Is it too hot for your phone? Is it too hot for you?

Have you ever seen a message on the lock screen of your phone that says "Temperature - Phone needs to cool down before you can use it"?  Hopefully not, but I must admit I have seen it several times on my phone when I've inadvertently left it in the car during the heat of summer when I was running errands.  One time I'd even carelessly left it on my dash rendering it useless until it cooled down.

How can you keep this from happening to you and what should you do if your phone does overheat?

1) Don't ever leave your phone in direct sunlight, including inside your house.
2) Don't leave your phone in a hot car. 
3) If you are at the pool or an outdoor gathering make sure your phone is tucked away in a bag or under a towel.
4) IF your phone does indeed overheat and needs to cool down: 

• Remove the charger cable
  
• Turn off the phone completely, and put the phone in a cool, dark place. 
  
• If you are in the car when this happens, you can let the car's air conditioning blow on it to speed up the cool down. 
  
• It is recommended to wait at least 15 minutes before turning your phone back on to see if it has cooled down enough for you to use.

Luckily, here in Emporia we've had a short reprieve from the sweltering temperatures! Hope you are able to get outside while the temperatures are milder and have a wonderful Tech Tip Tuesday!

Updates - are they necessary

Updates. It seems like there are updates almost weekly for my devices.  Sometimes I'm notified, sometimes I just stumble across them.  Most of the updates are deployed for security reasons, and the frequency with which I get them reminds me of how lucrative the business of hacking into computer devices must be.

My advice to help keep your devices secure today is to check two things on your computers, tablets, and smartphones:
1) the operating system and
2) the browser (s), i.e., Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, etc.
If there are updates available do so immediately.  Even if you have Automatic Updates enabled on your devices you may find updates that have not yet been installed.  Updating both the operating system and browser will increase your online security because most updates include security updates.

Where or how do you check on this?  I can't tell you exactly where to look because it is a little different for individual devices, but usually "Software Updates" can be found in the Settings or Preferences on your device.  If you're still unsure how to do that, just do a Google search:  "iPhone software update"  or "Chrome how to update"  

Being responsible users of technology keeps us busy and on our toes!  If you have questions about how to update, just reply to this email and I can try to give you more specific information for your device(s).

Say cheese!

I rarely take selfies.  Maybe it is because I don't usually post pictures of myself on social media?  Maybe it is because I'm not keen on viewing photos of myself?  Or....maybe it is because I usually look goofy in  my selfies?  For sure.

Do you ever want to take a selfie with a friend or family?.  Are you pleased with the way you look in the photo?  Are your eyes looking in the wrong place or is your inherited lack of chin very prominent?  Today's tip seems to produce a great selfie every single time! 

Here it is: When taking a selfie, hold your phone slightly above your forehead, then tilt it down at a 45-degree angle.

That's all there is to it! When you are stuck inside this afternoon because of the heat, give this tip a try.  :-)

Amazon Prime Days 2022

Amazon Prime Days 2022 are here - "Two days of epic deals - Shop fast!"  There ARE some great deals available IF it is something you need or have been considering for purchase.  However, I'd encourage you to slow down and do a little research before buying:

1)  Is the item a new model or are they clearing out older models/devices?
2)  What is the price for the item on other websites (Walmart, Target, Apple, etc.)?
3)  Does it have the features you want?

Amazon Prime Days feature some really good prices on Amazon electronic devices such as Kindles, Echos, Fire Sticks, etc. but again spend a little time researching the "regular" price.  Don't just rely on the price Amazon is displaying as the "previous" price.

If you have time, enjoy perusing some of the deals today.  Just don't be too quick to buy!

Don't like looking at yourself on Zoom?

A couple of weeks ago someone who I've been in Zoom meetings with for almost two years bemoaned the fact that she really dislikes seeing herself on the screen when using Zoom, even after all this time.  If this is something you dislike, too, then today's tip is for you!

Turning off your Self View on Zoom still lets others in the meeting see you; you just don't see yourself.  :-) 

I could tell you how to do this but the link below contains very clear steps as to how to turn off Self View on both a laptop and a mobile device. (You'll need to scroll about halfway down the article for the instructions):
https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/dont-want-to-look-at-yourself-during-zoom-meetings-heres-what-to-do/ 

One more thing........I'll be taking a break from sending these Tuesday Tech Tips until the first part of July.  My "tech" hat is coming off for awhile and I'm donning my grandma/mom/wife hats full time through June 18.  It's been almost three years since our family has been together face-to-face,  and our Germany kids arrive tomorrow followed by our Pennsylvania kids the next week.  We are so excited for this time together!

