Newsletter
Computer Users Club

June, 2007- Vol 3, Issue 5

In This Issue

President's Notes

Membership

Quick Links

The Tellico Village Computer Users Club regular monthly meeting will be held on June 5th at 7 pm on the top floor of the Yacht Club. Registration is on the Mezzanine level below.

General Meeting & Topic

The program for the June 5th meeting will be a presentation by Jim Adams, president & CEO of "Layer 3 Communications, Inc.," a partner of BellSouth/the new AT&T. He will discuss what's going on with BellSouth as it effects residents here. He has been alerted that as computer users with a wide range of individual knowledge, we are particularly interested in matters pertaining to broadband service (DSL) current status/limitations, problems, plans/schedules for improvements in services, phone services, voice over Internet, etc. He will speak for about 45 minutes or so, followed by a Q&A period. There will be door prize drawings after the Q&As.

Board Meeting

The next board meeting will be held Tuesday June 12th, 3 p.m. at the Rec. Center. All interested parties are invited to attend.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

By Howard Jones

Thanks to my computer club friends who signed cards at the last meeting and those who sent "get well" messages as I am recovering from my totally unexpected heart bypass surgery. When you go in for a "heart cath" procedure and find yourself scheduled for surgery the next day it's a bit of a shock. I particularly thank Bob Foster for accepting the responsibility as Program Chairman to replace me.

President's Notes

By Warren Sanders

I am pleased to be able to let you know more about our Janice Schneck who presently serves as our club secretary. Jan does a excellent job at what is the very difficult task of recording all the topics we discuss and agree on in our various meetings. She is truly one of the unsung heroes of our club and I encourage you to thank her for her service when you see her at our meetings. Jan joined the Computer Users Club Board as Secretary in July 2004. Prior to that, she was a member of the Club and attended most of our meetings. She moved to Tellico Village in 1997 after retiring from Comerica Bank in Michigan, ending a 40-year career there as Vice President in charge of compliance for the Trust Investment Department.

After moving to the Village, she continued to work for a company by the name of Comerica under contract as a consultant for roughly 3 years. She says she still yearned for some activity that was not related to housework and cooking, so she applied for and gained a position on the Property Owners Association Finance Advisory Committee. Her 6-year stint with the Finance Committee ended last year end.

For the last 3 years, Jan have been employed by an independent investment counselor in California, therefore she still does a lot of computer work, and she also enjoys keeping up with her home finances on the computer. Her other joys in life are reading, golf, slot machines and getting together with the wonderful friends she has made here in Tellico.

Jan's and her husband have 4 children - 3 in Michigan and 1 in Massachusetts, with 8 grandchildren and even a great-grandchild now! They're enjoying the solitude of Tennessee.

Membership

By Bob Kutschera

We had 6 new members in March. Look for them and make them welcome!

Richard & Barbara Comiso

Richard & Pamela Gibson

Richard & Anne Parkhill

Marlie Ridley

Ceree & Dean Schiller

Glen & Lauren Sisco

Most of us have renewed our memberships for 2007 but if you have not, the membership table will be open and can take care of you.

In the meantime, why not invite one of your neighbors or friends to come to our next meeting and perhaps we can convince them to join us!

Thanks for your support!

Computer Education

By Bill Peterson

There is no meeting scheduled for the month of June. Should a class become available, you will be notified by e-mail.

Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

By Don Stieghan

Three SIGs are now meeting each month at the Chota Rec Center, and one meets there twice a month. The meetings last for about an hour and half.

Genealogy-first Thursday at 3:00 PM (contact Don Stieghan at 458-2142)

Digital Photography-second Thursday at 3:00 PM (contact Jim Noonan at

458-9940))

Computer Hardware-first and third Tuesdays at 3:00 PM (contact Vince Alline at 684-5463)

Music on the Computer-on summer vacation.

Your name can be added to the start-up list for a Home Movies SIG. If you are interested in any of these SIGs, contact me at the number or email address given below.

