Snipping Tools for Computers and Smartphones

Do you ever wish you could save just part of a webpage (maybe a recipe or news item)?
Or maybe you are having problems with your computer/phone and want to save or send a "picture" of what the screen is displaying?  If so, these tips are for you!

Easy Ways to Take a Screenshot or Snippet Using a Computer or Smartphone:

A) For Windows computers:

1. From the start menu search for Snipping Tool and open it.
2. Click on New.
3. Using the + draw the area you would like to snip. Or from the Mode drop-down arrow select the snip type: Free-Form, Rectangular, Window, or Full Screen.
4. You can annotate the snip by using the pen or highlighter. There is even an eraser in case you need to make a change.
5. From the menu you can choose to save the snip, copy it, or email it. 

B) For Macs (Apple computers):
To snip a section of the screen

1. Simultaneously type Command, Shift, 4.
2. When the cursor changes to a cross +, drag a box around the section you want to copy and release the mouse.
3. The screenshot is automatically saved to the desktop. 

To snip the entire screen

1. Simultaneously type Command, Shift, 3.
2. This will save an image of the entire screen.
3. The screenshot is automatically saved to the desktop.

C) For iPhones  - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT200289

D) For Android phones - https://www.greenbot.com/article/2825064/android/how-to-take-a-screenshot-on-your-android-phone.html

Small pdf - online converter

Sometimes we want to convert files; from pdf to Word, from Word to pdf, JPG to pdf, etc.  This is a handy website to use to do that and much, much more: https://smallpdf.com  No account is needed.

Just give it a quick try then you may want to bookmark it for future use.

2018 Drug Plans for Seniors - Which One is Best for You?

It's that time of year again!  You can review, compare and join a 2018 drug plan now through December 7, 2017.  It is strongly recommended that we seniors annually review our drug plans so there are no surprises.  Premiums change as do the tiers for drugs we presently take.

There are 3 different methods you can use to review your plan:
1) Make an appointment with a local pharmacist and ask for their help in determining what is best for you. Be sure to take your Medicare card and your list of medicines with you.

2) Make an appointment through the Lyon County Extension Office for SHICK (Senior Health Insurance Counselors of Kansas) ; they start making appointments today, Oct. 17.  Be sure to take your Medicare card and your list of medicines with you to your appointment. Phone number:  341-3220

3)  If you'd like to explore the Drug Plan options yourself, the medicare.gov website is excellent!  https://www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan/questions/home.aspx  We used it last year for us, and then I used it for my mom BEFORE we went to an appointment with the SHICK program for her. Results were identical. The website is exactly the same one the SHICK program used last year (and my guess is that pharmacists also use the same website).
If you'd like help using the website, there are 5 video tutorials (anywhere from 1-5 minutes in length):

Getting Started
Entering Your Prescription Drugs
Selecting Pharmacies
Refining and Sorting Plan Results
Comparing Plans

Whatever method you choose, please review your present plan.  Costs can change dramatically from year to year, so even if you choose to stay with the same plan next year, at least you can know what the increase in premiums or drugs will be.

Equifax, Part 2

What have you done to protect yourself?

The number of affected consumers has reached over 145 million according to the findings of the cybersecurity firm who completed their investigation into the Equifax breach.  The big difference between this breach and others that have occurred in past years is that criminals may have stolen your birthdate and your social security number.  You can't just get replacements for those pieces of your personal data!  It will be "out there" forever.

Many articles have been written with recommendations as to what we as consumers should do, and there seems to be some consensus, although you will have to decide yourself as to what you want to do.  Remember,  hackers and cybercriminals count on us being lazy with our online accounts. So, do what you can to maintain your security!  

1)  Check out www.equifaxsecurity2017.com to see if your data was compromised.
2)  Consider enrolling in the free 1-year monitoring provided by Equifax for ALL consumers whether their data was compromised or not.
3) Monitor your credit card and online accounts regularly for unusual charges.
4) Change your passwords, especially on financial accounts.
5) Be extra careful about emails, links, and phone calls.  Equifax will NOT call you.
6) Enable two-factor authentication on online accounts if given the opportunity.
7) File your taxes as soon as you get the needed information; file before a criminal uses your personal information to do this.

YouTube tips

Do you frequently use YouTube?
Do you stay away from YouTube because of your slow internet connection?

If you answered "yes" to either of those questions, you might want to quickly skim these 5 tips for using YouTube  (watch the video or below the video you can find the print version on Kim Komando's website).
https://www.komando.com/tips/313492/hidden-youtube-secrets/all
I was only familiar with 1 out of the 5 tips; hope they are helpful to you, too!
(I find Kim Komando's tips to usually be very, very helpful BUT I dislike clicking through all the pop-up advertising......but, of course, I don't want to pay a subscription fee so I put up with it.)  :-)