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NOV. 18, 2004: Getting a new computer? Most of them now come with Windows XP installed as the operating system.
There are a few things that got "lost" from the old operating systems, one of which is the ability to view java script applets.
What's that? Well, that is the software "machine" that lets you view cards such as
An Angel For You.
To solve this problem all you have to do is go to the
Sun Web Site Java Virtual Machine download page and get this free viewer.
The download even installs it automatically on your computer for you!
NOV. 3 2004: Hopefully you are keeping current with critical updates for your version of Microsoft's Windows.
There are other updates that are free from Microsoft that are well worth getting, such as the Windows Media Player.
To get the latest version just go to the WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER DOWNLOAD PAGE
where you can download the latest version that is just right for whatever operating system you are using, even all the way back to the OLD Windows 95. And it is free!
SEPT. 10, 2004: Do you have a favorite web site (like Happy Day Cards?) that you would like to have an icon on your desktop for, so you can visit it
anytime? The first step is to open your browser (Internet Explorer) click on the little square box in the upper right hand corner to make it less than full screen size, because you want part of your desktop to be showing.
Then visit that favorite web site and then, from the address bar on your Internet Explorer screen, left click on the icon by the "address"
and drag it to your desk top. See picture below for example:
Then, whenever you want to visit that site all you have to do is be on line and click on that icon!
JULY 28, 2004: Do you see a graphic on a web site that you would just love to use to decorate an e mail?
IF the web site permits you to save the picture, you can download the graphic to your computer like this:
Right click on the image you want. IF the web site allows you to copy their graphics a box will appear, and you then left click on "save picture as".
Your computer will open a file, which may be "My Documents" or "My Pictures", depending on your operating system.
You can put the image in any file you want, as long as it is one you will remember. A handy thing to do is to create a special file in your My Documents folder and call it "downloaded graphics".
NOTE that if a box of options doesn't appear when you right click on an image it means that the web site owner does not want you to use his or her graphics. So don't.
After you have the graphic in the folder on your own computer you can start an e mail, making sure that you click on "format" and "rich text(HTML)", and then when you want to insert the graphic click on "insert", then "picture", then from the box that appears click on "browse" and find the folder you want and the specific graphic.
Click on the name of the graphic, then on "OK". And there you are: your own e mail with the picture right in it!
Just remember that if you send e mail to someone who uses aol or some of the on line e mail services, that the picture won't be in the e mail, but will be taken out and show up as a separate attachment.
JUNE 28, 2004: Wish you could get rid of the top and bottom bars on your computer screen, so you could see the page you are visiting in full screen? Do you have a section of your screen on the left side that is being used by a Microsoft menu?
All you have to do -- when you get to a web page that you like (such as Happy Day Cards) -- just press the F11 button at the top of your keyboard. MAGIC! The page will fill your screen.
When you want to go back to your normal screen, with all the tool bars, just press the F11 button again. It is that easy!
JUNE 28, 2004: You know those wonderful, handy, post it notes that we all use? If you are like most people you probably have a couple of them stuck on the case of your monitor.
Well, now 3M makes it possible for you to have virtual post it notes on your monitor's desk top, and best of all there is a free version (as well as a version that you can pay for).
Visit the 3M web site and download your very own post it notes program.
MAR. 23, 2004: Don't miss your e mail while you are on a trip! And even more important, don't let your e mail box fill up with
junk mail so you can't receive the messages you really want. It is easy to check your mail away from home.
All you have to do is get to a computer that is connected to the internet and type into the ADDRESS BAR of the browser: http://yourinternetserviceprovider/
For example, if you are with earthlink you would type http://www.earthlink.net
and then find the link on their home page to either the "member center" or "web mail". You can delete all the garbage, reply to important things, and save the ones you want to
keep to download to your own computer after you get back home. Just remember to delete the deleted items and the sent items from your web mail or
your mail box will fill up even faster!
MAR. 10, 2004: Most of you know by now that there are a couple of very nasty viruses going around and
infecting a lot of computers. This is a friendly reminder that you
should not open attachments: Even when the e mail looks like it came from someone you know!
