My PC Guy'd - April 2003 Newsletter

Welcome to the April edition of the My PC Guy'd. This newsletter is filled with useful tips and tricks so you can learn to use your computer effectively. Find out how older PCs could be costing your company money, the different types of computer viruses, and much more! Enjoy the newsletter!

Q: I hear about all types of viruses and worms that infect people's computers and leave some damage, but how do they work? Also, what can you do to protect yourself. Michael Berkenstein, PA

Good question Michael! The most common viruses that you hear about are:

Viruses: A virus is a small piece of software that attaches itself of to real programs. For example, a virus could attach itself to a program such as a spreadsheet program. Every time the spreadsheet program runs, the virus runs too, and it has the chance to reproduce.

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Have you ever wondered how we got some of the common phrases we use? Here are a couple:

In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes, the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. That's where the phrase, "goodnight, sleep tight" came from.

It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the "honey month" or what we know today as the honeymoon."

In George Washington's day, there were no cameras. One's image was either sculpted or painted. Some paintings of George Washington showed him standing behind a desk with one arm behind his back while others showed both legs and both arms. Prices charged by painters were not based on how many people were to be painted, but by how many limbs were to be painted. Arms and legs are "limbs" therefore painting them would cost the buyer more. Hence the expression "Okay, but it'll cost you an arm and a leg."

In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts. So in old England, when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them to mind their own pints and quarts and settle down. It's where we get the phrase "mind your P's and Q's."

Needless to say, personal hygiene left much room for improvement. As a result, many women and men had developed acne scars by adulthood. The women would spread bee's wax over their facial skin to smooth out their complexions. When they were speaking to each other, if a woman began to stare at another woman's face she was told "mind your own bee's wax." Should the woman smile, the wax would crack, hence the term "crack a smile." Also, when they sat too close to the fire, the wax would melt and therefore the expression "losing face."

Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim or handle of their ceramic cups. Then they needed refill, they used the whistle to get some service. "Wet your whistle," is the phrase inspired by this practice.

Project Linus is a 100% volunteer non-profit organization. It is our mission to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, homemade, washable blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer blanketeers.

Join Project Linus at The Woods Community Center in Severna Park on the third Saturday of every month. Don't know how to sew? No problem. Most of us don't. There is plenty of little projects that will help cheer up a little girl or boy! Don't have a babysitter? Great! This is a great activity for the whole family. The children can volunteer to color pictures on patches to be sewn on blankets. For more information, contact Susan at baylinus@aol.com.