Top Ten New Years Resolutions

Trying to decide what your New Years Resolution should be for the upcoming 2011!! Maybe the list published on the USA.Gov website can help you to decide what would be best for you - Check it out at:

(www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/New_Years_Resolutions.shtml)

Technology is so helpful today... And when you visit the USA.Gov website (link is above) and each of the following resolutions is linked to the associated website for helpful information to help you reach your goal...

According to USA.Gov, these are the most popular New Year's resolutions year after year:

• Drink Less Alcohol
• Get a Better Education
• Get a Better Job
• Get Fit
• Lose Weight
• Manage Debt
• Manage Stress
• Quit Smoking Now
• Save Money
• Take a Trip
• Volunteer to Help Others

50 Best Websites 2010

Every year, TIME (Time magazine) publishes a list of what they feel are the top 50 websites – according to their promo, the list ranges from the helpful to the distracting, the big hitters to the unknowns..

So when you have some time to relax and explore, check out their website which makes it easy by sorting their list into ten (10) primary categories…

• Music & Video
• Sports
• News & Info
• Financial & Productivity
• Shopping & Travel
• Health & Fitness
• Social Media
• Games
• Education
• Family & Kids

Hope you enjoy… here's the link:

www.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0,29569,2012721,00.html

Merry Christmas Everyone

From our families to yours, may you have a peace and joy filled Christmas…

CHRISTMAS BELLS
~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet, The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along, The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till, ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound, The Carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said;
‘For hate is strong, And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!’

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
‘God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!’

Listen to Christmas Music Online

Thought you might enjoy listening to Christmas Music Online - check out these free sites and enjoy the musical magic of the holidays... Enjoy.....

www.Pandora.com/ChristmasMusic

www.christmasmusic247.com

www.xmasmelody.com

www.accuradio.com/more/accuholidays

How many photo images can be stored on a Memory Card?

The following information for photo images is a guideline, the number will vary based on several things, such as camera model, internal file size, compression settings, what you have chosen for resolution and compression mode settings and finally, JPEG (is a compressed file) compression will result in different file sizes based upon picture complexity…
MP=Megapixels: MB=Megabytes, GB = Gigabytes

This approx. number of photo images can be used on these 2 different size SDHC Memory Cards on 4 different size cameras - 6MP, 8MP, 10MP and 12MP. The SDHC Memory Card is one of the most popular memory card styles used today by camera manufacturers..

4GB: 6MP=1905 images; 8MP 1270 images; 10MP 802 images or 12MP 677 images

8GB: 6MP=3812 images; 8MP 2540 images; 10MP 1604 images or 12MP 1354 images

Note: all memory cards have a DCIM folder (Digital Camera Image) which should never be removed..

Digital Camera Basics

If you are purchasing a camera for 4 x 6 snapshots a 3-4 Megapixel is fine, but you will find as you shop for this holiday season – December 2019 – that most cameras today come with 12 Megapixels or more, so that isn’t a problem. If you like a particular brand of camera, go with it. Some features to look for are:

Battery Type
Depending on your preference you may want regular AAA batteries because they are everywhere and easy to replace or a proprietary rechargeable battery that comes with your camera. It’s really just a matter of choice.

LCD size
Generally, the larger the LCD, the better. The larger your view, the better idea you have whether the picture is good, or if you should take another.

View Finder
Most new cameras don’t have an eyepiece to view your subject, you use the viewfinder instead. If an eyepiece viewer is important to you, make sure the camera you purchase has one. Only in very bright sun is the eyepiece viewer important.

Zoom
For me, Optical Zoom, is the most important feature. When you frame a picture, you usually want a part of the scene- maybe just the face or faces – maybe the whole body and the interactions between people- maybe the people as they relate to the vast scenery. The larger your zoom, the better chance you have of capturing what you’d like to see in a picture. The average zoom sold today is 4X. So ask about Optical Zoom (not Digital Zoom)

Image Stabilization
This helps make your picture more sharp and less fuzzy. Image stabilization is more important the longer your zoom and has become a standard feature in most cameras today .

Our next post will discuss memory and memory cards...

What to do when your computer says you have "low memory"

A "memory too low message" is an indication that the amount of random access memory (RAM) in your computer is inadequate for the program you are trying to run.

Older computers attempting to run newer software often run into this problem. If you only get the memory low message when you attempt to run a specific program, then you've identified the problem. You can either not use that particular program or you can install additional memory.

The best way to get rid of a memory low message is to add more memory. Another benefit of adding more memory is better overall system performance. How much more memory you will be able to add depends on your operating system (Windows 98, Windows XP, Vista or the newest Windows 7) and the hardware that you have within your computer....

Check your manufacturer’s website for your specific computer to determine what upgrades you can make - this will tell you how much more memory you can add. Or call a respected tech support person if you are unsure or uncomfortable trying to do this on your own...

Enjoy your Holidays-Classes Resume in 2011

Just a quick reminder that as of today, our computer classes are over now until after the holidays.

On behalf of all of us, we wish you and your families a wonderful holiday season and fabulous and healthy 2011 ahead... Still not quite sure where this year went...

Our current computer class series will resume the week of January 3rd, 2011 and continue thru February 3rd…..

Until then have a safe, healthy and happy holiday...

Cherie Houston, Bob Donovan, Jean McCarty, Jack Bowes, Michael Guerino & Kevin Bachelder

Difference between Webcasts & Podcasts

Difference between webcasts & podcasts

Webcasts and Podcasts have a few things in common, but they are very different.

Both are different ways of getting information, via audio and or video "streamming" to a lot of people anywhere in the world using the Internet. The words themselves, like so many other new words being added every year to our vocabulary & dictionaries for computer lingo, are fairly new:

• Webcast became popular in the mid 1990’s
• Podcast became a popular term in 2001 because of the Apple iPod…

A basic difference is that Webcasts are sent in "real time," meaning that they are "live" (even though some Webcasts are saved and then viewed later) and they are watched on a computer... So many companies and organizations use webcasts today versus holding “in person” large conventions or seminars (often referred to as webinars-another great new word)

Podcasts end up being archived and can be viewed at a later date and they can be saved and played back on your iPod or many smartphones today, and if they are audio only then you can play them back on your portable music player, like your mp3 player.. Many Podcasts are “pre-recorded” and then published on their site as files you can open at your convenience – fast-forwarding, starting & stopping and rewinding – whatever you want.

Most of us find that Webcasts can't be copied and shared as easily as a Podcast can

DOWNLOADING PICASA 3

PICASA (a Google product) is a FREE award-winning software used for working with photos, on your PC, from emails, disk, CD-Rom and digital cameras.

**PICASA’S NEW VERSION 3, can only be used with Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7. If you are using an older “Operating System” such as Windows 98, 2000, ME, then you will continue to use Picasa Version 2

Downloading Picasa to your computer is quick and easy and again FREE - Just open your Internet and on the Internet address toolbar, type: http://www.picasa.com/

• Click on the button that says “DOWNLOAD PICASA”
• This brings you to a dialog box where you must choose whether to “RUN” or “Save” the file, Click “RUN”.
• Depending on your Internet service speed, this may take a few minutes
• Another dialog box will appear asking: Do you want to RUN the software? Click RUN
• The software should be installed on your computer. If you’re asked other questions, respond “yes” or “OK”. Picasa 3 will be installed on your PC
• Picasa then will search over your whole computer for pictures or merely look in the “MYPICTURES” directory. I prefer the MYPICTURES directory only, but you can choose whatever option you wish
• The Picasa Icon is now created and on your desktop (and you can add it to your Quick Launch)
• The Picasa Media Detector should be installed on the system tray in the taskbar toolbar. This is necessary so that Picasa 3 can add any new photos that are added to the MyPictures folder.

Picasa software allow you to:

• Create quick & easy photo Slide Shows- with or without music
• Easy to view Photo Library
• Numerous quick & easy photo editing tools including red eye reduction, cropping and changing photos form color to black & white or sepia
• Photos can be sorted by folder or timeline
• Great tools for printing - wallet, 4 x 6 or full page
• You can convert you photos to movies with sound & motion
• You can easily upload your photos to an online web album for easy sharing
• Or identify all "faces" in your photos for easy sorting-called tagging
• and much much more...

Once you have download the free software, like all Google products, there are great tutorials which will help you learn to use the software - or join us in class...

Technical Support

When you need technical support for you computer at home our recommendation is the following two individuals, who are the people we turn to when we need help...

In addition to being knowledgeable and wonderful to work with, they also offer discounted rates for our computer students and residents at Union Tower I & II on Broad street in Weymouth.

