The Desert Computer Tutor

Tag: inspiraton

  • Feeling Better About Having to Change

    frustrated computer user

    The world is changing rapidly these days, largely due to technology.  My goal is to help people adapt as simply, easily and affordably as possible.

    Perhaps thinking about the situation in a different way will help you feel better about changes.

    We can’t turn back the clock or stop technological evolution, but we can control how we respond.  

    We can choose to resist what is, get upset, refuse to change and be continually frustrated, or we can do what we need to do to make things work and make ourselves happy.  

    Think about the things you wouldn’t be able to do if it weren’t for technology.  Make a list of all the ways you benefit.

    Then remember that in order to benefit, you will need to invest in equipment and maintenance from time to time, just like you do with your house appliances and automobile.

    Here’s a good analogy:

    How old is your car?  (Is it as old as your computer?)  If your mechanic said it wasn’t possible to get parts to fix it because it’s too old, would you insist on driving it anyway?  It it couldn’t pass a smog check, would you drive without registration?

    Computers and technology may become obsolete faster than cars, but the principle is the same.  There comes a time, when it’s more effective to change than to hold on to the old.  Sometimes that requires a little education, similar to taking continuing education courses for professional certifications or learning how to use a new TV.  You just get a little instruction and enjoy the benefits of the new information.

    I hope thinking about technology in this way will help you feel better and inspire you to change your equipment or way of doing things when necessary.

    If you need help to decide on the best equipment and apps for your individual needs and instruction on how to use them, just let me know.  I promise to make it as simple, easy, affordable and fun as possible.

    If this has been helpful to you, please share below so everyone can feel better about changes too.  

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  • A Small Gift With A Huge Benefit

    The Gift of Knowledge  

     

    At this holiday time when we focus on our desire for more peace and joy in the world, it seems fitting to tell you about a techie tool that is changing the world for the better — Wikipedia

     
    Jimmy Wales

     

    I love Wikipedia!  I use it all the time to find answers to questions and the meaning of new terms.  When I think about how this extensive body of knowledge is available to everyone in the world at no cost, my heart just leaps with joy.  What an amazing resource!  This is modern technology at its best. If you have never used it, please take a look here . You will love it!!!

     

     

    This time of year, Wikipdia.org puts up a banner asking for donations so that it will not have to resort to posting ads.  Since we all complain about ads on websites, it would serve us to make a donation now.  The good news is that if everyone who uses it paid only $3.00 the fundraising goal would be met!

     

    Features and BenefitsWikipedia

    Here are the reasons that Wikipedia, one of the world’s five most popular web properties, asks for financial support from its users and why you might want to participate. (Adapted from an appeal letter by Founder, Jimmy Wales.)

    1. Has a small number of paid staff, just twenty-three.
    2. Wikipedia content is free to use by anyone for any purpose.
    3. Annual expenses are less than six million dollars.
    4. Wikipedia is run by the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation, founded in 2003.
    5. At its core, Wikipedia is driven by a global community of more than 150,000 volunteers – all dedicated to sharing knowledge freely.
    6. These volunteers have contributed more than 11 million articles in 265 languages.
    7. More than 275 million people come to the website every month to access information, free of charge and free of advertising.
    8. Wikipedia.org is committed to a world in which every single person on the planet is given free access to the sum of all human knowledge.
    9. Your donation helps cover the increasing cost of managing global traffic to one of the most popular websites on the Internet.
    10. Funds also help improve the software that runs Wikipedia — making it easier to search, easier to read, and easier to write for.
    11. Wikipedia.org is committed to growing the free knowledge movement world-wide, by recruiting new volunteers, and building strategic partnerships with institutions of culture and learning.
    12. Wikipedia.org is the largest encyclopedia in history, written by volunteers.
    13. Your donation will help keep Wikipedia free for the whole world.

    Gratitude

    world peaceBelow is the thank you email I received after making my donation.  It will show you the scope of their amazing work in the world.  I hope it will inspire you to use the service, if you haven’t already, and motivate you to donate.

     

    Thank you for your invaluable gift of bringing knowledge to every human around the world. My name is Lila Tretikov, and I’m the Executive Director of the Wikimedia Foundation. Over the past year, gifts like yours powered our efforts to expand the encyclopedia in 287 languages and to make it more accessible all over the world. We strive most to impact those who would not have access to education otherwise. We bring knowledge to people like Akshaya Iyengar from Solapur, India. Growing up in this small textile manufacturing town, she used Wikipedia as her primary learning source. For students in these areas, where books are scarce but mobile Internet access exists, Wikipedia is instrumental. Akshaya went on to graduate from college in India and now works as a software engineer in the United States. She credits Wikipedia with powering half of her knowledge.
    This story is not unique. Our mission is lofty and presents great challenges.Most people who use Wikipedia are surprised to hear it is run by a non-profit organization and funded by your donations. Each year, just enough people donate to keep the sum of all human knowledge available for everyone. Thank you for making this mission possible.

