For the convenience of "Computer Ease" readers, who've purchased my book, I've posted a full Index for the book. You can download and print from my web site:

When I was a school girl, "Lost & Found" was in a nun's pocket. What could a child lose? A pencil, barrette, lunch money? Times have changed. Today, people invest a fortune in a pocket full of tech gadgets for family members, from cell phones, to Palm devices, digital cameras, iPods, and laptops.

While researching theft protection, I discovered Track It Back, a 24/7 lost & found recovery service. It won't turn a thief into an honest person, but if you leave your camera on a restaurant table, or your cell phone in a taxi, the finder can contact you via Track It Back for a reward. You pay nothing for the service, just the identification stickers. You pay any reward directly to the finder, through the service. You can access it at the link below or through my web site.

Does your site measure up to global web etiquette? If your web site reaches global audiences, make sure it reflects an awareness of their needs. Here’s what to include to ensure overseas clients know you want to work with them.

1. A welcome message in multiple languages.

2. Don’t use graphics, especially for a navigation button, that don’t translate well.

3. Use web development tools that work worldwide. While Adobe’s portable document format (.pdf) is a widely adopted standard, other web tools such as Java and Flash may not be, especially in countries with less advanced Internet connections.

4. Be considerate when listing events and prices on your site with an international format for date/time, and prices shown in multiple currencies.

5. Check your website statistics (hits) to see where visitors are coming from. Tailor your site to that audience.

Non-English speaking Internet users now outnumber those who speak English. If you have, or want to attract, a particular international audience, consider using country flags on your home page to denote pages written in French, Italian, or other languages. When a user clicks on a country flag, you can link them to a translated page of your site.

For help with translating a block of text, try AltaVista’s BabelFish technology at this link.

Attention: Palm-hugging techies:

Research firm In-Stat looked at the growing trend toward portable electronics, with the popularity of cell phones and Blackberry-type smart phones.

The study found "even with their devotion to mobile devices, people are still loyal to their laptop and desktop computers," based on a web poll with 1,900 respondents. When asked which ONE tech device they would select if only one were available, respondents said:

Laptops - 45 percent

Desktops - 20 percent

Smart phones - under 9 percent

Cell phones - 7 percent

In my consulting, I notice people find the small gadgets too expensive, frustrating, impermanent and unsatisfying as a productivity tool. Nothing beats a low priced, light-weight laptop. I've summarized a few of the best at my web site: www.cclarity.com/laptops.html

We know a new generation of computers will emerge next year with Microsoft Vista. Until then, laptop prices get better and better.

1. August 1-7 is National Simplify Your Life Week. Use the time to toss some stacks of unread papers, delete junk mail and stop forwarding it. Move information odds & ends from paper to your computer to track events, directions, travel info, recipes, financial data and your to-do list.

2. Ask a question on Computer Clarity's forum on our web site.

3. Clean your computer Desktop to remove unwanted icons. Any icon with a white square and black arrow is a shortcut. If you don't use it, drag it to the Recycle Bin.

4. Click on your My Documents folder, and cut the clutter by making new folders within it. Click File / New folder to get organized.

5. See where old web sites go to die. The Internet Archive preserves prior versions of sites. For fun, use the Wayback Machine to look up the first web page done by your company or university. It also archives movies, audio and thousands of text files.

No, it's not a joke about hot air. Visit political blogs to get both sides of the story, frequent updates, and links to important organizations. As with all media, consider the source.

A good way to find blogs in your area of interest is by using a blogosphere search engine at Technorati. Search "Illinois politics" or "GOP" +your state, for example.

I hope you're all enjoying Summer.

Helen Gallagher

Phone: 847-998-6240, www.cclarity.com

Feel free to forward this issue of Computer Clarity's monthly e-newsletter to your friends, or invite them to subscribe on my site at www.cclarity.com. There's no charge.