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