A BIT OF AA PICNIC in the RAIN?

A
BIT
OF A
RASCAL
VOL XX ISSUE IV — SEPTEMBER 2007 - ROGUE AREA SENIOR COMPUTER ASSISTANCE LEAGUE
RASCAL OFFICERS* &
SUPPORT STAFF
President
[email protected]
*Bill Porter
Vice-President
[email protected]
*Bob Booth
474-2993
Communications and
Facilities Director
[email protected]
*Ron Willing
582-9694
Education Director
[email protected]
*Judy Engel
Membership Director
[email protected]
*Maggie Robson
476-1687
Secretary
[email protected]
*Velma Gustafson 472-0233
Treasurer
[email protected]
*Naomi Carlson
Admnistrative Assistants
[email protected]
Vivian Dagnan
582-0824
Jane Frincke
472-9212
Community Relations
Bob Cartmell
476-9437
Data Base
Mark Simonds
955-4810
Audrey Williams
955-4720
Betty Buskirk
474-1381
Facilities
Henry Cotter
471-0750
Historian
Vivian Dagnan
582-0824
Hospitality
Tom & Bernice Buntin
...…………………....472-1549
Human Resources
Shirley Byrd
476-4978
Membership Greeters
Marie Hutchins
476-3783
Newsletter
[email protected]
Joan McDowell
472-0377
Social Director
Jeannette Daily
471-1904
Speaker Scheduler
Ken Mitchell
476-1883
Sunshine - Artistic Design
Lee Cathcart
479-5778
Webmaster
[email protected]
Ginny von Gal
474-7566
A PICNIC in the RAIN?
~ by Joan McDowell
After weeks of planning and preparation, we were all set for the RASCAL
Annual Picnic of July 17, 2007. Everything was ready to go and the weatherman said “Rain!” The club had sold 133 tickets. Would anyone show up?
That morning, at 8:00 a.m., the volunteer helpers, led by Social Director,
Jeannette Daily, began arriving to set up the tables and banners. Coffee Service arrived in the person of Mac and Nicki McGahan who were standing in
for the Buntins. The volunteers hustled to get things ready for whomever was
brave enough to picnic in the rain. Under gray skies, with drizzles, picnickers
began arriving and by 10:00 a.m. most of the 125 who attended were on the
scene. Most settled in the main pavilion, some sat on lawn chairs in the open
and others headed for the second pavilion where the food would be served
about noon.
During a forty minute delay in the auctioning, everyone enjoyed the opportunity
to chat and coffee-klatch with friends. Our master auctioneer, Lou Garrotto,
auctioned off twenty-one items which, with some left over for sale without bid,
brought in $356.50 to your club. Lunchtime arrived and we hadn’t yet experienced any serious rainfall. As hungry picnickers lined up for the E and I Caterers’ broasted chicken, with trimmings, they were pleasantly entertained by
the Oregon Old Time Fiddlers. Some even got out on the lawn and danced!
Many were heard to say that we should offer music every year.
The eagerly awaited raffle for merchant donations then followed with Jeannette
drawing tickets, Nancy Kain announcing, and Velma Gustafson delivering certificates to the fifty-three lucky winners. The Seven Feathers prize was won by
Ron Baisden and the Fred Meyer gift certificate by Ron Willing. Please see
page two for a complete list of merchant donors. Our thanks and admiration
go out to Jeannette, Velma, Lynn Harmon, Dawn Shively, and Dorothy
Harer for their resourceful donor solicitations.
continued on page 3
A THANK YOU to THESE MERCHANTS
We want to express our appreciation to each of these merchants shown here who so
generously contributed to The RASCAL Annual Picnic Raffle of 2007.
The proceeds from the Merchant Donor Raffle go to our club to help meet expenses.
Fred
Meyer
Gift
Certificate!
Dairy Queen
Della’s
Elmer’s
Food and Friends
Gold Miner
Hong Kong
J J North’s Grand Buffet
Tubby’s
2
Papa John’s Pizza
Powder Horn
R Haus
Sixth Street Bistro
Sophia’s Italian Kitchen
Wendy’s
plus
The Merlin Bakery
A PICNIC in the RAIN? cont. from the front page
There were some
special raffle donations
from
RASCALs:
Bill Porter contributed six bottles of his prize
winning
home
made wines;
Roland
Cook
provided twelve
bottles of his delicious home made
BBQ sauce. All
were beautifully presented in gift packaging by
Jeannette.
Dawn, Jeannette,
Nancy, & Velma
at the Raffle Table
Max Herman contributed a special leather Indian
neck-tie in a hand-carved wooden box.
