Helping your family when you are gone - your will, etc.

Be Ready - the BGAMUG Computer Club Presentation Roundup from last night's meeting.

Jazz Funeral, Leatherhead Crematorium, Surrey by Dr Neil Clifton

I really liked this presentation. I generally learn something from each one, but this presentation was more timely than many. Ray even played a Goodbye presentation slideshow with music that he made and said he would help any member who wants to make one for themselves, to play for their loved ones.

The main point of the presentation was to be ready - - to be prepared for your own death, so as to make it easier for  your family. Also, one member brought up, you can plan ahead so things are done as you wish. If you want a certain casket, for instance, you can pick one out ahead of time.

Last wishes - your preferred service, what you want to say to your loved ones, who you want to get what when you are gone, etc., etc. - - these are all things we seldom talk about.

Ray gave everyone there a CD with all kinds of useful forms to fill out. A will form was included, as well as a Living Will form. Ray and other members said that a form could be filled out, then it could be signed by the two required witnesses, and notarized. This form could then be checked out by a lawyer (which I will be doing).

One member mentioned a lost will - - it was not where the person said it would be, in a lock box. Another person said that a will had an Executor AND a back-up Executor, but both died before the person in the will. Both of these things made things harder for the families, I expect.

You are saving time and money, plus aggravation on the part of the families to make sure everything is done and put in a safe place, and people notified of where you are keeping this information. And no matter what age you are, putting this off can really backfire if something happens to you, and you are not ready with the forms and planning you need to do NOW.

New technology makes it much easier to leave a video/digital message for your family too, using slides and music with meaning for you.  Plus this will be a great memorial for your family to have of you. I like this idea.

Thanks, Ray. This (a new will and now a video/digital message for my family) is also on my list now. The forms you gave will really help too.

Being prepared - a Scout motto, but very apros pos. I plan to get these things done in the next couple of months.

Later!
Betsyanne
Webmaster, 2012
The BGAMUG Computer Club

Join us for our meeting on Tuesday April 24th

Original Photo (before cropping & editing) is from Turtlemom Nancy on Flickr.

The Future - - it is uncertain. And who knows how long anyone has on this earth?

I know I personally have been thinking (hard!) about the future lately. With two deaths in the family already this year, I know someday I will also be gone, and I want to be prepared.

My husband and I are re-doing our wills this year, and need all the advice we can get. Luckily, Tuesday's meeting will help me get some tips on preparing that will. Other legal issues will also be covered.

The presenter is  our own Ray E. I will be bringing some paper and a pen for notes.

Join us! We will meet at 6:30 at Building F at the Bowling Green Technical College.

See you there!

Betsy S.
Webmaster, 2012
the BGAMUG Computer Club
Our BGAMUG website
Bowling Green, Kentucky

Some fun computer advice and tech sites

Hi, this is Betsy, your friendly neighborhood webmaster for the BGAMUG Computer Club.

Today I have a few links to sites you may like. My favorite is #1, the techie site Mashable, where you will find some of the latest gadgets, talk about social networking, and lots more. I use it a lot.

#1. Mashable - I check here a lot for neat tweets about technology. I think you'll like it too. Many different authors and tech experts combine here on this site.

#2. Tips from Ask Leo: http://ask-leo.com/.
Also, here is Ask Leo on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/askleofan
Leo has tips for all, but mainly for Windows users.

#3. YMLP - Your Mailing List Provider - I wound up using this mailing list provider after trying out several others. I like this one because it has many of the higher-end features (like templates and campaigns) of the more expensive providers, but doesn't cost as much.

#4. Backblaze - my latest online backup. Backblaze is a cloud application that copies your files in an online backup. The service has unlimited storage for only $5.00 a month. This is not a misprint. I like it because I take a lot of photos. Now they have even gone down to #3.96 per month.

#5. SelfPromotion - a great website and blog submission site. It is preferred to contribute here. You can submit your sites here and the owner will also do this every once in awhile too. There is much information here about gaining readership.

Do you have a favorite tech site that you love? Add it here as a comment.

Betsy S.
Webmaster
The BGAMUG Computer Club
Bowling Green, Kentucky

Join us April 24th - and about free computer classes

New art! I will probably change it again.

