San Francisco Computer Training Newsletters

Senior Surf Newsletter - June 2011

2011-06-05T12:23:00.001-07:00

OK, I admit it. I have a secret crush on Google. Why? They just keep crankin' out new, interesting, useful and free (yes, free!) tools for we, the public, that make our lives easier, more fun, more interesting, better educated and Google-licious! My crush first began while reading the Google Story (click to read more) a few years back; a very honest portrayal of the internet giant, for better or for worse. Of course some things have changed in their offerings and business model, but the stuff they offer in their virtual studio (definitely click link) just makes me dizzy with delight and makes my crush grow stronger.

Here are a few things coming out of their labs worth checking out:

Google Flight Search

Google just made it a lot easier to quickly look up flight information. Now you can type “flights from [a city] to [another city] in the Google search window, and it’ll quickly display a summary of flight information right there on the results page.

Could it get any easier? We tested this new feature that was announced Friday on Google’s Inside Search blog, and it works beautifully, especially if you’re talking about major cities.

For instance, type “flight LA SF”, and you’ll get a long list of flights when you click on the resulting drop-down list:

Or you can simply type “flights LA” and Google will helpfully show you each flight to Los Angeles from all airports, including numerous airlines and flight durations. Find out what flights originate from your local airport by typing “flights from [your airport here]“.

It works in 10 languages: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Dutch, Brazilian Portuguese, Polish, Russian, Turkish and Catalan.

Thanks, Google. This is yet another life-enhancing improvement added to your search repertoire.

Google Labs
Here is a list straight from the Google Labs website, a silo of very innovative, creative and useful tools that Google offers the world. Check out the site to see them all.

Art Project powered by Google

Explore museums from around the world, discover and view hundreds of artworks at incredible zoom levels, and even create and share your own collection of masterpieces.

Google Body

Google Body is a detailed 3D model of the human body. You can peel back anatomical layers, zoom in, and navigate to parts that interest you. Click to identify anatomy, or search for muscles, organs, bones and more. (You may need to upgrade your browser to view properly, but worth it!)

City Tours

Suggests multi-day walking tours of major cities given a starting address. Let Google find nearby points of interest for you or create your own tours from your own and others' "My Maps".

Google Earth Engine
Google Earth Engine brings together the world's satellite imagery—trillions of scientific measurements dating back more than 25 years—and makes it available online with tools for scientists, independent researchers, and nations to mine this massive warehouse of data to detect changes, map trends and quantify differences on the earth's surface.

Using this new Google Labs tool, they've already begun helping scientists develop applications for detecting deforestation and mapping land use trends, and have started working with individual countries to develop their own applications.

View product videos or our Map Gallery to learn more or visit the Data Catalog to get started.

Google Health
Organize your medical records online

SketchUp
Build 3D models quickly and easily

Translate
Instantly translate text, web pages, and files between over 50 languages.

Sites
Create websites and secure group wikis. Get your own website for free! Pretty cool, actually. I have taught this tool several times.

Android
I had an iPhone for two years. The relationship was hot and heavy for a while and we were madly in love until expectations starting getting in the way, and perfectionistic standards began creeping up, and then I met Android who showed me what true love really is. Android is the Google-created "operating system" found within many smart phones (brands vary) and it is just so bloody smart and I have not looked back after leaving my former love. Too many examples to name including voice search EVERYTHING, a "back" button (duh), an options menu, a notification bar and real multitasking are just a few (don't make me go on, cuz I will). And no shortage of apps. Click here to learn more.

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Senior Surf Newsletter May 2011

2011-05-06T09:33:00.000-07:00

Why is it that drug addicts and
computer afficianados are both called users?
- Clifford Stoll

I am not the only person who uses his computer mainly
for the purposes of diddling with his computer.
-Dave Barry

"I only use the Internet for email."
"I have a computer so I can play games."
"There's nothing else on the computer for me to do..."

If you have uttered any of those phrases then you have a very expensive one-trick pony that is being very, very underutilized.

OK, so you don't want to use Excel or Access to track databases of your budgets or your precious Grateful Deadbootleg tapes. Or the thought of Microsoft Word and all it's lovely complexities makes you want to throw your computer out the window in a fit of rock star fury.

Understood and understood.

But are you using your computer, the internet and all the tools available to you in the best, most useful, and most creative ways possible? Probably not. Why? Not because of you, who you are, your genetics, your religion, your age, your astrological sign, none of that...No...I swear. It's the fact that computer technlogy is a runaway train, an exponentiallly growing organism; it is nearly impossible to keep up with all things technology to keep you entertained, educated, and engaged.

OK, enough of the excuses...read on.

Ma'am, Step Away from the Email

So what else is there? And how do I find out about it, dammit?!? One of the greatest tools for finding out about websites is called S tumbleupon.com (SU). Think of the name: stumple upon. We've all stumpled upon things in the most serendipitous ways, only to find ourselves in a happy accident that has changed our lives forever (this newsletter is no exception I am sure). SU will walk you thru a short survey and then with just click of a button, make suggestions of an infinite list of websites you can visit, bookmark, take notes on and share with friends. All organized by the categories of your choosing.

How do you get it? You can either go to stumpleupon.com or install their free browser toolbar add-on and take a quick survey of all your interest topic areas (art, sports, music, religion, food, design, etc.), and SU will crank out an endless slot machine style cache of websites for you to...stumble upon! With the toolbar installed on your browser, it's as simple as can be (try it and you'll see what I am talking about).

Tools like StumbleUpon, Delicious (also has a toolbar) and Diggare known as "folksnomy" websites that use "tagging" (or keywords) that allow users just like you and me to communicate and refer to websites they like and SHARE information on a website to the community. It is virtually endless. Oh, and these are all free.

What about YouTube?
I am sure you all read (numerous times) the last newsletter about YouTube in all its YouTube-ness. One of the things that I found most interesting and useful was the YouTube Chartspage where they have all their most popular, best rated, etc. videos of the week/month/all time and all sorted out by category. There is sooooo much on YouTube (for better or for worse!), so it's nice to have a greatest hits page to guide you away from the dreck.

Check it out, and watch the hours...pass you by...

Social Media and Stuff

And if you have not ventured into the Social Media realm as of yet, do not fret, it is a scary world and I understand your trepidation. But social networking tools like Facebook and Twitter allow you to learn from your friends, family and interests what cool things are out there. Twitter is one where you can just "follow" your interests in terms of a business, celebrity, politician, publications, etc. and see what they have to say. If I worked in an office (which I don't, TG), I would be Tweeting more than I do, just to be able to have a Twitter-sponsored page of all my favorite things all on one site!

On your computer
One of my favorite tools (i.e., time-sucking) to come out of the last seven years or so is Google Earth. Travel around the planet in a matter of seconds. Free download. No need to take your shoes off at the gate. Check it out, trust me (and there's more than meets the eye).

Want to learn about or get new music? Try Bear Share orGroove Shark. Both free (with premium options). Any of you have iTunes? (Mac people already have it, PC people can download for free). One of the best things about this tool, is the built in "radio stations" that exists right on iTunes. Literally HUNDREDS on all categories, 24 hours a day, most commercial-free. You'll find it on the upper left side of your screen, called "Radio". And while you're there. check out all the podcasts! OMG! Most are free.

Would love to hear from YOU regarding some of the sites, tools and stuff you have discovered, love, shared, learned using your computer. Share this with me, and I will share with you all in the next edition of this here babble-fest.

Peace and Love,
David Casuto

Bonus websites! (Thanks for reading on...) Check outMaximum PC's Websites to Check Out Before You Die (this is the title, I swear) and TED Talks video spreadsheet to see educational videos from luminaries and sages around the globe.

Contact Dave

Private instruction,
Technical Services/Support,
Project Work (web, graphic design, etc.)
(415) 509-3725

Senior Surf Newsletter - March 2011

2011-03-16T13:04:00.000-07:00

Dear Reader,

In like a lion! Here we are Marching in the new year...

Thank you for lifting your heads away from the world's headlines: Libya*, iPad 2 hoopla, Charlie Sheen(!), and other headspinning current events. (My, what a very interesting world we live in.) Grab a cup of your favorite calming beverage (adult or otherwise) and sit back and enjoy some very interesting bit of internet trivia.

YouTube: I thought I knew ya...

Dave

*Thanks to Jim, check out this very cool mental/geographical exercise. The Middle East: I thought I knew ya...

Middle East Geo Quiz

"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do."

-Ted Nelson

8 Fascinating YouTube Facts That May Surprise You

YouTube is huge. Humongous, even. More video content isuploaded to YouTube in a 60 day period than the three major U.S. television networks created in 60 years.

The average YouTube user spends between 15 and 25 minutes a day on the site, but how much do we know about the world’s largest video sharing website? Do you know what the most watched YouTube clip is? Can you name all three founders? Do you know how many times per minute a YouTube link is tweeted?

There is a ton of interesting data, info and stats to be learned about YouTube — we’ve delved deep to find 10 fascinating facts. Have a read and let us know which ones you didn’t know in the comments below.

1. PayPal’s Role in YouTube’s Creation
YouTube was created by Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim in 2005. The three founders knew each other from working together at another Internet start up, PayPal. In fact, Hurley designed the PayPal logo after reading a Wired article about the online payment company and e-mailing the startup in search of a job. YouTube was initially funded by bonuses received following the eBay buy-out of PayPal. You could argue that if there was no PayPal, there would be no YouTube.