Have a great Tech Tip Tuesday (Emporians, remember that all this rain is good for the flowers and gardens!)  :-)  "See you" in about a month!

Ellen’s Tips for iOS

It is already Tuesday and this morning we made our way through security and are at the gate waiting on our plane for our return to Kansas City. It appears it’s going to be another beautiful spring day here but we understand we are returning to very hot conditions at home!  :-/  

I am always looking for resources to help me help you be more independent in using your devices. Today’s resource is for those of you who own iPhones or iPads. Ellen’s Tips for iOS is a resource you may want to bookmark. 
https://www.ellenstipsforios.com/blog

Ellen offers regular iPad and iPhone tips through both her free blog and email subscription. I have followed her for the last year or so and have found her videos and tips to be done very well. They are easy to understand and the instructions are usually written very clearly. Her target audience is us seniors.

Ellen also offers a 30- minute FREE session to help you with your questions and also offers other weekly sessions (at a cost). I have not tried any of these sessions. You can read more about all of her services here: https://bookme.name/EllenSweeney?ck_subscriber_id=1284200799

Okay….gotta board our plane! Have a wonderful Tech Tip Tuesday and super week!!

Jeline

Streaming TV

Have you cut the cord yet?  In other words, have you stopped paying your cable TV company for TV programming and entered the world of streaming TV services (Netflix, Prime, YouTube TV, Philo, frndly, etc.)?

Back in 2019 I shared a web-based tool that could help you decide which streaming services would provide your "must-have" programming at the cheapest rate.  That tool (Suppose.tv) is no longer being kept up-to-date.  But about a week ago financial guru Clark Howard's website shared a streaming TV tool that helps you make that same decision.  You simply enter the stations/channels you "must have" and are presented with corresponding streaming services and their monthly costs. Check it out:  https://clark.com/technology/tvsatellite-cable/streaming-tv-comparison-best-channel-lineup/?channels= 

Three more tips about streaming TV - 
1) If you haven't made the switch yet, you can simply sign up for a trial subscription to one or more of the services to give them a try.  We had our cable company turn off our cable for a month while we tried out streaming services which forced us to rely on the new services.  At the end of that month, we made the decision to stop paying for cable TV and our TV boxes were picked up by the company. 

2) If you have been using streaming services for awhile, I'd encourage you to use the tool to see if there are better/cheaper streaming services now that would meet your needs.  We recently discovered we could save $15/month by switching.  We've used YouTube TV and Philo for two years but are switching from Philo to frndly.

3)  Switching from Cable TV to streaming services requires that you learn a new way of accessing TV shows.  With practice and time it will become easier; I promise.

I hope you have a GREAT Tech Tip Tuesday!  

Scam or real?

Do you pride yourself on being able to identify a scam email?  Yep, I do, too.  However, a recent email I received caused me to feel a slight bit of concern until I checked it out more thoroughly.

Check out this quick screencast to see how I did that:  https://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/c3fqlVVYQw6  (Select the little icon in the lower right-hand corner of the video to watch full screen for better viewing).

As always, I hope you have a GREAT Tech Tip Tuesday!

Jeline

Cookies, the inedible kind

Are you tired of seeing "Accept Cookie Settings" pop up on your browsers when viewing various websites?  Changes in regulations in the last couple of years requires websites to alert you about the cookies (little bits of text) they are using to gather information about your viewing habits.  The pop-up may be annoying, but it is a good thing, and you should take a few seconds when presented with that message to "Learn more" and de-select some of the cookies that are being placed on your computer.

I made a quick 3-minute screencast to show you what to do:  http://somup.com/c3fqX0OtvQ  (Select the little icon in the lower right-hand corner of the video to watch full screen for better viewing).

As always, I have you have a GREAT Tech Tip Tuesday!
Jeline

I can't help myself!

In January, I wrote in my tech tip that I had become addicted to Wordle.  I should have known the addiction would not stop there.  Have any of you succumbed to other Wordle-like games? 

The good thing is that each one of the games offers only one game per day, so it doesn't have to become a drain on your time......unless you want to expand the number of games.  :-)  I'd love to hear about your favorites; presently mine are:
Wordle
Quordle
Waffle
Squareword
Octordle
Sedecordle
Hurdle - this website is supported by lots of ads, unfortunately, so I "x out" as many of the ads as I can to de-clutter the game area.

