Finding Copyright Free Images on the Web

 

Where Do I Get the Images I use? Last week I did a training session and mentioned to the participants that there were places on the web where you could get copyright free images to use on flyers. Since I was talking about that I decided to look up some of the websites that I use and make a list that I could give them. Wow!! What a surprise! There are LOTS of places to get beautiful copyright free images on the Internet. It used to be that there were only a few and they were hard to find. Most images were from sites only had copyrighted images and charged by the picture, or you could subscribe to the site that provided them. Now there are quite a few places to find images that are shared. I even wrote one of them asking how they made money when they were providing all of the pictures for free. They said that people donated images. The people who donated the images got notoriety by getting their pictures online and shared There is always a link where you can Paypal directly to the artist. The site made income from having links to Stock Photography Websites which were paid money to be included! The photo above is from Pexels and is by Andy Vu. Here is a list of the sites that I found! Copyright Free Image Sources Wikimedia Commons- Like Wikipedia a collection of images that are free to use. Some very beautiful images. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page Flickr Commons-Images taken by people who are willing to share them https://www.flickr.com/ Google Images – search and then choose TOOLS-USAGE RIGHTS to set it to images that are free to use. Free Range – Requires registration https://freerangestock.com/ Unsplash https://unsplash.com/ Pexels https://www.pexels.com/ The Life of Pix https://www.lifeofpix.com/ Stock Snap https://stocksnap.io/ Pixabay https://pixabay.com/

The Best Ways to Secure Your PC

Thanks to The Tech Fools for the article about Macs which I followed and translated into an article for PCs.

The Best Ways to Secure your PC Last week I sent you an article on the best ways to secure your Mac. I have had a request for the best ways to secure your PC. I know that most of you who get this newsletter use a PC. I hope this is helpful. Here are some of the risks PC users face: ● Phishing Phishing is common across all operating software and is an attempt by hackers to steal your confidential information. This is because phishing scams do not target operating systems (Windows or Mac) but the users. Phishing scams fall into social engineering types of scams. They usually come in the form of links or email attachments. The message in the email is designed to manipulate your emotions and force you to act. Often these emails make you feel worried that your bank is overdrawn or that you have ordered something online and you cannot remember doing it. They also can make you feel lucky like maybe you won some sort amount of money and you just need to claim it. Once you click on the link or download the attachment, you are redirected to a fake website that solicits your info, such as password and bank details. Really watch out for these because they often have the correct logo or look like the real thing. If you feel worried or doubtful be sure not to click and instead call your bank or Amazon or whoever for information first. Most companies are aware of this and do NOT use email for important things like this. Malware Malware is software that can do damaging things to your computer. You may notice that all of a sudden you have a lot of pop up ads even when you are not on the Internet. Also, your computer might be running very slowly all of a sudden. Sometimes it comes from software that you have downloaded from the Internet. Most of the time it comes to your machine because you clicked on something in your email that automatically downloaded the software to your computer. This happens in the background, so you don’t notice it. It is highly recommended that you keep an up to date copy of Malwarebytes Software on your computer. ● Man in the Middle Attacks Man-in-the-Middle attacks happen when you are browsing on unsecured connections like public Wi-Fi. It is really important to always be aware that public Wi-Fi can allow others to access your computer. The hacker intercepts your communication with another person and alters or modifies your messages. You will think you are communicating with someone, yet you are both communicating with the hacker. How to stay safe 1. Install a VPN VPN means Virtual Private Network. When you are home anyone who uses your network must put in a password. When you have a VPN set up you have your own network with a password wherever you use your computer. Even in public spaces people cannot get into your computer. This makes you completely anonymous while online. A VPN also encrypts your communication and protects you from various attacks such as man-in-the-middle attacks. 2. Keep your PC and Programs updated. When developers roll out software updates, they patch up security vulnerabilities in the previous versions. If you do not update your Operating System, (https://support.apple.com/en-ke/HT201541) the hackers already know which security loopholes to use. Set up your Operating System to auto-update every time there is an update. Even though we have had Windows 10 for several years they are regularly coming up with updates that improve how it works. 3. Use a PC Anti-virus software There are numerous anti-virus software in the market. Windows 10 has its own security built in and for many people that is sufficient. Just to be sure though I always recommend that installing a known Virus Protection program like Norton or McAfee. This article from PC Magazine has detailed information on which of the Virus Protection programs is the best. https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-antivirus-protection Conclusion Many of the things that were in the article on Macs apply equally to PCs. The weakest link is always the user. If you do not use good passwords, think about what you are clicking on twice before doing it, or allow anything on the computer to motivate you to fear or doing things you are not sure about you are in danger of getting a virus! Be careful and confident of yourself and you and your computer will be fine!