2. YouTube’s Origins as a Dating Site
The founding trio didn’t come up with the YouTube concept straight away. Legend has it that YouTube began life as a video dating site dubbed “Tune In Hook Up,” said to be influenced by HotorNot. The three ultimately decided not to go that route. The inspiration for YouTube as we know it today is credited to two different events. The first was Karim’s inability to find footage online of Janet Jackson’s “wardrobe malfunction,” and the second when Hurley and Chen were unable to share video footage of a dinner party due to e-mail attachment limitations.

3. YouTube Caused Problems For Utube
The domain name YouTube.com was registered on Valentine’s Day in 2005. This, however, caused a huge misunderstanding for Universal Tube & Rollform Equipment based in Perrysburg, Ohio. Its company domain, “utube.com,” was overwhelmed with traffic from people that tried to spell the video site’s name phonetically. The manufacturing company sued YouTubeclaiming its business was damaged by the video site, but the claims were dismissed. Nowadays, it seems Universal Tube & Rollform Equipment has bowed to the inevitable — its business site has been moved to utubeonline.com and the original utube.com is a video-themedlanding page for bad spellers.

4. The First Ever YouTube Video
The first video to ever be uploaded to YouTube isn’t a classic by any means. Shot by Yakov Lapitsky at the San Diego Zoo it shows co-founder Jawed Karim in front of the elephant enclosure going on about long trunks. It has, nonetheless, racked up a very healthy 4,282,497 views since its online debut on April 23, 2005.

5. YouTube’s Annual April Fools Pranks
For the last three years YouTube has pranked its millions of users every April Fools Day. The first was a classic — every video on the site’s homepage was actually a Rickroll. In 2009 YouTube turned the site upside down and in 2010 an attempt to reduce bandwidth costs saw a “TEXTp” mode introduced, which translated colors in the videos into text. We can’t wait to see what YouTube has in store for 2011.

6. Some Jaw-Dropping YouTube Statistics
As of February 2011, YouTube has 490 million unique users worldwide per month, who rack up an estimated 92 billion page views each month. We spend around 2.9 billion hours on YouTube in a month — over 325,000 years. And those statsare just for the main YouTube website — they don’t incorporate embedded videos or video watched on mobile devices.

7. YouTube’s Social Stats
Social media-related YouTube stats are just as impressive. YouTube says that on average there are more than 400 tweets per minute containing a YouTube link. Meanwhile, over on Facebook over 150 years worth of YouTube videos are watched every single day.

8. The Most Viewed, Liked and Favorited Video
Not counting music videos (which due to licensing restrictions are often shown only in the U.S. on YouTube), the most viewed video of all time is the classic “Charlie bit my finger,” with an astounding 282,151,886 (at the time of writing). When you include music videos from the U.S.-only VEVOsite, then the crown goes to Justin Beiber, whose “Baby” video has over 466 million views and counting.

Did you know you can view the “YouTube Charts” at any time to see continually updated info about what’s popular?

And by the way, there are other YouTubes out there:
Vimeo.com, 5min.com, ehow.com, veoh.com and more. Give 'em a try!

Contact David Casuto

Private instruction,
Technical Services/Support,
Project Work (web, graphic design, etc.)
(415) 509-3725

January 2011 Newsletter

2011-01-04T17:56:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year to one and all! 2011 is gonna be a good one, I can feel it! Hope you got your resolutions in order...

I want to begin by saying THANK YOU to all of you who posted a review on Yelp. I blushed reading them all. You are all very generous (and creative) in your words. :)

That said, many if not all of them ended up "filtered" - an ongoing struggle I have been having with Yelp. This means they will not be on the front page of reviews. I have written them and they have their reasons, and they claim that they may all show up on the front page, but hard to control it. Either way, my offer still stands and so doth my gratitude. (And those of you who still want to write something, feel free!).

Oh, and an even bigger thank you to those who donated to Senior Surf. Cheers!

Now on with the show...

-Dave

"A computer once beat me at chess,
but it was no match for me at kick boxing"

-Emo Philips

Another One Bites the Dust:
13 Things That Have Become (more or less) Obsolete in the last Decade

The last ten years have brought us a windfall of new gadgets and gizmos, and with them, a new way of life.

Since 2000, we've gained iPods and iPads, Travelocity and Twitter, Facebook and Foursquare, BlackBerry smartphones and Android devices, Xboxes and Wiis, among many other new services, sites, and electronics.

We're now poking, tweeting, Googling, and Skyping (10 years ago, they would think you were coo-coo).

But in that time we've also changed our habits and lost a few things, too. As we look forward to 2011, let's take a look back at the things that have become obsolete (some of the these items were originally featured on an earlier list here).

VCR/VHS
The DVD was invented in 1995, introduced in the United States in 1997, and, by the early 2000s, had generally overtaken VHS tapes as the video format of choice for consumers. In 2005, the Washington Post penned an obituary of sorts for the VHS tape, writing, "VHS -- the beloved videotape format that bravely won the war against Betamax and charmed millions of Americans by allowing them to enjoy mindless Hollywood entertainment without leaving their homes -- has died at the age of 29. It passed away peacefully after a long illness caused by chronic technological insignificance and a lack of director's commentary tracks." The president of the Video Software Dealers Association told the Post he thought 2006 would be "the last year that there are major releases on VHS, and there won't be many of those."

Travel Agents
The proliferation of sites like Kayak, Orbitz, Travelocity, and Hipmunk, which have empowered consumers to find their own fares and easily book their own flights, together with the rise of websites and apps that give travelers the information they need to plan their own itineraries, have changed the travel industry in drastic ways. The days of recruiting a travel agent to book flights, find hotels, and organize tours are on their way out--and already gone for many.

Forgetting Stuff
"The web means the end of forgetting," wrote the New York Times earlier this year. "The Internet records everything and forgets nothing." Indeed, increasingly there's a digital copy of everything we do: the emails we send, the phone calls we make, the places we go, the pictures we take, the opinions we write. Google CEO Eric Schmidt even suggested (in what he later said was a joke) that young people ought to be able to change their names when they hit adulthood in order to escape their "permanent record" on the Internet. We can collect data on everything from our sleep habits to our spending, making it harder than ever for us--and the Internet--to forget what we've said, purchased, or done.

Bookstore Shopping
The last decade has brought bad news for bookstore-browsing bookworms. The rise of online retailers like Amazon, which offers bargain-basement prices on books and other items, and the increasing popularity of ebooks has put pressure on bookstores and put many of them out of business. Publishing industry insider Mike Shatzkin predicts, "what brick-and-mortar booksellers will experience in the first six months of 2011 will be the most difficult time they've ever seen" and, as HuffPostBooks wrote here, the pace of bookstore closings is increasing.

Maps
GPS devices keep getting cheaper, smaller, and more portable. We have GPS in our cars and on our phones. We use mobile maps for everything from cross-country trips to tracking down restaurants, and employ services like Google Maps and Mapquest to give us customized routes. Asking for directions, carrying around paper maps, and even getting lost are all increasingly obsolete.

Calling
Text messaging, BlackBerry Messaging, Instant Messaging, Tweeting, Facebook messaging, and emailing have taken over communication and opened up new avenues for getting in touch. The popularity of text messaging is gradually edging out calling (and even talking face to face): The AP wrote in April 2010, "The frequency with which teens text has overtaken every other form of interaction, including instant messaging and talking face-to-face, according to a study released Tuesday by researchers at Pew Research Center and the University of Michigan."

Classified Ads
Not only have ad dollars followed audiences online, but the expansion of Craigslist -- from one city, San Francisco, to over 500 -- has sent chills down the spines of newspaper publishers everywhere, thinning newspapers and reducing ad sales.

Dial-up Modems (you know who you are!)
It's older and slower than the available alternatives, and on its way out. A 2008 study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project found that just 10% of Americans used dial-up Internet. Nostalgic? Listen to its beeps, fuzz, and hums on YouTube.

Encyclopedias
Users have traded Britannicas on the bookshelf for the collaboratively-built, online-only Wikipedia.

CD's
CDs, and the stores that sold them, have all but been replaced by digital music that can be downloaded online, one track at a time.

Landline Phones
While many still rely on landlines--especially in areas where cellphone service is spotty--users are increasingly unplugging. As the AP explained, a recent survey found, "In a first for any age group, more than half of Americans age 25-29 live in households with cell phones but no traditional landline telephones."

Phone Books
There was a time when "let your fingers do the walking" meant opening a phone book -- not typing in a search query. Phone books, address books, and the Yellow Pages have been made obsolete, their information transferred from paper onto smartphones, and the web.

Hand-written Letters
Love letters, thank you notes, and invitations have gone being hand-written to typed, and from the mailbox to the inbox. Sending online messages is a bargain next to $.44 stamp.

Got one you'd like to add to the list? Send 'em my way!

This list was originally published in the HuffPost here.

Contact Dave Casuto

Private instruction,
Technical Services/Support,
Project Work (web, graphic design, etc.)
(415) 509-3725

Senior Surf Newsletter November 2010

2010-11-03T08:37:00.001-07:00

Interested in creating video project for a wedding, life tribute, memorial or life event? Go to multimedia memoirs here.

Hello Friends!

What a great time to be in San Francisco! Last night, I left the SF OLLI building on Market Street after teaching my class (missing the Giants game unfortunately) and was welcomed by thousands of street revelers, electric and in a chorus of 60 year old (delayed and tortured) ecstasy! Go Giants! Pretty awesome.

Well, that has nothing to do with anything here. Just thought I would share. Also awesome is the Indian Summer we're having...

Read on for some really cool info about watching video on your computer...

