srspg2_12

"Auld Lang Syne Medley"

COMMENTS AND SCHEDULE PAGE
12/28/03

MIKE'S COMMENTARY
THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE
NEWS & NOTES BY SUE FOUST

MIKE'S COMMENTARY AND BITS OF WISDOM:

JUST BEHIND US:

Winter solstice this year, 2003, occurred at 02:04 am EST on December 22.
The Earth is actually nearer the sun in January than it is in June -- by three million miles. Pretty much irrelevant to our planet. What causes the seasons is something completely different. The Earth leans slightly on its axis like a spinning top frozen in one off-kilter position. Astronomers have even pinpointed the precise angle of the tilt. It's 23 degrees and 27 minutes off the perpendicular to the plane of orbit. This planetary pose is what causes all the variety of our climate; all the drama and poetry of our seasons, since it determines how many hours and minutes each hemisphere receives precious sunlight.
According to Martin Gotz ,Physics Department, Brown University, Providence, RI, "figuring out the changing seasons, the tilt of the Earth's axis, the date of the solstice, etc. is _very_ simple. E.g. look at how the rising (or setting) point of the Sun changes during a year. When the Sun rises or sets the furthest to the south, it is winter solstice. If it's furthest to the north, it's summer solstice. Measuring the difference between the maximum altitude of the Sun reached on the days of the solstices gives twice the tilt of the Earth's equator, and hence the tilt of the Earth's axis of rotation, and so forth. You don't need satellites or space travel for that.
Looking at nature with open eyes, observing the motion of the Sun across the sky will reveal these things very quickly. So it's no surprise at all that this was known very early to humans."
Such precision we have about it now! Winter solstice is when...
...because of the earth's tilt, your hemisphere is leaning farthest away from the sun, and therefore:
The daylight is the shortest.
The sun has its lowest arc in the sky.
When it's winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, the sun is directly overhead at noon only along the Tropic of Capricorn, on which lie such places as Sao Paulo, Brazil, southern Madagascar, and areas north of Brisbane, Australia.
No one's really sure how long ago humans recognized the winter solstice and began heralding it as a turning point -- the day that marks the return of the sun. One delightful little book written in 1948, 4,000 Years of Christmas, puts its theory right up in the title. The Mesopotamians were first, it claims, with a 12-day festival of renewal, designed to help the god Marduk tame the monsters of chaos for one more year.
It's a charming theory. But who knows how accurate it is? Cultural anthropology has advanced a lot in the last 50 years!
Many, many cultures the world over perform solstice ceremonies. At their root: an ancient fear that the failing light would never return unless humans intervened with anxious vigil or antic celebration.
There's much new scholarship about Neolithic peoples and their amazing culture. For example, it now looks as though writing is much more ancient than we earlier thought -- as much as 10,000 years old.
Neolithic peoples were the first farmers. Their lives were intimately tied to the seasons and the cycle of harvest. I'm certain they were attuned to the turning skies.
Scholars haven't yet found proof that these peoples had the skill to pinpoint a celestial event like solstice. Earliest markers of time that we've found from these ancient peoples are notches carved into bone that appear to count the cycles of the moon. But perhaps they watched the movement of the sun as well as the moon, and perhaps they celebrated it -- with fertility rites, with fire festivals, with offerings and prayers to their gods and goddesses.
Many of us know that Stonehenge is a perfect marker of both solstices. But not so many people are familiar with Newgrange, a beautiful megalithic site in Ireland. This huge circular stone structure is estimated to be 5,000 years old, older by centuries than Stonehenge, older than the Egyptian pyramids! It was built to receive a shaft of sunlight deep into its central chamber at dawn on winter solstice.
The light illuminates a stone basin below intricate carvings -- spirals, eye shapes, solar discs. Although not much is known about how Newgrange was used by its builders, marking the solstice was obviously of tremendous spiritual import to them. Here's more on this incredible ancient site.
The above and much more was a gleaned from http://www.candlegrove.com/solstice.html

