What does a hashtag mean?

You hear and see the expression everywhere - follow me on # and then the company or individuals name (or you hear follow me on hashtag then the company or persons name -  - but what does that mean....
 

One of the most popular questions we are receiving in classes and via email is this one..  “What is a hashtag”.. Simply put, it is the “#” sign...

“Hashtags” are used by quite a few social media sites to indicate a name to whom you can then send/or follow for messages & updates...  Social media sites using “hashatgs” are those like Twitter, Flickr, Instagram, Tumblr, Tout, Google+, Facebook and others...

For example.. if I said to you what are each of these next two phrases in red.....

www.anycompany.com – you know it is a web address because the prefix is “www”

Susie@anycompany.com – you know it is an email address because of the @ sign

And if you hear.....

#anycompany,  it indicates that you can follow/connect to that person or company's group of common messages by entering their #hashtag id on the social media site you are registered with... Yes, you also have to be registered with that specific social media site with your own #hashtag name...

Your next Computer Class Series Begins the week of August 19th

On behalf of our entire team we hope you have enjoyed a healthy, fun filled summer break and are now ready to get back to playing with your computers and learning about all this changing technology.....

We have a wonderful new ten (10) week series planned based on topics you and fellow classmates have asked us to cover.  If you haven't registered to attend a class, be sure to contact Denise Moloney as soon as possible...

Our goal is to help everyone get comfortable with your computers and other portable devices – For some students, who are just getting comfortable with the computers and technology we will help you work with other students who are also just beginning in one of two levels....

• Beginners: We will help you understand computer basics, laptops, etc & begin using the Internet
• Intermediate 1: Spend the entire series playing with the Internet & email

For those students, who have been taking classes for a while and are comfortable with the basics, then our series is what you might be interested in.  Our goal for our afternoon students this series, is to help increase your understanding of the computer filing system using Windows Explorer, Flash Drives & Memory Cards and using Cloud Computing with SkyDrive, Google Drive, Syncing your emails, calendar and contact list to all your devices; We will spend lots of time on the ever changing world of the Internet – terminology, shopping safely, video websites and the last few weeks our goal is to get everyone comfortable with music on your computer and other devices...

WEEK 1 & 2...WINDOWS EXPLORER –ORGANIZE YOUR COMPUTER

Understanding your computers filing system

Copying & Pasting vs. click ‘n drag

Copying to & from flash drives & memory cards

Please bring a flash drive- we will:

Create folders, sub-folders & rename photos & documents & more

WEEK 3 & 4 CLOUD COMPUTING, SKYDRIVE, GOOGLEDRIVE & SYNCING

What is cloud computing all about & how it makes your life easier’

Learn to safely store photos & documents in the clouds

Using your cloud’s address book & calendar for easy access

Syncing between your PC & Phone, Tablet

How to use your calendar – new & repeat events (daily-weekly-yearly) & more

WEEKS 5, 6, 7 & 8 INTERNET – EVERYTHING YOU NEED/WANT TO KNOW...

How’s & why’s of using the popular browsers??

Customize your browser with your Favorites/Bookmarks, tabs & lists

Meaning of: Virus, worms, Trojans, Spyware, malware, cookies & more

Shopping safely –Searching, how to pay safely

YouTube & HuLu – downloading & streaming??

Setting up accounts so you can save & upload video’s

WEEK 9 & 10 – WORKING WITH MUSIC ON YOUR DEVICES...

How to play & save CD’s on your computer

Using the “clouds for music”

Find & listen to your favorite radio station, Jango & Pandora

Understanding iTunes & others, purchasing & burning music to cd’s

Creating Slide Shows - PowerPoint & Picasa

Some basic Power Point Info...

WHAT IS POWER POINT:  Gives you the ability to create a slide show combining your photos, text, animation, sound and more… to make your information much more enjoyable.  Power Point presentations have been used in business for years, but today you see them being used at weddings, showers, birthday parties, reunions, memorial services and by groups & organizations.  Students as young as 3^rd grade are using power point presentations to enhance reports and projects.

POWER POINT APPLICATION SOFTWARE

Can be bought individually or it is included as part of the MICROSOFT OFFICE bundle.  The Power Point Application Software is always required for you to create and or modify a power point presentation.

POWER POINT VIEWER: This is a free software offered from Microsoft that allows you to watch power point presentations sent to you via email.  You can then save them on your computer to send to someone else, you cannot however change or modify them in anyway or create your own without the full Power Point Application Software Program.