A special thank you to Vera Kuttig who contributed
a delicious home-baked carrot cake with a creamy,
frothy frosting. Those who, for health reasons, could
not partake of such a delight, were very happy to
have the choice of enjoying sugar-free pies. The
sugar-free option was a thoughtful addition to our
picnic tradition, thanks to Jeannette. A sugar-free
choice may well be carried over to other RASCAL
special events.
In addition to those mentioned previously,
RASCAL thanks these picnic helpers who
came early, stayed late and provided behindthe–scenes support:
Arlie Smith
Audrey Williams
Bill Porter
Bill Rose
Bob and Germaine Cartmell
Dawn Shively
Dorothy Harer
Frank and Nancy Kain
Henry Cotter
Jane Frincke
Joan McDowell
Lee Cathcart
Lois Burke
Lou and Joann Garrotto
Lynn Harmon
Mac and Nicki McGahan
Marie Hutchins
Naomi Carlson
Patricia Hentges
Vicki Beed
Wilma Gilbert
We apologize if there is anyone we have
inadvertently left off of this list.
Hats off to our new Social Director and also to her
close associate and helper, Velma Gustafson. Together they put much thought, time and endeavor into
making this day special for everyone.
Jeannette and Velma say they want to thank the many
members who supported them — as expressed in this
quote from Jeannette:
“A Great Big Thank You to all of the wonderful volunteers who helped make this year’s RASCAL Picnic such a great success. And to all of the RASCAL
members and guests who, despite the light rain,
came out to enjoy the fun, food, friends, and music
of the Old Time Fiddlers. My appreciation goes out
to Bill Porter and the Board for giving us the OK to
have live music. Another Big Thank You and a
warm, fuzzy hug from your Social Director.”
Three Happy Campers
Bill Porter, DeVerne Jacobsen and Ron Willing
Photographers on the scene with their digital cameras were: Nancy Kain, Ross Roe, Merle Glenn,
and Joan McDowell. You may view their photos
in living color on our web site at
www.rascal.cc
3
BOOTH’S BIN
~ by Bob Booth
AN ALTERNATIVE to REG SCRUB XP
Q: For some time now I have been using
RegScrub and notice that the same items keep
appearing each time I use it. Those items seem to
be “fixed,” even after RegScrub has gone through
its paces. The next time I launch RegScrub, there
they are again. After RegScrub indicates that it has
fixed a problem, why does it keep coming up again?
Is it an indication that there is a major problem for
these items to be reappearing, or is this just something I have to live with?
A: Those files re-occur during normal use of
your system. The Registry (the heart of your system) generates such files when you delete shortcuts,
programs, etc., and under many other circumstances. These files become disassociated from
“reality” and therefore are selected for removal.
Unfortunately, some registry cleaners are too aggressive in this area.
For some time now, both Lou Lyons and I have endorsed the use of RegScrubXP. However, I have
currently found it to be a program that is a little too
aggressive and that has caused problems like one I
identified with Flash Player (see the May, 2007
RASCAL newsletter) and that may have occurred
with several other applications recently. I contacted
the author of RegScrubXP in June about the problem but have yet to receive a reply.
Instead of RegScrubXP, I have
been using a utility called CCleaner
(formerly known as Crap Cleaner),
which is a freeware system optimization and privacy tool. It is far more
versatile and safer than RegScrubXP.
It removes unused files from your system, including
those in the Registry, thus allowing Windows to run
faster and freeing up valuable hard disk space.
Windows XP Disk Cleanup also does this but
CCleaner is much faster! It also cleans traces of
your online activities such as your internet history.
It is not only fast (normally taking less than a few
seconds to run), it contains NO Spyware or Adware!
It has the option to remove programs as efficiently
as does XP’s add/remove, but it also does that more
quickly. I know of no one who has found it to remove a registry file in error that was needed by a
4
program to function as designed. CCleaner’s functions are completely selectable by the user and it
contains the option to save your removals (changes)
in case you get too aggressive! .
This small utility is available at www.ccleaner.com.
To better understand its functions and abilities, take
the time to read about the utility’s options and their
use while you are on their site.
INTRUDERS Not WELCOME
~ by Joan McDowell
Have you seen new toolbars in your Internet Explorer that you haven't intentionally installed?
Has your browser crashed inexplicably? Has
your home page been "hijacked,” or changed
without your knowledge? These and other symptoms may indicate that your computer has been infected with spyware. The first line of defense is, of
course, safe surfing (see Tom Crittenden’s
“Spyware and Adware” article in the May ’04
newsletter, available on the RASCAL website at
www.rascal.cc).
