The Google Dashboard can be found at Google.com/Dashboard. (You'll have to sign-in to see it!)
The Hubble Ultra-Deep Field video is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAVjF_7ensg
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Ned Presents: The Google Dashboard
Did you know Google tracks everything you do while you are logged into your Google Account? This is both an advantage and potential problem. Ned shows the Google Dashboard - and how you can see everything Google has on you.
The Google Dashboard can be found at Google.com/Dashboard. (You'll have to sign-in to see it!)
The Hubble Ultra-Deep Field video is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAVjF_7ensg
The Google Dashboard can be found at Google.com/Dashboard. (You'll have to sign-in to see it!)
The Hubble Ultra-Deep Field video is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAVjF_7ensg
Sunday, November 23, 2014
That's a Good Topic!
First, watch this video "Last Week Tonight w/John Oliver." Hilarious and true! <link> The key phrase that has since turned viral: "Tom Wheeler is {like} a Dingo." Ya gotta watch it to understand.
I ran a bit short on questions this week, so here's some favorite topics of mine:
Topics covered: Verizon Customer Tracking, Net Neutrality (and a letter to the News Journal I wrote), a neat animated GIF of Jupiter Asteroids, Why do galaxies rotate (Black Matter? Black Energy? Nobody knows!) Why Pluto isn't a planet, Still using XP?, Buying software and avoiding Crapware.
Some videos to watch while you're waiting for the next Senior Surfer Presentation:
I ran a bit short on questions this week, so here's some favorite topics of mine:
Topics covered: Verizon Customer Tracking, Net Neutrality (and a letter to the News Journal I wrote), a neat animated GIF of Jupiter Asteroids, Why do galaxies rotate (Black Matter? Black Energy? Nobody knows!) Why Pluto isn't a planet, Still using XP?, Buying software and avoiding Crapware.
Some videos to watch while you're waiting for the next Senior Surfer Presentation:
- This Week in Tech (TWiT): Net Neutrality. <link> A much more reasoned discussion and why NN is not easy to describe or 'fix.' This presentation changed my opinion about 'Title II' and whether that's the way to fix the problem.
- A link to my Letter-to-the-Editor: <link> Annoyingly they deleted (edited) my first and fifth paragraph, and I’m not real happy with the headline they used. But it was published, a simplistic answer to a overly simplified editorial. The complete letter is in the presentation above.
- I was wrong on the answer to Windows 8.1 updates: The 8.2 update was *not* included in the automatic, critical updates - one had to manually select it. Here's the instructions how to do it right from Microsoft: <link>
- CGP Grey explains Net Neutrality. <link> He's correct, though Title II may not be the way out. Besides monopolistic ISPs, bandwidth hogs of several types have to be considered.
- The award winning short 'Sidewalk - A Woman's Life' <link>
- And if you really read this far, send me a note to ask@nscsurfers.org - sometimes we all wonder if anyone is really listening. :-)
Thursday, November 13, 2014
3 Horror Stories
Ok, ok ... One horror story, one near miss, and one future maybe horror. <grin>
The horror story was an member's unpleasant encounter with 'CryptoWall,' the second was a unexpected 'Black Screen of Death' on my personal computer (after seen the same thing on over 10 different computers in the last month), and "Humans need not Apply," a video when computers and robots have taken over of many of the jobs we people do. (link below)
Videos:
Your Family Tree Explained: <link>
Humans need not apply <link>
The horror story was an member's unpleasant encounter with 'CryptoWall,' the second was a unexpected 'Black Screen of Death' on my personal computer (after seen the same thing on over 10 different computers in the last month), and "Humans need not Apply," a video when computers and robots have taken over of many of the jobs we people do. (link below)
Videos:
Your Family Tree Explained: <link>
Humans need not apply <link>
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Friday, October 17, 2014
Monday, October 13, 2014
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Bob's Beginner Bytes
"Removing Crapware"
This is the same file that was distributed in the Spring, so if you got it then, you don't need it now.
For those that missed the brochure hand-out here's a link to a *MS Word* file that can be downloaded and printed. It is formatted for 3 double-sided pages and folding into a 12-page brochure. https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=86B915ACE9C0D278!6024&authkey=!ANs3BPGEvVTuEbw&ithint=file%2cdocx
If you don't have Word, use this link (an 8 full-size page PDF) instead: https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=86B915ACE9C0D278!5953&authkey=!APkyZKmevifHBpA&ithint=file%2cpdf
Today's Topics:
BASE jumping Fatalities (nothing to do with computers, but YouTube is driving more people to wilder and wilder stunts)
Don't call yourself stupid
The American Eclipse of 2017
Read the Prompts! (and don't get Crapware)
MS Outlook & adding new accounts
I Forgot My Password!
