How Much Information Are You Inadvertently Sharing Electronically?

Microsoft Word keeps metadata for your original Word document intact. The following came from a recent discussion among members of Internet Writing Workshop about Metadata, PRISM, and Big Data.

If you share your Word documents electronically, you should remove certain data. According to Microsoft, some of the metadata that may be stored by Word and other Office programs include:

- Your name
- Your initials
- Your company or organization name
- The name of your computer
- The name of the network server or hard disk where you saved the
document
- Other file properties and summary information
- Non-visible portions of embedded OLE objects
- The names of previous document authors
- Document revisions
- Document versions
- Template information
- Hidden text or cells
- Personalized views
- Comments

None of this is to promote paranoia -- just to warn you about private information you may inadvertently give away when you share electronic documents.

MSWord 2010 and 2013 have the Document Inspector (under the File tab, Prepare For Sharing). You can find information on using the File Inspector here.

Also, you can buy software that scrubs all metadata out of Word documents.

*Notes 4 Bethesda* Cheer Wounded Warriors at Walter Reed/Bethesda and Richmond VA Medical Center

 *Notes 4 Bethesda* is an ongoing opportunity for anyone who wishes to send encouragement and support  to America's combat patients at Walter Reed/Bethesda and Richmond VA Medical Center.

Marine Moms-Bethesda format the emailed notes into a Word document, print them, package them, and give them out at monthly luncheons they host for the patients and their families.  *Notes 4 Bethesda* began in 2005. Notes are not pen pal or care package program. Notes are simply a way to say "Thank you for your Service. We appreciate it."

The deadline for the next "Notes 4 Bethesda" is the evening of July 18, 2013, and can be emailed to: <mailto:Notes4Bethesda@MarineMoms-Bethesda.org> for the July 21st luncheon.

"We do not use the same notes more than once. Reason – we see many of the same patients and families during the luncheons, month after month."

One Comment on Say THANKS! Notes 4 Bethesda, written by Barbara on Sat, 10th Nov 2012:

"Home is where your loves ones are. Sometimes it ‘s close , sometimes it's far.  But in your heart you know we care and are wishing we could be there. We'd fold your sheet, fluff that pillow, smooth your hair and say a prayer. GOD is near and holds you dear. We thank HIM for bringing you home. We thank YOU for securing our freedom and say “JOB well done!” We pray GOD heals you soon and brings you home to those who miss you. Remember we love you and appreciate your service to our Country.
 Hug ‘n Kisses
 Granny & Poppy"

Subscribe to MarineMoms-Bethesda newsletter.

 

What About Those Domains That Host Your Material on the Internet?

Jenn Allen, whose passion is writing but now works in healthcare IT, shares what she learned from more than a decade in the IT industry.

Jenn wrote, "IT puts food on the table. My education was from Internet Service Providers (ISP) big and small. I worked for several ISPs during my career and have worked on DNS and website implementation for many customers (as well as my own). Domain Name System is the Internet system used to translate names into IP addresses.

"I've watched the DNS sub-industry transform from a monopoly held by Network Solutions. In those early days, it was closer to $100 than $10 to register a domain and there were few extra hoops to the diverse jungle of registrars and super-cheap registration service bundles it is today. 

"The biggest thing to watch out for, if I had to summarize it, would be that cheapness never comes cheap, Registrars offering insanely low deals most likely cut corners on domain services and ease of use after you get the domain, or they have so many customers that you're unlikely to get an audience should anything actually go wrong.

"After I used a particular DNS company (name withheld) for their balance between cheap and featured, until I heard of some of its business practices ~~ difficulty transferring domains, holding domains 'for ransom' after they expired - it costs more to get a domain re-registered if you let it lapse, or did when I looked into it) and then I switched to Domain.com, and completely love it.

"It is a tiny bit more expensive (closer to $20 than $10), but I get all the features, less obnoxious ads, and I can also now point [my domain.com], instead of just [www.mydomain.com], which is a subtle, but important difference for someone who doesn't host a full web server in some colocation facility with static IPs.

"Ask these four questions of a DNS registrar to determine the real value:

• What process/fees are required hoops to transfer your domain to a different registrar?
• Do they provide free DNS? If so, do they point to the domain name, eg. register.com, or will they only point hostnames, eg.www.register.com, to a third-party server?
• What do they do if you miss your expiration date? Do they hold your domain hostage for 6 months, and then sell it to a third party reseller, knowing it's wanted?
• What are the renewal fees? Any hidden fees for contact info updates, DNS updates, etc.?

Good luck! 