Our next meeting 

We at the BGAMUG Computer Club have a great presentation planned for our next meeting on April 24th. It's all about making wills and how to plan ahead for your family.

For some of us, this presentation is very timely. I know I have put redoing my will on my Must Do Soon List.

 As usual, guests are very welcome at the BGAMUG Computer Club meeting! Tell them Betsy set you.  

Free Computer Classes 

I list all the free computer classes each week on my Betsyanne site "From the Garden Spot plus BG Events." 

You can check there to find free computer classes offered by the library each week.

I hope everyone is having a great week!

Betsy S.
Webmaster
The BGAMUG Computer Club

PS Check out more about our next meeting here on the BGAMUG website.

PPS And join us on Facebook too - see you there. 

Ideas for BGAMUG Computer Club Presentations

I have been thinking about presentations and what would be fun to talk about, or for others to talk about. We've had a lot of really good presentations last year and this year. Some of the recent ones have talked about Genealogy sites, iPhones, Tablets, email, and how to protect ourselves from viruses and other computer hazards.

Somebody else doing a presentation

I have some other ideas. You can vote on the ones you like the most.

Well, that's about it for today.

I will be calling some people soon that I have heard from online to see if they want to do a short presentation next month.

The presentation THIS month (on will resources and other legal issues for the future) is on Tuesday, April 24th at 6:30. Click here to go to our website to find out more.

As you might now, guests are very welcome at our meetings. Come by and say hi!

All for now,
E. Sheppard
Webmaster and Blog poster, 2012
Bowling Green, Kentucky

FYI: This computer art original is from the free art Clker site, and the Learn About Your Computer was added with Corel Draw.

About our last meeting Tues. PM - learning about tablets and iPhones

I enjoyed our last BGAMUG Computer Club meeting Tuesday evening. 

We got to touch Jerry's tablet computer, and see how photos are easy to view. There are many kinds of tablets to choose from, and Jerry shared the story of getting his on sale. (I will add the name as soon as I can find the notes!)

Jeri showed us her iPhone, and explained it has two different cameras on it - one in front and one in back. I liked this feature.

Both people said they carry a tablet with them instead of a laptop when they go on vacation. A tablet is lighter and easier to carry.

People can upload photos many ways on a tablet too. Professional photographers may need to ask what is compatible with their tablet.

People talked also about Kindles. The latest Kindles will also take you online more. AND you can get many free ebooks to read on them.

I personally have a Kindle 3 which I won in an online contest. I like it, but it is darker than I like, so I will be adding a light to it soon.

Do you have a Kindle, a SmartPhone, iPhone, or tablet? Learning how they work, and trying out neat apps can be very fun. Plus, (as Jerry or Jeri said) you can keep up with your sons, daughters, and grandchildren if you learn how to use these new computers and phones.

Betsy S.
Webmaster, 2012
The BGAMUG Computer Club

Like us here on Facebook too.

A note about the Picnik site - rescue your photos!

Picnik is making changes - download and save your photos now.

Some people use the Picnik photo editing site. It has a lot of free features, and you don't have to buy the program to use it for editing your photos.

BUT it is moving to Google+. So, if you have any photos there, now's the time to take them off the site (this month).

Learn more: Rescue your files from Picnik.

(A heads up.)

E. Sheppard
Webmaster
The BGAMUG Computer Club

Our next meeting program for the BGAMUG Computer Club - come visit!

The BGAMUG Computer Club in Bowling Green, Kentucky has a great program planned for Tuesday, March 27th at 6:30 at the BG Technical College. It is all about tablets and I-Phones.

Learn about this new technology and how YOU can use it in your daily life.

Art via Sharon with thanks.

This map shows where to go for the meeting:

I hope to see you there. :-)

Betsy
Bowling Green, Kentucky
Webmaster for BGAMUG, 2012

Join us at our next meeting. Guests are welcome

Come join the BGAMUG Computer Club to learn about Tablets and iPhones next meeting on March 27th at 6:30.

Guests are welcomed with a smile.

