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SENIORNET
COMPUTER LEARNING CENTER NEWS
Jan.1,
2001; Issue #1; Mail Address:PMB 309 4038 Factoria Blvd.
SE, Bellevue, WA 98006-5236
Voice
Mail: 206-232-5892; Classroom: Phantom Lake Elementary School,
Bellevue
For
Detailed Information, Class Schedules: http://www.seniornetps.org/
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OOOOPS! DID YOU FORGET TO turn your calendar forward 0ne year? Welcome to Year 2001.and counting. Our leader, Pres. Helen Hesketh, sends official best holiday and New Year wishes to all local 500 members of our all-volunteer SeniorNet Computer Learning Center of Puget Sound. Yes, according to Registrar Louise Flora, there are 500 members who pay dues to the national organization. This makes our Learning Center one of the largest in the country. Annual membership in national is required to take our computer training courses. And we are starting the New Year with a classroom loaded with 13 brand new, powerful, speedy computers, with each including a large 17-inch monitor for easy viewing.
ANOTHER
GREAT REGISTRATION—And as always, new and continuing
students flocked to the Dec. 7th Open Registration for
computer classes in 2001, held at the Crossroads Mall. Registrar
Flora announced at that point, 67% of the various classes were
filled, with more mail registrations trickling in later. She said
a total of 155 registration forms were received at that time.
Marking the increased interest by seniors in learning computer
operations, she said the learning center had grown by 57 new
members. Based on the earlier paid national membership for the
Puget Sound Chapter of 476, Flora said this easily would top the
500 paid-up members total.
AND
THOSE WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS who made possible the very smooth
and efficient registration within a two-hour period, came in for
high praise from Flora and Roger Dalton in charge of
volunteers for the sign-ups. She praised Dalton and the
volunteers. “I think it is significant since without
each and every one of them, it just wouldn’t work as well as
it has.” She added: “It never seems to be a
problem to get SeniorNet volunteers and they all seem to have
fun.” Dalton hailed the efforts of the 42 volunteers who
helped speed the smooth assembly-line registration. “This
was very gratifying considering our meager salaries,” he
commented with a smile.
EAGER
STUDENTS TAKING FIVE CLASSES—Registrar Flora in
her later report Dec. 19, to the Leadership Committee, provided a
breakdown of class enrollments of special interest, showing that
while the majority of students were taking one class, many others
were taking several classes. She reported 77 students are taking
one class; 39 students taking two classes; 33 students taking
three classes; 12 students taking four classes; and 3 taking five
classes, for a total of 164 students registered either on Dec. 7
or by mail. And yes, there is also a waiting list for some fully
booked classes.
SANTA PRESIDES AT LEADERSHIP MEETING—Yes, indeed, there was a Santa Claus, wearing that familiar red hat, at the monthly meeting, the last for the year. And Pres. Hesketh presided in the spirit of the holidays, with the session celebrated with drinks (soft, very soft), and cheesecakes, (good, very good), with Bill Bumpus presiding at the social hour. Volunteers Coordinator Delores Davis said there was a need for more volunteers to assist class instructors. She also asked instructors to let her know if they needed a volunteer assistant to help students during class who could use some extra help. Plans to update and make other changes in our SeniorNet website were discussed by Jay Schlechter and Hal Mozer, who have created and maintain our valuable website. Granpals Chair Pat Herzog reported on the Grandpals program where SeniorNet volunteers work with some students on a weekly basis at the Phantom Lake School to help them improve their reading and other skills. Other reports were issued by Treasurer Bob Swenson; Facilities Coordinator Ken Crandall; Curriculum Coordinator John Wise; Meeting Program Chair Bill Bumpus; Clif Wuesthoff, in charge of distributing the Online Newsletter via email; and Online Newsletter Editor Phil Scheier. And checking in members as they arrive is Carmena Affek.
BACK TO BUSINESS—Members of the SeniorNet Board of Directors decided to start the New Year by plunging directly back to work by holding their meeting, as usual, the first Tuesday of the month. In this case, Jan. 2, at 9:30 am, in Portable 1. And unless we hear otherwise, our monthly Kaffee Klatch social will also be held Tuesday, Jan. 2, at the Crossroads Mall fabulous food circus 11 am, until 1 PM. For newcomers, this no-host get-together is open to all to meet one another, exchange some computer or non-computer talk. A very delightful and always interesting session. And no, no tests will be given. And a reminder: The monthly Leadership Meeting is scheduled for the third Tuesday of the month, Jan. 16th, at 10 A.M., in Portable 1.
