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 COMPUTER  LEARNING  CENTER

Where skilled volunteer seniors teach seniors to use, enjoy computers

June 1, 2004, Vol. 5; Issue #6;  Mail Address: PMB 44, 12819 SE 38th St., Bellevue, WA 98006-1326

Voice Mail: 206-232-5892; Email: senior@seniornetps.org; Phantom Lake Elementary School, Bellevue

For detailed Information, Class Schedules: http://www.seniornetps.org/

 

 

 

By Phil Scheier, Editor

 

MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW FOR BIG JUNE EVENTS

 

June 1st          Monthly Board Meeting

June 1st          Kaffee Klatch                    11:30 am,                     Bellevue Crossroads

June 15th       Membership Meeting         10:00 am,                 Bellevue Crossroads

June 15th       Kaffee Klatch               Immediately following Membership Meeting;

                                                                    FREE OPEN LAB CLASS:

June 8th         Open LAB Class                9:30 to Noon.                 Open to all

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ABOUT OUR FAMED KAFFEE KLATCH SESSIONS: The Tuesday, June 1st Kaffee Klatch at the Crossroads Mall at 11:30 am have developed into a magnet informal, no-host social gathering around coffee/lunch etc at the famed Crossroads Mall Food Circus. Members and friends, are sometimes joined by curious strollers attracted by the animated discussions about computers and everything else. As more folks arrive, additional tables are pulled together. These  convivial gatherings have been expanded to two sessions a month, with the second set for Tuesday, June 15th, same spot, following the monthly membership meeting at 10 am.

 

LEARN,  EXPAND YOUR COMPUTER SKILLS WITH SEPT. CLASSES;

REGISTER THURSDAY, JULY 15TH  AT 10 AM, CROSSROADS MALL

 

With increasing  interest in SeniorNet computer classes, Registrar Louise Flora is reminding members and the general public wishing to learn and expand their skills at the SeniorNet fully equipped classroom that in-person registration for Fall classes takes place Thursday, July 15th, starting at 10 am at the Crossroads Mall, 156th Ave NE and. NE Eight St., Bellevue.

 

The large classroom at the nearby new Phantom Lake Elementary School features hands-on training with each student assigned a late-model high-speed computer. The skilled volunteer instructor, also a senior, sits at his/her computer linked to a projector, which allows each student to easily follow every cursor move, every key click, by the instructor. Printers are also linked to the computers.  In addition, the classroom is fully wired for internet and other operations to provide a full package of hi-tech computer operations.  Ray French is chairman of the registration committee, working with the Crossroads Mall to schedule needed space. Harry Shedd and Roger Dalton will be setting up the physical layout on July 15th.

 

To accommodate eager early arrivals for registration wanting to firm up their class preferences, starting at 9 am, Flora said, numbered tickets will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis. All mail-in registrations will be processed after the in-person registration is completed.

 

IT'S EASY TO CHECK OUT CLASS SCHEDULES

 

The full listing and schedules for the many computer classes being drawn up by Curriculum Coordinator John Wise are available in the detailed catalogues edited by Clair and Jo Hugh, and now being mailed out to members. It is also available to others by calling the SeniorNet voice mail phone 206-232-5892,  and leaving your full name, address. It will also be available –hopefully by mid-June --on our web site, www.seniornetps.org.

 

An appeal for volunteers to aid in the speedy processing of applications at the July 15th registration has been issued by Volunteers Coordinator Harry Shedd.  "As usual," he said," registration will be held inside the south end of the Mall, just next to Old Navy. We will need 30-35 volunteers. They can let me know via my email (shedd@gte.net ) of their desire to help us or they can sign up at the June 15th monthly membership  meeting. We will need their help from 8 am until 12:00 noon."

 

The continued addition of various computer courses, Flora added, is resulting in many classes filling up quickly. Early in-person registration is recommended.

 

"Towards the end of April, because of available space," she said," Curriculum Coordinator  John Wise added two Scanner Classes and two Basic Basic classes – these also filled in a short time period.  The Basic class was designed for the very beginner to introduce the student to some of the basic concepts of computing.  It was offered without even the nominal fee charge.  There is another Basic Class scheduled for June 11 – call the voice mail 206-232-5892 for details.

 

"The XP classes were so popular that two additional Introduction to XP classes  and Using XP were added," Flora said.  "These classes filled in less than two weeks.  Email classes proved very popular with AOL, MSN and Outlook Express classes filled.  Hal Mozer’s Photo Editing classes again were well attended.  It looks like there will only be one Photo class in the Fall schedule so early registration is a must."