We meet at the Bowling Green Technical College. There is a map of how to get there at the website. Just scroll down to see it.

I hope to see everyone there.

Betsy S.
Webmaster 2012
The BGAMUG Computer Club
Bowling Green, Kentucky

Keep Safer on your Email and Facebook

There have been some glitches in Facebook and email accounts lately of my friends and acquaintances. And I personally have had a website hacked. It was such a pain to fix.

Of course, I have noticed problems in others' Facebook accounts for awhile (years, really). I don't know whether people have the same password for different sites, or click on links, etc.

I don't understand the reasoning behind hackers' taking over other people's accounts - - perhaps they are trying to get access to money or just want to show that they CAN hack into somebody's account. To help protect against glitches and hackers, some safety measures I personally like are:

1. Changing my password to my email provider and my Facebook every so often,

2. Letting others know if I notice a problem with their postings (often, a link posted with no explanation),

3. Not opening a link if I don't know that it is safe. Better to go to the site in person if there is a question.

4. Not joining too many Facebook applications. These can have rights to mess with your Facebook account and mess it up. But there are some I do like, like MyCalendar Birthdays, Networked Blogs, Photos, and Notes. FYI: I used to play Farm Town, Hatching Eggs, Top Friends, and some other popular games, but I don't play them much anymore. They take up time I use for other things. But they were really fun for awhile, and I didn't have any problems with them. But that doesn't mean they aren't risky. I don't know.

 5.  Copying the "rescue" links from Facebook and Mail just in case. For instance, a link for Yahoo is account compromised link , and one rescue email to report hacking at Facebook is http://www.facebook.com/hackedhttp://www.facebook.com/hacked.

I hope you don't need these help links. But today I wanted to share what I do to help stay safe.

E. Sheppard
Webmaster
The BGAMUG Computer Club

Bowling Green and area libraries free computer classes for March

Here are some upcoming FREE computer classes offered at library locations in and near Bowling Green, Kentucky. This list if from the ALIVE mailing I got today.

These classes are at different times, and are all free. You must pre-register to attend them. 


There are more free classes for February listed on the Moon and the Willow Tree blog Events page here.

"Upcoming Library Classes

Computer classes March 2012 Main Library

Call 781-4882 to reserve space

Introduction to Computers and the Internet

Thursday, March 1: 6-7 p.m.

Facebook for Beginners

Monday, March 5: 6-7:30 p.m.

MS Publisher

Tuesday, March 6: 2-3:30 p.m.

Introduction to Genealogy Resources

Wednesday, March 7: 10 a.m. - noon

Job Hunting Online

Wednesday, March 7: 6-7 p.m."

There are also classes at other library sites.

Check out the list from the library site: http://www.warrenpl.org/Adult-Events.html

And here is the ALIVE website: http://www.wku.edu/alive/.

Thanks, BGAMUG members!

You really came through.

 I had some visitors from BGAMUG to my mother's Celebration/Gathering after her death on February 1st. The Celebration Gathering was on Saturday, two days ago.

What a great surprise to see my friends from BGAMUG. I really appreciated that. That was such a great thing to do. They also wrote my column for the BGAMUG Newsletter.

These BGAMUG members also saw my Mom's pottery, and the great video that my daughter and her husband made for her.

Having those caring BGAMUG members visit me on that day really helped me get through it. Thanks, BGAMUG members!

You know who you are. Pat yourself on the back today. Or have that piece of cheesecake. Or do something else wonderful for yourself.

Betsy

My Mom's Remembrance Pages
The Pots Place pages (Mom helped start the Pots Place)

Mom's video of parts of her life is here:

Spam - just what is it... and how can you fight it?

SPAM... 

This neat SPAM can picture is by dok1 on Flickr.

Does getting a lot of spam in your computer inbox just drive you crazy?

Join us at the next BGAMUG Computer Club meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Bowling Green Technical College Building F for a presentation all about SPAM to find out more.

Some questions to be addressed are: What can we do about spam? And is it all about advertising?

Find out how to fight spam in YOUR inbox.

Guests and visitors are welcome. So come on by!