AUTOMATIC
EDITING?—Dale Steen has a problem with his computer,
which, he learned, tries to do its own editing using its own
electronic judgment. And the example he cites kind of hurts this
writer. Dale writes: “Phil: I enjoyed receiving the news
letter, however I have Message filtering on my Netscape
Communicator E-mail and this news letter automatically is placed
in the Trash Folder. I now know enough to look in the Trash
Folder before it is emptied. I think there is a statement in the
heading of the News Letter that considers it junk mail, thus
causing it to be directed to the Trash.” Now, that’s a
smart computer.
A
GREAT NEW FREE ISP, BUT---It seems that without enough money
to pay the bills, even the best-intentioned free ISP (Internet
Service Provider) hoping to sell enough advertising to pay those
bills, and even make some profit, has to pull the switch, or
start charging, when income doesn’t match outgo. In the
latest instance, an excellent free Internet Service provider,
seniorsinfree.com, had to start charging. This writer, with a
hobby of checking out free ISPs, loaded in the then-free ISP, and
it was a delight. No blocking adbar. And access was fast. A
pleasure. But some two weeks later, the grim notice was posted.
There would be a monthly charge, and those wishing to continue
using this excellent service, would have to pay after a certain
deadline. The deadline passed, and, of course, so did free access
to seniorsinfree. But thanks Bill Flick, Hal Mozer and John
Stilz, for bringing it to our attention.
HOW RAY HANSENS CELEBRATED 50TH IN FRANCE—When Ray and Mary Hansen decided to do something appropriate to celebrate their 50th anniversary earlier this past year, it wound up as a gala family and friends’ gathering in France, who came flying in from all over the United States, and as far away as Alaska and Tokyo, 28 in all. They virtually took over a small hotel, a former 16th Century coaching inn in western Loire Valley, city of Angers. Using this as their headquarters, they took bus tours of the area, with the group later scattering around Europe on their individual vacations. The Hansen Christmas card features a large group shot of everybody in front of the castle of Angers Castle, the favorite of King Richard Lionhearted.
SMART COMPUTING TIPS ON TAP-- Below is the URL for Smart Computing Magazine, which provides lots of helpful material from its various publications, including its monthly magazine, and it’s Learning Series publications.
http://www.smartcomputing.com/
If you are a subscriber to the monthly Smart Computing publication, you are given deep access to much of the material at the website, after you register your special subscription number and your zip code.
One example: This writer wanted to get more plain-English information on operating Microsoft NetMeeting, to learn how to conduct video online meetings speaking with one or more other persons in real time, and seeing them on screen. In the search space of the Computing web site, I typed in “NetMeeting,” and up came a number of articles. Included was the article in the Vol. 6, Issue 4 Learning Series, which I also buy separately off the newsstand. And sure enough, there on the screen were the articles: One to start NetMeeting, and the second how to hold a conference. And the reader is invited to email the article to anyone else, which I did with my son on the East Coast, who was also planning to use NetMeeting. Final result? This writer and his son, some 3,000 miles to the east in Massachusetts, now hold regular realtime, virtual face-to-face conversations with the help of newly purchased Logitech web cams. No, no phone charges either.
LISTEN IN TO EERIE SPACE SOUNDS—CNN is reporting that NASA's Cassini space probe is listening to an eerie melody as it approaches the giant planet Jupiter. The robot ship is picking up low-radio frequency patterns that, when converted to audible waves, suggest the faint strains of some alien folk tune. Want to visit outer space—and listen in also? Below is the URL for your special space trip
http://www.cnn.com/2000/TECH/space/12/19/jupiter.sounds/index.html
But these signals aren't signs of extraterrestrial life. The waves happen as the solar wind, a thin gas of charged particles that streams from the sun crashes into the powerful magnetic field enveloping Jupiter, according to CNN. The site also has a Listen button to click if you want to hear it. And just below, another exciting space experience.