If you are a newbie, I would recommend doing only Wordle for a few days; you will get better with practice.  The list above is the order in which I added the games to my daily list with Hurdle being the most recent and challenging for me. 

One word of caution:  It seems the internet is exploding with Wordle-like games. As always be cautious before clicking on an unfamiliar website. I would caution you to not create an account to play these games; giving out personal information is not required and certainly not recommended.

However, today is too nice of a day to stay inside playing games on your computer or phone.  Get outside and enjoy the warmth and sunshine!

Have a great Tech Tip Tuesday!

Look at what I found!

 Have you ever received a private message on Facebook from a friend that says, "Is this you?"  Or possibly, "Look what I found"?  Unfortunately, it is another technique that scammers use to either gain access to your login information or to install malware on your device.

When/if you click on the link, one of two things usually occur:
1) You are taken to a fake login page for Facebook and if you login the scammers then have access to your login information and can hijack your account to try and solicit money from your friends.
2) Clicking on the link may allow malware to be installed on your device; that malware may then allow the scammers access to your personal information.

This technique continues to be lucrative for scammers or we wouldn't be seeing it.

What should you do if you see this type of message? 
1) Same recommendation as last week's tip:  Don't click. Ignore. If you really think your "friend" may have sent something for you to look at, call them and ask.  I have friends that do send links via Facebook, but I NEVER click on those links.  I'm sure I've missed some good "stuff", but I've never been hacked (famous last words).

2) If you haven't turned on two-factor authentication for Facebook, before today ends make sure you take a few minutes to do that.  This prevents hackers and scammers from being able to access your account and send out malicious messages.  Note:  It doesn't prevent cloning of your account, but it does prevent someone from accessing your actual account. If you are unsure how to turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) for Facebook, you may find one of the links below to be helpful:
https://www.cyber.gov.au/acsc/view-all-content/guidance/turning-two-factor-authentication-facebook 
https://www.facebook.com/help/148233965247823 

Next week, I'll try to move on to something other than "security tips". Unless there is something else that occurs that I feel the need to share with you.  :-)

Have a terrific Tech Tip Tuesday!  I love, love, love spring and today promises to delight with wonderful spring temperatures.  Enjoy!

Fear and Urgency - two key tactics

Good morning!  I actually had a different tip ready to send, but in the middle of the night I felt the need to change it based on a conversation I had with a friend late yesterday afternoon.  She was calling for "a friend."  The conversation went something like this:

Friend:  Jeline, I need some advice.  My friend received an email telling her a TV had been purchased on her Amazon account and that she needed to contact Amazon immediately.  

Me:  Did she do that?

Friend:  Yes, she called the number and they told that her data had been exposed and over 1600 people now had access to her personal information.  They told her if she would go buy two $500 gift cards and call back with the redemption information that Amazon would reimburse her.  And, then her data would be secured and the purchase would be removed from her account.  :-/

Me:  Did she do that?

Friend:  No, fortunately she called me after she had been contacted by them several times.  They keep calling but I told her to stop answering her phone.  And to delete the email.  I asked her if she went directly to her Amazon account and logged in to verify a purchase had been made.  Then, she told me she doesn't even have an Amazon account!!  :-/

I hope those of you who subscribe to this email will never be in a situation like this, but because these types of scams continue in different shapes or forms, I felt the need to caution you again because scams target ALL of us and even people who are well-educated succumb primarily because of two emotions:

1) Fear ("if you don't do this, something bad will happen" OR "there's been a large purchase on your account")

2) Sense of urgency  ("you have to do this immediately if you don't want data exposed" OR "call us immediately so this charge can be removed from your account")

So, let me remind you:  If you receive an unusual email or message in one of your accounts that plays on your fear or expresses a sense of urgency:
DO NOT RESPOND. 
Do not click on any links.
Do not call the phone number in the message. 
Do not buy requested gift cards.
Delete the message. 
And, if you just "really want to make sure"  go directly to your account in question, log in, and check recent activity. .

Feel free to share today's email with friends you think may benefit from a friendly reminder.  Scammers are omnipresent, and we all need to be reminded of this periodically.

Have a terrific Tech Tip Tuesday!  I'm headed outside shortly; the promise of stronger winds this afternoon is prompting me to get my walk done sooner than later.

Stop fumbling around and use your personal assistant!

Do you use the personal assistant (Hey, Siri or Hey, Google) on your phone to help you do things more quickly or easily?  If not, today might be a good day to start!  

Today every time you pick up your phone to check weather, time, messages, what's on your calendar, to call someone, etc. ask Siri or Google to do that for you.

