07/29/07 & 08/05/07
COMMENTS AND CLASS SCHEDULES
MIKE'S COMMENTARY
COMPUTER CLASSES AND COURSES
ADVANCED USERS CLASS NOTES
NEWS & NOTES BY SUE FOUST
MIKE'S COMMENTARY AND SOME BITS OF WISDOM
Free Internet access to sweep city
By WENDY STIVERLOCK HAVEN — A concept that was once relegated to science fiction and comic books will be a reality for many, thanks in part to the dedicated efforts of the nonprofit Keystone Community Network.
After nearly a year’s work, Wireless Fidelity — more commonly known as WiFi — is now available in a small area of the downtown, enabling anyone in the “hot spot” to gain limited Internet access for free.
And the free, high-speed access will sweep from the KCnet office at 18 E. Main St. up to Lock Haven University by the end of August, according to KCnet Executive Director Sue Foust.
Eventually, she said, the WiFi will cover a much larger area.
“We are deployed,” she announced at City Council’s outdoor meeting Monday evening at Tiger Den playground.
The first phase of WiFi is being accomplished, she said, thanks to a $5,000 grant from the Clinton County Community Foundation and an I.T. Kick Start grant of $6,300, a program of legislative funding to encourage information technology in the region.
Rooftop access has already been established and other groundwork laid for the second phase, she explained.
KCnet and its consultant on the project, Todd Snyder, are now seeking a large grant to move forward.
Snyder, a veteran in the field, set up Sunbury’s WiFi district, among others, according to Foust.
He will invest $75,000 into this project, Foust said, helping to build the infrastructure and gain partners to help pursue a $500,000, matching capital projects grant from the state.
KCnet also has purchased 40 wireless web browsing units that will be made available to residents in the WiFi district who don’t have a wireless computer, PDA or I-phone, she announced.
Anyone with a laptop with wireless access can drive up to KCnet right now, park out front and get on the new In Tune Wireless Network for free.
The plan is to add links to other sites to the free portal, Foust said, including Lock Haven Hospital, the university, Keystone Central School District and the city.
Council agreed to allow the city’s site to be linked, although it was noted it should be updated more often.
Foust also said the plan is to link the web sites of Clinton County and Ross Library through the city’s, just as other sites are available through KCnet’s.
Also free is unlimited Internet access for 12 hours on Sundays, so users can go to eBay or anywhere they like one day a week without paying for service.
Those who want the high-speed access every day will be able to buy a membership for $22.95 a month, Foust said, choose to pay as they go or buy prepaid minutes.
A special student rate of $65 per semester or $122 for two semesters also will be offered, she said.
The concept is similar to watching television using rabbit ears, Foust said — a limited number of channels are available free, but for a better selection of shows, the TV owner will want to buy cable service or purchase another system.
The second WiFi phase will enhance a large part of the city’s proposed Elm Street District, between the downtown and the university.
The city plans to apply for Elm Street designation for this large, gateway neighborhood so it can be eligible for state dollars for improvements there, and the In Tune Wireless Network can supplement that effort.
The volunteer Elm Street Committee will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, beginning in council chambers in City Hall and moving outdoors for a walking tour of the district.
This will be the kick-off meeting with the project consultant, Urban Research and Development Corp.
The New Mental Pick-Me-Up
RealAge Tip of the DAY for July 24, 2007Mentally challenging tasks require you to be "on." When your brain is stuck on "off," here's what to do:
Skip the trip to the local java joint. Just get moving instead. Walk, run, skip, skate, jump rope, or dance a jig for 30 minutes. The benefits: You'll think more quickly and experience less frustration when you return to your work.
Double-shot espressos aside, there's nothing like a little cha-cha-cha to get your brain going rah-rah-rah! But exercise goes one better by helping you burn calories, too.
Need more reasons to get moving? Check out this head-to-toe list of exercise cheers.
* Eureka! Exercise boosts brain function by ramping up blood flow, so oxygen and nutrients get around to all parts of your body better, including your brain.
* Love it! Exercise stimulates the release of mood-boosting endorphins and eases anxiety and depression. It can help improve your sleep, too, so you're less drowsy and irritable.
* Phew! Stamina exercises like swimming, hiking, running, and brisk walking strengthen your heart and lungs and make arteries more elastic. Regular exercise helps keep blood pressure in check, too.
* Relief! Constipated? Exercise helps get things moving and promotes normal bowel function.
* Ahhhh. Exercise builds muscle, promotes flexibility, makes bones stronger, and helps relieve muscle tension.
Lots more age health stuff: http://www.realage.com/
COMPUTER CLASSES AND COURSES
Click here for Current Schedule and Registration
KCNET CURRENT CLASSES:
PC BASICS
When: August 06, 08, 13, & 15
Time: Noon - 02:00 PM
Cost: Members - $35.00 Non Members - $40.00
Instructor: Wayne SmithIntermediate Windows
When: September 11, 13, 18, & 20
Noon - 02:00 PM
Cost: Members - $35.00 Non Members - $40.00
Instructor: Wayne SmithAdvanced Users
When: Meets every Wednesday
Time: 09:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Cost: Members $0.00 Non Members - $2.00
Leader: Mike FoustICDL (International Computer Drivers License)
When: Starts September 05 and runs each Wednesday
and Friday until students complete the units.