MAGNIFICENT SPACE VIEW OF EARTH AT NIGHT—Closer to
home, approximately, is this unique and spectacular view of the
entire Earth at night merely by scrolling up and down, and
sideways. It’s all there, lights of cities and all, and most
of it recognizable. Our thanks to Ray Hansen for finding
this unusual and impressive program. Below is the URL.
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/0011/earthlights_dmsp_big.jpg
SPARKING
UP OUR COMPUTER OPERATION, as always, is Ken Crandall,
who is Maintenance Coordinator, and in plain English, keeps the
computers operating at top performance levels. No easy task.
To further improve performance, Ken writes: “ I have made a
change that should improve our Internet classroom access and
security. I have replaced our former software proxy server
that provided multi -computer access to the Internet, with a
hardware Internet Gateway server. This also provides us a
hardware Firewall to protect against intrusions by others.”
CONVERTING WORKS TO WORD--Microsoft has issued a converter for Works 2000 documents, according to Hal Mozer, and can be found on the following web page:
http://works.msn.com/HomePages/Offers_Downloads.asp
And Hal says it works. Just download the file. Run the downloaded file and it will automatically install the converter into Word 2000. “Now I can read the files I downloaded from SeniorNet Leadership Exchange and couldn't read without Works 2000!” The converter, he added, also is supposed to work with several other word processing programs, per the information on the web site, which reads:
Works
2000 to Word Converter
The Works 2000 to Word Converter will allow users of Word 2000, Word 97, or Works 4.x to open Works 2000 word processing files. This converter has been tested with Works 4.0, Works 4.5, Works 2000, Word 97, and Word 2000 running on Windows 98 and Windows ME
NOW
HEAR THIS: SAVE UP TO 12 ITEMS IN MEMORY-Another tip from Smart
Computing’s Reference Series, “Over 3000
Tips,” is Word 2000’s ability to save up to 12 separate
items in memory in its souped-up Clipboard. Then with the cursor,
you can read the first few words of each saved item when you want
to select the specific saved material and insert it in another
document. A dandy, quick way to copy and paste. Best way is to
click View, Toolbars, then Clipboard, where you will see the
saved items in icon form. Placing the cursor on a clip shows the
first few words of the item. Just click the desired clip to
insert it wherever you have placed the cursor. A very handy tool
in saving and moving type around.
HOW
TO BACK UP AND RESTORE THE REGISTRY--Before you even think
about changing your Windows configuration, make a backup copy of
the Registry. It's easier than you think. (Note: Unless you are
really smart about computers, and especially the very important
and crucial Registry, which controls your operations, don’t
mess with any Registry settings. Hence the importance of having a
backup for your Registry. Make a copy to an emergency floppy and
mark it properly, and with the date.
http://windows.about.com/library/tips/bltip150.htm
IF
YOUR CD DISK JAMS—A friend who experienced a jammed CD
disk which refused to eject when he pressed the button at the CD
drive, says the following procedure solved his problem: He
candidly admits he called his knowledgeable son-in-law to get the
following solution.
Double
click the Desktop icon, My Computer
RIGHT
click the CD ROM icon
The
box has a line "Eject".
Click
on the line and the CD door magically opens.
AGAIN,
IN CASE you are receiving more than one copy of our Online
Newsletter on your computer, please notify the editor at b26flyer2@juno.com and he
will (try to) handle it. And also, if you have friends who are
online, and may be interested in taking SeniorNet classes to
expand their skills, you can forward this newsletter to them by
clicking forward when this message is displayed. Then enter their
address in the To box, and click Send. Help spread the
word.
NOTE: We welcome your personal, and not so personal, news items, computer tips, computer experiences, computer mishaps, whatever. Please email brief news items to the editor at b26flyer2@juno.com, and include your own email address. Also, if your Newsletter arrives in difficult-to-read form, for whatever reason, please send a brief message to that effect to the editor, and list your browser, whether Microsoft Internet Browser, or Netscape. Oftentimes balky or overloaded phone lines can create problems. And include your own email, please. Our huge research staff is at the ready to help, …….if it can. .