Of course, the best way to protect yourself and everyone else is to have a good virus
protection program installed on your own computer and make sure that it is updated every single week.
If you cannot afford to purchase one, there is a free on line scan available at
http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php
DEC. 26, 2003: As you fill out the card sending form, please remember that when you leave the boxes for the free offers checked on the cards sending form it
means you are requesting that these companies put you on their mailing list. This is not spam: It
is e mail that you have requested. SO.....if you only want to send a card and do not want to sign up for
some of the pre checked offers take a few seconds and make sure that those boxes are "unchecked" by placing your
mouse pointer on each of them and clicking it to remove the checkmark.
NOV. 24, 2003: Spy programs are installed on your computer without your knowledge. They not only "watch you" as you surf, but
a lot of these programs also generate unwanted ads, particularly pop ups. Since no one really wants to be spied on it is a very good idea to download a FREE spyware removal program and use it regularly to get rid of these nasties from your computer.
There are several available, but one of the best is SpyBotSD.
There are other programs that you might want to try also, but they may not remove all the spyware programs. You can browse the list of free downloads at www.download.com or www.tucows.com
NOV. 3, 2003: A lot of people do not realize that you can fill your hard drive with temporary internet files that really are not needed.
About once a month it is a good idea to clear these files. It is easy to do!
Here are links to instructions for various browsers:
Internet Explorer
Netscape
AOL
Oct. 6, 2003: There is an e mail going around that looks for all the world like it comes from Microsoft
and has an attachment that is supposed to be "the latest patch". This is a serious virus.
I get several of these each day, and you need to know that if you click on the attachment it really will harm your computer.
One of the first things it does after sending itself to all the e mail addresses in your computer is attack your virus protection program.
So, if you receive this e mail be sure to immediately delete it, and then delete it from your deleted items (or trash) file folder also.
There is no company that sends this kind of e mail. Patches are important, but they must always be obtained by going to the
company's web site yourself, never by clicking on alink in an e mail.
This same information is true for e mails that look like they come from E Bay, Pay Pal, etc.
These are a particularly nasty way for particularly nasty people to either ruin your computer or to get personal information from you.
Don't let the real live goblins out there hurt you!!!!
Viruses and Worms -- please visit the CURRENT NEWSLETTER page
and scroll down to view important information about viruses, worms, and what you can do to protect yourself.
August 15, 2003: A lot of people do not realize that even when you delete an e mail message (or: send it to the trash bin) it is still part of your e mail quota, and when this quota is filled you will not receive ANY more mail from anyone.
This is a real problem with on line services such as web TV, AOL, hotmail and Yahoo.
You need to go to your "deleted items" or "trash" file and empty it at least once a week -- or better yet, every time you're on line with your mail service -- and delete every item in that folder.
Then you will never miss an issue of Happy Day Cards newsletter -- or any other e mail that you might really want to read.
August 3, 2003: Whether you have tons of files like I do, or just a few word documents like letters or membership lists in your computer -- remember that computers do crash (or sometimes get hit by lightning).
It really is important to save your work on disks that you keep in a safe place: A fireproof safe is a good place, if you own one.
If you can't burn CD's with your computer at least save your work AND your address book to floppy disks. This is the lowest cost insurance policy you will ever have, believe me.
July 10, 2003: So, your Windows operating system seems to work and you don't see any need for updates, right?
WRONG! All versions of Windows are works in progress. Security flaws and other potentially serious problems are continually being found and fixes provided at no cost to you.
So, to Keep Your Windows Clean and help protect your computer from hackers be sure to visit Microsoft Updates regularly to get the free critical updates that -- no kidding, folks -- really are important to have.
JULY, 2003: Information about the very dangerous PAY PAL SCAM.
JUNE 1, 2003: Even if you have a virus program installed on your computer it is worth a trip to http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ to get a free on line virus scan.
You may have to try the download more than once for it to finish, but this scan has been known to find viruses and trojans that other scans have missed.
My computer came out totally clean. See how yours does!