Recent Security News: Bad USB, Home Depot, Nudes, MS Warning
AT&T ad from 1993: "You Will." Almost all have come to be!
This is the same file that was distributed in the Spring, so if you got it then, you don't need it now.
For those that missed the brochure hand-out here's a link to a *MS Word* file that can be downloaded and printed. It is formatted for 3 double-sided pages and folding into a 12-page brochure. https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=86B915ACE9C0D278!6024&authkey=!ANs3BPGEvVTuEbw&ithint=file%2cdocx
If you don't have Word, use this link (an 8 full-size page PDF) instead: https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=86B915ACE9C0D278!5953&authkey=!APkyZKmevifHBpA&ithint=file%2cpdf
Today's Topics:
BASE jumping Fatalities (nothing to do with computers, but YouTube is driving more people to wilder and wilder stunts)
Don't call yourself stupid
The American Eclipse of 2017
Read the Prompts! (and don't get Crapware)
MS Outlook & adding new accounts
I Forgot My Password!
Recent Security News: Bad USB, Home Depot, Nudes, MS Warning
AT&T ad from 1993: "You Will." Almost all have come to be!
Friday, September 19, 2014
Elaine Drain: The Cloud
What is the "Cloud" anyway. The presentation provides some answers and links to free cloud storage and free cloud backup services, and more.
View and/or download the presentation in pdf format with this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6cozHRzVRg2ZFU3UGdHb3pNN3c/edit?usp=sharing
View and/or download the list of links handout with this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6cozHRzVRg2Qm1UZUJTdG9KdDA/edit?usp=sharing
View and/or download the presentation in pdf format with this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6cozHRzVRg2ZFU3UGdHb3pNN3c/edit?usp=sharing
View and/or download the list of links handout with this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6cozHRzVRg2Qm1UZUJTdG9KdDA/edit?usp=sharing
Monday, September 15, 2014
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Anne Eidschun: Your Grandchildren
Anne Eidschun from Griswold Home Care; Full title: Enhancing Your Relationship With Your Grandchildren. Revealing results from surveys of grand kids: both what they want us to do and what they don't.
Friday, August 15, 2014
Answers and Distractions
Distractions First: (All links open in a new tab)
The Preshow Birds of Paradise Project (New Guinea, Australia) <link>
100 years old and still funny, Leno interviews Dorothy Custer. <link>
Convoy Movie Trailer/Promo <link> Based on the CW McCall Song
Wing Suiter meets his maker <link> Kinda set the stage for the whole presentation!
The Chippendoubles from Britain's got Talent <link> I did not see that coming, and neither did the judges.
Ray Jessel - his girlfriend had a surprise for him <link>
PC Don's Classic Country download page <link>
C.W. McCall's Crispy Critters <link>
C.W. McCall is Bill Fires Jr. and he's really an interesting person. Started writing advertising jingles, here's one of his first for 'Old Home Bread.' <link>One can really hear his signature style. There is a web page devoted to him <link> and an interesting story here. <link> He's now 85 years old and still singing. This is a somewhat strange video done just a couple of years ago, "Coming Back for More". <link>
Would you vote for this Guy? <link> Gil Fulbright, the "Honest Politician." This very funny ad is only half in jest, the crowd-sourced "campaign" is attacking the $100M that is being spent to get either Mich McConnell(R) or Alison Grimes(D) elected to the US Senate. 75%+ of that money is from out of the state of Kentucky. Here's Gil "I'll do anything for money" Fulbright's website <link> with many more campaign videos. For only $500 he'll do a video on whatever topic you want! <link>
The Closing Video - C.W. McCall's Black Bear Road <link> Laney Dee confirms that this road really exists and they have driven it - even before it was paved!
Answers: (in the slide show below)
How to Type a ☺? The handouts in case you missed them: <link> and <link>, or in PDF: <link> and <link>
How to make the text bigger while printing emails
How to become a 'Cordcutter?' http://cordcutterguide.com
Neat Map sites: http://showmystreet.com and http://randomstreetview.com
What's "the cloud?"
What about Ancestry's Denial of Service attack?
Real Time Cyber Attacks: http://map.ipviking.com. Very video-game like!
Warriors of the Net Movie: <link> How the Internet works.
What's the Best Browser? (Like asking which is the best car.)
Great add-on for Privacy from the EFF: Privacy Badger <link>
What is Bandwidth? (Either how fast is your connection or how much data can you download) <link>
Using our new Website's Q&A pages <link>
Is Avast no longer free? <link> Yes, it's still free; but watch out for free trials!
Where to Get Free Music? http://pcdon.com. (where I got really distracted! {grin})
Wow. That was a lot of stuff!