    On behalf of nearly half a billion people who read Wikipedia, thousands of volunteer editors, and staff at the Foundation, I thank you for keeping Wikipedia online and ad-free this year.

    Thank you,  
    Lila

    Lila Tretikov
    Executive Director,
    Wikimedia Foundation
    donate.wikimedia.org

  • Having A Computer is Like Having A Car

    _MG_2157 copyThis Wednesday was my turn to present my business at the Desert Networking Professionals  (DNP) weekly breakfast meeting.  My topic was “Having a Computer Is Like Having a Car.”

    I believe one of the reasons my clients are frustrated by their computers and gadgets is due to unrealistic expectations.  If you consider that having a computer is like having a car, you will have a different perspective.  First, you don’t even have to have a computer or car if you don’t want to.  Really…some people don’t have one.  However, you might think it’s a necessity for your lifestyle or your business.   If you choose to get one, there will be some training involved in learning to drive it.  There are rules you need to follow, or you’ll get into trouble.  You have to have insurance (back ups and anti virus protection), and, from time to time, it will need tune-ups, and repairs.  You can pay a professional to teach you to drive it and to do the repairs, or you can get a book or do research online and learn how to do it yourself.  It’s a choice.  If you choose to do it yourself, there is going to be a learning curve, some mistakes, and it’s going to take longer.  That’s just the way it is.  And you have choices.

    I hope that this analogy will help everyone to have more realistic expectations and make peace with the ups and downs of the technology world.  I hope that everyone will have the insurance of backups and anti-virus protection.  I hope that everyone will choose to learn how to use the gadgets and gizmos and be able to function with ease and joy.  And, I recommend that you call a professional when there are problem or questions.  After all, having peace and joy in our lives is all about expectations.  Let’s be realistic, do the few things that need to be done, and focus on enjoying the many benefits of computer technology.

    If you need help with any of these things, please let me know.  I promise I will make it as easy, fun, painless  and affordable as possible.

    _MG_2151 copy

  • This Might Surprise You

    As you may know, I have not been a big fan of Facebook, and I always empathize when my clients talk about all the reasons it’s bad.  I don’t have extra time to “mess with it” either.

    Well I must confess, I’m having second thoughts.  Yes, it’s true.  I downloaded the Facebook app to my smart phone, so I could see what it does.  After posting a few things on my page, I heard from people that I hadn’t been in touch with for years. They loved the photo of Katie and me at the beach this summer and it was really fun to reconnect.  Then I started seeing all the inspirational and hilarious things that my friends were posting on their pages.  It’s amazing how much love and inspiration is circulating via Facebook  Seriously!  It’s a great antidote to the news!

    One of the posts that moved me to tears was a video of an 82 year old woman’s audition on “England’s Got Talent”.  (See the link below.)  I guess it moved me so much because I’m getting older, my Mother is 92 now, and I work with many amazing elderly people like her, who are enthusiastic about learning techie things. I’ts just so great to see people follow their passion right up to the end of their lives.


    Watch video

    Another inspiration for me was a fun lady, who had me come work with her every week last season so she could learn Facebook and keep in touch with her 4 children and 12 grandchildren.  We had so much fun!  She joked about how some of her friends spent way too much time on it and she just wanted to see all the latest photos and make short comments.  She got really good at it.  Can you imagine how much that means to the children and their parents?!  So many times, our children end up living out of state, and Facebook can really help to keep the family together.

    I’m eager to share what I’ve learned and to show you how rewarding it can be.  I think you will be surprised at how much you will enjoy it.  You don’t have to spend a lot of time, or sift through a gazillion emails notifications.  I can show you how to adjust the settings to calm it down and make it manageable.

    So to this end, I’m planning to offer some Facebook playshops in the new year and I hope you will join in the fun.

    We can do my usual private sessions or you can invite up to 7 friends to a “Play Shop” at your home or office.  (8 gadgets is the maximum for home Wi-Fi routers).  The host is free and the other participants only pay $20 for the 2 hr. play shop. (The minimum requirement is $80)  I will also be happy to do more Play Shops at the Mastermind Seminars’ office on Date Palm.  Just let me know the best days and times for you.

    I hope you are having a lovely holiday season with your loved ones.  I hope you will give Facebook a try, so you can re-connect with loved ones you haven’t seen and keep up with the ones you have.  Let’s keep that love and joy vibration going all year long!