Here’s news you can use: The SeniorNet Learning Center has found a new home and also has changed it name to Computer Learning Center, Inc.

They are now located on the campus of Temple Shaarei Shalom at 9085 Hagen Ranch Rd, Boynton Beach, FL. Their website which contains all information about location, courses available, schedules and registration procedure is www.clcbb.org .
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To read my Sunday, August 23 article in Sun-Sentinel CLICK HERE.
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Consumer Traps & Tips--A weekly service of the Palm Beach County Consumer Affairs Division

Topic: Carefree Car Rental

Trap--Ed and Joan from Lake Park were planning on flying to California for a family reunion. They also planned to rent a car for a drive along the Pacific Coast Highway. But despite having driven for years, neither had ever rented a car. They called Consumer Affairs with questions about how to avoid problems and save money.
Tips--Renting a car can be a snap. Follow these tips to make your trip carefree:
• First, you must be at least 25 years or older to rent at most agencies.
• Use the Internet to save money. Check at least three car rental agencies for discounts. Read the terms and contract carefully. Print a copy and make sure it includes the confirmation number and the bottom line cost. Members of AARP, AAA and discount clubs can check those respective Web sites for cost savings.
• If you call for reservations, ask the agent about restrictions. Is there a fee for additional drivers? If your arrival is delayed how long will the car be held? Is there a cancellation fee? What are the local taxes or airport surcharges? What are the pick-up and return procedures?
• If you have personal auto insurance or charge the rental to a major credit card, you may be covered for collision damage. Be sure to check with your insurance agent or credit card issuer about coverage.
• Before driving away, inspect the car carefully for body damage. Be sure the door locks, brakes, lights and turn signals work properly. Report any defects at once. Write down the odometer mileage in case there is a dispute.
• Save money by refueling the car before returning it to the car rental agency. Do the fill-up several miles away from the airport, since nearby stations tend to have higher prices.

Call Palm Beach County Consumer Affairs at 561-712-6600 (Boca/Delray 888-852-7362 toll free) or visit http://www.pbcgov.com/consumer to get more information or check for other consumer complaints against the car rental company you are considering.

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Wednesday December 17, 2008 at 7:30 PM, South County Civic Center, Jog Rd. Delray Beach.

"What You Should Know About Your Digital Camera!" By Ed Ostrowski

Ed is not only a BRCS member but is the President of the SeniorNet of Boynton Beach Learning Center, Inc. a non-profit company.

SeniorNet services hundreds of seniors in the Boynton Beach/Delray area by presenting an array of computer courses under Ed's capable direction.

Special Interest Group's begin at 6:15 PM.

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Topic: "Freeware - THE PRICE IS RIGHT!" By Bob Balogh, President

Question and Answer sessions on Internet, Windows XP & Vista and Paint Shop ProX2 will begin at 6:15 PM.

All meetings take place at the South County Civic Center, Jog Road, Delray Beach and are open to the public.

Since 1983, members of the Boca Raton Computer Society, Inc. have been helping one another use and learn about computers. There are now close to 1,000 members in the society, including computer professionals, business owners, home users and novices.
BRCS has provided its members with these services during the past 25 years: Boca Bits - the monthly magazine…numerous special interest group classes… tech support and more.

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The Boca Raton Computer Society Mourns the Loss of
Lorraine Krupowies, Treasurer who passed away October 6..

Lorraine was the senior member of the board of directors of BRCS, serving in various capacities since 1989, recently as Treasurer.
Born in Elizabeth, N. J., she and her husband and her youngest son moved to Florida in 1979. Twenty-one years ago, Lorraine was widowed. Left with four young children, she worked as a secretary/office manager until retiring. She enjoyed spending time with her five grandchildren.

Lorraine was an active member of the Boca Raton chapter of the Southern Handicraft Society, exhibiting her excellent knitting and crocheting at craft shows.

Lorraine provided a role model for BRCS members. She enjoyed working with her peers and gave her time and talent to serve on the Board of Directors for over fifteen years. She will be sorely missed.

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The next general meeting of the Boca Raton Computer Society will be held on
Wednesday, September 17, 2008 beginning at 7:30 PM.

Guest Speaker: Jerry Naditch, Vice President BRCS
“Everything you ever wanted to know about Google.”

Question and Answer sessions on Internet, Windows XP & Vista and Paint Shop ProX2 will begin at 6:30 PM.

All meetings take place at the South County Civic Center, Jog Road, Delray Beach and are open to the public. Since 1983, members of the Boca Raton Computer Society, Inc. have been helping one another use and learn about computers. There are now close to 1,000 members in the society, including computer professionals, business owners, home users and novices.
BRCS has provided its members with these services during the past 25 years: BOCA BITS - the monthly magazine…NUMEROUS SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP CLASSES… TECH SUPPORT and MORE.