Three popular and widely recommended security
utilities with which you may be familiar are Spybot
Search & Destroy, AdAware, and Spyware
Blaster. We should all be aware that no single
anti-virus or malware protection program is guaranteed to protect us from all threats. What one may
miss another will catch.
RASCAL member Bob Booth has recently recommended a free utility provided by Panda Software,
one of the oldest and best-reputed anti-virus companies. They provide free system scans to assist you
in the removal of Malware. Their two types of
scans are: (1) Total Scan---an in-depth scan that
takes over an hour; and (2) Nano Scan that takes
less than ten minutes. Bob highly recommends the
Total Scan initially to ensure that your system is
clean. Panda requests only your country, state, and
email address. Once you have scanned you may
return as often as you feel necessary without any
fees. This utility searches for viruses, spyware,
Trojans, and other threats. It also uses heuristic
technologies to detect unknown viruses. To avail
yourself of these scans, go to
www.infectedornot.com
and learn whether you have been maliciously attacked and if so, by whom.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
SEPTEMBER
CONVERTING RECORDS and TAPES to CDs
(PRE-REQ: Intermediate Windows. Students should also bring
personal stereo headphones and a 512mb or 1gig USB flash drive
in order to save class exercise(s) or projects.) You will be introduced to standard audio recording and editing processes utilizing a
home-based computer system. We will cover: Importing Analog
Audio to Computer, Editing Recordings, Audio Formats, Workflow
concepts, and Playback Media. This course has been developed for
the “home” computer user and is presented in relatively non-technical
terms. This is a hands-on class. Students will complete assigned exercise(s). Students should be comfortable with using a mouse and navigating standard Microsoft XP Window screens and formats.
DIGITAL CAMERA, Beginning
(PRE-REQ: Beginning Windows, Beginning Email & Internet.)
Learn the four basics for a beginning digital camera user and much
more. Step by step instructions on how to download your photos
from the camera, how to email, print out, enhance, and crop your
photos. Includes instructions on how to use a portable hard drive for
transporting your photos from one computer to another.
E-MAIL & INTERNET, BEGINNING
(PRE-REQ: Introduction to Computers and Beginning Windows.) Very detailed, very basic class. Handouts will teach you how
to get started in e-mail and the internet. Create, send, and receive email over the internet using Outlook Express. Search, surf, and
download using Internet Explorer.
INTRODUCTION to COMPUTERS
(REQUIRED for FIRST TIME COMPUTER USERS.) A fun
class. Learn the proper method to turn a computer on and off. Learn
to use the mouse and keyboard. Get acquainted with hardware, software, and computer vocabulary.
PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS, Beginning
(PRE-REQ: Beginning Windows and WORD or WORKS: ability to use mouse well.) Gain a basic understanding of the capabilities
of this photo editing program. Learn how to manipulate photos, moving one into another; learn to present pictures over the internet; learn
transferring, feathering, and opacity. Learn to choose resolutions and,
generally, how to use tools.
VISTA, Beginning
(PRE-REQ: Introduction to Computers.) Identify and use parts
of the newest Microsoft Operating System. Learn the difference
between system software and application programs. Learn how to
use the controls, menus, icons, and toolbars on various windows
and the desktop. XP users are welcome to attend this class.
WINDOWS XP, Beginning
(PRE-REQ: Introduction to Computers.) A continuation of
basic computer skills. Identify and use parts of this Microsoft Operating System. Learn the difference between system software and
application programs. Learn how to use the controls, menus, icons,
and toolbars on various windows and the desktop
WORD 2000—2003, Beginning
(PRE-REQ: Beginning Word..) Learn the names and locate elements of this Microsoft word processing program. Emphasis on the
Standard and Formatting tool bar buttons. Work with documents,
print and save. Use of a 3.5 floppy recommended but not required.
OCTOBER
DESIGNING A HOLIDAY LETTER
(PRE-REQ: Beginning Windows and Word or Works) Enhance the appearance of your holiday letters with fancy fonts and
colors. Design them to reflect the season and add interest with
timely graphics and even photos. Also create distinctive, personalized form letters for other purposes and occasions.
E-MAIL & INTERNET, BEGINNING
(See September)
GIFS, CLIPART, HOLIDAY STATIONERY,
SIGNATURES, & MIDI MUSIC
(PRE-REQ: Beginning Windows and Beginning E-Mail &
Internet.) Learn to search the internet for gifs, clipart, holiday stationery, signatures, and midi music. Save them on a
disk or in a folder and use them to enhance the appearance of
e-mail.