The Best Ways to Secure Your Mac

Thanks to The Tech Fools for this article. I highly recommend their website!

The macOS has a reputation as one of two very secure operating systems, the other one being Linux. This is true to a certain extent, but no operating system can call itself 100% invulnerable. However, due to its high level of security, more people are turning to macOS. Unfortunately, with popularity comes risks. Despite all the security efforts by Apple, the amount and sophistication of risks are growing. 

Here are some of the risks macOS users face: 

• Phishing Phishing is common across all operating software and is an attempt by hackers to steal your confidential information. This is because phishing scams do not target operating systems (Windows or Mac) but the users. Phishing scams fall into social engineering types of scams. They usually come in the form of links or email attachments. The message in the email is designed to manipulate your emotions and force you to act. Often these emails make you feel worried that your bank is overdrawn or that you have ordered something online and you cannot remember doing it. They also can make you feel lucky like maybe you won some sort amount of money and you just need to claim it. Once you click on the link or download the attachment, you are redirected to a fake website that solicits your info, such as password and bank details. Really watch out for these because they often have the correct logo or look like the real thing. If you feel worried or doubtful be sure not to click and instead call your bank or Amazon or whoever for information first. Most companies are aware of this and do NOT use email for important things like this.
• Malware MacOS does not allow its users to download any third-party apps or programs. However, that does not mean there is no malware or malicious software that attacks macOS. According to statistics, most of the US attacks were Trojans such as the Shlayer and Adware, which primarily target users with adverts.
• Man in the Middle Attacks Man-in-the-Middle attacks happen when you are browsing on unsecured connections like public Wi-Fi. The hacker intercepts your communication with another person and alters or modifies your messages. You will think you are communicating with someone, yet you are both communicating with the hacker. 

How to stay safe 

1. Install a VPN A VPN is like having your computer connected to a private network that only you can access. When you are home that is true anyway, but a Virtual Private Network sets up your computer to work like that anywhere. Use a Mac VPN to hide your IP address and prevent hackers from tracing your connection and actual location. This makes you completely anonymous while online. A VPN also encrypts your communication and protects you from various attacks such as man-in-the-middle attacks. 
2. Keep your macOS and Programs updated. When developers roll out software updates, they patch up security vulnerabilities in the previous versions. If you do not update your OS, the hackers already know which security loopholes to use. Set up your OS to auto-update every time there is an update. 
3. Use a Mac Anti-virus software There are numerous anti-virus software in the market, but few are suitable for software specifically targeting macOS. Apple’s inbuilt security features cannot do the job sufficiently, so you need to boost your security. Conclusion Most Mac users wrongly assume their devices are 100% foolproof. Hackers have become increasingly sophisticated and are designing macOS-specific malware. It is highly recommended you boost your Mac’s security to protect your data from theft.

CONTROLLING YOUR MEMORY ON GOOGLE

I am doing work for my church and using Google Docs a great deal. I am saving videos and images and it is taking up lots of space. Recently I am getting the message "You have used 81% if you run out of storage, you won't be able to upload new files. They want me to pay 99 cents a month for more storage.  Actually that is not bad. If I was doing something that was continuing and really wanted more space (my husband pays for more space because he has tons of pictures of Archaeological sites that he uses for teaching) I would sign up.
I don't and I always forget how to clear it out so I am writing here- to help others and myself!

1. Go to Google Drive. 
2. In the message click on "learn more"
3. This will take you to instructions about using your storage in Google Drive. 
4. Next I chose to go to Delete files by size in Google DriveThis showed me a list of files that I am saving and here I was able to make decisions about what to delete.

How to Stay Private on Facebook

This is another blog entry from The Tech Fools. This one is about Keeping Private on the Internet. This is more important than ever. I used to think that I was not doing anything I wanted hidden, so privacy was not a big issue. Things have changed and with technology EVERYTHING is available somewhere. One thing can be linked to another and eventually your bank account is out there. It is worth a careful read

Facebook is no stranger to privacy issues.