Dave

Cable Schmable. With all the options available to us these days through our computer, who needs it? Twenty-four hour access, many more options, many free…it’s a no-brainer! This article will discuss (by a reader’s request) the many video options available to you on the web. I will break it down into three categories: Free, mostly free, and paid.

Let’s start with Free

YouTube. Everyone knows YouTube by now, but did you know that they have full length movies now. Most of them are not new, or even newish, but they’re there and there’s lot of them, and who knows, maybe you’re more of a classics kinda guy/gal. And they’re free, so who cares?!

http://www.youtube.com/movies

Project Free TV. I recently discovered this from a friend and have never looked back. I mean, WOW. Television shows, old and new. Movies, old and NEW, full length. The list is unlimited and growing everyday. Hint: I don’t have AMC, but have been watching all my Mad Men episodes on there. The quality is not DVD/HD quality, but it does the trick. And sometimes, you’ll have to wait a bit for the download depending on your internet speed. And there may be pop up advertisement in the beginning that you can click away from almost immediately and then watch your video right after, but not a big deal.

http://free-tv-video-online.info/

Tonight We Watch Movies. That’s actually the name of the website. Not bad, very similar to Project Free TV, but mostly movies (some TV), and free. Just do a search or check out their featured movies and you’ll be able to stream right from there. There is a short advertisement that you click away from and watch away! I just watched Shutter Island (fa nuttin’).

http://tonightwewatchmovies.com/

ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC. Just go to their websites and you can watch most of their shows for free, with some commercial interruptions. Very good quality for the most part and 24 hour access.

Fancast – See Hulu description below. They are almost exactly the same. Worth checking both of them out.

http://www.fancast.com/

Mostly Free

Hulu – Again, I don’t have cable, including Comedy Central, so this is where I get my Daily Show and Colbert Report fix (and Modern Family, 30 Rock, etc.). You can either search for what you’re looking for or browse through an impressive list of high quality television shows AND movies. Again, the movies are not new for the most part, but they have a huge library. TV shows are pretty impressive and up to date. Check it out for sure. This is listed under mostly free because they also offer a Hulu Plus for $9.99 which gives you a bit more, without any limitations.

http://www.hulu.com/

Podcasts. I would be remiss if I did not include this category. Podcasts are mostly free audio and video shows available through either iTunes, or any website that offers it as a download. They can range from how-to’s to comedy, to educational, to political, to news (NPR, included) to music, to tech…you get the picture. If you have iTunes, I would recommend an exploration. Plus, iTunes is a free download, so try it out! Note: Many are free, but some are not where noted.

http://www.apple.com/itunes/?cid=OAS-US-DOMAINS-itunes.com

Paid Services

Netflix – This is a monthly paid subscription mostly known for its delivery of DVD’s to your house. Not too long ago, they introduced their “Watch Instantly” movies that can be 'streamed' directly to your computer if you have an account with them. Pretty cool. Not all movies are available, but a pretty decent amount of stuff that is available on DVD is available for streaming anytime, right to your computer/TV (see below for more about TV stuff).

http://www.netflix.com/

Amazon Video on Demand. (VOD) is an Internet video on demand service, offered by Amazon.com which offers television shows and films for rental and purchase. The service became available on September 7, 2006 as Amazon Unbox. On September 4, 2008, the service was rebranded as "Amazon Video on Demand." (from wikipedia.com)

http://www.amazon.com/Video-On-Demand/b?ie=UTF8&node=16261631

Apple TV - digital media receiver made and sold by Apple Inc. It is designed to play media from the iTunes Store, Netflix, YouTube, Flickr, MobileMe or any Mac OS X or Windows computer running iTunesonto an enhanced-definition or high-definition widescreen television (from wikipedia definition). (from wikipedia.com)

www.apple.com/appletv/

Google TV!!! Coming soon...should be another amazing contribution by Google. Watch the video here:

www.google.com/tv/

This is all well and good for my tiny little laptop, but how do I get it on my big screen?

A few ways:

If you have a laptop that has an HDMI port (many new ones do, but ask), you can easily connect your laptop to your HD TV, which has an HDMI connector in the back and will play video and sound through it. You'll need an HDMI cable - $3 on Amazon. $30 at Best Buy (I know).
If you do not have an HDMI hookup, you can use a VGA connector, which most laptops have (Macs are an exception which will need an adapter). Not as good quality as HDMI and it does not transmit sound, but it does the trick.
And finally, one can always purchase a Blu-Ray player with wireless capability that can be set up to connect to your Netflix, Hulu, YouTube and many other channels.

Of course, I do consulting and installation for all of these, so inquire if you are interested.

Pssst. And none of these are illegal or anything.

Enjoy!

Check out www.multimediamemoirs.net, and www.deyec.com

Contact Dave

Private instruction,
Technical Services/Support,
Project Work (web, graphic design, etc.)
(415) 509-3725

Senior Surf Newsletter October 2010

2010-10-04T18:16:00.001-07:00

Interested in creating video project for a wedding, life tribute, memorial or life event? Go to multimedia memoirs here.

Happy October, Everyone!

Summer is here, finally! Hope you're all thawing out from the treacherous winter, er, I mean, summer we've been enjoying here in the Bay Area.

This month's newsletter is an immune system booster for your computer. The theme is what is called "Malware". What is it, how you get it, how you get rid of it, and who are these evil so and so's spreading these cyber-diseases all around.

Warning: you may need latex gloves and a mask for some parts of this issue.

Best,
Dr. Dave

My Computer Has a Fever!

Worms! Trojan Horses! Malware! Viruses! Words you never want to associate with your computer (or really anything else for that matter).

Unfortunately, in the last few months, my business has seen a rise in the number of malware attacks on my clients. The reasons for this rise is seemingly unknown (sorta). Who is responsible for creating these attacks? How can we avoid them? And how do we get rid of them?

First, let’s define some things when it comes to malware (note: this first part is a reprise from a previous newsletter – but a review is always welcome!).

What are Trojan Horses? (Probably the most common of all malware that I see these days)
Remember the tale of the The Trojan Horse, where the Greeks built something that seemed like a trophy for Troy, but in actuality was a way to enter the Kingdom of Troy and destroy them! WAR! This is what a Trojan Horse is to your computer. At first glance it will appear to be useful software but will actually do damage once installed or run on your computer (usually disguised as Anti-virus software, ironically).

Those on the receiving end of a Trojan Horse are usually tricked into opening them because they appear to be receiving legitimate software or files from a legitimate source. When a Trojan Horse is activated on your computer, the results can vary. Some Trojans are designed to be more annoying than malicious (like changing your desktop, adding silly active desktop icons) or they can cause serious damage by deleting files and destroying information on your system, or freezing it and killing it entirely. Many may ask you for a credit card and charge it!

If you feel that you’ve been attacked by an imposter Trojan Horse, call me or your IT person before you do anything else!

What are Viruses?
A computer virus attaches itself to a program or file so it can spread from one computer to another, leaving infections as it travels. Almost all viruses are attached to an executable file, which means the virus may exist on your computer but it cannot infect your computer unless you run or open the malicious program. It is important to note that a virus cannot be spread without a human action, (such as running an infected program) to keep it going. People continue the spread of a computer virus, mostly unknowingly, by sharing infecting files or sending e-mails with viruses as attachments in the e-mail.

What are Worms?
A worm is similar to a virus by its design, and is considered to be a sub-class of a virus. Worms spread from computer to computer, but unlike a virus, it has the capability to travel without any help from a person. A worm takes advantage of file or information transport features on your system, which allows it to travel unaided. The biggest danger with a worm is its capability to replicate itself on your system, so rather than your computer sending out a single worm, it could send out hundreds or thousands of copies of itself, creating a huge devastating effect.

Combating Viruses, Worms and Trojan Horses
The first steps to protecting your computer are to ensure your operating system (OS) is up-to-date with the latest security software (your computer asks you this periodically about updating). Secondly, you should have anti-virus software installed on your system and ensure you download updates frequently to ensure your software has the latest fixes for new viruses, worms, and Trojan horses. Additionally, you want to make sure your anti-virus program has the capability to scan e-mail and files as they are downloaded from the Internet. This will help prevent malicious programs from even reaching your computer. You should also install a firewall as well. In my experience, the best anti-virus software programs are PC Tools Spyware Doctor (free, but will an option to upgrade), Malware Bytes (free, but will an option to upgrade), Kaspersky and the paid version of AVG. Norton, McAfee and PC-Cillin, the more popular brands take up too much memory and seem to do nothing but fall asleep while on guard.

A firewall is a system that prevents unauthorized use and access to your computer. A firewall can be either hardware or software. A good software firewall will protect your computer from outside attempts to control or gain access your computer, and usually provides additional protection against the most common Trojan programs or e-mail worms. Windows has a built in Firewall that you can find inside your Control Panel. Check to see if it is on and activated.

If I have a Mac, can I get a virus?
This is a common question and the answer is: YES, you can still get a virus. The chances are slimmer, but you should still practice caution while on the internet, and have protection if possible. And the number is increasing since the number of Mac users is increasing.

How do I avoid getting attacked by malware?

What can I DO?

