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Bitcoin Getting Blocked

Columbia University Professor Joseph Stiglitz has expressed his opinion that regulations on cryptocurrency will end up making it worthless.

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Bitcoin Getting Blocked
If you were hoping that bitcoin would be on the uptake again, there’s bad news on the horizon. Nobel Laureate and Columbia University Professor Joseph Stiglitz has expressed his opinion that regulations on cryptocurrency will end up making it worthless. These opinions are not why he earned his Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Studies. He’d earned that way back in 2000 before cryptocurrency and blockchain came onto the scene. The Nobel Prize, on top of other honors and awards he’s earned, does give him street cred when it comes to talking about financial regulations, money, and important things related to all that stuff. He is an authority in the field of economics, so his opinions at least carry some weight. More important than his opinions is the fact that blockchain and cryptocurrencies are still unreliable. Stiglitz is simply pointing this out.

A Quick Lesson on Blockchain and Cryptocurrency

Blockchain, at its core, is a different way to track money and exchanges. Instead of a government watching who gives money to who and determining the value of the legal tender in use, Blockchain instead uses digital code to do that. There’s no government backing it. This is a good and a bad thing. Good in that no government has control over the value of the currencies on the blockchain. This means cryptocurrencies are less affected by politics. The bad news is that cryptocurrency is still based on faith in a system. That system may not be a government, but a system of numbers and mathematical equations. This feels appealing when you look at countries that are in dire financial straits because their own governments made a bad choice or were corrupt. When this happens the legal tender, currency, of that country goes down in value. It may not mean much to us, but to those within that nation, it’s a bad thing. For example, after World War I Germany was bankrupt, and no one would trade with them. One solution was to print more Deutschmarks. Instead of fixing the economy, it got worse. Deutschmarks became worthless because they were so plentiful. Rather than buying bread with them, some German citizens instead used them to fuel their woodstoves. Remembering this makes blockchain look good. Besides, if a government is determining the worth of their own money, and can make that money worthless on a whim, why not create a system that removes that option? Enter blockchain. The Blockchain is based on earning money by solving complex mathematical equations. But who writes the equations? As of this writing, the author of this post has yet to figure that out. It’s also worth mentioning that he was, and still is, not very good at math.

Who Would Trust Blockchain Then?

The future is uncertain. Blockchain, like all new technology, is a gamble then. The Philippines, on the other hand, are willing to take that bet. Yesterday, provisional licenses were issued to three exchanges outside The Philippines to allow them to trade Cryptocurrencies on their domestic exchanges. By building a presence there, these crypto-exchanges are looking to leverage access to Trans-Pacific sea lanes and remain open to international markets. The crypto community is happy to hear this, feeling it gives them more credibility. It’s not a lot, as the licenses are provisional and heavily restricted. But it is a step in the right direction. Keep in mind, however, this does not mean all The Philippines are open to using cryptocurrency, nor does it mean Bitcoin will be in use there as a legitimate form of currency. This is a trial run. A baby step. For Blockchain and Cryptocurrency to be accepted on a global scale, a much larger nation needs to accept it as its legal tender. This isn’t to say The Philippines aren’t to be taken seriously as they explore this new form of currency. Far from it. The situation can be viewed one of two ways; The Philippines are an early adopter or a gambler stepping up to a new table. With a smaller economy, it’ll be interesting to see how cryptocurrencies fare there and if there is any success.

Is Stiglitz Right?

Stiglitz, though he has a Noble Prize among other awards, is still human. He could still be wrong. He could also be right. Blockchain and its plethora of cryptocurrencies are still a risky bet right now. To break into this new field requires a lot of money (not bitcoin) to purchase the computers and programs to mine for coins and be profitable. It’s not as simple as clicking a button for a stock trade. Before committing to it, take the time to assess your situation. Talk to trusted friends. Seek out advice from both supporters and critics of Blockchain. Joseph Stiglitz is one of the critics. These two resources will get you started. With any luck, you’ll make a sound financial decision.
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Top ISPs: Finding the Right Internet Service in 2020

Fast, reliable, internet. That's the dream,right? Finding the right Internet Service Provider, however, isn't always so easy.