So, when you need technical support for your computer, contact Kevin or Mike for technical support.

Always introduce yourself to them as a student in our program.

In the past we’ve hesitated to make recommendation. But, both Kevin & Michael have worked with some of your fellow students and our teaching staff, and so far “great comments”, so we are confident recommending them to you.

Kevin Bachelder
Email: kbachelder@ansaphone.com
(800)782-7587 or (617)328-7300

Mike (Michael) Guerino
Email: mguerino@hotmail.com
Tele: 774-571-2185

We encourage you to let us know what you think. Whether it’s when you work with our technical staff or participate in our computer class programs, your comments and suggestions are important to our programs.

Send comments/suggestions to: Cherie Houston
cherie_houston@hotmail.com

WHAT IS PODCASTING?

~ Kevin Bachelder

Podcasting is often referred to as online radio. It’s a way that allows anyone to share their thoughts, opinions and expertise with everyone else. It allows anyone to be a content creator regardless of their background. All you need to create your own podcast is a passion for a specific topic, a computer and a microphone..

Podcasts can be audio or video. If you’re looking to find other people who share a similar passion (knitting, photography, travel, SciFi movies, etc.) there’s probably already several podcasts out there on that topic.

Most podcasts are normally free to listen to and very easy to enjoy.

This video does an excellent job of describing podcasts:
www.commoncraft.com/podcasting

This is one of Kevin's podcasts:
http://www.tuningintoscifitv.com/

The following are just a few directories of "podcasts" you can explore to find just about any topic imaginable.. If you don't like one podcast, move on to another until you find the ones you enjoy..
www.podcastdirectory.com
www.apple.com/itunes/podcasts
www.podfeed.net

Email Addresses for Teaching Staff & Technical Support

For those of you who may not have all of our emails addresses, the following is a listing of our instructors and technical staff.. you ma want to copy and paste them to your email address book so that you have them..

Teaching:

CHERIE HOUSTON: cherie_houston@hotmail.com

BOB DONOVAN: bobdonovan2944@hotmail.com

JEAN MCCARTY: jean.mccarty@live.com

JACK BOWES: jackbowes1@live.com

Technical:

KEVIN BACHELDER: kbachelder@ansaphone.com

MICHAEL GUERINO: mguerino@hotmail.com

HOW TO KEEP YOUR MONITOR AND KEYBOARD CLEAN?

First-turn the computer off before cleaning the monitor or keyboard…

Monitor ~ The new LCD flat screen monitors/TV should be cleaned with a micro-fiber cloth and water or solution designed for them-Most manufacturers recommend never using products that contain ANY alcohol, ammonia, or other strong solvents on LCD & Plasma screens.

Keyboard ~ First, turn the keyboard upside down and tap it gently to release any crumbs, dust, pet hair; Then versus paying for a can of compressed air, I use the cool setting on a hair dryer after I’ve tapped the keyboard ~ Be careful what you use to wipe it down. Electronic items usually come coated with a very fine film of glossy finish and this material can be damaged by harsh cleaners, especially ones that contain ammonia compounds or alcohol

Mouse & Phones ~ Especially this time of year (winter) I use alcohol wipes on my mouse and all phones at the office, at home and my cell phone; especially if and when the grandkids are around….

BACKING UP YOUR COMPUTER AND INFO

It's very important to back up your computer as well as your important files - documents, photos, music, videos and movies - often. Today more and more of what we do is on our computers and we want to be sure we don't "lose it all" if our computers crashed...

When you back up your files - you can use a CD, Large Flash Drive, Portable or External Hard Drive or a company such as Carbonite.com; Mozy.com or your Internet provider (many offer back-up services)

Backing up on a regular basis is critical – especially for those of us with older computers or if you have large document folders, photo, music or other media files… If you use one of the services – remember to ask how much space is included and what the charges are for additional storage (personally that’s why I like carbonite.com-it offers unlimited)

External Hard Drives-Such as Office Depots “Clickfree" HD1035 Backup External USB Hard Drive, 1000GB”, which Automatically backs up your computer without any confusing software to install - These allow you to back up your computer in just 1 step ~ No software to install or set up and incremental backup lets you save only the files changed since the previous backup – About $135.00

Or use a company, such as Carbonite.com,which is easy and has great advantages..
Once you install Carbonite, future back-ups are done each time you are on your PC/Internet, so you can relax and you can Restore lost files easily and you will have Remote Access to the data on your computer...
What Carbonite is – and what it isn’t: Carbonite offers unlimited backup of the irreplaceable files on your computer. That said, your Carbonite subscription does NOT include some services often confused with backup:

• Online/offsite file storage: Carbonite is NOT a place to move files from your hard drive, to free up space on your hard drive. If you remove any file from your hard drive, they wait 30 days for you to recover it, and then they delete that file from their servers also.
• Program or system backup: Carbonite backs up the irreplaceable files on your computer – user-generated content such as photos, documents, music, etc. They do not back up software programs, temporary files or system files.
• External Hard Drive backup: Carbonite consumer product does not allow you to back up your external hard drive, unless you purchase their external hard drive support with as a small business.
• Archiving: Carbonite does not keep every version of every file you’ve ever created. Their PC product offers versioning, which allows you to recover some versions of your files, going back up to 90 days
• Carbonite costs $54.95 per year-check them out at http://www.carbonite.com/

Suggestions for Online Greeting Card Companies

I get asked all the time which “online greeting card company” do I recommend…

Personally I use http://www.jacquielawson.com/ for all my special cards and I've used them for years; I like that their cards are different and interactive...it's $12 a year or $18 for a 2 year membership.

Although they don't have the hundreds of cards that companies like http://www.hallmark.com/ or http://www.bluemountain.com/ have, I like that Jacquie Lawson’s cards are so unique and interactive...

Almost all of the card companies, especially those that have a membership fee and even some that don’t, allow you so save your email addresses and dates and schedule cards out in advance, so check them out...

Here are a few others that offer free cards and I've used these also - so enjoy...

http://www.myfuncards.com/
http://www.americangreetings.com/
http://www.123greetings.com/
http://www.egreetings.com/
http://www.rattlebox.com/
http://www.e-cards.com/

Great gift idea websites..

These are 2 of fastest growing & most popular websites today for “special deals” – I use both quite often, because they offer great deals and help save money. And as most of you know shopping in malls is one of my least favorite things to do.
So shopping online, especially for the holidays, is my way to shop and I’ve been very pleased with both of these companies… Cherie Houston

www.restaurant.com
A great websites where you purchase discounted gift cards either directly from the one of more than 15,000 restaurants nationwide or buy a "restaurant.com gift card" at their discounted price and then it is redeemable at any of their affiliated restaurants nationwide. As with anything we buy on line – read the specific guidelines of each restaurant when you buy their card or if you aren’t sure – call them. When you put in a zip code, you can then choose the mile radius that you want to check from that point for participating restaurants and you will see the specific restaurants address, tele # and webpage if they have one…

http://www.groupon.com/
Groupon is based in Chicago but has offices all over the US – you’ve seen them in the news lately because they were just purchased by “Google”… I really like this website and use it often for gift ideas here in New England and in Arizona… They offer unbeatable deals every day on the best stuff to do, see, eat, and buy in cities through-put the US and now that Google has bought them I have no doubt they will continue to grow in leaps & bounds… Because Group promises the participating businesses a minimum number of customers, those of us who buy from them get discounts we can’t any other way – it’s called "collective buying power!" And your credit card is very safe-they never save our CC info on their servers..

