June = 2004

Volume 8, Issue=20 6 -=20 June 2004
www.suncitycc.org

Please = submit any=20 comment, article, tip, or suggestion for the September issue to = Sandy=20 Tucker (5085 or sandy1959@davtv.com) no = later than=20 August 22. Remember that articles should be submitted by e-mail or = placed=20 on disk and delivered to Sandy=92s = lower box at=20 2 Coburn = Dr.=20 E.

The=20 editor of the newsletter gets a summer = break=85see=20 you in September.

Index
COMPUTER CLASSES
COMPUTER CLUB=20 SOFTWARE/HARDWARE
Review = of=20 Microsoft Office
Word 2003
SPECIAL=20 INTEREST GROUPS
   =20 = DIGITAL IMAGING
    GENEALOGY
    MAC
    MUSIC
HIGHLIGHTS OF MAY MEETING
KOFFEELESS KLATCH
MEMBERSHIP/NEW MEMBERS
NEXT MEETING
NOTES FROM THE EDUCATION = CHAIR
PRESIDENT'S=20 MESSAGE
PROGRAMS
= TIPS=20 AND TRICKS=20

NEXT=20 MEETING
Pinckney=20 Hall
7pm
June=20 7, 2004

PLEASE=20 NOTE CHANGE OF MONTHLY MEETING =96 THIS IS THE FIRST MONDAY OF THE = MONTH,=20 NOT THE SECOND.

=93Preparing Your Computer for Summer = and the=20 Arrival of Your Grandchildren=94

Our Computer Club President, Allyn = Perdue, and=20 the Computer Club Newsletter Editor, Sandy Tucker, will be showing = us how=20 to prepare our computers for young users. Allyn will help us with = guarding=20 our computers against problems that young users might cause, and=20 Sandy will be showing us things that young = users=20 might enjoy doing with the computer.

Pre-Meeting=20 6:30pm

=93What You Should Know About Surge=20 Protectors=94

This short but important topic = presented by=20 Karl Juelch, will discuss protecting = your=20 hardware from electrical power surges. You will be surprised by = some of=20 his findings.

Index<= /SPAN>

Click = Classes = This=20 Month
or Classes Next Month

Sign up
Monday,=20 June 7, 6-6:30pm=20
Any June classes = remaining for sale=20 will be available for sale before the June 7 monthly = meeting and=20 in the Class Sales Black=20 Box during Computer Room open hours.

No=20 Classes in July or August.

Index<= /SPAN>

PRESIDENT'S=20 MESSAGE
BY = Allyn=20 Perdue

Finding a = topic=20 that interests me as well as one of interest to the majority of=20 Sun=20 City computer = users is=20 not easy. I=92m = somewhat=20 technically inclined, very curious about the Windows operating = systems,=20 and somewhat obsessed with keeping Windows running well. Also, I really have to = be inspired=20 by an event such as a rapidly approaching deadline, one that you = have=20 known was there for weeks but for some reason, writer=92s block = gets in the=20 way.

I=92ll = tell you=20 briefly about the past few days. =20 Bill K., one of our volunteers who makes=20 house calls, called me with a problem. He was helping Charlie = M. restore=20 his year-old Dell back to health but found that Ad-Aware = wouldn=92t=20 properly update. I = had just=20 seen similar behavior recently and told Bill that I would get the = latest=20 Ad-Aware reference list update as soon as possible. I went home and = transferred the=20 latest update to my SanDisk Cruzer = Mini USB=20 Drive. I then = drove over=20 and copied the update to the Ad-Aware program folder, using the = USB port=20 under the lower cover of Charlie=92s Dell = 4500C.

Upon = running=20 Ad-Aware, we found over 140 problem entries in Windows XP = associated with=20 adware and spyware. =20 Some of those were and remain very serious. Most disturbing was that = a=20 critical file used in network configurations had been reconfigured = by=20 malware (malicious software) to = effectively=20 block access to anti-spyware = websites. That=92s why Bill and = Charlie could=20 not update Ad-Aware.

For those = of you=20 having trouble following me, the following sentence is the = condensed=20 version:

Charlie=92s=20 computer is under the control of unscrupulous Internet=20 advertisers!

I say is because Bill K. and I = haven=92t=20 fully repaired it. = The good=20 news is that most of the bad stuff has been removed and the = computer is=20 running very well. = The bad=20 news is that we still need to remove the scumware that is still sending Charlie popups and blocking access to anti-spyware sites.

Think = about what=20 I=92ve just written. = This malware that Charlie has inadvertently = downloaded is=20 designed to prevent you, the average user, from controlling your = own=20 computer. It really = rankles me that the sleazebags behind all = this are not=20 yet considered criminals. =20 Note that the FBI is just now getting around to seriously = looking=20 at spammers. I = think time is=20 already way overdue for jailing the jerks behind CoolWebSearch and other malicious=20 programs.