The Preshow Birds of Paradise Project (New Guinea, Australia) <link>
100 years old and still funny, Leno interviews Dorothy Custer. <link>
Convoy Movie Trailer/Promo <link> Based on the CW McCall Song
Wing Suiter meets his maker <link> Kinda set the stage for the whole presentation!
The Chippendoubles from Britain's got Talent <link> I did not see that coming, and neither did the judges.
Ray Jessel - his girlfriend had a surprise for him <link>
PC Don's Classic Country download page <link>
C.W. McCall's Crispy Critters <link>
C.W. McCall is Bill Fires Jr. and he's really an interesting person. Started writing advertising jingles, here's one of his first for 'Old Home Bread.' <link>One can really hear his signature style. There is a web page devoted to him <link> and an interesting story here. <link> He's now 85 years old and still singing. This is a somewhat strange video done just a couple of years ago, "Coming Back for More". <link>
Would you vote for this Guy? <link> Gil Fulbright, the "Honest Politician." This very funny ad is only half in jest, the crowd-sourced "campaign" is attacking the $100M that is being spent to get either Mich McConnell(R) or Alison Grimes(D) elected to the US Senate. 75%+ of that money is from out of the state of Kentucky. Here's Gil "I'll do anything for money" Fulbright's website <link> with many more campaign videos. For only $500 he'll do a video on whatever topic you want! <link>
The Closing Video - C.W. McCall's Black Bear Road <link> Laney Dee confirms that this road really exists and they have driven it - even before it was paved!
Answers: (in the slide show below)
How to Type a ☺? The handouts in case you missed them: <link> and <link>, or in PDF: <link> and <link>
How to make the text bigger while printing emails
How to become a 'Cordcutter?' http://cordcutterguide.com
Neat Map sites: http://showmystreet.com and http://randomstreetview.com
What's "the cloud?"
What about Ancestry's Denial of Service attack?
Real Time Cyber Attacks: http://map.ipviking.com. Very video-game like!
Warriors of the Net Movie: <link> How the Internet works.
What's the Best Browser? (Like asking which is the best car.)
Great add-on for Privacy from the EFF: Privacy Badger <link>
What is Bandwidth? (Either how fast is your connection or how much data can you download) <link>
Using our new Website's Q&A pages <link>
Is Avast no longer free? <link> Yes, it's still free; but watch out for free trials!
Where to Get Free Music? http://pcdon.com. (where I got really distracted! {grin})
Wow. That was a lot of stuff!
Sunday, August 3, 2014
July 31, 2014 - "That's a Good Question!"
If you haven't taken our survey, take it now, it's easy! Click <here>
Questions addressed:
What's the basis of the Netflix / Verizon spat?
What happened to Truecrypt?
How fast is this (or that) Computer?
Want some free Microsoft Books?
Where did the games go in Windows 8?
What's the difference between a Windows Account and a Microsoft Account?
And a resolution of sorts of Aereo vs. the broadcasters.
Questions addressed:
What's the basis of the Netflix / Verizon spat?
What happened to Truecrypt?
How fast is this (or that) Computer?
Want some free Microsoft Books?
Where did the games go in Windows 8?
What's the difference between a Windows Account and a Microsoft Account?
And a resolution of sorts of Aereo vs. the broadcasters.
Thursday, July 31, 2014
New Website Launch
The club's website has been updated and now has a new address: nscsurfers.org
Please change your bookmarks/favorites to point to the new site.
Our old site, nscseniorsurfers.com will no longer exist in a few weeks.
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Smart Phones - Training Class
Tom Sutor and Elaine Drain presented a morning class on Smartphones. After an overview of how cell phones work, Tom Sutor demonstrated features of the iPhone and Elaine followed with Android features. This was a training class for members with a fee of $5 for a 2-hour class. Another class will be held in September. Class limit is 16 and 12 are already on the waiting list. Members will receive an email prior to the class for additional registrants. Registration is by email only.
Overview of Cell Phones
Android Smart Phones
Sunday, July 20, 2014
"Simple" Answers
The Topics of the day: Our New Asus "Transporter" 2-in-1 Tablet/Laptop; Does HTTPS mean a site is 'Safe?' (short answer: no); Recommended Computers; Is that email True?; and Net Neutrality Fear Uncertainty & Doubt (FUD).
Links:
Remember to take our survey here: <survey>
Our New Device: <Asus T100TA>
Interesting Amazon Top Rated <link> and Top Sellers <link>
HTTPS Safe or Not? <Ask Leo>
A safe but UNtrusted link: https://www.us.army.mil
Buy or Build a new PC: http://www.logicalincrements.com (configurations from Destitute <$250 to Monstrous >$3,000 with detailed components for each. Neat!)