Holiday Websites to enjoy

December 1st already - the holidays are coming and one website you might enjoy is from Betty Crocker, where you can sign up to receive a new recipe each and every day by email… check it out…

www.bettycrocker.com/products/cookie-mix?WT.mc_id=paid_search_300104_636117&WT.srch=1&esrc=11165

Remember that “www.allmyfaves.com” has added their annual “Happy Holiday” tab with lots of wonderful websites to help you with all aspects of the holidays…And,

these are just a few favorite holiday & cookie recipe websites fellow students have recommended… enjoy… and if you have a favorite website you’d like to share – send it along…

www.christmas-cookies.com

www.bhg.com/holidays/christmas/recipes/

www.foodnetwork.com/holidays-and-parties/index.html

www.mrfood.com/Cookie-Recipes/Hanukkah-Butter-Cookies#

www.howcast.com/videos/410753-How-to-Make-Hanukkah-Chocolate-Coin-Cookies

SHOP SAFELY ONLINE

Top Ten Cyber Monday Tips for Staying Safe When Shopping Online
From Better Business Bureau

Before you begin your cyber Monday holiday shopping spree – take a few moments to check out the Better Business Bureau’s tip to be safe – Shopping on line is the usually the only way that I shop, but you have to be proactive and be careful…

Hopefully you’ll find the tips on the BBB website very helpful…

www.bbb.org/us/article/top-ten-cyber-monday-tips-for-staying-safe-when-shopping-online-23416

TOP 12 CYBER SCAMS OF CHRISTMAS

If you missed this article we don't want you to miss it - it helps to be careful and remember, most times if it sounds to good to be true it probably is…

TOP 12 CYBER SCAMS THIS CHRISTMAS (Top on this year's list: Offers of free iPads)
Nov 16, 2010 published on MSNBC & MSN

Shoppers looking for holiday bargains are already scouring the Web as well as incoming e-mails and text messages for deals — and cyber criminals are quite busy, too, hoping to lure you in with a deal that seems too good to be true. "We’re all looking for a great deal online, but some sites offer electronics or luxury goods at prices that are too good to be true," said Alison Southwick of the Better Business Bureau.

"Every holiday season BBB hears from holiday shoppers who paid for a supposedly great deal online, but received nothing in return." (For more tips on shopping safely online, check out the BBB's link for this list...

www.bbb.org/us/article/top-ten-cyber-monday-tips-for-staying-safe-when-shopping-online-23416

Security software company McAfee recently released its "12 Scams of Christmas" list, and offers of "free" iPads — among this year's most coveted tech gadgets — comes in at No. 1.
"With Apple products topping most shopping lists this holiday season, scammers are busy distributing bogus offers for free iPads" via e-mail spam, McAfee said. In the e-mail, "consumers are asked to purchase other products and provide their credit card number to get the free iPad. Of course, victims never receive the iPad or the other items, just the headache of reporting a stolen credit card number."

Meanwhile, in the Facebook, Twitter or other social media version of the ruse, users are asked to "take a quiz to win a free iPad and must supply their cell phone number to receive the results. In actuality they are signed up for a cell phone scam that costs $10 a week," McAfee said.

Here's the rest of the company's "12 Scams of Christmas" list:

2. "Help! I’ve Been Robbed" — "This travel scam sends phony distress messages to family and friends requesting that money be wired or transferred so that they can get home." We and other news organizations have written about this before, especially as an issue on Facebook, where people feel like they trust information that's posted. With so many people traveling during the holiday season, though, it's easy to fall prey to this one.

3. Fake gift cards — Social media (Facebook, Twitter, MySpace as examples) are used by no-goodniks to "promote fake gift card offers with the goal of stealing consumers’ information and money, which is then sold to marketers or used for ID theft," says McAfee. "One recent Facebook scam offered a 'free $1,000 Best Buy gift card" to the first 20,000 people who signed up for a Best Buy fan page, which was a lookalike. To apply for the gift card they had to provide personal information and take a series of quizzes."

4. Holiday job offers — Maybe for some, the recession is over, but not for many of us still. Which is why "as people seek extra cash for gifts this holiday season, Twitter scams offer dangerous links to high-paying, work-at-home jobs that ask for your personal information, such as your e-mail address, home address and Social Security number to apply for the fake job."

5. "Smishing" — You've heard of phishing? "Smishing" is when a phishing SMS, or text messages, arrives on your cell phone, wanting you to bite. "These texts appear to come from your bank or an online retailer saying that there is something wrong with an account and you have to call a number to verify your account information. In reality, these efforts are merely a ruse to extract valuable personal information from the targets," McAfee says. "Cyber crooks know that people are more vulnerable to this scam during the holiday season when consumers are doing more online shopping and checking bank balances frequently."

6. Suspicious holiday rentals — Many of us are looking to save on that Christmas-y cabin in the mountains or chic vacation apartment in the city of our dreams. "During peak travel times when consumers often look online for affordable holiday rentals, cyber crooks post fake holiday rental sites that ask for down payments on properties by credit card or wire transfer."

7. Recession scams continue — "Scammers target vulnerable consumers with recession related scams such as pay-in-advance credit schemes. McAfee Labs has seen a significant number of spam e-mails advertising pre-qualified, low-interest loans and credit cards if" — that emphasis is mine —"the recipient pays a processing fee, which goes directly into the scammer’s pocket."

8. Grinch-like greetings, involving e-cards — Electronic cards can save paper and postage, but "cyber criminals load fake versions with links to computer viruses and other malware instead of cheer ... Computers may start displaying obscene images, pop-up ads, or even start sending cards to contacts that appear to come from you."

9. Low price traps — Discussed above, as the "too good to be true" deals, which are promoted on some auction sites and fake websites. The aim, McAfee says: "the goal of stealing your money and information."

10. Charity scams — "Common ploys include phone calls and spam e-mails asking you to donate to veterans’ charities, children's causes and relief funds for the latest catastrophe."

11. Dangerous holiday downloads — "Holiday-themed screensavers, jingles and animations are an easy way for scammers to spread viruses and other computer threats especially when links come from an e-mail or IM that appears to be from a friend."

12. Hotel and airport Wi-Fi vulnerabilities — This is an anytime risk with thieves who are savvy enough to hack into public networks being used by hurried travelers. Hacker-thieves can steal credit card numbers, bank accounts and other forms of personal identity; try not to access bank accounts, for example, or give your credit card number online while using public Wi-Fi. It's a good rule for every day — not just for the holidays.

© 2010 msnbc.com Reprints

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone

From our families to yours, we all wish you and yours a blessed, safe and thankful Thanksgiving Holiday...

BE THANKFUL

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary,
because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who
are also thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.

~~Author Unknown.~~

Websites for driving directions, weather reports & more

If you don't have a GPS or TomTom to give you step by step driving directions ~ No Problem.. Check out these popular map services. They all have great driving direction sections to give you step by step instructions on how to get where you are going, calculating distances and much more..

• www.maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl
• www.maps.com
• www.randmcnally.com
• www.mapquest.com
• www.ezdrivingdirections.com
• www.usatourist.com/english/traveltips/travel-map.html

And if you are interested in what the weather might be here at home or wherever you are traveling to, check out one of these popular weather websites…

• www.weather.com
• www.accuweather.com
• www.noaa.gov
• www.intellicast.com
• www.wunderground.com

Or just visit our overall favorite website, where you can find just about anything you are looking for to help you with your holiday travels, weather, cooking, shopping and much more...

• www.allmyfaves.com

Have a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving Holiday from our home to yours.....

Thanksgiving Trivia & Turkey websites

Thanksgiving is just a few days away – did you know…

1. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November in the United States
2. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the second Monday in October in Canada
3. The Plymouth Pilgrims were the first to celebrate the Thanksgiving
4. The pilgrims arrived in North America in December 1620
5. The Pilgrims sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to reach North America
6. The pilgrims sailed on the ship, which was known by the name of 'Mayflower'
7. They celebrated the first Thanksgiving Day in the fall of 1621
8. They celebrated the first Thanksgiving Day at Plymouth, Massachusetts
9. The drink that the Puritans brought with them in the Mayflower was the beer
10. The Wampanoag Indians were the people who taught the Pilgrims how to cultivate the land.

This previous trivia was copied from the following website - check it out for more interesting facts…

http://www.thanksgivingnovember.com/thanksgiving-facts.html

For more trivia go to http://www.theholidayspot.com/thanksgiving/trivia.htm

Here are a few websites that can help you prepare Thanksgiving dinner...

http://www.butterball.com/

www.eatturkey.com/consumer/thanks.html

www.allrecipes.com/info/holidays-events-and-occasions/thanksgiving/main.aspx

www.whatscookingamerica.net/Poultry/thanksgivingtips.htm

www.divinedinnerparty.com/thanksgiving-dinner-recipes.html

If you have a favorite Thanksgiving Holiday website - send it along so we can share it next year with your fellow students...

Change the style, size & color of your Cursor/Pointer

Quite often I hear “I can’t find the cursor” – So for those of us who may from time to time “lose the cursor” on our desktop and other screens when we are moving the mouse around – the best thing to do is to make the cursor larger or change the color from white to black – there are numerous choices…you decide.