Betsyanne

Webmaster
The BGAMUG Computer Club
Bowling Green, Kentucky

PS You can find a map to the meeting right here on the BGAMUG page. Just scroll down to see it.

I like the Live 365 radio station.

Have you tried listening to it yet?

You can listen while working, or you can plug in your remote earphones to listen to this radio station too.

The really cool thing about Live 365 is that you can have your own radio station here. You can also play YOUR kind of music. There are a lot of different styles of radio stations to pick from, including the usual jazz vs. rock vs. Hip-Hop-Rap, etc. and also talk radio and New Age.

I like the idea of having my own radio station. This would be very fun to do some day. I will definitely put it on my list.

It's fun to experiment and listen to different styles of music here. I also enjoy the talk radio shows.

Let me know your favorite online station, or how you like this one.

Later!

I'm off to think about listening to Live365.

Betsy S.
Webmaster
The BGAMUG Computer Club
Bowling Green, Kentucky

Gene Iglehart helps get computers ready for Ecuador

The Ecuadorian Flag - via Clker.

Member in the News!

Our member Gene Iglehart is in the news again, this time in a Bowling Green Daily News article.

I shared this on Facebook at the BGAMUG page (click to go there), but thought other BGAMUG members would like to hear about it.

Here is a quote from the article quoting from both Mr. Iglehart and Lynn Hartley, C.I.O. for the City of Bowling Green, Kentucky.

"For three months, Igelhart worked to get the computers into a condition in which they would be functional for the youth in Ecuador.

“To me it’s a privilege and an honor,” Igelhart said.

Hartley applauded Igelhart’s efforts. “He stays busy and is a big inspiration to see how involved he is in the computer,” Hartley said."


Here is that article:

Work by WKU Students, city, provides computers to Ecuador community.

Good job, Gene, and everyone involved in this worthwhile project!

E. Sheppard
Webmaster
The BGAMUG Computer Club
Bowling Green, Kentucky

Our regular January meeting is next Tuesday Jan. 24, 2012

Heads up!

Our next BGAMUG Computer Club meeting is Thursday, January 24th, at 6:30. See the BGAMUG website for the map and other information.

See you there!

Betsy Sheppard
BGAMUG Webmaster, 2012

Other Computer groups in Kentucky A - Kentucky groups

BGAMUG is a well-known computer club in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Their website is really cute. :-) It will be updated this year too probably and made more easy to navigate.

This interesting photographic mosaic is by photo by oztenphoto on Flickr

Some other computer clubs in Kentucky have some interesting websites too. I think it would be fun to visit some of these other clubs sometime. In the meantime, I think I can get some good ideas for the website from their sites too.

Here are a few other computer clubs and User Groups with websites and links to explore.

1. The Central Kentucky Computer Society
(Lexington) They have a page for Joe's Top 50 Tips here.

2. The Richmond Computer Club (a smaller site)

3. The Computer Club for Seniors (in Lexington at the Public Library) I think this one is just starting up.

4. KIPCUG - the Kentucky-Indiana Computer User Group in Louisville, Kentucky. This club has removeable bumper stickers and custom mugs for the group.

I know there are more sites - I'll just have to find them. It might be fun to list Nashville clubs next. Nashville is not far from here.

Oh - and check out APCUG on Facebook - they have some neat events listed here. They are also on Twitter. (BGAMUG is a member of APCUG.)

All for now - Happy Computing!

Betsyanne
BGAMUG Webmaster, 2012

Your oldest computer... the games on it were fun!

Do you still have your oldest computer?

It's fun to compare them now. I loved the games I could play on my oldest computer. The games kept improving through the years. I still love some of the older games.

Here is a photo of an IBM portable. Of course, this used two floppy drives.

Photo by Hanan Cohen on Flickr.

Do you remember your old computer? It boggles my mind how far computers have come, and how many things I can do with my computer now that I was not able to do in the past.

But the old ones were still fun... I liked the text adventure games best.

Here are some text adventure game sites - you can play many of these right on the sites.

Web Adventures
Adventure Games Live
Here are some later Indiana Jones games (some of these are great!)
What are your favorite older games? List them as a comment.

Later!
Betsyanne
Webmaster for BGAMUG 2012
The BGAMUG Computer Club

Fun computer humor sites and cartoons - I like them!