Gizmo's Freeware: Best Hoax sites: <TechSupportAlert>
The Bad Times Virus (funny) <link>
Are the Nigerian scammers Stupid or not? <Freakonomics>
Net Neutrality: <EFF> <ACLU> And an interesting anti-NN note from <Forbes>. And the official FCC page: http://www.fcc.gov/openinternet
and links to all the preshow videos are on the last slides.
Links:
Remember to take our survey here: <survey>
Our New Device: <Asus T100TA>
Interesting Amazon Top Rated <link> and Top Sellers <link>
HTTPS Safe or Not? <Ask Leo>
A safe but UNtrusted link: https://www.us.army.mil
Buy or Build a new PC: http://www.logicalincrements.com (configurations from Destitute <$250 to Monstrous >$3,000 with detailed components for each. Neat!)
Gizmo's Freeware: Best Hoax sites: <TechSupportAlert>
The Bad Times Virus (funny) <link>
Are the Nigerian scammers Stupid or not? <Freakonomics>
Net Neutrality: <EFF> <ACLU> And an interesting anti-NN note from <Forbes>. And the official FCC page: http://www.fcc.gov/openinternet
and links to all the preshow videos are on the last slides.
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Little Bytes - Elaine Drain
Quickie Topics from Elaine on Media Storage, Useful freeware, Printing the Google Calendar and some Keyboard tricks. Handout is available <here>.
Friday, June 20, 2014
More Simple Answers
A big batch of questions for today:
- How to change what the Power Button does?
- How to make the Windows Menu larger?
- The Pros and Cons of the Magic Jack+
- How to Stop a repeating email?
- The Difference between 'Save' and 'Save as'
- The Difference between 'Save' and 'Run'
- Recommendations for Sleeping computers
- How to Lighten a Video
- Windows Live Movie Maker - a good place to start
- Is IE safe under XP?
- What's a Browser?
- Clicking email links on the Web
- Difference between Email Programs and Web Email
- Do you have a on-line SSA account? You should!
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Pre-Social Videos
And a great time was had by all ...
Click on link to open Youtube video in a separate window.
Click on link to open Youtube video in a separate window.
| Title | length | Link |
| FWsim pirates of the caribbean | 0:04:37 | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kl_T_-0bdGM |
| Jabba's Palace Band Auditions - Cantina Band (Guitar) - Star Wars | 0:03:16 | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCkdmZzEdeA |
| Beatles Spoof Medley- The Boomer Babes | 0:06:48 | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAz-wrnvVYM |
| Makeover - Tropfest Australia 22 2013 Second Prize (TSI "CHANGe") | 0:07:09 | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiAZ01dkcdc |
| Salut Salon "Wettstreit zu viert" | "Competitive Foursome" | 0:03:24 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKezUd_xw20 |
| Superman with a GoPro | 0:03:17 | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0Ib9SwC7EI |
| Flying with the fastest birds on the planet: Peregrine Falcon & Goshawk | 0:03:01 | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-_RHRAzUHM |
| GoPro: Taxco Urban Downhill with Kelly McGarry | 0:04:08 | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sITW5tr7KQg |
| Burj Khalifa Pinnacle BASE Jump - 4K | 0:01:42 | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD4qsWnjsNU |
| I am Maru #6 | 0:02:48 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKQtwvKa-aY |
| jenga cat | 0:01:23 | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZygpaAJjCA |
| Pucker | 0:02:26 | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q5mgtUOI_w |
| Kid Predicaments | 0:00:36 | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-f1GxezBiQ |
| FWSIM 2.2.3.4 Epcot's Reflections of Earth Fireworks Recreation | 0:07:39 | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xU5T2gPRiTA |
| Let It Go - Frozen - Alex Boyé (Africanized Tribal Cover) Ft. One Voice Childern's Choir | 0:03:15 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAJYk1jOhzk |
| Disney Medley - Alex G & Peter Hollens | 0:05:47 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDEFuG30FYg |
| Mnozil Brass Lonley Boy | 0:04:18 | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYRMbj6U2Ww |
| Evolution of Music - Pentatonix | 0:04:28 | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lExW80sXsHs |
| Let It Go (Disney's "Frozen") Vivaldi's Winter - ThePianoGuys | 0:04:35 | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Dakd7EIgBE |
| Strange Useless Technology New Up Date Amazing 2014 | 0:01:01 | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riYaqduNdRk |
| Solar Freakin' Roadways | 0:06:59 | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlTA3rnpgzU |
| Lurpak Cook's Range - Adventure Awaits | 0:01:00 | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmOr9I2JxZs |
| Smack the Pony Window Cleaner | 0:01:00 | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMu0kqPo13M |
| NSA - I'll be watching You - the Capital Steps | 0:02:26 | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BD78zfERGYw |
| Be more Dog | 0:01:01 | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaYwXMmYPYs |
| Mansions of the Lord | 0:08:11 | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq2BbVZ2LEc |
| The Ultimate Motivational Clip - Rise & Shine! | 0:03:24 | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbkZrOU1Zag |
| Where the Hell is Matt 2012 | 0:04:53 | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pwe-pA6TaZk |
| The Importance of Kindness | 0:02:13 | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1KCzrTg9ic |
| Blonde ordering Food | 0:00:23 | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9-kiSCdTBY |
| I'm from Delaware | 0:02:25 | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWYp10nps38 |
| Kittens for lunch | 0:02:29 | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rodq5oGsnoI |
| "Cartoons 6" (dinosaurs and pig) | 0:00:40 | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSoRxQ9qmQA |
| "The Stars and Stripes Forever" - Joe Rinaudo at the American Fotoplayer | 0:03:50 | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lzIC9ru5V0 |
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Do we really need to "Get Used" to things?