To change the cursor/pointer appearance & other “hardware” settings follow these simple steps by going to the various settings available in your "control panel"

• Left Click on your Start Button
• Left Click on Control Panel
• Left Click on "Hardware & Sound"
• Now choose & Left Click on "Mouse", then "Change Pointer Appearance"
• You will see is a drop down list of choices under "Schemes"
• Once you decide which you would like, highlight it and click "Apply"
• A good choice is: Window Standard (extra large) system scheme

If you aren't happy with your choice, No Problem - Just repeat the process until you find a style, color & size that you are happy with

These steps may vary slightly based on the level of your operating system (Windows 98, XP, Vista or 7) but remember, they are basically the same for all..

HOW TO PLAY MUSIC CDS ON THE COMPUTER

Why not listen to your favorite music while you work - it's easy once your computer is on and when you have speakers:

• Put your favorite music CD, label side up, in the CD-ROM drive and close the drive
• When auto play is enabled (which is pretty standard) the CD will start playing the first track (using your default media player, such as Windows or VLC Media Player )
• If the CD doesn’t start playing automatically, open the Start menu. Choose Programs, then Accessories, then Entertainment and Click CD Player. Click the Play button on the CD Player window (a single right-pointing arrow in the top row)
• You can use the Pause, Stop, Skip to Next Track and Go Back to Last Track buttons to control what you listen to.
• Choose Edit Playlist from the Disc menu to program a particular sequence of tracks
• Minimize the CD Player window if you plan to listen to the entire CD while working and you can bring it up anytime from your taskbar

In the system tray (right side of the monitor) you can quickly control the music volume with the speaker icon - just left click on it to slide volume up & down, and by checking the speaker icon or box - you can toggle between MUTE to turn music off for that phone call and then again to turn it back on...

Why not save/rip the entire CD to your computer so next time you simply access your “music list” just as you do with a word document.. it’s there ready for you to listen to
When I download music from the Internet (such as iTunes) or from my CD’s, I always download (save/rip) it in mp3 format so that I can use it on my mp3 player and just as importantly, so that I can use the music in projects that I might create, such as in Power Point Slide shows, Picasa & Windows Movie Maker projects)

New Wi-Fi Memory Cards for Digital Cameras

Have you heard of the new “wi-fi” memory cards for use in your digital cameras and camcorders… Check out this website:

www.eye.fi

The Eye-Fi memory cards look, stores media, and fit into cameras just like a regular SDHC memory card. On top of that, the Eye-Fi card has built-in Wi-Fi that uses your wireless network to effortlessly transfer photos and videos

The Eye-Fi card uses your home or office Wi-Fi network-Upon setup, specify which networks the Eye-Fi card uses to transfer your media. You can add up to 32 networks for your card to use. The next time your camera is on and within range of a specified network, your photos and videos will fly to your computer and to your favorite sharing site.

The Eye-Fi cards (4GB – 8GB for $40-$150 each) are the first wireless memory cards.

Features (from their website)

• 4GB memory. Store up to 2,000 photos or 90mn of video with top-notch Class 6 speed. Works just like with your regular SDHC memory card. Perfect for your compact camera
• Wireless. Upload JPEG photos & videos fast through your home Wi-Fi network thanks to built-in 802.11n speed
• Endless. Get the only card that can free-up space for you after pictures are safely delivered. Never worry about running out of space again
• Automatic back-up. Wirelessly upload JPEG photos and videos to folders of your choice on your computer, or even directly into iPhoto for Macs
• Organized. Photos and videos can automatically land in date-based folders, so memories are organized effortlessly
• Compatible. No need to buy a new camera – visit their website to confirm that your camera can be turned into a wireless uploading machine
• Effortless sharing. Wirelessly send your JPEG photos and videos to a popular website. Visit their website to see a complete list that you can choose from, which includes Flickr, Facebook, Picasa, MobileMe, and YouTube
• Pick your pics. You can select which photos and videos are uploaded
• Get notified. Get email, Facebook or Twitter alerts when your photos are uploading online
• Quick and sweet. Set up takes just minutes

Postal Tips - Overseas Military and 9 Digit Zip Codes

For those of you shipping to family in the military, visit this postal hyperlink – this postal website has all the addressing info & deadlines needed to ensure your packages arrive safely..

http://www.usps.com/supportingourtroops/addressingtips.htm

The holidays are coming when we all tend to send more “postal mail” for holiday cards and packages… To help ensure that our mail arrives quickly, it helps to use the full 9 digit zip code for everything we mail… If you don’t know the zip code, go to the following “hyperlink” on the United States Postal Service website, put in the address and you will have the current 9 digit zip code:

http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.jsp

The original 5 digit zip code was introduced in 1963, but the additional 4 numbers were introduced in the 1980’s.. so they’ve been around for quite some time… Using the complete 9 digit zip code improves mail delivery…

Did you know that the first # of every zip code (0-9) indicates the general area of the country ~ state. Lowest numbers in the east and they increase as you move west…

• 0: Connecticut (CT), Massachusetts (MA), Maine (ME), New Hampshire (NH), New Jersey (NJ), Puerto Rico (PR), Rhode Island (RI), Vermont (VT), Virgin Islands (VI)
• 1: Delaware (DE), New York (NY), Pennsylvania (PA)
• 2: District of Columbia (DC), Maryland (MD), North Carolina (NC), South Carolina (SC), Virginia (VA), West Virginia (WV)
• 3: Alabama (AL), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Mississippi (MS), Tennessee (TN)
• 4: Indiana (IN), Kentucky (KY), Michigan (MI), Ohio (OH)
• 5: Iowa (IA), Minnesota (MN), Montana (MT), North Dakota (ND), South Dakota (SD), Wisconsin (WI)
• 6: Illinois (IL), Kansas (KS), Missouri (MO), Nebraska (NE)
• 7: Arkansas (AR), Louisiana (LA), Oklahoma (OK), Texas (TX)
• 8: Arizona (AZ), Colorado (CO), Idaho (ID), New Mexico (NM), Nevada (NV), Utah (UT), Wyoming (WY)
• 9: Alaska (AK), American Samoa (AS), California (CA), Guam (GU), Hawaii (HI), Oregon (OR), Washington (WA)

Today is Veteran's Day - Thank You

Take a moment to say a special Thank You to all who continue to serve and protect us today and to those who served before them - we can't thank you enough for your sacrifice..

They Did Their Share
By Joanna Fuchs

On Veteran’s Day we honor
Soldiers who protect our nation.
For their service as our warriors,
They deserve our admiration.

Some of them were drafted;
Some were volunteers;
For some it was just yesterday;
For some it’s been many years.

In the jungle or the desert,
On land or on the sea,
They did whatever was assigned
To produce a victory.

Some came back; some didn’t.
They defended us everywhere.
Some saw combat; some rode a desk;
All of them did their share.

No matter what the duty,
For low pay and little glory,
These soldiers gave up normal lives,
For duties mundane and gory.

Let every veteran be honored;
Don’t let politics get in the way.
Without them, freedom would have died;
What they did, we can’t repay.

We owe so much to them,
Who kept us safe from terror,
So when we see a uniform,
Let’s say "thank you" to every wearer.

Did you know these 10 interesting facts???
From website: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2340240/10_interesting_veterans_day_facts.html

• Veterans Day was once called Armistice Day. Armistice Day was created to honor veterans of World War I.
• November 11, 1919 was the first day Armistice Day was celebrated. Germany signed the armistice slowing the hostilities of WW1 in the 11th month, on the 11th day, during the 11th hour
• November 11 is both a federal and state holiday
• June 1, 1954 was when the United States changed the name to Veterans Day, honoring all military veterans
• Between 1971 and 1977 Veterans Day was celebrated on the fourth Monday of October
• Arlington National Cemetery has a ceremony every year on Veterans Day honoring those who died during war
• There are roughly 24 million living veterans
• During World War II Disney made films for each branch of the United States government 90% of Disney employees worked making propaganda and training videos during WWII
• 400,000 of the United States Armed Forces died during WWII.

Other Websites to check out for Veteran's Day trivia..

http://surf.atlantic.net/features/veteransday.htm

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/veterans-day/tomb-of-unknown-soldier.html

Printer "Driver" Problems

If the printer works but spews strange characters or it appears as if the PC and printer creates errors, it may be a printer driver problem. When a printer acts up and there is no hardware problem (such as a paper jam) the solution is usually driver-related.

The driver is the “software” that allows the computer and printer to "talk" to each other and work together... Often if a printer has worked previously, but won't work with a newly installed program, it’s a driver problem. To remedy this:

• Re-Download the driver from the printer maker's Web site. Drivers can be found under or with the "support" or “driver download” area of the manufacturer's website. To be honest - consider doing this twice a year to stay current...
• If you have an inkjet printer and you get smudged or blurry images, you might want to look up the utility on the printer that cleans and or aligns the printer heads. Most inkjet printers either have software that can start this process or have a setting on the printer itself that can kick start it.
• If all of these solutions fail, you might want to search the manufacturer's support area for printer issues. Often there will be bulletins issued on how to fix newly discovered bugs.
• If you have a scanner and printer and experience printing problems take heart, this is easily solvable. Detach both devices and remove the software and drivers for both devices. Then reinstall the printer first and then add the scanner second.