Computer, Geek, and Internet humor - I love it.

I love computer humor, AND the About.com site. I also love fun computer cartoons and jokes.

One of my favorite silly computer jokes is the one with the CD holder that somebody thinks is a coffee cup holder. It is hilarious! Jerry told it at a BGAMUG meeting once.

I was looking for a funny computer and internet site and found some good links at About.com's Computer and Internet Humor site.

OOPS - This cartoon is from free-cartoons.sangrea.net

I will definitely be back here. Today I tried the "computer strip" joke at the site, and then briefly glanced at the I Kiss You site (pretty old now, and I did not see the movie - I wonder where he is from...), and also the Funny Sites of the Day (last one is 2009 - this needs updating!)

Further clicks brought me to the Web Humor pages, which are more recent.

The site mentioned the Daily Cute site, is it ever cute! It is full of very cuddly and sweet animal pictures, which I like anyhow.

I do know about the Daily Kitten, which is a place that definitely makes you smile every visit.

I hope this posting brings a smile too!

Betsy Sheppard
WebMaster 2012
The BGAMUG Computer Club

Burning a CD. :-) Ar Ar Ar...

PS I used to know a fabulous newsgroup that was really funny. Everyone shared their latest jokes. Anyone else know some good humor sites?

Guest Poster needed for the BGAMUG Blog - are you next?

Okay, fellow BGAMUG'ers... (Or is that BGAMUGGERS?) 

I have a few other blogs. It is no problem to post here, but I think having other members do guest postings or other postings is a GREAT idea.

Just let me know, BGAMUG members.

It is fun to write about the club, about your computer, or whatever takes your fancy.

I'll stick some pictures on here to jump-start your creative writing juices. :-)

How about an idea for a presentation? Or your favorite computer tip?

Some other ideas are your trip, a family story, your favorite hobby or hobbies, or stories about computer meetings in the past.

Maybe your New Year's resolutions would make fun reading.

 Just email me (Betsy) and let me know that you would like to post here.

And have a GREAT rest of the holiday week.

Next up: New Years Eve and Day. Do you have plans for that time?

I and other members would love to hear about how you have been doing too.

E. Sheppard
BGAMUG Webmaster 2012

Get Connected, BGAMUG Club members and friends

BGAMUG members and friends, get connected!

The original photo here is by MikeBlogs on Flickr.

The BGAMUG Computer Club has a multi-page website at http://www.bgamug.com. If you have not been there for awhile, we'd love to have you visit. This is the site with the Meeting Map, the new officer emails, and more.

We hope to make some improvements to the site next year too. Be watching for that.

See the left side of this blog? Try following the blog and having your picture show up there. Also, share the posting on Facebook and Twitter. Also, subscribe via email.

We can also join each other at the BGAMUG Facebook page. While there (after "liking" the page) feel free to post your BGAMUG or computer-related link, joke, website or story. (Etc.) After you join, you will be Member #32. (Or maybe 33, 34, or 35!)

Want to learn some computer tips and just read a really fun newsletter? Try the BGAMUG News archive page.

I look forward to seeing you!

Elizabeth S.
BGAMUG Webmaster, 2011-12

PS Happy Holidays - - Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, and a Joyous Yule to everyone!!

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Joyous Yule, etc. etc.

I hope everyone has a GREAT holiday celebration this year. 

Hauling the Yule Log - - original from Clker.com

Have a Merry Christmas (December 25th, Sunday) , a Happy Hanukah (Dec. 20-28, Tues. - Wed.), and a Joyous Yule/New Year's holiday and Solstice Celebration this year on December 31st and January 1st.

The BGAMUG Computer Club's next meeting is on January 24th at 6:30 at the Bowling Green Technical College. There is a NEW map to the meeting on the BGAMUG Computer Club home page. Just click here to go there: http://www.bgamug.com/.

Truthfully, I do enjoy the wintertime mostly. Here in Bowling Green, the winters can be quite mild, but also can be quite stormy. We can have ice storms and big snowstorms too.

So here is hoping everyone is safe and happy throughout the holidays.