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Top ISPs: Finding the Right Internet Service in 2020

Fast, reliable internet. That’s the dream, isn’t it? In today’s world, it’s more important that we have a fast connection than being connected to the internet at all. To ensure this near lightspeed access to the internet we have to go through an internet service provider or ISP. In a funny twist of fate, we often look around on the internet itself to see who’s the best ISP, why they are the best, and what other people are saying about them. To save you on time, let’s break down what makes the best ISP for you and your area. That approach may sound odd until you realize that a company simply calling itself “the fastest and most reliable” is simple marketing. Different factors, some of which are outside of an ISP’s control, affect the speed at your specific location. Much like the internet itself, you’re part of a large web. Each of these factors is a thread that connects to other factors before connecting you to the internet. (No spiders were harmed!)


The Best Internet Service Providers

While the technologies mentioned above are the method for delivering internet, an ISP is still a company. The big names- AT&T, Spectrum, Century Link, Xfinity, DirecTV, Dish, Frontier, Grande Communications- all provide internet, voice, and TV. There are plenty of packages that allow you to pick and choose whether you want just internet, just TV, or all of them at once. While some may offer cheap packages for one or two services, make sure to read what the connection speed is, as this determines just how fast the connection will be. More on this later. Some companies serve a smaller area, like Guadalupe Valley Technology Cooperative. Look around to see what’s available in your specific area. The big names, like AT&T, Spectrum, and Comcast to name a few, will have a few different technologies you chose from. Again, double check what’s available in your area. For example, AT&T may have fiber, but they may only offer it downtown and not in rural areas. Smaller companies fare better because they service just a specific area and can respond more quickly to customer concerns. Yet, they’ll be limited in the technologies they can offer.


Types of High Speed Internet

There are different technologies for bringing the world wide web to you. They all have their pros and cons. Not all companies use the same technology either but all of them depend on where you physically are. Understanding the technology in use allows you to equip yourself when it comes to picking or switching your ISP.


Fiber
Fiber optic cables are glass tubes that transmit light. To protect the delicate glass inside, heavy-duty rubber or metal is used as a cover. If even a little bit of water gets inside the cable itself, it wreaks havoc on transmissions. This is why fiber optic cables are so expensive and are hard to come by in rural areas. Thanks to the use of light instead of electricity, these provide the fastest and most reliable internet connection. You’ll most likely find these in highly populated areas. Check to make sure your ISP has fiber in your area.

DSL
Digital Subscriber Line. These are second to fiber, but more widely available. And they’re perfect for those on a tight budget. DSL uses the phone lines that are already installed to transmit data back and forth. This is what gives them their speed and reliability. On the flipside of this, pay attention to where the central office is. The farther you are from it, the slower your connection will be.

Cable
Everyone knows these. Cable is the most common and just as the name implies, companies use dedicated cables to provide these connections. They’re not the standard phone lines. Of course, everyone complains about the prices as there’s usually a promotion to get it installed in your house. Once the promotion ends the prices soar. Oh, and the customer service too, everyone loves to hate customer service. But give them a break, they deal with unhappy customers every day. After all, do you call your ISP when you don’t have a problem with your service? There’s another factor here that many people overlook- Bandwidth. The bandwidth you’re using is shared in your immediate area. This doesn’t mean you can look into your neighbor’s house, rather, the same cables running to your house are running to their house as well. You’ll notice this in the evening when you see your internet slow down or your streaming-show freeze or lag behind.

Satellite
This is the hardest to get a good connection with. While you may think a satellite, orbiting the earth, should have no problem establishing an internet connection, it’s the opposite. Clouds, terrain, and distance all affect a satellite’s connection a great deal. Yet, it may be the only option.


The Connection Thread

ISPs offer different connection speeds.

