1) Windows Tips - "Make It A Date!"
2) File Find! - "MultiCompactor"
3) Sites-Seeing - "Transhumanists\AirPhotos"
4) Email Funny - "Shadows"
5) MOUS Tips - "What's Your Status? Part III"
6) They Said It - quotes to give one pause
7) Hodgepodge - that what fits no where else

Good morning, afternoon, or evening--and welcome to The Basement! Thanks to my many loyal readers for being here once again, and for those that are here for the first time - Welcome Aboard!

Update time for Windows98 users, another Critical update is waiting!

One of those maintenance issues that most home users fail to stay on top of is keeping current with the many updates available for Windows. There have been at least eight "Critical Security" updates/patches and even more "Recommended" updates in the past two years - I'll bet you're missing at least a few!

(Business and Networked users - check with your System Administrators to discuss your computer's needs. Don't assume, however, that you're in good shape. The recent Code Red II experience has shown that there are plenty of networks out there that AREN'T getting patched properly!)

It's a fairly painless (though potentially time-consuming, if never done before) process to update. Start with the "Windows Update" button on your Start menu; lacking that, tap your (Flying)  Windows key + R, key "WUPDMGR" (no quotes), and Enter. Either method will take you to the Windows Update page, http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com (of course, you could go there directly, too!)

Once you've opened the Update page in your browser, click on the "Product Updates" link. A javascript will create a popup window - you'll see the following text: " Windows Update is customizing the product updates catalog for your computer. This is done without sending any information to Microsoft." In a few moments, your browser window will refresh with a checklist of "Critical Updates", "Picks of the Month", "Recommended Updates" and "Additional Windows Features".

Start with the Critical Updates. Many, if not all of these are "single-loaders" - they have to be individually downloaded, installed, and the system rebooted. After you've worked your way through the Critical updates, turn to the Recommended and add any applicable for your system. Finally, take a look at the goodies available under the "Monthly Picks" and "Additional Features" banners--there you'll find themes and games; security-related items; web publishing, internet and communication upgrades.

A nice feature is the link that will show you Updates and descriptions that have been previously installed, and another that displays the installed items and dates installed.

Make a date to update today!

Once again, NFTB is proud to debut the World Premier of a new piece of freeware. What makes it even more pleasurable is that this particular utility is the creation of my progeny, Josh.

Having spent the past summer deeply immersed in all things database for the government, he was faced with a need to compact and/or repair multiple Access databases at one time. In true Gretzian fashion, the solution was obvious--write a program!

And thus was born the MultiCompactor, the first of what I'm very sure will be many fine "Schwank-tilities" (don't ask!!) that will be coming down the pike.

A niche utility, it's sole purpose is to easily compact more than one Access database in one fell swoop (a summary page displays bytes recovered). A worthwhile download if you work with many Access databases; if you find it worthwhile or would like to suggest modifications the author would love to hear from you. Its true value may be in owning an example of a future tycoon's first efforts! [46 Kb\ZIP]:

CLICK HERE to download MultiCompactor

I found this site at times intriguing, other times inspiring, and still other times baffling.  Divided into five "spheres" - Individual, Global, Cultural, Technological and Organizational; there is a nice structure to the site that allows you to roam from one fascinating topic to another. With exhaustive links, there's plenty of though-provoking information about the Human Potential:

CLICK HERE for a Transhumanist Perspective

Our second site has an enormous stock library and on-line gallery of photos, all shot from an airplane. Some featured subjects are: Weather, Agriculture, Environment, Geology, National Parks, Lighthouses, Lewis & Clark, Marine, Aviation, and Junkyards. The geographic coverage is from Alaska and Labrador to Costa Rica and the Lesser Antilles, and everything between. Some 1500 aerial photographs are posted in the for your viewing pleasure. All are fully described and indexed.

Please note that courtesy permission is granted for casual personal use; all others should contact Jim Wark before using!

CLICK HERE for a Bird's Eye View of the World

Of course you'd expect to find shadows in The Basement, and I have some good ones for your edification this week. This Argentinean video delivers a powerful message of conservation with a great deal of ingenuity and a touch of humor. Share this one with the kids! [1325 Kb\AVI]

CLICK HERE to download Shadows

We'll wrap up our examination of the Word Status bar this week.

7) The Spelling and Grammar Status indicator. If you have either Spelling or Grammar being checked as you type (Tools > Options > Spelling & Grammar tab > turn on "check as you type..." ) then there will be a book icon, as you see in the illustration. If neither are being checked, this area will be blank.

As you key, you'll see a moving pencil on the book icon - this is another indicator that your text is being checked. As long as you have no errors in your document, there will be a "checkmark" on the the right page of the book icon. If Word has a problem with document however, there will be an "X" on the right page, as seen in the above graphic.

Double-click the book icon any time it has the "X" and Word will immediately select your last error and open a menu with possible corrections. After choosing a correction, if there are more errors continue to double-click the book icon until you see the "check" mode.

8) When saving your documents, you'll see a pulsing diskette in area 8, if you've turned on Background Saves ( Tools > Options > Save tab > turn on "Allow background saves" ). The Background save simply allows you to continue to work in Word, while Word is saving a document. This can be handy is you frequently work with long or large documents.

"Seek those who find your road agreeable, your personality and mind stimulating, your philosophy acceptable, and your experience helpful. Let whose who do not, seek their own kind." - Henri Fabre

I've learned to open the Inbox with long tongs whenever I run a "presidential" Photo Funny, and last week was no exception as three readers took me to task for the "disrespectful" photo of our current leader. As one gentleman put it, "I guess the Clinton presidency has eliminated any respect that we as a people had for the Presidency or the person occupying the office."

I'll share a portion of my response so you understand a bit better the "official" NFTB Editorial Policy for Photo Funnies -

"...please don't read more into the Photo Funny then it really is - a lampooning of the *person* GWB #43 - not the office of the President. I'm sure that as long as the Republic has existed there has been a certain amount of lampooning of our political leaders. I'm not a member or proponent of any political party or political philosophy - I simply believe the old adage that 'Absolute power corrupts absolutely' and distrust ALL career politicians."

-- On the other hand, there was a three-fold increase in the number of Photo Funny Virtual Cards sent this past week, so SOME of you appreciated the humor enough to share ;-)

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THIS week's Photo Funny shows the benefits of banding together for a common purpose. Now, what could be objectionable about that? We'll see... And ODDS and ENDS has gathered a culture clash involving Mr. Potato Head; a radio station that offers a city's 100th shooting victim a free casket; and another Rocky moment. Check 'em all out, in The Basement:

G'nite, and thanks for reading!