Resource Center White Boards

We recently added a white board to several windows in the SIG room.  We are making them available for the posting of club photos, etc.

I don't want to have to create a "TBCS Department of Posters" in order to use this resource.  I would prefer that everyone use good judgment and discretion when considering what to put up.  We're a G-Rated, family club, and we don't want to post items that are mean-spirited or unkind.  Advertising is limited to the bulletin board in our kitchen.

Please do not use either thumbtacks or tape in the Resource Center.  We have "poster putty" we'll give you to use instead.  Just ask Frank Bucca, Lynne Roberston, or Doc.

Windows Explorer Doc's Way...

Recently, I spoke on Windows Explorer at the Novice SIG (on Tuesday afternoons), and was gratified to hear how useful that lecture was for a lot of people.  Windows Explorer is the heart and soul of Windows - if you understand it, then so many Windows tasks like saving files, copying files, creating CDs, manipulating your photos, etc. are trivial tasks.  When you don't understand Windows Explorer, then you don't function competently with computer.

I had pretty good success teaching it in about 90 minutes, but can I do it in 60 minutes?  Well, I'm going to give it a try.

If you feel like Windows is a big mystery, that it seems to have a mind of its own, that it functions differently from one time to the next, then you should join me for this short seminar.  I will teach it next Tuesday night (July 17th) at the Largo Cultural Center from 5:30 to 6:30 PM.  It's free and open to EVERYONE (even non-members).

Computer Autopsy, Wednesday, July 18th, 10am 'til noon
Roger Leer is going to disassemble a PC on that day.  He'll gut it, clean it, filet it, and then re-assemble.  He'll identify the internal parts, discuss functions, and provide general information about how a PC works, how to make it run better, and how to make it last longer for you.  Come on out and see what's inside one of those rascals.

Weeel, almost free... no more $40 per person.   As June's students all know, she provides a ton of handouts.  Total charge for the class is now $5 per person to defray the costs of printing handouts and burning CDs.  This will take place for her next Online Business - Advanced class that will start on Friday night, July 20th from 7 to 9pm.

June has new surprises in store - the Internet is a pretty dynamic place.  We're also going to include a little more of the mechanics of editing blogs and websites.  We realize that sometimes people need to SEE it accomplished for them to learn it.

It is imperative that you register in advance for this one.  It's possible that we could end up having to limit the class size.  Please make sure to send an email to the Club Secretary so that you can be included.

A few days ago, I felt compelled to warn everyone about sending and receiving virtual greeting cards or eCards.  I did this because there has recently been a rather large increase in the amount of them that have been coming around that are predominately phishing messages trying to steal my identity.  I specifically haven't warned of these before because I know how many of our membership enjoy sending and receiving cards from Blue Mountain, American Greetings, Jacquie Lawson, etc.

I received several supportive emails and thanks, but I also received some questions and complaints.  I thought I should take a couple of minutes to respond.

Let me share parts of two emails with you:

"...have 3 virus' in my vault and all three came from Greeting Cards."

"...Sure could have used this one a few weeks ago. I opened an e card and got the nastiest virus that could not be healed or deleted.  Could not think of anything to do except quickly do a system restore to the previous day.  Everything is fine now."

I would venture to say that over 90% of the eCards sent to me are bogus.  Several months ago I clicked on one that appeared to be from a friend... I got lucky!  It WAS from my friend, and it WAS just fine.  But I asked myself, "Why take a chance anymore?"  Since the bad guys "spoof" the return address on emails, what appears to be from my friend may actually be from a bad guy.

While eCards have been a great way to let someone know that you are thinking about them, it's just too dangerous these days to retrieve them -- UNLESS you know what you are doing: you're sure the link take you to one of the reputable card companies so that you don't suffer an eMugging of some sort.

Note: Don't bother Googling for "eMugging", I made it up.

I repeat my eCard rules:

"Doc's Rules of E-Greeting Cards"

1. Never, ever click on the link to one of these. You can no longer afford to take the chance that they are safe and innocuous.

2. Never, ever SEND an eCard to your friends.

3. Tell your friends that you will neither send an ecard, nor will you click on any sent to you.

Doc