Do you want to be a part of these exciting programs or just ask questions about SIGs? You can receive meeting announcements and organization information. Just send your e-mail address to Don Stieghan at tvdon@chartertn.net, call him at 458-2142 or see me at the TVCUC general meeting. Also, help is available to start additional SIGs by expressing your special interest. You do not have to be the expert to lead a SIG or to propose the organization of one.

Tips From First Line Support

By Bob Muge

Sometimes we hear that recipients of e-mails containing attachments cannot open the attachments. There is more than one cause for this, but this month I want to describe one that I had heard about, but never seen personally until now.

This specific case was an e-mail containing an attached file supposedly produced by the version of Word that comes with Microsoft Works Suite. Somehow the creator of the file had managed to save the file without an extension, meaning that the saved file name did not contain the .doc at the end. I will substitute the name "junk" as the file name in these remarks. On his hard drive, the file name is "junk", not "junk.doc". Windows Explorer shows the file name as "junk" and the type as "File" not "Microsoft Word File". Without the extension on the e-mail attachment (using Outlook Express), Windows does not know what program to use to open the file, and since the people who got the e-mail and the file did not create it, their computers didn't know how to open it either.

In this case, the e-mail and file creator called for FLST assistance, and told me that he had saved the file in Word. The file opened normally when I used their Word to open it on their computer, or on mine, which uses the version of Word in Microsoft Office 2003. The fix to the problem was to re-open the file and save again and make sure the file type was .doc, as it should have been in the first place, then attach it to the e-mail and re-send.

I still don't know how this file got saved without an extension, but a word to the wise is sufficient, I hope. When you save files for the first time, always make sure that the application program gives you two blanks to fill out, one for the file name, and one for the type. (An exception to this is in programs like Quicken, which doesn't give normal save options). Normally, the program will show its default type automatically and there might be a choice of file type, and you can choose a different one from the default, but the point is to make sure you pick one on the list.

I also find it helpful to force Windows to list the file type in all displays, which it does not do by default. This can be done by double clicking on My Computer, choosing Tools, then choosing Folder Options. On the View tab, at the bottom of the list in the opening window for Advanced Settings, there is an entry called "Hide extensions for known file types". It is checked by default. Click on it to uncheck, then click Apply and click OK.

The real cause of exactly how the file "junk" got saved without an extension is still unknown. If anyone can shed some light on this, I'm all ears.

Free Stuff and Helpful Sites

By Frank Fritchman

Here are two short but helpful notes from Karen Brown.

Caps Lock?

Do you have a tendency to hit Caps Lock and blithely type along in all caps without being aware of it? Windows XP can help you with that if you turn on the ToggleKeys feature, which plays an audible warning whenever you press Caps Lock. To activate ToggleKeys, simply hold down Num Lock for five seconds. You can also activate ToggleKeys through Start, Control Panel, and Accessibility Options, then just check the box labeled Use ToggleKeys.

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How does the small arrow work?

How does the small arrow on your computer monitor work when we move the
mouse?
Haven't you ever wondered how it works?
Now, through the miracle of high technology, we can see how it is done.
With the aid of a screen magnifying lens, the mechanism becomes apparent.
Click on the link below and you will find out. The image may take a minute
or two to download and when it appears, slowly move your mouse over the
light gray circle and you will see how the magic works.

Follow this link and find out the truth - http://www.1-click.jp/

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Here is a very interesting list proved by Dick Schmeling who got it from a friend. I only have room for the first half of the list - the balance next month.

Lloyd's List of The 25 Most Useful Sites on the Internet

"In the 21st century, information is the name of the game, and the internet has revolutionized the common man's ability to get information. I have been cruising the `Net since 1995. Over the last few years, I have found some really useful sites, many of which I have revisited time and time again, usually on a weekly basis. I present for your consideration the following list, which I consider "The 25 Most Useful Sites on the Internet""

1 American Factfinder

Your primary source for population, housing, economic and geographic data, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Looking for average family income, racial mix or other data for a state, county or city? This is the pace to find what you're looking for quickly!

2 One Look Online Dictionary

Need to find a word quickly? Don't drag out your dictionary...visit this site! This site consolidates all the online dictionaries, including over 4.2 MILLION words! Even links to dictionaries with internet and computer terms (e.g.-enter YAHOO). This site also has a wildcard spellcheck that will find words beginning with, ending with, or containing, a string of characters! Also, check out WWWebster Online Dictionary, which includes a Thesaurus!

