|
The Monthly Edition Of The k-Byte Newsletter |
|
| V. 26, No. 6, June 2009 | Users Helping Users |
|
|
The Monthly Edition Of The k-Byte Newsletter |
|
| V. 26, No. 6, June 2009 | Users Helping Users |
Contents
Meeting Previews on Page 6
June: Google Picasa
July: The Annual Hardware/Software Zoo
Quote of the Month
The road to knowledge of the stars leads through the atom; and important knowledge of the atom has been reached through the stars.
Sir Arthur Stanley Eddington [1928]
by Vinny La Bash, Sarasota Personal Computer Users Group, Inc., http://www.spcug.org/, vlabash@comcast.net
This column made its first appearance a little over ten years ago. You have read about getting more performance out of your machine, getting rid of Trojan horses, viruses, and other assorted junk. You've read explanations on how to fix, reconfigure, improve or otherwise enhance your system. This month, I'm taking a radical departure by pointing out some of the programs that I like in order to have FUN with the system. I'm tired of productivity. I want to blast aliens predators, crash cars, blow up things, and have a blast doing it.
Here are several totally unproductive, time-wasting, non-educational, fun programs that everyone should at least try. Get with it folks, work is for the nerds. Who needs boring spreadsheets?
One of the best time-wasters on the planet is from Pop-Cap Games. It's a gem called Bejeweled 2, a vast improvement on the original. Bejeweled 2 is the king of gem matching games. The graphics, animations, and sounds are amazing for the genre, and the game play is addictive. The game can be played in a variety of ways, but the basics of the game haven't changed. Swap two adjacent pieces to make matching chains of identical gems.
Play leisurely in the non-timed mode or you can speed things up by switching to the Action mode and turning the clock on. Problem solvers can go into Puzzle mode for Pop-Cap's brain teasers. New Power Gems and Hyper Cubes help you get to the next level faster and with more points. If you want to play casually, you can quit, save the game at any point, and resume play whenever the urge overcomes you.
At the other end of the game spectrum is Fallout 3, a roll-playing adventure game that takes place in a post-apocalyptic setting in and around Washington D.C. The game was released in October 2008, and immediately attracted my attention because I was intrigued at the idea of nuking Washington. Why not? Nothing else seems to be working.
As the main character, you can play either as a man or a woman. You spend the first 19 years of your life in Vault 101, an underground shelter built to withstand the ravages of nuclear war. One day your father flees the vault with no explanation. You decide to follow Dad to find out why he left, and you find yourself in the midst of a desolated landscape called the Capital Wasteland.
This is the beginning of an extraordinary journey where you encounter various human factions all jockeying for supremacy. You will come across wild mutated creatures, and complex situations demanding thought-out strategic solutions. The game can go in a multitude of directions depending upon the choices you make, and you can play as a good or an evil character. The choice is yours. Choose the good part, and you can almost see the halo forming above your head. Chooses evil, and you unleash unprovoked havoc assisting slave holders, murderers, and other assorted human vermin. The real attraction of the game is twofold. There is a lot to do, and the game is open-ended. Go in any direction you want.
Also from Pop-Cap games is Insaniquarium, a strangely off-beat game. Your mission is to feed a number of fish that have a tendency to multiply. These virtual fish excrete coins which you must collect in order to purchase the food they require to grow and multiply.
Each fish requires its own special food. Deny them and they turn belly up. Hostile aliens appear from time-to-time to wreak havoc among your fish. Fortunately, you can buy weapons that will repel the aliens. There are over 20 levels of play, with four variations that include up to four fish tanks, all with unlimited play time.
Using a computer for business and utility operations is great, but work without play is unsatisfying, and basically unfinished business.
Copyright 2009. This article is from the April 2009 issue of the Sarasota PC Monitor, the official monthly publication of the Sarasota Personal Computer Users Group, Inc., P.O. Box 15889, Sarasota, FL 34277-1889. Permission to reprint is granted only to other non-profit computer user groups, provided proper credit is given to the author and our publication.
Published monthly, k-Byte is the official newsletter of the Front Range Personal Computer Users Group (FRPCUG): our mailing address is PMB 152, 305 W. Magnolia, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521.
Opinions expressed in k-Byte are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the group or its members. Publication of information in k-Byte constitutes no guarantee of accuracy. Use of any information found in this publication is at the sole risk of the user. Neither k-Byte, nor its officers, nor its editors or contributors assume any liability for damages resulting from use of information in this publication.
Submissions
Articles, letters and short items of interest on computer-related topics are welcome and encouraged. All items submitted for publication are subject to editing. Send your contribution to the editor via e-mail attachment or submit on disk. If you have questions about a submission, please contact the editor for information.