Part of = our June=20 program will include preventative security measures to keep your = computers=20 clean while young visitors are in your homes. For the record, = antivirus programs=20 are no longer enough to keep things clean. You need some additional = help. We=92ll see = you at=20 Pinckney Hall Monday evening, June 7,=20 2004. Questions and Answers = begin at=20 6:30=20 pm and the = main=20 program will start at 7:15=20 pm.

Heavens=20 Above

One of my = other=20 hobbies is amateur astronomy. =20 Since an outdoor session with my Dad explaining to me about = =93The=20 Evening Star=94 when I was in the fourth grade, I=92ve been = following the=20 planets through the night sky and observing various celestial = phenomena=20 including a total solar eclipse in February of 1998. A favorite source is Heavens-Above,=20 a website developed by Chris Peat of Germany that includes items = of=20 interest such as satellite appearances and iridium=20 flares, in addition to other items of interest to amateur=20 astronomers. Even=20 professional astronomers can find useful information. By the way, the two = links in this=20 paragraph are configured for events as seen from=20 Okatie,=20 SC. By using these links, = Sun City=20 Hilton Head residents can explore Heavens-Above without having to = enter=20 your locale.

A major = planetary=20 event is on tap for this month. =20 Venus has been brightening our evening skies for several = months and=20 during the last two weeks of May, it literally dropped out of = sight, due=20 to reappear in the early morning skies by June 20. On Tuesday,=20 June 8,=20 2004, Venus = will pass=20 directly between Earth and Sun, producing a rare event known as a=20 transit. Think of = it as a=20 supra annular eclipse, where most of the sun is still visible = while Venus=20 blocks out a tiny portion of its light. Unfortunately for the=20 Americas, we will = only see=20 the last part of the transit as it will be well in progress at=20 sunrise. But if = weather=20 participates, dedicated observers will be able to witness the = event from=20 Sun=20 City. All that is needed is an = unobstructed view a few degrees above the east-northeastern = horizon and=20 proper safety equipment. =20 Regular or polarized sunglasses = are not=20 safe.

For = further=20 information, check out Transit of=20 Venus. If that = amount of=20 detail is not your cup-of-tea, then you can follow the event = online. Images should be = available at http://www.space.com/. For a local brief, check = out the=20 Skywatchers Club in the June=20 SunSations.

Details,=20 details

At a = recent staff=20 meeting, I was attempting a brief description of an encounter with = some=20 obstinate malware. I got a few sentences = into the=20 description and was getting to the most critical part when Bob = Rasmussen,=20 our Technical Committee chair, pointed out that I likely had lost = most of=20 the people in the room. = So I=20 looked around and inquired and found that I indeed had lost most = of the=20 group.

After the = meeting,=20 I then was explaining to Bob what I was trying to convey and = mentioned how=20 I thought it wasn=92t too complicated explaining how a = reconfigured HOSTS=20 file redirects back to the local host computer, effectively = rendering the=20 page inaccessible. = Bob looked=20 at me with a gleam in his eyes and said,=20 =93Redirects?=94

I thought = about it=20 and have to agree with him. =20 Most of you don=92t think that way and really don=92t want = to think=20 about the complexities of the operating system; you want your = computer to=20 work so that you can use your programs.

I=92ll do = my best to=20 remember that. With = =93Barcode=20 Bob=94 watching in the background, I should have little trouble=20 communicating with you. J

Health=20 Issues

Recent = doctor=20 visits have been like a broken record (or a scratched CD): Lose weight, exercise = more, eat=20 less and better. = I=92ve known=20 better for years but really have not dedicated myself to it. A brush with a TIA two = years ago=20 should have gotten me serious. =20 But recently, I=92ve had another problem. My blood glucose climbed = rapidly=20 and stayed high for well over a day, even after fasting for 15 = hours. Now, it=92s back to = normal=20 levels.

I=92ve = not been=20 diagnosed with the big D Type II, but I fear I=92m getting = close. You see, I=92ve been = checking my own=20 blood sugar levels for a while. =20 But during this last episode, I felt really bad. I also had a couple of = scary=20 experiences while driving; one of which could have endangered = others. I did not see a stop = sign until=20 nearly upon it at twilight recently and was quite upset when I got = home. The two guys = in the=20 golf cart were not too happy, either.

I went = online to http://www.diabetes.org/ and = found=20 much valuable information. = It=20 turns out that I=92m a prime candidate for developing the disease, = which was=20 a major contributor towards my grandmother=92s death. Also, two relatives of = widely=20 varied ages have the disorder.

The = streets and=20 sidewalks of our community sure are making walking more = attractive. And we have an excellent = fitness=20 center, which I checked out today. =20 All of that is right here in Sun=20 City and I = need to join=20 you all in using them.

Computers = are fun=20 and challenging. = But maybe we=20 all should get away from them a bit more and be as active as=20 possible. That = activity will=20 also help us feel better when we do need to be at our=20 desks.