Aside from keeping your security and operating system software up to date:
Ensure you have a firewall installed and active
Run a program like Malwarebytes every once in a while (kind of like a relief pitcher for your computer)
Consider switching to Google Chrome as your browser, as it has been proven to be a more secure (and faster) browser
Backup your stuff! Disaster can strike at anytime!
Contact me or your IT person right away at the first warning sign

What to NOT do:

Do not open up email attachments from people you don’t recognize.
Avoid clicking on FREE stuff on the internet. These are usually disguised ways of gaining access to your computer
Clicking on pictures of celebrities seems to be a new thing wreaking havoc for your computer. They disguise the attack behind a picture of Cameron Diaz and BAM! Read this for more info on this phenomenon.
Games: Gaming websites tend to be fraught with shiny and attractive things to click on, usually resulting in something too good to be true. Note to your kids and grandkids coming over for a visit!!!
Pornography websites are notorious for viruses

Check out this websit e for a great review of virus precautions.

Who does these awful things to us?
Usually college kids practicing their computer hacking skills and who are also potentially looking to earn a bit of money from unsuspecting, trusting folks. On the other side is folks from other countries like Northern Africa, Spain, Eastern Europe, hoping to earn a living through the credit card you readily hand over to them. They are skilled, talented, artful and crafty and they have no soul.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF UPCOMING CLASS

Creating Your Own Website (at SF State Downtown Campus)
Schedule #: 94039
Course ID: CE 8909
Want to create your own website? Want to be able to do it for FREE and without having to learn complicated software? In this great class, you will be able to add photos, videos and your own words to your very own live website! This class gives you the tools to get you up and running with a fully functioning website for the whole world to see in no time! We will be using Google Sites to get your site live so all you need is a free Google account to get started. Intermediate computer skills suggested. Though this class will be taught in a PC Windows classroom, applications are universal to both Mac and PC computers.

Instructor(s): David Casuto
Fees: $160
Meeting days and times
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Monday, Nov 1, 2010
Monday, Nov 8, 2010
Monday, Nov 15, 2010
Monday, Nov 29, 2010
Monday, Dec 6, 2010
Monday, Dec 13, 2010
Location
Downtown Campus - San Francisco State University
835 Market St, Sixth Floor
San Francisco, CA, 94103

Contact:
dvarner@sfsu.edu
www.creativearts.sfsu.edu/olli

Contact Dave

Private instruction,
Technical Services/Support,
Project Work (web, graphic design, etc.)
(415) 509-3725

Senior Surf Newsletter August 2010

2010-08-29T08:19:00.000-07:00

Interested in creating video project for a wedding, life tribute, memorial or life event? Go to multimedia memoirs here.

Dear Reader-

You may not be one of 125 million Americans who are a part of the Facebook phenomenon, but unless you've been off the grid for the past year or two, you have definitely heard of it. Particularly lately while Facebook has just celebrated its 500 millionth member. And if it wasn't this news that caught your attention, it was likely the notoriety Facebook was gaining from its privacy issues.

Needless to say, Facebook is here and it's here to stay. And knowing a bit about the sensation that is Facebook will most certainly make you more popular at cocktail parties (or at least more "cool" with your children and grandchildren).

Oh, and a little known stat is that the fastest growing demographic using Facebook is you guessed it, older adults! Not just for kids anymore (check out the cool infographic at the end of the newsletter for details).

Lastly, if you ARE on Facebook (you know who you are), "Friend" Senior Surf on Facebook by clicking HERE or on the side panel.

Your "Friend",
David Casuto

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10 Fascinating Facebook Facts

Facebook’s astronomic rise, staggeringly large user-base, and world’s youngest self-made billionaire CEO make it one of the most fascinating companies around today.

While everyone knows the basics about the service’s Harvard dorm room origins, we’ve delved a little deeper to find out more interesting snippets of info.

Here are 10 facts you might not know about Facebook, so read on and let us know your favorites in the comments box below.

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1. Al Pacino’s Face Was on the Original Facebook Homepage

Prior to a major homepage redesign back in 2007, Facebook’s front page used to feature a man’s face partly obscured behind a cloud of binary code.

Dubbed the “Facebook guy,” it was not known who the mystery man was — until recently. David Kirkpatrick has revealed in his book The Facebook Effect that the image is a manipulated photo of Al Pacino created by a friend and classmate of Mark Zuckerberg.

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2. One Early Facebook Function Was a File Sharing Service

You won’t find this in the official Facebook timeline, but one of Facebook’s early add-ons was a peer-to-peer, or more technically friend-to-friend, file sharing service called Wirehog, developed alongside Facebook by Mark Zuckerberg and three others.
It launched in 2004 and is reported to have been planned as an integral FB feature. In 2005 Facebook was actively promoting the service and Zuckerberg told The Harvard Crimson“I think Wirehog will probably spread in the same way that thefacebook did.”

However, likely due to piracy concerns, Wirehog was axed in 2006 before Facebook got really big, although its photo-sharing functionality lives on in spirit.

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3. The First “Work Networks” Included Apple and Microsoft

Many of you may know about Facebook’s initial staggered rollout, where they started with Ivy League colleges before encompassing other educational institutions. But do you know who Facebook first went corporate within terms of official work places?

In May 2006, Apple and Microsoft were among the first, as was Intel, EA and Amazon. Others in the first round also included Accenture, Gap, Intuit, Pepsi, PricewaterhouseCoopers and the non-profit organization Teach for America. It wasn’t until September 2006 that everyone, regardless of school or company affiliation, could join Facebook — and just over a year later the site hit 50 million active users.

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4. Facebook’s Hidden Easter Eggs

Facebook is no stranger to Easter eggs. Early on, mysterious movie-related references (apparently Zuckerberg is a big film buff) could be found littering the site.

The references could be found in the footer of the old “Friends Page” in 2007, and one of the first was a quail-themed quote from the film The Wedding Crashers. Later dubbed “quails,” other quotes with the avian theme continued to appear in the footer text, including “Only the craftiest of quails survive hunting season,” and “What doesn’t kill a quail only makes it stronger.”
In addition, Facebook once boasted a Konami Code (you know — up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, enter) that changed the background of the site to display colorful circles and light flares.

Finally, there’s the “Chris Putnam,” a Facebook Chat Easter egg that still works today. To test it out, when in chat type in :putnam: and hit enter — ta da!

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5. The Meaning of the Term Poke Has Never Been Defined

While Facebook explains how “poking” works on its help center, there’s no explanation to be found for the origin of the phrase. The most common definition is a friendly “nudge,” but the more flirtatious connotations cannot be ignored.
David Kirkpatrick reveals in The Facebook Effect that Zuckerberg once responded to a question about what a poke meant on the social networking site with: “We thought it would be fun to make a feature that has no specific purpose… So mess around with it, because you’re not getting an explanation from us.”

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6. The Average Facebook User Has 130 Friends

How many Facebook friends do you have? To put your friend count in perspective, the average user has 130. Facebook’s official stats page is full of little gems like this, and more staggering stats, such as the fact that people spend over 500 billion minutes per month on Facebook, while the current active official user count now stands at over 500 million.

As far as Facebook the platform goes, over a million websites have integrated with Facebook, and more than 150 million people engage with Facebook on external websites every month.

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7. There’s an App to See What’s on the Facebook Cafe Menu

Like at Google, Facebook staffers get three free meals a day (as well as free drinks and snackage) served up by the “Facebook Culinary Team” at Cafe X or Cafe 6.

If the staff want to know what’s on the menu, they don’t need to leave their seats. In fact, they don’t even need to leave their Facebook profiles — the “Lunchtime” Facebook app offers a weekly view of what’s being offered. And it looks real good.

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8. Mark Zuckerberg Calls Himself a “Harvard Graduate”
As you can see for yourself over at facebook.com/zuck (the personalized URL Zuckerberg nabbed for himself), Mark Zuckerberg tells a little fib on his profile page. He lists himself as a “Harvard Graduate,” which simply isn’t true, as he dropped out to concentrate on getting Facebook up and running.
When 60 Minutes reporter Lesley Stahl confronted Zuckerberg with this little inconsistency, he said “That’s true. We don’t have a setting for dropout.”

Er, memo to Zuck — you kind of have the power to make that happen…

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9. California is Huge on Facebook
As far as Facebook goes, California (home of Silicon Valley) is the most social state, with an amazing 15,267,160 users in the region, according to Facebakers. This amounts to a 41% penetration rate — pretty astounding that nearly half the state is connected via Facebook.

The next biggest user-base can be found in Texas with 9 million users, but it’s nowhere close to California. New York comes in third with 8 million, and rounding off the very bottom of the list is … Delaware. Of course, actual state population size is a factor here, but you get the point.

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10. A Facebook Employee Hoodie Sold for $4,000 on eBay
If Facebook merchandise is collectible now, imagine what it will be worth in years to come. A Facebook employee standard-issue hoodie recently sold on eBayfor a whopping $4,050 with nearly 50 bidders battling it out to win the auction.

The fact that Mark Zuckerberg had just been seen sporting the same garment at the D8 Conference and revealed its mysterious insigniato the world certainly helped up the bids, but considering the one that sold had not touched Zuckerberg skin, it’s an astonishing amount.

And for a REALLY informative (and interesting) graphic about Facebook's demographics, see below: Too small? Click here:

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Senior Surf Newsletter - July 2010

2010-08-02T13:32:00.000-07:00

Interested in creating video project for a wedding, life tribute, memorial or life event? Go to multimedia memoirs here.

Hi Everyone,

Hope you are enjoying your summer. As tempting as it was to take this month off, sleep in and watch TV all day, I decided that it just wouldn't be prudent (to quote someone quoting someone else).

So to make it easier for both of us, I decided to bring back an oldie but goodie, with a nice bonus piece at the end (wait for it...). And many of you are new, so this will all be fresh info for you.

Enjoy and read in good health.