 

 

ONLINE RESEARCH  ON SENIORS PAYS THOSE SELECTED 

 

A nationwide online survey on exercise and physical activities by seniors 60 and over is looking for seniors to answer questions has won the backing of SeniorNet National, and even pays for the information, according to SeniorNet Pres. Adella Granger, who released the following announcement:

 

If you are 60 years or older you will receive $15 for completing a survey on exercise and physical activity if you meet the prerequisites for the study, according to the announcement.  The Oregon Center for applied Science, with funding from the National Institute on Aging, is conducting an Internet study on physical activity among seniors.  There are a few screening questions in the beginning of the survey to help ensure that a range of seniors are participating.

 

SeniorNet is assisting the Oregon Center for applied Science to identify seniors to participate in their research study.  To ensure that the study on the physical activity of seniors meets the needs of adults 60 and older who represent Black and Hispanic ethnicities, the researchers are looking for Black or Hispanic seniors willing to complete an online survey.  The study has already received the needed number of responses from seniors who are Caucasian.

 

If you are eligible, or know someone who is eligible, the survey will take 15-20 minutes to complete, the announcement said. .  You will receive a check in the mail 15-20 business days later.  All the information will be kept confidential.  To participate, go to: http://www.orcasinc.com/seniorsonthemove.

 

HOW TO CHECK  COMPUTER FOR TOP PERFORMANCE

 

Ever wonder, really wonder about your computer's CPU speed, your display card, your sound card, your special input device and your DirectX networking software, including the software version? Well, if you're one of those really curious computer users,  Facilities Coordinator Ken Crandall has come up with a helpful tool:


"If you have DirectX installed on your computer, you can use the dxdiag.exe tool to gather data about your CPU, your Display card, your Sound card, your special input devices, and your DirectX networking software (including software version).

"It is very helpful," Crandall said,  "when you want to know your CPU type and its speed.  With most versions of Microsoft Windows, you can right click on the "My Computer" icon to learn a little information about your computer but you may only be told that you have a Pentium CPU (Central Processing Unit) with no reference to the speed of the CPU.  If you would like to get additional information about the CPU speed, test your sound card for "direct sound" or "direct music" accessibility, or learn a multitude of other information about your computer, click on the "Start" button, then select "Run", then type dxdiag.exe in the "Run" dialogue box.  Select the tab for the item you want to explore."



AND DID YOU KNOW ?

 

THAT SeniorNet's Immediate Past Pres. Helen Hesketh, and current Treas. Joe Hesketh  will mark their  50th anniversary observance Saturday, June 5th at 1 pm, at St. Louise Catholic Church, 141  156th Ave.. SE, Bellevue, at a "celebration of our 50 years of living our Sacrament of  Matrimony" with Mass and the renewal of our wedding vows.". Helen recently stepped down as our leader after three consecutive two-year terms. Helen served during one of the busiest periods of growth and change, with almost 500 members.. This included temporarily leaving our home in the original Phantom Lake Elementary School, when the buildings were all torn down, to be replaced by the newly completed larger school on the same site. Now SeniorNet is back in its new larger site at the school with a battery of high-speed computers, ONLINE PROGRAMS,  projector, printers and other necessities of the modern PC computer age. Helen only recently stepped down from the presidency with the election of her successor, Adella Granger, who moved up from the vice presidency. But Helen is continuing as public relations chair. Joe who was among the most active SeniorNet members, is now treasurer, succeeding  Bob Swenson, a retired banker, who had held that post for many years. So the Hesketh tradition of active service is continuing, with SeniorNet members joining in congratulations and best wishes on  this anniversary.

 

eskethhhh

 

 

That  Joe Pontecorvo will present a free computer program on the Anatomy of Computers, dealing with the mysterious insides of our computers, on Tuesday, June 18 at the Kirkland Senior Center from 10 am to Noon. This is one of many computer programs Joe has presented at his hometown's senor center, located just behind the new Kirkland Performance Center. For advance registration, call 425-828-1223. When Joe is finished with his always fascinating discussion and demonstration, much of the mystery of all that inside stuff, becomes clearer, along with an increased knowledge of parts descriptions. Joe is one of the original SeniorNet members and formerly was an executive with the Federal Aviation Administration, and was among those who many years ago checked out the then new Boeing giant 747 as fit to fly.  Also for SeniorNet historians, Joe for many years was an instructor and  facilities coordinator when SeniorNet taught classes with aging, second-hand, hand-me-down  computers. Trying to keep them working then in those early days was an ongoing daily challenge, which Joe handled with skill and ingenuity.