Still not working - go to www.google.com or www.ask.com and search for the “printer” + “problem” you’ll be amazed at the solutions that will be offered, which will usually correct the problem…

If none of this works-Visit the printer manufacturer’s website or Call the printer manufacturer’s 1-800 number (on their website).

Be sure you have the make, model and serial # of your printer, your computer, know your operating system (Windows 98, XP, Vista, Windows 7 - 32 bit or 64 bit) and any warranty information & make the call from the desk where the printer is installed so you can work with them.

Using the Quick Launch Bar

QUICK LAUNCH BAR (located on the Task Bar) Makes It Easier To Access & Open Your Favorite Applications Without Having To Return To Your Desktop…

You can add many of your frequently used programs on the Quick Launch Bar.. Once on the quick launch you can delete them from your desktop. Remember this in no way affects the software – you are only deleting the icon shortcut...

TO DISPLAY THE QUICK LAUNCH BAR

• Right click on the taskbar – You must click on an empty spot on the taskbar or you get a different menu-so don’t click on an icon already on the taskbar
• Be sure that you have “unlocked” your toolbars so that you can work with the Task Bar
• Left Click TOOLBARS
• Left Click QUICK LAUNCH from the pop-up menu

TO ADD NEW ICONS TO THE QUICK LAUNCH BAR

• Simply Click and drag the icon to the Quick Launch Bar OR
• Right Click on the Icon and Choose “Add to Quick Launch Bar”
• The computer makes a copy of the icon when you do this
• Once the Icon is on the Quick Launch, you can delete it from your Desktop

Add as many of your frequently used programs as you'd like on the Quick Launch Bar.. When you shorten the area (show only 3) all additional icons will appear in a cascaded list accessed by the arrows...

Once the icons are on the quick launch you can delete them from your desktop. Remember this in no way affects the software – you are only deleting the icon shortcut...

CLOCKS CHANGE - 2AM SUNDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 7TH

Just a reminder this weekend on Sunday morning, November 7TH at 2am, Daylight Savings Time will end and most states in the US will revert back to Standard Time. Before you go to bed Saturday evening, set all clocks, watches and other time pieces BACK 1 HOUR.

We will then move them ahead to begin Daylight Savings Time "1 hour" at 2am on the second Sunday in March, March 13th 2011.. Most computers and cable boxes will make this change automatically without our help..

Several states, including Arizona (except some Indian Reservations), Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa have chosen not to observe Daylight Saving Time so they do not change their clocks at anytime during the year.

Black Friday & Cyber Monday Ads & Info

Now that the political ad campaigns have stopped, the holidays are fast approaching and the onslaught of holiday ads will begin!!

And no doubt so will the discussions about what the retailers and media refer to as the largest shopping days of the year:

Black Friday (Friday after Thanksgiving-November 26th for brick & mortar stores)

And

Cyber Monday (Monday after Thanksgiving-November 29th for online/internet shopping)..

So, thought you might want to check out these 3 popular websites to stay informed of what and where the best deals are… you can also sign up for daily email alerts if you’d like… Enjoy & happy shopping

http://www.blackfriday.info/

www.bfads.net

http://www.cybermondaycentral.com/

Who & What is "Wikipedia"??

Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia, managed by a not-for-profit parent organization, The Wikimedia Foundation, which also manages Wikipedia's sister projects, including Wiktionary (a wiki dictionary), Wikibooks (textbooks), & others own their domain website names.

*WHO ADDS AND OR UPDATES THE INFORMATION?
You and I do… imagine that!!! So that in actuality the website is totally a collaborative effort. Millions of people have contributed information to different parts of this project, and anyone can, including each of us. All we need is to know how to edit a page, and have some encyclopedic knowledge you want to share. The encyclopedia provides users with a certain amount of freedom. We can learn who is responsible for the most recent versions of any given page by clicking on the "View history" link

*HOW DO WE KNOW THE INFORMATION IS CORRECT?
Because anyone can edit any article, it is, of course, possible for biased, out-of-date, or incorrect information to be posted. However, because there are so many other people reading the articles and monitoring contributions using the Recent Changes page, incorrect information is usually corrected quickly. Thus, the overall accuracy of the encyclopedia is improving all the time. We are all encouraged to help by correcting articles, validating content, and providing useful references

*All Wikipedia information taken directly from Wikipedia:FAQ/Overview

Visit www.wikipedia.com

CARING FOR YOUR CD’S & DVDS..

So much information comes to us today on CD's & DVD's - so it's important to take care of them properly...

• Handle only at the hub or outer edge. Don't touch the shiny surface with your fingers
• Store in a protective case when not in use
• Don't bend the disc when taking it out of the case
• Be careful not to scratch the disc when placing it in the case or in the player tray
• Make certain the disc is properly seated in the player tray before you close it
• Keep discs away from radiators, heaters, hot equipment surfaces, direct sunlight (near a window or in a car during hot weather) and other destructive forces
• DVD specs recommend discs be stored at a temps between 50 °-90 °F with less than 27 °F variation per hour, at relative humidity of 5 to 90 percent
• Artificial light and indirect sunlight have no effect on replicated DVDs, BUT
• Exposure to bright sunlight may affect recordable DVDs, specifically write-once DVDs (DVD-R and DVD+R) that use light-sensitive dyes
• Magnetic fields have no effect on DVDs, so it's OK to leave them sitting on your speakers

WHAT IS A MEDIA PLAYER?

Basically it is “application software” that we use to play and manage all of our music and video files. By manage, it means that we can format music & video files to various formats; rip and burn our music & video files (so that you can transfer them to & from CD and or DVD) and many offer “visual effects” so when we listen to the music there are various patterns that will flash on our monitors (similar to screen savers).

Microsoft Operating Systems include a media player “Windows Media Player” and many people use iTunes Media Player so that they can synchronize their various iPod devices…

But personally – my favorite is VLC Media Player – which is also free… VLC works on most Operating systems including Windows 98 thru to Windows 7); and it can be installed and run from a flash drive and portable hard drive. I also think it’s one of the easiest media players to use to convert music and video formats and you can take screenshots of video’s you are watching which is a feature many people like… to download go to:

www.vlcmediaplayer.org or www.videolan.org

There are many others and it helps to check out these out at some of the “freeware” websites, such as:

www.download.cnet.com
www.freewarefiles.com
www.freeware-guide.com
www.gofree.com

Enjoy this music video

I hope you will enjoy this ~ One of your fellow students shared this “hyperlink” with me and I thought you might enjoy it…. It is amazing what technology can do today and with the Internet we all get to enjoy so many interesting things…

This “hyperlink” is a video of street singers from around the world being recorded, overlayed and mixed with one another while singing the song "Stand By Me".

It is a marvel to listen to and watch. They all deserve to be heard.

The finished product is tremendous! So click below where it instructs you to "click" and enjoy what some think is an incredible piece of sound engineering
,
So enjoy - turn up your speaker volume and [Click Here]

When it opens the website - you can begin by left clicking on the "play arrow" on the bottom left corner of the screen - and remember to use your F11 key to get the "full screen" impact

Keyboard Shortcuts for Outlook

Some great shortcuts when you are using Microsoft Outlook. Microsoft Outlook is one of the Office programs, which allows us to easily control contacts, calendars, email accounts, tasks, a journal and other daily functions that we maintain on the computer. It is a very popular program used by companies and individuals alike.

If you use keyboard shortcuts a lot like I do, you might want to use these keyboard shortcuts when you are working in your Microsoft Outlook Program, to easily switch from one Outlook pane (subject) to another…. So, if you were in any segment of your calendar, and you wanted to quickly go to your contacts, you would use CTRL+3..

Keyboard Shortcuts when using Outlook to change between Navigation Panes:

• CTRL+1 Mail Navigation
• CTRL+2 Calendar Navigation
• CTRL+3 Contacts Navigation
• CTRL+4 Tasks Navigation
• CTRL+5 Notes Navigation
• CTRL+6 Folder List Navigation
• CTRL+7 Shortcuts Navigation
• CTRL+8 Journal Navigation

What is Picasa Movie Maker?