Happy Birthday America! :)

Dave
________________________________________

23 Google search tips

Google can be your phone book.
Type a person’s name, city, and state directly into the search box, and Google will deliver phone and address listings at the top of the results. The feature works for business listings too.

Google can be your calculator.
Type a math problem into the search box and Google will compute it. You can spell out the equation in words (two plus two, twelve divided by three), use numbers and symbols (2+2, 12/3), or type in a combination of both (ten million) *pi, 15% of six).

Longer is better, but shorter is ok.
Google is designed to return high-quality results even for one- or two-word queries, so you can keep your searches short. But adding a few more words often yields better results.

Use quotation marks when precision matters.
Typing “the search is over” into Google will return web pages about the rock song by Survivor – but leaving off the quotes will produce an assortment of unrelated pages. The reason: adding quote marks phrase as it was typed. That makes quote marks especially helpful when searching for song lyrics, people’s names, or expressions such as “to be or not to be” that include very common words.

Google can be your dictionary.
Type define followed by any English word into the search box, and Google will give you a quick definition at the top of the search results.

Capitalization doesn’t matter.
Save yourself time and typos: don’t brother with the SHIFT key. Googling queen Elizabeth II and queen elizabeth ii yields the same results. So whether you enter words in uppercase or Lowercase, Google treats them equally – through the Queen would prefer otherwise.

Forget pluralism.
Google automatically searches for all the stems of a word, so you don’t need to do separate searches for dance, dances, and dancing. Just type one of the words and Google will take care of the rest, giving you results all in one list.

Get the picture.
Looking for a photo of Paris Hilton, or the Paris Hilton Hotel? Click on the “Images” link above the search box, type your query, and Google will provide any photos or graphics in its database of over one billion images that match your terms, with a link to the page where they appear.

Maps, driving, directions, and satellite views are one click away:
The fastest way to finding the fastest way to your destination is to enter a city and state (or just a zip code) into the search box.

Where do you want to go today?
If you know the specific Web site you want to visit, type its name into the Google search box, hit enter, and you will be there in a flash

Browse the world’s bookshelves online.
Search for a topic at print-google.com and you will see information from actual books that Google has scanned and indexed in its database. You can browse or read the entire text of works that are not copyrighted; for others, you can see snippets of pages where your search term appears and learn where to buy a full copy.

Dial GOOGLE when you’re on the go.
Get phone numbers, directions, movie times, stocks quotes, and more delivered to your cell phone, Send a text message with your query to the number 46645 (GOOGLE on most U.S. phones) and the search engine will message you back with instant answers.

I’m Feeling Lucky.
Enter a search term and click this button on the Google homepage to bypass a long list of results and go directly to the top-matching Web page for your term.

Google can be your newscaster.
Google News, reachable via the “News” link above the search box or at news. google.com, provides up-to-the-minute information on politics, business, technology, entertainment, health, sports, and more. Type a topic of interest into the Google News search box to find the most recent stories from more than 4,500 global news sources.

Google can be your weatherman.
Type weather followed by a zip code or the name of a city, and Google will give the current conditions and a four-day forecast at the top of the results page.

Become a researcher.
Google tends to list popular and fresh pages at the top of its results, but dig beyond the first page or two of search results and you will often find older, forgotten pages that have just what you need for a research project. Also check out the “Cached” versions of Web pages that Google collects as it crawls and downloads web, which are available through a blue link at the end of every search result. The cached version of the page, and often has the content you are seeking even if the current version of the page has changed – say, a news site that removed the original story.

Become a scholar.
Serious searchers can tap into thousands of scientific and academic journals with Google Scholar. Enter a query into the search box at scholar.google.com to get abstracts and papers from published sources.

Take a magic ~ ride.
The tilde character “~” in the corner of your keyboard is a handy tool in Google searches. Put it before a word, with no space between, to have Google look for pages with both that term and its synonyms.

Pack more results onto each page.
The “Preferences” link to the right of the search box is your ticket to tweaking various settings for Google searches, including the number of results displayed per page. Increase the number of matches you see per page from the standard set of 10 to 20, 30 or more, to put more answers at your fingertips faster.

Translate into other languages.
The “Language Tools” link, also found to the right of the search box on the homepage, calls up Google’s automated translation service as well as other language options. From this page, you can translate text among numerous language (English to Spanish, French to German, Chinese to English…) or translate a Web page simply by entering its address.

Get an instant stock quote.
Type a stock ticker symbol into the search box to get a stock quote and chart on any public company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. American Stock Exchange or NASDAQ.

Get PG-rated results.
A search on a serious topic like sex education might trigger objectionable material, so Google provides an optional Safe Search filter to keep results family-friendly. Click the “Preferences” link next to the search box to view and adjust the Safe Search settings (choose from “strict,” “moderate,” or no filtering).

Peer inside Google.
Click the “more>” link above the search box to find additional Google features and products as well as further tips on how to search effectively. Check out the very handy one-page Google search guide at foofle.com/help/cheatsheet.html.

Senior Surf Newsletter June 2010

2010-06-02T20:55:00.000-07:00

Interested in creating video project for a wedding, life tribute, memorial or life event? Go to multimedia memoirs here.

How do I find out how much hard drive space I have left?

The answer varies from computer to computer. If you are on a Mac, find the icon on your desktop or Finder that indicates "Hard drive" or "HD" and right-click (or control-click) and choose "Get info". That will tell you how many gigabytes you have used and how much you have total. If you are on Windows, open up "My Computer" and right-click on your C Drive and choose Properties. A nice pie chart will appear telling you how much space you have left and how much you have total.

What is a Flash Player?
The Flash Player is a software application that works in the background of your browser* to allow you to see certain types of websites such as: animation, video, certain types of sophisticated navigation, photographs and other high level graphics. Without Flash you would not be able to use YouTube, Flickr, parts of the NY Times websites and thousands of other websites. See below for more info on updating Flash.

*See last month's newsletter for the definition of a browser.

What is Java?
Java also runs in the background of your browser allowing you to interact with certain types of components on a website including games, animation, navigation, forms and more. You usually don't even know it's there, so don't worry too much about it. Should you update? Keep reading...

What does "cache" mean?
It means money, and send me lots now, or the mail chimp gets it. OK, that's a different type of cache. Cache can mean different things depending on what type of program you're seeing it used in. Most users see it in their browser, as in "clear your cache". Your cache is like a note taker for your browser so it can quickly remember websites you go to frequently. This is good, but sometimes our cache gets filled up slowing down our computer, because the cache gets filled up. Ask your tech person how to empty your cache if your browser is getting slow.

What is a PDF file?
PDF stands for Portable Document Format (doesn't that just tell you exactly what it is?). PDF's were invented by Adobe and can be read by Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat. PDF's were designed to create a universal standard for documents so that they can be transferred from one computer to another without any loss of formatting or content. They can also be transferred "cross-platform" (Mac to PC and vice versa). They are used for contracts, resumes, newsletters and other official documents.

What is an update?
An update is something your computer requires so you can stay current with the latest security software, music player, video player, web browser, printer software, anti-virus and more.

Why do I need to update?
You should update because if your computer and the software within it gets out of date, certain programs may not run properly, your browser will not show certain websites and your computer may not be well-protected. Believe me, as a tech, I have seen computers that do not update and it can be a lot of work catching up...

How do I update?
Each computer is different. If you are on a Mac, go to your System Preferences under the Apple menu and choose Software Updates; If you are on Windows, go to Control Panel and choose Windows updates. And each software program that needs updating will alert you when it needs updating (Flash, Java and your printer are good examples of this). If you are Windows, you may also see a Windows icon on the lower right of your screen telling you an update is available.

What types of programs should I update?

Flash, Java, Windows Updates, Mac updates, updates for Microsoft Office, your media players, your printer, your anti-virus (this is a must!), your browser.

What is an App?
App is short for "application". Apps these days refer to smart phones like iPhones and Droids where they have thousands of apps to choose from to install on your phone for extra features beyond just a phone. They can be used for games, utilities, organizing, entertainment and more! I have about 30 apps on my iPhone (when it isn't dropping calls!)

What is a modem?
Modem stands for modulator demodulator, and is responsible for your computer's high speed internet connection. It is constantly sending and receiving (mod and demod) information to and from your computer. Check out wikipedia's very thorough explanation when you have a moment http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modem.

Have an idea for an upcoming newsletter? Have questions? Send 'em my way!

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Contact Dave Casuto

Private instruction,

Technical Support,

Project Work

and most all topics and areas.

(415) 509-3725

Senior Surf Newsletter May 2010

2010-05-12T18:46:00.000-07:00

Interested in creating video project for a wedding, life tribute, memorial or life event? Go to multimedia memoirs here.

Hello Everyone,

A wise professor once said, "the three most important tenets of education are Review, Review and Review." Regardless of folks' level of "expertise", we can always use a refresher.

I hear it all the time from clients of mine who are expert in say, digital photography, that they would still like a lesson or two on the "basics" (a relative term, it seems).

So that's what this issue is about. Forward thinking back to the beginning of the basics for advanced intermediates. Or something to that effect.

We will present this in the form of FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions). This will be part one. Part two will be determined by YOU and your questions.

Good day,
Dave

Frequently Asked Questions

What's a browser?
Examples are Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari. It is the program you use to get on to the internet. You would not be able to get on the web without using your browser. It's like your car to the freeway; your car allows you access to the freeway, and each "exit" is a website. You need to open a browser and type in an address to get on any website. And although each browser may look different (think Chevy vs Ford), they all pretty much accomplish the same thing.

