal professional before I paid a substantial unexpected invoice half a decade after the fact.

As it relates to alternatives for upgrading to this year’s latest software, I’ve had good experiences with B & H Photo and Video, which avoids the possibility of delayed misunderstandings by not collecting taxes on purchases delivered outside of NY and NJ.

Mind Business

My stepfather struggled with Alzheimers for the last years of his life, and although he did an amazing job working through his affliction and functioning at a high level, I believe earlier detection would have helped him live a better quality of life for a longer time.

It’s natural to forget things from time to time, especially with the number of social media passwords and business lunches and Groupon expiration dates we try to keep track of in our daily lives. However, the occasional checkup is just good maintenance, and you can take this test at home.

An Early Gift

The security and stability of your system also requires a fair measure of preventative maintenance, and we here at Archway are proud to offer a convenient resource to help our potential future customers get a better picture of their network resources.

If you’d like to take advantage of this free, no obligation system review, all you have to do is check it out here. No appointments necessary and you can do it from your favorite hammock if you like, it’s all performed remotely in just 5 or 10 minutes. We’re here to help any way we can.

The Last Word

All right, that’s about all we have time for this week. Going to be a bit rough getting back into the swing of things after such a long and relaxing weekend, but hey…just a few weeks until pretty much everything shuts down until the end of the year, I feel as though we can get by until then. Thanks as always for making time for this exciting edition of “Brad’s Blog,” enjoy Mexican Netflix!

The post Netflix Around the World and Billing Issues first appeared on Archway Computer.

Rags to Riches to Rags…

An accountant might raise an eyebrow at the frequency with which I use my Amazon Prime subscription, but I’m generally good with money. I pretty much have to be since I’m not the heir to a candy bar fortune or anything, but who knows…somebody reading this might have a rich old uncle they’re unaware of.

That’s why I feel it’s relevant to mention that 7 out of 10 people who inherit money manage to somehow lose it all. Wouldn’t it be something to essentially get a winning lottery ticket then end up refilling two-liter soda bottles at fast food restaurants because you’ve squandered your gift from the Universe inside of 5 years?

In the hopes that such an unsavory fate should never befall any of my valued readers, I want to share this interesting article I stumbled across on Lifehacker. It outlines some smart investment strategies for managing sudden windfalls so your money can work for you and not against you.

…to Rich.

Everybody has their rotation of sites they check regularly—email, social media, entertainment and news are the standard circuit, and there are always a few wild cards…richontech.tv is one of mine.

Among Rich’s recent contributions to my lifestyle are the iPhone magnifier app that makes scanning small print easier for those of us who refuse to accept they need reading glasses, and this deal on a 55” Smart TV for $300 he spotlighted recently isn’t too shabby either.

Cut the Cost, Not the Cord

Raise your hand if you love your cable company!

Fine, no need for rude gestures, I get the point.

I understand, the major providers are making themselves harder and harder to love with their skyrocketing rates, but until the Internet finally humbles them for good, here are five ways to lower your monthly bill courtesy of CNET.com.

Our Tax-Deductible Vacation

We recently spent a little time in Cabo, and although it was technically a working vacation, if you’re must be productive a sunny beach in Mexico isn’t the worst backdrop for doing so. Unsurprisingly, we managed to make the most of our business trip, and if you want a list of fun things to do—and fun things to avoid—just shoot me an email.

Heroes without Helmets

Like most little boys, I went through a phase where being a firefighter was the coolest job on Earth.

As I grew older I realized that running toward a multistory stack of burning bricks was probably not the best thing for my long-term health, but the idea of coming to the rescue still appeals to me…which is why we’ve been doing what we do here at Archway for the last 3 decades.

Sure, most of our days are spent at the office on call for emergencies and educating the public on best safety practices…when it comes down to it, nobody really wants to see us in action.

Still, we’re always ready to respond when the call comes in…we even offer a free facility inspection system review to identify potential issues before they go kinetic.

Everything we do as a company is aimed at keeping your data and network resources secure, because in the digital world of today, the safety of your connected systems of an agency is every bit as important as that of the building they’re in. Read more about what we do here.

The Last Word

All right, that’ll just about do it for this engaging episode. I’d love to stay and chat, but today is Amazon Prime Day and…well, you understand, right?  Thanks for reading!

The post Are You Even Ready to Be Rich? first appeared on Archway Computer.