FREE Microsoft Courses for Techies

I am a techie, so I understand the necessity to be on top of the game.  One has to keep learning about new technologies, new methods, new acronyms in order to keep up.  I also know that it can be expensive. 

As part of my “earn more” strategy I am going after some professional certifications.  I discovered last year that I have the passion and talent for database programming, so I am hoping to get certified on SQL this year.  As I surf the web looking for practice exams for 70-431 I came across some free e-Learning courses that Microsoft is offering.  It covers a multitude of topics:  SQL, Visual Studio, MIcrosoft Office, etc.  I thought I’d share this link for fellow techies and techie wannabes.

Click here  to check 0ut the FREE Microsoft e-Learning courses!

FREE Photos for Your Blog or Website

I recently stumbled upon FreeDigitalPhotos.net,  a website with tons of free images that one can use for blogs, websites, even school projects!  The free images are web-ready at 640 pixels x 427 pixels.  I consider this a medium-quality web-ready photo.  No, this will not be an ideal resolution to use for desktop wallpaper.  However, you may buy larger and higher resolution versions of the photo if you desire. 

Here is what I love about the site:

• No registration is required. 
• You may use the images for commercial purposes.
• You can download the images instantly!

Here are their  main categories for the photos:

• Animals
• Celebration
• Everyday Items
• Food and Drink
• Natural World
• People
• Places
• Plants
• Sports and Leisure
• Transportation
• Uncategorized

Each main category has several sub-categories.  For the Natural World category, for example, the sub-categories are:

• Agriculture and Farming
• Coastals and Oceans
• Fall – Autumn
• Landscapes
• Sky
• Summer
• Spring
• Sunset and Sunrise
• Waterfalls
• Weather
• Winter

All they are asking is that you display a link to their site from your own website or blog, and give them credit when you use their photos in print.

Click here to get FREE images for your blog or website!

Click here to check out previous FREE Stuff and Great Deals posts at Broke in America.

Amazon.com Has 6-ft HDMI Cable for $1.11

This  HDMI Cable 2M (6 Feet) has been rated an outstanding 5 starts by over 1,000 people who reviewed it on amazon.com.  For $1.11 it is the best bargain around. 

My son needed an HDMI cable to connect his XBOX 360 to our digital TV and the XBOX HDMI cable went for over around $50.00.  That’s just a ridiculous price for

Is there a difference between HDMI cables?  My research shows that digital signal is just either off or on so as long as there is a cable connecting one device to another, it works as intended.

Click here to get this HDMI Cable 2M (6 Feet) for $1.11 before it is all gone!

1,000 FREE Fonts For Windows & Mac

Tired of the off-the-shelf Windows or Mac fonts?  Grab some free fonts at 1001freefonts.com.  Here are just a few of their font categories:

• 3D
• Calligraphy
• Decorative
• Graffiti
• Handwriting
• Medieval
• Old English
• Typewriter

To install the free font, click on the appropriate button:  Download Win Font or Download Mac Font.  A small pop-up will prompt you to Open or Save.  I do not have a Mac so anything beyond this is for Windows users only.

Click Open then Extract All Files to a destination folder that is easy for you to remember.  Frankly, I put all my downloaded stuff to my Desktop first and move it somewhere else later. 

Next, go to the Control Panel (Start -> Control Panel).  If you have Vista, change the folder view to Classic View.  In the Control Panel folder click on Fonts. 

Right click anywhere in the opened Fonts folder and click Install Fonts.  If you saved the font on your Desktop go to C:\Users, then to whatever your username is, and then Desktop. 

The font installer will list the fonts available for installation from that folder.  Highlight the fonts and Install. 

You should be able to use your fonts from within Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, Publisher, and any other editor that uses the Windows fonts!

Cable and Satellite TV Alternative: Xbox 360

In a previous post I talked about how we have set up our computer as an alternative to cable and satellite TV.  It has allowed us to record our favorite TV shows like TIVO does, and with no monthly fee for the service.

The next step is to be able to watch live or recorded shows on the TV instead of the computer screen.  This was crucial, as there are four of us and we could hardly gather around the computer to watch the same show at the same time.  About two years ago, my son had gotten an Xbox 360 in lieu of having a birthday party.  Windows Media Center can stream any digital content to the Xbox 360 via your home network.  I decided to give it a try and it has worked really well for us.

You do not need to have computer or networking knowledge to do this.  All you will need are:

• Windows Media Center
• Xbox 360
• Network connection

You may view instructions on how to connect your Xbox 360 as a Windows Media Center Extender here.

Once everything is set up, you will now be able to stream any digital content (videos, recorded shows, photos, MP3′s) from your computer to your TV.

Fun hint:  If you have guests, your Xbox 360 and your TV can play selected songs while displaying your photo slide shows!

More posts to come on cable and Satellite TV alternatives.  Please check back soon, or subscribe to my RSS feed!

Today (Jan4) Only — 2 year Web Hosting for $21.48

I just stumbled upon a very affordable 2-year web hosting deal from DreamHost for $21.48.  It included unlimited disk and bandwidth plus a free domain registration.  This is for TODAY ONLY, January 4, 2009.

Yes, I signed up!