SeniorNet Porirua Inc
www.seniornet-porirua.org.nz
Edited by Bob Pretty
Newsletter
September 2013
Have You Got E-mail
Paint Net
Many of our members are still showing no e-mail
address. If you are one of these people then you are
missing out on up-to-date information coming from
the club. If there are places still available in a course
or workshop you will be informed. Instead of receiving
one large newsletter each term you will receive the
smaller monthly edition. You therefore won't receive
a printed copy through the post (which will only be
three days a week soon) that is a consolidation of the
newsletters over the past three months. You will also
save the club printing and postage costs.
This is a very good replacement program for the MS
Paint that is wrapped up with the Windows program.
This one (paint Net) is easy to use and gives excellent
results. You can also get a free Slide Show maker here,
which can add Photos, Videos and Music, to make an
interesting and fun slide show, try it here
www.getpaint.net/
PDF Anyone?
If you own MS 2013 the word program can save to
PDF format as word has been able since 2007. Did you
know that you may upload a PDF file into word 2013
and edit it as a word document? You may then resave
it as a word or PDF formatted document.
Some Free Software
It's not often that we get something for free these
days, but it does happen! There is some good free
software around for those that are financially
stretched here are some to think about.
Libre Office a very good replacement for MS Office
and its formats include MS Office.
www.libreoffice.org/download/
In April 2014 Microsoft is withdrawing support for its
2003 Office Suite. This means that those people still
using this software can be venerable to virus and
malware attacks, if you are unable to afford 2007 a
copy of Libre is a good replacement choice.
A Quick Tip
Here's a quick little tip that you may have forgotten
from your schooldays. In a column of figures when
added up, if you know what the answer should be and
it doesn't match the figure. See if the difference is
exactly divisible by 9. If it is then it's an almost odds
on bet that you have reversed two figures. Add these
figures together. 79,122, 83, 84, 176, 89. The answer
should be 723 but as the figures are they total to 633
and the difference is 90 (exactly divisible by 9) now
reverse the figures 122 for 212 (which it should be)
and you will get the correct answer of 723. A simple
but helpful tip.
Nitro Reader
This is a real godsend for those people that work in
PDF documents or want to read them that don't have
a good PDF Reader. Try the free version out for
yourself. www.nitroreader.com/download
Security Applications
"I've read that Windows XP and Office 2003 will no
longer be supported by Microsoft. I have an anti-virus
and a firewall on my machine (Not Microsoft) and
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they have always protected me. If I don't change my
XP or Office 2003 software I feel I should be just as
safe as always – so what's the problem with staying
with my old stuff?"
You would think so wouldn't you, but it's not quite
that simple. This is from Symantec the people behind
the Norton protection software.
“After the official End of Support date from Microsoft
goes into affect, Symantec Support may not be able to
provide full threat resolution on XP systems due to a
lack of Microsoft security patches. It has always been
Symantec’s stance that proper network and
workstation security begins at having the most recent
security patches from the Operating System vendor."
There's more to the statement but not room for it
here. McAfee has similar wording on their website.
Basically what these people are saying is XP will be
very vulnerable to attacks and will be the Target for
Tonight from all sorts of Viruses.
Is MS trying to force the hand of XP users? You can
bet your bottom dollar that's their objective, they
don't want to be messing about with software that
was first released on October 25 2001. So it looks as if
you are stuck between a rock and a hard place doesn't
it? Microsoft has little to no time for people that can't
afford to upgrade, it's a big corporation with a take it
or leave it attitude. You could go to Linux it's free and
looks similar to windows. It would mean changing to
Firefox and Thunderbird for a browser and email. You
could use Libre Office for your Office Suite. Most of
your windows programs unless they are open source
will not work on Linux, but the applications available
cover a wide range of needs. In Korea all government
offices under a ruling from their government have no
options but to use Linux.
5. Where were the Guns of Navarone?
6. Who invented the Hovercraft?
Answers top of Page 3.
Just a Laugh
Henry and Molly were in divorce court after many
years of marriage. The judge asked, "Henry, is it true
that through the last three years of your marriage,
you did not speak to Molly?"
"Yes, your honor, that is correct."
"And how do you explain this unusual conduct?"
Harry replied, "I didn't want to interrupt her, Your
Honor."
"The clever cat eats cheese and breathes down rat
holes with baited breath." ~ W.C. Fields
A man is stopped by police around 2 a.m. and is asked
where he is going this time of night.
The man replies, "I am on my way to a lecture about
alcohol abuse and the effects it has on the human
body, as well as smoking and staying out late."
The officer then asks, "Really? Who is giving that
lecture at this time of night?"
The man replies, "That would be my wife."
Do You Know?
Why the entrance to a house is called the Threshold?
Years ago when floors were made of packed earth, to
make it more livable straw was put down over it.
When people walked in and out the straw was taken
on their footwear along with them. A threshold was
placed across the door entrance to prevent this. The
raised door entrance the threshold held back the
straw (called thresh) on the floor.
A little boy came home eating a big candy bar. Seeing
the candy bar, his mother remembered he had
already spent all his pocket money. Surprised, she
asked him where he got it.
"I bought it at the store with the dollar you gave me,"
he said.
"But that dollar was for Sunday school," his mother
replied.
Smiling, the boy said, "I know, Mum, but the Pastor
met me at the door and got me in for free!"
Short Quiz
1, What is a Bactrian?
2. Who would you go to with caries?
3. In English Literature who was Mellor?
4. What was Harry Houdini's real name?
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Answers to Quiz
Dates to Diary
1 A Camel,
2 A Dentist,
3 Lady Chatterley's Lover,
4 Erich Weiss,
5 Turkey,
6 Christopher Cockerel
Our next Open Day will be held
at the Ngati Toa School
Classroom, Piko Street
Titahi Bay.
Last Word
09:00 – 12:00 8th October
Bring a Friend
We have a "Road Show" demonstration day on
Tuesday 2nd October at Pataka between 09:00 and
15:00. This will cover several aspects of our activities,
bring a friend along or a relation. Come along and get
an idea of what's available in classes, workshops. Last
time we were placed just outside of the library.
Term 4 Starts
Have you bought or are you thinking of buying an
iPad? These are not a toy and they are not a laptop.
The usual one has a 10 inch screen and can access the
Internet, e-mail and has many other advantages.
They're great if you need to take your computer online stuff when on the move, holidays and visits away.
There may be one on display during the day. Bruce
Metcalf will be running more classes and/or
workshops on using these. He probably will also be at
the Open Day at some time or another.
Demonstrations of courses and workshops are put on
for your information. For information on times ring
Bruce Metcalf Phone 237 9039. Please only ring if you
have a genuine enquiry – committee members do
have a life and questions about what the iPad can do
will be answered by Bruce at the venues.
Tuesday 28th October
Day After Labour Day
Course Application Close
Friday October 11th
Book Now
That just about wraps up the last e-News for Term 3.
You will no doubt get the mailed newsletter in the
post – along with application forms. However there
are one or two more details in the e-Ne
Labour Day Monday 28th October
Tutors Session
Wednesday 23rd Oct 13:30 – 15:30
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