Copyright and Trademark Information
k-Byte is copyrighted ©2009 by the Front Range Personal Computer Users Group. The k-Byte logo and the Front Range PC Users Group logo are Trademarked by the Front Range PC Users Group. Unless otherwise noted, other nonprofit users groups may reprint or quote from any articles appearing in k-Byte without prior permission, provided that: a) proper author and publication credits are given; b) that a copy of the publication in which the article appears is sent at no cost to k-Byte at the above mailing address, or emailed to contact(at)frpcug.org; and c) any additional instructions/restrictions contained in the article are followed. User groups wishing to exchange newsletters with FRPCUG are invited to send a copy of their newsletter together with an exchange request.
Disclaimer
IBM PC, OS/2, Compaq, HP, Dell, UNIX, Windows and other trademarks occasionally mentioned in k-Byte are registered trademarks of International Business Machines, Inc., Hewlett-Packard Corporation, Microsoft, Dell Inc., or their owners respectively. Neither FRPCUG nor its newsletter k-Byte are connected in any way with any manufacturer or seller. Acceptance by FRPCUG of donated products or services from suppliers, or inclusion of a supplier in the FRPCUG Partner list does not imply that any continuing financial support is received or expected by FRPCUG. Nor do such activities imply an endorsement of either the supplier or product or service. Such information is made available to members as a service. Use of any product or supplier found in this publication, or any FRPCUG publication, is at the sole risk of the user.
About FRPCUG
FRPCUG is an independent nonprofit computer society, so incorporated with the State of Colorado and open to anyone interested in Windows, or UNIX/LINUX microcomputers. Its purpose is to provide an educational and scientific forum of mutual benefit for members of the micro-computer community. FRPCUG holds a monthly meeting and conducts various special interest groups (SIGs) and seminars. Members have voting privileges, subscription to k-Byte newsletter, and access to SIGs and selected seminars. Annual dues are $25 for individual/family membership ($20 for students) and $50 for corporate/group membership.
by Rick Mattingly, Front Range PC Users Group, Fort Collins, CO, http://www.frpcug.org
Numerous people have asked about spell checking tools. Many people are familiar with spell checking within Microsoft Office but are totally confused about methods of spell checking from within other software applications. It is not unusual for computer users to avoid using Notepad (the Microsoft text editor), for example, because it has no spell check feature.
The best solution I have found is a small utility called "TinySpell", available in a free flavor, as well as an enhanced version for a small cost. This is an amazing little utility which spell checks everything for you, including web browsers. If it senses that another spell checker is active, as within Microsoft Office for example, it goes dormant so as to not conflict. You can even manually add applications where you may not want spell checking assistance.
Check it out at http://www.tinyspell.m6.net/.
by Mike Morris, Front Range PC Users Group, Fort Collins, CO, http://www.frpcug.org
An article with the title "Caring for the Caregiver" appeared in the in the November/December 2007 issue of AARP magazine1. Here is an extract from that article:
| "A cascade of studies in recent years has shown that caregivers stand at particular risk for a host of mental and physical illnesses, many of which have roots in stress, exhaustion, and self-neglect-symptoms some medical professionals have begun calling caregiver syndrome. . . . According to a 2004 national survey by AARP and The National Alliance for Caregiving, nearly 23 million households are currently home to a caregiver, most often a woman who is taking care of someone 50 or older. Some 43 percent of these caregivers are over 50 themselves—13 percent are over 65—and they spend good chunks of their weeks on a heady range of chores, from medication management and bathing to feeding, clothing, and arranging health care services. . . . Unfortunately for many friends and family members of caregivers, it is difficult to know when to step in-or what to do...." |
I recommend this article to all caregivers, and to friends and family members of caregivers. Yes, it is difficult for friends and family members of caregivers to know what to do. It can also be overwhelming for a caregiver to add another task—coordinating help from those friends and family members—to an already burdensome schedule.
Both caregivers and those willing to help may find a solution with a web site called Lotsa Helping Hands.com. This web site allows a caregiver or family member to:
| "Create a free of charge, private, web-based community to organize family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues—a family's 'circles of community'—during times of need. . . ." |
There are three primary templates:
There are four additional templates:
These templates allow one person to coordinate the activities of others by identifying the needs and allowing volunteers to accept tasks. All of this activity takes place online, relieving the caregiver of the burden of many phone calls and separate schedules. For those familiar with Google Documents™, there is a slight similarity between the two. However, the Lotsa Helping Hands templates are designed specifically for caregiving situations:
|
"Each community includes an intuitive group calendar for scheduling tasks such as meals delivery and rides, a platform for securely sharing vital medical, financial, and legal information with designated family members, and customizable sections for posting photos, well wishes, blogs, journals, and messages.