JUST AHEAD OF US

Happy New Year 2004. Although the new year has been celebrated since prehistoric times, it was celebrated on the vernal equinox rather than what we now consider the first of the year. The Romans were the first to recognize New Years Day on January first. Rather than tie the day to some significant astronomical or agricultural event, in 153 BC the Romans selected it for civil reasons. It was the day after elections in which the newly elected assumed their positions.
Years later, Julius Caesar wanted to change the date to a more logical date but that year, January 1, 45 BC was the date of a new moon. To change it would have been bad luck. He did, however, change the calendar system from the Egyptian solar calendar to the "Julian" calendar, named for Caesar. July, the month of Caesar's birth, was also named after him to recognize him for his calendar reform.
Up unto 1582, Christian Europe continued to celebrate New Years Day on March 25. Pope Gregory XIII instituted additional calendar reforms bringing us the calendaring system of the day. The Gregorian calendar was adopted by Catholic countries immediately while the reformists, suspect of any papal policy, only adapted it after some time. Today most countries around the world have adopted this calendaring system.
From primitive man to today, it has been recognized as a day in which rites were done to abolished the past so there could be a rejuvenation for the new year. Rituals included purgations, purifications, exorcisms, extinguishing and rekindling fires, masked processions (masks representing the dead), and other similar activities. Often exorcisms and purgations were performed with much noise as if to scare away the evil spirits. In China, Ying, the forces of light fought Yang, the forces of darkness with cymbals, noisemakers, and firecrackers.
Early European-Americans adopted the New Year celebrations from their homelands. However, it was noted by early settlers that native Americans already honored News Years Day with their own customs. Their rituals coincided with those around the world including fires, explosions of evil spirits, and celebrations. Today many of the New Year celebrations actually begin with a countdown to the New Year on the evening prior. It is customary to kiss your sweetheart when the clock strikes midnight as one of the customs of these New Years Eve parties.
New Year Resolutions is simply another way to wish away the past in exchange for hopes of the future. It is where the phrase "turning over a new leaf" originated.
New Year's Eve (December 31)
In the United States, the federal holiday is January first, but Americans begin celebrating on December 31. Sometimes people have masquerade balls, where guests dress up in costumes and cover their faces with masks. According to an old tradition, guests unmask at midnight.
At New Year's Eve parties across the United States on December 31, many guests watch television as part of the festivities. Most of the television channels show Times Square in the heart of New York City. At one minute before midnight, a lighted ball drops slowly from the top to the bottom of a pole on one of the buildings. People count down at the same time as the ball drops. When it reaches the bottom, the new year sign is lighted. People hug and kiss, and wish each other "Happy New Year!"
New Year's Day
On January first, Americans visit friends, relatives and neighbors. There is plenty to eat and drink when you just drop in to wish your loved ones and friends the best for the year ahead. Many families and friends watch television together enjoying the Tournament of Roses parade preceding the Rose Bowl football game in Pasadena California. The parade was started in 1887, when a zoologist who had seen one in France suggested to the Valley Hunt Club in Pasadena, California that they sponsor "an artistic celebration of the ripening of the oranges" at the beginning of the year. At first the parade was a line of decorated horse-drawn private carriages. Athletic events were held in the afternoon, and in the evening, a ball where winners of the events of the day and the most beautiful float were announced. In later years colleges began to compete in football games on New Year's Day, and these gradually replaced other athletic competitions. The parade of floats grew longer from year to year, and flower decorations grew more elaborate.
The theme of the Tournament of Roses varies from year to year. Today the parade is usually more than five miles long with thousands of participants in the marching bands and on the floats. City officials ride in the cars pulling the floats. A celebrity is chosen to be the grand marshal, or official master of ceremonies. The queen of the tournament rides on a special float which is always the most elaborate one of the parade, being made from more than 250,000 flowers. Spectators and participants alike enjoy the pageantry associated with the occasion. Preparation for next year's Tournament of Roses begins on January 2.
In the warmer regions all around the country there are other games whose names are characteristic of the state. People watch the Orange Bowl game in Florida, the Cotton Bowl in Texas, and the Sugar Bowl in Louisiana. In most cultures, people promise to better themselves in the following year. Americans have inherited the tradition and even write down their New Year's resolutions. Whatever the resolution, most of them are broken or forgotten by February!
Interesting facts about New Year Celebrations about the world:
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/7214/newyear.htm
http://www.holidayorigins.com/html/new_years_day.html
http://www.theholidayspot.com/newyear/around-the-world.htm