A good, near rant, from Leo Notenboom: "I responded to a question a couple of days ago regarding Windows 8 that
ended with 'Why did Microsoft do this, when everybody wanted the
familiar old XP style?'."
http://askleo.com/do-we-really-need-to-get-used-to-things
I get the idea that he doesn't like Windows 8 either, but argues that's irrelevant. It is what it is and you *do* have to 'Get used to it.' Worth reading.
http://askleo.com/do-we-really-need-to-get-used-to-things
I get the idea that he doesn't like Windows 8 either, but argues that's irrelevant. It is what it is and you *do* have to 'Get used to it.' Worth reading.
Friday, May 30, 2014
WIndows 8 - Good or Bad?
Why did Microsoft create Windows 8, Metro vs. Desktop, the "Microsoft Account", and ways to make it familiar to us old desktop/laptop users.
Plus: Senior Surfer elections, eBay Passwords, and some weird news.
(Presenter's note: Sorry about my sometimes mangling words - I had so much to cover that I really rushed too much. "Only" 47 slides. <grin>)
Plus: Senior Surfer elections, eBay Passwords, and some weird news.
(Presenter's note: Sorry about my sometimes mangling words - I had so much to cover that I really rushed too much. "Only" 47 slides. <grin>)
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Friday, May 9, 2014
Simple Answers to: Windows 8, MSE&XP, Heartbleed, Crapware and More!
Wow, I was not expecting such a land rush at the end of the
presentation for the hand-out! You can
get your own copy of the two hand-outs here:
click <here> for the note on Windows XP and MSE and <here>
for the Crapware Removal paper.
Bonus: I added a section in the
latter on how to reset your browser. Crapware
often also makes configuration changes to browsers, and unfortunately, changed
Home Pages and Search engines, may not be reverted when the crapware is removed. 'Resetting' your browser will remove all of
these customizations.
Topics covered were: Amazon Smile, Migrating Windows XP to 8, the Heartbleed bug, running MSE on XP, and Crapware Removal.
Preshow videos:
Ultimate Close Call Compilation 2014 ||
Uniformedia
|
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnp1e3tMTFo
|
Smack the Pony Window Cleaner
|
|
Lurpak Cook's Range - Adventure Awaits
|
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmOr9I2JxZs
|
Epic Grilled Cheese
|
|
Still Alive (End credits from Portal)
|
Friday, April 25, 2014
Friday, April 11, 2014
Weebly
Here's Bob's intro. Lots of funny pictures, quicky news of 'Heartbleed' and XP scams.
Elaine's Presentation:
Download Handout at https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2ahZo0h0yIrZW1OMWEtM0REOVk/edit?usp=sharing
Elaine's Presentation:
Download Handout at https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2ahZo0h0yIrZW1OMWEtM0REOVk/edit?usp=sharing
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Hard Answers
If last week was "Simple Answers, " I guess this week has to be "Hard." <grin> Otherwise known as our "That's a Good Question!" session, this week we primarily talked about Windows Libraries, How does SSL work, (PKI & Certificates,) and What's an IP address?
The Electronic Frontier Foundation recent published, "Who has your Back?" - a review of company policies regarding protecting their customers. Twitter: Good!, Comcast & Verizon: bad. See the full report here. <link>
Foxit, our previously recommended PDF reader has turned to the darkside and is now including lots of crapware in it's install. Use Sumatra PDF instead! Get it here: <link>
Adding white bars in an animated GIF can make it 3D: <link> Check it out!