What's a router?
A router, or sometimes referred to as a wireless router, is used to send out internet signals (wirelessly) so you can connect to the internet sans cables (like to your laptop). It usually works in conjunction with your modem (which connects to your wall, where your internet comes from). Popular brands are 2Wire, Linksys, Netgear, and the Apple Airport.

What's an Operating System?
You're using it right now whether you realize it or not. The two main OS (operating systems) that exist are Microsoft's Windows and Apple. And there are varieties of each of these depending on the year you purchased your computer. Your OS is the brains of your computer, essentially. Without your OS, your software applications, your printer, your mouse, etc, would not run. They all depend on your OS for "instructions". Current OS's are Windows 7 and Apple OS 10.6 (Snow Leopard).

How on earth does Google get all of its information?
They just do. That's why. Let Google do what they want. OK, there's more to it than that. Google (and Yahoo and MSN) have special technology called "crawlers" that travel throughout the internet millions of times a day sucking up all the information (words, images, phrases) from websites, then put this information into a vast database for when you search. Read on...

How is Google so good at searching?
Google plays favorites, that's why. Really. Google has a special algorithm that calculates who are the "popular" websites on the block and based on that formula, Google decides which site to show in the top 10 based on that level of popularity on the web. And they are usually right!

How is all this stuff free?
How is so much of TV free? See those pretty looking flashy animations to right, left and above you? That's called advertising: it's paying for your email and a good deal of many websites. Other websites like wikipedia are donation based and/or volunteer-run (bless their hearts).

What is memory and what is storage?
This is the most common misconception I see. In computer speak, memory is NOT storage. Storage is how much space your computer has to hold your photos, videos, document files, etc. These are stored in your hard drive. Your memory, or RAM (Random Access Memory) affects your computer's speed and performance. Think of RAM as short-term memory for your computer allowing it to "juggle" more tasks without having to stall and freeze up. More RAM, usually more speed. Nowadays, you should have at least 2 gigabytes of RAM.

Do my emails take up space on my computer?
That all depends. If you use web mail like hotmail, yahoo, gmail or comcast where you actually have to open a browser and log in, then the answer is NO. Your email is stored on the email provider's server (i.e., their computers far far away). If you use Outlook, Windows Mail, Outlook Express, Mac Mail or Mozilla Thunderbird (even when linked to the email providers mentioned above), then all of your emails are downloaded to your hard drive from your email provider's server and YES, they take up space on your computer.

And finally...Worms, Viruses and Trojan Horses (Oh, my!)

The most common blunder people make when the topic of a computer virus arises is to refer to a worm or Trojan horse as avirus. While the words Trojan, worm and virus are often used interchangeably, they are not the same. Viruses, worms and Trojan Horses are all malicious programs that can cause damage to yourcomputer, but there are differences among the three, and knowing those differences can help you to better protect your computer from their often damaging effects.

What are Virus?

A computer virus attaches itself to a program or file so it can spread from one computer to another, leaving infections as it travels. Almost all viruses are attached to an executable file, which means the virus may exist on your computer but it cannot infect your computer unless you run or open the malicious program. It is important to note that a virus cannot be spread without a human action, (such as running an infected program) to keep it going. People continue the spread of a computer virus, mostly unknowingly, by sharing infecting files or sending e-mails with viruses as attachments in the e-mail.

What are Worms?

A worm is similar to a virus by its design, and is considered to be a sub-class of a virus. Worms spread from computer to computer, but unlike a virus, it has the capability to travel without any help from a person. A worm takes advantage of file or information transport features on your system, which allows it to travel unaided. The biggest danger with a worm is its capability to replicate itself on your system, so rather than your computer sending out a single worm, it could send out hundreds or thousands of copies of itself, creating a huge devastating effect.

What are Trojan Horses?

The Trojan Horse, at first glance will appear to be useful software but will actually do damage once installed or run on your computer. Those on the receiving end of a Trojan Horse are usually tricked into opening them because they appear to be receiving legitimate software or files from a legitimate source. When a Trojan is activated on your computer, the results can vary. Some Trojans are designed to be more annoying than malicious (like changing your desktop, adding silly active desktop icons) or they can cause serious damage by deleting files and destroying information on your system.

Send me your questions and we will see about answering them in the next installments. Also, review (ha!) any of the previous newsletters to see if any of your questions can be answered!

Senior Surf Newsletter February

2010-03-09T13:24:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,

Although the holiday season is behind us, we can still support this great nation by becoming expert shoppers year-round. As promised, this issue will be part two of the series on shopping online. Included will be: group discount sites, travel comparison shopping, charity sites and more ways to cybersave!

Dave

Now that you are whole-heartedly convinced that shopping on the web is totally safe (and know the ways to tell of it's safeness), you are ready to take on the material world, save big and find whatever you're looking for (and avoid driving/parking/mall-mania at the same time).

Whether you're out of town, staying local, in the mall, or feeling philanthropic, this issue will help you with some new ideas.

Out on the Town

Best Ways to Save a Buck Around Town

"Neva, eva pay retail", a famous someone said over the din of a cacophonous mall. It would be a sin to do so in this day and age, so here are some tools/websites to help you out, to save a few bucks while doing the stuff you already do, and probably should do more!

Goldstar: Have you heard of Goldstar? It's the best. Their tagline is: "Fun ideas, half-price tickets, member reviews and everything you need for great nights out." For their members (membership is free), they offer incredible deals on theater, sports events, movies, book readings, comedy shows, spa/massage, dinner theater, concerts and more. Sign up today for their free newsletter at www.goldstar.com.

Note: you pay a small transaction fee with each purchase, but it still winds up being a much better deal than the original price.

TixBayArea - Also known as Half Price Theater Tickets. Go to the site to see what's available and purchase them on the spot or find out what's available at the Union Square location. Not just theater tickets, but other performances as well.

Restaurant.com - Tagline: "Eat. Drink. Save Money." Sign up for this service and get - for example - $25 worth of food for $10 at XYX restaurant. They have hundreds of Bay Area restaurants to choose from. Membership is free.

For Out of Town

Each of the following does a comparison price search for the flight and dates you want to travel. Also does hotels, rental cars and activities. Just fill out the form with your dates of travel and any other requirement and watch them do their magic comparing all airlines and dates in seconds! Kayak.com does it right there on the fly! (Sorry travel agents.)

Get Your Group On!

There is a new trend sweeping the world of online shopping: saving big, doing cool stuff and doing it as a community. Introducing the group coupon platform where each consumer goes in with a "group"*, makes a purchase on an "item of the day" and each saves big. I have become an addict to these sites. Things they offer savings on are: restaurants, entertainment, spa-type stuff, dentistry (just bought a $58 teeth cleaning!), comedy clubs and more!

Here are just a few. Sign up for free, get their newsletter alerts and only pay when you want to purchase something.

www.Groupon.com
www.Livingsocial.com
www.Coyzo.com (started by a friend of mine, it's new, so if you wanna support a new biz, this is a good one since it's also focused on social responsibility).
www.Buywithme.com

*You don't need to have a group, the website keeps track of who is buying and once they reach their quota of buyers, you all get the deal! All about volume...

Really? No Way...

Here are some pretty cool technologies that are just, well, pretty cool...

Frucall.com – "Free comparison shopping with your cell phone when you're in a store." You can call 888-DO-FRUCALL and type in the 12 digit bar code and the site’s computer will tell you whether there is a cheaper price online. If you're a texting type of guy/gal, you can text in the info and get an instant response. Check out their website for more info.

MPire.com is like a stock ticker for item pricing. A graph depicts the average price of any item over time, both on retailer’s sites and on auction sites…”Never bid blindly on eBay again!”

Red Laser - If you have an iPhone there is an application called Red Laser that "scans" the bar code of a product and brings up all the other prices of that product, so you can find the best deals out there before you buy!

Mytriggers.com lets you set your price. Enter your product and how much you’d like to pay for it, and this site will return a list of vendors. Click the “Trigger It” button to have the site send an email when the price drops to your target.

Charity Websites

In light of the recent disaster in Haiti, some of you may be wondering what are some of the best (and most trustworthy) places to make donations. A great website for finding (and evaluating) charities to donate to is Charity Navigator where you can search for charities on particular categories, from the environment, animals (my personal crusade), the arts, education, etc. Go to www.charitynavigator.org to read more.

Some of the more well-known and trusted organizations for donating to Haiti are www.OxFam.org, www.amnesty.org, www.worldvision.org, and www.unicef.org.

Dear Reader...
Got a site or service you would like to recommend and share? Send it my way!

Would you like to be a contributing writer to this newsletter? Perhaps you would like to promote something while still sharing your valuable knowledge? Even a short article sharing your words, wisdom and way...

If you're interested, or already have something to share, contact me directly and you'll get full credit if published (if desired).

NEED HELP!
If any of you were in my Digital Storytelling classes, I am looking for a Teacher's Assistant for the upcoming SFSU class that starts this Friday (10-12pm) for 8 weeks. What's in it for you (beside getting to learn all that great stuff again?) is that you get a FREE class of your choosing through OLLI for your time. Please contact me ASAP if you are interested...

Contact David Casuto for:

Private instruction, Technical Support, Project Work and most all technology-related topics and areas.
Patient. Reliable. Knowledgeable.

(415) 509-3725 dave@senior-surf.org

2010-03-02T17:14:00.001-08:00

Interested in creating video project for a wedding, life tribute, memorial or life event? Go to multimedia memoirs here.