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Guest Speakers: Bob Balogh, President and Richard Miller, Past President.

Topic: “XP and Vista (Stump the experts) Questions and Answers.”

Bob Balogh, President of BRCS and Richard Miller, twice past President, will team up to make your computing evening both fun and enjoyable. From XP to Vista they will deal with everything you ever wanted to know about these operating systems, and make it uncomplicated at the same time. They may even throw in a few freeware programs, which you will find useful.
Their Q & A's will NOT meet at 6:15 p.m. prior to the General Meeting during July or August.

The Paint Shop Pro Q. & A. by Murray Apfel will meet at 6:30 PM, as usual, prior to the 7:30 presentation.

All meetings take place at the South County Civic Center, Jog Road, Delray Beach and are open to the public.

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Try it today. Click here: http://www.lumosity.com" title="Brain Games

Now available throughout the Hurricane Season a direct link to the National Hurricane Center on the Alliance of Delray Website:

Go to www.allianceofdelray.com and click on "Hurricane Tracking" in the very center of the home page...you will immediately be connected to the National Hurricane Center of NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

Try it now and check it out often for approaching storms.

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BRCS monthly meeting begins at 6:15 PM at the South County Civic Center, Jog Road, Delray Beach opposite Morikami Gardens. Two Q. & A. sessions are conducted from 6:15 to 7;30 PM. One is on the Internet, conducted by club President Bob Balogh; the other is on Paint Shop Pro 12 with Murray Apfel demonstrating what this program can do for your digital photos.

At 7:30 PM the principal speaker of the evening, Jeff Jenkins will speak about his "defensive approach" to personal computing which gives users the tools needed to control his or her computing environment.

There is no charge for the meeting. The public is always welcome.

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“A travelogue along the world wide web”
Guest speaker: Buddy Harris, a Colonel in the USAF Auxiliary, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama and current Director/Instructor of the Edgewater Pointe Estates Computer Club, Boca Raton, Fl.

All meetings begin at 6:15 P.M. at the South County Civic Center, Jog Road, Delray Beach and are open to the public. From 6:15 to 7:30 P.M. question and answer sessions are held on Internet, Paint Shop Pro, E-Bay, Vista and Windows XP.

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SPMUG is a group of avid MacIntosh users who meet on the third
Friday of every month at 1:00 P.M. at the South Civic Center in Delray. The current president is Abe Korn.

The group meets to discuss new software, MAC problems and their solutions, and
to discuss ways to share their knowledge with other MAC "people." They also
demonstrate quite a few Applications and Utilities using a Projector and Screen.
In addition, their Newsletter offers SPMUG Tips and Tricks to all members who have
email addresses. They offer free raffles for prizes to members at every meeting.
Visit their web site, http://www.mv.com/ipusers/spmug/
At the January meeting, Abe Korn eulogized past Board member, Oscar Winograd.
Irv Berliner gave a demonstration of how to take a picture with a digital camera and
transfer the picture to a Macintosh computer with iPhoto08.

Dean Hoffman presented some of the features of iPhoto08 and Apple's new operating
system, "Leopard."

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At the Wednesday evening, January 16 meeting of the Boca Raton Computer Society the featured speaker was Past President Richard Miller and Special Interest Group instructor on MS XP and Vista.

He first presented an overview of computers generally. One of the most frequently asked questions is: “What computer should I buy?” Dick’s response surprised many.

“Buy the least expensive machine you can find. Unless you’re doing heavy graphics work and storing lots of digital photographs, you don’t need to invest in an expensive machine. Hard drives fail within three years. It’s a mechanical device and wears out. Watch the Sunday supplements and go for computers on sale.”

Dick, who makes his living as a computer tech consultant to businesses and home users did a brief review of the new Microsoft Vista operating system. Microsoft has chosen to name nothing in Vista the same as in XP. They have also placed in the program something that asks “your permission to continue” as it boots up, making for frustrating minor delays and extra steps before you can continue to work. “A Vista Service Pack 1 will be issued soon by Microsoft which should offer some improvements for users,” Dick informed us.

There are two types of hard drives in every computer: one that is going to fail and one that has failed. Dick reviewed the importance of backing up your files. With the availability of flash drives and external hard drives everyone should back up there files once a week or once a month depending on the volume of work you do with your computer.

Check out Dick’s web site at www.Genesis-one.com. If you click on the BRCS link, up will come a raft of interesting free software programs.

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