In fact, put the company’s name in any search engine online against privacy-breach keywords and you will come up with a lot of content.

If Facebook is doing it, many other companies are also putting your privacy at risk. The sheer size of the social media giant could explain why it’s the one most people are going after.

That said, this is the time to take your online privacy seriously. The following tips are aimed at doing just that.

Change your Search Engine

Google is yet another company that feeds massively off user data. 

They are so connected that there is almost no part of human life (especially for Android OS users) that they cannot get data from. Add that to the fact that they have the largest search engine. 

It is thus little wonder why they can afford to pay Apple billions just to keep iOS users using the search engine.

If you want more privacy for your data while looking up things online, you might want to consider the move to more privacy-focused search engines. DuckDuckGo is a fine example here, and they even have a browser of their own to match.

Install a VPN

Most VPN apps might have become popular for helping users change their IP address at will. These days, though, using a VPN app for privacy is a no-brainer.

This feature is made possible by the unique ability of VPNs to tunnel data through numerous secure servers in different parts of the world. Should a hacker or unauthorized person be tracking such user data, they are bound to get lost in all the twists and turns they will encounter.

VPNs also come in handy when browsing the internet over unsecured/ public/ free Wi-Fi networks, considering the dangers that such connections pose to the user.

Restrict Third-Party Apps

Device manufacturers are constantly trying to meet every need of their consumers out of the box. They know the price paid for third-party apps – both directly and indirectly – and they would prefer to improve the experience.

In this case, the indirect price could be the data that these apps take from you in return for letting you use their services.

We know that your OEM cannot always have the best-looking apps installed right off the bat. When you have factory-fitted alternatives, though, resist the urge to go for third-party apps.

Check your Browser

Would it be surprising if we said that Google Chrome is one of the least preferred browsers when it comes to privacy? Overall, though, it happens to be the most widely used browser.

When privacy is your top concern, you are better off with the likes of the Tor browser, Brave browser, Mozilla Firefox, and Chromium, among others. 

Stay Safer

The world is changing with ever-emerging technology. With that change comes more shreds into the already tiny fabric of privacy that we have. It is left to the consumer to fight back in any way they can lest all of their privacy be ripped away from them.

Applying the above recommendations, you start clawing back your privacy too.

 

LastPass partnership with ExpressVPN

Today I am sharing this blog written by some friends from The Tech Fools. If you will remember LastPass is one of the good companies that has set up a Password Vault system that keeps track of your passwords. I have used Dashlane for years and it really helps me. LastPass has really great reviews and you may choose to use it. Whatever you do, have a way to keep track of difficult passwords. They are so important! The Tech Fools will tell you why and also why you want to use VPN.

LastPass partnership with ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN has taken privacy and security to another level with their new collaboration with the popular password manager LastPass. A VPN is a popular security tool that secures users’ internet traffic and improves their privacy and security. With both companies being at the top of their game, this move is bound to be very helpful to their customers. In an effort to promote this partnership, all ‘LastPass Premium and Families’ subscribers will receive a 30-day ExpressVPN free trial. LastPass has, in the past, received praise for being one of the best password managers in the industry. It's known for its simplicity and feature-rich platform. However, this is the first time it's offering VPN solutions.
ExpressVPN, on the other hand, is widely regarded as the best VPN in the market. It boasts of impressive security and privacy features as well as incredible speeds. Both companies complement each other’s services making this partnership really promising.

Benefits of using password managers

For years, there’s been a huge conflict on whether password managers are good for your security online. But the truth is, there has never been a better time to use a password manager.

Password managers not only store passwords but also help you generate complex passwords which are good for your security. This saves you the trouble of having to create and memorize all your passwords.

Good password managers can also store more than just passcodes. They can store credit card information and also make multi-factor authentication for all your accounts.

Additionally, a password manager also grants you fast access to your passwords through browser extensions and mobile apps. Benefits of using a VPN Using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) has become one of the best ways to stay safe online. Some of the main benefits you’ll get from a VPN includes:

● Improved security and privacy A VPN allows you to stay private by masking your IP address. It is especially good when you want to use your computer in the grocery store or on a public wifi connection. These public networks are often unsecured and hackers can spy on what you are doing online, including gaining access to your passwords. But a VPN adds an extra layer of security to your connection, making sure it is private and protected. ● Safe data transfer VPNs protect work networks, allowing businesses to share files remotely through their office networks. It enables employees to work from anywhere in the world – even if the location has some restrictions. ● Bypass georestrictions Georestrictions exist on the Internet, restricting access to content based upon the user's geographical location. For example, if you are in the US, you are unable to access Netflix listings only available to Netflix UK.