An internet connection depends on how many megabytes per second, Mbps, can be uploaded and downloaded in a second. Akin to a good juggler, your ISP is tossing up a ball up in the air while being able to catch another coming down- ten, fifteen, even up to 1000 balls in a second. The faster an ISP can juggle, the better connection you’ll have. Look for the number to determine how good they are. If they can juggle ten balls, meaning their connection speed is 10 Mbps, that’s pretty good. For those looking for a connection to support more than one person, then look for 15 Mbps or higher. When it comes to an entire business, 40 Mbps or higher is recommended. Of course, geography will affect how well your ISP can juggle. If you’re wanting to download big files or play online games, then a higher Mbps will be needed to handle that capacity. In other words, the juggler is going to have to juggle larger balls.


The Human Thread

While it’s all well and good to see how the internet is actually brought to your door, you are missing out on a wealth of information. And it can be found next door! While you may enjoy your solitude in your home or apartment, chances are that the neighbor next door is using the internet as well. And when they are, they’re going to run into the same problems you do when trying to establish a connection. If it’s slow for you, it’s probably slow for them too. So get up, walk to the door, step outside and go to the house next to yours. Knock on that door and ask “How’s your internet?” This will go a long way in helping you decide which internet service provider is right for you.


The Last Thread

All of these threads lead back to the more vital part- you. Figuring out which ISP is best for you may not sound like a fun thing to do. It may not seem worthwhile.  Take heart, as taking the time to equip yourself with this knowledge will ease some headaches down the road, and save you money. 
Find the best WOW internet deals no matter the ISP. Find the best satellite internet provider

HBO Should Look Forward to Childbirth

HBO is not looking forward to the childbirth jokes. John Stankey,CEO of Warner Media,said they’ll be working harder in the coming year.

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HBO Should Look Forward to Childbirth
Home Box Office is not looking forward to the childbirth jokes. John Stankey, CEO of Warner Media, spoke to 150 HBO employees at a company townhall event. The short version is Stankey said they’ll be working harder in the coming year. "You will work very hard, and this next year will — my wife hates it when I say this — feel like childbirth…You'll look back on it and be very fond of it, but it's not going to feel great while you're in the middle of it." Stankey, believing that HBO isn’t profitable enough, has hinted that they need to increase their content to compete with streaming giants Netflix and Amazon. HBO, considering itself a boutique network, is not creating enough content to match the number of hours watched on other streaming services. To compete with Netflix and Amazon, Stankey desires an increase of hours watched per day as opposed to hours per week. Stankey wasn’t talking about a real pregnancy and childbirth. He was really calling for HBO to produce more content that appeals to a broader audience.

Can Home Box Office Produce?

Many of the biggest TV shows have found their home on HBO. The Sopranos, for example. Known for its gritty style, graphic violence, and nudity, The Sopranos landed 118 wins and 301 nominations over its six seasons. The show was more than mob violence, but a poignant portrayal of personal growth in maddening circumstances. If The Sopranos had been Home Box Office’s only hit then the argument would be easy. HBO didn’t stop with The Sopranos, however. Game of Thrones, Tru Blood, Sex in the City, WestWorld the list goes of examples of HBO putting out programming that consistently draws in a dedicated viewership. For Stankey to call for an expansion of their content offers is a dicey move. HBO has long enjoyed its position of “premier content” provider. The network fought to that spot by offering bold and edgy programming that one would only see in movies. Instead, HBO brought onto the small screen, for a monthly fee, every night. When HBO became known for their content, they spawned a host of other networks offering similar programming. Of course, they also charged a premium for it. If a viewer didn’t like the content, they simply didn’t have to pay to watch it. Problem solved. This tactic has sustained HBO…so far.

Are Netflix and Amazon Producing Something Better?

At the 2017 Emmys HBO had 111 total nominations. Netflix and Amazon had 91 and 16, respectively. When the awards ceremony was over, HBO walked away with 29 wins. Netflix? Twenty wins. Amazon? Two. Crunching the numbers, that means HBO had a success rate of 26% to Netflix’s 22% and Amazon’s 13%. Based on these numbers alone, there’s little argument that HBO is doing well compared to Netflix and Amazon. It’s not the number of awards that executives like Stankey are looking at. According to a 2017 survey by Morgan Stanley, respondents were asked; “Which service provides the best original programming?” 33% of respondents answered- Netflix. Amazon doesn’t seem to be in the fight much. They may just be biding their time. If HBO and Netflix are busy slugging it out, then Amazon could sit back, relax, and wait to pick off the exhausted winner when the fight does finally end. For now, HBO needs to contend not just with Netflix, but what they stand for – streaming original content, and lots of it. Although not all shows Netflix and Amazon offer end up being winners, they seem to be playing a numbers game; the more shows produced should eventually lead to a big hit, like Stranger Things. If HBO tries to play the game Netflix is playing HBO would lose. What HBO should be focusing on, instead, is to find a way to build upon their brand.