Lastly, I'm liking 'Ask Leo' more and more. Here's why he thinks, "I Know Less than You Think I Do" <link> Sign up for his email newsletter for good, thought-through, answers to everyday computer questions.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation recent published, "Who has your Back?" - a review of company policies regarding protecting their customers. Twitter: Good!, Comcast & Verizon: bad. See the full report here. <link>
Foxit, our previously recommended PDF reader has turned to the darkside and is now including lots of crapware in it's install. Use Sumatra PDF instead! Get it here: <link>
Adding white bars in an animated GIF can make it 3D: <link> Check it out!
Lastly, I'm liking 'Ask Leo' more and more. Here's why he thinks, "I Know Less than You Think I Do" <link> Sign up for his email newsletter for good, thought-through, answers to everyday computer questions.
Thursday, March 13, 2014
A Simple Answer!
New Proposed Bylaws passed by unanimous vote. Yay! (And sorry, but the purpose of our Computer Club is not "for $5 we fix your computer." <grin>)
Links for reference:
Optic Nerve: Millions of Yahoo Webcom images captured <link> But the problem wasn't the legal or privacy issues – it was trying to keep the staff out of the images containing “undesirable nudity.” (ahh … makes me think how many contained Desirable Nudity?)
Microsoft Technical Support Calls <link> Or the short version: if you get a shady 'technical support' telephone call out of the blue, ask "What is my IP address?" http://whatismyipaddress.com/
Maps to understand the world: <link>
How to I change my email address? <link> See presentation for more links - I'm really liking "Ask Leo" for his answers.
Lastly … Don't call your self stupid for not understanding computers! <link>
Optic Nerve: Millions of Yahoo Webcom images captured <link> But the problem wasn't the legal or privacy issues – it was trying to keep the staff out of the images containing “undesirable nudity.” (ahh … makes me think how many contained Desirable Nudity?)
Microsoft Technical Support Calls <link> Or the short version: if you get a shady 'technical support' telephone call out of the blue, ask "What is my IP address?" http://whatismyipaddress.com/
Maps to understand the world: <link>
How to I change my email address? <link> See presentation for more links - I'm really liking "Ask Leo" for his answers.
Lastly … Don't call your self stupid for not understanding computers! <link>
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Updated Senior Surfer Bylaws
On Mar 13 2013, at our usual Thursday afternoon meeting, we will
be voting on a new set of proposed bylaws. In summary, the major changes are:
· Formalization that
“New members joining {on or} after April 1st will be considered paid up to the following
membership year” and the membership year and all officer terms to start on 1
July.
· “… the Board will
designate a spring/summer meeting as election day. Although not a requirement,
election day will typically coincide with a spring/summer social.”
· An expansion of
voting from one day to one “starting at least two weeks before and concluding
with an election day.”
· Clarified
expenditure requirements
· Revised committees
to those of significance and actually in existence
· Miscellaneous
corrections of grammar and meanings
The current bylaws, dated Mar 1, 2012, is available
at the club web page, http://www.nscseniorsurfers.com/By-Laws or in PDF form here: <link>
The new proposed bylaws are available in PDF form
here: <link>
Substantive comments can be submitted below. Final comments will be considered at the general meeting on
Thursday, Mar 13, 2014 prior an acceptance vote.
Here is the background information to that action:
Since last year’s survey of the membership, the
Club officers have been wrestling with the idea that our voting should be
expanded to more than just the day of the spring social. This would
necessarily involve a change to our bylaws. Like any good bureaucracy , a
committee was formed to update and revise the bylaws for this change.
That committee (Ed Wirth, Paul Wojtkowski, Barb Greer, Becky Bennett, Janet
Belles submitted the proposed bylaws to the Club Board of Directors on Feb 6,
2014 and it was subsequently accepted on Mar 6, 2014.
This was a huge effort by those in the committee
and we sincerely thank them. Now it’s time to present the proposed bylaws
to the entire membership for approval. The proposed bylaws have been
posted outside the computer lab and on the message board for review.
Although the primary change was to the voting procedures, nearly every section
was changed in some way, mostly to clarify the language and to minimize the
need for future changes.
We hope to see you there!
Astronomy For Everyone!
Judi Provencal of the University of Delaware, Mt Cuba, and Director of the World-Wide Telescope project joined us for a discussion of the Kepler telescope and made a call for help in finding new planets. Yes, you can comb through the Kepler data yourself and help the search for Goldilocks planets. (Not too big, not too small, not too cold, and not to hot for liquid water to exist.)
Click through the above slides for Bob's introduction: from the size of Delaware all the way up to the size of the Universe.
Judi's Presentation:
Download and install to explore the Universe from planets to galaxies. Or run directly from the browser - a bit slower, but still impressive.