Some examples:
Begin by saying "Hey, Siri" (iPhone) or "Hey, Google" (Android phone), then

1. What time is it?
2. Send a message to......
3. Remind me to pick up my prescriptions today.
4. Write an email to my mom.
5. What is the weather going to be like today?
6. What time is it in Munich?
7. Get directions home.
8. Find coffee near me.
9. Set a timer for 10 minutes.
10. Put a haircut on my calendar for April 1 at 10 AM.
11. Turn on the flashlight.

What other ways can/do you use Siri or Google?  Remember, your "personal assistant" is there to help you.  
Troubleshooting:
If Siri isn't working on your iPhone, check out these suggestions:  https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207489
If Google assistant isn't working on your Android phone, check out this page:  https://support.google.com/assistant/answer/9795643?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid

Have a terrific Tech Tip Tuesday!  Since Kansas weather promises to be wet today and keep us inside, take some time to familiarize yourself with your personal assistant!

10 Photos to Keep on Your Phone

Even if you don't use the camera on your phone very often, consider snapping these 10 photos to keep on your phone just in case you need them: 

1. Your COVID vaccination card
2. Your driver's license and other ID's
3. Your car's license plate
   
4. Your car's VIN number 
   
5. Automobile insurance card
6. Your Medicare card
7. Your supplemental insurance card
8. Your dental insurance card
9. Pictures of your rental car before and after
10. Your Airbnb or VRBO rental - before and after

Additionally, you might want to consider snapping photos of your prescription medications.

Concerned that this personal information might be accessed by anyone who has your phone?  Take a look at how to password protect these photos on either an iPhone or Android device.

Have a terrific Tech Tip Tuesday!  The weather promises to be pretty nice the next couple of days here in Kansas.  So, take photos of #1-8 today and possibly your medication bottles BEFORE you go outside to soak up the sun!

Where is your router?

Is your router delivering the wireless speeds you expect when you are using your computer or mobile devices in your home?  The placement of your router can make a BIG difference.  Consider these tips for getting better speeds:

1)  Identify the rooms in your house where you use your wireless network most frequently.  Then pinpoint the middle point of those rooms and place your router there.

2)  Place your router high in a room because radio waves usually shoot the signal downward.  Also, if your router has multiple antennas, make sure they are pointed in different directions.

3)  Ceilings, walls, furniture, concrete, metal, and brick can all block the signal and slow it down.  Try to put your router out in the open.

4) Keep the router away from other devices that can interfere with or block the signal (appliances, microwave, cordless phones, baby monitors, and bluetooth-enabled devices.)

For optimum speeds, spend a couple of minutes today evaluating the placement of your router. If you happen to have a whole-house mesh system, make sure your satellite devices are placed nearest the rooms where you are using the WiFi signal.

Amazon Prime - is it worth it?

Did you subscribe to Amazon Prime several years ago to get free 2-day shipping on orders? I did and loved it!   It was worth every bit of  my $79/year subscription fee in 2014.  I didn't even flinch too much in 2018 when the annual fee increased to $119/year because by then I not only was using Amazon Prime for free shipping but I was also enjoying some of its other services - Prime Reading, Prime Video, and Amazon Photos for free  photo storage. If you are a subscriber, you've probably heard that your next renewal will find you paying $139/year. Is it worth it?

I've decided we will renew our subscription.  But, if you are unsure about renewing or even wondering if you should subscribe for the first time, you may want to take a look at Clark Howard's quiz, "Is Amazon Prime Worth It for You?" -  https://clark.com/shopping-retail/amazon-prime-worth-it-quiz/ 

To take full advantage of an Amazon Prime account, familiarize yourself with all the services that are included in addition to the free shipping.  These are four that I use most often:
1) Prime Reading: Get unlimited access on any device to more than a thousand eBooks, magazines and more. Also each month Prime members can download one editors' pick for free and it is yours to keep.
2) Prime Video: Amazon has exclusive content as well as popular movies and TV shows, all at no extra cost.  These can be watched on any device.
3) Amazon Music Prime: Over 2 million songs, ad-free, and millions of podcasts are included with your membership.
4) Amazon Photos:  Store and backup your photos, full-resolution and unlimited.  Using the Amazon Photos app, once the photos are uploaded they can be used on any device.  Video uploads are limited to 5 GB.

