Cruzio Newsletter - Number 112, January 16, 2008

1. Power Outage Lacks Drama at Cruzio
2. Buying Local Online
3. Web Site Classes This Month
4. Tech Tip of the Month: Remember to Log Out
5. This Thursday, Intro to the Internet
6. Second Harvest
7. Surf Is Up
8. Gizmo of the Month
9. Wireless at Santa Cruz City Hall
10. Immunity for Telecom Companies?
11. Class Schedule Through March
12. Moving?
13. Buddy Bucks
14. Correction
15. About This Newsletter
16. How to Reach Cruzio (dial-in or tech support)


1. Power Outage Lacks Drama at Cruzio
Some lucky folks kick back and read by candlelight when the power goes
out, but not Cruzio. Our members depend on our service no matter how
widespread or prolonged the blackout. So when the power goes out, we
get going.

Even if our local members can't use their computers, they rely on their
Web sites being read by out-of-county, out-of-state and international
visitors. They expect their email to be delivered and their online
store orders to be taken despite any local power interruption.
When their computers come back on, businesses will log in to collect
their orders, Web site administrators will count the Web visits they
got during blackout hours, and everybody will want their email.

Because Cruzio has its own backup systems, all will be there.

It would be fun to make our outage response procedures sound thrilling:
"It was a dark and stormy night," we might begin, "and Cruzio's brave
techs dangled by cables from treacherous catwalks, batting away
giant centipedes as they restored power..."

But reality has no such drama. We rehearse outages regularly.
Our backup power turns on automatically when the power goes out
-- at all our locations. Last week, customer service continued to
answer the phones while Internal Support calmly unspooled cable and
connected generators. Although the outage lasted half the day, Cruzio
caught every email and answered every call. Most customers probably
had no idea we had lost power. And though that's less fun to describe,
that's the way we like it.


2. Buying Local Online
Retail sales around the country were down this last holiday
season, with one notable exception: sales on the Internet were
up over 20%. 

That's an increase any business would like to see. And the
lucky thing is, the Internet works for small companies as well
as large ones. We suggest that this year, local businesses 
resolve to lose less of their sales to big national online
competitors and use the Web as an effective sales outlet.

Cruzio can show you how. We've designed a class schedule (see
below) that will take you from the basics (even Internet 101)
through the creation of an attractive, easy-to-use Web site;
from making sales online to developing your new, bigger sales
market. In other words, the whole enchilada.

An online presence is not expensive. All the software necessary is
included in your Cruzio Website Plus or Premium account and some
extra features are provided free of charge in the classes.

By the way, it's perfectly acceptable to take the class a second time,
and you'll get a substantial discount if you choose to do so. The
Advanced Class has been less popular (let us know if you're interested
in that one) but sometimes people feel they'd like an instructor to
look over their progress without having to push much further. If that
describes you, you're welcome to join us again.


3. Web Site Classes This Month
Next week, we're rolling out the red carpet for those who want 
to create and market a commercial Web site.

We start on Tuesday, January 22nd, with "One Night Web Site" --
our most popular class, where Cruzio's experienced instructors Mike
and Chris work with just 8 students on 8 computers to set up Web sites.
You'll be creating your real site -- not just a phony one you'll soon
forget. When you get home, your site will be started and you'll know
how to add to it, edit it, and keep it up to date.

Next Thursday, January 24th, expand your Web presence by learning
how to "Market Your Web Site and Get New Customers." Cruzio's clever
Class Program Manager Mike will show you how to take advantage of free
techniques for getting your site noticed and highly rated around the
Internet so that users will find you. (If you'd like to see an example
of a high rating, go to Google -- http://www.google.com -- and type in
"dialup accelerator." Who's number one on the general list?)

Complete the hat-trick the following Tuesday, January 29th, by
attending "Start Making Money Online." We can't be any more blunt
about the purpose of the class. Every business should reap the
advantages of online sales: automation, huge market reach,
convenience for the customer, a 24-hour sales day. Cruzio does more
than half its sales online, and so can you.

If you'd like to see more details on any of these classes, including
our new instructor bio page ( http://classes.cruzio.com/teachers.html )
please visit http://classes.cruzio.com . If the dates and times aren't
convenient for you, check the schedule on the site as the classes will
be repeated soon. See you in class!

One Night Web Site*
Tuesday, January 22nd
5:00 - 8:00 pm, $199.00

Market Your Web Site and Get New Customers
Thursday, January 24th
9:00 - 11:00 am, $79.00

Start Making Money Online
Tuesday, January 29th
1:00 - 3:00 pm, $79.00

Sign up at http://classes.cruzio.com


4. Tech Tip of the Month: Remember to Log Out
These days a bank, an airport, or even a movie theater is more likely
to ask you to prove your identity than to require a ticket or token.
(Anyone remember when you last needed your bankbook to make a withdrawal?)
On computers, your identity is established by your login and password,
which opens access to all the resources in your account.