"Test Drive" was an Pepsi commercial in which Jeff Gordon, the NASCAR driver, took an unsuspecting car salesman on a wide ride. The Internet quickly exposed it as a fake: Although Gordon was in the ad, it was not him driving and all the other people were actors. Apparently Gordon was not happy that it was exposed as a fake, and decided to do it 'for real.' The unsuspecting victim: the blogger that exposed the original as a fake. Test Drive 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRIgmKGDqFM Poor Travis writes about the experience here: http://jalopnik.com/how-jeff-gordon-scared-the-crap-out-of-me-1531016226
Check the last slide of the intro for links to:
A computer generated Audrey Hepburn - impressively real
The PianoGuys with a Let it Go / Vivaldi mashup
'This is why we fly' for what it looks like from above Queenstown, New Zealand.
Plowing the line at the Strasburg Railroad
'Hazmat Highway to Hell' - don't go there!
Judi's Presentation:
Some links:
Thie 'Zooniverse' site has a bunch of things to help Astronomers - there aren't enough of them to do everything that needs to be done. https://www.zooniverse.org/ You can:- Search the surface of the Sun, the Moon and Mars
- Find new stars
- Look for exoplanets
- Classify galaxies
- Search for gravitational lenses in galaxy clusters - but out of data for now!
- Look for black holes in the Universe
Download and install to explore the Universe from planets to galaxies. Or run directly from the browser - a bit slower, but still impressive.
"Test Drive" was an Pepsi commercial in which Jeff Gordon, the NASCAR driver, took an unsuspecting car salesman on a wide ride. The Internet quickly exposed it as a fake: Although Gordon was in the ad, it was not him driving and all the other people were actors. Apparently Gordon was not happy that it was exposed as a fake, and decided to do it 'for real.' The unsuspecting victim: the blogger that exposed the original as a fake. Test Drive 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRIgmKGDqFM Poor Travis writes about the experience here: http://jalopnik.com/how-jeff-gordon-scared-the-crap-out-of-me-1531016226
Check the last slide of the intro for links to:
A computer generated Audrey Hepburn - impressively real
The PianoGuys with a Let it Go / Vivaldi mashup
'This is why we fly' for what it looks like from above Queenstown, New Zealand.
Plowing the line at the Strasburg Railroad
'Hazmat Highway to Hell' - don't go there!
Friday, February 28, 2014
What's a Computer Virus?
Today's main Good Question was "What's a Computer
Virus?" Click on the presentation
below for concepts, examples, crapware, and suggestions of what you can do
about it.
Send Questions to: ask@NSCSeniorSurfers.Com. (clicking on this link only works if you have
an email client/program configured. It
doesn't work if you only use Web mail in which just type it in the address
bar.)
I should never mention BitCoin. <grin>
Here's the link to the Washington Post article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2014/02/25/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-latest-bitcoin-crisis/ For an more in-depth presentation of what BitCoin is and how it works, refer to my May 2013 presentation, "BitCoin" revisited. You'll find it over on the right hand side of this page.
Netflix & Comcast: http://www.extremetech.com/computing/177073-why-netflix-streaming-is-getting-slower-and-probably-wont-get-better-any-time-soon
And Verizon sucks too:
Personally, I think Comcast and Verizon are slowing down
Netflix because they both have a streaming service they want to sell to their
customers. It's anti-competitive, but
with no rules they can do whatever the *@&$ they want.
Trace where an Email came from here: http://whatismyipaddress.com/trace-email
Have multiple Anti-virus checks on a file here: https://www.virustotal.com/ My virus file is now showing 35/50 tests as
virus, it was only 5/50 when I first got it.
Interesting Maps, I've shown several of these: http://twistedsifter.com/2013/08/maps-that-will-help-you-make-sense-of-the-world/ Here's the map of Girls names by State over time: http://jezebel.com/map-sixty-years-of-the-most-popular-names-for-girls-s-1443501909 And boys: http://jezebel.com/map-six-decades-of-the-most-popular-names-for-boys-st-1450787771
Recommended:
Malware
Bytes: http://www.malwarebytes.org/downloads/ (Use the Free version, not the Pro or trial
version)
AdwCleaner: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/ Watch which button to click!
Should
I Remove It: http://www.shouldiremoveit.com/
Lastly, have you been "Pwned?" https://haveibeenpwned.com/ If so … change the password on the
compromised account ASAP!
