Oh No...My Router Got Zapped!

So it may not seem like a big deal to have your Internet connection down for a few days but for someone like myself, this was truly tragic. I think that the most tragic aspect was that the issue was incorrectly diagnosed; I blamed it on Cablevision. After waiting for the holiday to pass and the technician to survey the problem, I was told that it wasn't my cable connection but rather my router that had "died". My router died?!

In case you are asking yourself what a router is, a router is a simple LAN (local area network) that allows for multiple users to access the Internet with one connection. In other words, routers make it possible for multiple family members to access the Internet at the same time from their own computers. Fantastic.

So, I scanned the newspaper ads this morning to see what types of routers are available. Remember, my Internet is down so I have been reduced to looking at ads from Staples and Circuit City in the newspaper. It has been about six years since I bought a router and I remember researching them on various websites, comparing and contrasting based upon price and quality but since I didn't have the Internet to do my research today I had to rely on what I knew to be dependable. So, I ventured up to Staples and went through the router aisle (yes there is a whole aisle) wondering how a router can vary from $35 to $200. Why would the price vary so much? My old router was a LINKSYS and it had last six years (unlike my Dell laptop battery which died after two years this week - blog post #2 of the week...stay tuned) so I was definitely leaning toward another LINKSYS. I looked at the price tags, tried to do an in-store comparison and decided to rely upon what I knew and purchased the LINKSYS.

Fast forward about an hour later and I was back online! I can't even begin to explain how easy it was to replace my old router with my new router (securely). After inserting the CD it took all of ten minutes to go through the simple process and I was literally back online. I was waiting for some type of dilemma (the networked printer not working, laptop not able to find it, some type of disaster) but there wasn't one. My only issue was that I needed to restart my laptop and retype my Key Code and it was smooth running after that.

Therefore, if you are in the market for a router and aren't sure which one to purchase, my suggestion is a LINKSYS G Wireless Router. I purchased mine at a Staples store for $59.99 (you can probably shop around for the same one online for less money if you have the time and can get online). Trust me, if you've never needed a router before and don't think that you'd be able to connect it on your own - YES YOU DO AND YOU CAN DO IT! :)

April 2008

It's been a busy time for Creative Clicks Inc. I am glad to see so many of my clients moving forward with their websites, and existing clients looking to make updates. It certainly takes time to update a website, but it is extremely important that it gets done. When a website appears outdated, with old information, visitors will quickly become bored and move on. All of the time, effort and money that went into creating the website is lost because the visitor will probably assume that they can't rely upon the site for current information.

So, April's message is to keep your website current!
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Creative Clicks Inc. proudly introduces our most recent website creations:

Music by Mommies Inc., a company formed by caring mothers, produces music designed to guide children through their daily activities like brushing their teeth, getting dressed and cleaning up. By creating motivating songs for everyday living, Music by Mommies hopes to brighten the lives of parents and children.

If you have young children, this is a great cd to get for them! This is also a great gift for someone with young children or someone expecting a child (perfect baby shower gift). You can purchase their music from CD Baby or contact them directly to purchase one or more cds. Click the image to learn more about Music by Mommies!

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Lisa Jane Lipkin has responded to the unassailable call to write and sing and the undeniable tug of her heritage with A Prayer for Peace. On this newest CD, Lisa spreads her spiritual euphoria with a collection of traditional and original Jewish prayers & chants set to her exquisite contemporary melodies. It is a unique soundscape that evokes the cherished memories of her Ashkenazi-influenced childhood mingled with the sounds that inform her own modern life.


Lisa has a beautiful voice and performs in various locations throughout Westchester County, NY. Her most recent music can be downloaded from iTunes, as well as her music from her last CD, Raise the Honey. Click her image to learn more!

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Sorrel Hays is proof that the Internet is a wonderful thing! We managed to create Sorrel's website entirely through email, without ever having met in person or even placing a telephone call! That was a first for Creative Clicks but it proves the point that a website can be built from anywhere!

Having "met" Sorrel through a friend, Charles Flowers, I was very pleased with her excitement about her website creation and the attention to detail she was looking for (those are actually her hands and scores on the header). Sorrel's website turned out lovely and you can root for Sorrel and Charles's new opera, Our Giraffe:

VOX Showcase of New American Opera
New York City Opera

Performance at 2 pm, May 10
Skirball Center, NYU

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Subolo Contracting, based out of Pleasantville NY, was established in 1973 to construct commercial and institutional buildings, doing both new and alteration work. Having met the owner and several workers several years ago during a school construction expansion project, I was thrilled when I was contacted about creating their website!

I knew that Subolo Contracting was looking for a clean design and I am happy with the end result that we achieved together. Taking a company's brochure and bringing it to life on the Internet is always an exciting task! Congratulations to Subolo Contracting for taking the necessary steps to create a true reflection of their company online.

Welcome!

My First Blog
Figuring that it was probably time to create an interactive section to my website, I sat down today and started this blog. What else is there to do on a rainy Saturday in March?! In just a few minutes, I realized that this is definitely something that I want to incorporate on my own website, and encourage customers to include as well. I am not foolish enough to believe that I am going to have a huge following, but for the clients and friends who are looking for new areas of interests on the internet, new options for their websites or just cool stuff – they’ll know to check out my blog!

Why blog?
Well, up until today I would have agreed with you in your disinterest. However, I took the time to learn more about the process and my answer quickly changed to why NOT blog? It is free, it is a great communication tool and it is a way for people/visitors to get to know you. For my clients that would like to have the ability to add information to their website but either don't know how or don't have the expensive software - and don’t want to link to a MySpace page, this is a great way to do it! So... my suggestion is to give your visitors a chance to get to know you by reading your blog!

The Process:
It is really simple to create your own blog. Simply go to www.blogger.com and click on create your blog now. The questions are basic and before you know it, you’ll be a blogger!

I was surprised with the interesting design choices that are available to pick from and how easy it is to incorporate pictures, slide shows and much more!!

So, welcome to the Creative Clicks Blog and watch out for puddles! :)