A VPN can overcome this limitation by replacing your IP address with a location of your choice. You will appear as if you were from another country, giving you access to exclusive content elsewhere. Implications of this collaboration to privacy and security ExpressVPN and LastPass's partnership is a real game-changer in the digital security landscape. The collaboration highlights the need for improved cybersecurity solutions, in a time when cyberattack cases are skyrocketing. If you’re using a VPN without a password manager, or vice versa, this partnership gives you a chance to rethink your online security decisions. Both tools are crucial in ensuring that you’re safe and protected when surfing the internet

I have had several emails approach me asking if I would like them to write up something for my blog. They are companies that want to advertise their products. Most times I tell them, "no, thanks", but there are two that I want to post because they are about computer security and I think they might be helpful to you. Here is the first one. It talks about Encryption, which is a big computer word, but is important.

____________________

Hackers are violating people’s privacy every day via email. You may not realize it, but there is a lot of sensitive information in your email account. From banking details to personal information, you want to be sure your data is protected. Even if you are protecting your passwords, there’s a chance that someone especially crafty can get by. 

One way to protect yourself is by encrypting your emails. Email encryption is a way of disguising the content of the message to protect them from any unwanted eyes. With encryption, each person has a public and private key. The public key encrypts emails you send while the private key is used to decrypt emails you may receive. 

Some email providers such as Gmail and Outlook already have an email encryption feature built-in using the encryption protocol called S/MIME. Others like Yahoo or AOL need apps to enable the PGP/MIME encryption protocol. 

To help you understand how email encryption works, Panda Security has an infographic on how to encrypt email that details what you need to know about email encryption and notes some secure apps that can help you. 

Enjoying Your Computer During Covid 19

It is hard to imagine what it would be like if COVID 19 had come in the 80s when I did not have a computer. I know it can be unhealthy to be too connected to a screen and not to people. I don't think it should be a replacement for people at all. However, it allows me to do so many things that I would not be able to do while sheltering in place. 

The main thing for me is connecting with other people. Here are the things I do that connect me to other people:

• I use Facetime to read books to my granddaughters.
  
  
  
• I met my new grandson! It is so sad to not be able to meet him in person. We got to know him through Facetime since he was born to about 5 month when we decided we could not stand it  anymore and drove to see him. 
  
  
  
• I talk with my family in California and New York with Zoom.
• My husband and I often have Happy Hours with friends. We even had one with friends who live in Denmark!! We could have done that years ago, but we didn't. Somehow, experiencing the same thing in such different locations made connecting really important.

I exercise regularly:

• I do a zoom Yoga class with my instructor from pre-COVID days twice or three times a week. She is even able to teach it when she goes to Santa Fe to get away!
• I can also find thousands of other yoga classes, as well as other types of exercises on YouTube. My favorite online Yoga instructor is Adriane. https://www.youtube.com/user/yogawithadriene
  

• I also do Silver Sneakers exercises on YouTube. True admission - I am now a senior and the exercises I find there are more helpful for coordination and balance.
  
  
  
• The one I have not done yet, but am planning on trying is Paul Eugene dancing to Motown. https://youtu.be/rn1r39YHfrE

I participate in a couple of other things

• There is a weekly Feldenkrais session. This is a unique system of small movement intended to help you with pain caused by movement. It works by changing your brain pathways from old habits to better ways of movement. 
• I am in a Creative Women's Circle that meets for a couple of hours every two weeks.

I have not even mentioned the boring regular things like email and reading the news online. 

• I get my library books online and read on my kindle.
• I order vegetables online that arrive weekly.
• I do the Times Crossword puzzle online (I am really good on Monday's puzzle)
• I do some phone calling to encourage people to vote online. 
• I work with clients remotely!  I actually have several past clients who call regularly and a few new ones!

It is amazing! If you want to get some help from I'm not a Geek.com you no longer have to live in Austin, TX. We can connect from anywhere and I can help you as long as you have regular people problem issues with technology!

Upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 10

It is time to upgrade to Windows 10 whether you want to or not. Microsoft will not be supporting Windows 7 as of January 14th!  That is only 11 days from now. If you are still running Windows 7 on your computer you have two choices. You can upgrade to Windows 10 on the same computer OR you can decide to upgrade to a new computer. 

If you go to the Microsoft website to upgrade to Windows 10 it will cost $139 for the home version. When it first came out Microsoft offered an upgrade free for one year. If you did not upgrade at that time both Techdator News and CNET tell you how to get a free upgrade to Windows 10 still.

Techdator News
https://techdator.net/heres-how-to-upgrade-windows-10-for-free-before-microsoft-ends-windows-7-support/

CNET
https://www.cnet.com/how-to/upgrade-to-windows-10-free-heres-how/

In order to upgrade you need to have a computer with some basic capabilities. 

• A 2-GHz processor
• 4 GB of RAM
• 100 GB of hard disk space

To find out if your computer has these
1. Go to the START MENU and left click on the word Computer on the right side.
This will open a thermometer looking gauge that shows how much storage space there is on your computer and what you have used so far.

2. Go to START again, but this time right click on the word Computer. This will open up a window where you can see information about your Windows Operating system. It will tell you there how many GHz your processor has and how much RAM your computer has.

p.s. I just tried this on a computer that had Windows 7 Pro. I was able to do it for free!  It took a while, but it worked!!

Making a Contact into a Favorite on your iPhone

MAKING A CONTACT A FAVORITE
ON YOUR IPHONE
This morning I was wanting to add someone to my FAVORITES list in my phone contacts. I could not figure out how, so I used Google searching to find the answer and it came right up:
Here's how it's done:

1. Launch the phone application and click on favorites in the lower left corner.
2. Tap the + button in the top right.
3. Find the contact you wish to add as a favorite and tap on their name.
4. Select the information you wish to favorite (phone number, email, FaceTime, etc)
5. That's it!

So this tip is a double tip.  Now you know how to make a contact your favorite and also how to find out about just about anything you need to do!

The only thing I have not included so far is WHY to make a contact your favorite.  It may be obvious, but there are a few people that I contact often. If I put them in my favorites list calling them is much faster.

PROTECTING YOUR PASSWORDS - Learn how people are stealing them!

The following article was sent to me by Chris Jones @turnonVPN. Since it fits so well into what this blog is about I am glad to share it with you. 

HAVING DISCOMFORT USING YOUR COMPUTER?

5 THINGS TO ADJUST IF YOU ARE HAVING DISCOMFORT USING YOUR COMPUTER

1. ADJUST YOUR DISPLAY: Your monitor should be at eye level.  Sit back in your chair and point with your right hand. If it is not at the center of the screen you may want to make adjustments.
2. USE TWO MONITORS: If you do work with lots of data or creative work you can expand your view size by using two monitors. Second hand monitors are cheap and tough to recycle, so this is a good use for them. You can plug both monitors into the same computer and they will act like one!
3. KEYBOARD AND MOUSE PLACEMENT: The ideal height of a keyboard is two inches above your knees. If you have to bend your wrists in order to type you can become injured with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Your mouse should be easy to reach and not cause you to bend over in order to use it.
4. OFFICE CHAIRS AND DESKS: You should be able to sit comfortably with no compression of the thighs. Your feet should be flat on the floor and there should be at least 1 inch of space around your hips and thighs. The best Stand Up desks allow both standing and sitting since it is movement that is most beneficial.
5. SMARTPHONE POSITIONING: The well known posture of bending over a Smartphone is not a good practice. Instead hold your phone at near eye-level. Notice one person in this picture doing it right!

Tips from CMIT Quicktips
https://cmitsolutions.com/austin-central/ergonomics-do-more-than-just-make-your-job-easy/

A FEW MORE PASSWORD THOUGHTS

NEW PASSWORD RECOMMENDATIONS
If you are like many people and prefer NOT to use a Password Vault (Dashlane is what I use) and struggle with remembering all of those passwords you might really like this advice. The newest advice that I have read urges user friendliness.

The new recommendations call passwords "Memorized Secrets" and encourage long passphrases rather than complex short passwords. It is still good to use special characters like !, @, #, $, %.  Use a whole sentence that you will easily remember. The fact that it is long and has some special characters will make it difficult to crack.

