I can only send it this way this time as my WORD program refuses to cooperate and have to take system in for an overhaul. I did this with WordPad. What a joke! And it's early for Feb. because I leave Fri. for Ft. Lauderdale and a cruise where I will be lecturing on Sculpture Since the 70's.
 
Have a great holiday and new year.
Dona
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Feb. 05

DONA'S COMPUTER CAPERS

By Dona Z. Meilach

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LONG DISTANCE PHONE RATES AND MORE GOOD THINGS


TIME TO SHOP FOR LONG DISTANCE RATES


If you've been watching the papers, and your phone bills, you know that  you are probably spending more for calls, local and long distance, than you did a few months ago. Most of us roll over and play dead when these bills come because we think it's tough to fight city hall and we get in the habit of using one phone system. Now  is the time to take the receiver by the cords and check into alternatives. And there are plenty. Go to www.saveonphone.com and you'll be amazed at the price ranges for phone services.
 
With AT&T and MCI raising rates significantly, long distance customers should shop around for lower long distance rates."The average long distance customer should search for a plan with a low cost per minute rate and one with no monthly fees or minimum usage fees.
 
SaveOnPhone.com is a consumer resource that ranks the lowest rate long distance carriers based on rate, billing increments, fees and customer service wait time. It provides detailed rate and fee information that is often difficult to find in the fine print. It also compares and reviews
bundled plans with local and long distance service, calling card rates, and toll free rates.
 
Long distance rates should be easy to find and www.SaveOnPhone.com does that for you. It has been rated the #1 long distance rates comparison site by Consumer.com for two years in a row. They constantly analyze over 350 different long distance plans and rank them based on an unbiased scoring system. An easy to read chart helps you find the top long distance carriers with the lowest long distance phone rates. You could save up to 70%! There's a list of the Top 30 plans which includes AT&T, MCI and Sprint on a long distance provider comparison chart at  <http://www.saveonphone.com/chart.html>. You can also plug in your monthly long distance phone service bill to their long distance rate calculator to   see the best plan for you. Recently several companies have offered bundled unlimited long distance and local plans that are analyzed. For other questions, there is an FAQ site at<http://www.saveonphone.com/faqfiles.html>.
Being aware of your phone bill charges and clucking over the increases is only for the lazy. Doing something about it through a valuable website like this will help you save dollars..and kick yourself for not doing it sooner.
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HAVE FUN LEARNING A LANGUAGE
Using the computer for language training is not new. There have been programs around to help you learn almost any language on the earth and all tout their efficiency and simplicity. Among the latest offerings is a program called EAZYSPEAK that is aimed at children but is equally valuable for an adult. If a child and adult learn it together, so much the better.
 
The gimmick with EazySpeak is that it uses what they call the entertaining "Doki" language learning system. It is set in the cartoon world of Doki City where the user interacts with the humorous Doki characters in scenarios that mimic the same communication challenges found in the real world.There are no grammar or rules to learn. Users decise on their own path to the supermarket, the hotel, dining in a restaurant. And while they're doing that, they learn the basic s of everyday conversation.
 
The idea is that one can learn the language at home, or it can complement school learning. It provides the sounds,  pronunciations, and vocabulary without resorting to lengthy grammar explanations or exercises.

I played with the Spanish lessons provided in Levels 1 and 2, on one CD disk that is Mac and PC compatible. The animation is delightful and the lessons are geared for ages 12-112, according to the box. If you want to learn Spanish and/or French, this is as good a stab at getting it under your tongue as any of the language programs. It's produced by Kutoda Interactive and has won a large audience. Each program sells for $24.95. Check it out at www.kutoka.com.
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THE ROUGH GUIDE TO PCs & WINDOWS: 2005 Edition

Along with learning a language without pain, there's a new batch of books for learning PC's $& Windows without pain. They may be just what you need now for the  people who are coming to you for help with units they got for Christmas. It's a small book, the Rough Guide to PC's and Windows by the same people who publish the Rough Guides to Travel 4-1/2 " x 6" with 420 thin paper pages so it's lightweight and easy to carry around.
 
 It begins with chapters,  From Purchase to Power-up, then follows through Working With Windows, Getting Connected, Software, Keeping it Purring, Contexts and Resources. There's an excellent glossary, and a short list of Web sites. These change so fast, it's tough to keep them updated in a book. The book is available from your computer or book store or visit www.roughguides.com. With more and more products putting their instructions on CD's that are hard to access when you need them, this handy guide could be a valuable resource.
 
There are also books in the series with Guides to Pods & Music Online, and to the Internet, with other titles on the launching pad.
 

Dona Meilach is the author of over 85 books with 10 on computers. Her just released newest book is WOOD ART TODAY from Schiffer Publishers. http://www.schifferbooks.com. Put her name in the search box. Other computer organizations interested in running this column should contact the author. The column is also available as a free E-zine. Subscribe DCC: Contact Dmeilach@msn.com. Dona's Computer Capers may also be found at http://www.smalladdictions.com/Skateboard.