October Meeting Notes

SBBA met 10/16/01 at Mulligan’s Café for the general meeting.  Chaired by co-president Vicki St. Martin. Attending guests were Deborah Hawkins, Lynn Poltere’s daughter and Sunny Spataro. Monica Dittrich gave a talk on Procrastination and how to avoid the pitfalls thereof. Francisca Zak gave a job announcement. Ken Jurgensen won the free lunch. Total attendance was twenty-eight.
submitted by Holly Adamscheck, Secretary

New Members

Deborah L. Hawkins

October Speaker

For those of you who missed the October meeting, here’s a brief summary of Monica Dittrich's presentation on procrastination and how to overcome it:

• Start where you are by removing your daily irritants which create unnecessary stress. Then move on to the other areas in your life you procrastinate in.
• List your daily irritants - Take a moment to rehearse your day from when you get up until you go to bed and list the daily irritants that create stress during your day. Once you’ve written them down, prioritize from worst to least. Post this list in appropriate places so you can focus and be reminded of what is currently most important. Use sticky notes.

Make yourself and your peace of mind or whatever is important to you a priority.

Tips for Better Computing

A good old dial-up connection is the easiest way to get on the Internet. No special installation is required. You don't have to purchase a special modem or network adapter. In most cases, you just plug in your phone line and follow the instructions. The downside: A dial-up modem connection speed is slow.  Consider yourself lucky if you're cruising the Web over 30Kbps. When you're ready to boost your connection speed and get an "always-on" connection, you have a few options.  Cable is the dominant force and usually costs about $40/month.  A special cable modem and a standard Network Interface Card links your computer to the Internet on the same pipeline that provides your cable TV signal.
Cable Internet service works using Ethernet technology. This means that you share your bandwidth with everyone in your "segment." This could be people in your neighborhood or apartment building. And this is the biggest problem with cable. As more users in your segment access the Internet, each person's bandwidth goes down a little……….  
Next up, Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL). In some cities, there may be half-dozen or more DSL service providers. Other places might have just a single choice. Drop by DSL Reports www.dslreports.com) to see what's available in your area.  Unlike cable, you don't share a DSL line's bandwidth with your neighbors (but you can still talk on your phone to Aunt Virginia and simultaneously download files). What curbs DSL availability is the maximum distance limitation. Your home and the closest telephone-switching center typically have to be less than 18,000 feet apart.  A DSL line running at 256Kbps costs about $50/month. This is plenty of bandwidth for using the Web, playing online games and sharing multimedia files.
Where cable and DSL have limited service areas, two-way satellite Internet has the potential to reach nearly every household in the continental U.S. and Alaska. All you need is a clear view of the southern sky and some money. Installation can run as high as $400 and monthly service starts at around $70.. . . …..(There may be) noticeable slowdowns in service when it was raining or clouds were in the line of sight to the satellite. Some Internet functionality is limited, too. . . . . .  Average speed was 245Kbps downstream and 30Kbps up--plenty of bandwidth for downloading files and sending e-mail.  There's another alternative to wireless Internet service -- fixed-point wireless. . . performance was about on par with the satellite service.  A broadband Internet connection can make you an easy target for hackers. For this reason, it's mandatory to protect your system with a firewall.  Zonelabs (www.zonelabs.com) offers a free software firewall that is quick to download and easy to configure. . . If you're ready for a high-speed always-on Internet connection, the answer to what to get is simple: What's available in your area?

If you can get one or both of cable and DSL service, make your choice based on price. Don't forget to add in the cost of the modem and any installation charges. If you can't get cable or DSL, see if fixed wireless is available in your area. And if you can't get any of the above and you have money to burn, satellite is probably the way to go.

Excerpts from THE KIM KOMANDO NATIONAL TALKRADIO SHOW E-ZINE Issue Date: November 10, 2001 Vol. 5, No. 46, November 10 - 16, 2001

• Take a few deep breaths and collect yourself when in a chaotic situation.
• Go for a walk. You do have time. A brisk walk can calm the jitters and clear your mind.
• Eat properly. Don’t skip meals, eat junk food, or under/overdose on calories. Eat complex carbohydrates (i.e., veggies) and lean proteins. Have a nutritionist devise an eating schedule and menus.
• Drink water, at least 8 cups a day (not including coffee, soda, etc.). Hydration maximizes your energy and flushes harmful toxins from your body.
• Share responsibilities. Delegate, network or do anything else you can to make your job do-able.
• Get enough sleep. Scientists recommend 8 hours 37 minutes a night, every night. Stop TV and the PC 30 minutes before bedtime.
• Socialize with coworkers who make you laugh (laughter is good for body and soul) and avoid those who stress you.
• Get away. Don’t lunch at your desk. Walk or listen to music at lunch.

Source: Jamie Walters, "10 Tips for Avoiding Burnout and Inviting Balance, " Inc.com, July 22, 2001. Inc.com , on the Internet at www.inc.com/articles/details

Virtual post-it notes

Elsewhere in this newsletter using post-its to remind one of priorities is mentioned.

 TurboNote shareware creates small, colored, virtual post-it notes for reminders, messages, and phone numbers to -do lists and other kinds of items. Download free at www.isource.ibm.com/cgi-bin/goto?on=c3046fun.

Opt Out!

If you (or your clients) are tired of those pre-approved credit card solicitations from issuers, call 888-567-8688 to have your name either removed temporarily or permanently. This one telephone call will cover all three credit-reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax, and Trans-Union). You will be taken through a series of prompts to accomplish your desires. The personal information you provide is confidential and will be used only to process your request.

Editor of this month’s Newsletter was Sandy Stites.
Next month’s Editor will be Monica Dittrich.