|
Welcome to this week's edition of the Computer Kindergarten Newsletter.
Today is Sunday, March 2, 2008
In this Issue:
Special Feature: Seniors Should be Wary of Reverse Mortgage Scams
Tips & Tricks: Google Weather
This Week's Topic: Attaching a File to an Email – Outlook Express
Question: Error Message - Page Cannot Be Found
Websites of Interest: Good News; Chocolate; Green Expander; History of Car Logos
SPECIAL NOTE:
To the many readers who’ve written thanking us for our series on attaching files to emails, we appreciate your thanks and kind words. To those who use email programs we’ve haven’t covered yet, we’re planning on getting to all of them, we promise!!
**************************************************************
Special Feature: Seniors should be Wary of Reverse Mortgage Scams
Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum is warning senior citizens about scams involving reverse mortgages, a type of home equity loan frequently abused by con artists and scammers.
These loans are often popular options for senior citizens because they offer a cash source which can help meet unexpected medical expenses, supplement Social Security and more.
“When our senior citizens are concerned about finances and are seeking a legitimate option for financial relief, they should not have to worry about predatory lenders or brokers trying to capitalize on their precarious position,” said Attorney General McCollum. “Consumers should take every precaution to avoid scams and situations which could leave them in even worse financial shape.”
Reverse mortgages are a special type of home loan that allow homeowners who are 62 and older to borrow against their home equity without having to repay the money until the home is sold or the borrower passes away or moves out permanently.
When the home is sold, lenders recover their principal plus interest. The remaining value of the home goes to the homeowner or to his or her survivors.
Unfortunately, as the popularity of reverse mortgages grows, so does the potential for fraud. Predatory lenders, unscrupulous loan agents and dishonest brokers may target senior citizens who may be anxious about their financial security.
Deceptive practices and allegations of high-pressure sales tactics are being more frequently encountered as senior citizens are being taken advantage of under the guise of a helpful and legitimate reverse mortgage. Borrowers also run the risk of being steered into inappropriate loans and annuities by sales agents and insurance brokers who could be working together without disclosing that relationship to the borrower.
McCollum noted that reverse mortgages can serve a purpose when financed through legitimate lenders.
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), homeowners who take out a reverse mortgage can receive payments in a lump sum, on a monthly basis, or on an occasional basis as a line of credit. Homeowners whose circumstances change can restructure their payment options.
HUD-approved housing counseling agencies are available for free, or at minimal cost, to provide information, counseling, and free referral to a list of HUD-approved lenders. HUD does not recommend using an estate planning service or any service that charges a fee just for referring a borrower to a lender.
This information can be obtained by calling HUD at 1-800-569-4287. More information is available at HUD’s reverse mortgage website at www.hud.gov/buying/rvrsmort.cfm.
**************************************************************
Tips & Tricks: Google Weather
When you are packing for a trip, it can be very useful to know what the weather is like at your destination. Use Google’s Weather feature to find out.
To use this feature, open your Internet browser (Internet Explorer) and maneuver to the Google website. In the Search box, type in the word weather and then the name of the location you want to look up. Click the Search button.
Your results will display the current temperature and conditions, and a forecast for the next four days.
Scroll down for links to more weather reports for your location.
Watch for next week’s newsletter for more Google Tips and Tricks!
Visit our archives for the Google Tips and Tricks we featured in previous editions of our newsletter:
Google Dictionary
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/021008.html
Google Stock Watch
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/021708.html
Google Calculator
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/022408.html
**************************************************************
Today's Topic: Attaching a File to an Email – Outlook Express
Open Outlook Express and sign on to your account as usual. Once you are in your Inbox, click the Create Mail button. This will open a New Mail window.
Click the Attach button on the toolbar. You will now see a dialog box with the list of folders and files on your computer. Look for and open the folder that contains the file you want to attach to your email. When you find the file, click it to select it and then click the Attach button at the bottom of the dialog box.
If you want to attach another file to the email, click the Attach button again and follow the above steps.
The email window will now be on the screen. Create your email as usual. When you are done, click the Send button as usual. The email, along with your attached files, will be sent to the recipient.
Visit our newsletter archives to learn how to attach a file to an email in Yahoo Mail.
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/021708.html
Visit our newsletter archives to learn how to attach a file to an email in Hotmail.
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/022408.html
Please watch upcoming editions of this newsletter to learn how to attach files in other email programs.
**************************************************************
Question: Error Message - Page Cannot Be Found
What causes the error message Page cannot be found when I open certain Web sites? Am I doing something wrong?
Answer:
There are several reasons why this message would appear. (None of them are your fault!)
1. The site you’re trying to visit has been removed or the name has been changed. This is one of the most common causes of that error message. Depending on the website address you’re using, you may be able to cut down the address. For example, if you are using this address:
www.computerkindergarten.com/html/030108.html
leave off the part after the slash (/). This may get you to the website, where you can then look around for the page you want.
2. The website you are trying to view is getting a lot of traffic and their computer is overloaded. Click the Refresh button a few times. If it doesn’t work, try again later at a less busy time.
3. Internet congestion. This will happen during peak times. If it takes too long for your browser to display the website, it stops trying. Click the Refresh button. If that doesn’t work, try again later.
4. The Internet connection was lost. If you’re using dial-up, log in again. If you’re using broadband, reboot the modem. If you’re using wifi, disconnect from and reconnect to the network.
**************************************************************
Websites of Interest:
Good News
Watching the news can be depressing. Visit this website for good news from around the world.
http://www.happynews.com/
Chocolate
Learn about the history of chocolate, its medicinal value, its role in different cultures, tips and recipes, and much more.
http://tinyurl.com/pe4w9
Green Expander
At this website, you will find interesting articles, pictures and videos about environmental issues, endangered species, and tips to live a greener lifestyle.
http://www.greenexpander.com/
History of Car Logos
Car lovers and history buffs will enjoy this website.
http://tinyurl.com/2wkb7j |
|
