Monday, October 29, 2012

Trick or Tracker Cell Phone APP for parents

What will they think of next...  This cell phone APP is getting rave reviews from tech forums, parent organizations and news rooms everywhere - and it's been on our local news, so thought we should pass it on.....  This is an app with parents of tweens & teens who have cell phones.. 

Trick or Tracker Cell Phone APP for parents

Check it out: www.trickortracker.com
 

Trick or Tracker cell phone app is designed to link parents and their children's cell phones and uses each phone's GP"S capabilities so you can monitor their locations..  Children must have an Android phone , but parents don't need one; they can use their iPhone, BlackBerry or Windows 7 phone. 

Parents can set a boundary or what is referred to as a "geo-fence" by specifying a desired radius around the home on the cell phone app's map. If the tween or teen then wanders out of range, the parent will receive a text message alert immediately; curfews can also be enforced through Trick or Tracker and they now offer a "latchkey kid" feature which sends a text message alert to the parent's phone when children arrive home.. 

This amazing Trick or Tracker by Iconosys, Inc. costs $4.99 for lifetime usage. But, those downloading it specifically for Halloween Day from the official website would be able to utilize it for FREE between 8 a.m. and 11.59 p.m. EST-great way to try it before you buy it.. 

Sunday, October 28, 2012

No Classes Monday & Tuesday October 29 & 30

At the request of Gov. Patrick, who has declared a State of Emergency in Massachusetts and also asked that all classes be cancelled in Eastern Massachusetts, so we are conforming to that request and therefore no computer classes will be held Monday and Tuesday, October 29th & 30th this week due to the impending Hurricane Sandy to ensure the safety of our staff and all students.

We will see you all when the new series begins next Monday, November 5th - Stay safe and be sure to head the warnings for this "Frankenstorm" that's on it's way...It's always better to be safe than sorry..

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency has these tips to prepare for severe tropical weather:
RELATED
  • Make sure you have a well-stocked Family Disaster Kit in the event you lose power or are isolated for a number of days.
  •  Trim back trees and shrubbery around your home. Remove diseased or damaged tree limbs that could be blown down, causing damage, during a storm.
  •  Clear clogged rain gutters. This storm brings the potential for torrential rain. Providing clear drainage will help prevent misdirected flooding. 
  • Bring in outdoor items such as lawn furniture, trash barrels, hanging plants, toys and awnings that can be broken or picked up by strong winds and used as a missile. 
  • Make sure storage sheds, children’s playhouses or other outbuildings are securely anchored, either to a permanent foundation or with straps and ground anchors. 
  • Elevate articles in your basement that could be damaged from even minor flooding. 
  • Make temporary plywood covers to protect windows and sliding doors. Drill holes for screws or lag bolts in each cover and around each window. Note: Taping of windows does not prevent them from breaking. 
  • Keep your vehicles fully fueled. 
  • Have a certain amount of cash available. If power is lost, ATMs may not be working. 
  •  Make a record of your personal property. Keep an itemized list of your furniture, clothing and valuables to assist adjusters in case of a claim. Back it up with photographs or video. 
  •  Protect your insurance policies and other important documents in a secure place like a safe deposit box or a watertight box. Many people back up important documents online. 
  • Learn where gas pilots and water mains are located and how to safely shut off all utilities. 
  • Lock doors and windows to ensure that they are closed tight to help protect against strong winds and rain. 
  • Boat owners, who plan on taking their vessel out of the water soon, should consider doing so this weekend. 
  • Back up your computers and store the portable/external hard drive or flash drives used for back up in a waterproof safe
  • Make sure cell phones are fully charged.
  • Download the free ping4alert! app to your Smartphone to receive important weather alerts and messages from MEMA. Easy instructions are available at www.mass.gov/mema/mobileappp. 

You can track this powerful storm on any of these popular website hyperlinks..

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Windows 8 is here!!!!



Yes, the long awaited newest operating system "Windows 8" is here...

Windows 8 Microsoft's newest operating system, was released yesterday, October 26th just after midnight EST.....BUT before you rush out and buy an upgrade or a computer with Windows 8 on it, take a little time and do some homework... read some of the articles online, so you will have a better understanding of what this long awaited new operating system is all about.  Yes, it is very different and Yes there will be a "learning curve" so I think it's advantageous to take the time to understand what it's all about first...

A few easy to understand articles...check them out or go to your favorite search engine and simply search for "what's windows 8 all about"...



Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Typing Tutorial Websites


How can I improve my typing skills? a question we hear quite often.. 

Like the piano - it's simply a matter of practice, but remember this isn't crucial - lots of our famous authors and reporters spent their entire careers "pecking away" and did very well...   Now if you are getting ready to take a typing test that's a different story, but I doubt that most of us are worried about that...

