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Welcome to today's edition of the Computer Kindergarten Newsletter.
Today is Sunday, July 7, 2002
In this Issue:
Special Feature: The Top Ten Worst Internet Hoaxes
Special Feature: Upgrading Software
Special Feature: Beware Afghanistan E-Mail Scam
Featured Computer Term: Broadband
This Week's Topic: Controlling the Display of Toolbars
Question: Temporary Files and Gobbledegook
Learning Series: Microsoft Word - Format Painter
Featured Websites: July is National Ice Cream Month; Dog Days of Summer; Fun, Interesting and Educational Websites for Children and their Parents and Grandparents.
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Using Links
A Link is a reference to a website. In this newsletter you will see links to many worthwhile, informative and fun websites. Here are the instructions on how to use links:
A link will be used one of two ways, depending on your email program.
If you see the link in blue, underlined text, all you have to do is click on it and a window with the Website in it will automatically appear on your screen.
If you see the link in plain text, you can copy and paste it into the address bar on your browser. Highlight the link with your mouse, click Edit up on the menu bar, and then click Copy from the menu that you just opened up. Open your browser (click the Start Button, point to Programs, click on Internet Explorer); click on the address bar. Click Edit up on the menu bar, and then click Paste from the menu that you just opened up. Press the Enter key on the keyboard and this will take you to the Website.
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Special Feature: Beware Afghanistan E-Mail Scam
PC World reports that the U.S. Secret Service is warning of a new e-mail scam circulating around the Web from someone claiming to be a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan and promising cash in exchange for a bank account number.
Take a look in the Links section at the end of this newsletter for a link to the PC World website for Secret Service recommendations to protect yourself from this and other scams and hoaxes.
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Special Feature: Upgrading Software
When software developers put out new versions of their programs, they usually have improved functionality, speed and features. Generally speaking, it’s an improvement to upgrade to the newest version of the programs you use.
If you have a home computer, and want to make sure everything runs optimally, it's a good idea to make sure that you're running the latest software versions. If you're thinking of upgrading your application software (Word, WordPerfect, Lotus Notes, Excel, Outlook, etc.) then you'll want to upgrade after the programs have been out awhile and you’ve had time to read the reviews on the new versions.
Here is a general list of things to do to prepare for an upgrade:
- Save ALL of your current files somewhere safe - Make backups of any important documents, spreadsheets, and databases.
- Export your email to a file and store it somewhere safe
- If possible, invest in a removable disk system such as a CD writer or Zip Drive to store your large files
- Write down or print all of your email and modem settings
Upgrading application software rarely causes problems, but, do this chore well before you’ll need your computer for any important tasks just in case you have to iron out any bugs.
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Special Feature: The Top Ten Worst Internet Hoaxes
The following article is from PC World magazine. (Used with permission.)
Gotcha! E-mail hoaxes are out to get you. Here are the ten most cunning ruses to watch out for.
Communicating by e-mail seems safe and clean compared to the real world--no bad breath, no cauliflower ear, and no anthrax. But e-mail doesn't escape the clutches of con artists. Just because an e-mail message looks legitimate and plays upon our deeply felt hopes and fears doesn't mean it's true. Here's our top ten list of some of the most devious hoaxes and outright scams in Internet history. Don't be surprised to see some of them appear (and mutate into new forms) again and again.
And don't get taken in.
10. Let the Good Times Roll Even the threat of a computer virus is enough to throw many PC users into a tizzy. And virus warning hoaxes are nearly as bad as the real thing. Frightened recipients frantically forward the bogus advisory to everyone they know. One of the first phony bulletins warned recipients not to read or download any files with the name Good Times. Naturally, the message spread like a virus, bogging down mail servers. Do you have a virus alert but you're not sure if it's genuine? Visit Vmyths.com.
9. Help a Sick Child Who wouldn't want to save a little girl dying of cancer? Or help a little boy with epilepsy? The various incarnations of this hoax go on and on. Most of them involve forwarding the e-mail message to others. In return, the American Cancer Society, a hospital, or another medical organization will donate anywhere from a few cents to a dollar to the non-existent child. See HoaxBusters for chapter and verse.
8. Bill Gates Reaches Out to You Impossible as it may seem, Bill Gates is contacting you, personally. And not only that, the billionaire wants to give you money! "My name is Bill Gates. Here at Microsoft we have just compiled an e-mail tracing program..." Naturally, there will be some forwarding of e-mail involved. Starting to see a pattern? Variations on this theme appear to come from Walt Disney Jr. (who never existed), The Gap, Victoria's Secret, and AOL. To get the skinny, hop to HoaxBusters.