Picasa is a free “Google” digital photo editing software for anyone who has a PC or MAC. For anyone using Picasa Version 3+, there is a wonderful feature “movie maker” that allows us to quickly and easily convert any photo folder on Picasa into a slideshow/movie..

Picasa software is easy to use, but a few tips on using Movie Maker..

Once the Picasa folder is highlighted, simply choose the “CREATE MOVIE” icon which is:

• located above every Picasa album and also located in the action bar at the bottom of the Picasa screen

Once this icon is selected the movie is created and you can now make other enhancements to personalize your movie...

You can enhance your movie by uploading a song - an audio MP3.
When you add music, you will have several options as to how the music will work with your photos - If you choose ‘fit photos into audio’, Picasa will space your photos to fill the length of the song you have chosen

You can choose various transitions, how your slides will appear on the screen, such as “PAN & ZOOM” seems to be the most popular

You can also rearrange your photos, you can add captions, you can add slides that contain just text AND throughout the process, you can “view” your movie to see how it looks and sounds…

When you are finished you can save it to the computer, send via email, share with Skype, save to your Picasa web albums for easy sharing, or export/upload directly to YouTube or other social networking sites…

Your finished movie is saved and will then be uploaded as a.mov file.

And you can re-edit the movie later if we want to change –remove or add photos..

Try it today – go to www.picasa.com

Name & Save Your Work

Whether you are writing a letter using Word Pad, Word, Word Perfect OR creating a list of items from home or contact list using a spreadsheet software such as Excel OR creating a slide show for a power point presentation - remember when you begin - name your document immediately.
How we name a document is the same, although it varies some based on the version of software you are using...

You will notice when you open a document in Word it will have a Document Number in the title bar; if you open a spreadsheet in Excel it will have a Workbook Number - these will be replaced when you name your work (the more “new documents or spreadsheets you open” the higher the numbers get all day )

We name documents and save them in our choose of specific folders so that we can find them easily when we need them again... Saving work in folders is done in the same way in which we file work in a metal file cabinet...

• Go to File on the Menu Bar (or in newer versions go to the Office Button)
• Choose "Save As"
• In the newer versions of Word/Excel etc - you want to choose "Save as 97-2003" so that it can then be opened by others using these earlier versions
• Be sure you are in the correct DRIVE - at home the C Drive - OR if you are using a flash memory stick-choose that drive; OR at work or in school, choose the drive assigned to you.
• Then open the “My Documents” or "Documents" drawer
• Now choose or create the folder you want your work saved in
• Now NAME THE DOCUMENT, such as 2010.10.18 letter to paul
• Remember you can not use / or \ slashes when naming anything on the computer and numbers always come before letters on the computers filing system
• Once you are done typing the name you can use Enter on the keyboard, or choose OK or save with the mouse
• It is now saved and when you look at the work on monitor you will see the new name at the top on the title bar and on the open button on your task bar

Using a Mouse-Left or Right Click??

The "mouse" allows you to do many things - when you watch your monitor, the mouse control you will see is called the "cursor"...

By default (standard setting) "Mice" are set up assuming the person using it is "right handed" - you can change that default setting by going to: start, control panel, mouse - and changing the setting from right hand to left hand...

In all cases - these will affect whatever your mouse/cursor is on, on the monitor. It can open an application software program for you to use or when you are on the internet it will take you to another website; it can move an icon from one side of the screen to another, or when you right click you will have a list of various actions that you can have occur to whatever is under your mouse/cursor... Key is to know where your mouse/cursor is on the monitor before using your mouse keys...

When you are learning to use the mouse or speaking to a tech support or other person who is explaining something about your computer - the terms they will use for actions of the mouse and what they mean are:

• Pointing: Position the mouse over an item on your monitor
• Clicking: Pressing and releasing the mouse button
• Double-clicking: Press and release the mouse button twice rapidly - usually the left button
  Click n'Drag (or dragging) : Holding the left mouse button down while dragging it, will move or carry w whatever was under the cursor on the monitor
• Left-click: Press and release the “left” mouse button (Makes something happen) to whatever your mouse/cursor is on
• Right-click: Press and release the “right” mouse button (Get an action menu for whatever your mouse/cursor is on)

Internet Browsers

Browser software is free and you can have multiple browsers on your computer – just like you might have different types of salad dressings in your refrigerator; they all have the same purpose but are different… Check these websites out that help you compare the most popular browsers, their differences & features…

And as our Tech Support Guru, Kevin Bachelder, pointed out: Another reason to use a browser such as Google Chrome is because it uses less system resources so sometimes it works better than other browsers on older computers.

Although Microsoft’s Internet Explorer was #1, Mozilla’s Firefox & Google’s Chrome are considered by some to be the best… Try them and decide for yourself..

http://internet-browser-review.toptenreviews.com/

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2365692,00.asp

More about Internet memes - such as "I like it on..."

Further to our blog posting, about what is an "Internet Meme", the following is the article that was on MSN that provoked my curiosity... This particular Meme is intended to raise Breast Cancer Awareness...

'I Like It On': Sexy Status Updates Sweep Facebook
Suggestive Status Updates Intended to Raise Breast Cancer Awareness
~ By KI MAE HEUSSNER - Oct. 7, 2010

Want to know where women "like it"? Check out your Facebook newsfeed. In status updates across the social networking site, women around the world are going risqué with suggestive messages saying, "I like it on the floor," "I like it on the kitchen counter" and even "in the back seat of my car." Despite the naughty-sounding notes, they're not referring to places to pucker up, but rather places to leave their purses

Despite the naughty-sounding notes, they're not referring to places to pucker up, but rather places to leave their purses. The origins of the viral campaign are unknown, but over the past few days potentially millions of women across Facebook have posted the messages in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Though the purse reference itself doesn't seem to bear any direct relationship to breast cancer and has left many men (and maybe women) scratching their heads, crowds of women continue to rally behind the viral message.

This latest Internet meme is similar to the bra color status update that swept Facebook in January. As part of that campaign, women on Facebook randomly posted the color on their bras on their status updates to raise awareness for breast cancer research.

No Computer Classes-Monday, Oct. 11th-Columbus Day Holiday

No computer classes will be held Today, Monday, October 11th at Union Tower I or II due to Columbus Day Holiday; We will see you all next Monday, October 18th…

A few Trivia Facts and/or myths about the voyage of Christopher Columbus:

• Most likely the biggest myth of all is that Columbus set out to prove the Earth wasn't flat. Actually it was a well accepted fact in the later 15th Century that the Earth was a sphere, the only unknown was just how big a sphere it was. Columbus believed that it was a small sphere that if sailed west he would reach the Indies in the shortest time (his calculations underestimated the size by one-fourth). It was actually the Portuguese who won the race to the Indies by having sailed east around Africa in 1499
• While it is true that Columbus sought funding from Queen Isabella (who actually never sold her crown jewels to finance the trip), it is King Ferdinand of Spain who rightfully claimed credit for brokering the deal. Half of the financing of the 1st voyage was from a private Italian investor.
• Columbus is widely thought to be Italian (Genoese), however his actual origins are much a mystery. There is very little known about him prior to 1470; it seems many counties from France to Portugal and even Spain wish to claim him as a native son.
• The maiden voyage included the Santa Maria, the Pinta and the Nina - weather was idyllic for sailing and the 90 men were well supplied and no man died. However on the voyage home the Santa Maria was shipwrecked during a hurricane on Christmas day in 1492 - 39 men volunteered to stay behind on the northern coast of present day Haiti - all believed died at the hands native Indians).
• Columbus changed course on his voyage to follow a large flock of migrating birds and in doing so sighted bonfires which were lit on the beaches of San Salvador to keep fleas out of native huts and the New World was discovered.
• Christopher Columbus died in 1506 still believing he discovered India.
• The term 'Indians' in reference to American Natives is due to Columbus's belief that he landed in India.
• No known portrait was painted of Columbus in his lifetime, 71 originals were exhibited at the Chicago Columbian Exposition in 1893
• Columbus died penniless and jailed. Actually, he died at the age of 55 at his home in Valladoild, Spain a relatively rich man having amassed a wealth of gold found in Hispaniola. In 1500 after his third voyage back to Spain he returned in chains but shortly won his freedom back but not all his privileges promised by the Spanish crown.
• All told seventeen ships and over 1,200 men made up the 2nd voyage in 1493. The first women sailed at a ratio of 1-to-10 on the third voyage in 1498
• Columbus Day was "created" by the retail industry to increase sales - Absolutely not true - Yes it is an adopted holiday celebrated with a day off, but Columbus Day is celebrated around the world. The first U.S. recorded celebration was in New York on October 12th, 1792 in celebration of Italian-American heritage. President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1937 proclaimed October 12th to be Columbus Day a national holiday. In 1971 the holiday celebration date was changed the 2nd Monday in October. Now due to the politically correct movement some have come to call the formally known Columbus Day as "Discovery Day."

