The Cozahost blog

The Cozahost blog (Gezact!) is published about twice per month. 

Survive the information age. Discover and learn about all things Internet and how it touches your business ...and the business of life. Sense of humor required. 

Your comments, input and insights are most welcome!

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Archive of posts:-

Infinite computing
It was fantastic. A cybernetic enchanted forest. Building digital tree houses, fortresses and fantastical machines. An ever changing, moving and re-configuring puzzle. A land filled with dragon bugs. I was the dragon slayer.

The true unsung hero of the internet
I do mean to scare you. It's so simple to register your domain name, it's just silly not to. The cost and effort is minimal. The risk of loosing your domain name to an abusive 3rd party is absolutely not worth taking. Unless alien abductions are your thing.

Cell phones, dentures, public swimming pools and the Internet
Communications technology is so interlinked with our everyday lives, we swim (and drink) with it.

How to detect sneaky incompetence
We all know and understand overt incompetence: The kind that creates a burning desire to grab someone by the head and smack it down on the table until it stops moving.

Always assume positive intent
Brandy did bite the hand that feeds it, but assuming positive intent is still the best advice anyone can offer you.

The penguins are going to die
The ice storm is here and the penguins are huddling - a strategy that will kill them, but, on a lighter note: be careful what you think...and drink.

2009 in the crystal ball
Was 2008 a weird year or what?! We offer a opinion on what's in stall for 2009 - at least as far as the internet goes...

Frictionless commerce and the idjit tribe
Friction and inertia are as real to business as it is to a physical body. Huge changes are occurring in the world...

Open Office 3 and the value for money cult
Open Office 3 offers exceptional value for money - but, since it is free, is it really valuable? A product or service can only have value to you if it satisfies a need you have - at a price that is lower than the benefit you get...or something like that.

The web 2.0 and the tong bearer
Web 2.0 is a collection of technologies that is changing the shape of the web as we know it. It is the beginning of a paradigm shift.

29 Aug 2008: Improving your googling
Googling is an essential skill that will save you countless hours. We help you improve your skills - even if the GPS will stay lost.

15 Aug 2008: How computers remember things
In this issue we cover how computers remember and point out the difference between "memory" and hard disks; and no, I don't think it is a demonic plot.

01 Aug 2008: Blogs are changing the world
Blogs are changing the world - and it's not going away. All of us have something to learn and all of us have something to say.

18 Jul 2008: Adversity = opportunity
In troubled times like these asking the right questions will help you find the opportunity in the adversity.

13 June 2007 - Ecommerce
The term is so vague and misused, it is bound to start a lively and entertaining conversation, so – to help you win the inevitable arguments, wagers, debates, and fist fights lets have a look at what this “ecommerce” thing is and how it works. Just an introduction mind you, this newsletter has a reputation to uphold.

09-May-2007: How to break the unwritten rules on email
Are you offering spades when you could be offering holes? Do you know about the unwritten rules of sending email or do you annoy your clients / colleagues and friends.

18 Apr 2007 - Would you like some spam?
We kick off with a special "request": We explain where spammers got your email addy and what you should do to protect yourself in future.

24 May 2006 Newsletter - Cognitive dissonance and writing effective copy
We explore cognitive dissonance and the resulting cognitive bias as well as tips for writing copy for your web site while touching briefly on glossophobia. We introduce Google videos and point to internet happenings in South Africa too.

09 May 2006 - Art and craft, writing copy and optimizing for search engines
Art vs. craft: perspiration and not inspiration is required - we also talk about writing copy for your web site and optimizing your web site for search engine ranking.

26 Jan 2006 - Snake oil sales men, search engine optimization and Darwin awards
The principles of web marketing are not to be confused with the (alleged) healing properties of snake oil - and download free trail software to improve your search engine ranking.

16 Sep 2005 - Using SMS gateways and common questions about ADSL
It's all communications this time: we discuss how you can send SMS messages via the internet cheaper and faster, and we answer some of the most often asked ADSL questions.

24 August 2005 - Broadband in South Africa, Microsoft anti-piracy and building your own home network
Developments on the Internet front in South Africa are heating up, Microsoft tries to reduce piracy and we discuss how you can build your own network at home cheaply, quickly and with no hassles.

