Grandchildren, Germany and Great Fun!

I really thought I'd be able to share some tech tips while we are away but I'm finding most of our days are taken up with helping with the care of our 7-week-old grandchildren in Munich.  Sleepless nights, daily strolls even though the temperatures are in the 30's and 40's, sterilizing bottles and pacifiers, preparing meals for the adults, baths, snuggles, etc. are claiming most of our waking (and nighttime, too, as we take over so the babies' mom and dad can get some sleep.)  

It's a good reminder to grandma and grandpa about how time-consuming little ones can be.  But, oh, the smiles, the cooing, even a few laughs make it ALL worth it! 

I probably won't write another Tech Tip until after our return home from Germany on December 9.  

I am attaching several photos to share some of our adventures this past week. Note the beautiful old cemetery; it is really a beautiful park with many walking paths.

Have a wonderful Tech Tuesday; winter is almost here in Munich, much unlike the weather most of you are experiencing today!

Jeline











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Doing your holiday shopping online? Be cautious.

Have you started your holiday buying? Most reports say the best time to buy is right now to ensure product availability and lower prices. Many Black Friday sales are underway. As online buying continues to increase, unfortunately, so do the number of scammers.  

You may have seen ads for holiday decorations online. The Better Business Bureau warns about those. The ads appear on social media and online search results and depict beautiful decor at very low prices. 

If you buy your decorations ....or any item..... through these ads, you probably won’t get what’s advertised. What you will get are low-quality items. You may even get nothing at all and have no way to contact the company for a refund. 

Take the following precautions if you see something you want in one of these type of ads:

• Don’t click on the link in Facebook or social media. Check out a company before buying anything. Type in a company or website’s URL to look for a solid website with contact information. 
• If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Look elsewhere. 
• Use your credit card for online purchases. This way you can dispute fraudulent charges.
• Look up company business ratings and customer reviews on BBB.org. 

I love the convenience of online shopping but I’m very cautious about where I buy.  Purchase from companies you are familiar with, and stay clear of those enticing online ads.

Shop safe. Be wise. Don't be lured in by ads on your social media.

Have a wonderful Tech Tuesday; get outside and enjoy the beautiful fall colors.

Use the correct phone to call 911!

Have you ever needed to call 911?  In the case of an emergency we probably don't give much thought about which phone we use; we just call as quickly as possible.   However, earlier this week I learned you should use the cellphone of the person who needs assistance, not your own phone, unless it is you who needs assistance.

Why does it matter which phone you use?  The director of the Lyon County Emergency Communications Center shared this week in my class that they have access not only to your location but also to the medical information on your phone once the 911 call has been made.  It gives them a lot more information about the person in need very quickly which can assist them in providing the appropriate care.  

This medical information can also be accessed on any locked phone by anyone, if needed.  If you aren't sure you have your medical information on your phone and that you have "enabled" that information to be shared in case of an emergency, check out these "how-to" articles:

On an iPhone: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207021   Make sure you follow Step #5 to enable the sharing with emergency services.

On an Android phone:  https://support.google.com/android/answer/9319337?hl=en  AND https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-add-emergency-info-to-your-phones-lock-screen (scroll about halfway down the page for Android information)

Hopefully, this is a tip that is good to know but you will never need!