WHAT MAKES A BAD PASSWORD
These are all things I have seen people using! 

• repetitive words (“passwordpassword”) (often because so many letters are required)
• sequential strings (“password12345”)
• variations on the website name (“FacebookPassword)
• It always surprises me how often when told to use a capital letter people capitalize the first letter in the password or when told to use a symbol put ! (exclamation point) at the end or a number and put 1 at the end. Now that I have seen it so often I would build that into my password-breaking program if I was a geek.

On another note, what really matters is WHAT you are protecting. If you are online quite a bit and even pay bills or do banking you REALLY need to be careful. If you rarely use your computer and never do anything financial it is less important.

PASSWORDS AND THE END OF LIFE

Thinking ahead is important and since so much of our lives are online right now it is important to be prepared for what will happen with all of your accounts at the end of your life. Is there someone who will have to access some password protected sites after you are gone.


Start keeping a log book with passwords, preferably in alphabetical order. Or use a password vault. Whatever you do let someone know how to access your passwords when you are gone. This will save someone SO much pain and time later on. Password vaults can be set up with an emergency user. 

THE END OF GOOGLE +

You may have received an email lately with the notice that "you have content in Google+"  

If you didn't even know you had Google+ you may have been concerned about what might be there (wherever there is????).  Google+ is actually Google's attempt at creating an alternative to  Facebook. If you have a gmail address you automatically had a Google+ page. Some people actively added to their pages and used them, but many (maybe even most) didn't use it at all. If you were unaware that you had one I doubt that you have anything on it at all. 

The rest of the warning is here.

"This is a reminder that on April 2, 2019 we’re shutting down consumer Google+ and will begin deleting content from consumer Google+ accounts. Photos and videos from Google+ in your Album Archive and your Google+ pages will also be deleted.

Downloading your Google+ content may take time, so get started before March 31, 2019."

SPAM PHONE CALLS

I know I am getting more and more SPAM phone calls and so I bet you are too. It used to be that whoever it is that does the SPAM calling could only call home phones, but they have figured out how to reach cell phones. You can block numbers on your cell, but they just seem to get another number and call again.


I have learned that you DO NOT have to answer ANY calls. In fact that may be a good strategy. Your friends will leave a message (or you will see their names pop up on the phone) and you can pick it up or call them back. If you don't recognize the number why take a chance at being scammed? 

Some scammers make you very afraid and you might (by accident) give them information that you do not want them to have. If you do not answer and it is a legitimate number they will leave a message and you can get back to them in a calm thoughtful way.

There are a few other helpful things, but I have found that they don't work ALL of the time. I have ATT and I downloaded an app called "Call Protect". It will notify me if it thinks that a certain call is SPAM by putting a message across the screen where it usually says the name of the caller. It says ATT possible SPAM call. When one of those comes up I either hang up or let it ring until they get my answer message.

Here are steps recommended by CMIT solutions:

1. Add your number to the Do Not Call Registry which is a Federal list of phone numbers. This is especially effective with landlines.
2. Block Unfamiliar Numbers
3. Use Do Not Disturb. The calls will still come in, but they will not interrupt what you are doing. You can filter that so that people you want to call can make contact with you.
4. Hang up as soon as you know that it is a robocall. If you engage with the robot who does the call it will move on to a real person and it is harder to hang up! Something that I had not thought of is this. "Be careful what you say, too; even automated robocalls can ask a variety of natural-sounding questions like “Can you hear me?” and if you answer “Yes,” that voice signature can be used at a later date to authorize fraudulent charges via telephone."
5. Look into Apps that block Robocalls.

Federal Do Not Call List
https://complaints.donotcall.gov/
complaint/complaintcheck.aspx

CMIT Solutions Newsletter/Blog
https://cmitsolutions.com/austin-central/block-those-spam-calls-once-and-for-all/

