Net Happenings

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Following is a copy of the Net Happenings newsletter I sent out to folks who had asked to be included on my mailing list.

CONTENTS -- April 6, 2004

1 . . . Upcoming *FREE* Classes
2 . . . Upcoming Events
3 . . . Tips and Tricks
4 . . . Interesting Sites
5 . . . Non-Nerdy Stats
6 . . . Bits and Bytes of Humor

If you have a question about anything contained in
this e-newsletter, please post your question on
Our Message Board at
(click Ask a Question)

And now to begin . . .

1 . . . Upcoming *FREE* Classes

Following are highlights of some upcoming classes at the
North City CET at 8401 Aero Drive -- one of SD Community
College's Centers for Education and Technology (CET).

Upcoming Classes Taught by Gini Pedersen

TOPIC . . . . . Microsoft Word (97/2000/XP/2003)
DATE . . . . . 3 Mondays, April 12, 19, and 26
TIME . . . . . 1-5 pm
INSTRUCTOR . . . . . Gini Pedersen

TOPIC . . . . .Downloading Software from the Internet
DATE . . . . . 1 Monday, April 12
TIME . . . . . 5:30-9 pm
MISC. . . . . All about FTP (File Transfer Protocol) and how to
. . . . . . . . . . SAFELY download files from sites on the Internet.
. . . . . . . . . . You will receive helpful handouts.
INSTRUCTOR . . . . Gini Pedersen

TOPIC . . . . Top 10 Computer Problems and their Solutions
DATE . . . . . 2 Tuesdays, April 13 and 20
TIME . . . 1-5 pm
MISC . . . This class will help both home and business users
. . . . . . . . . prevent and solve common problems, improve
. . . . . . . . . performance, and generally help you become a
. . . . . . . . . more-informed computer user. You will receive
. . . . . . . . . helpful handouts.
INSTRUCTOR . . . . Gini Pedersen

TOPIC . . . . .PowerPoint (97/2000/XP/2003)
DATE . . . . . 2 Tuesdays, April 13 and 20
TIME . . . . . 5:30-9 pm
MISC . . . PowerPoint is Microsoft's popular program for creating
. . . . . visual presentations that can include text, images, movies,
. . . . . sounds, and much more. PowerPoint is included in MSOffice.
INSTRUCTOR . . . . Gini Pedersen

TOPIC . . . . .Internet Tips and Tricks
DATE . . . . . 2 Mondays, April 19 and 26
TIME . . . . . 5:30-9 pm
MISC . . . . . You will learn lots of shortcuts and hints to make
. . . . . . . . . . your experience on the Internet faster, more versatile,
. . . . . . . . . . and more fun--for both new and experienced users.
INSTRUCTOR . . . . Gini Pedersen

TOPIC . . . . .Tips for Finding Things on the Internet
DATE . . . . . 1 Tuesday, April 27
TIME . . . . . 1-5 pm
MISC . . . . . This class is open to anyone who has experienced
. . . . . . . . . . frustration finding things on the Internet. ;-)
INSTRUCTOR . . . . Gini Pedersen

TOPIC . . . . .Access (97/2000/XP/2003)
DATE . . . . . 2 Tuesdays, April 27 and May 4
TIME . . . . . 5:30-9 pm
MISC . . . . . Access is Microsoft's popular relational database
. . . application that is bundled with most versions of MSOffice
INSTRUCTOR . . . . Gini Pedersen

Upcoming Classes Taught by Others at North City Center
for Education and Technology (CET) ...
- These classes start within the next few weeks.
- Check the paragraph at the end of this list to access info about
dates, times, details, etc.
- All are at the Beginning level unless indicated otherwise.

... CD Burning
... Digital Cameras
... Digital Video
... eBay - Buying and Selling
... Scanning Basics
... Excel (various levels)
... Cascading Style Sheets
... Dreamweaver (various levels and special topics)
... Flash
... Flash (special topics)
... Video in Flash
... Audio in Flash
... HTML Fundamentals
... Webpage Design Basics
... XML - Office
... ASP.NET
... Linux Web Server Security
... C++ for C Programmers (Intermediate)
... C+.NET (various levels)
... 3D Studio Max (special topics)
... Bezier Pen Tool Mastery
... Digital Imaging Essentials
... Final Cut Pro
... Illustrator
... Creating 3D in Illustrator
... InDesign
... Photoshop
... Photoshop Elements
... Premiere
... Dreamweaver (various levels)
... Open Lab every Saturday (8am-1pm) in Mac lab Room 150

WANT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ANY CLASSES?

