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

MIKE'S COMMENTARY AND SOME BITS OF WISDOM

Wish I'd Been There... If you missed the Jason McElwain story,  get on board.  This is the nicest story to come about in a long time.  From my viewpoint it is is unparalleled.  It's a real life story about a 17 year old boy named Jason.  Jason lives as a high level autistic.  He loves basketball but is not good enough to make the high school team.  He becomes the manager/waterboy.  Another star in this story is a very sympathetic coach.  He has Jason suitup for his last high school game before the playoffs.  He calls Jason's number with four minutes to go.  The rest is fairy tale... like Cinderella in sneakers.  Jason will probably not marry the home coming queen but he will have the greatest memories of scoring 20 points in four minutes and being swarmed by classmates and community folk.  He'll remember being swept off his feet and carried about the gym.  He'll recall being interviewed by hundreds of news and sports personnel.  Jason's story is being sought by dozens of movie producers.  All this, you'd think Jason would need a larger hat.  Not so.  You'll find Jason today back in his waterboy uniform, white shirt and necktie, worried about his team and them getting through the playoffs.  There were and still are numerous video clips about the story on line.  There have been so many sites with videos but they get taken down because of excessive traffic.  You'll have to search for one that is current.  Do a Google for "Jason McElwain." I recommend trying The ESPN site at: http://espn.go.com.  Access their video player, it appears to the right on the home page.  Look around for Page 2 then click on the clip "Autistic Boy Scores 20 Points in Varsity Basketball Game."  Sit back and enjoy a great story. More dramatic than "Rudy"...  I think.

 
 

HOW TO STAY YOUNG 1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height.  Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay them.  2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. (keep this In mind if you are one of those grouches;)  3. Keep learning:  Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain get idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop."  And the devil's name is Alzheimer's! 4. Enjoy the simple things. 5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and Lots of time with HIM/HER.  6. The tears  happen: Endure, grieve, and move on.  The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourself. LIVE while you are alive. 7. Surround yourself with what you love: Whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever.  Your home is your refuge. 8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve  it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help. 9.  Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the  next city, to a foreign country, but NOT to where  the guilt is.  10. Tell the people you  love that you love them, at every opportunity.

 
 

Special March Offerings at KCnet ICDL WORKSHOP KCnet offers workshops on computer skills necessary for the workplace (ICDL). These workshops include instruction in 4 categories of computer skills: Fundamental Concepts of Information Technology, Using the Computer and Managing Files, Word Processing, and Internet and Email. Individuals who complete the workshop successfully will receive an International Computer Driving License (ICDL) starter certification, and the opportunity to complete a full ICDL certification.  Currently there is an ICDL workshop in operation.  Interested applicants can sign up for the next ICDL workshop by calling KCnet at 893-8111.  The registration fee is $100.00 for the first four modules and includes all materials and testing fees.  All seven modules cost $175.00.  Grants from the Sovereign Bank and PA Department of Community and Economic Development have reduced the original cost of the seven modules from $900.00 to the current charge of $175.00. Advanced registration is required.  The ICDL certification program is designed to show employers that a potential or existing employee has the basic computer skills necessary to perform daily computer tasks. ICDL is comprised of seven modules that demonstrate competency in the following areas: Fundamental Concepts of IT, Using the Computer and Managing Files, Word Processing, Spreadsheets, Databases, Presentations, and Internet and Email. Upon completion of each training module, the candidate will take a proctored exam. Failed tests may be retaken as often as necessary. Once all tests have been passed, the candidate receives ICDL certification. The ICDL is an internationally accepted certificate. It can simplify employment procedures and assures the employer that the applicants and/or staff have the necessary level of knowledge and competence to use common computer applications. This workshop counts as 21 credit hours of ACT 48 continuing education credits, the full ICDL training and certification counts as 42 credit hours. ICDL certification is also worth 7 credit hours transferable to almost any college or university.    Intermediate Windows An Intermediate Windows Course at Keystone Community Network (KCnet) will be held March 6, 8, 13, & 15 -- 9:00 AM - Noon.   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. Total cost for the 4-session course is $30 for KCnet members and $35 for non-members.  Class periods are 2 hours and include question and answer time.   Class sizes are limited to 10.  Advance payment and preregistration are suggested.  You may register by calling (570) 893-8111 or visit www.kcnet.org/class.    PC Basics  A PC Basics Course at Keystone Community Network (KCnet) will be held March 7, 9, 14, & 16 -- Noon - 2 pm.  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 task bars, 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. Total cost for the 4-session course is $30 for KCnet members and $35 for non-members.  Class periods are 2 hours and include question and answer time.   Class sizes are limited to 10.  Advance payment and preregistration are suggested.  You may register by calling (570) 893-8111 or visit www.kcnet.org/class.    Web Page Creation. Do friends and business associates ask you for your web address?  Do you wish you had one?  Does your organization have a schedule of meetings you would like to post somewhere?  Would you like to have a web site that your family or organization can access?  In this Web Page Creation class, you will learn how to install the web page editor, Netscape Composer, the rudiments of designing a web page, creating and manipulating text, manipulating and placing graphics and backgrounds, creating tables, embedding music, creating links, and publishing to the Internet.  Every class member will receive a copy of the Netscape Composer program to install and use on their personal computer.  A CD featuring  graphics, music, and basic scripts for use on web pages will also be provided.  Classes will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays,  March 7,  9, 14, 16, and 21 from 5:30 PM- 7:30 PM.  Some knowledge of how to use a computer is required for this course. Students should have at least Intermediate Level computer knowledge, and particularly be familiar with keyboard and mouse techniques, creating folders, creating files, copy and paste, and saving files to folders.  Class size is limited to 8.  Advance registration is necessary.  For more information or to register, call (570) 893-8111.    Intermediate Microsoft Excel KCnet will also be offering a Intermediate Excel Class.  The class is 4 sessions, March 20, 22, 27 & 29 -- 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM.    The fee is $45, and includes a textbook. Class sizes are limited to 10.  Advance payment and preregistration is required.  You may register by calling (570) 893-8111 or visit http://www.kcnet.org/class.  Do you want to set up a small network in your home or office?  Do you have computers at every desk and wish you could share one or two printers among several users?  Would you like to share files with others in your office?     Small Business Networking KCnet will hold a 2-session seminar to help you explore basic networking concepts, Monday March 27 at 9-11 AM and Wednesday March 29, 9-11 AM.  Classes will be held at the KCnet Building at 18 East Main Street, Lock Haven. Network technicians will discuss equipment and software needed to set up a simple home or business local area network.  Your network can be wired or wireless that will connect to the Internet, sharing files and printers between two or more computers (PCs). There will be structured learning but the technicians will keep some time open to answer your networking questions.  This class's target audience are users who are comfortable with their PC and its operating system and who want to improve their office efficiency to take better advantage of having multiple PCs. The charge for the 2 sessions is $20 and reservations are required.  Coffee and donuts will be provided.  Call 893-8111 to make your reservation today. Keystone Community Network is a non-profit community technology center located in downtown Lock Haven.  KCnet is an equal opportunity service provider. KCnet's Helpdesk is available  Please call 893-8111 for a technician.