What is an Internet meme????

I read an article this week about a comment that has been "floating" around facebook this last week or so and in the article, the writer used the word "Internet meme" or "meme" several times and I had no idea what she was talking about and assumed I wasn't alone - I know I'd seen the word used before, but now I was curious and determined to learn what it meant....

After a little research on countless sites, I’ve learned that the word "meme" when pronounced rhymes with “dream” or “cream”, but they say that some pronounce it so it sounds like ‘mem’ (from mem-ory)

What it means, seems to vary, but it seems to reference items in blogs or other social networking sites, such as facebook and/or myspace – but the various definitions seems to be:

• An idea that, like a gene, can replicate and evolve.
• A unit of cultural information that represents a basic idea that can be transferred from one individual to another, and subjected to mutation, crossover and adaptation.
• A cultural unit (an idea or value or pattern of behavior) that is passed from one generation to another by nongenetic means (as by imitation); “memes are the cultural counterpart of genes”.

In our next blog posting, I will post the article about the "Internet Meme" ~ "I like it on..." comments that are prevalent this month on facebook (referred to as memes) Why, to raise awareness about breast cancer...

Picasa - Geotagging Photos with Google Earth

You need to have Google Earth and Picasa installed on your computer to use this feature. This feature is not currently available in Picasa for Mac.

Download Picasa - go to http://www.picasa.com/

Download Google Earch - go to http://www.earth.google.com/

The easiest way to match your photos to a specific location is to use Google Maps in Picasa. However, you can also use the original geotag feature in Picasa, which launched Google Earth to accomplish the same thing. Geotagging your photo does the following:
• Embeds location information within your photo.
• Displays your photo on a satellite map rendered by Google Earth.

To geotag a photo, follow these steps:

1. Select the photos in Picasa.
2. Click the Geotag button in the Photo Tray. Google Earth opens up and a small Picasa window appears in the lower-right corner.
3. Navigate and zoom to the location in Google Earth that corresponds with where your picture was taken, and place the yellow cross-hairs on your chosen spot.
4. Click the Geotag button to place the selected photo. You can also click the Geotag All button to tag all of the selected pictures with the same location information.
5. When all of your pictures are geotagged, click the Done button to finish the placement.
6. When you exit Google Earth, click the Yes button to save the geotagged locations in your 'My Places' folder.
7. You'll then be able to access the photos in 'My Places' any time you open up Google Earth.

Picasa will write the longitude and latitude to the photo's EXIF GPS metadata. You can view this data (GPS Latitude and Longitude) by right-clicking (Windows) Control-clicking (Mac) a geotagged image in Picasa and selecting Properties. Geotagged photos are marked in Picasa by a small cross-hair icon on their thumbnails.

LCD Monitors - a few tips

Most Monitors/computer screens today are LCD, but what does that mean?
LCD means Liquid Crystal Display, mostly used in flat screen monitors and laptop screens.

Why should I worry about cleaning my LCD screen?
One of the most expensive components of a computer system or laptop is the LCD monitor or screen. LCD screens are easily susceptible to damage and scratches, so it's a good idea to make sure you clean it correctly.

Can I use any type of cleaning solution on my LCD screen?

NO! using alcohol or ammonia based cleaners repeatedly may cause permanent damage to the LCD. Over time using these types of cleaners could cause the surface of the screen to yellow. It can also make the screen brittle and eventually cause cracking on the screen surface. The following cleaners are unacceptable:

• Acetone
• Ethyl alcohol
• Ethyl acid
• Ammonia
• Methyl chloride

What types of cleaners are acceptable?

• Water
• Vinegar (mixed with water)
• Isopropyl Alcohol
• Petroleum Benzene

What are some of the basic supplies needed to clean an LCD screen?

• A soft cotton cloth. When cleaning the LCD screen it is important to use a soft cotton cloth, rather than an old rag. Some materials, such as paper towels, could cause scratches and damage the LCD screen.
• Solution of water and isopropyl alcohol. This solution can be used along with the soft cotton cloth.
• Computer wipes ONLY if they specifically state on the package they are designed for LCD screens. Computer wipes can come in handy for fast clean-ups or when you want to avoid mixing up a cleaning solution yourself.

How do I clean the LCD surface properly?

• Do not spray any liquids on the LCD screen directly, and do not use paper towels, this can cause the LCD screen to become scratched.
• Always apply the solution to your cloth first, not directly to the parts you are cleaning. You want to avoid dripping the solution directly into your computer or laptop.
• Stroke the cloth across the display in one direction, moving from the top of the display to the bottom.

HOW TO KNOW IF AN ONLINE WEBSITE IS SECURE

Before you put confidential information on line - whether you are on your home or at your computer at work, or on a public computer - make sure you are on a secure page.

So always, before you register on a website, put personal information such as your name, mailing address, phone numbers, birth dates, credit card or checking account information when shopping - anything personal and confidential, always be sure that the information page you are on is totally secure.

How? Watch for these to be sure you are on a secure Website:

• https (vs http) is what you should see in the address bar before giving out confidential information-So always look at the top of your screen where the Web site address is displayed, you should see https://. The "s" that is displayed after "http" indicates that Web site is secure. You might not see the "s" until you actually move to the page asking for confidential info OR
• Look for a closed padlock displayed at the bottom of your screen. If that lock is open, you should assume it is not a secure site OR
• Look for an unbroken key

WHAT ARE THE BEST WEBSITES FOR GENEALOGY?

Without exaggerating, there are thousands of genealogy websites out there on the world wide web - some are free and others can be quite expensive - some are great and others are nothing more than a collection of links to other websites, so talk to friends and family - ask for their recommendations...

Some of the websites that our students enjoy working with in both Arizona and Massachusetts are the following... check them out for yourself - and remember that many public libraries and local community colleges have various genealogy software programs on their computers that you are welcome to use... explore and expand your knowledge of family...

One great resource, for beginners (and it’s free) is: www.olivetreegenealogy.com/beginner

Some others that come highly recommended are…

• http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/ (FREE)
• www.archives.gov/genealogy (FREE)
• http://www.genealogytoday.com/ (FREE)
• http://www.accessgenealogy.com/ (FREE)

This is #1 website by every review, but expensive:

• http://www.ancestry.com/ A US membership in ancestry.com is $19.95 per month, $16.95 a month for 3 months at once and $155.40 if you pay a year at a time – one of their newest & fastest growing services is DNA testing, utilizing the state of the art laboratory, Sorenson Genomics, for its DNA testing services

Websites to help verify information..

These are great websites that will help you find out if stories are true – whether it’s information about when and how often to “defrag your computer” to a scare about certain viruses and other technology stuff:

Snopes and BreaktheChain (http://www.snopes.com/ and http://www.breakthechain.org/) are great websites for tracking annoying chain letters and occasional Facebook-related scares. Before I pass stories or information on to anyone, I always check it out first at one of these websites and recommend the sites to friends & family when they send me “misinformation”…

HowStuffWorks (http://www.howstuffworks.com/) has a special "tech myths" section that deals specifically with some of the more popular misconceptions in the tech world.

PCWorld Forums (http://forums.pcworld.com/) worth visiting – a forum is a website where users with an interest in a specific topic (in this case computers) gather to share stories and advice. You ask the question and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the quantity and quality of your answers.. A great resource..

WHAT IS VOICE RECOGNITION SOFTWARE…

Voice recognition software, is application software that converts speech to text and it has reached the point where some say you can actually navigate your computer and write documents faster than you could with a keyboard and a mouse – some of the popular software on the market are..

Dragon Naturally Speaking has 2 versions

• 11 Preferred is almost universally regarded in reviews as the best voice recognition software, with potential for 97% accuracy-cost about $80
• 11 Standard edition works with AOL Instant Messenger, MS Word, Internet Explorer and WordPerfect, but not Excel and this doesn’t support portable voice recorders-cost $45

Windows Vista and Windows 7 include Windows Speech Recognition at no additional charge. Though the program was originally rife with issues, it now performs extremely well -- almost as well as Dragon Naturally Speaking

Mac Speech Dictate gets top review as the best speech recognition choice for those with Apple Mac operating systems about $150

Should you have many different passwords to get into your accounts?