-- Check my Website at to see a
complete list of classes that I'll be offering through the
Spring 2004 semester. At the end of that list is a link to a list
of all classes offered at the North City Center for Education
and Technology on Aero Drive -- plus details about each class.

-- Call (858) 627-2553, Monday through Friday.

2 . . . Upcoming Events

PROGRAM . . . . . XML Functionality in Microsoft SQL Server 2000
DATE AND TIME . . Tuesday, April 13 --------- 6 pm
SPONSOR . . . . . SD SQL Server User Group
PLACE . . . Microsoft Office -- 9255 Towne Centre Drive, #400
MISC . . . . . *FREE*
INFO . . . . .

PROGRAM . . New Products - PalmOne, Sony, Tapwave, more
DATE AND TIME . . Wednesday, April 14 ------- 7-9 pm
SPONSOR . . . . . San Diego Palm Users Group (SDPUG)
PLACE . . . . . San Diego County Office of Education -- Room 301
. . . . . . . . . . 6401 Linda Vista Rd. (lots of *FREE* parking)
MISC . . . . . *FREE*
INFO . . . . .
. . . . . . or Rich Worcester - Rich@PalmGuy.com or 760-809-4666.

PROGRAM . . . . . Computer Workshop
DATE AND TIME . . Friday, April 16 -------- 6:30 pm
SPONSOR . . . . . San Diego PC Users Group
PLACE . . . . . 3249 Fordham Street, Bldg. 1, Room 3
MISC . . . . . *FREE* - Get help with your questions or bring
. . . . . . . . your broken computer
INFO AND MAP . . . . .

PROGRAM . . . . .Digital Image Processing
DATE AND TIME . . . Saturday, April 17 ---------- 9 am
SPONSOR . . . . . Computer Genealogy Society of San Diego
PLACE . . . . . Tierrasanta Christian Church
. . . . . . . . . . . . 11445 Tierrasanta Blvd.
MISC . . . . . *FREE* to visit; $25 first year to join
INFO AND MAP . . . . . http//www.cgssd.org

PROGRAM . . . . .Questions and Answers and mini seminars
DATE AND TIME . . Saturday, April 17 ------- 9:30 am
SPONSOR . . . . . Seniors Computer Group
PLACE . . . . . Wesley Palms -- 2404 Loring St., Pacific Beach
. . . . . . . . . . (off Highway 5 and Garnet Avenue)
MISC . . . . *FREE* to visit; $15 per year to join
INFO AND MAP . . . . .

PROGRAM . . . . .Questions and Answers and mini seminars
DATE AND TIME . . Saturday, April 24 ------- 9:30 am
SPONSOR . . . . . Seniors Computer Group
PLACE . . . . . Wesley Palms -- 2404 Loring St., Pacific Beach
. . . . . . . . . . (off Highway 5 and Garnet Avenue)
MISC . . . . *FREE* to visit; $15 per year to join
INFO AND MAP . . . . .

PROGRAM . . . . . Unbound Forms
DATE AND TIME . . Wednesday, April 28 ------- 6 pm
SPONSOR . . . . . Access User Group of San Diego
. . . . . . . . . . Advanced Level Access Users
PLACE . . . San Diego County Medical Society
. . . . . . . . . . 3702 Ruffin Road, Suite 207
MISC . . . . . $2 donation at the door
INFO . . . . .

PROGRAM . . . . .Questions and Answers and mini seminars
DATE AND TIME . . Saturday, May 1 ------- 9:30 am
SPONSOR . . . . . Seniors Computer Group
PLACE . . . . . Wesley Palms -- 2404 Loring St., Pacific Beach
. . . . . . . . . . (off Highway 5 and Garnet Avenue)
MISC . . . . *FREE* to visit; $15 per year to join
INFO AND MAP . . . . .