28 Jun 2005 - Malware: how viruses, worms and trojans work
"Malware" - the bane of all computer users on the internet. Find out what it is, how it works and how to protect yourself.

31 May 2005 - Optimizing your Windows XP computer...and your brain
Just like a car, your PC needs regular maintenance to perform at it's peak. Learn how to do a few simple tasks that can restore your computer to it's former glory.

11 May 2005 - GPRS, a relatively new cell phone technology to connect to the internet
GPRS is a relatively new cell phone technology to connect you (and your computer) to the internet permanently and affordably. Ideal for road warriors and as insurance against Telkom problems, but it also means millions more South Africans will have internet access.

26 Apr 2005 - RSS news readers: stay up to date and save time
In an ever changing world, it is getting harder and harder to stay on top of things. In this issue we discuss RSS news readers and how they can help you stay up to date and save you time.

06-Apr-2005 - Using white lists to beat spam, practical VOIP and the moral of the story
This time we have: A story about the moral of the story, a white list service that can stop spam immediately and permanently and how to use VOIP immediately to eliminate long distance phone call charges.

15 Mar 2005 - A Look at ADSL and how the web works
ADSL is the new hot topic so we discuss what it is and how it works. We also take a look at the web and discuss how HTML and HTTP works - and prove that it's not complicated at all.

15 Feb 2005 - The technology behind email
You know that email is the most used application on the internet, in fact, most of us depend on it. Would it surprise you to know that email technology is actually very simple to understand, and that understanding can save you a lot of frustration?

16 November 2004 - Search engines and their spiders
Search engines make the world wide web the powerful information tool it is today. We explain how the engines work, and how you can Google yourself.

21 October 2004 - Cookies, what are in them and why your browser has to eat them
Those ginger cookies Grandma used to make, or Romany creams, or those little cookies with the zoo animal icing? I'll bet the last thing you would associate with cookies is your web browser! Strangers hand it cookies every day...

15 September 2004 - Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) explained
It sounds like science fiction but it is not. VOIP is to be legal in South Africa soon! We explain what VOIP is and why Telkom might be feeling the heat of photon torpedoes aimed directly at it's tailpipe.

01 September 2004: Windows XP service pack 2 and the SNO
Spring is in the air! :-) Windows XP service pack 2 is released and the SNO is about to be granted a license. Looks like the winter is almost over on more than one front.

11 August 2004 - Understanding internet domain names
If you look into your future, you will probably see a domain name for your personal or business use. We explain how internet domain names work and how they are the answer to world domination. :-)

22 July 2004 - NukeX and the Cozahost reseller program
Introducing NukeX at a party: a step-by-step guide to survive the introduction so that you get to eat all the chips!

14 July 2004 - Windows XP service pack 2
The about to be released Windows XP service pack 2 will make the internet a lot safer for all of us. A range of new functions and features will deliver a blow for the good guys, but your web site might be in danger...

21 June 2004 - "eCommerce" means what you want it to mean
"eCommerce". It sounds very sophisticated, but what does it actually mean? You might be surprised to learn that it can mean anything you want it to!

02 June 2004 - What makes modems, ISDN and ADSL so different?
We explain the differences between modem, ISDN and ADSL internet connection choices so that you can make the right decisions - and don’t worry, we kept it jargon free:-)

19 May 2004 - How to optimize your web page for search engine placement
In this issue we discuss the flat earth society, how to optimize your web pages for search engine positioning and more excellent free software to download.

06 May 2004 - How ISPs fight spam...
With the recent addition of our spam blocking feature, we found that many of you don't know it works. Even more surprising is that many of you wanted to know how it works! :-)

01 April 2004 - New technology allows free internet access
We focus on the new spam blocking technology used to protect Cozahost clients, the importance of computer security, email auto responders, how to find more specialized info on the internet and free software to download.

17 March 2004 - Common mistakes in web design
How the Beagle email worm continues to punish the un-informed, easier ways to find hidden information on the internet, common mistakes in web design and free software to download.

04 March 2004 - A bunch of new worms....
In this issue we discuss the new bunch of worms, how internet search engines are about to change and excellent freeware you can download - with some interesting news items thrown in to spice up your day.