Top 10 New Year's Resolutions

Spend More Time with Family & Friends
A recent poll conducted by General Nutrition Centers shows that 59% of Americans vow to appreciate loved ones and spend more time with family and friends this year.
Fit in Fitness
The evidence is in for fitness. Regular exercise has been associated with more health benefits than anything else known to man. Studies show that it reduces the risk of some cancers, increases longevity, helps achieve and maintain weight loss, enhances mood, lowers blood pressure, and even improves arthritis. In short, exercise keeps you healthy and makes you look and feel better.
Tame the Bulge
Fifty-five percent of adults in America are overweight, so it is not surprising to find that weight loss is one of the most popular New Year's resolutions. Setting reasonable goals and staying focused are the two most important factors in sticking with a weight loss program, and the key to success for those millions of Americans who made a New Year's commitment to shed extra pounds.
Quit Smoking
If you have resolved to make this the year that you stamp out your smoking habit, over-the-counter availability of nicotine replacement therapy now provides easier access to proven quit-smoking aids. Even if you've tried to quit before and failed, don't let it get you down. On average, smokers try about four times before they quit for good. Start enjoying the rest of your smoke-free life.
Enjoy Life More
The changed mood of the country following September 11 has brought about a shift in Americans' resolutions for the New Year. Millions of Americans have vowed to make this the year to not only diet and exercise but also to appreciate life itself, according to a national survey released in December, 2002.
Quit Drinking
While many people use the New Year as an incentive to finally stop drinking, most are not equipped to make such a drastic lifestyle change all at once. Many heavy drinkers fail to quit cold turkey but do much better when they taper gradually, or even learn to moderate their drinking. If you have decided that you want to stop drinking, there is a world of help and support available.
Get Out of Debt
Was money a big source of stress in your life last year? Join the millions of Americans who have resolved to spend this year getting a handle on their finances. It's a promise that will repay itself many times over in the year ahead.
Learn Something New
Have you vowed to make this year the year to learn something new? Perhaps you are considering a career change, want to learn a new language, or just how to fix your computer? Whether you take a course or read a book, you'll find education to be one of the easiest, most motivating New Year's resolutions to keep. Challenge your mind in the coming year, and your horizons will expand.
Help Others
A popular, non-selfish New Year's resolution, volunteerism can take many forms. Whether you choose to spend time helping out at your local library, mentoring a child, or building a house, these nonprofit volunteer organizations could really use your help.
Get Organized
On just about every New Year resolution top ten list, organization can be a very reasonable goal. Whether you want your home organized enough that you can invite someone over on a whim, or your office organized enough that you can find the stapler when you need it, these tips and links should get you started on the way to a more organized life.
~ Kimberly & Albrecht Powell ~

Determined To Keep Those New Year's Resolutions?

Here are a few goal setting tips to get you started! Don't Try Everything at Once! There's a temptation, with the New Year, to run off a list of everything we've ever wanted to change. Don't fall for it! You'll have better luck fulfillin gone or two goals than you will with a list of fifty. You can always add new resolutions to your list later. Take one thing at a time.
Word it Carefully. Let's say your resolution is to relax more in the coming year. Word this carefully. Try not to think of it as "This year I am going to relax." That's a stress-inducer waiting to happen. It forces you into thinking of the resolution as something you must do, not something you want to do. Try to make it sound a little gentler: "This year I'm going to explore different ways of relaxing." It also suggests more of a plan—you'll fulfillthe resolution by experimenting with relaxation techniques. The first resolution sounds as if you're going to force yourself to relax by sheer willpower.
Make a Plan Once you know what your resolution is, try to break it down. Nobody accomplishes anything of significance by trying to do it all at once. This doesn't have to be a complicated plan; just brainstorm enough to give you a place to start.
For relaxing, you might devise a plan like this
1) Surf the Internet to find different relaxation techniques.
2) Make a list of all the techniques that interest you.
3) Pick one of these techniques—meditation, progressive relaxation or self-hypnosis, for instance—and try one for a month.
4) Try a different technique every month until you find one you like.
Write it Down. Write down your resolution and your plan of action. Stick it up on the fridge, in your locker, wherever you know you'll see it. That way you'll have a constant reminder of theresolution. You may want to change the wording as time passes and your goal changes.

