The Ides

When you download files in your web browser, is it hard to find where they ended up on your computer?

If so, you can tell Firefox where you want all your downloads to be stored.  In many cases, it might be easiest to have them downloaded to your computer's Desktop so they're easy to find.

If you need to track down previous downloaded files, go to Tools > Downloads and use the search box to find your file. Once you’ve found it, double-click on the file to open it, or right-click and choose "Copy Download Link".

As we get closer to the gift-giving season you may find these to be of help:

The Amazon Universal Wish List Button allows you to add products from any website to your Amazon Wish List with one click.  This means the items don't have to be available through Amazon -- you can add stuff from Apple to Zappos.  Just add the Universal Wish List button to your browser, and start shopping. When you see something you'd like on any website, just click the Add to Universal Wish List button, and the item will appear on your Amazon Wish List.  For details, read last year's Ides post about it.

Choose Google Docs holiday templates to use timesavers like the Lifehacker Holiday Gift Planner, Party Invitation (Snowflake Theme), Christmas Gift Budget spreadsheet, and Gift Certificate (Holiday Gift Theme).

'Tis the season to have a mailbox full of mail order catalogs.  If you want to control or cut down on the number of catalogs you receiv, try Catalog Choice to opt out of paper catalogs.

The Test Your E-mail I.Q. post at the Grammarphobia blog offers 20 tips to consider before clicking "send"; here are some of the best:

1. Is the subject line helpful?
The reader should be able to tell at a glance what you're writing about and how urgent it is.

2. Did you get right to the point?

4. Did you say too much?
Try not to write more than you have to, especially at work. Long e-mails get read last.

6. Did you say what you're replying to?
A cryptic "Fine" or "Nope" or "Maybe later" won't do. Never make the reader guess which message you're answering, especially if time has passed.

12. Did you break for paragraphs?
Please, no solid blobs of type. Break your message into bite-size pieces, one short paragraph per subject. It'll be easier to read and easier to answer.

18. Does it have to be an e-mail?
Maybe a letter or a phone call or a face-to-face meeting would be better.

Read all the rest at Grammarphobia.

To help avoid accidentally deleting a file, putting something into your Windows Recycle Bin doesn’t actually remove it from your computer. So if you discover you need something you deleted, you can still restore it from the Recycle Bin.  

Or if your computer's hard drive is filling up and you need to make room there, you can permanently remove files by emptying the Recycle Bin.

Read all about how to retore files and empty the recycle bin.