How can HBO win?

The childbirth metaphor is fitting given the amount of work that HBO is likely to take on in the coming years. A better metaphor for “winning” would be “Can HBO capture more attention than Netflix and Amazon?” Making a breakout show and keeping viewers aren’t always the same thing. There have been great shows that were rated poorly by critics. There have been terrible shows that critics loved. There have been shows that had one good season and then they die off soon after like Aaron Sorkin’s The Newsroom. For HBO to live up to Stankey’s request of creating content for a broader audience, the network will have to find a way of connecting to a much more diverse audience. Not every show can have gratuitous violence and nudity. They’ll have to watch their language as well. A challenge for sure, but not impossible. HBO has already found success by tapping into books. Game of Thrones, Big Little Lies, and Sharper Objects were all based on best-selling books. This tactic has worked for them so far. After all, if people like reading a book, they’ll likely want to watch it as a show. By expanding on this logic, Home Box Office can go a few steps further by looking beyond their usual picks and try different genres. What about a limited series based on books like The Dresden Files, Soon I Will Be Invincible, and Scot Harvath? It may be as simple as visiting the local Barnes & Noble and going to a different section.

HBO is About to Get Bigger

To fill Stankey’s order, as well as compete with Netflix and Amazon, HBO will have to expand. How they expand is entirely up to them. HBO can be as creative in this endeavor as they are with their content. The road ahead is uncharted. HBO should view this as an open invitation to really push the envelope and not a decree to create babies. And if Home Box Office is good at one thing- it’s pushing the envelope.
Enjoy HBO with the best Spectrum internet deals.

8 Tips for Improving Your Small Business WiFi Connection

A solid internet connection is an absolute necessity for companies in today's world -- which is why every business owner should take optimizing their internet connection seriously.

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8 Tips for Improving Your Small Business WiFi Connection
A solid internet connection is an absolute necessity for companies in today's world -- which is why every business owner should take optimizing their internet connection seriously. Here are a few tips that can help you do just that: Increasing Speed 1.Optimize Your Router Location. Where will you be using your POS system? Where will your employees and customers be using their laptops, phones, and other web-enabled devices? The more centrally you can locate your router, the better. It is also important to note that placing your router too close to other powerful devices such as microwaves or toaster ovens can interfere with your signal. 2.Block Unnecessary Bandwidth Hogs. Employees at your coffee shop have every right to Google the recipe to that 2/3 caff triple ristretto affogato venti, 2 pump mango 1 pump classic, 2%, mango to the second line, 3 scoops protein, 3 scoops berries, 2 scoop matcha, add banana, double blended, with whip, caramel drizzle, salted caramel topping, vanilla bean frappuccino. And customers have every right to check their Facebook and Instagram accounts. But does anyone at your shop really need to be streaming Netflix? (Especially considering that they will be ruining everyone elses internet experience?) We didn't think so -- so why not just block Netflix directly and save your bandwidth capabilities an unnecessary test? 3.Secure Your Network. In addition to the fact that cyber security can be an existential threat to your entire business, it can also slow down your network. Read on to learn a few of the most important cyber security tips for small businesses. Improving Security 4.Secure, encrypt, and hide. Performing these three simple steps for your WiFi connection should be exceedingly simple. (Your WiFi provider will undoubtedly provide instructions for each of these processes when you contract your service.) Just don´t neglect these steps, as they are the foundation of every other security measure you take! 5.Train your staff. Despite what most hacker movies might lead you to believe, most cyber security problems are the result of user error. If your staff understands the basics of phishing and malware, your odds of falling victim to an attack are virtually nil. Reducing Cost 6.Do some bargaining. Most internet service providers are opening to bargaining for prices, especially with commercial operations. If you aren't happy with the price you are currently paying for WiFi services, get in touch with your provider! 7.Shop around. Of course, asking around isn't going to hurt either. Most areas have access to at least a few internet service providers, so checking for the lowest prices in your market is a no-brainer. 8.Get creative. Still looking to pay less for your internet service? This recent Bundle Your Internet blog article, titled 7 Creative Methods of Paying Less for Your Internet, may be able to help! Want to learn more about affordable internet options for businesses and families? Visit Bundle Your Internet online today!