Go to youtube and find your video to paste

Find the embed window on the right side

click that code until it turns blue

Right click it

Choose Copy

Return to blogger

in new or existing post, make sure you are in HTML mode

right click and choose Paste

Preview

Senior Surf Newsletter - December 2009

2010-01-25T19:45:00.000-08:00

Interested in creating video project for a wedding, life tribute, memorial or life event? Go to multimedia memoirs here.

Hello Everyone,

First things first. You may notice some new improvements to the Senior Surf newsletter. Thanks to the generous donations of our readers, we have made some changes that I think you will like including: more images, better layout, cleaner design, an archiv e list and hopefully less typosq#@.

Thanks to all who donated!

With the holidays coming up, what better way to celebrate fervent religious ideals by spending lots and lots on your loved ones. The spirit of giving is in the air!

Now, we here at Senior Surf are sensitive to the economic woes plaguing our world and want the holidays to be as bountiful for you as possible. Therefore, this issue will discuss shopping online: The security of shopping online, how to save $$$, some good websites to explore, how to conducts product reviews and more.

(My address is attached at the bottom for those who want to show off how well they can shop online - *wink*).

Happy Happy,

Dave

Shopping Safely Online

How do you tell if the Internet connections are secure?

The ecommerce industry has developed technology that can scramble (or “encrypt”) sensitive information, such as your credit card number, so that it can be read only by the merchant you are dealing with and your credit card issuer. This ensures that your payment information cannot be read by anyone else or changed along the way. How can we tell if it is secure and safe? There are several ways to determine if you have that protection when you are sending payment information on the web:

Look for the picture of the unbroken key or closed lock in your browser window. Either one of these icons indicates that the security is operative. A broken key or any open lock indicates it is not. Usually in the upper right or lower right. May vary depending on your browser.

Look to see if the web address on the page that asks for your credit card information begins with "https:" instead of "http."

Some web sites use the words "Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)" or a pop up box that says you are entering a secure area.

These security protections do not work in e-mail. So, make sure you send personal and payment information in a secure web transaction.

Phone-In Option

Would you rather give your credit card information over the phone?

Many web merchants allow you to order online and give your credit card information over the phone. If you do this, make a note of the phone number, company, the date and time of your call, and the name of the person who recorded your credit card number.

Who wants to know your password or other identifying information?

Be very careful about responding to an e-mail, phone call, fax, or letter from anyone who asks for your password(s), social security number, birth date, bank account, credit card number, mother's maiden name, or other personal information. Sellers and financial institutions do not ask you for such information unless you are entering into a transaction with them.

Identity thieves make up emails that look remarkably like real websites. If you receive an inquiry for personal information, do not reply directly. To verify that the person contacting you really does work for the seller, call and request to speak to that person directly You should only have to provide your password to get to your online account, and you should not give your credit card number except when you are actually placing an order. And you should only give your password and credit card number in a secure connection on a web site, not in ordinary e-mail.

Best Online Shopping Websites

You may be asking yourself the eternal question: "Why shop online?!" Let me count the wwways. Because you're an educated consumer, sometimes lazy who hates looking for parking, driving, spending gas money, wants to find the best selection, the best prices and save wads of cash. Period. And you (now) trust the system to not steal your information and the soul of your Visa card. This article will discuss what websites to check out to be the best you can be this holiday season now and into the future for all things consumer-ish.

Comparison Shopping Websites

Imagine you had an assistant for whenever you wanted to buy something. And you told that assistant: "Assistant, go to every store in the land and find me all things available, the price, what models and deliver it to me in say...10 seconds or less. And I also want you to find me the BEST prices." Introducing comparison shopping that does all this and more for you in just a few clicks. Here are some great sites to check out*. Search by category or by search word. (Click to view)

MySimon

Nextag

Bizrate

Pricegrabber

Dealtime

Amazon (although not a comparison site per se, still my favorite place to shop online)

And for a great article that talks about these sites and more (including COUPON sites), check out: http://www.ebizmba.com/articles/shopping-websites

Another great thing about shopping online is that many times, shipping is FREE and there is no TAX. Vudda Country!

P.S. One shopping tip for those who like the "hands on" approach to shopping is to go to the store first, try out the product you like...THEN go online and find it for cheaper (and with no tax/shipping). Schmaat, eh?

Product Review Websites

Sometimes you want to know before you buy. Buyer Beware no more. These websites* deliver reviews, opinions and experiences from users like you and me and also professionals who are paid to test a product and write about it (independently). There are usually enough to "average" out the best and worst and make a decision from there. Note: the websites in the previous article, in addition to showing you the best prices, also offers reviews on products.

Consumer Search

CNET

ePinions.com

Consumer Reports

Top Ten Reviews

Amazon

*Of course, these lists are not exhaustive. Do your own research (Google) and find out what works best for you. The key here is to know that these services do indeed exist and primarily benefit the buyer.

So why not dive right in and spend, spend, spend! (Remember, my address is written below) :-)

Next Month...

In the next issue, I will be continuing with this theme of online shopping, but shifting to other topics. If you have a favorite website, process or experience you want to share, email me and we'll see about putting it in the next newsletter.

Happy Holidays, everyone.

Contact David Casuto for:

Private instruction, Technical Support, Project Work and most all technology-related topics and areas.

Patient. Reliable. Knowledgeable.

(415) 509-3725 | dave@senior-surf.org

May 2009

2009-11-29T22:03:00.000-08:00

Interested in creating video project for a wedding, life tribute, memorial or life event?Go to multimedia memoirs here.

Greetings!

Do you Tweet? Are you LinkedIn? Who's your favorite Blogger? How many apps do you have on Facebook?

Confused? Does this all sounds like crazytalk? Or maybe, just maybe these are familiar terms, but you're just looking for someone to explain it all?

That's where we come in. This edition will be another two parter on the phenomenon of Social Networking and Social Media - the latest sensation on the web - regardless of age, gender or background.

What is it? Who's doing it? What are your choices? Do you even want to be part of it?

Read on to join the craziness.

Dave Casuto

Founder, Senior Surf Computer Education

Social Networking Defined

Humans are social creatures. Yes, even when we're holed away behind our computers, playing Solitaire or writing the great American novel, we still cannot fight the powers of interacting with our fellow earthlings.

We have email. We have telephones. We have CELL phones. What more do we need to stay in touch with our loved ones past and present? That's where new social media such as Facebook and Twitter come in (have you heard the buzz?).

What is Facebook?

Facebook is a popular website service that allows one to stay in contact with "Friends", know what they are up at any given moment, share and view photos, news items, websites, videos and more. It is also a venue for meeting new people through "Groups" consisting of people of shared interest. For example, one group I am part of is a group that consists of people who used to play Little League baseball in a stadium in my home town back in New York. It's been a great way to view and share old photos and to get back in touch with old friends! There are groups for everybody. If you can't find yours, create it yourself!

Facebook just celebrated their 200 millionth member (yes, you read right. And most of these folks are outside of the US, and an increasing number are older adults 50 and better...read this article from the NY Times for some good info. Click HERE).

Psst...trying to find an old friend...use the easy to use Search box and just type in there name!
And I love this...

What is Twitter?

What are you doing right now? Your friends want to know. What is Hillary Clinton doing right now? Become her friend on Twitter and find out! What does Governor Arnold have in store for we Ca-li-fornians (insert your best Austrian accent here)...join his 100,000 followers on http://www.facebook.com/!

In 140 characters or less, you can share every exciting (!) moment of your life, every thought, your every action with all of your "followers" (your internet minions). You can receive them in your email, through your cell phone or just visit Twitter.com to have direct access to both your followers and your own people you follow.

Do you want to do it? Do you have the time? Do you see the point? Maybe not. 10 Million Twitterers are waiting....

And here is a video if you would like to watch an interview with the founder Biz Stone on the Colbert Report. HERE.

And one more NY Times article on Twitter...also very good. Click HERE.

Linked In - Professional Networking

We humans are a complicated species...when we 're not socializing, we're working. Or trying to get more work so we can socialize more. Ho-hum. Introducing another Professional Networking website: http://www.facebook.com/ (LinkedIn).

Looking for a job? Looking for new skills? Looking for professional events? Maybe you're an activist and want to join with like-minded folk? Perhaps you're a retired professional who would like to help mentor upwardly mobile professionals? LinkedIn offers the opportunity for all that and more. Just as Facebook offers the opportunity to interact socially with friends (and make new friends), LinkedIn allows you to do the same, but professionally.

Here is a short list of LinkedIn's features:

Post a Resume

Re-connect with Alum

Join a Group (for your interests)*

Start a Group!

Learn about and attend Professional Events

Get recommendations/Give recommendations

Ask questions from the question forum

Browse previously asked questions

Market and grow your business

Find employees (Recruit and assess)

Create and receive References

Meet new people who share your passions for what you do!

*One example of a group that I am part of is the Technology Instructors group. They send out information about current topics, events and other items. Very helpful!

How much does it cost to join? For a basic package, it's free...but they have higher level packages if you would like more features than the ones listed here for a cost...

Here is another great article about LinkedIn: 100 Smart Ways to use LinkedIn...click HERE.

September 2009

2009-11-25T07:31:00.000-08:00

Interested in creating video project for a wedding, life tribute, memorial or life event?Go to multimedia memoirs here.

Hello Dear Reader. Hope you are having a great summer and enjoyed the two months we had away from each other. Like it or not, I am back. Here to torture you with needless information you desperately need to know. So put down the daiquiri, get away from the pool and start reading.