Time: Noon - 02:00 PM
Cost: Call KCnet 893-8111
Instructor: Wayne SmithInternet Safety
When: August 08
Time: 07:00 PM - 08:00 PM Q&A 08:00 PM - 08:30 PM
Cost: $5.00 Per Family
Instructor: Sue FoustWi Fi Basics
When: September 11
Time: 08:30 PM - 09:30 PM
Cost: $15.00
Instructor: Ron CalhouneKCnet Photo Club
When: Third Monday each month
Time: 06:00 PM - 08:00 PM
Cost:: $30.00 per year or $5.00 per month
Leader: Bill Raco
KCnet Photo Club
Most Recent Meeting "Goins On"
The Photo Club met on July 16, 2007 at KCnet. There were several new faces. Bill Raco reviewed aperture, shutter speed & ISO.
Second half of the meeting we reviewed the theme pictures and voted on the challenge pictures the winners were:
1. Hotel rope taken by Kristen Withers
2. Reflections taken by Wayne Smith
3. Gypsy moth taken by Joe Marasco and Old layer Cake taken by ?We will be having a potluck picnic for our next meeting. We will meet at Hyner View at 5:30 PM on August 20th. Bring your camera...we will be having a photo scavenger hunt and take some sunset photos.
Family is invited. E-mail Evelyn Rhine at erhine@kcnet.org and let her know how many will attend and what dish will be bringing. The club will be supplying Hot dogs and Hamburgs.
The challenge for the August meeting will be 'creatures' and the theme will be 'black & white.' Please bring your entries to the picnic.
Hope to see everyone there.
New members are always welcome. The KCnet Photo Club meets every third Monday at 6:00 PM in the large Class Room at KCnet.
Any questions, comments or suggestions, please write Bill Raco wraco@kcnet.org
Respectfully submitted by Linda K. Smith
ADVANCED USER CLASS NOTES:
| KCnet Advanced Users Group:
Every
Wednesday
The starting time is 9:00 AM and we meet in Computer Lab 1 (The Big Room). Leadership is Mike Foust and anyone that wants to jump into the fray. Quite a day these past two Wednesdays. We got rollin' with some pics sent by Advanced User viewers and others gleaned by Mike. We then settled into our seats and took another wild tech ride. Among the many 'puter topics covered we... 07/18
... briefly looked at some handouts.
We agreed to take them for later study. We had a request from a class
attendee to assist her with information about external hard drives.
Some members have recently researched and purchased them. They agreed
to assist at break.
... explored Microsoft's new operating system, Vista. We just touched the surface. We agreed to revisit to explore more. 07/25
... Feature Overview - The Secunia
Software Inspector:
How Does it Work:
... Both Thunderbird and Firefox have been updated 2.0.0.5 version for both of them. You download them separately and from the official website for each. Open the programs - go to help - click check for updates. Java has been updated too. Check your version by going to Control Panel -- Classic View -- Java -- Click on the update tab -- Check for update. Of course last Tuesday was download Tuesday
for Microsoft.
Opera updated to 9.2 -- From Worldstart First of all, this new version is a recommended security upgrade, so if you use Opera as your main Web browser, you'll definitely want to download this as soon as possible. In terms of security, various items have been fixed, including issues with torrent transfers, data URLs, domain names and so on. Along with all of those, there have been changes made to the user interface with the toolbars, fonts, tabs and the different info panels. Fixes for scripting, stability and performance problems have also been created. There have also been some updates made for those of you who use Windows Vista. For a complete list of all the changes made in Opera 9.22, check out this Web site http://www.opera.com/docs/changelogs/windows/922/. Then once you're ready to download the new version, you can do so right from here http://www.opera.com/download/. Just choose your language, location and then click the big green Download Opera button. Then get ready to enjoy your new Opera, my friends! We did some other interesting stuff too, but
you had to be there...
This class often becomes idea swapping and
we learn by sharing our many experiences and I'll tell you all again, that
really happened this week.
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NEWS AND NOTES WITH SUE FOUST:
 If
you noticed the list of upcoming classes, you’ll see that we’ve added a
couple of new ones. For instance, we’re running a WiFi Basics class,
an hour of hints and how-to’s for those of us that are new to wireless
networks. A wireless network can be in your home or in one office
room, the whole building, or in a community. There are some do’s
and don’ts in setting one up and in using one. Security is one of
the biggest issues – we’ll cover it. We’ll discuss this type of information
in these 2, one-hour morning sessions.
We’re also going to offer A+ Training classes. This is technical training in preparation for CompTia A+ Certification in Computer Hardware, installation and maintenance. Classes will run for about 8 weeks. We are offering some of our classes with the hope that we will attract young people who are looking for jobs or want to improve themselves in preparation for another job. In 2000, the Secretary of Education’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills reported, “Good jobs will increasingly depend on people who can put knowledge to work. More than half of our young people leave school without the knowledge or foundation required to find and hold a good job.” The explosive growth of technology on the job has changed the requirements for young people’s entry into the world of work. KCnet’s mission and goals include these statements: “KCnet will provide to the community an internet access, empower the community to become life long learners, and promote community and economic development. ”KCnet has in place the infrastructure to provide the global access to the community to enable them to become a viable player in economic development . Clinton County and its neighbors must have the access to information technology and a trained work force to compete in the 21st century.” During the past 13 years, KCnet has not wavered from those goals. They were established in 1994 and have not changed. You can read more about KCnet, at http://www.kcnet.org/about.php. The KCnet Bylaws are accessible at http://www.kcnet.org/bylaws05.html. KCnet has been accepted as an agency member of the Clinton County United Way. We’re pleased about this. We think it gives us even more credibility in our community. Please stay in touch. Our ability to provide services of all kinds is only limited by our imagination! Until next time… 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, Lori Hoy,
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