-Jenn

 

"Vietnam Wall" ~~ A FWD Email Worth Sharing

Every once in a while a Forward (FWD) message arrives that truly is worth sharing. FWD: The Vietnam Wall - THIS IS AMAZING is one of them. In reality, The Virtual Wall ® is the name of the web site run by www.VirtualWall.org Ltd. a New York State not-for-profit corporation. (Learn more here.)  If you just click on one state and see how many young men gave their lives for our country - it is overwhelming. This is really sobering.

First click on a state. When it opens, scroll down to the city and the names will appear. Then click on their names. For example the following on the Palouse from Washington State:

CASTLE ROCK, WASHINGTON:

LCPL LARRY JOSEPH HARDY

COLFAX, WASHINGTON:
SP4 RODGER KENNETH CAIN	PFC MELVIN DOUGLAS EAST	SP4 GREGORY EDWARD SCOTT

FARMINGTON, WASHINGTON:

CAPT LARRY ALLEN TRIMBLE

GARFIELD, WASHINGTON:

SP4 DANNY LEE ARCHER

FARMINGTON, WASHINGTON:

CAPT LARRY ALLEN TRIMBLE

ROCKFORD, WASHINGTON:

CPL MICHAEL GEORGE MURDOCK

Click on the name and it should show you a picture of the person, or at least their bio and medals. This really is an amazing web site. Volunteers spend a lot of time and effort to create and update it.

I hope that everyone who reads or receives this appreciates what
those who served in Vietnam sacrificed for our country. The link is a virtual wall of all those lost during the Vietnam war with the names, bio's and other information on our lost heroes.

Those who remember that time frame, or perhaps lost friends
or family can look them up on this site. Pass the link on to others, as many knew wonderful people whose names are listed: http://www.virtualwall.org/iStates.htm.
 

Women Warriors & The Cowgirls Benefit for Women Veterans, June 9, 2013

A benefit concert supporting the Women Warriors Retreat, hosted by the Cowgirl Co-op for female combat veterans. June 9, 2013,at 5:30 pm. $25.

Where: Cowgirl Co-op, 20424 N. Dunn Rd., Spokane, Washington. For information call (509) 936-1069

With 3 years of successful cowgirl and women warrior retreats for women combat veterans under our cowgirl belts, we have formed a non-profit to further our efforts to connect women veterans with each other. Cowgirls and Women Warriors™ is a non-profit organization that supports weekend retreats to provide hope, health, healing, and other nurturing programs for female veterans. Please consider a donation to help us continue our efforts

Cowgirls and Women Warriors is a registered non-profit in Washington State, Federal ID #45-5153747, and is applying for 501(c)(3) status with the IRS. Donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law.

Is Your Park Plant Friendly or Plant Dangerous?

Children are playing in your town's park, unattended by an adult because the park is safe and their parents know they're reliable.

But kids have enormous curiosity. In reality, how safe are curious children when they spy something they haven't noticed before?

These mushrooms were harvested from a large patch inside of an entrance in the chain link fence surrounding  Rockford Town Park.

Perhaps it's time youngsters and their parents learned about mushrooms and other fleshy fruiting fungi that could endanger them. Some very poisionous wild mushrooms look similar to ones that are not poisonous, and expert assistance is required to distinguish between safe and dangerous look-a-like species.

The Palouse Mycology Club, formed in 1993, may be able to assist you even though its website is out of date and reports "No meetings currently scheduled." Tim Paulitz (509) 335-7077 is listed as the club's contact person.

The amateur mushroom club of Washington State University, the University of Idaho, and surrounding area, has close ties with WSU Department of Plant Pathology, Pullman-Moscow.

PMC's statement says members are dedicated to "a better understanding of mushrooms and related fungi through forays, presentations and fungal feasts. We have a dedicated and highly enthusiastic core of members and our numbers are growing each year."

Members include amateur and professional mycologists from the Pullman - Moscow area and the surrounding communities of the Palouse.

Also, check the links at WSU's website for more information.

"The Palouse, once a vast, rolling grassland is now farmed with mostly winter wheat and some lentil production. While grasslands may not seem like optimal foray territory (unless one is interested in smut fungi...)," says PMC.

Research may produce assistance in locating and identifying any fungi that pose a danger to park users in your town. Since mushrooms grow from early spring into late fall in this northwest region, working with your town's officials to schedule programs to educate residents about plant safety may ensure that your children can play safely in your park.

 

What & When is National Bike Week?

After Joanna M. Weston shared her poem today, "Bike Week" published at WillowTree, I wondered if the event was a Canadian or worldwide tradition and when and where else is it honored?

Begun as a yearly international event, Bike Week steadily gained popularity in North American cities over the past decade. However, in the U.S., May is recognized as Bike Month and Bike Week is always either the first or second week of May. Austin, Boston, Pasadena, Portland, Roseville, Santa Barbara, Sacramento, and San Francisco are among the US cities that actively participate.