Warning: this month's issue may cause drowsiness and put you right to sleep, so please don't read while driving or operating heavy machine (or while drinking a daiquiri - actually, make that daiquiri a double).

Intrigued? Bored already? Read on...

Dave

-------------------------------------------------------

Digital Formats, Extensions, Formats and other Cocktail Party Topics

There is an old Russian proverb that says: "Tell me slowly so that I can understand quickly". If I was in Russia, I would be using that phrase a lot. For some of us speaking in techno-ese, it's all er, uh...Greek to the outside world.

Acronyms, file formats, extensions, applications, hardware, software...Um...English please? Don't ya wish someone would someone would just put it all out there and (slowly) explain all you need to know in just five minutes or less?

Start your timer.

In this article, I am going to break down, by category, some of the more common need-to-know unknowns in the digital world.

Let's start with Digital Music

There are only a few common music formats that you should know about.

MP3: stands for MPEG - 1 Layer 3: while MPEG stands for Moving Picture Experts Group - nonsense, I know, but bear with me hear (sic). This is the universal digital music format that can play all media players (iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc.). It was invented in order to compress music files that were originally too big for a computer coming from a CD - while still retaining quality.

Speaking of MP3 - see last section for a good deal on an iPod...

WMA: Stands for Windows Media Audio. This is a music format developed by Microsoft for the same purpose as an MP3 - to compress music files. Since this is a Microsoft proprietary technology, it will most likely not play on iTunes or Real Player or other non-Microsoft programs, and may need to be converted to something universal like an MP3.

MP4/AAC: stands for Advanced Audio Coding. The next generation of MP3 technology that allows for better quality sound without increasing the size of your audio file. Should be able to be played on most up-to-date players.

M4P - If you have iTunes and you've purchased music from the iTunes store, then your music is in this format. The "P" in this case means protected, meaning you cannot share this music outside of your computer iTunes player. Nor can you play it on any other program outside of iTunes.

Video

MOV - a video format created by Apple to play on their QuickTime software program, however most other applications like Real Player and Windows Media Player will run an .MOV file. Most (Windows) computers do not come with QuickTime installed, so you would need to download it (free) from the Apple Website

WMV - Stands for Windows Media Video. Similar to WMA, it is Microsoft's video compression format to create videos that are not too big, but retain quality. Will most likely only play on Windows Media Player and not Quicktime/Real Player; however, some new versions might. If you run on an Apple computer, you can still play WMV's by downloading the software here. Good to have just in case.

AVI - Audio Visual Interleave. Also invented by Microsoft but a much more widely accepted format for other programs. File sizes tend to be bigger while quality is also much better.

MPEG-4 - is the global multimedia standard, delivering professional-quality audio and video streams over a wide range of bandwidths, from cell phone to broadband and beyond. It delivers DVD quality video without creating huge file sizes. This technology was invented by Apple.

Want to download videos from YouTube on to your own computer? Wait till next month's newsletter!

Photographs and images

JPEG - Stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group (yeah, I know...rididulous). You've likely seen .jpg or .jpeg at the end of your digital photos. This is the standard for digital photographic images. Why? Because it can hold millions (literally) of colors, maintain the original quality while still compressing the size of the file. Compressing is important for emailing and putting up on the web (we've all received those HUGE pictures that clog up our inbox or with a close up of someone's eyeball). Please compress your photos before emailing.

See next month's newsletter on how to do this and what standards you should use.

GIF - Stands for Graphic Interchange Format. Digital image format developed by CompuServe in 1987. Instead of millions of colors, GIF's are good for no more than 256 colors. Many logos and solid colors are created in GIF. Not good for photos that tend to have millions of colors.

PNG - Stands for Portable Network Graphics. A new image format that is similar to JPEG that it compresses photos without losing quality. The difference in my experience is if you have a transparent background, a JPEG will show it as white, while a PNG will show it as transparent (good for graphic designers).

Not had enough of acronyms? Next month we'll be covering Office application formats and more. You've been warned.

Got a question about ones you've seen? Send 'em my way!

Term of the Month

Hardware

Common examples of hardware are printers and keyboard and a mouse. They are physical (or hard!) and you physically see and use them. What other hardware examples can you think of? Look around you right now and see if you can find any!

Software

Software examples are Internet Explorer, Safari or Microsoft Word. Another term used interchangeably is Program or Application. You can't really "see" it, it is digital.

In order to operate hardware, it needs to have software to function - the software contains the instructions for the hardware to operate properly - this software is called "driver". What other software programs can you think of? This should be easy as there are dozens you have installed on your computer right now!

October 2009

2009-11-25T07:26:00.000-08:00

Interested in creating video project for a wedding, life tribute, memorial or life event?Go to multimedia memoirs here.

Hello everyone. This issue is the second of two parts on digital formats. It also includes some tips on some useful download to make your life easier and possibly more entertaining and fun!

Also, a bit of info on the upcoming class I am teaching at SFSU coming up at the end of the month.

Stay in touch...

Best regards,

Dave

------------------------------------------------------

As we progress in the world of computers, technology and all it's various iterations change with it. This segment will focus on some of the newer digital formats out there and how to deal with them (without resorting to violence or using profanity).

Microsoft Office Applications

Whether you are on a Mac or Windows computer, most of us will have exposure to an Office application. Some examples are Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Now, with the latest versions of Office 2007 (for Windows) and 2008 (for Mac) out, comes a host of new challenges. And they start and end with the letter "x".

The X Factor

Office application extensions from 2003 and prior went like this:

Word = .doc

Excel = .xls

PowerPoint = .ppt

For Office 2007 and 2008, they have added the letter x to each of these extension. Eg, Word is now .docx, Excel, xlsx.

Now, here's the problem: If you do not have Office 2007 or 2008 installed on your computer, you will not be able to open a file created in these new versions. (Yes, this is brilliant marketing from Microsoft that now forces the world to not sit by idly and get left behind and stuck with their now ancient technology).

So what do you do to fix this? The solution is both easy and free. If you want to be able to open up files with this new format, simply follow the link below and download the Compatibility Pack for Office. Again, it's free and easy to install and does not take up a lot of room on your computer. Click the link here.

Once downloaded and installed, if you try to open one of the X formats, it will open in a "Viewer", meaning that you can read it, but you cannot edit it (you'll have to buy the full program to be able to do that).

One last note, if you do own 2007/2008, bear in mind that others may not, so save your files as the older formats sans X. See your options menu on how to make that change permanent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Term of the Month

SMS
SMS stands for Short Message Service. The more common language used is "Texting", ie, from your cell phone. As in: "It is illegal to text while driving, lest you run over a hapless pedestrian."
See your manual on how to text. There is usually a minimal charge of $.10 per text sent and received.

November 2009

2009-11-25T07:06:00.000-08:00

Interested in creating video project for a wedding, life tribute, memorial or life event?Go to multimedia memoirs here.

Hello Everyone.

This may be the most important issue of this newsletter ever published. It concerns you, your computer's data, your brains and this newsletter.

This month, we talk about the best way to save your data (i.e., back it up); we also discuss how to save your brain (hint: you're doing it right now). And lastly, Senior Surf is adding a link to this newsletter which will allow you to make a donation in the amount of your choosing on it's secure web space (or via mail). This link will be present on the remainder of all newsletters (read below for more).

Happy time change, stay warm and well-lit, and for goodness sake, back up your data!

Dave

Backing Up Your Computer: Just Do It

About six months ago, a nightmare occurred. The "blue screen of death" is what some call it. Others call it a crash. I called it other four letter words that I cannot repeat here in this article.

Suddenly, without warning, my poor little (or not so little) computer went belly up on me, dead on arrival with no way to access my over 100 GB of data. As a private business owner that has dozens of projects happening at once, this was, as I said, a nightmare.

Thankfully, I backed up.

What did I back up and how did I back up is the question. I used to use an external hard drive to back up my stuff, but I soon began to realize that that was too labor intensive and sort of sloppy and did not back up my data in "real time" (meaning right away, as I created it).

Then I discovered Carbonite.

Carbonite is a secure password protected, online service that backs up all your data as you create it, with an unlimited amount of storage space. I write a letter, a spreadsheet, download photos, music, you name it, and within minutes (or seconds) of creating it, Carbonite is backing it up ensuring my peace of mind. If I accidently delete a file, Carbonite has it backed up on it's server.

Once I reinstalled my operating system and got my computer up and running, all my data was there backed up ready to be restored to my newly repaired computer. I cannot tell you how grateful I was for this service.

If you are interested in using it, email me (reply to this email) and I can send you an "invitation" to use it. The cost is reasonable at $54.95 a year (less if you do multiple years). I will send you something right away and you can get started within minutes and all your stuff will be securely backed lest disaster strikes.

And by the way, they have been written up by the NY Times, Wall Street Journal, CNET and are backed by the Better Business Bureau.

Make a Donation

Senior Surf Computer Education is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to bridge the digital divide for older adults on all things technology. That is one of the reasons that this free newsletter exists. It is open to anyone, anytime and it is designed to provide a free educational forum for Senior Surf's friends, clients and constituents.

The time and resources for creating this newsletter are voluntary and exist to further the greater mission of Senior Surf and to benefit you.

Please make a donation to Senior Surf by clicking the button below. If you donate, your name (if you like), will be posted with the others who have donated in the past (click here to view). Since we are a 501(c)3, your donation is tax deductible and we can send you a receipt within one week.

If you would like to donate to Senior Surf through check (and not online), you can send it to:

Senior Surf
442A Guerrero Street

San Francisco, CA 94110

Thank you for your continued support.