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Welcome to this week's edition of the Computer Kindergarten Newsletter.
Today is Sunday, September 13, 2009
In this Issue:
Special Feature: U.S. Census Be Cooperative, But Cautious
Featured Computer Term: Get to the Desktop
This Week's Topic: Windows Vista: Changing and Arranging Desktop Icons
Question: Error Message - Page Cannot Be Found
Websites of Interest: Today is National Grandparents’ Day; Rosh Hashanah; Swine Flu; How to Plant a Tree; Ten Quick Headache Cures
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Special Feature: U.S. Census Be Cooperative, But Cautious
The following is from the Better Business Bureau
http://www.bbb.org/us/article/10306
BBB Alerts Consumers about U.S. Census Workers: Be Cooperative, But Cautious!
For years, Better Business Bureau has educated consumers about not giving out personal information over the telephone or to anyone who shows up at their front door. With the U.S. Census process beginning, BBB advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft.
The first phase of the 2010 U.S. Census is under way as workers have begun verifying the addresses of households across the country. Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race and other relevant data.
"Most people are rightfully cautious and won't give out personal information to unsolicited phone callers or visitors, however the Census is an exception to the rule," said Steve Cox, BBB spokesperson. "Unfortunately, scammers know that the public is more willing to share personal data when taking part in the Census and they have an opportunity to ply their trade by posing as a government employee and soliciting sensitive financial information."
The Census data will be used to allocate more than $300 billion in federal funds every year, as well as determine a State's number of Congressional representatives. Households are actually required by law to respond to the Census Bureau's request for information.
During the U.S. Census, households will be contacted by mail, telephone or visited by a U.S. Census worker who will inquire about the number of people living in the house. Unfortunately, people may also be contacted by scammers who are impersonating Census workers in order to gain access to sensitive financial information such as Social Security, bank account or credit card numbers. Law enforcement in several states have issued warnings that scammers are already posing as Census Bureau employees and knocking on doors asking for donations and Social Security numbers.
The big question is - how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist? BBB offers the following advice:
If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions. However, you should never invite anyone you don't know into your home.
Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information. Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census. While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, it will not ask for Social Security, bank account or credit card numbers nor will employees solicit donations.
Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail or in person at home. However, they will not contact you by e-mail, so be on the look out for e-mail scams impersonating the Census. Never click on a link or open any attachments in an e-mail that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.
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Tips & Tricks: Get to the Desktop
Do you have any tips on quickly getting to the desktop when it is hidden under open windows? If I want to get to my icons, I have to minimize every program I have open.
Answer:
Here are a couple of shortcuts:
Hold down the Windows key on your keyboard (that is the one with the Windows logo) and then press the d key.
or
Hold down the Alt key on your keyboard and then press the Tab key. Keep pressing the Tab key until you see the desktop selected. Release both keys.
or
In Windows Vista, press the Windows key and then press the Tab key. You will see the Vista Flip 3D. Press the Tab key until the desktop if up front; release both keys.
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Today's Topic: Windows Vista: Changing and Arranging Desktop Icons
The following is from dummies.com.
You can personalize your Windows Vista workspace by changing the way the icons appear on the desktop. You can arrange icons on your desktop in Windows Vista using the desktop shortcut menu. To be able to move your icons anywhere on the desktop, follow these steps:
Right-click the Windows desktop.
Choose View.
Make sure that Auto Arrange isn’t selected. (If it is selected, click on it to deselect it.)
Click any icon and drag it to another location on the desktop.
Alternatively, you can arrange all the icons by sorting them all at once.
Right-click the Windows desktop.
Choose Sort By, and then choose your criteria: You can choose to sort by Name, Size, File Extension, or Date Modified.
You can also personalize your desktop by automatically adding icons and folders to your desktop using the Desktop Icon Settings dialog box.
Right-click the Windows desktop and choose Personalize.
Click the Change Desktop Icons link in the Task pane on the left.
Select any of the Desktop Icons check boxes to automatically display shortcuts for those standard items.
Click OK to save the settings and click Close in the top-right corner to close the Personalization window.
You can also change the icons themselves.
Right-click the Windows desktop and choose Personalize.
Click the Change Desktop Icons link in the Task pane.
Select any of the Desktop Icons in the middle of the dialog box and click the Change Icon button.
Click an icon that you like, and then click OK twice.
The new icon you chose for the shortcut will now appear on the desktop.
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Question: Error Message - Page Cannot Be Found
What causes the error message Page cannot be found when I open certain Web sites? Am I doing something wrong?
Answer:
There are several reasons why this message would appear. (None of them are your fault!)
1. The site you’re trying to visit has been removed or the name has been changed. This is one of the most common causes of that error message. Depending on the website address you’re using, you may be able to cut down the address. For example, if you are using this address:
www.computerkindergarten.com/html/030108.html
leave off the part after the slash (/). This may get you to the website, where you can then look around for the page you want.
2. The website you are trying to view is getting a lot of traffic and their computer is overloaded. Click the Refresh button a few times. If it doesn’t work, try again later at a less busy time.
3. Internet congestion. This will happen during peak times. If it takes too long for your browser to display the website, it stops trying. Click the Refresh button. If that doesn’t work, try again later.
4. The Internet connection was lost. If you’re using dial-up, log in again. If you’re using broadband, reboot the modem. If you’re using wifi, disconnect from and reconnect to the network.
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Websites of Interest:
Today is National Grandparents’ Day
Learn more about this observation at these websites:
http://www.grandparents-day.com/history1.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Grandparents_Day
Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah begins at sunset on Friday, September 18, 2009. Learn all about the holiday at this website.
http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday2.htm
Swine Flu
From Reuters, this website provides current news items and background pieces about the H1N1 swine flu.
http://www.reuters.com/news/globalcoverage/swineflu
How to Plant a Tree
If you want the tree you are planting to survive and thrive, here is what to do:
http://www.wikihow.com/Plant-a-Tree
Ten Quick Headache Cures
http://organizedwisdom.com/Slideshow:10_Quick_Headache_Cures
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