However, National Bike Week takes place from June 15th to 23rd across Ireland. Focused on bicycle riding, Bike Week is not to be confused with motorcyle riding events, which pop up all over the Internet. When one researches "Bike Week" Bike Week at Datona, Myrtle Beach, etc.

Although the month of May is past when residents in the United State celebrate the event, bicycle enthusiast will find a wealth of information at Bay States, MA, including tips on planning events and bicycle saftey.

The "Bike Week" described in Weston's charming poem is worldwide, and including it here can lead readers to other spinoffs of a great activity.

Spokane County Candidates Filed for 2013 Election in Cities and Towns on the Palouse

TOWN OF FAIRFIELD	Spokane
MAYOR Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
KayDee Gilkey	PO Box 464 Fairfield WA 99012	(509) 283-2252 kaydee.gilkey@gmail.com	5/15/2013 2:47:00 PM
COUNCIL POSITION NO. 1 Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Emily Thomas	203 W Carlton Ave Fairfield WA 99012	(360) 259-8067 hai08002@byui.edu	5/15/2013 7:41:00 AM
Harry Gibbons	PO Box 326 Fairfield WA 99012	(509) 283-2181 barbsoy@gmail.com	5/17/2013 9:37:00 AM
COUNCIL POSITION NO. 2 Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Alene Felgenhauer	PO Box 482 Fairfield WA 99012	(509) 283-2582 alenefelgenhauer@hotmail.com	5/17/2013 8:47:00 AM
John Jesseph	PO Box 64 Fairfield WA 99012	(509) 475-1246 inlandtree@frontier.com	5/17/2013 10:31:00 AM

TOWN OF LATAH	Spokane
MAYOR Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Charisma (Chari) Conklin	340 E Mill St Latah WA 99018	(509) 286-3007 charij33@gmail.com	5/15/2013 9:00:00 PM
Douglas Arnold	240 S Melvin St Latah WA 99018	(509) 286-3250 ddarnold@hotmail.com	5/16/2013 9:25:00 PM
COUNCIL POSITION NO. 1 Nonpartisan Office 4-year short and full term
Patricia Neumann	PO Box 74 Latah WA 99018	(509) 286-4001 plneumann@gmail.com	5/15/2013 10:47:00 AM
Melanie Meagher	306 N. Main Street Latah WA 99018	(509) 286-3030 melaniemeagher@yahoo.com	5/16/2013 5:27:00 PM
COUNCIL POSITION NO. 2 Nonpartisan Office 2-year unexpired term
Teresa Galvin	337 E. Mill Latah WA 99018	(509) 286-3120 latahz4@hotmail.com	5/16/2013 5:37:00 PM
Larry La Bolle	PO Box 77 Latah WA 99018	(509) 286-3047 larrylabolle@yahoo.com	5/17/2013 10:10:00 AM
Dan Keller	508 E Mill St Latah WA 99018	(509) 286-3730 latahdawg@yahoo.com	5/17/2013 11:25:00 AM
COUNCIL POSITION NO. 3 Nonpartisan Office 2-year unexpired term
Yvonne Warren	720 N Melvin St Latah WA 99018	(509) 286-3809 sisymw1958@gmail.com	5/13/2013 11:38:00 AM
Garry Greenwalt	110 N Gifford Latah WA 99018	(509) 385-3636 wildcountrygs@aol.com	5/17/2013 4:01:00 PM
COUNCIL POSITION NO. 4 Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Steven (Steve) Leitz	428 E. Mill Latah WA 99018	(509) 286-3602 2flipleitzon@spocom.com	5/15/2013 7:18:00 AM

TOWN OF ROCKFORD	Spokane
MAYOR Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Micki L Harnois	PO Box 101 Rockford WA 99030	(509) 291-3621 mickiharnois@gmail.com	5/13/2013 5:03:00 PM
Steve Meyer	550 E B St Rockford WA 99030	(509) 291-3203	5/16/2013 11:08:00 AM
COUNCIL POSITION NO. 1 Nonpartisan Office 4-year short and full term
David Thompson	PO Box 315 Rockford WA 99030	(509) 291-3229 wolfsong6971@yahoo.com	5/14/2013 11:22:00 AM
Steven Lyle Christman	24 S Maple St Rockford WA 99030	(509) 291-3803 schris5378@aol.com	5/17/2013 12:08:00 PM
COUNCIL POSITION NO. 2 Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Carrie Roecks	205 S Weaver St Rockford WA 99030	(509) 291-3329 karerockscda@yahoo.com	5/14/2013 3:37:00 PM
COUNCIL POSITION NO. 5 Nonpartisan Office 2-year unexpired term
Larry Van Every	PO Box 316 Rockford WA 99030	(509) 291-3111 lvevery@gmail.com	5/16/2013 2:11:00 PM
Chuck Collison	PO Box 182 Rockford WA 99030	(509) 291-3733 CCollison@frontier.com	5/17/2013 1:13:00 PM
Robert Tollefson	PO Box 258 Rockford WA 99030	(509) 291-3000 rmmmanager@yahoo.com	5/17/2013 2:39:00 PM