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Pinterest and Instagram
Here are the overview slides from Jodi's presentation:
And a couple of promised links: Gladys Hardy's call into Ellen "I love Jesus but I drink a little": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp1KVPkrimQ and a followup: "Gladys is the Real Deal" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq423MBrfNs
And a couple of promised links: Gladys Hardy's call into Ellen "I love Jesus but I drink a little": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp1KVPkrimQ and a followup: "Gladys is the Real Deal" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq423MBrfNs
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Growing Up Online
Ned showed a interesting Frontline video from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/kidsonline/
Although a little dated (one should substitute 'Facebook' for 'MySpace') it certainly high-lighted the differences between our generation and the current one. As stated previously, "Stuff happens / Thinges Change" :-)
Study Guide: http://kobreguide.com/growing_up_online/
Although a little dated (one should substitute 'Facebook' for 'MySpace') it certainly high-lighted the differences between our generation and the current one. As stated previously, "Stuff happens / Thinges Change" :-)
Study Guide: http://kobreguide.com/growing_up_online/
Monday, February 3, 2014
Keeping Secrets
How to keep a secret on the Internet and your Computer. What are the threats, what you can do about those threats, and what you can't. This was not really 'technical' and mostly just common sense; but it's good to rigorously look at how information flows across the digital superhighways of the Internet.
I'm sorry I ran out of time and had to rush through the Truecrypt demonstration. But bottom line, if you want to *securely* save secret information on a computer, Truecrypt is the way to go. Just use a good password! :-)
I'm sorry I ran out of time and had to rush through the Truecrypt demonstration. But bottom line, if you want to *securely* save secret information on a computer, Truecrypt is the way to go. Just use a good password! :-)
Friday, January 17, 2014
"Simple Stuff"
A grab bag of topics for the interested beginner. You know who you are ... the first comment to me is usually "I don't know anything about ...", or "Bob, Quick question ..." <grin>
Topics covered today: CNet's 2014 Predictions, Techie email Newsletters to Follow, Checking Virus Warnings, Disk Cleanup, Net Neutrality Ruling, Aereo in the Supreme Court, Free Microsoft Office Books, Java Update (again), Security Questions, Windows Backup - It's Good! and interesting pictures and videos.
There were so many interesting links rather than forcing you to download or look through all the slides, here they are all in one place:
CNET’s Top 5 Predictions for 2014: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXEWqj4huuk
Good Email Newsletters to subscribe to, from least techie to more:
PCDon (Edrington) http://www.pcdon.com/
Ask Leo (Notenboom) http://askleo.com/
Ask Bob Rankin http://askbobrankin.com/
Windows Secrets http://windowssecrets.com/
Tech Support Alert: Gizmo’s Freeware http://www.techsupportalert.com/
Crypto-gram https://www.schneier.com/crypto-gram.html
CNet / PC World: many http://www.cnet.com/newsletters/
Check that virus warning first before forwarding to everyone you know!
http://snopes.com/
http://www.truthorfiction.com/
http://www.factcheck.org/
http://www.politifact.com/
http://urbanlegends.about.com/
http://www.abovetopsecret.com/
Microsoft Office training manuals are available for you to download completely free of charge
http://www.microsofttraining.net/microsoft-training-manuals.php
The Dragon": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4QcyW-qTUg
Print out your own copy: http://www.grand-illusions.com/opticalillusions/three_dragons/
Windows 7 Backup Help: http://windowssecrets.com/links/u6odzzwse13ud/783c69h/
Topics covered today: CNet's 2014 Predictions, Techie email Newsletters to Follow, Checking Virus Warnings, Disk Cleanup, Net Neutrality Ruling, Aereo in the Supreme Court, Free Microsoft Office Books, Java Update (again), Security Questions, Windows Backup - It's Good! and interesting pictures and videos.
There were so many interesting links rather than forcing you to download or look through all the slides, here they are all in one place:
CNET’s Top 5 Predictions for 2014: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXEWqj4huuk
Good Email Newsletters to subscribe to, from least techie to more:
PCDon (Edrington) http://www.pcdon.com/
Ask Leo (Notenboom) http://askleo.com/
Ask Bob Rankin http://askbobrankin.com/
Windows Secrets http://windowssecrets.com/
Tech Support Alert: Gizmo’s Freeware http://www.techsupportalert.com/
Crypto-gram https://www.schneier.com/crypto-gram.html
CNet / PC World: many http://www.cnet.com/newsletters/
Check that virus warning first before forwarding to everyone you know!
http://snopes.com/
http://www.truthorfiction.com/
http://www.factcheck.org/
http://www.politifact.com/
http://urbanlegends.about.com/
http://www.abovetopsecret.com/
Microsoft Office training manuals are available for you to download completely free of charge
http://www.microsofttraining.net/microsoft-training-manuals.php
The Dragon": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4QcyW-qTUg
Print out your own copy: http://www.grand-illusions.com/opticalillusions/three_dragons/
Windows 7 Backup Help: http://windowssecrets.com/links/u6odzzwse13ud/783c69h/
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