Business Resources

Online Tools, Offers and Applications

Company Phone Numbers – An excellent resource. Type in a company name and most of the time the best phone number to reach them pops up, along with the keys to push to get to a human fastest. https://gethuman.com/

Free Conference Call – OK I know you Zoomers are scratching your heads right now, but this company has been around for decades and is free for any size audio conference, and free for 25 seats in a video webinar. You can record, show different screens, take or turn over control of the meeting, audio or video. Easier to invite people as you get a permanent call in phone number and access code. Makes it easy to email, text or Skype someone an invitation. https://www.freeconferencecall.com/index-b

Zoom – Very popular audio/video conferencing program, available for free – https://zoom.us/

Whois Lookup – Several different websites exist to see who the owner of a website is. It allows you to check domain names to see if they are available, but if it is owned, if you can’t find contact information on a website, if you check a Whois directory you may get lucky and find the owners phone and email address. Here are two popular ones:

Phone for overseas – If you travel outside the US, one of the more challenging tasks is making a call to the US. There are many free and paid options that have a variety of features to meet your needs offshore. Here are two options:

  • FREE – TextNow – Will provide you a US phone number, city of your choice, completely free (ads show on the screen). You can download a copy onto your cell phone through the app store associated with your phone. As long as you are connected to WiFi, your cell phone can send and receive calls just like a normal phone in the US, people can leave voice mail messages and you can send and receive text messages with it – https://www.textnow.com
  • Ring Central – Allows you to create a full virtual PBX with apps for your computer, cell phone and you can program the numbers into IP Telephones. All sorts of features including recording your and other calls, monitoring calls and even jumping in and joining a call you are monitoring. Runs about $25/mo/line.

Best US Cell Phone deal – There is lots of competition out there in the cell phone space. Prices keep dropping, but what is the best deal right now? The plans with unlimited everything are the most attractive. Most have unlimited US calling and text, but many have data restrictions. Some have unlimited data but that option tends to cost more. Then the question of what network is best comes up. The best deal right now is a company called Red Pocket Mobile. They not only give you unlimited calling, text, data and allows you to use your phone as a WiFi Hot Spot, but they allow you to stay on whatever network you like (Sprint, T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, etc.) but they also give you unlimited calling worldwide! Yes, not just the US, Canada and the Caribbean, but you can call most countries across the globe.

  • Red Pocket Mobile – Brought on by eBay to handle phone service for all the new and used phones sold on their site. Global calling, unlimited text, data, WiFi Hot Spot, all for just $30/month! – https://www.redpocket.com/

Free Anti-Virus Programs – Computer virus’, cookies, pop-ups and other annoying programs find their way more and more onto computers these days. Windows Defender isn’t terrible but there are many other free options that function better. Stay away from paid Norton Antivirus and McAfee Antivirus accounts. Not worth the money and they actually slow down your computer. The Anti-Virus programs below are free (they have paid versions but the free ones are fine) as are the Anti-Spyware programs. Recommended that you run them at least once per week (close all other programs when running them and do it at a time when you don’t need the computer). Also, make sure you upgrade each one BEFORE you run them. Note: The programs listed below are NOT designed to stop cyber-attacks. Firewall settings and monitoring along with programs available from a variety of sources that claim to protect from ransomware attacks. This is going to require more time to research and info that we can post here. The programs below will protect you from viruses and will keep the junk websites and other programs add to your computer without your knowledge.

Anti-Virus
Bitdefender – https://www.bitdefender.com/solutions/free.html
Kaspersky – https://www.kaspersky.com/blog/free-antivirus/20568/

Anti-Spyware
Malwarebytes – https://www.malwarebytes.com/solutions/free-antivirus
SuperAntispyware – https://www.superantispyware.com/free-edition.html
Spybot Search & Destroy – https://www.spybot-free-download.com/
Roguekiller – https://www.adlice.com/roguekiller/

Effective PPE

While the Pandemic is largely under control through vaccines, variants continue to pop up and spread. Even a secondary vaccine may not protect you. So what will? Standard masks do nothing to protect you. They do protect others to an extent. However N95 masks, when worn and maintained properly, will filter out Anthrax. If you are going to wear a mask, you might as well wear one designed to protect you as well as others.

Today, N95, KN95 and the FM2.5 filters are easy to get, through Amazon if you like, but www.wish.com seems to have the best selection of masks, goggles and other PPE items.

If you are wearing a mask to protect yourself, the goal is to stop droplets containing the virus from reaching your mouth, nose and eyes. Those are the three vulnerable points, where the virus can enter through bodily fluids. Air will travel by the easiest path. Gaps on either side of your nose, by your cheeks or wearing a mask under your nose will allow air and the virus, to travel past the mask. The goal is to create a seal so when you breathe in, air travels through the mask so the filtration will capture the virus before it reaches you.

Mask Types

  • Vented vs. Non-Vented – vented masks are easier to breathe through. When you exhale, the vent or vents open, not restricting your breathing. While vented masks protect you, they do not protect others from you. It’s good to have a non-vented self-contained mask as a backup in case you’re in a situation where it is required, or if you actually have a virus so it won’t reach others.
  • Separate Filter or Self Contained – While self-contained masks are simpler, the rule of thumb is 20 uses, then either the mask, or the filter, should be replaced. Masks with replaceable filters tend to be more practical and stylish. Find one that is comfortable, then replace its filter after 20 uses.

Replaceable Filter, Dual Vented masks are the most comfortable. Metal clips at the bridge of the nose shapes it properly, and the vents go completely through the mask so easiest to breathe through. They are generally light and the Velcro attached versions are more comfortable than the ones that go over the ears.

Non-Vented masks with Replaceable Filters are available and if you need Non-Vented, this is a more stylish option than the standard medical version.

Goggles – depending on the situation, unsealed or sealed. Walking outdoors or in a public area, unsealed goggles are reasonable. They have a sufficient chance of stopping the virus from entering through your eyes. When running, driving with the windows or top down, riding a bike or motorbike, air circulates faster and can be drawn to you. Better to wear sealed goggles in these cases.

Caring For A Mask

Just replacing the mask or filter every 20 uses isn’t enough. A mask should be maintained. After each use:

  • Spray the inside and outside of the mask with Lysol or Colloidal Silver.
  • Place the mask in direct sunlight for 2 hours or in a UV Light Box for 8 minutes.

The masks job is to keep the virus from reaching you. If it is doing that effectively, the virus, if present, gets trapped in the filter within the mask. The filter, in a replaceable or self-contained mask, is mainly activated charcoal, similar to a water filter. When the charcoal in a charcoal water filter is used up, it no longer filters out impurities. It’s the same with N95 variety masks. The charcoal filtration gets used up after about 20 uses. Replacing the mask or filters regularly, treating and disinfecting it with each use is the best way to assure it will do its job protecting you.

Item Links – Links for all of the items mentioned above. You can search for them on many other websites these days. Most you can find on Amazon as well. Note: some dual-vented, replaceable filter masks have both ear loops and Velcro that attaches behind the neck. Most find Velcro only is more comfortable.

N95 Masks

Goggles

Maintenance Items

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