7. Dial 809 for Trouble This started as a real e-mail scam, but somebody managed to turn the whole thing into a hoax, too. A few years back, an e-mail message requesting payment of an "outstanding account" demanded that recipients call a number in the 809 area code (a Caribbean prefix) to clear things up. Lots of people dialed the number only to incur $25-per-minute phone charges. ScamBusters exposed the original threat, but some joker started circulating an altered version of the ScamBusters report that adds to the confusion. According to ScamBusters, there were other area codes used in the scam: 242 (Bahamas), 284 (British Virgin Islands), and 787 (Puerto Rico). Does that mean you should never dial numbers in the 809 area code or these other zones? Of course not. Head to HoaxBusters for the dirt.
6. Money Nonsense in Nigeria You receive an urgent, confidential message from a Nigerian government official who wants to deposit millions of dollars in your bank account. The official is contacting you in order to bypass some local bureaucratic snafu. All he needs is your name and bank account number. Should you respond, or delete the message? You might find it peculiar, but lots of people have been conned out of their savings in this dangerous and ongoing con game, known as the Advance Fee Fraud, 419 Fraud, or Nigerian Scam. According to the 419 Coalition Web site, the con has pulled in more than $5 billion and is one of the largest industries in Nigeria. For details, check out ScamBusters or the posting by the United States Treasury Department.
5. Save Big Bird. Everybody knows that PBS needs your support to keep delivering its programming. So when you receive a professionally written plea quoting Nina Totenberg and warning that the system is in danger, it comes as no surprise. You don't even have to send money, just--you guessed it--forward the message. This kind of hoax is bound to stick around for a while. So for future reference, remember that there is no such thing as an e-mail petition.
4. The $250 Cookie Recipe This is a true story, really. It must be--I read about it in an e-mail message. You've probably stumbled upon this message, too. But in case you haven't heard, the story goes like this: Someone ate a cookie for dessert at a restaurant in a Neiman Marcus store. The customer asked for the recipe, and was charged $250 for it (not "$2.50," as expected). Though this urban legend dates back more than 50 years, according to the San Fernando Valley Folklore Society, it's gained a new life thanks to the wonders of e-mail. Whatever you do, don't bother forwarding it.
3. Deodorant Endangers Your Health? We tend to believe reasonable first-person accounts, especially if they report the advice of doctors or other experts and prey on our fears. A convincing-sounding message forwarded from a woman who attended a health seminar warned that deodorant can cause breast cancer. There's no truth to the story, says the American Cancer Society. But post the message to your favorite mailing list and just watch the panic ensue. You can stop worrying about shampoo and toothpaste, too.
2. Last Photo From the World Trade Center Deck? Even the tragic events of September 11th have spawned hoaxes. Did you see the photo posted on the Web of a tourist posing on the World Trade Center observation deck a split second before an airliner crashed into it? Visit the Urban Legends Reference Pages for the photo and the reasons why it never happened.
1. Next Time, Just Say "I Don't Know" If you've been suckered by an e-mail hoax, you're in good company. During the 2000 elections, a gullible television reporter asked debating Senate candidates Hillary Clinton and Rick Lazio about pending legislation to establish a 5-cent tax on e-mail messages. Both stated their opposition to it--live on the air. Never mind that no such bill ever existed--the reporter had just read one of those urgent e-mails. Go to HoaxBusters for the full report.
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Today's Computer Term: Broadband
Broadband refers to high speed Internet access -connecting to the Internet through a high speed connection such as cable or DSL as opposed to connecting over the telephone line.
A broadband connection is generally about 50 times faster than accessing the Internet over a traditional phone line or narrowband connection. And that means everything is faster -- downloading email attachments, visiting websites, posting on message boards, sending email or instant messages, etc.
Any household spending a combined total of more than an hour a day online is a good candidate for broadband.
Here are some benefits of a broadband connection:
You don't have to dial in to get on the Internet or check your email. Walk right up to the computer and you're instantly online. It's the equivalent of walking into the room and turning on the TV.
You can use your computer and talk on the phone at the same time, because you're not using your phone line to connect to the Internet.
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Today's Topic: Controlling the Display of Toolbars
Most programs have toolbars -areas on the screen, usually at the top of the program window, containing buttons that are shortcuts to commonly used commands. Most of these functions on the toolbars are also available through the use of menus, but using the toolbar button is frequently the faster way to perform a task.
