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.

At the bottom are links to all prior issues.

Net Happenings sent out on July 10, 2003.

Hi,

As you requested, I am sending Net Happenings to you.

Please let me know if your e-mail address changes so I can
continue sending you Net Happenings. Also, let me know if
you'd rather NOT receive these postings. Remember, I will
never sell, trade, lend, or leak your e-mail address to any
other individual or organization.

To view prior issues of Net Happenings...
...go to my Web site at http://www.iteachyou.com
...click Net Happenings newsletters
...scroll to bottom and click link to each previous issue.

Gini Pedersen
San Diego Community College District
Instructor, Internet and Computer Applications
http://www.iteachyou.com

If you live outside of Southern California -- OR -- if you
are just not in the market for new classes or events...

... then Page Down on your keyboard to the start of
Section 3 for some Tips and Tricks, humor, etc.

CONTENTS -- July 9, 2003

1 . . . Upcoming FREE Classes
2 . . . Upcoming Events
3 . . . Tips and Tricks
4 . . . News You Can Use
5 . . . Interesting Sites
6 . . . Non-Nerdy Stats
7 . . . 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 http://www.iteachyou.com
(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 . . . . .Internet Tips and Tricks
DATE . . . . . 2 Mondays, July 14 and 21
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 . . . . . Windows File Management (98/ME/2000/XP)
DATE . . . . . 1 Tuesday, July 15
TIME . . . . . 1-5 pm
PREREQUISITE . . . Some experience working with Windows
MISC . . . . . Learn how to delete and move files, create shortcuts,
. . . . . . . . . . check file sizes and other details, set up new folders,
. . . . . . . . . . work with different drives, and much more
INSTRUCTOR . . . . . Gini Pedersen

TOPIC . . . . Excel 97/2000/XP
DATE . . . . . 3 Tuesdays, July 15, 22, and 29
TIME . . . . . 5:30-9 pm
INSTRUCTOR . . . . Gini Pedersen

TOPIC . . . . .Word Tips and Tricks
DATE . . . . . 1 Monday, July 21
TIME . . . . . 1-5 pm
MISC . . . . . Suggested prerequisite: Word experience.
. . . . . . . . In this class you will learn useful tips that
. . . . . . . . experienced Word users should find useful.
INSTRUCTOR . . . . Gini Pedersen

TOPIC . . . . Top 10 Computer Problems and their Solutions
DATE . . . . . 2 Tuesdays, July 22 and 29
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 . . . . .How to Buy the RIGHT Computer
DATE . . . . . 1 Monday, July 28
TIME . . . . . 1-5 pm
MISC . . . . This class is useful for anyone thinking of buying a
. . . . . . . . . . computer -- or just to learn more about the computer
. . . . . . . . . . you already own.
INSTRUCTOR . . . . Gini Pedersen

TOPIC . . . . .Tips for Finding Things on the Internet
DATE . . . . . 1 Monday, July 28
TIME . . . . . 5:30-9 pm
MISC . . . . . This class is open to anyone who has experienced
. . . . . . . . . . frustration finding things on the Internet. ;-)
INSTRUCTOR . . . . Gini Pedersen

TOPIC . . . . .PowerPoint
DATE . . . . . 2 Mondays, August 4 and 11
TIME . . . . . 1-5 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 . . . . .Downloading Software from the Internet
DATE . . . . . 1 Monday, August 4
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 . . . . .Access 97/2000/XP
DATE . . . . . 2 Tuesdays, August 5 and 12
TIME . . . . . 1-5 pm
MISC . . . . . Access is Microsoft's popular relational database
. . . application that is bundled with most versions of MSOffice
INSTRUCTOR . . . . Gini Pedersen

TOPIC . . . . Top 10 Computer Problems and their Solutions
DATE . . . . . 2 Tuesdays, August 5 and 12
TIME . . . . . 5:30-9 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

Upcoming Classes Taught by Others at North City Center
for Education and Technology (CET) ...
- These classes start within the next few weeks.
- Click the link at the end of this list to see the date, time, etc.
- Click the link at the end to see details about each topic.
- All are at the Beginning level unless indicated otherwise.