 

That Ross Roberts, in addition to his many volunteer teaching chores at SeniorNet,  and aiding those with computer problems at home, is one of the batting and fielding  stars of the area-wide 55+Co-ed Softball League, along with his outstanding teammate,  wife Sandra Roberts. To play on a team in this league with its 14 teams, you have to pass a stringent talent test: You have to prove you are at least 55, or older. Ross and Sandra who live in Issaquah, are with the Snowflakes, one of two town teams. The Snowflakes' record at this writing is:  1-3.  Ross is also assistant coach of both teams. This challenging role includes working up the lineup, batting order and planning strategy. Part of the strategy responsibilities includes transporting all the equipment, putting up a tarp to protect the team from rain and/or sun and doing other needed stuff. Ross doubts there will be any rollback roofs a la Safeco Field, installed soon at any of the playing fields. In his spare time, he performs the same functions for a men's team, which plays 16 games at night. And Ross, a retired Air Force major and Air Force Academy grad who has flown for years as a navigator aboard the globe-girdling C-130s, confirms under questioning,  that his batting average last year was .544. Watch out Mariners

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HANDY GENERAL COMPUTING TIPS

(There may be variations depending on your Window program)

 

When sending out a single email to a bunch of recipients and to maintain their privacy, address the message to yourself, and include all the other email addresses in the BCC (Blind Carbon Copy) address line, separating each address with a comma and a space.  In this way, no one else knows who else is getting the same message. Even better, recipients will not be flooded with a big list of email addresses at the top of the message.

 

To quickly switch among a number of opened programs, press ALT-TAB at the same time. Hold down the ALT key while tapping the TAB key to cycle through the open programs until you find what you are looking for.

 

If you have a bunch of opened programs and want to quickly get back to the Windows Desktop icons without closing those programs, press the Windows Start key and tap the D key. The opened programs will condense onto the Task Bar. When you want them all to get back to work, again press the Start Key and tap the D key, and the parked programs pop up again on the screen.

 

 

HOW TO SAFEGUARD YOUR CREDIT CARD ONLINE

 

Of course, one gets a bit apprehensive when ordering merchandise online, and paying for it  by punching in your required credit card number. Since SeniorNet members are heavy computer  users, the following article from Tourbus Computer Newsletter, and which was passed along to us by Hal Mozer, comes up with assurances and cautions:

                                   

"Is it safe to use a credit card online? My answer to this is a resounding YES. In fact, it's far safer to use your credit card at a reputable online store than it is to give it to a waiter in a restaurant or a telephone clerk at a mail-order company. The waiter could copy down the card number and sell it to some person in the alley. The telephone clerk has your full billing address and phone number, making it even easier to use the card fraudulently.
 
But on the Internet, most transactions occur automatically, with no human interaction. Nobody ever sees your credit card number. Of course, there have been situations where an Evil Hacker broke into a company's customer database and stole credit card information. But this could happen to any company, whether or not they do business on the Internet.
 
Bottom line: Using your credit card ANYWHERE carries a certain amount of risk. Using it on the Internet is quite safe, as long as you keep in mind these two important rules:


TWO KEY RULES

 
1) Never send your credit card info by email.
2) Never whip out the plastic unless your browser shows the little padlock icon at the bottom of the screen, indicating a secure connection. When you submit info from a secure page, your browser will encrypt all personal information before sending.
 
If you ever suspect that your credit card number has been compromised, contact the issuing bank immediately. In most cases, your liability for purchases made without your permission is little or nothing. If you have a dispute with a merchant about a charge that appears on your credit card bill, you can issue a chargeback request through your bank. The merchant will have to prove that you in fact ordered and received the goods, or the charge will be removed.
 
Another good idea: Credit card purchase receipts discarded with household trash could be found by anyone willing to sift through your coffee grounds and chicken bones. Small personal shredders can be purchased for under $20 at office supply or department stores.


                                                                                ============================
President: Adella Granger; Vice President: Delores Davis; Treasurer: Joe Hesketh; Secretary: Martha Simon;  Registrar: Louise Flora; Immediate Past President: Helen Hesketh; Curriculum Coordinator: John Wise;  Facilities Coordinator: Ken Crandall;  Member-at-Large: Gordon Young ; Granpals Coordinator: Nancy Harsh; Catalogue Editors: Clair & Jo Hugh; Online Newsletter Editor: Phil Scheier
                                                                                =============================

CAUTION NOTE: While all computer-operating tips for PCs come from usually reliable sources, readers are reminded you use them at YOUR OWN RISK.  Again, in case you have friends who are online, and may be interested in taking SeniorNet classes to expand their skills, forward this newsletter to them by clicking  Forward when this message is displayed. Then enter their address in the To box, and click Send. We welcome your personal news items sent to senior@seniornetps.org. If you wish to receive this newsletter monthly, email your full name, phone and email address to the above email address. And if you wish to unsubscribe, just send a message to same email address.