ADD POWER POINT VIEWER TO YOUR COMPUTER: Go to www.Microsoft.com – on right hand column – choose Downloads & Trials, search for “Power Point Viewer” and when wizard opens up – choose DOWNLOAD NOW button – in a few minutes this free software will be on your computer – follow directions as it adds it…

CAN YOU MAKE SLIDE PRESENTATIONS WITHOUT POWER POINT?? Yes, use Picasa (a free photo editing software program from Google, if you don’t have it, go to www.picasa.com and download for free).  Picasa’s version 3, has both a slide show & movie making application to use and they are easy to work with.. For those with Windows XP or Vista, your windows software has a free program called Windows Movie Maker which works in much the same way as power point and the Picasa applications… and if you have Windows 7 or 8 you can always search for and download

In our next posting we will talk more about using PICASA to create slide shows.. 

Websites to help with rising gas prices

With gas prices climbing continually, it’s more important than ever to keep an eye on gas prices and for those who are planning a summer trip – you might want to more accurately calculate what your fuel costs will be.. Here are some websites that you might find helpful…

To calculate fuel expenses for a trip…

www.fuelcostcalculator.aaa.com

Cost of fuel …

www.gasbuddy.com

www.fuelgaugereport.aaa.com

For those of you with smartphones and/or tablets (such as Droid, iPhone, iPads, Goggle Nexus, BlackBerry, Kindles etc) consider adding these and other mobile apps - including AAA - to help find the least expensive gas and other services when you are traveling…

Remember to avoid getting gas when you are on or near major interstate highways and/or airports ~ as most of us know – prices are always higher at these locations… 

Happy Father’s Day Weekend to All the Dads, Grand Dads & Great Grand Dads..

Personally, I think there is a definite difference between a DAD and a FATHER (this doesn't apply to our heavenly father of course!!)

To some, using the phrase dad and/or father are one in the same, but to me they are very different.  I've heard it said that just about any man can become a father, but it takes a very special man to earn the title of dad, and I agree whole heartedly...  After all, we all have known FATHERS who earned that title from a biological standpoint only…but DADS – well that’s a very different story.  

To me, a dad, is a very special title given to someone who is there for their children (biological or not), who not only watch over their children but enjoy actively participating in their lives…  A dad’s arm are always ready to hold their children, they are ready to dry their tears, calm their fears and dad’s smile widely at each and every accomplishment..  Dads are cheerleaders, teachers, protectors and providers – but most of all they have hearts as big as all outdoors and are so proud that they've earned the most important title of their life, and that is being called “DAD”!!

So to all the wonderful dads, grand dads and great granddads out there – celebrate your title this weekend – special thanks and congratulations for being such special people and for opening your hearts to your families…...   .

Happy Father's Day

(Author Unknown)

A Dad is a person who is loving and kind,

And often he knows, what you have on your mind.

He's someone who listens, suggests, and defends

A dad can be one of your very best friends!

He's proud of your triumphs, but when things go wrong

A dad can be patient and helpful and strong.

In all that you do, a dad's love plays a part

There's always a place for him, deep in your heart.

And each year that passes, You're even more glad,

More grateful and proud, just to call him your dad!

Thank you, Dad.

for listening and caring, for giving and sharing

and especially, for just being you!

Happy Father's Day

Windows 8 - How to set a printer as your “default” printer..

In earlier versions of the Windows Operating Systems (XP-Vista-7) we simply went to start – control panel – devices and printers and then right clicked on the printer we wanted as our default printer.  Setting a printer as a default printer, means each time we give the print command, our “default” printer is the one that the computer will choose…

In Windows 8 it is a little different and I must admit it took me awhile to figure it out, but it is basically the same as earlier versions…(minus the start menu of course)

• Press the Windows Key to go to the Start Screen (With all the windows 8 tiles)
• Now, move your mouse to the far lower right until a list of “5” icons appear
• Move the mouse up this lit (which Microsoft calls the Windows 8 Charm Bar – the icons from top to bottom are Search, Share, Start, Devices & Settings – and these names will appear as your mouse hovers over each icon)
• Now Click Search
• When the action list appears (right side of your screen) Type Control Panel in the search box at the top
• When you do Control Panel will appear on the left side of your monitor, click on it
• Then click Devices & Printers (same list you saw in earlier versions of Windows appears)
• When you see the printer you want as your default printer, hover your mouse over it, right click and choose “Set as Default Printer” from the action list

How to Change the Size of Print on the Screen

On your home computers, Go to Start Menu, then choose "Control Panel," then "Appearance and Personalization" and finally, select "Display."… which allows you to change sizes based on the DPI*

Select a screen text size that works best for you:

• "Smaller -- 100% (default)" text size
• "Medium -- 125%." is therefore 125% larger than the default size.
• "Larger -- 150%" is therefore 150% larger than the default size for items on your screen
• “Select Custom Text Size (DPI*)" in the left hand pane of the window (the last selection) to customize the size you want.

*Remember, DPI stands for "dots per inch." If you select more "dots per inch," the text on your screen will be larger and if you select less “dots per inch” he text will be smaller.

