Google Provides Free Voicemail to Homeless

Google announced yesterday at a Project Homeless Connect event that they would provide free voicemail to homeless in San Francisco, if they choose to accept it. According to the article by MSNBC,

A homeless person will be able to call in for his or her messages from any phone.

The move by the city and the company would allow someone to be able to fill out a job application, which asks for a call back number.

It will allow clinics to share test results.

Mayor Gavin Newsom and Google said they want to empower people.

"How do you communicate as a homeless individual? " Newsom asked. "How do you expect your life to turn around if you can't even get information or if someone can't even get in touch with you?"

I believe this a great offer and Google should be lauded for their efforts in trying to help those who are less fortunate get back on their feet. Homeless people come from all backgrounds and each has a different story that got them to where they are today, but each of them can benefit from Google's offer to give them a better opportunity.

I also think that it is great that a corporation is stepping up to help those who have fallen on hard times. They government should only do so much, and it is good to see that a company with a lot of money being able to help out and support those who need it.

Free Anti-Virus Software

Most people who buy new computers don't realize that their brand new machine does not come with virus protection. (link to wikipedia) Some computers come with a short trial of McAfee or Norton AV, but then you are required to pay to keep the service. Personally, I believe both programs are bloated and slow your system down. Today I'm going to talk about three free alternatives that will give you the same great protections, but at no cost to you.

AVG has been around for a while and provides great anti-virus protection. The do not provide support for their free software, but they do provide regular updates to keep you on the front line of defense. AVG also received a 5 star rating from the editors of C|net.

avast! adds a few features that are not covered in AVG. As well as providing anti-virus protection for your files, avast! also protects files coming through your network and through instant messenger. This application also updates on a regular basis to keep you protected.

ClamWin is another great freeware anti-virus scanner. It provides regular updates to keep you protected, and a scheduler so you can schedule regular anti-virus checks. Unlike AVG and avast!, ClamWin does not provide resident protection. This means that you have to initiate a virus scan or have one scheduled on a regular basis to have your files checked. This can be pro or a con depending on what you are looking for in your anti-virus program.

Based off the descriptions above, you can choose the virus protection that is right for you. All are free to use for personal use and provide regular updates. Each have their own advantages and disadvantages depending on what you seek.

Of course these are not the only freeware anti-virus scanners out there, these are just the most popular of the bunch. Feel free to examine each one or research other possibilities. If you feel that I've left out your favorite anti-virus application, leave a comment so that others can read and learn about it.

Free Store Credit

If you live near a Staples or an OfficeMax, and have a surplus of empty inkjet cartridges (Lexmark, Dell or HP originals), these two stores will give you a $3 store credit for every one that you bring in. The credit (no pun intended) for this goes to the bargain section on About.com.

The stores will let you use up to three credits (read: $9) at a time. With this you will be able to find some really good deals on various items as both stores have great value sections. So whenever you see an empty inkjet cartridge laying around, go ahead and pick it up, it will give you $3 in store credit!

Free phone headset

Have you ever found yourself driving and talking on your cell phone? Wouldn't it be nice to have a headset to use with your phone? Well, if you head on over to FreeHeadset.org, you can! For just the price of shipping ($3.94), you can have a headset for your phone.

This is not an advertisement! I just received an email from a friend who said that they saw Rachael Ray talking about this on her show. I've already placed the order for mine, now I'm just awaiting for it to arrive.

The website says they are doing this in the interest of public safety, and from the research I have done, it looks as if this is a legitimate website and company. The owner says that he pretty much breaks even.

Give it a shot and get your free headset.

Free Classic Movies and Cartoons!

If you are one that enjoys a good classic movie, then you should take a look at Entertainment Magazine. They have over 150 movies and cartoons to choose from, including Tom and Jerry, Woody Woodpecker, The Little Shop of Horrors, Zorro and many others.

I took a film study class while I was in High School and recognize quite a few of the films that we studied. Don't be put off by black and white films, most were really good. I would have to say when I began my film study course, I was a bit timid about watching a black and white film. I must say that I quickly overcame that shyness and learned to love them as much, if not more than some of the cinema blockbusters today. Just because they use a multi-million dollar budget doesn't mean the movie is going to be good.

Give the site and some of the movies a try. Let me know what you think.