3 MapQuest

Enter an address and get an instant map, with a star marking the location of the address. Then zoom in or out, request local shopping, dining or lodging locations, and even get turn-by-turn directions with mini maps to help get you there! Maps On Us is another excellent source for the same thing.

4 NoNags

Looking to try some new software? NoNags specializes in finding freeware or shareware that does not NAG you to register, and has HUNDREDS of software titles you can download and try, listed by category and rated by the site's owner. Other great source for software are TuDogs and TuCows

5 Bored.com

If you're BORED, go here. It will keep you entertained for HOURS. Actually an extensive list of interesting, unique and off-beat sites on the internet, like the BIRTHDAY SERVER, where you can look up her birthday, if you have her name and zipcode (doesn't have everybody in the U.S. - only 135,000,000 - about 50%)!

6 Purportal.com - The bunk stops here!

Few things bog down the internet as much as emails urging you to "Forward this to everyone you know." It might involve a missing child or a supposed new virus going around or a chance to make money because the number of emails you send are being "tracked." To find out if it's legit, go to this site first and check it out. They have five searches to real info on just about every rumor, hoax or urban legend on the `Net. Enter a few keywords from the email in question into their search, and get the truth!

7 The Secret Guide to Computers

The online version of the book makes this one of the better places on the web to get all your answers to your computer questions. PC Magazine says, "Whether novice or expert, you'll learn from the Guide and have a good time doing so. No other computer book is a better value."

8 USPS Zipcode+4 Lookup

Quickly find the 9-digit zipcode for any delivery address in the U.S., and speed up delivery of your mailing.

9 FirstGov

"Your First Click to the U.S. Government" No matter what you're looking for within the U.S. Government, this is the place to start. Everything from applying for student loans to tax information can be found here!

10 Mail 2 Web

Ever been at the AIA convention and seen a bank of free computers on the convention floor, and wished there was some way to check your email? Or been visiting a friend in another city who has a computer, and wished you could check your email from his computer? Well, now you CAN! Go to this site, enter your complete email address and email password for any POP email account, and check your email from any computer with a browser. You can also selectively delete junk mail, reply, and forward!

11 My Yahoo

There are lots of Portals available on the Web, but My Yahoo is still my portal of choice. You can modify the portal to meet your needs: local weather, sports and news, what's showing at local theaters and local TV, track your stock portfolio, and TONS more to give you just what you want at the click of a button. It's been my start page for years, and if you give it a good look, I'm sure it will be yours, too!

12 Information Please

Online Almanac with loads of information on just about any topic. Also check out their Fact Monster.

13 Google

There is an estimated 1,500 search engines on the web, but this one is the one I use, because I find what I'm looking for EVERY TIME using this one. The only truly intelligent `Net Search!

Photography

by Frank Fritchman

Here are some wonderful pictures (3 of 11) taken by the Hubble Telescope's and suppled by Ron Uncapher. Imagine how big our universe is and how small (not unimportant) we are! Remember that the distance of a light year is about 5,879,000,000,000 statute miles! I expect our universe is an operating system even better than VISTA!

The Sombrero Galaxy - 28 million light years from Earth - was voted best picture taken by the Hubble telescope. The dimensions of the galaxy, officially called M104, are as spectacular as its appearance. It has 800 billion suns and is 50,000 light years across.

Hubble 2

The Trifid Nebula. A 'stellar nursery', 9,000 light years from here, it is where new stars are being born.

The Cone Nebula. The part pictured here is 2.5 light years in length (the equivalent of 23 million return trips to the Moon).

If you want to see all eleven of the Hubble pictures sent to me by Ron Uncapher, send me a note and I will forward them to you.

Many of you know our friend Victor de Groote is at this moment on a safari in Africa and if I don't miss my guess he is taking some wonderful pictures which I am sure he will share with us upon his return.

Have a great month!

Sincerely, Frank

Frank Fritchman
Tellico Village Computer Users Club