Now, when someone asks 'what can I do to help?' the answer is 'give me your name and email address'—the system takes over and allows people to sign up and start helping." |
A web based service such as Lotsa Helping Hands is certain to generate questions about privacy and security. You will find answers to these questions in the "Terms of use" page of the web site. Included in the Terms are descriptions of the data security, data integrity and access (among other) protections.
[Note: The scheduling features are not dependent upon the use of private information. It is not necessary to include medical, financial or legal information on the web site-although that information is protected].
Lotsa Helping Hands has many non-profit partners, including the Alzheimer's Association, the Family Caregiver Alliance, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and many more. Check the Partners page of the Lotsa Helping Hands web site for more information.
You can read what national media, such as Business Week, NY Times and others have to say about Lotsa Helping Hands by clicking on the links on the Media page of the Lotsa Helping Hands web site.
I have not personally used this service, although there was a time, not so long ago, when I would have used it had I known about it. After reading the description of the service, and the "How It Works" section of the web site, I am convinced that the service is, indeed, very valuable and also secure. I recommend that caregivers try this service. There is at least the potential to reduce your levels of stress and exhaustion associated with your role of caregiver.
1. Crute, Sherre, "Caring for the Caregiver." AARP Magazine, November and December, 2007.
by Gabe Goldberg, Computers and Publishing, Inc., Tiplet(at)gabegold.com
One of the Internet's many beauties is the diversity of choices available-for everything. There are multiple search engines, Web browsers, ISPs (Internet service providers), operating systems (Windows, Linux, Mac). This means that no two people have precisely the same computing setup or online experience and leads to hours of fun-filled arguments about whose choices are best.
In fact, competition works to everyone's advantage: no matter what your choice is for a given function, the vendor or manufacturer knows that you have alternatives and must hustle to keep your loyalty. The "browser wars"-first when Microsoft pushed Internet Explorer (IE) development to catch innovator Netscape and more recently with Mozilla Firefox stealing market share back from IE (and, of course, with contributions from Opera, Chrome, and other contenders)-have generated beneficial innovation and evolution.
Recent reports show Firefox taking market share from Internet Explorer-but Microsoft is introducing Internet Explorer Version 8, so the horse race continues. So it's worth exploring (pun intended) why software like Firefox, which must be added to Windows systems which by default include IE, can be so successful.
In addition to speed and security superior to at least earlier IE versions, Firefox and its Mozilla sibling email client Thunderbird provide powerful customization tools. In Firefox, click Tools and then Options. Explore the tabs: Main, Tabs, Content, Applications, Privacy, Security, and Advanced. Within Advanced, subtabs address different functions. For each options group, the Help button displays specific information describing choices available.
You needn't study and learn all options at once but it's worth occasionally browsing what you can tweak. Firefox defaults are certainly pleasant and workable but by making your own decisions, you can customize the browser to accommodate your unique preferences. On the Advanced/Update tab, I recommend checking all three boxes to check for updates, and then selecting "Ask me what to do" about updates. That way you'll find out about available updates and control when they're downloaded and installed.
But there's more! Click Tools, then Add-ons, then Get Add-ons, to open a wonderful catalogue of small tools you can add to perform new functions. These are available because Firefox is open source software, meaning it's developed, supported, and maintained by volunteers. While the most important browser functions are included in the basic browser, hundreds of developers produce add-on modules to extend it.
You'll initially see a few Recommended add-ons; click See All Recommended Add-ons to visit the Web site of all-things-add-ons. On the left, you'll see broad categories (e.g., Appearance, Bookmarks, Search, Tools); the main display shows the most popular tools.
[Editor's Note: from the Get Add-ons tab of the Add-ons window, there is also a link to "Browse All Add-ons."]
Explore categories in which you're most interested. But before installing any, browse for alternatives, since several add-ons may perform similar functions. Look at ratings (number of stars) and number of downloads reported -- obviously a highly-rated add-on being downloaded 150,000 times a week is a safer bet than a less-popular lesser-rated choice. And read reviews for real-people descriptions of how add-ons work-or don't. Note which Firefox versions an add-on supports, since some may need a relatively new version and others may not have yet been updated for them.
Thunderbird handles options and add-ons in a similar fashion. For perspective, I have 15 Firefox and 9 Thunderbird add-ons installed and occasionally shop for yet more to improve my browsing and email experience.
