Wordle?

http://www.wordle.net/

This is very, very cool!

I saw it demonstrated at a conference I was at recently. The presenter put in (typed or copied/pasted) a block of text and the output was a graphic and visual "word poem". Wow! And, free (of course!!)

What's the weather like on YOUR desktop?

You can have it MATCH the weather in your local (or any other) location!

http://tinyurl.com/3wy433b

A free desktop that changes with the weather.

Easy Way to Print a Calendar

I came across this one recently when I needed to print a free, simple blank calendar for a project.

http://www.pdfcalendar.com/

If you know of others, why not add them with the COMMENT feature, below?

LONG but Important: Bad Guys Strike Again!

Watch out for a rise in fake desktop utility malware. These “bad guys” are fake windows recovery tools and are making the rounds through “drive-by downloads.”

Drive-by downloads may happen when visiting a website, viewing an e-mail message or by clicking on a deceptive pop-up window in the mistaken belief that, for instance, an error report from the computer itself is being acknowledged, or that an innocuous advertisement pop-up is being dismissed.

This new variant employs some new tactics such as disabling the task manager, hiding user programs and files by modifying file attributes, hiding start menu items and disabling multiple operating system features.

As seen in the past with other fake utilities, it attempts to scare the user with fake errors and tries to convince the user to buy the product in order to fix those errors. It uses a fake icon and file name to masquerade as a legitimate file as seen below:

Here are some screenshots of the fake utility in action:

It generates fake warnings:

It simulates a scan and displays fake error messages:

If the user proceeds to buy the advanced module it displays the following screen asking for credit card and personal information:

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO???

1. Keep your anti virus up to date and RUN IT.
2. If you think you might be infected, download and run Malwarebytes (www.malwarebytes.com) and Spybot Search and Destroy ( http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html)
3. NEVER offer your personal information unless YOU have initiated the order (i.e. you are initiating an order from a legitimate website.)
4. If you think you got scammed, contact your credit card company and bank immediately.

Best Free Multimedia Suite?

Aviary, a web alternative to Adobe Creative Suite, has a suite of various editors and tools to allow designers to create images and audio. This suite includes Phoenix Image Editor, Toucan Color Palettes, Peacock Visual Laboratory, Raven Vector Editor, Myna Audio Editor, Falcon Image Markup and more.

I have not yet tried it. Have you?

How to Change your Desktop Picture

Most of us spend a lot of time looking at the "desktop" or main screen of our computer, where all those little pictures ("icons") for our computer programs sit.


You can change the background picture on the desktop to anything you wish. There are a few ways to do this. The easiest for many is:


1. Find a picture or photo you like that you already have saved on your computer. (Hint- often these are in your MY PICTURES folder.)
2. RIGHT CLICK on the picture.
3. Select SET AS DESKTOP BACKGROUND.




You can also set a plain color for your desktop. Some of us find a nice light color is much easier on our eyes! To do this:


1. Go to your desktop.
2. RIGHT CLICK on an empty space on it. Select PROPERTIES.
3. You'll see a DISPLAY PROPERTIES box like the photo below. It has tabs across the top. Select the tab that says BACKGROUND.
4. Now, select NONE. It's at the top of the list so you will have to scroll up.
5. And then choose a COLOR from the COLOR box in that same window.
6. Click  OK.

By the way, the Display Properties box contains other settings you can also fiddle around with! Don't worry, you can't damage anything, and many of the choices make your computer easier to use or see.

"Google it?"

It's a verb:
S. Virginia: I need to find out where to get host baking equipment for the sisters in Tanzania...

S. Patrice: Google it.


So, you already know you can use Google (www.google.com) to look up almost anything. This slide show found here http://www.pcmag.com/slideshow/story/263028/the-best-google-search-tricks offers you ten tips for becoming a "power user!"

Don't worry. "Power User" doesn't require a PhD in computer science. It simply requires some careful reading and application of the tips they offer to  help you find information or websites, purchases or resources, via Google.

No, Google cannot answer the MOST relevant questions of life. But, it can sure help with a lot else!

Have fun Googling!

Puzzled by all this??

Here's a fun way to while away the weekend or your summer vacation! You can use these tools to make and print crossword puzzles and word search puzzles for your upcoming party or gathering!
 
http://tinyurl.com/3xgtze

http://tinyurl.com/3zzo7lm

Have fun!

What's the difference?

What’s the difference between clicking ‘OK’ and ‘Apply’ when I make changes to the settings of programs?


This question foxes many people. Essentially, the OK and Apply buttons perform a similar function, which is to make changes as per the settings set by a user. The key difference is that when you click the OK button the settings are applied and the window is closed. However, when you click the Apply button the settings are applied and the window remains open.


So, click OK if you're done fiddling; click APPLY if you still have more to do.