NCAA TELEVISED FOOTBALL BOWL GAMES

CONTINENTAL TIRE BOWL Charlotte, N.C. Dec. 27, 11 a.m. (ESPN2) Pittsburgh vs. Virginia Last year: Virginia 48, West Virginia 22	OUTBACK BOWL Tampa, Fla. Jan. 1, 11 a.m. (ESPN) Iowa vs. Florida Last year: Michigan 38, Florida 30
MASTERCARD ALAMO BOWL San Antonio Dec. 29, 9 p.m. (ESPN) Michigan State vs. Nebraska Last year: Wisconsin 31, Colorado 28 (OT)	TOYOTA GATOR BOWL Jacksonville, Fla. Jan. 1, 12:30 p.m. (NBC) West Virginia vs. Maryland Last year: N.C. State 28, Notre Dame 6
EV1.net HOUSTON BOWL Houston Dec. 30, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN) Navy vs. Texas Tech Last year: Oklahoma St. 33, Sou. Miss 23	CAPITAL ONE BOWL Orlando, Fla. Jan. 1, 2003, 1 p.m. (ABC) Purdue vs. Georgia Last year: Auburn 13, Penn State 9
SILICON VALLEY CLASSIC San Jose, Calif. Dec. 30, 10:30 p.m. (ESPN2) UCLA vs. Fresno State Last year: Fresno State 30, Georgia Tech 21	ROSE BOWL Pasadena, Calif. Jan. 1, 4:30 p.m. (ABC) USC vs. Michigan Last year: Oklahoma 34, Washington St. 14
PACIFIC LIFE HOLIDAY BOWL San Diego Dec. 30, 8 p.m. (ESPN) Washington State vs. Texas Last year: Kansas St. 34, Arizona St. 27	FEDEX ORANGE BOWL Miami Jan. 1, 2003, 8:30 p.m. (ABC) Miami vs. Florida State Last year: USC 38, Iowa 17
GAYLORD HOTELS MUSIC CITY BOWL Nashville, Tenn. Dec. 31, Noon (ESPN) Wisconsin vs. Auburn Last year: Minnesota 29, Arkansas 14	SBC COTTON BOWL Dallas Jan. 2, 2 p.m. (FOX) Oklahoma St. vs. Mississippi Last year: Texas 35, LSU 20
WELLS FARGO SUN BOWL El Paso, Texas Dec. 31, 2 p.m. (CBS) Minnesota vs. Oregon Last year: Purdue 34, Washington 24	CHICK-FIL-A PEACH BOWL Atlanta Jan. 2, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN) Clemson vs. Tennessee Last year: Maryland 30, Tennessee 3
AXA LIBERTY BOWL Memphis Dec. 31, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN) Southern Miss vs. Utah Last year: TCU 17, Colorado State 3	TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL Tempe, Ariz. Jan. 2, 8 p.m. (ABC) Kansas St. vs. Ohio St. Last year: Ohio State 31, Miami 24 (2OT)
MAINSTAY INDEPENDENCE BOWL Shreveport, La. Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN) Arkansas vs. Missouri Last year: Ole Miss 27, Nebraska 23	HUMANITARIAN BOWL Boise Jan. 3, 12 p.m. (ESPN) Georgia Tech vs. Tulsa Last year: Boise State 34, Iowa State 16
DIAMOND WALNUT SAN FRAN BOWL San Francisco Dec. 31, 10:30 p.m. (ESPN2) Colorado State vs. Boston College Last year: Virginia Tech 20, Air Force 13	NOKIA SUGAR BOWL New Orleans - Jan.4, 8 p.m. (ABC) Oklahoma vs. LSU Last year: Georgia 26, Florida State 13

KCNET CLASSES:

EBAY EBAY EBAY EBAY EBAY EBAY EBAY This four session course will start January 5, 2004. Course Content will include: Registering with EBAY, The techniques in selling, The techniques for bidding, How to find items for bid, How to determine the reputation of the seller, Different types of sales, How to pay, How to collect payments, fees involved, etc.