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Pres.> Helen Hesketh;
Past Pres.> Clif Wuesthoff; Vice Pres.>Bill Bumpas;
Secy>Dave Lewis; Treas.>Bob Swenson;
Registrar<Louise Flora;
Curriculum. Coordinator> John Wise; Facilities Coordinator>
Ken Crandall;
Member-at-Large>Delores
Davis; Volunteers Coordinator> Delores Davis;
Online
Newsletter Editor> Phil Scheier; Publicity>Jo Hugh; Public
Relations>Bill Flick
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SENIORNET COMPUTER LEARNING CENTER NEWS
Jan.8, 2001; Issue #1A; Mail Address: PMB 309 4038 Factoria
Blvd. SE, Bellevue, WA 98006-5236
Voice Mail: 206-232-5892
Classroom: Phantom Lake Elementary School, Bellevue
For Detailed Information, Class Schedules: www.seniornetps.org ==============================================================
Special Computer Learning Opportunities Issue
STILL TIME TO REGISTER FOR MARCH-JUNE CLASSES
By
LOUISE FLORA
(SeniorNet Registrar)
While some of our classes are full – particularly the
ones starting in January and February, there is still time to
register for March, April, May and June classes. Learn how to
write, edit and format documents ranging from a letter to a book.
Word Processing classes in WORD and WORKS, or if you have had the
basic classes in Word Processing – take the Intermediate
WORD or WORKS classes. The Intermediate WORD Class is not listed
in the original catalog – it will meet March 7 – March
28 – 1:15PM – 3:15PM
Learn to “surf the net” in our Basic Internet
Classes, openings in NET-4, NET-5 and NET-6.
UseSeniorNet’s high speed DSL line and explore interesting
web sites using different indexes and search engines.
A personal web site is an ideal way to keep your far-flung
family posted on what you are doing. In our WEB DESIGN
CLASS, you will be able to create your own web site and post it
on a free Internet host site for your family and friends to see.
While our Basic Quicken Class is full, QUICKEN PLUS class is
still open; this is a review of basic Quicken functions and
additional work focusing on managing your investments.
A very popular class is our PHOTO EDITING &SCANNING.
There are openings in PHOTO-2 and PHOTO-3. Students have
hand-on-work with photo editing. With the availability and lower
cost of scanners and digital cameras, anyone can have a creative,
enjoyable experience with a computer.
Have you often wondered how you could use your computer for
setting up and maintaining genealogy records? Using Family Tree
Maker, in GENEALOGY class, you will have hands on practice in
setting up and maintaining records. This class will meet in
late May.
Need to learn more about Windows 95/98 beyond what is covered
in the basic Introduction to Windows – then WINDOWS 95/98
INTERMEDIATE beginning June 12 – June 14 is for you.
If you have any interest in any of these classes, just call
the voice mail 206-232-5892 to check last minute
availability. A registration form and your check for the
class fees is all it takes to enroll in these classes.
AGAIN, IN CASE you're receiving more than one copy of
our Online Newsletter on your computer, please notify the
editor at b26flyer2@juno.comand
he will (try to) handle it. And also, if you have friends who are
online, and may be interested in taking SeniorNet classes to
expand their skills, you can forward this newsletter to them by
clicking Forward when this message is displayed. Then enter their
address in the To box, and click Send. Help spread the
word.
NOTE: We welcome your personal, and not so personal,
news items, computer tips, computer experiences, computer
mishaps, whatever. Please email brief news items to the editor at
b26flyer2@juno.com, and
include your own email address. Also, if your Newsletter arrives
in difficult-to-read form, for whatever reason, please send a
brief message to that effect to the editor, and list your
browser, whether Microsoft Internet Browser, or Netscape.
Oftentimes balky or overloaded phone lines can create problems.
And include your own email, please. Our huge research staff is at
the ready to help, …….if it can. .
===================================================
Pres.> Helen Hesketh; Past Pres.>Clif Wuesthoff; Vice
Pres.>BillBumpas; Secy>Dave Lewis; Treas.>Bob Swenson;
Registrar<Louise Flora; Curriculum. Coordinator> John Wise;
Facilities Coordinator>Ken Crandall;
Member-at-Large>DeloresDavis; Volunteers
Coordinator>Delores Davis; Online Newsletter Editor>Phil
Scheier; Publicity>JoHugh; Public
Relations>Bill Flick
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