What Is DSL internet? What are my internet options?

DSL internet is a digital subscriber line,and it allows you to access the internet over your phone lines. Along with cable,satellite,and ... Read More

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What Is DSL internet? What are my internet options?

Update February 10, 2020   02/10/2020:  

Since we published this article several years ago not much has changed.  DSL internet is still available and unfortunately the only option for many Americans who are simply looking for high speed internet for their homes. Companies like AT&T, CenturyLink and Earthlink still offer DSL service.  Many customers are stranded looking for options to be able to stream their favorite shows from Netflix, Hulu, Amazon amongst other sources.  Since the latest speed test done across the country show that DSL only has the ability to operate at a speed of 1Mbps or less, DSL is simply not an option for today's internet user.  

There is good news for folks who are either moving to a new area looking to set up service and find DSL is one of the only options or existing DSL customer from AT&T, CenturyLink and Earthlink who are simply not getting the speed, and service they are looking for.  Viasat Satellite internet service and HughesNet satellite internet service offer speeds almost 25x higher and give many customers a truly high speed internet option.  Check out to see if you have better options in your area by using our zip code lookup tool here Zip Code Lookup Tool



DSL internet is a digital subscriber line, and it allows you to access the internet over your phone lines. Along with cable, satellite, and fiber optics, DSL is one of the four main types of connections used by internet service providers.

How Does DSL Internet Work?

Traditional phones lines are made of copper wires that carry analog signals. When you talk on a landline phone, the acoustics of your conversation are converted into analog signals that run along the phone wires. Similarly, these wires can also carry analog signals from computer to computer. However, you need a modem to convert the analog signals into digital signals. Finally, subscriber line simply refers to the fact that you subscribe or pay a monthly fee to access the line.

Can You Use the Phone With DSL?

In the early days of internet popularity, dial-up service also used phone lines to carry the internet into your home. With these old systems, however, you could not use the phone at the same time as the internet. With DSL, that has changed. The signal is split coming into your home, allowing you to access the internet and use your landline at the same time.

How Fast Is DSL Internet?

The telephone companies that offer DLS internet use digital subscriber line access multiplexers -- imagine a small building full of constantly buzzing equipment and servers. These multiplexers connect to a network to access data, and from there, the data is forwarded to individual subscribers. In most cases, to get DSL internet, you must be within a certain distance of the multiplexer, and generally, the closer you are the faster your internet service is. DSL speeds range from 128 kbps to 12 Mbps. However, in some cases, you can get DSL speeds up to 20 Mbps or even 40 Mbps — those speeds are typically only available in areas where the existing phone lines have been reinforced or bolstered with fiber optics.

Can You Bundle DSL Internet?

Generally, phone companies offer DSL. For example, AT&T, CenturyLink, Verizon, and Frontier Communications all offer DSL internet as well as phone service. In most cases, if you want to have DSL and a landline, you have to get both services from the same company. However, discounts for booking multiple services is standard practice in the industry. Some DSL providers also pair with television, cell phone companies, and others to offer bundling discounts.

Where Is DSL Available?

DSL service is available around the county. However, it is not strictly available everywhere that has phone lines. As indicated above, the service can only work in areas where the phone company has invested in digital subscriber line access multiplexers and upgrading the phone lines as necessary. If DSL is offered in your area, you may want to consider it. Compare the price with other options, and then, make sure the potential internet speeds are up to your needs. For more on internet speeds, check out our post "What Internet Speed Do You Need?".