If interested please contact KCnet at 893-8111 or email Kerry Clausen, KCnet Education Coordinator. kclausen@kcnet.org

Internet and Email
4 session course
Topics include using the browser to find information on the Internet, web and email addresses, sending and receiving email, forwarding and replying to email, bookmarks, using the address book, and more. There is always time for questions and general exploration.

Beginner Windows 9x/XP
4 session course
Topics include an introduction to all parts of the computer, learning about the desktop, mouse features and operation, and features and operation of the keyboard. Also creating shortcut icons, using recycle bin, wallpaper and screen savers, toolbars and taskbars, drag and drop, using window features (minimize, maximize, resize, etc), control panel, accessing the different drives, and more. There is always time for questions and general exploration.

Intermediate Windows 9x/XP
4 session course
Topics include organization of windows programs, creating and organizing folders, file extensions, saving files from Internet, folder and file views, formatting floppy disks, installing programs, download programs from Internet, HTML email, uninstall vs delete, scandisk and defrag, email attachments, and more. There is always time for questions and general exploration.

Advanced Windows 9x/XP
4 session course
Topics include a review of the management of folders and files, an introduction to photo manipulation, introduction to web page creation, using the sound recorder, attaching recordings to emails, introduction to eyeball cams and Internet transmission, and an introduction to burning your own CDs. There is always time for questions and general exploration.

KCnet Users Group: (formerly know as "Senior Net Learners" most recently called "Advanced Class"). I wanted to call this class "The Abusers Group", but Sue would not hear of that. Attendees are persistent in their search for computer knowledge. They ask great questions and present interesting challenges. The cost for this class is $0.00 for members of KCnet and $2.00 per session for non KCnet members. There is no set format for the sessions. Occasionally we will take a specific subject and do a detailed study over a period of successive weeks. Don't be afraid to ask questions. The folks that have been attending for awhile are always happy for a review and in most cases new or better ways to do things will surface. Questions stimulate in-depth exploration with the usual result being an understanding of how and why.
We welcome new attendees from the Advanced sessions and our forever growing KCnet membership. This is an advanced group and we cover a lot of territory. We are kind of free flowing. You never know what will transpire.
It is not necessary for attendees to have their own computers but it sure helps with the learning curve.
KCnet Advanced Class computer knowledge and Advanced Class computer skills are necessary.

OTHER CLASSES:
CLICK HERE FOR ORIENTATION - BEGINNERS - INTERMEDIATE - ADVANCED
CLICK HERE FOR SCANNING - MAC- GENEALOGY - WEB PAGE - EXCEL - WORD - DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY - PHOTO MANIPULATION - OTHER SPECIALTIES

THIS WEEK'S CLASS SCHEDULE:

KCnet Users Group: Every Wednesday
The starting time is 9:00 AM on this Wednesday December 31. We meet in Computer Lab 1 (The Big Room). The leader is Mike Foust and anyone that wants to jump into the fray.
Last Wednesday 13 hardened computer users showed for class on Christmas eve morning. These folks had their shopping completed, pies and cookies made and the decorations done so they could play. Quite a few were making preps to entertain and many were traveling to see family. I expect that we will see a reduced attendance on New Year's eve morning too. All that said we 13 had a good time. We explored the problems that recently occurred with Hyperlink. We looked at a very good calendar program called Rainlendar. The download site is http://vapaa.dc.inet.fi/~rainy/Rainlendar.html. It is Freeware and it works great. There are many good features and it allows quite a bit of customizing. I cannot imagine not having it on the desktop.
Mike reminded the group about the Community Forum feature called Mike's Wednesday Morning Advanced Users Group. Each week I remind readers about the session for that week. This will be the area that a User Group attendee can find out whether the class will be canceled. If we have a stormy day in progress or projected I will use the Forum to tell members of the cancellation. I will make the post by 7:30 am. This is easier than trying to call everyone as in the past. So get used to checking on snowy days.