Allyn=20 Perdue

allyn.schhcc@mindspring.com=20

Index<= /SPAN>

MAC = SPECIAL=20 INTEREST GROUP

What will you do if your monitor = gives out and=20 you can't see what is on your hard drive? Are you taking = precautions and=20 backing up your material? Do you want to extend your memory and be = able to=20 handle the previous questions as well? At our June meeting, we = will show=20 you what we are doing (and purchasing) to be able to help you in = case of=20 an emergency as well as what you might want to do for under $200 = (even=20 under $150). We will be switching weekends in June with the "big" = club.=20

Our meeting will be the 2nd Monday, = June 14.=20 Mark your = calendars. Y'all = come!

For more=20 information about the Mac Special Interest Group, call Lynn Conley = at=20 (3906.

Index<= /SPAN>

GENEALOGY=20 SPECIAL INTEREST = GROUP

The=20 next meeting of the Genealogy SIG will be Wednesday, June 2 at=20 7pm=20 in the Computer Room. = The=20 guest speaker will be our own members, George Dexter, who will = discuss the=20 extensive research he has completed in his search for his=20 ancestors.

For more=20 information about the Genealogy Group, contact Gail Boggs at = (7932 or = kaila5@davtv.com.<= /P>

Index<= /SPAN>

MUSIC = SPECIAL=20 INTEREST GROUP

The Music = SIG will=20 be on hiatus until October. =20 We plan to start again in October with the basics of = building a=20 music library. = Diane=20 Hutchings will continue to be available for music=20 help.

Watch the = monitor=20 schedule for music help or e-mail at dianeh@alum.bu.edu for=20 assistance.

Index<= /SPAN>

DIGITAL=20 IMAGING SPECIAL=20 INTEREST GROUP

After=20 a fascinating presentation May 20 by Corky Burt about inkjet = printing, ink=20 and papers, this SIG will be on hiatus until the third Thursday in = September. The handouts Corky distributed at the May meeting are = available=20 in a blue binder in the Computer Room.

For more=20 information about the Digital Imaging Group, contact Vicki Levy at = (6580 or = Robin=20 Seaver at http://www.suncitycc.org/newsletter%20template%20March%20working.htm= .

Index<= /SPAN>

Sorry,=20 no coffee allowed in Computer Room!

KOFFEELESS=20 KLATCH

Do you = have=20 computer related questions or problems? If so, the Koffeeless = Klatch is=20 the place for you. = We meet=20 Friday mornings from 9:00 to=20 10:00 in the = Computer=20 Room. The meetings = are=20 informal. Feel free = to come=20 late or leave early. = We know=20 you are busy. Each = week, we=20 do a short presentation on topic of general interest and then = handle=20 questions and answers. =20 We plan to continue to meet during the summer as long as = people=20 keep coming!

Topics = are=20 announced weekly via e-mail. =20 If you wish to be notified of upcoming topics, send your = e-mail=20 address to Diane Hutchings: =20 dianeh@alum.bu.edu.

Index<= /SPAN>

PROGRAMS

JUNE=20 PROGRAM
=94Preparing=20 Your Computer for Summer and the Arrival of Your=20 Grandchildren=94

Our=20 Computer Club President, Allyn Perdue, and the Computer Club = Newsletter=20 Editor, Sandy Tucker, will be showing us how to prepare our = computers for=20 young users. Allyn will help us with guarding our computers = against=20 problems that young users might cause and=20 Sandy will=20 be showing us things that young users might enjoy doing with the=20 computer.

The June = program will=20 be the final meeting of the 2003/2004 season. This is=20 not the second Monday of the month. The first Computer Club = meeting of=20 the 2004/2005 season will be on September 20. Subsequent Computer Club = meetings=20 will be on the second Monday of the month.

For more=20 information about programs, contact Marge Simms (margerys@davtv.com).

Index<= /SPAN>

NOTES=20 FROM THE EDUCATION CHAIR

Any=20 June classes remaining for sale are available now in the Class = Sales Black=20 Box in the Computer Room during open hours. Use checks only, please, = made out=20 to SCHHCC. = Instructions are=20 in the front of the Black Box or ask the Computer Room monitor for = assistance.

Our=20 excellent volunteer instructors take well-deserved vacations = during July=20 and August so there will be NO computer classes. First class sales for = September=20 and October will be Monday=20 September 13 from=20 1-3pm in=20 the Computer Room, with classes starting the week of = September 20.=20 After September 1, = you can=20 stop by the Computer Room or check Classes This Month and Classes = Next=20 Month on http://www.suncitycc.org/=20 to see what will be offered then. Until then, keep cool and = have a=20 great summer!

If=20 you have comments, questions or suggestions for the Education = chair,=20 please contact Robin Seaver (http://www.suncitycc.org/newsletter%20template%20March%20working.htm= )=20 or=20 Diane Hutchings (dianeh@alum.bu.edu). We look forward to = hearing from=20 you.

Index<= /SPAN>

MEMBERSHIP

WELCOME = NEW=20 MEMBERS

Membership needs=20 to know if any member changes your email at any time during the = year. Notify Diane at mailto:DiFSC2@davtv.com.

Rachel

Buie

Carole

Carl

Anna=20 Mae

Fagon

Richard

Fagon

Elizabeth

Hamilton

Mildred

Morgan