In This Issue:

Atlantic.Net@Home
• April Fool's Day Ideas
• Hot Links to Cool Sites
• Technical Tips

Atlantic.Net@Work
• Smart Business Solutions
• Partnership Opportunities


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Foolish Fun!
Watch your back on April 1st, a day many folks traditionally play practical jokes on their friends and family. The holiday is believed to have originated in France, where King Charles IX changed New Year's Day from April 1 to the first of January. However, many did not believe the king or were not aware of the change. Those who continued to ring in the New Year on April 1 were called "April Fools," since they celebrated on the wrong day.

Here's how April Fool's Day is observed in other parts of the world.
• The French call this day "April Fish" (Poisson d'Avril) and fool their friends by taping paper fish to their backs. When the trick is discovered, the prankster yells "Poisson d'Avril!"
• In the U.K., pranks are only played in the morning, and you are called a "noodle" if a trick is played on you.
• April Fool's Day in Scotland lasts 48 hours, and the prank victim is called an "April Gowk," another name for a cuckoo bird.
• The Portuguese celebrate April Fool's Day on the Sunday and Monday before Lent. The traditional trick is to throw flour at your friends.

If you're a wannabe prankster who's stumped for clever ideas, check out these sites:
ComputerPranks.Com - Silly stuff for jokers.
The Free Site - More than three dozen gags.
MamaMedia - April Fool's fun for kids.
Blue Mountain - Send an April Foolish greeting.

Source: Computing Corner

Surfin' Safari
Each month, the Surf's Up team scours the Web looking for cool sites. Here are a few worth checking out.

www.callwave.com - At this site, you can download a free virtual answering machine that enables you to hear who's calling you while you're on-line.
www.bored.com - Subtitled "When you have nothing better to do," this Bored.Com is a comprehensive list of other sites to browse, well, when you have nothing better to do!
www.epinions.com - Before you buy a product, check out this site to see what other consumers think. A variety of products such as software, hotels, restaurants, and sports equipment have been rated to help you make more informed buying decisions.
www.travelocity.com - Start planning your summer adventures now with this dot-com's money-saving trip tips! Travelocity will turn you into a savvy world traveler in no time by giving you hints on how to make the most of your vacation.

Tech Tips

For PC Users:
Are you confused by the "Illegal Operation" error in Windows? This error can be caused by any of the following:
• Different software may be trying to access the same area of memory.
• Various bugs within the software could be causing a conflict.
• You may have an errors in the "DLL files" (files that help applications run).
If you believe you know what software is causing the problem, make sure all applications are current and check the vendor's Web site to see if any patches are available to correct potential problems. You can also try uninstalling and reinstalling the application. Keep track of your error messages to see if a pattern arises, and consult an on-line source such as Microsoft Knowledge Base.

For Mac Users:
Do you know how to narrow your search to a specific folder? You can use Sherlock to search only a specific folder by dragging the folder from the finder into Sherlock's window. The folder will appear as a searchable item, which can be helpful if you have a folder containing many documents and/or subfolders.

You can find more info about these and other self-help topics, at Atlantic.Net's Support Web site.

Toll-Free Roaming
Going on vacation or a business trip? Take your Atlantic.Net account with you by using the toll-free roaming feature! You can use your Atlantic.Net account to access the Internet and to check your e-mail anywhere in the United States via a toll-free number. To activate toll-free roaming, contact Member Services at (352) 336-7716 or (800) 921-9328, or send a request to service@atlantic.net. For complete details about eligibility and additional charges, click here.

SPOTLIGHT: Solutions for Your Business
This is the second installment in a new Surf's Up series highlighting enhanced business services that can help you work smarter. Read on to find out how Atlantic.Net's reliable high-bandwidth circuits can speed up your business.

Last year, Affiliated Engineers decided to upgrade their Internet connectivity from a frame relay with Atlantic.Net to a dedicated T-1. After researching their options, the team resolved to stick with a provider they could trust. "We did look at a few other companies," says Brian Jones, network administrator in AEI's Gainesville, Florida office. "We decided to go with Atlantic.Net, because we had good luck previously, and it was easier because they already knew us. Their prices were right in line with everyone else. Plus, it's easy to get a hold of somebody if we need support."

Jones says the upgrade helps Affiliated Engineers work more efficiently. "Mainly, it's speed of connectivity for people from our office, so they can do their research and send their e-mail quicker," he says. "The T-1 has really helped the speed of file transfers. Our home office in Madison, Wisconsin does have an FTP site, and it's much quicker downloading large files from clients and architects."

Along with bigger bandwidth, the T-1 connection has proven to be reliable for Jones and his team. "Over the last year, we've been in constant connection with Atlantic.Net," he says. "Our longest interruption lasted only 15 minutes, and when we called to let the engineers know, they already knew about it and were fixing it. We've been very happy with the stability of the network."

To find out how Atlantic.Net can customize a business solution for your company, call (800) 521-5881.