GRAPHIC SOLUTIONS
(PRE-REQ: Previous experience with any graphics program.)
For beginning, intermediate, and advanced students. The goal of this
class is to seek a solution for each student’s graphics project. The
method is to teach graphics concepts and how solutions are arrived at,
regardless of the software being used.
INTRODUCTION to COMPUTERS
(See September)
LAYERED GREETING CARDS in WORD
(PRE-REQ: Basic MS Word.) This class will cover how to create a
decorative border using the text box function in MS Word; how to
insert clip-art or pictures inside the text box; how to layer the bordered art onto the card; and even a fast and simple way to make an
envelope to fit the card.
PICASA
(PRE-REQ: Beginning Windows.) This one-day class introducing
Picasa, a free photo manipulating program, will emphasize picture
enhancement, saving, sizing, and sending. For the beginner. You
will learn basic photo editing techniques.
VISTA, Beginning
(See September)
WORD, Beginning
(See September)
Have You Misplaced Your
RASCAL Membership Badge?
Obtain a replacement at
Tuesday meetings through
The Membership Table
(where dues are paid).
There is a $1.00 fee.
5
Need Help? - Dial-A-Helper
“Seniors Helping Seniors”
Support for simple computer problems is available by telephone from the Dial-A-Helpers listed
below. On-line help can be accessed from the Technical Help ListServe.
GENERAL TROUBLESHOOTING
Most Areas of Computering
Wally Zittle*
Bob Booth*
Ray Lake*
Lou Lyons
Chris Oman*
Len Richardson
Gerry Tank
476-9800
[email protected]
474-2993
[email protected]
956-6302
[email protected]
[phone n/a] [email protected]
471-1058
[email protected]
866-2541
[email protected]
476-7667 [email protected]
BEGINNER’S HELP
Laura Dunwald
Ginny von Gal
Gordon Rendall
Gerry Tank
Marv Wilson
479-9076
[email protected]
474-7566
[email protected]
955-1000 [email protected]
476-7667
[email protected]
471-1867
[email protected]
VISTA
Tom Crittenden [phone n/a] [email protected]
Laura Dunwald 479-9076
[email protected]
Wally Zittle*
476-9800
[email protected]
*Available for home service for a nominal fee.
APPLICATIONS & OTHER SPECIFIC HELP
DIGITAL CAMERAS & PHOTOS - For Beginners
Nancy Kain
955-4800
[email protected]
Ken Mitchell
476-1883
[email protected]
EXCEL
Ron Willing
582-9694
[email protected]
GENEALOGY
Laura Dunwald
479-9076
[email protected]
GRAPHICS
Bill Porter
[phone n/a]
[email protected]
HAM RADIO
Ben Skinner
479-3965
[email protected]
ICQ
Jean Kraft
664-8197
[email protected]
INTERNET, General
Lou Lyons
[phone n/a]
MACINTOSH OS
Joanne Shields
[phone n/a]
[email protected]
[email protected]
OUTLOOK EXPRESS
Nancy Kain
955-4800
Jean Kraft
664-8197
Cliff Worden
471-1292
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
QUICKEN
George Steffensen
[email protected]
474-4305
WEB PAGE HTML BASIC
Mark Simonds
955-4810
[email protected]
WORD PERFECT & MS WORD (for beginners)
Karen Janssen
956-6067
[email protected]
EXCHANGE COMPUTER RELATED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
The free-to-all RASCALs Technical Help ListServe is here to help all members with
any problems they may be having with their computer.
For information on how to subscribe go to our website:
www.rascal.cc and click on Help * ISP.
Smartwire is The RASCAL Internet
Service Provider & Website Provider at
6
301 NE 6th Street at ‘E’, Grants Pass
Telephone: 955-6930
AN OBSERVATION
~ by Lou Garrotto
Years ago, I remember reading a poem by Robert Browning titled Rabbi Ben Ezra.
The opening stanza went like
this:
Grow old along with me!
The best is yet to be,
The last of life, for which the first was made:
Our times are in His hand.
Who saith “A whole I planned,
Youth shows but half; trust God:
see all, nor be afraid!
Many of us read this poem while in high school or
college and thought very little of it, other than it was
a poem written a long time ago. Read it again today
and it takes on a whole new meaning, because we
are what this poem is all about.
Many times since I joined RASCAL, I’ve come to
the meetings and heard about the death of a RASCAL friend. It saddens me that I shall no longer see
their faces nor hear their voices. Many times when I
make a Tuesday presentation, I think, “There is an
empty chair out there, once occupied by one who
was my friend simply because I am a RASCAL.” It
is at times disheartening, but then I tell myself “I am
richer for having known that person.”
our fellow members. What other reason could
there be for teaching classes; working to provide
picnics and parties; getting up early to provide
coffee and donuts; and setting up the room before
the meeting starts? This and more is done by our
volunteers for you and for me. I, for one, need
the sharing and participation this club affords me.