But if you think you'd like to improve your typing skills - speed, accuracy or both - you don't have to run out and purchase an application software program - there are wonderful FREE websites that can help you with this new goal - here are "hyperlinks" to some of our favorite typing tutorial websites, so check them out...

Note-some sites will ask you if you want the "tutorial" for a "QWERTY" or "DVORAK" keyboard-ours in the classroom, as are most keyboards, are "QWERTY" style...  

Not sure what the difference is - check out our blog posting pack in November 2009 about these two types of keyboards


Free Typing tutorial websites:



Enjoy and Good Luck

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Social Security Updates for 2013


For those of you who may not have seen this article, there are several Social Security Changes that may affect you - so here's the scoop to help you stay informed...

Social Security recipients will get a small increase next year, and the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax will rise - By MSN Money partner  10/16/2012-This post comes from Emily Brandon at partner site U.S. News & World Report.

Social Security recipients will get slightly bigger checks in 2013. The Social Security Administration also recently announced several other ways the program will be tweaked in the coming year.   Here's a look at the Social Security changes workers and retirees will experience next year:

Bigger monthly payments. Social Security payments will increase by 1.7% in 2013. That's considerably less than the 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment retirees received in 2012. Social Security payments are adjusted each year to reflect inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers. Previous inflation adjustments have ranged from zero in 2010 and 2011 to 14.3% in 1980. The average Social Security check is expected to increase by $21 as a result of the change, from $1,240 to $1,261 in 2013. Couples will see their benefit payments grow from an average of $2,014 to $2,048.

Payroll tax cut scheduled to expire. Workers will pay 6.2% of their income into the Social Security system in 2013, up from 4.2% in 2012. The temporary payroll tax cut expires at the end of December under current law.

Higher Social Security tax cap. The maximum amount of earnings subject to Social Security taxes will be $113,700 in 2013, up from $110,100 in 2012. About 10 million people will pay higher taxes as a result of the increase in the taxable maximum.

Increased earnings limit. Retirees who work and collect Social Security benefits at the same time will be able to earn $480 more next year before any portion of their Social Security payment will be withheld. Social Security recipients who are younger than their full retirement age (66 for those born between 1943 and 1954) can earn up to $15,120 in 2013, after which $1 of every $2 earned will be temporarily withheld from their Social Security payments.

For retirees who turn 66 in 2013, the limit will be $40,080, after which $1 of every $3 earned will be withheld.

Once you turn your full retirement age, you can earn any amount without penalty and collect Social Security benefits at the same time. At your full retirement age your monthly payments will also be adjusted to reflect any benefits that were withheld and your continued earnings.

Maximum possible benefit grows. The maximum possible Social Security benefit for a worker who begins collecting benefits at their full retirement age will be $2,533 in 2013, up from $2,513 per month in 2012.

Paper checks will end. The U.S. Treasury will stop mailing paper checks to Social Security beneficiaries on March 1. All federal benefit recipients must then receive their payments via direct deposit to a bank or credit union account or loaded onto a Direct Express Debit MasterCard.

Retirees who do not choose an electronic payment option by March 1 will receive their payments loaded onto a prepaid debit card. Most people already receive their benefit payments electronically, and new Social Security recipients have been required to choose an electronic payment option since 2011.

Friday, October 5, 2012

How to uninstall software programs from your computer


If all you are trying to do is remove an icon from your desktop, but want to leave the software program on your computer, simply hover your mouse over the icon on your desktop – right click and choose “delete”  With many software programs, you will receive a quick message dialog box reminding you that you are only deleting the icon and that if you want to actually remove the software, this must be done from the control panel.

Why would you remove a software program from your computer..  Programs we never use can take up extra storage space and can slow our computer’s down – or maybe you are changing Anti-Virus providers – remember you can only have one Anti-Virus program on your computer at a time, so you must remove one before you add a new one…

The Windows operating system has a program utility that makes it easy to uninstall unused or unwanted and it’s easy to get to through your Control Panel. 
  1. Left Click the "Start" button on your taskbar.
  2. When the Start menu appears, left Click "Control Panel."
  3. When the Control Panel appears – left click “Add/Remove Programs”
  4. It will take a moment and then list all software programs on your computer
  5. Scroll thru the list to find the software program you want to install
  6. Under each program on the right side, you will see a "Uninstall” button.
  7. Left click on the “Uninstall” button and it will remove the program and once removed it will no longer appear on the program list
  8. Once removed it will also remove icons from desktop, quick launch and taskbar)
  9. Repeat process for any other programs you want to uninstall. 
Reminders…
Some programs include an option to change or repair the program in addition to uninstalling it, but many simply offer the option to uninstall. To change a program, click Change or Repair.
Some programs might ask you to enter an administrator password or confirmation before this can be done, so you’ll need to type the password or provide confirmation.