Some programs may have toolbars that are not useful to you and are taking up valuable screen space.
Fortunately, you generally have complete control over which toolbars are displayed at any given time.
To control the display of toolbars, use the Toolbars option from the View menu. Programs with toolbar will display a list of the various toolbars that can be displayed. If a check mark appears to the left of the toolbar name, then the toolbar is currently displayed. Click on the toolbar name, and the check mark disappears, along with the toolbar. Similarly, you can display a hidden toolbar by choosing Toolbars from the View menu and then clicking on a toolbar name that does not have a check mark next to it.
it is a good idea to display all the toolbars at least a time or two so you can become familiar with the various options available to you. Take your time, and you can learn information about your program that you may never have known before.
Note: Remember, if you place the mouse pointer on the toolbar button and rest it there for a moment, your program will display the name of the button.
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Question: Temporary Files and Gobbledegook
The following is a question from a newsletter subscriber:
When I open a file in Word, I see a lot of files in the Open window that look something like this: ~$abcdef.tmp. If I click on any of those, I get a screen full of gobbledegook. What is this and did I do something wrong?
Answer: What you’re seeing is a temporary file (.tmp).
Word and other programs as well, have a feature called AutoSave, which causes the program to save your changes periodically. In saving these changes to disk, temporary disk files are created. Occasionally, it is possible for these files to remain on the disk after you finish using Word.
It is OK to delete any TMP files that may remain on your disk. Take a look in any folders where you store Word documents. If you find any such files, you can delete them, which will free up space on your hard drive.
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Progressive Learning Series: Microsoft Word - Format Painter
The Format Painter copies selected formats on to new text. For example, if a paragraph heading is bold, underlined and 14 pt font, this formatting can be copied to other paragraph headings with format painter. This helps keep consistency in the document and saves time.
The Format Painter tool can be found on the standard toolbar. Look for a button with a paint brush on it.
To use the Format Painter: 1. Select the text containing the formats you want to apply elsewhere.
2. Choose the Format Painter button. Your mouse now carries a paint brush with it.
3. Select the text that you want to contain the same formats by clicking and dragging your mouse over the text.
4. Release the mouse - the formatting is applied and the paint brush goes away.
Note: If you want to apply the formats to more than one location, double-click the Format Painter button in Step 2. The paint brush stays with the mouse until you turn it off by choosing the Format Painter button again.
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Today's Featured Websites
National Ice Cream Month
In 1984, dessert-lover Ronald Reagan designated July as a time to honor America's favorite sweet. Visit this website to learn about ice cream, its history and benefits. http://www.girlpower.gov/girlarea/07jul/icecreammonth98.htm
For some great ice cream recipes, take a look at: http://www.perfectentertaining.com/related_article1022833.html
Dog Days of Summer
The Dog Days of Summer occur between early July and late August. Find out where this term comes from.
http://www.wilstar.net/dogdays.htm
Summertime and the kids are home from school or the grandkids are visiting. Here are some fun, interesting and educational websites for children:
DTLK's Printable Crafts For Kids Not only can you keep the kids busy with this fun site, but you can also prepare for upcoming holidays and special events with more crafty ideas than you'll be able to use.
http://www.dltk-kids.com/
Check out the Make-Stuff.com Kid Stuff page, where you'll find all kinds of kids' crafts.
http://www.make-stuff.com/kids/index.html
KidsHealth for Parents This site covers health-related topics in sections such as general health, infections, medical problems, first aid and safety, medical care, and the latest health news.
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/
KidsHealth for Kids
Immunizations, stitches, going to the dentist...all these things can seem pretty intimidating to a child, unless of course he or she understands what's going on. That's where KidsHealth for Kids steps in. This site is tackles the tough health-related issues in ways that kids can understand.
http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/
Kids-In-Mind -Movie Reviews
Kids-In-Mind is a comprehensive database of movie reviews that goes way beyond the standard movie ratings to let you know what your kids will see before they see it. Explanations of movie ratings and content are offered so parents can screen movies and videos for the types of things they may not want their children to view or hear.
http://www.kids-in-mind.com/
Cartoon Network
If you have kids who are fascinated by the programs on the Cartoon Network, they may enjoy taking a look at the cable station's Web site. Here they'll find individual sites for their favorite characters, view clips and more.
http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/
FunBrain
Here's a Web site that will keep kids busy playing games, and some of them are even educational! You can choose games by age or grade, or even participate with your children in a Parent-Kid Challenge.
http://www.funbrain.com/ |