Click on the down arrow in the box next to "Scale to This Percentage of Normal Size." A drop-down menu appears, displaying more options.  Choose a size you like and if the sizes still aren’t what you’d like, position your mouse pointer on the ruler visible below the text "Scale to This Percentage of Normal Size." The mouse pointer will turn into a hand symbol. Left-click on your mouse or mouse pad and drag the mouse pointer to the right to increase the size until it suits you. When you release the mouse button, the actual print size will display below the ruler, giving you an instant preview of the size you have selected.

Remember, if you are only changing the size temporarily when you are on the internet or in many other software application programs, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, use the size scroll bar on the bottom right corner of the status bar or use the CTRL +/- KEYS  to magnify or de-magnify what you are seeing on the monitor.

Enjoy Memorial Day

No classes today as we all enjoy the Memorial Holiday and remember those who have served - if that's you, or members of your family - thank you.

We also thought you'd enjoy checking out a favorite Memorial Day website with lots of helpful information about the holiday and the way it is celebrated.. enjoy

www.usmemorialday.org

When I want to know which websites are “Hot” – we can always check out

www.allmyfaves.com – which we refer to in classes quite often..

Another favorite website to visit that lists their opinion of the top “100 websites” is:

www.100bestwebsites.org

Want to travel from the comfort of home, then check out web cams all over the world, including spring tulip farms in Holland, cape cod or local beaches, the Eiffel Tower and many many more:

www.earthcam.com

or closer to home, check out this webcam to look at Nantasket Beach in Hull..

http://northeastsurfing.com/nantasket-beach-hull-cam

So check them out, and if you have a favorite website you'd like us to share with everyone - just send it to me and remember to save websites you visit to your favorite or bookmark list so they are easy to visit again in the future..

Enjoy the Internet - where we can learn & explore anytime - anywhere…

And the winners are….

When the new computers were installed at both Union Tower facilities several weeks ago, Union Tower decided to raffle off the seven “7” computers to residents as a fund raiser, selling chances for $5 each…and this week drawings we held and we have our winners…I’m sure I speak for all residents when I thank Arthur Ross, Denise Moloney and everyone else involved in this generous decision…

Congratulations to everyone who won - we hope you will enjoy your computer and of course we hope you'll join us in computer classes so you can use your new equipment to it's fullest capacity...

UT II – 14 chances were sold and the three “3” winners for the “3” computers were:

Rose Hatfield

Elaine Mullen

Ed Fallon

UT I – 21 chances were sold and the four “4” winners for the “4” computers were

Jim Morgan

Barbara McDermott

Florence Parnell and

Betty Sullivan who won the 4^th computer but asked that we draw another name – and the lucky winner was Paul Main who in turn gave it to Angela DiVirgilio

I also want to personally thank Bob Donovan who donated countless hours getting these "7" computers ready for the raffle.  Not only did Bob have to remove these computers from both facilities and all their peripheral hardware (towers, monitors, keyboards & mice) - but he then cleaned and updated them and then brought them all back Monday & Wednesday this week and set them up for the drawings – a monumental task and all in his “spare time” which I know is very limited…  As always, Bob went above & beyond and I know I speak for everyone when I say “thank you, thank you, thank you" …Cherie Houston

How to enlarge the size of your toolbars in Chrome & Firefox

According to www.ehow.com, you can edit the sizes of your toolbars in both Google chrome& Mozilla Firefox..Firefox versions prior to Firefox 4.0 have a menu bar at the top of the application that allows you to access the "File," "Edit," "Tools" and other menus. If you find your menu bar in Firefox smaller than you prefer it, you can edit the size of the bar with the userChrome.css file, a Firefox configuration file that allows you to change any aspect of the browser using CSS code. Accessing and editing your Firefox configuration file gives you complete control over how large you want the menu bar to appear

1.   Click on "Start" and select "Computer."

2.   Go to the following location on your computer: "C:\Users\{Windows Profile Name}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{Firefox Profile Name}\Chrome."

3.   Locate the "userChrome-example.css" file. Right-click the file and select the "Rename" option. Rename the file "userChrome.css."

4.   Right-click the file and click "Open With." A new window will appear. Select "Notepad" and click "OK" to open the file in Notepad.

5.   Add the following code to the bottom of the file: /* Large Menus */ menubar, menubutton, menulist, menu, menuitem {font-size: 4mm !important;}

6.   Replace "4" with the font size in mm that you want to change the menu bar to.

7.   Click "File" and select "Save." Launch Firefox to view the changes to the menu bar.

For more information on this topic, go to this link at... www.ehow.com:.

How to Edit the Menu Bar Size on Firefox or Chrome | eHow http://www.ehow.com/how_8626717_edit-bar-size-firefox-chrome.html#ixzz2U1lYWuMe