Most times I don't mind being baldheaded. I cut my own hair using --- no joke --- clippers designed for pets. And when I put the top down on my car, the wind doesn't mess up my, uh, hairs.

However, when I have to work on my computer network at home, bald is a major disadvantage. Finding the right wire, when something goes wrong, involves crawling around under a desk. And a bald head does not hide the bumps and scratches that logically follow for a guy who can't even coordinate shirts and pants.

That's why I've worked hard to organize the maze of wiring created by the AC lines, ethernet cables for the network, telephone lines for the fax and DSL, and various other wires that have been there so long I've sort of forgotten what they do.

Nowadays, each wire has a taped-on label. And there are other labels that go on connectors for the router and DSL box. So when my stepdaughter's network connection stops working, I can find the ethernet cable labeled Erin and make sure that it is snugly inserted in the router connection "Erin."

That helps a lot. But there's still more you can do to make things easier in your home. Some of it will make repairs easier. All of it will create a kinder climate with your spouse and family.

Take a tip from wiring professionals and use plastic ties to make neat bundles of wires. Wires are born with the desire to commingle with other wires and end up in an amazing tangle if left alone. By bundling the wires, you create less of a mess and also make things easier when you need to replace a wire. No tangle means no time lost in unraveling a mess that would do a fishing reel backlash proud.

In my home, there are wires that must run across the room. The wires for the rear speakers for my home theater fit into that category, as do the wires that connect the two computers in my home office to the network.

One of the great inventions of modern man is hollow plastic molding --- available in an assortment of colors --- used to hide wires. The molding tacks to the baseboard or wooden molding and does a nice job of covering all the wiring. You'd have to look twice to see it's there.

That takes care of the wiring but does nothing for the mess on your computer desk. Many times I'll see monitors stacked on computers, and routers and DSL modems stacked on top of that. Add in an assortment of books, printouts, staplers and such like, and you are doomed to desktop avalanches.

I use a riser that supports my monitor at just the right height and avoids that weight on top of the computer. It looks a lot better but also has some advantages that are more practical.

Your gadgets need breathing room. Monitors and computers in particular create quite a bit of heat when operating. When you stack one on top of another, you cut into that breathing room. Add in papers and other stuff, and you're suffocating the cooling system.

I've literally seen --- in this newsroom --- a monitor catch fire because newspapers were stacked on top. It's unlikely that will happen in your home, but it is possible. And it is certain that allowing room for air to circulate will result in a cooler-running computer. That could pay off in a longer life.

While we are talking about desktop organization, let me warn you of a pitfall. Many people, in an effort to reclaim more desk surface, sit the computer on the floor.

That's a bad idea based on a simple fact of physics. Dust is heavier than air. So it settles toward the floor. The computer's cooling system will eventually draw in enough dust, even in the cleanest of homes, to clog the fan's outlet and cover the computer's motherboard.

Besides being heavy, dust is an excellent insulator. And once it coats the motherboard, it'll serve as a nice fluffy blanket that holds in the heat produced by the various components. That means your PC could take a permanent nap brought on by overheating.

With these precautions, things should look a lot better and last longer.

Before you stop for the day, take a moment to organize the CDs used to install your programs. Make sure that --- if an activation code is required during installation --- the code is printed on the case used to store the disc.

Now for the final step, my favorite part of any organizational effort. Sit down in your computer chair, make sure it is comfortably adjusted, then prop your feet on the desk. Then, in a loud voice, say, "Honey, come see what I did."

tecbud@ajc.com