Just because the attendance was low doesn't mean that we didn't have good snacks. There were a couple, maybe three, kinds of fantastic fudge. I don't know who made them but I aim to find out and I'll let ya know.
Sue Clements came up with a special treat. It was rolled slices of bread, coated with good stuff and it surrounded the tastiest sweet filling. I went back for seconds but all I could find was a grease spot on the empty plate. Here it is straight from Sue:

CINNAMON LOG ROLL
1 LOAF SQUARE BREAD - CUT OFF CRUST
FILLING:
80Z CREAM CHEESE
1/2 TSP VANILLA
1/4 CUP SUGAR
1 EGG YOKE
BEAT UNTIL CREAMY
ROLL BREAD FLAT. SPREAD CREAM CHEESE MIXTURE ON EACH SLICE ROLL LIKE A JELLY ROLL.
DIP EACH ROLL INTO MELTED BUTTER.
ROLL IT IN A CINNAMON/SUGAR MIXTURE ( EQUAL PARTS OF EACH)
PUT ON A COOKIE SHEET AND FREEZE AT LEAST ONE HOUR.
BAKE AT 350 FOR 15 MINUTES TURNING AFTER 7 MINUTES
ENJOY and you will!!!!

Last week I promised a photo or two of the group as they officially donated money to the United Way and Toys for Tots. The funds totaled over $100.00. Obviously we are not a selfish group. So click here to go to a special quick and dirty page featuring pictures of thee Christmas party, donating, and a poor resemblance of Santa with an exceptionally cute reindeer .
This class often becomes idea swapping and we learn by sharing experiences.

Other KCnet Classes Starting Soon:
Orientation to KCnet
One-Session Class – No Charge for KCnet Members
Third Wednesday of Every Month 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Instructor: Ron Fenton

Beginner (Windows all versions)
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00 - 11:00 am
January 13, 15, 20, & 22
Four Session Course - $20.00 KCnet Members; $25.00 Non Members
Instructor: Wayne Smith

Intermediate (Windows all versions)
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30 - 7:30 pm
January 13, 15, 20, & 22
Four Session Course - $20.00 KCnet Members; $25.00 Non Members
Instructor: Tim Snyder

EBAY
Mondays & Wednesdays, 5:30 - 7:30 pm
January 5, 7, 12, & 14
Four Session Course - fee to be announced
Instructor: Kerry Clausen

Web Page (Beginners)
Mondays & Wednesdays, 12:00 - 2:00 pm
January 12, 14, 19, 21 & 26
Five Session Course - fee to be announced
Instructor: Mike Foust

Genealogy
Thursday 6:00-8:00 pm
Second Session - January 8
Instructor: David Wallace

MAC User Group
First Wednesday each month 4:30 PM
$5.00 per session
Instructor: Clair Falls

For more class details and to register visit: http://www.kcnet.org/class/
Registration can be done online, simply click on the course you are interested in and enter the information requested. Registration can be done via phone 893-8111.

NEWS AND NOTES WITH SUE FOUST:

On behalf of the Keystone Community Network Board of Directors and the KCnet staff, I would like to wish all of you the most happy holidays plus a healthy and prosperous 2004.

Stop in and visit us often next year. Take advantage of our professional technical service and educational classes.

Ray McGill, owner of Nittany Travel, is the President of KCnet; William Raco is Vice-President; Judy Yoho is Secretary and Donald C. Miller of North Bend is Treasurer. Other members of the board are Fred Bierly, Donna Gebhardt Lannan, Earl Keen, R. Keith Kelly, Amy Lapriola, Paddy O’Hara-Mays, Bob Rolley, and Rich Wykoff.

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