Your login is valuable. And you should not leave it lying around.

If you're at a public computer logged in to your bank account, and
you get up and leave without logging out, the next person who sits
down at that computer within a couple of minutes will be... you.
At least to the bank.

The message here in a nutshell is: remember to log out from
your online accounts. We find people logged in to various sites
on our rental computers every day (and we log them out).


5. This Thursday, Intro to the Internet
Tomorrow, learn the basics of what the Internet is and what it
can do for you. If you or a friend is always cursing or sighing at
the computer, now's the time to take a low-cost class on how to stop
fighting and learn to love the machine. Our teachers are experienced,
friendly, and non-judgmental so you're welcome to pull out all those
weird questions you thought were too foolish to ask. At Cruzio we're
very fond of computers but we understand the frustrations they cause --
and we can help.

(This is late notice for the January class, but it is offered again
in March.)

Internet 101
Thursday, January 17th, 9:00 - 11:00 am
$29.00
Sign up at http://classes.cruzio.com


6. Second Harvest
As we ended 2007, Cruzio was impressed by the generosity of our members
and staff. The customers gave more than $3,500 to the Second Harvest
Food Bank to feed local people. The owners of Cruzio matched $1500 of
that money, and then were inspired to add even more, making the total
donation $5,300 and counting. Since Second Harvest can make the money
go further than most of us, this will enable them to provide tens of
thousands of meals to people in need.

This year, Cruzio went an extra step and on December 15 offered customers
a free domain name in exchange for a 3-can donation to the Food Bank.
Our members filled two large donation cans in one day!

For more information about Second Harvest, visit:
	http://www.thefoodbank.org

Remember that as always, if you are late on a payment to Cruzio
you can avoid the late fee by bringing three cans of food for our
food barrel. Or just bring canned food to us any time. People are
hungry all year round.


7. Surf Is Up
At last the waves are big and wet-suited surfers are all over them.
Every morning crowds of people in their work-clothes stand, often
with a cup of coffee, sniffing at the wind off Monterey Bay and
staring at the waves with a wistful look. It's winter, the best time
to surf, and even if you don't go in yourself it's exciting to watch.

At last week's fabled Mavericks Surf Contest, Greg Long from San Clemente
was the ultimate winner but a good number of the elite contestants were
Santa Cruz locals. The contest was broadcast live on the Internet and
clips can be seen on http://www.myspace.com/maverickssurf . Basically it
looks like the surfers are plunging down the side of a 3-story building
made of water. Then, the building sometimes falls on them. Amazing.


8. Gizmo of the Month
This month, we are upstaging the Academy Awards(tm) by nominating
as Gizmo of the Month our Netgear USB Wireless Adapter, just
$49.99 plus tax. Got an older computer, but still want to go wireless?
No need to delve into your computer's innards to add wireless capability.
Plug this little baby into your USB port and you're ready to take your
computer to the couch or the backyard and log in.

	http://shopcruzio.com/equipment.html#adapters


9. Wireless at Santa Cruz City Hall
We're fortunate to live in a city with picturesque hills and lush
trees. Lovely as these features are, they make wireless Internet
access a difficult thing to achieve on a large scale. 

Cruzio has addressed this problem by creating cells of wireless
Internet as a free service at 35 "hot spots" or cyberhubs all around
Santa Cruz County. (We figure the more the county uses the Internet,
the more our members will benefit: more to see and do online, and
more readers for local content.) Cruzio spoke with the cities of
Santa Cruz and Watsonville -- really, to any public agency who would
listen -- about opening up more shared areas to wireless Internet access.
We've donated to the cities before, and to the county library system,
and countless other worthy public causes.

So we were surprised to hear that the City of Santa Cruz had
contracted with a Texas corporation -- AT&T -- instead of a local
company like Cruzio to provide City Hall's courtyard with wireless
Internet access. Worse yet, we'd offered to do it for free, and we
read in the newspaper that the City was paying for the service.

We spoke to members of the City Council and the City's IT department,
repeating our offer. Everyone we spoke to in city government was very
receptive to the idea of Cruzio's involvement once it was brought up.
We're now discussing whether Cruzio or some other local company can
take over the task at some point.

We are happy for the opportunity to serve the public, and just
want to remind people that "Think Local" is more than lip service.
It really takes a bit of thought and care. It's all too easy to
unintentionally overlook even a well-known and well-qualified
local company.

Cruzio buys local and we're glad you do too. If you're interested
in setting up a wireless hot spot at your business or community
location, let us know at
   http://www.cruzio.com/local_info/wireless/cyberhub_application


10. Immunity for Telecom Companies?
Telecommunications giants such as AT&T and Verizon were asked by the
Bush administration -- beginning in early 2001 -- to intercept their
customers' data for detection of criminal and terrorist activities.
Most of the corporations complied, doing so without any public
notice. Their practices came to light only recently.

