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Welcome to today's edition of the Computer Kindergarten Newsletter.
Today is Sunday, December 23, 2001
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A very Merry Christmas, And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one, Without any fear. John Lennon, 1971
From everyone at Sharper Training Solutions, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Bright, Happy and Peaceful New Year!
May you be blessed this Kwanzaa!
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In this Issue:
Addendum to Article
Computer Health Tip
Featured Computer Term: Hacker
Topic: Changing and Removing Computer Sounds
Progressive Learning Series: Gutter Margin
Featured Website: Christmas and Kwanzaa websites
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As an addendum to the article on Removing Ad Windows on the Internet in the December 16, 2001 version of this newsletter:
Another way to get rid of unwanted popup ad windows, without using the mouse, is to use Alt + F4. This gets rid of the top window.
Thanks to a newsletter subscriber for sending in this helpful hint.
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Computer Health Tip
Have you ever heard of OOS or RSI? OOS stands for "Occupational Overuse Syndrome" and RSI for "Repetitive Strain Injury."
That’s what can happen if you sit typing at your computer for too long -- without taking a break from time to time.
Periodically, stop and give yourself a break. Sure, work needs to get done, you’re interested in what you’re doing or in the middle of something, but you also have to watch out for your well being. Stand up and stretch, take a stroll around the block, or do a few toe-touches. You’ll feel much better afterwards and you’ll stay in good physical shape.
Consider this a digital reminder to stand up every now and then and give yourself a breather.
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Today's Featured Computer Term: Hacker
Hacker is a slang term for a computer enthusiast, i.e., a person who enjoys learning programming languages and computer systems and can often be considered an expert on the subject.
Among professional computer people, depending on how it used, the term can be either complimentary or derogatory, although it is developing an increasingly derogatory connotation.
The negative sense of hacker is becoming more prominent largely because the media has used the term to refer to individuals who gain unauthorized access to computer systems for the purpose of stealing and corrupting data, or who write and propagate the spread of viruses. Hackers themselves maintain that the proper term for such individuals is cracker.
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Today's Topic: Changing and Removing Computer Sounds
Thanks to newsletter subscriber Katherine for the following question.
Question: My computer is too loud. It plays music when I turn it on and off, and every time I click on something it pings or pongs. Is there a way to turn these sounds off?
Answer:
Volume Control If you single-click on the Volume icon in the tray area (this looks like a little speaker in the lower right corner of taskbar), a small box appears with a slider control and a mute box for volume. From there, you can control the volume coming from the PC speakers.
Click on the mute box to turn sounds off completely. Drag the slider control up to increase volume or down to decrease.
Play Your Own Sounds If you’re tired of the typical Windows sounds that come from your computer when you start it or click on things, you can change or remove the sound.
Open Control Panel (from the Start button, point to Settings, then click Control Panel; Or, click on Control Panel -depending on Windows version).
Within the Control Panel, select Sounds and Multimedia or Sounds or Sounds and Audio Devices (depending on which version of Windows you're using).
You’ll see a list of Program Events (you may have to click on the Sounds tab in some versions of Windows). These represent activities that your computer does. You can assign sounds to them. For example, if you start a program, you can assign a sound to play.
Scan down the list and find something you want to try out. Then, use the Browse button to find sound files. These sound files are called WAVs. Click on the WAV file you want to use. You can test the sound with the button that looks like the Play button on a VCR or tape recorder. If you like the sound, then click Open, OK or Apply (depending on Windows version).
If you don’t want any sound, click in the Sounds box and choose None.
Just remember not to choose long files for frequently occurring sounds. What may sound cool once or twice might get really annoying after the fiftieth time.
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Progressive Learning Series: Microsoft Word - Gutter Margin
The gutter margin is a typographical term used to designate an additional margin added to a page layout to compensate for the part of the paper made unusable by the binding process. In a facing pages layout, the gutter margin is on the very inside of both pages.
It is less common to use a gutter margin in a single-sheet layout, although Word for Windows allows you to do that. In single-sheet layouts, the gutter margin is typically the area where you might three-hole punch your paper.