... Access (Advanced)
... Excel (Advanced)
... 3D Studio Max (Special Topics)
... Director
... Final Cut Pro (various levels)
... Fireworks
... Illustrator (Intermediate/Advanced)
... IMovie
... Mac Basics
... Photoshop (Intermediate/Advanced)
... Photoshop (Special Topics)
... QuarkXpress
... Typography
... Dreamweaver (various levels)
... Dreamweaver (Special Topics)
... Flash
... XML (Advanced)
... Java Programming
... Linux (Special Topics)
... PERL/CGI Introduction
... PHP and MYSQL (Intermediate/Advanced)
... VB.NET - Building Applications
... Open Lab every Saturday (8am-2pm) in Mac lab Room 140

IN ADDITION...
We also offer many free classes in our classroom at
Datel Computer Center at 5636 Ruffin Road in Kearny Mesa.

For classes at this site ONLY, you must pre-register by calling
(858) 627-2545 Monday through Friday.

For classes at this site ONLY, you must pre-register by calling
(858) 627-2545 Mondays through Thursdays, 8 am to 8 pm or
Fridays 8 am to 3:30 pm.

Following are some upcoming classes at our Datel site:

... CD Burning
... Desktop Publishing
... Digital Photos - File Management
... Digital Photos - Sharing and Displaying
... Photoshop Elements (Intermediate/Advanced)
... QuickBooks
... Scanning
... Excel
... PowerPoint
... Word (various levels)
... eBay - Buying and Selling
... Email Basics
... Internet Searches
... Website Design Basics
... ASP.NET (Intermediate)
... PERL/CTI Programming
... XML (Advanced)

WANT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ANY CLASSES?

-- Check my Website at http://www.iteachyou.com to see a
complete list of classes that I'll be offering through the
Spring 2003 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) 627-2545, Monday through Friday.

2 . . . Upcoming Events

PRESENTER . . . . . Rich Sjoberg from Sony Online Entertainment
DATE AND TIME . . . Thursday, July 10 ---------- 7-9 pm
SPONSOR . . . . . San Diego Macromedia Users Group
PLACE . . . . . Herman Miller Office Pavilion
. . . . . . . . . . . . 6920 Carroll Road
INFO AND MAP . . . . . http://www.sdmmug.org

PROGRAM . . . . . Table Normalization
DATE AND TIME . . Thursday, July 10 ------- 6 pm
SPONSOR . . . . . Access User Group of San Diego
. . . . . . . . . . Beginning/Intermediate Level Access Users
PLACE . . . . . Microsoft - 9255 Towne Center Dr.
MISC . . . . . $2 donation at the door
INFO . . . . . http://www.augsd.org/

PROGRAM . . . . . Computer Workshop
DATE AND TIME . . Friday, July 11 -------- 6:30 pm
SPONSOR . . . . . San Diego PC Users Group
PLACE . . . . . Discovery Center
. . . . . . . . 4764 Santa Monica Avenue (Ocean Beach)
MISC . . . . . FREE - Get help with your questions or bring
. . . . . . . . your broken computer
INFO AND MAP . . . . . http://sdpcug.org/workshops.htm

PROGRAM . . . . .Questions and Answers and mini seminars
DATE AND TIME . . Saturday, July 12 ------- 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 . . . . . http://home.san.rr.com/scg/events.html

PROGRAM . . . . .Jack Davis, author of 'Photoshop WOW' book
DATE AND TIME . . Saturday, July 12 ---------- 10 am - 1:30 pm
SPONSOR . . . . . Adobe Photoshop User Group
PLACE . . . . Art Institute of California
. . . . 7605 Mission Valley Rd. (near 163 and Friars)
MISC . . . . . FREE
INFO . . . . .http://www.sdphotoshopusers.com/

PROGRAM . . . . Bob La Quey of DARPA
DATE AND TIME . . Tuesday, July 15 ----------- 6 pm
SPONSOR . . . . . SD PC User Group
PLACE . . . . . San Diego County Office of Education
. . . . . . . . . . 6401 Linda Vista Rd., Rm. 308 (lots of free parking)
MAP . . . . . http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/jrrtc/facility/visit.htm
MISC . . . . . FREE -- Guests always welcome to this free event
INFO . . . . .http://www.sdpcug.org