Now, as Congress rewrites the FISA bill to outline the rules by which
the federal government can eavesdrop on its citizens, many in Congress
are calling for retroactive immunity for those telecoms. The argument
is that they were only trying to do right.

Many of us agree that these companies were often trying to do right.
However by preventing lawsuits by the ACLU and others, the bill
will leave us forever in the dark about exactly whether it was right
and why. No one will be able to subpoena witnesses or records.

That seems... wrong. Information carriers are responsible for maintaining
the privacy of their customers' data (Cruzio is a strong believer
in privacy). Companies should obey the law, no matter who asks them to
break it -- a constitutional concept called "the rule of law".

Senator Chris Dodd stood up to strong pressure and did not allow the
immunity clause to pass last December. The "blogosphere" also helped,
with Internet chatter prompting many thousands of calls to senators
on the day of the vote. However, this issue will likely be up for another
round of consideration. If you have a strong opinion, feel free to
contact your representatives. A good place to follow this case is
the Electronic Freedom Foundation: http://www.eff.org/nsa .


11. Class Schedule Through March

A brand new class schedule with lots of new offerings is up at 

	http://classes.cruzio.com/schedule.html

Check it out! Already we've seen an increase in students this
year -- new year, new Web site? 


12. Moving?
If you are moving your home or office, please contact Cruzio.
We're here to help the Internet portion of your move go smoothly.
It's best to let us know several weeks ahead of time, especially
if you have DSL or if you're cancelling a phone line. We can often
save you from an interruption in Internet service and prevent
costly fees -- but you've got to let us know. For more information,
please see
   http://www.cruzio.com/services/highspeed_access/move_dsl.html


13. Buddy Bucks
Recommend us to friends, family, colleagues: if a new customer
gives us your email address, registration number, or full name when
they sign up you'll get $10 or more credit to your account. If two
friends sign up, $20. Three friends, $30. It just goes on and on. 


14. Correction
Many thanks to alert newsletter reader, Ms. Cynthia Mathews, for
pointing out that "administrate" is not, as she put it, a proper
verb: the correct form is "administer." She's right: look it up in
the dictionary box on the Cruzio home page, where "administrate" pales
beside its definition-laden cousin.

Thus, we have changed the name of our Hands-on Class to
"Administer Your Domain Like a Pro." We feel much better now.
Thanks again Cynthia.


15. About This Newsletter
Cruzio doesn't like to waste bandwidth with extra email, but we sometimes
have events and announcements that users need to know about. This seems
like the most efficient way to let people know what's happening. Hope
it's helpful. Please email support@cruzio.com with any comments or questions. 
By the way, we would love to have a regular, predictable schedule
for this newsletter...but we simply do not send it unless there is real
news enclosed. Thus the haphazard datelines.


16. How to Reach Cruzio (dial-in or tech support)
To reach the Cruzio Information Center, for online technical and
sales information:
	http://www.cruzio.com/support 

To dial in to Cruzio, set your software to dial one of the numbers
below (note: we've expanded and joined modem pools, so you may be 
using another number. If so, don't worry, it still works just fine).

  Dialup (in Santa Cruz County): 459-9408

  Nationwide Dialup: Look up local number on our Web page:
     http://www.cruzio.com/support/dialup_isdn/nationwide_numbers.html
  or call Cruzio toll free, 1.800.303.3302

To call Cruzio:
        459-6301............Use this number to check Cruzio's system status,
           pay your Cruzio bill, find out more about our hours and location,
           or to reach someone in customer service and technical support.
        722-6200 .......... Cruzio's number in Watsonville.

To send email to Cruzio, use one of these addresses:
  	support@cruzio.com ......for technical support
	office@cruzio.com .......for billing and ordering information

Cruzio's locations:
	Santa Cruz: 903 Pacific Avenue, Suite 101, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
	Watsonville: Plaza Vigil, 25 E. Beach Street, Watsonville, CA 95076
	
Cruzio's hours:
	Sales hours: 10am-6pm, Monday through Friday; 10 am - 2 pm Saturday
	Technical support: 8am to 6pm, Mon to Fri, 10am - 2pm Saturday
	System monitoring, including customer-alerted emergencies, 24 hours
		per day, 365 days per year (leap years, 366 days)

Thanks very much from Cruzio:
	Chris, Peggy, Julianne, Mark, Paul, Gershom, Jessi, James,
	Juana, Nikkie, Mike, Don, Bruce, Westi, Andrew, Jaime,
	another Chris, yet another Chris, Diana, Jake, Tommy,
	Shawn and Zachary;
	our awesome interns, Jeremy, Anna, Michele, and Rodney;
	Jake, Annika, and Carly (the kids)


"My friend Shiraz has a new pet. Her parents won't let her keep
it at home so she gave it to me. It's a moth named Austin."
--Carly, age 10, explaining what is on her pillow.