Tip: Does a surge protector work even when it's off?

— -- Answer. When you turn off a surge protector -- or suppressor, as some people call them -- it's virtually the same as unplugging it; it will save a small amount of energy and is a little safer in a storm than having the surge protector on. However, it's the best solution. Surge protectors are for dealing with normally fluctuating energy levels -- not lightning strikes. If a bad storm hits nearby, your best bet is to turn off all of your gadgets and then unplug the surge protector completely.

Scan and translate text

Q. I'm taking a course that is taught in Russian and I don't speak the language fluently. Are there any devices that can help me read my text books for class?

A. You could buy a translator pen. These start at about $150, and some of the most popular ones are made by IRISPen and Wizcom. You use the pen just like you would a highlighter and then it uses special software to translate the text. If $150 is out of your price range and you've got a smart phone, try using the Google Goggles app. Take a picture of the text with your phone and then translate it with Google Translate right from the app. While it won't be an exact translation like it would be with the pen, it should be enough to understand the meaning of the text.

What is embedding?

Q. I keep seeing this button that says "embed" onYouTube videos. What will it do if I click it? personal

A. Embedding simply means putting media, such as a photo or a video, into a web page or blog. When you embed a video, people can watch it directly on the page without visiting YouTube. This still generates views for YouTube, so YouTube likes it when you embed videos on other sites. That's where that handy button comes into play. When you click it, it will show you a few lines of code. When you copy and paste that code into an HTML editor or blog post, the video will show up automatically. If you don't immediately see the embed button on a video, click on the Share button under the video window.

Java vs. Javascript

Q. I've disabled Java on my computer because of its recent security problems, but my browser still wants me to use Javascript. How can I turn that off?

A. I can see why you would confuse the two, but Javascript and Java are two different platforms. A program that's written to use Javascript won't run on Java and vice versa. Both programs have very different security structures, so the security issues that Java is dealing with aren't affecting Javascript. Since Javascript is built into most browsers, you'd disable it from your browser's settings menu. However, there's not really a reason to do that. If you did, many newer websites would not work. I do recommend uninstalling Java in your browser until Oracle releases a secure version, though. Find out how to do it at www.komando.com/news.

Record professional-sounding audio

Q. I'm recording interviews for an audio documentary. What equipment should I buy to make sure my work sounds professional?

A. The best way to make your work sound professional might be to hire a professional. If you're sold on doing it yourself, though, look for an audio recorder from Tascam, Sony or Olympus. Expect to pay about $100-$250 for a good basic one. It's a good idea to pick up an external microphone, as well. This gives you more control over the placement so you can find the right position. Record your audio in the WAV format so you have more editing options later. If you need software to edit out any unnatural pauses, check out Audacity. It's free to use.

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Kim Komando hosts the nation's largest talk radio show about consumer electronics, computers and the Internet. To get the podcast, watch the show or find the station nearest you, visit: www.komando.com/listen. To subscribe to Kim's free email newsletters, sign-up at www.komando.com/newsletters.