MAY 15, 2003: Did you know that you may well have spy ware programs on your computer, put there without your permission or knowledge just in the process of surfing?
You can get a FREE spy ware removal program from http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
These spy ware programs let companies keep track of your internet surfing and generate lots and lots of junk mail.
Get rid of them the easy way by using the Ad Aware free program.
FEB 12, 2003: The cards, fun pages and recipes on Happy Day Cards are all free for you to enjoy and send to your friends and relatives.
BUT it costs money to run a web site!
The tiny bit of income received from each card that is sent plus a very small commission when you purchase something by clicking on an ad on any page or the shopping mall page help pay this cost.
To help keep Happy Day Cards as a free service to all, please always use the sending form that you reach by clicking on the "send" button on each page, and please check out the great secure on line merchants in the shopping mall.
With your help I can continue to help you share love and smiles with everyone you know. Sincere thanks to all of you for your support.
FEB 2,2003: There is a mass spam e mailer sending out pornographic e mails and using real e mail addresses.
I have received more e mails than I can count from various "postmasters" with undeliverable notices You may also be receiving undeliverable notices for e mail you did not send.
If this is the case please be sure to copy the headers and report them to Spam Cop.
A friend of mine actually had one of her neighbors call her over to show her the pornographic picture that came with her e mail address as a return.
If enough people report these occurrences the offending companies will be banned from any commercial web hosting companies.
So PLEASE NOTE that if you receive offensive e mails from me, THEY ARE NOT.
JAN 28,2003: WARNING ABOUT TROJAN VIRUSES If you are using Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5, 5.1 or 5.5 it is vitally important to get their updates, because there are security "gaps" that enable a "worm" virus to execute on your computer EVEN IF you have a currently updated virus program.
To get the updates you need visit Microsoft and let them check your computer. They will give you a list of what you need and let you check the items you wish to download.
In fact, if you are using an outdated browser (and according to my statistics on my web site a lot of you are) you will be given the opportunity to update your browser version for free also!
Go to http://www.microsoft.com and click on "Windows Update" under the heading "Resources" at the top of their home page.
Best wishes for happy AND SAFE surfing to all.
DEC 2002: There is truly no more important thing you can do for your computer than to have an UP TO DATE virus protection program!
This means that you update it at least WEEKLY. If you "think" you have a virus protection program but you are not getting regular updates, please know this:
YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY PROTECTION AT ALL! If you get one of the new viruses it will really wipe out your computer, step by step
. However, before it does that it will send itself to everyone whose e mail address is anywhere in your computer, including cached web pages.
You will not know this is being done, because the messages do not go through your own e mail program. It uses return e mail addresses that are not yours, so the virus e mail never looks like it really came from you.
Once you get Klez or one of the other new viruses it will cost you some serious money to take your computer to a professional and have it totally reformatted.
So, get yourself the nicest present you possibly can: Buy a new virus protection service, and then be sure to pay for subscription updates once a year after that.
It will save you money in the long run: I promise!!!!
If you can't afford to pay for a virus protection service, there is a good free one at GRISOFT.
There is a page of QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS to help you in your journey through the many different sections of Happy Day Cards.
So, take a few minutes, if you will, and read these information pages.
They can be very helpful to you!
Another page which you might find interesting is a list of all the countries from which folks come to visit this site.
It really is easy to communicate with people around the world with a friendly message, and when we all think a lot about our wish for world peace we should make a special effort to reach out to others.
You never know how far that one card you send may be forwarded to others! It may just go all around the world and back.
After all, hoaxes and spam mailings do, so why not happy thoughts?
NOV 2002: And please remember the Happy Day Shopping Mall for easy on line Shopping at secure web sites.
I am a distributor for Stanley, and Fuller Brush, and all income received from sales of those products will go to support SOCM, an organization I'm very proud of.
Check out the Mall and the SOCM web site
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NOW, you can click on the Preview button on your Outlook Express screen to "disappear" the bodies of the messages on Your Outlook Express screen.
To read an e mail, just double click on it to open it. OR you can click on the Preview button again to view the message in the bottom part of the screen.