PROGRAM . .Using Graphics and Clip Art in Genealogy Publications
DATE AND TIME . . . Saturday, July 19 ---------- 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 . . . . . Lindows
DATE AND TIME . . Saturday, July 19 ------- 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 . . . . . http://home.san.rr.com/scg/events.html

PROGRAM . . . . . Access Replication
DATE AND TIME . . Wednesday, July 23 ------- 6 pm
SPONSOR . . . . . Access User Group of San Diego
. . . . . . . . . . Advanced Level Access Users
PLACE . . . . . Microsoft - 9255 Towne Center Dr.
MISC . . . . . $2 donation at the door
INFO . . . . . http://www.augsd.org/

PROGRAM . . . . .Questions and Answers and mini seminars
DATE AND TIME . . Saturday, July 26 ------- 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 . . . . . http://home.san.rr.com/scg/events.html

PROGRAM . . . . . Various .NET Topics
DATE AND TIME . . Tuesday, August 5 ------- 6 pm
SPONSOR . . . . . SD .Net Developers Group
PLACE . . . . . Ericsson, Inc. - 6455 Lusk Blvd, Bldg. #E
MISC . . . . . FREE; doors close at 7 pm so please arrive early
INFO . . . . . http://www.sddotnetdg.org/

PROGRAM . . 10th Annual Southwest Computer User Group Conf.
DATE AND TIME . . August 8, 9, and 10
SPONSOR . . . . . San Diego Computer Society
PLACE . . . . . Hilton Hotel -- Mission Valley
INFO . . . . . http://www.sdcs.org

3 . . . Tips and Tricks

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Got a question? Post it on Our Message Board.
http://www.iteachyou.com
Click Ask a Question
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

FORMATTING IN EMAIL MESSAGES
Unfortunately, in the 'email department,' we're still in
'just because you can, doesn't mean you should' mode.

Many current email programs allow the sender to format
an email in a variety of ways -- stationery, colors, formatting, etc.

However, since the Internet Protocol needs to make your message
readable on different types of computers along the delivery journey
and at the receiving end -- and because there are so many different
email programs people use out there (including different versions of
the same program) -- there is really no way for the sender to truly
control the way a receiver will see what's in the body of an email
message.

If formatting is critical, as with spreadsheets, resumes, etc.,
then you would need to send them as an attachment to increase the
likelihood that the recipient will see it as it was created -- and then
only if they have the right program already installed on their computer
to read that file format.

Some people try to test the use of stationery, etc. by sending a message
to their own email address. But this isn't really a valid test since the
message really isn't going out on the Internet -- but, rather, is just cycling
through your Internet Service Provider's intranet.

This will all probably be a non-issue in a few years. But, for now, you
probably need to stick with plain old vanilla style emails.

...............

CHANGE LINE SPACING IN WORD
In addition to the 'mouse method' for changing line spacing in Word
(FORMAT-PARAGRAPH-change Line Spacing setting), you can also
change it easily with the keyboard as follows:

Click and drag to highlight selected text.
Choose one of the following:

CTRL+2 = double spacing
CTRL+5 = line-and-a-half spacing
CTRL+1 = single spacing

...............

MANAGING COMPUTER CABLES AND CORDS

1. Avoid extension cables unless you are sure that the extension
won't cause transmission problems for the device.

2. Use one of the many tube and clip cable organizers available
at most computer and stationery stores. Avoid bundling cables or
cords together with a twist tie that may cut through a cord.

3. No matter which method of cable clutter control you use, it's a
good idea to keep AC power cables separate from other cables.
To eliminate AC hum in your speakers, try to keep AC and speaker
cables at right angles to each other.