This article has been obtained from APCUG with the author's permission for publication by APCUG member groups; all other uses require the permission of the author (see e-mail address above).
This article first appeared on the Tiplet Web site, http://www.tiplet.com, and is copyrighted by the author, Gabriel Goldberg. All rights are reserved; it may be reproduced, downloaded, or disseminated, for single use, or by nonprofit organizations for educational purposes, with attribution to Tiplet and the author. It should be unchanged and this paragraph must be included. Please e-mail the author at tiplet(at)gabegold.com when you use it, or for permission to excerpt or condense. Tiplet's free newsletter provides weekly computer tips.
|
June General Forum Meeting
We will meet at the Fort Collins Senior Center on: |
||
|
Day
Tuesday |
Date
June 2nd |
Time
7:00 PM |
| Meeting Agenda | |
| Time | Topic |
| 7:00 to 7:15 | Announcements |
| 7:15 to 8:00 | Open Forum |
| 8:00 to 8:15 | Break |
| 8:15 to 9:00 | Google Picasa |
To check on FRPCUG events in 2009 using a familiar graphical calendar format, connect to the 2009 Graphical Events Calendar
|
July General Forum Meeting
We will meet at the Fort Collins Senior Center on: |
||
|
Day
Tuesday |
Date
July 7th |
Time
7:00 PM |
| Meeting Agenda | |
| Time | Topic |
| 7:00 to 7:15 | Announcements |
| 7:15 to 8:00 | Open Forum |
| 8:00 to 8:15 | Break |
| 8:15 to 9:00 | Annual Hardware/Software Zoo |
See you at the meetings!
Get full membership benefits. If you are not a current member, download and complete a Membership Application. Mail the completed application and your payment to the address listed, or better yet, bring the application to the next meeting.
The topic for the June meeting is Google Picasa, presented by member Herb Cantor. Picasa is a free and reliable image
organizing application from Google. It also has some image editing capabilities. This presentation will bring you up to
date on the primary capabilities of the latest version in both areas.
The Annual Hardware/Software Zoo is scheduled for the July meeting.
Digital Imaging SIG
The Digital Imaging SIG is a forum for discussion of digital imaging hardware and software. The meetings are held every 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 PM in the Senior Center Lobby. The meeting format is informal, using the Shop Talk sessions as a basis. For more information, contact Mike Morris at twriterext(at)gmail.com.
New Technology SIG
The New Technology SIG provides advance support for all PC related operating system and telecommunication issues. The meetings are held at 7:00 PM on the third Thursday of each month at Bluebird Manufacturing Inc., 1421 Webster Avenue, in Fort Collins. For more information, contact Chuck McJilton at 970-493-2987.
Shop Talk
One-on-one assistance. Drop in to the Senior Center lobby on any Saturday (holidays excepted) from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Board Meeting
FRPCUG's executive board meets on Wednesday of the week following the General Forum meeting. All members are welcome and are encouraged to attend. These meetings are held at 7:00 PM in the Staff Board Room of the Fort Collins Senior Center.
For a view of FRPCUG activities in 2009, in a traditional graphical calendar format, connect to the Graphical Events Calendar
Here is a summary of FRPCUG activities and other important dates for the next two months:
June 2009
2 FRPCUG General Forum Meeting 7:00 PM
6 Shop Talk 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
9 Digital Imaging SIG Meeting 7:00 PM
10 FRPCUG Board Meeting 7:00 PM
13 Shop Talk 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
18 Technology SIG Meeting 7:00 PM
20 Shop Talk 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
27 Shop Talk 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
July
3 Independence Day Holiday
4 No Shop Talk—Senior Center Closed
7 FRPCUG General Forum Meeting 7:00 PM
11 Shop Talk 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
14 Digital Imaging SIG Meeting 7:00 PM
15 FRPCUG Board Meeting 7:00 PM
16 Technology SIG Meeting 7:00 PM
18 Shop Talk 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
25 Shop Talk 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Photo Gallery
This month's featured photographer:
Wes Fuqua using a Canon PowerShot A80 Camera
Autumn Colors On The Ranch
Camera Settings:
Mode = Auto, F number = 5.60, Exposure Time = 1/160 seconds, Focal Length = 7.81 mm
ISO = Auto, White Balance = Auto, Scene Capture Type = Landscape
Copyright © 2009 by Wes Fuqua. All rights reserved. Send requests for copies/reprint permissions to kbyte(at)frpcug.org
Pamela Tabak receives numerous computer-related questions via e-mail and during classroom presentations. She selects those she feels are of common interest to most members and forwards them to us for publication.