NO – the more passwords you have the more likely you are to forget them. Consider having 2 or at the most 3 different passwords, but be sure they are strong (combination of numbers and letters work best). Consider

• 1 password for getting into each of your email accounts
• 1 password for getting into your financial accounts
• 1 password for getting into all other accounts you register with

TIPS:

• Keep your primary email addresses, user names and passwords on an index card with your other important papers.
• Don't share your passwords on the Internet, over email, on the phone or in the mail with something sent to you-only when you generate the contact. Internet Service Providers (ISP) and reputable companies will never generate calls, emails or correspondence asking for your password or other confidential information. If it doesn't feel right - don't respond!!!!
• Passwords are always case sensitive
• Never use your email password for anything but your email account
• Create another password (minimum 8-20 characters) a word & phrase with 3 or 4 numbers (be sure the numbers & letters are not consecutive, that you use for all other Internet accounts. If you need to change it, reverse the order (i.e. 4378david or david4378 or DAVID4378 or 4378 DAVID)

INCREASE YOUR LAPTOP BATTERY'S LIFE

Without fail, the battery on our laptops – notebooks or netbooks, always stop working and run our of juice at the most inconvenient time – in the middle of that rush report or when you are on a flight and watching a DVD movie

Laptop screens take up significant amount of power and we usually don’t require maximum brightness, so check your system and decrease the screen brightness it to a comfortable point.

Stop your wireless signal when you aren’t using it - After turning off your Laptop, right click on your WiFi control signal and be sure it is off to save a considerable quantity of battery power

Check your power plans - Windows XP has several predetermined power plans to control settings like how rapidly your laptop turns off and when your screen saver boots in. You can change your laptop power scheme by choosing Control Panel, then choose Power Options. For maximum battery life from the “Maximum Battery” option from the "Power scheme" and decline the list. Other good choices might be "Low Power Mode" and Portable /Laptop – they may not conserve as much power as Max Battery, but they still help. After choosing the power scheme, click Ok to finish the process.

How to find a lost file on your Computer?

If you are using Windows XP – this is a quick way to find lost files on your computer.

Open the “Start Menu" (either left click on the Start Button left side of the Task Bar OR tap the Windows Flag Key on your keyboard)

When the Start Menu appears, choose “Search” and the Search Dialog Box Opens, with 3 search options:

1. All or part of a file name
2. A word or phrase in the file
3. Look In

Use Option 1 when you know all or part of the document-file name, but you can also add the file extensions (for example for word file, type *.doc, Excel *.xls, Acrobat *.pdf, *.ppt and *.exe for executable files.

Use Option 2 when you don't know the name of file but know that it contains a string of text, by typing the text you want to find from any file or folder. This is time taking process but creates very precise result.

Use Option 3, Look In, to Look in Specific Drives, Folders or Networks that you want to Search for what you put in Option 1 or Opiton 2 In Look in, click the drive, folder, or network you want to search.

To save time, always select the specified drive or location instead of whole computer
Click Start Button, point to Search, and then click For File or Folders, a Search Results dialog box will appear.

In Search for files or folders named, type the file name or folder name you want to find in containing text.

To specify additional search criteria, click Search Options, and then click one or more of the following options to narrow your search:

• Select Date to look for files that were created or modified on or between specific dates
• Select Type to look for files of a specific type, such as a text or WordPad document
• Select Size to look for files of a specific size
• Select Advanced Options to specify additional search criteria
• Click Search now.

How to convert older Office documents (97-2003) to Office 2007 Format

Office 2007 applications such as Word and Excel can open a spreadsheet or a document, in any of the older Office Word, Excel or other application software versions. When they open the older versions, they are opened in the Office 2007 Compatibility Mode (which you will see is noted in the title bar on the top of your screen) when you open the document.
If you want to use the new features available in your Office 2007 Software Application program on the “older document” you will first have to convert older Office documents to Office 2007 format.

The feature to covert older Office documents to Office 2007 format is very useful – one example s that now in Excel 2007 you can use 1.1 million rows – whereas the older versions of Excel only offered you sixty-five thousand rows.

Seriously though, converting to use the new features is quick and easy and worth the change. The method to convert older Office documents to Office 2007 format is the same for all applications, but we are using and example of a Word document of previous version. Again, when you open a Word or Excel document of an older version, you will see [Compatibility Mode] as part of the title on the Title Bar…So, to convert older Office documents to Office 2007 format:

• Open the Word document, which you want to convert into Word 2007 format
• Click on the Microsoft Office button on the top left
• Click on Convert on the left hand side of the menu
• Click on the OK button on the Microsoft Word Office dialog box which appears
• By clicking OK, your document is automatically converted to the Word 2007 format
• Now notice that [Compatibility Mode] is no longer part of the title bar

Internet Explorer 9 does not & will not run on Windows XP

Although you will see lots of advertisements asking you to ‘try out” the new Microsoft Internet Explorer Version 9 (which is still being Beta tested) please know that it does not now – nor will it ever – run on computers with Windows XP – so don’t even try to download it.

The following is an excerpt from an article confirming this which was published Sept. 16th, 2010 on http://www.geek.com/:

While Microsoft has tried to move on from Windows XP many times, millions of users refuse to budge, even with Windows 7 repairing a lot of the damage Vista caused.

XP users are in for a surprise though, when it comes to the next major upgrade they try to apply to their browser. Microsoft has confirmed that Internet Explorer 9 will not work with Windows XP. So all those nice new features such as hardware acceleration will not be available on the old operating system

To read the full article-click on the following link:: http://www.geek.com/articles/news/internet-explorer-9-wont-run-on-windows-xp-20100916/

Protect your mobile devices - cell phones, blackberry's etc.

We received these tips from State Farm Insurance and thought you would find them helpful…

Smartphones (iPhones, Droids, etc); Blackberry’s and other mobile devices are just “always-on computers” that can make phone calls." So how can you protect your phone and your identity from this new breed of mobile-minded criminal? Here are some tips:

Protect your phone
Use common sense in protecting your smartphone from hackers and identity thieves. Don't let strangers borrow your phone, protect access to e-mail and sensitive data with a PIN or password, don't use unofficial apps for online banking, and don't click on links from text messages. Basically, if you wouldn't do it on your home computer, don't do it on your smartphone. Be wary of free apps that aren't from established, trusted, familiar sources. Steer clear of pirated app repositories; stick to official versions for safe mobile surfing. And when you use public WiFi for Web access, don't visit sites that require you to share sensitive personal information such as account numbers or your social security number. Hackers may lurk on WiFi networks.

Watch bills vigilantly
Check your bill carefully each month. If you see downloads you didn't authorize or calls you didn't make, contact your wireless provider immediately. If you receive a confirmation e-mail when you download an app, take time to actually read through it so that you know exactly what you are putting on your phone—and where it's coming from.

Question quirks
If your home computer started doing bizarre things like shutting down without warning, sending unauthorized email messages or pulling up websites that don't match the address typed in, you might suspect a virus. But users don't necessarily make the same connection when bizarre quirks develop on smartphones. Mobile devices will usually issue similar weird warnings when they're infected with malware.

For more tips to protect your online identity and more, visit this State Farm link:
http://www.statefarm.com/learning/planning/prevent_identityFraud.asp

Internet Greeting Cards

Sending greeting cards "via email" gets easier all the time - put any/all of these addresses into your "Internet Favorites List" and pick & choose when you need to send cards – my favorite 2 are www.hallmark.com (some free cards) and www.jacquielawson.com which has an annual fee to use, but well worth it..

Many of the following websites, offer free cards - however some have recently changed and only offer a small group of free cards, but for a nominal annual fee ($9.95-14.95/yr) you can have your choice of unlimited cards - the choice is yours.

These are just a few of the many online greeting card websites. A great feature of many of these websites is the opportunity to add “gift cards or certificates”, to send flowers, and other great gift ideas done by credit card, with various partners that they are affiliated with (such as flowers.com, vermont teddy bear, bed, bath & beyond, toys & babies r us and others).. Makes shopping so much easier and you aren’t spending time or money on greeting cards, stamps and running in and out of stores…

www.bluemountain.com
www.123greetings.com
www.greeting-cards.com
www.regards.com
www.marlo.com/card.htm
www.e-cards.com
www.zworks.com/forever
www.americangreetings.com
www.gcards.com
www.egreetings.com

As you send cards, you can build your address book (contact list) in the online greeting card site; many also offer reminder services so you don’t forget important dates and most allow you to schedule cards for as much as 18 months in advance… Life gets easier all the time…