4. Label each cable. I wrap a piece of colored electrical tape at
both ends of the cord. At the AC end, I write what device it connects
to along with a letter of the alphabet. At the device end, I write the
same letter on the electrical tape and I also write that letter next to
the place the cable or cord connects into my computer.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Got a question? Post it on Our Message Board.
http://www.iteachyou.com
Click Ask a Question
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

4 . . . News You Can Use

5 BEFORE-THE-BABY'S-BORN TRENDS
(from Reader's Digest, 5/03)

Real things that expectant parents do that make us think,
'oh, that poor kid' ...

1. Create baby's first album out of ultrasound pix from
Fetal Fotos studio.

2. Make a belly cast to commemorate Mom's beached-
whale look.

3. Invite neighbors into the birth room and let their
5-year-old cut the cord.

4. Claim they saw their child in a psychic 'pre-birth experience
before s/he was even conceived.

5. Pay $14.95 for 6 name suggestions from BabyNames.com.
Over 3,500 indecisive couples have done so.

5 . . . Interesting Sites

NATIONAL 'DO NOT CALL' REGISTRY
Possibly reduce the number of unsolicited calls you receive by
registering for this new federal service that takes effect as early
as October 1.
http://www.donotcall.gov

OLD VERSIONS OF MANY PROGRAMS
http://www.oldversion.com

ALL ABOUT HANGOVERS
http://www.all-about-hangovers.com

FASCINATING SCIENCE STUFF
http://www.extremescience.com

6 . . . Non-Nerdy Stats

DID YOU KNOW?

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

- About 24 newborn opossums can fit in a teaspoon.

- An alligator can go through 2,000 to 3,000 teeth in a lifetime.

- A mated pair of rats can produce up to 15,000 babies in one year.

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

- A racehorse averages a weight loss of between 15 and 25 pounds
during a race.

- A rat can fall from a 5-story building without injury.

7 . . . Bits and Bytes of Humor

Another look at a funny piece from a few years ago...

Buying A Bathing Suit

I have just been through the annual pilgrimage of torture and
humiliation known as buying a bathing costume. When I was a
child in the 1950s the bathing costume for a woman with a mature
figure was designed for a woman with a mature figure-boned,
trussed and reinforced, not so much sewn as engineered. They were
built to hold back and uplift and they did a darn good job.

Today's stretch fabrics are designed for the prepubescent girl
with a figure chipped from marble.

The mature woman has a choice she can either front up at the
maternity department and try on a floral costume with a skirt,
coming away looking like a hippopotamus that escaped from Disney's
Fantasia, or she can wander around every run of the mill department
store trying to make a sensible choice from what amounts to a
designer range of rubber bands.

What choice did I have?

I wandered around, made my sensible choice and entered the
chamber of horrors known as the fitting room.

The first thing I noticed was the extraordinary tensile strength
of the stretch material. The Lycra used in bathing costumes was
developed, I believe, by NASA to launch small rockets from a
slingshot, which give the added bonus that if you manage to
actually lever yourself into one, you are protected from shark
attacks.

The reason for this is that a shark taking a swipe at your passing
midriff would immediately suffer whiplash.

I fought my way into the bathing costume, but as I twanged the
shoulder strap into place I gasped in horror - my bosom had
disappeared!

Eventually I found one bosom cowering under my left armpit. It
took a while to find the other.

At last I located it flattened beside my seventh rib.

The problem is that modern bathing suits have no bra cups. The
mature woman is meant to wear her bosom spread across the chest
like a speed bump.

I realigned my speed bump and lurched toward the mirror to take a
full view assessment.

The bathing costume fit all right, but unfortunately it only fit
those bits of me willing to stay inside it. The rest of me oozed
out rebelliously from top, bottom and sides. I looked like a lump
of playdough wearing undersize cling wrap.

As I tried to work out where all those extra bits had come from,
the pre-pubescent salesgirl popped her head through the curtains
'Oh, there you are!' she said.

I asked what else she had to show me.

Finally I found a costume that fit. A two piece affair with
shorts-style bottoms and a halter top. It was cheap, comfortable
and bulge-friendly, so I bought it.

When I got home I read the label which said 'Material may
become transparent in water,' but I'm determined to wear it
anyway.

I just have to learn to breaststroke in the sand.

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