NARPI National Association of Retired Postal Inspectors
Computer Corner



The first thing you need to understand about this page is that it’s not being administered by a computer expert.  From time to time, however, I do come across interesting and potentially useful bits of information in connection with my internet travels and perusal of computer-related articles and publications.

And when I find something I believe would be of interest to other NARPI members, I will post or expound on it here.  Sometimes it might be merely a personal observation or suggestion for making your computer life easier or more interesting. 

Bottom line, what you will find on this page might or might not interest you.  In those instances where it does capture your interest, there will also be the question of whether or not it is relevant to your particular situation, based upon various factors including your operating system, Internet Service Provider (ISP) and other determining factors.

March 29, 2007
CHILD SAFETY.  At this site you enter your address and a map will pop up with your house as a small icon of a house. There will be red, blue and green dots surrounding your entire neighborhood. When you click on these dots a picture of a criminal will appear with his or her home address and the description of the crime he or she has committed. http://www.familywatchdog.us/

May 18, 2006
If you are unable to open a file, it may be because that file type (.CSV) has not been defined on your machine.  Computers use a table to associate file types with specific programs.  Usually this table is automatically updated when a new program is installed.  Once in awhile, unknown file types are encountered.  An example is the Comma Separated Values (CSV) files that we use send out our monthly NARPI EMAIL DIRECTORY.

You may need to manually modify the table to associate the new file type with a specific program.  With Windows XP the process involves a number of steps but they can be completed in a minute or two. 
1. Open the Control Panel.
  2. Open Folder Options.
  3. Open File Types.
  4. The file types are in alphabetical sequence.  Scroll down until you find the desired file type. If it is not there, click the New button and enter the file type.  Do not enter the period (.).  If the file type is there, click on it.
  5. In the lower portion of the “Folder Options” popup you will see “Details for ….”  The next line says “Opens with:” and lists the program name.  In this case it is blank.  Click the “Change” button.
  6. A “Windows” popup appears and asks whether to use a web service to find the appropriate program or to select the program from a list.  The second option is usually best.  Click on your choice and then click “OK”.
  7. The “Open With” menu appears and after a short pause, while the computer looks up the available programs, a list of programs appears.  Click on the appropriate program and then click the “OK” button.  That’s all there is to it.  Now when your computer encounters that file type it will use the program you selected to open it.

For the NARPI EMAIL DIRECTORY I recommend a spreadsheet program such as Microsoft Excel or the spreadsheet that comes with the FREE OpenOffice suite of programs.  They will improve the readability of the information and allow you to sort it into any sequence you desire.  With Microsoft Excel you have to manually adjust the column widths.  With OpenOffice the column widths are automatically expanded to the width of the widest item in each column.  Both programs are available on our Special Downloads page.

July 19, 2005
If you’re tired of having to remember to update and run your antispyware program(s) or you don’t yet have such a program, consider downloading Microsoft’s recent entry to the antispyware field.  The program, called Microsoft AntiSpyware, can be downloaded free of charge from Microsoft’s website, www.Microsoft.com.  They do ask you to submit to  a Windows validation process in connection with the download, but it’s not mandatory.

One of the nice features of Microsoft’s program is the fact that it is self-updating and automatically performs routine scans on a schedule you determine during the process of setting the program up on your computer.

July 19, 2005
ZoneAlarm recently announced another updated version of their free for non-commercial users firewall which can be downloaded by CLICKING HERE. Be advised there is a so-called learning curve associated with effective use of this program but, on balance, it’s worth the effort.

November 17, 2004 (revised 6-26-09)
FireFox is web browser that is intended to compete against Internet Explorer and was first introduced in 2004. Version 3 is now available and is a FREE download from Mozilla.org.  Built on the highly regarded Netscape platform, Firefox is making a splash in an area previously dominated by Microsoft Internet Explorer. Features such as an effective pop-up window blocker and one-click access to the latest news headlines (and stories) make this web browser well worth a tumble.  It has nothing to do with Outlook Express, your email program, and does not require that you delete Internet Explorer. When you install it, however, you do have to decide whether or not you want it to be your default browser.  I suggest you try it that way; you can still use Internet Explorer any time you like and, if you decide you don’t like Firefox (I’ll be surprised), you can always remove it or return to Internet Explorer as your default browser.

May 4, 2004
Do your correspondents a favor; use HTML for outgoing emails.

There are two formats for sending email: plain text and HTML.  Of the two, HTML is head and shoulders over plain text, especially when it comes to copying and forwarding emails you receive.  In addition, however, the HTML format allows you to customize your outgoing emails, including the use of a font that suits your personality.

To make sure your emails are set for the HTML format, go to Tools in your Outlook Express menu bar and click on Options.  Next, click on the Send tab and make sure the HTML option is checked under Mail Sending Format.

Next, click on the Compose tab and select your personal Font, Font style and Size under the Mail option; you will note the selection process allows you to view the font as it will appear in your emails.  If you weren’t previously using the HTML format, you will also notice the addition of a menu bar below the Subject line of your email window; this menu bar allows you to further customize your emails with touches such as italics, bold, underline and font colors.

January 24, 2004
Beware of wolves dressed in sheep’s clothing.  A few weeks ago, I read an article concerning identity theft and how some perpetrators are now generating official-looking emails which purport to be from legitimate internet vendors and other big-name corporations which ask that the addressee click on a hyperlink that will take them to the firm’s website where they will update their profile or perform some sort of verification which (you guessed it) includes financial information, i.e., credit card and/or bank account particulars.

These operators have devised very official looking emails, complete with company logo and, if you click on the hyperlink to comply with their request, the web page you reach will also look very official, even down to the web page address.  Less than a week ago, I received an email purportedly from eBay.  I was immediately suspicious of it for two reasons: the article I had recently read, and the fact that I had never done business on eBay.  On that basis, I deleted it without following the hyperlink.  In retrospect, I should have visited eBay’s security center or the FTC’s ID Theft website.  As a matter of fact, I probably should have started with our alma mater’s own identity theft web page.

Anyway, the bottom line is that you need to be wary of any email that asks you to provide any personal information whatsoever.  Indeed, your antivirus program notwithstanding, you should think twice about clicking on any hyperlink appearing in an email of unknown or questionable origin.