3 . . . Tips and Tricks

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Got a question? Post it on Our Message Board.
Go to
Click Ask a Question
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

In the continuing series of tips to help you keep yourself and your
computer more secure...

EVEN COMPUTER-SAVVY PEOPLE CAN BE FOOLED
Read this excellent, informative article in Monday's Personal
Technology section of the San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper.

DELETE MISPELLED ENTRIES IN INTERNET EXPLORER'S
AUTOCOMPLETE DROP-DOWN MENU

If you have the AutoComplete feature turned on in
Internet Explorer, you are familiar with the drop-down
list that appears when you click in the field that displays prior
entries for this field -- some correct and some incorrect.

To delete specific entries in the AutoComplete drop-down list...
- Click in a field on a form in Internet Explorer and note that
prior entries are listed in a drop-down list.
- Click the down arrow on your keyboard to highlight an entry
in the drop-down list.
- Click the Delete key on your keyboard.

Note: The AutoComplete feature makes it easier for a user but
does produce some security risks:
1. Other users who may use your computer will have access to
some of your private information.
2. If you don't have firewall protection (ZoneAlarm, Norton Firewall,
etc.), you are also vulnerable to outside hackers getting the same access.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Got a question? Post it on Our Message Board.

Click Ask a Question
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

4 . . . Interesting Sites

HARD-TO-FIND AND DISCONTINUED ITEMS
A huge directory of hard-to-find items that have been discontinued
such as older patterns of dinnerware, fragrances, etc.

FASCINATING LOOK AT SPACE
After you get to the site, there is nothing to click--
the show will begin automatically in about 1-2 minutes
and will last for several minutes. You can stop it briefly
by clicking the red STOP button and restart it by clicking
the green GO button.

(shared by Larry Hambright)

5 . . . Non-Nerdy Stats

Did You Know?

- There once were more sea lions on Earth than people.

- The female American Oyster lays an average of 500 million eggs
per year. Usually only one oyster out of the bunch reaches maturity.

- The smell of a skunk can be detected by a human 1 mile away.

- When thirsty, a camel can swig down 25 gallons of water in
less than three minutes.

- A dog's nose has over 200 scent receiving cells.

- About 24 newborn opossums can fit in a teaspoon. They are
about .07 ounce at birth.

- An adult walrus typically eats about 3,000 clams per day.

- A mole can dig a tunnel 300 feet long in one night.

- An elephant may consume 500 pounds of hay and 60 gallons
of water in a single day.

- At birth, baby kangaroos are only about 1 inch long -- no bigger
than a large waterbug or a queen bee.

6 . . . Bits and Bytes of Humor

After every flight, pilots fill out a form called a gripe sheet,
which conveys to the mechanics problems encountered with the
aircraft during the flight that need repair or correction.
The mechanics read and correct the problem, and then respond
in writing on the lower half of the form what remedial action
was taken, and the pilot reviews the gripe sheets before the
next flight. Never let it be said that ground crews and
engineers lack a sense of humor.

Here are some actual logged maintenance complaints and
problems as submitted by Quantas pilots and the solution
recorded by maintenance engineers. By the way, Quantas
is the only major airline that has never had an accident.

PROBLEM: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
SOLUTION: Almost replaced left inside main tire.

PROBLEM: Something loose in cockpit.
SOLUTION: Something tightened in cockpit.

PROBLEM: Dead bugs on windshield.
SOLUTION: Live bugs on back-order.

PROBLEM: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a
200 feet per minute descent.
SOLUTION: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.

PROBLEM: DME volume unbelievably loud.
SOLUTION: DME volume set to more believable level.

PROBLEM: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
SOLUTION: That's what they're there for.

PROBLEM: Suspected crack in windshield.
SOLUTION: Suspect you're right.

PROBLEM: Number 3 engine missing.
SOLUTION: Engine found on right wing after brief search.

PROBLEM: Aircraft handles funny.
SOLUTION: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right,
and be serious.

PROBLEM: Target radar hums.
SOLUTION: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.

PROBLEM: Mouse in cockpit.
SOLUTION: Cat installed.

PROBLEM: Noise coming from under instrument panel.
Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.
SOLUTION: Took hammer away from midget.

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