Searching Tips

SEARCHING This week it has been occurring to me how often I wonder things and find answers with my computer. I use Chrome as my browser and Google as my search engine. Other browsers are Internet Explorer, Safari and Firefox. Common search engines are Bing, Yahoo, and Google. Just a few examples from this week: Curiosity I wondered how many times you can recycle something. I went to Google and typed in "How many times can you recycle plastic?" I learned a lot. If you are interested you may want to check this site out. https://earth911.com/ Concern My cat is getting old and didn't seem to be eating much. I typed in "old cat eating". I did get lots of ads for cat food, but among the results was one that gave me the information I wanted. https://icatcare.org/advice/elderly-cats Productivity All sorts of information for my taxes. Billing Inquiries-checking the details of charges. I was able to find my Property taxes from last year and print out the statement. I was able to find out how much we paid on Car Insurance, Home Insurance, Cell Phone, and Internet we paid.  It was easy.  I remember digging through file folders trying to find all of those records!  It was so frustrating. How To I often look up something I don't know how to do by just writing my question. The best way to do this is to go to YouTube and type in what you want to do. Recently I have learned how to replace my car headlight, what to do about a singing toilet, and how to fold a palm leaf cross. Translation  I am taking a Spanish class. Occasionally words come up that even my teacher is not sure how to translate. It is very easy to just type the word and look at the results to find the translation to English. Reviews When purchasing almost anything I read a review first. What I always do is type what it is and the word review. If it is technology I try to give as much information as possible, like including the company and model. There are usually several choices in the search results. I find that reading more than one gives me good comparison information, so I can make a good decision. Photos Sometimes the way I start is to type what I am looking for into the Google Search Engine. Then I click on Images so that I only get images. The problem with this is that there are so many results that I cannot use because they are copyrighted. If I limit the results to the ones that are free to use (by clicking on Tools and then choosing Usage-Free for reuse) often there are not very many good images. So, now I start by going to Wikimedia Commons and searching there. Recipes So often I have one ingredient that I want to use up and need to find something I can make out of it. I just type Recipe- and the name of the ingredient and get LOTS of options. It is a fun way to find new things to eat! I was surprised while writing this how many times I use the Internet to search. What about you?

Windows 10 Running Slowly

IS YOUR WINDOWS 10 COMPUTER RUNNING SLOWLY?
Often that is caused by programs or apps that open and run in the background. Or you may be finding that you are short on storage space although that is less likely since Hard Drive Storage is huge these days.

Here is how to check your Hard Drive Storage. 

1. Open up the Explorer, the icon on the bottom of your computer screen that looks like a folder.
2. Click on "This PC" on the left side of the window.

You will see a thermometer-like rectangle showing how much space total is on your computer and how much free space you have. In my experience it is always amazing how much space you have available. This may not be true for Geeks who tend to use up more computer space than the rest of us!

Here are a few ways that you can free up space if you think that is causing your problem.

1. Delete Junk Files - Windows 10 has something built in called Storage Sense. To get there click on Settings (the Gear Icon in the Start menu), then System, then Storage. You can set it so that Windows will automatically delete junk files to free up space when it is getting full.
2. Remove Temporary Files Using Disc Cleanup You get to this the same way as above: Settings, System, Storage, but this time you choose "free up space now" Your computer creates temporary file for many reasons. You may have run out of battery while working and after plugging in found that Word saved a temporary file for you. It can also make your internet faster to have temporary files.
3. Uninstall Apps and Games you do not need You may have noticed that lots of extra stuff (games and programs) came with your computer. If there are some that you never use or never will you can remove them. To do this go to System, Apps and Features
4. Free up space by storing files in OneDriveOneDrive is the cloud storage that Microsoft provides for anyone using Windows. If you put files there you can still access them to work on them or print them, but they will not take up too much space on your computer. 

Understanding what is taking up space on your computer can be really helpful. If you want to do this go to Settings, System, Storage and find the "thermometer" that tells you how much Storage Space is free. When you click on it the next window breaks down all of the items on your computer to show what is taking up the most space. When I looked at mine I was shocked to see that System and Reserved, Temporary Files and Apps and Games were taking up 69 Gigabytes of space!!

The information in this article was inspired by
https://www.windowscentral.com/best-7-ways-free-hard-drive-space-windows-10

10 TIPS FOR WINDOWS 10

In January 2020 (only 7 months from now) Microsoft stops supporting Windows 7. Many, maybe most people have switched to Windows 10 by now. But you may be one of many people who have hung onto Windows 7 because you were used to it and you may have heard bad things about Windows 10.

I am sorry to say it is inevitable that you will need to make the switch pretty soon. The problem with staying with Windows 7 is that when it is not supported it can get viruses more easily. There are new viruses every day and they will not be putting out "patches" that protect you from getting a virus. Another problem is that your computer will get slower and slower and eventually you will not be able to use new software because it will require Windows 10.