Pamela invites members to ask their questions at http://tinyurl.com/ask-pamela. More often than not you will receive and answer within 24 hours.
QUESTION: My Taskbar has disappeared. How can I restore it to the bottom of my screen?
ANSWER: If you lose your TASKBAR while using the Windows XP operating system just press and hold down the Ctrl key and Esc key together and it will reappear. Even if you hide the Taskbar, or move it to a different part of the screen, you will always be able to find it and the Start button by following the steps above.
When you have restored your taskbar to the desired position RIGHT CLICK in an empty area on your taskbar and select "Lock the Taskbar" from the pop-up selection. Until this feature is unchecked your Taskbar will remain in the place chosen. Just make sure "AUTO HIDE" is turned off.
Another solution would be to perform SYSTEM RESTORE to the time prior to the disappearance if the Taskbar.
QUESTION: I cannot open the highlighted links that come in emails. No doubt it's a simple fix somewhere in my E-mail program but I don't know what it is. I'm using Outlook Express. Please help.
ANSWER: If you have formatted your email in "Plain Text" the link may not be accessible. Change the format to "HTML" and the link should work; the link usually appears in blue text and is underlined. This is called a "Hyperlink" which will take you to another web page or web site when clicked with the left mouse.
If the link is inactive or appears in "Plain Text" you can still make it active by the "Copy and Paste" method. In this case COPY AND PASTE THE LINK TO YOUR BROWSER BAR AND CLICK ON THE ENTER KEY ON YOUR KEYBOARD OR HIT GO. This action should take you to the desired page. If you need a tutorial on "How to Copy and Paste" please contact me to request the information.
QUESTION: When I download a PowerPoint file it opens in Media Player. How do I get it to open with PowerPoint?
ANSWER: In order to make a PowerPoint Presentation or Show open in Microsoft PowerPoint you will need to create an association in the Folder Options control panel. In order to perform this task, follow the steps below:
The PowerPoint Attachments that you receive should now always open in Microsoft PowerPoint.
QUESTION: My Windows XP desktop icons have disappeared. How do I restore them?
ANSWER: You can restore your desktop icons by following the steps below:
Your desktop icons will reappear immediately.
|
FRPCUG CONTACTS
|
||||
|
Telephone Area Code 970
|
||||
| Title | Name | Work Phone | Home Phone | |
|
FRPCUG Officers |
||||
| President | Rick Mattingly | 613-8968 | rickmatt(at)q.com | |
| Vice President | Don Anderson | 498-3534 | 482-0943 | doande(at)gmail.com |
| Treasurer | Virginia Febinger | 498-2127 | gingercln(at)comcast.net | |
| Secretary | Jim Bragonier | 221-5500 | 484-9061 | james.bragonier(at)comcast.net |
|
k-Byte Staff |
||||
| Editor-in-Chief | Mike Morris | 461-2002 | twriterext(at)gmail.com | |
| Features Editor | Mike Morris | 461-2002 | twriterext(at)gmail.com | |
|
Other Contacts |
||||
| Membership Coordinator | Jack Linder | 663-2151 | jack(at)frpcug.org | |
| Technology SIG Leader | Chuck McJilton | 416-9286 | 493-2987 | cdmcjs(at)gmail.com |
| Digital Imaging SIG Leader | Mike Morris | 461-2002 | twriterext(at)gmail.com | |
| Publicity | Mike Morris | 461-2002 | twriterext(at)gmail.com | |
| Door Prize Coordinator | John Goldey | 221-0877 | johngoldey(at)q.com | |
| FRPCUG Fax Line | 493-1408 | |||
| FRPCUG Home Page w/ E-Mail | http://www.frpcug.org | |||
| FRPCUG Officer E-Mail | board(at)frpcug.org | |||
| Library Request E-Mail | library(at)frpcug.org | |||
by Mike Morris, Front Range PC Users Group, http://www.frpcug.org
All computer users need be informed consumers of services available on the internet. This is certainly true of an online "auction" site called Swoopo that claims items can be purchased at significant discounts. Before you spend your hard earned cash for bidding rights (yes, you have to pay for the "privilege" of bidding), read these two articles:
The second article has many Reader's comments worth viewing. Draw your own conclusions after reading those articles, and remember the old saying: If it sounds too good to be true . . . .
The Fort Collins Senior Center is located at 1200 Raintree Drive. This site is situated at the northwest corner of the Shields and Raintree Drive intersection, on the north side of the Raintree Shopping Center, and just west of the bank building on the corner of Shields and Raintree (see map at right).
Check the marquee at the main entrance for directions to the specific meeting room.