E. Sheppard
Webmaster 2012

Some photos from the BGAMUG Christmas Party 2011

Here are just a few photos from the BGAMUG Christmas Party.

I took a few videos too, but need to check them out. I will post one or more here as soon as I check them and possibly learn how to edit them.

The Horseshoe Bend Family Band all playing together.

A closeup.

I like this photo!

The Horseshoe Bend Family Band was there! I really liked them. They got lots of applause too.

There were some good laughs, awesome decorations and planning, some fun tunes, and great food.

All in all, what a super great event. Thanks, Sharon! (Sharon was our Grand Party Planner.)

All for now
Betsy Sheppard
Webmaster of BGAMUG 2011-12
And all-around bottle washer.

Dreaming of a Christmas Party... BGAMUG's party update

Hi, fans of BGAMUG

and BGAMUG members!

Well, the election is over, we have thanked the officers that served last year, learned about Microsoft Streets and Trips software (it's neat!) and now people are getting ready for the big BGAMUG Christmas party on Friday, December 2nd, from 6-8 p.m.

Theme: The color Purple
Bring: a homecooked dish or something else special (there will be prizes for the best dishes!)
People can put their names on the bottom of the dishes, and maybe put a title on a card attached.

Be Prepared: to see the group the Horseshoe Bend Family Band.

We have awards planned, and great food, of course.

See you there!

Members, find out more about the party at the club website.

Also, if you want your picture taken with Santa, you can go with other club members to Able Court the next day after our party. Read our newsletter for Nov. 2011 to find out more about that.

Betsyanne
BGAMUG Webmaster 2012

Our new BGAMUG map. I like it!

Hey all.

Jerry did a new map to the meeting location for this Tuesday. Check it out:

This map photo is copyrighted by Google and is from the Google Earth site. It is used with permission.

Additions and other art were made by Jerry. Thanks, Jerry!

I like it. Just saying.

Remember, the public is welcome at the meeting, which is this Tuesday, November 22nd, at 6:30 p.m.

E. Sheppard
Webmaster 2011
The BGAMUG Computer Club

News from BGAMUG Mailings and more. See you next meeting!

News from BGAMUG Mailings and more...

My computer...

The BGAMUG computer club is getting ready to have a fun meeting next month. The meeting is on Tuesday, November 22nd, at 6:30 at our usual location. The map on the web page shows the OLD way of getting to the meeting. Now you take the second entrance at the right and go around in a circle until you reach the building.

Read about the meeting here at the website page: http://www.bgamug.com/.

Members of the group are now getting APCUG updates by email, via the APNUG Nooz online magazine. If you are a member of BGAMUG, you have a chance to go to the APCUG cruise meeting which is January 23-27. Some of our members attended this last year. Interested? Come to a BGAMUG meeting to find out more.

See you there! Visitors are welcome. Oh - and visit us to like us on Facebook.

All for now,

E. Sheppard
Webmaster
The BGAMUG Computer Club

Neva is in a play! And links to Blood Relations play and FSP

I found out from a recent club email that a member of our group, Neva, is in a local play. Here is part of the email from our President, Jerry G.

"Our member, Neva , asked that I pass this on as she will be in a show called   Blood Relations.  The story of Lizzie Borden.  Sort of a murder mystery.  

 

The play will be at the Phoenix Theatre  across the street from  Tidballs.  They open on Thurs. 10 Nov. thru 13 Nov. at 8pm.  There is an afternoon show on Sunday 14 Nov. at 3pm."

Thanks for this information, Jerry.

Here is more information about the play:

 

Blood Relations (from the Kentucky Museum)

 

Fountain Square Players' site

Get your stories in soon for the next BGAMUG News!

The BGAMUG Newsletter Deadline is now!

This is deadline week for turning in stories, photos, puzzles, ideas, and more to Sharon for our next newsletter. Just saying!

Do you have some club-related or computer stories to tell? I know Sharon would be happy to see them.

See this page and scroll down to get Sharon's web address:
http://www.bgamug.com/news_forms.html

Later!

E. Sheppard
Webmaster, 2011

Attribution: This cute newsboy is from the free clipart Clker site.