There is good news though. Since it has been out for several years now most of the glitches have been dealt with. There are still things that some people don't like and it is always an adjustment to work with something that looks different. Here are 10 reasons that you might want to make the change

1. Timeline - The icon that looks like a strip of film next on the bottom bar is actually a timeline of what you have done recently with your computer. If you forgot what you were working on you can click on this and it will show the last few things that you were working on.
2. Virtual Desktop - You can create several different desktops that you can switch between. People who like organization can set up their workspace this way. Maybe you have your email open on one desktop and then what you are working on open on a different desktop. You can easily switch between desktops. It sounds like trouble for teachers because savy students can have one thing open for fun on one desktop and their work on another desktop and then switch quickly before the teachers sees what you are really doing.
3. Cloud Clipboard - Lets you copy text on one PC and paste it onto another!
4. Nearby Sharing -  Simply right-click a file, select the Share option, and if you have set it up and have bluetooth it will show the other computers nearby. Choose the one that you want to open it in and it will be accessible there!
5. Storage Sense - I liked the term that the website used "Silent Space Eaters". Your downloads and your trash are two places that can fill up without you thinking about it until your computer slows down. Open the windows menu and choose settings and then system and then storage. You can set up how you want these things automatically set up.
6. File History - You can set up an external drive and then set Windows 10 to keep copies of what you are working on every hour. That way you can return to an earlier version of a document easily.
7. Secret Power User Menu - When you right click on anything it opens a new menu with other things to choose. If you right click on the Windows Icon in the left bottom corner you will get a new menu with lots of choices. Maybe this will be a good way for you to get around the computer.
8. GOD Mode - This is a total GEEK thing and so I am not even going to describe it. If you are interested you can go to the link below.
9. Dynamic Lock - When you walk away from your PC in a public place or office you can click Windows + L in order to lock the desktop so that no one can get nosy with your computer. Dynamic lock does that without you having to type anything. It ties your phone to your computer so that when you walk away with your phone the computer senses you are gone and locks!
10. Windows Reliability Monitor - You will have to check out the website to learn more about this. It doesn't sound like something I would use, but maybe it would be helpful to you.

PC World Article
https://www.pcworld.com/article/3387950/10-truly-helpful-windows-10-tools-you-might-not-know-about.html

Our World in Data

A VERY INTERESTING WEBSITE
Does it seem to you that all of the information you hear is BAD and getting worse? I just learned of a website that can help give you some perspective on that. It is the Website of a nonprofit run by Oxford University that keeps data on all kinds of things.

According to their own description.
"Our World in Data is a non-profit website that brings together the data and research on the powerful, long-run trends reshaping our world: Through interactive data visualizations we show how the world has changed; by summarizing the scientific literature we explain why."

The information that they collect and the graphs are available to anyone and used by government agencies and others to make plans.
 

"It is possible to change the world. In many important ways global living conditions have improved. These facts are surprising to many because it is a widespread belief that the world is stagnating or getting worse. We believe that in our fight against current challenges it is important to know that we have been able to make progress up to now and we should use the opportunity to study in detail how it was possible to improve living conditions in the past."

You can look at their graphs and explanations by topic. Some of the topics are
literacy, life expectancy, income inequality and plastics pollution. There are Many others and they all have very readable explanations.

https://ourworldindata.org

Using Google Docs to work with others

EDITING WITH A GROUP
Track changes is helpful, but what I am really amazed with lately is Google Drive. I am on several boards and on committees that use it. It is a GREAT way to share documents so that multiple people can comment or edit a document without messing up what someone else has done.

When you go to http://drive.google.com you have to sign in with a Google account. You can get one even if you do not want to use gmail. Go to https://accounts.google.com/signup/v2 and either get a gmail account or sign up with your own email address.







Once you have a Google account and sign in to Google Drive you can start a new document or go to a document that has been SHARED with you.


The person who creates the document is the owner. They can share it and set the permissions for each person who it is shared with.

If you choose File - Version History you will see who revised the document, what they did and when it was done. If you don't like the revision you can return to a previous version!

It is even great when you just want to share documents, but you don't want anyone to change them. When you share the document you just mark that everyone should VIEW only. They will not have the rights to change anything, but can view the document at any time.

This is becoming a very popular way to share documents on a committee or board.