This helps to compensate for the arthritic legs,
back, and shoulder aches that most of us suffer.
We must each try to live life to the fullest. Be as
good to one another as possible and, when we
take our permanent leave of RASCAL, perhaps
we will be remembered for the right reasons. I
sincerely hope that some of you feel as I do.
“God Bless RASCAL.” I shall be a RASCAL as
long as the Good Lord allows my presence on this
earth.
Editor’s Note: Lou Garrotto has served this
club as Vice President and President. Many
RASCALs know him as a very popular teacher
and as an entertaining and informative presenter
at our Tuesday meetings. For many years he has
shared with us his talent for teaching and for
keeping us entertained while doing so. Below he
is having a great time — and giving us a great
time — at the Picnic 2007 auction.
Each of us at one time or another has had thoughts
about his own mortality, but after a bit these
thoughts leave us. WHY? Because of our possessions? A car? Money? A house? No, rather because of our spouse, our children, our grandchildren. And those of us who belong to this wonderful
organization called RASCAL have yet another reason not to dwell on death. It’s because of the
friends we have made in classes, at the meetings,
and at picnics and Christmas parties..
Surely, the death of a spouse, parent, child, or friend
will leave a vacant spot in our hearts, but I choose to
believe that our RASCAL friends and activities
somehow compensate for those vacant spots. If not
entirely, enough to make us happy to awaken to a
new day, a new RASCAL meeting, a new RASCAL
class, or a new RASCAL activity. We are loved by
The Monthly BOARD MEETING
MINUTES are available on the
RASCAL website at
www.rascal.cc
7
RASCAL
Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit #22
COMPUTER CLUB
214 SW 4th STREET
GRANTS PASS, OR 97526
Grants Pass, OR
Return Service Requested
PLEASE NOTE: Your month of membership renewal is located in the upper right corner of your mailing label.
Please mail yearly dues: $15 Single Membership, $20 for Couples, $75 Single Lifetime; $100 Couples Lifetime,
to the RASCAL address listed above, or submit at a General Meeting.
AN IMPORTANT
NOTICE
on
RECYCLING
Bill Rose will no longer be receiving computers
and components for pick up and recycling by
David Gilchrist.
Mr. Gilchrist is no longer associated with AAR
Recyclers in White City and has re-located his
ACE Recycling Center to Wonder. He expects
to soon have a drop-off and pick-up location for
computers and other electronics in Grants Pass at
SPARC Enterprises and Recycling Center at
1990 NW Washington Blvd.
Please contact David Gilchrist for more
information at 597-4586 or 787-0353.
RASCAL meetings are held in the Floral Building at the
Fairgrounds in Grants Pass. Weekly meetings are on Tuesdays,
except holidays. The General Membership meets from 9:30 a.m.
to 10:50 a.m. The Beginner’s Meeting is held from 11:00 to 11:30
(or to 11:45 for Q&A). All members are welcome to attend both
meetings. Come early for coffee and chat with friends.
We also invite you to visit our website:
w w w .r as ca l . cc
for up-to-date information about our club, our members, classes,
meetings, and links to other websites. Our website is managed by
Ginny von Gal and hosted by Smartwire Internet.
BIT OF A RASCAL STAFF
Editor………………………...………….……….….............….Joan McDowell
e-mail: [email protected]
Assistant Editor…………………………..……….…..…………….Nancy Kain
Columnists……………….…..….Bob Booth, Tom Crittenden, .Laura Dunwald,
….…....Jane Frincke, Patricia Hentges, Nancy Kain, Lou Lyons, Phyllis Wilkey
Copy Editors…..…………..…...Laura Dunwald, Jane Frincke, Patricia Hentges,
………………….………………….…………. DeVerne Jacobsen; Nancy Kain
Photos……………..…………………….….……..….…Nancy Kain, Bill Porter
Graphics Artist……....………………….…..…………..……....Patricia Hentges
Printing……………….…….……………....….…….......MacGraphically Yours
Seventh & ‘L’ Streets, Grants Pass
____________________________________________
We reserve the right to edit and/or omit submissions.
Items received after the newsletter deadline may appear
in the next issue.
VOL XX ISSUE IV — SEPTEMBER 2007 - ROGUE AREA SENIOR COMPUTER ASSISTANCE LEAGUE