~HMMM~  I've never made a fortune, and it's probably too late now. But I don't worry about that much, I'm happy anyhow And as I go along life's way, I'm reaping better than I sowed. I'm drinking from my saucer, 'Cause my cup has overflowed. & When someone you love becomes a memory. The memory becomes a treasure.

 
KCNET CLASSES

Intermediate Windows First and Second Sessions March 6 & 8 -- Noon - 2:00 PM Instructor:  Wayne Smith PC Basics First and Second Sessions March 7 &9 -- 9:00 AM - Noon Instructor:  Wayne Smith Beginner Web Page Creation First and Second Sessions March 7 & 9 -- 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM Instructor:  Mike Foust

NEWS AND NOTES WITH SUE FOUST:

I just received an e-mail message from what appears to be service@paypal.com.  It looks very official and informs me that I have just paid for a 17 piece golf set at $179.00.  The money was or will be taken out of my PayPal account and “if this is transaction is not authorized, click on the link below to fill a claim and cancel the payment.”   One of the clues, if you look closely, is misspelled words, poor grammar and punctuation.  These hoax messages often originate in other countries, so there are odd ways of writing the message.  In this particular one, “With PayPal, you.re protected …” (instead of you’re) and the word until spelled “untill,” should give you an idea that this is not from a professional company. Also, if you hover your mouse over the link but don’t click on it, they have asked you to click on, you find that it will take you to an UNSECURE site that is NOT a PayPal address.  The words you click on are https://www.paypal.com but the actual link is a different address, starting with http:// (not secure.  Note the absence of the “s” after the http.) The first time I got one of these, it took me several minutes to realize it was a hoax.  In the meantime, I sent a message to all staff members, asking who had purchased something (this time it was a cell phone) with the company account.  Then, I realized I had jumped to the wrong conclusion.  This must be a hoax – actually a “phishing” scheme.  And, indeed, I found the telltale signs. The sender of the message is fishing for information.  If I would click on the link and enter my PayPal information, presumably to let PayPal know this is not my charge, I would have now given complete strangers information about my account, giving them access to any money in that account! This time, the message is actually a picture.  It gets past the filters set up to stop email messages that have certain words in them.  This message is a picture – the filter can’t read a picture, so I get the message.  The message looks like words, but you can’t highlight them and copy them.  If you right-click on any part of the actual message, your choices are copy, save picture as… and select.   In addition to all the above ways to identify this message as a hoax, you can look at the header of the message and see where it came from.  This is a little more technical, but it is a sure-fire way to make sure this message did not actually come from PayPal, no matter what it says in the “from” line. If you receive something like this and can keep from hitting that panic button, just hit the delete button on your keyboard.  If you want to check on any of your accounts – bank, PayPal, or others – go to the home of that account.  Go to the web address of that bank, of PayPal, etc. and check on that account yourself.  DO NOT use the link provided in an e-mail message.  And, when entering information about personal accounts, make sure you are on a secure site.  There will be a padlock at the bottom right of the page and it will be locked. If you have questions about e-mail messages or want to learn more about the Internet and E-Mail, you may want to attend a class, either on-line or at a local learning center.   KCnet teaches Internet and E-Mail in 8 hours – 4 easy lessons.  It could save you a lot of headaches! Until next week... ! KCnet Board Of Directors Officers:   President Bill Raco, Vice President Bob Rolley, Secretary Jon Ahrens,  Treasurer Don Miller and Past President Judy Yoho.   Other members of the board:  Carolyn Carl, R.  Keith Kelly, Paul Korn, Donna Lannan, Amy Lapriola, Tom Livingston,  Ray McGill, and Rich Wykoff.

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