TOWN OF SPANGLE	Spokane
COUNCIL POSITION NO. 2 Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Ralph Sunwold	PO Box 193 Spangle WA 99031	(509) 999-2706 sunwold@cougarwireless.net	5/16/2013 10:33:00 AM

TOWN OF WAVERLY	Spokane
MAYOR Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
William Tensfeld	PO Box 21 Waverly WA 99039	(509) 283-2206 waverlytown@palousenet.com	5/13/2013 8:04:00 PM
COUNCIL POSITION NO. 1 Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Kimberly Billington	PO Box 43 Waverly WA 99039	(509) 283-4102 dougandkim@hotmail.com	5/13/2013 8:08:00 PM
COUNCIL POSITION NO. 2 Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Joel Martensen	PO Box 23 Waverly WA 99039	(509) 283-2275 waverlytown@palousenet.com	5/13/2013 8:02:00 PM
COUNCIL POSITION NO. 4 Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
David M Stark	PO Box 6 Waverly WA 99039	(509) 283-2575 DMSTWAVE@HOTMAIL.COM	5/13/2013 8:06:00 PM

FREEMAN SD 358	Spokane
DIRECTOR DIST. #2 Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Edward A Cashmere	14308 E Drumheller Rd Valleyford WA 99036	(509) 291-3175 ed.cashmere@gmail.com	5/13/2013 3:54:00 PM
DIRECTOR DIST. #4 Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Neil J Fuchs Jr.	PO Box 344 Valleyford WA 99036	(509) 928-1019 tfuchs6@gmail.com	5/13/2013 3:46:00 PM

LIBERTY SD 362	Spokane
DIRECTOR DIST. #2 Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Marci Green	12111 E Rattlers Run Fairfield WA 99012	(509) 795-4823 lonmarci@gmail.com	5/15/2013 12:25:00 PM
DIRECTOR DIST. #3 Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
R. Chad Cornmesser	26409 S Philleo Lake Rd Spangle WA 99031	(509) 245-3303 chadcornmesser@centurytel.net	5/13/2013 7:13:00 PM
Janet Johnson	6308 E Spangle Waverly Rd Spangle WA 99031	(509) 245-3186 jsuejohnson@gmail.com	5/17/2013 1:19:00 PM
DIRECTOR DIST. #4 Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Scott Simmons	13201 S. Upper Meadow Lane Spokane WA 99224	(509) 209-4737 Ssimmons@paynewest.com	5/13/2013 9:03:00 PM

ROSALIA SD 410	Spokane, Whitman
Director District 5 Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Heather Smith	PO BOX 215 MALDEN WA 99149

ST JOHN SD 401	Spokane, Whitman
Director District 3 Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Janet Leifer	1102 ENDICOTT-ST JOHN RD ST JOHN WA 99171	(509) 648-3873 leifer@stjohncable.com	5/13/2013 10:26:00 AM
Position 4 at large Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Jim Rogers	13854 STATE ROAD 23 ST JOHN WA 99171	(509) 648-3309 mgkhnds@msn.com	5/17/2013 4:50:00 PM
Position 5 at large Nonpartisan Office 2-year term
Kelly R Lundberg	304 S MAIN ST ST JOHN WA 99171	(509) 648-3313 lundberg8@stjohncable.com	5/16/2013 8:50:00 AM

TEKOA SD 80	Spokane, Whitman
Director District 2 Nonpartisan Office 2-year term
Duane Groom	PO BOX 554 TEKOA WA 99033	(509) 284-2246 debbiegroom@hotmail.com	5/17/2013 4:10:00 PM
Director District 5 Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Shane Monroy	1902 BANCROFT RD TEKOA WA 99033	(509) 998-0113	5/13/2013 9:18:00 AM
Nicole (Nikki) Lehn	PO BOX 736 TEKOA WA 99033	(509) 284-3444 skqqks@hotmail.com	5/16/2013 12:10:00 PM

FD11 COMMISSIONER POSITION NO. 1 Nonpartisan Office 6-year term
Brian LaShaw	24245 E Rockford Idaho Rd Rockford WA 99030	(509) 291-6322 darlenelashaw@hotmail.com	5/15/2013 7:55:00 AM

 Write in candidates can file up to 18 days before the election.