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Today's Featured Website: Christmas and Kwanzaa
Christmas
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For the story of Christmas, world traditions, Christmas trees and the evolution of Santa Claus, take a look at the History Channel's website.
http://www.historychannel.com/holidays/
How Christmas Works - A questions and answer guide to Christmas traditions and customs.
http://www.howstuffworks.com/christmas.htm
Prayers and Customs of Advent and Christmas - includes prayers and meditations for throughout the holiday season; also information about customs such as Advent wreaths and Christmas candles.
http://cptryon.org/prayer/adx/index.html
Christmas Freebies on the Web - links to free yuletide goodies, including digital postcards, recipes, samples, gifts, Christmas contests, games and Santa letters for children.
http://www.thefreesite.com/christmas.htm
Christmas in New York City - take a virtual tour of the Big Apple's X-mas attractions, including Rockefeller Center and various department store windows.
http://www.nyctourist.com/xmas_in_nyc.htm
Online Christmas Songbook - includes sheet music and MIDI files for Christmas carols.
http://rememberjosie.org/carols/
For Kids
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Christmas and Winter Crafts for Kids - instructions for making bookmarks, ornaments, angles, cards, and other decorations.
http://www.daniellesplace.com/html/christmas.html
Kids' Turn Central Christmas Corner - holiday games, crafts, recipes, ecards, and more.
http://www.kidsturncentral.com/holidays/christmas/christmas.htm
Christmas Recipes
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Christmas Recipes
http://www.merry-christmas.com/recipes.htm
Favorite Christmas Recipes - includes appetizers and drinks, main courses, and desserts.
http://www.christmas-joy.com/recipes/
Christmas Recipes for Vegetarians
http://www.vegsoc.org/info/xmas.html
Ultimate Christmas Page: Cookie Recipes - index of recipes.
http://www.ornament.com/christmascookies.html
Nancy's Favorite Christmas Cookie Recipes
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/1721/Christmas_Cookies.html
Gingerbread House Recipe - complete instructions including pa terns and recipes.
http://dinnercoop.cs.cmu.edu/dinnercoop/Recipes/karen/GingerbreadHouse.html
Send Online Greeting Cards
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123Greetings.com Christmas Cards - includes religious and humorous selections.
http://www.123greetings.com/christmas/
Blue Mountain Christmas Cards
http://free.bluemountain.com/cdb/HDY/WNH/CHR/
StarNet Holiday Cards - send greeting cards from Santa to your friends.
http://www.azstarnet.com/public/holiday/holiday.html
Kwanzaa
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Learn about the history of Kwanzaa and the Seven Symbols at the History Channel's website.
http://www.historychannel.com/holidays/
Official Kwanzaa Website - celebration of family, community, and culture.
http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/
Kwanzaa - an Afrocentric centered institution that is celebrated by people of African descent in North America, the Caribbean, and other parts of the African Diaspora.
http://www.swagga.com/kwanzaa.htm
Sistahspace Kwanzaa Information Center - introduction to the principals, symbols, libations, and activities of Kwanzaa.
http://www.sistahspace.com/kwanzaa/
For Kids
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Kwanzaa Time at Kid's Domain - offers different online games, clip art, and learning activities.
http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/kwanzaa/index.html
Kid's Kourt: Happy Kwanzaa - offers the history of the celebration, coloring pages, desk top themes, clip art, and other activities.
http://www.kidskourt.com/Holidays/KwanPage.htm
Recipes
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About: Vegetarian Kwanzaa Recipes - variations on benne cakes, kuumba, nia, and African vegetable stew.
http://vegetarian.about.com/cs/kwan/?once=true&
Black Voices: Happy Kwanzaa - get ready for Karumu, the communal feast, with dishes like shrimp imojo, vegetable imafe, Zulu greens, and oven-roasted sweet plantains.
http://www.blackvoices.com/feature/kwanzaa/food.html
Celebrate Kwanzaa - includes crab cakes, gumbo, jambalaya, dirty rice, and African squash and yams (futari).
http://www.theholidayspot.com/kwanzaa/kwanzaa_recipes.htm
Send Online Greeting Cards
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Awesomecards.com: Kwanzaa - customize your own colorful Kwanzaa greeting.
http://www.marlo.com/holiday/kwanzaa.htm
Greetsomeone.com: Kwanzaa - choose from a variety of animated and static virtual cards.
http://www.greetsomeone.com/december/kwanzaa.htm
Kwanzaa Cards - offering holiday greetings.
http://www.bergen.org/AAST/Projects/Cards/kwanzaa/ |