There are many many more services you can enjoy as an Amazon Prime subscriber, and I'd encourage you to take a look at this page:  https://www.amazon.com/primeinsider/about  

Note:   You may have found the "free two-day shipping" to be more like 4 or 5 days in the past year or so, but I believe that may not have been totally Amazon's fault.  It has been discouraging, however, in the past three weeks I have noticed the items that I've ordered have indeed been delivered within the two days.  Hopefully, that will continue!

And, one last important tip if you shop on Amazon- 

Amazon Smile:  You don't have to subscribe to Amazon Prime to sign up for Amazon Smile. Each time you make a purchase on Amazon, .5% of your purchase total can go to a charity or organization of your choice if you use smile.amazon.com to shop. You get to select the charity, and many of your local organizations and charities will appear in the list.  At any time you can change the charity for your donations.  Presently, .5% of our purchases are going to our granddaughters' school in Pennsylvania, and that school has received almost $1000 from Amazon Smile since November from Amazon purchases made by families and supporters.  You can read more about Amazon Smile here:  https://smile.amazon.com/charity/smile/about?_encoding=UTF8&ref_=smi_se_rspo_laas_aas

So, on this Tech Tip Twosday, maybe take some time to familiarize yourself with Amazon Prime to decide if it works for you.  Speaking of Twosday (2-22-22), I saw yesterday that the remaining days of this month are all palindromes - dates read the same forward as backwards!  (2-23-22, 2-24-22, 2-25-22, etc.)  Very cool, for a math nerd like me!  :-)

Jeline

All previous weekly tips are located here:  http://tuesdaytechtidbit.blogspot.com
If you have a friend who wants to subscribe, feel free to share this link:  https://bit.ly/tuesdaytechtip2022

Save a link to your phone's Home Screen or you computer desktop

Most of us have probably been using bookmarks to save internet sites on our browsers for years.  However, I've found it to be helpful and a little quicker if I create a shortcut on my phone Home Screen and on the desktop of my computer to access frequently used websites like my medical portals, church, bank, etc.  Then, the minute I open my laptop or phone I see the icon for the saved website and I can click and be instantly taken to that website.

Can you think of websites you might want to access more quickly on a regular basis?  If so, here's how to create those shortcuts:

On an Android phone:

1. Open a browser (Chrome)
2. Go to the website you want a shortcut for.
3. Click the 3 little dots at the top corner of your window.
4. Select "Add to Home Screen."

On an iPhone/iPad:

1. Open the Safari browser.
2. Go to the website you want a shortcut for.
3. Tap the "share" icon found at the bottom of the screen.  (It is a little square with an upward facing arrow.)
4. On the window that pops up, scroll down a little then select "Add to Home Screen."

On a computer:

1. Open any browser.
2. Go to the website you want a shortcut for.
3. Click on the little padlock icon on the left side of the URL (web address usually beginning with http://) and drag it to your computer desktop.  

Once the bookmarks have been created on your phone or computer, you should see an icon with the name of the website or perhaps the URL on your main screen.  Clicking or tapping on it accesses the website you saved. 

These shortcuts can easily be deleted by right-clicking and selecting remove or delete if you are using a computer.  On a phone the bookmark can be deleted if you press and hold on the icon then select "Delete Bookmark."  

The above instructions may work a little differently on your personal devices; if you need a little additional help creating shortcuts for websites, you may want to take a look at these videos showing how to create shortcuts on the different devices:
On an iPhone (view the first minute of this video):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGQwXfpgj6k
On an Android phone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQouKfLw9Mw
Computer desktop: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mPG9ARLl8w

Where did I park my car?

If you live in a small community, locating your parked car may not be a problem.  However, if you travel to larger cities to attend events, to shop, or leave on a flight you may want help remembering where you parked your car. Google Maps can assist you.

The Google Maps app can be installed on any mobile device and can be used in many different ways. But today let's learn how to use it to locate your parked car.

1. Once you have parked, open the Google Maps app. 
2. Press on the blue dot that is showing your present location.  From the menu that pops up select "Save Parking Location". 
3. The map will now display a "You are parked here" message on the map. 
4. Once you return from your trip, event, or shopping open the Google Maps app.
5. Click on the "You are parked here" then tap Directions.  You will be given the directions to reach your parked car.

If you'd like to watch a quick video on how to do this check this out:  https://youtu.be/dFdCBVaEm5c?t=39

However, today is too nice of a day to get in your car and go anywhere! Enjoy this beautiful Tech Tip Tuesday weather, leave your car at home, and walk somewhere instead!  And, you won't have to worry about locating your car! 

Facebook Security, Part 2

Why do people spend time hacking into a Facebook account or cloning it?  Because it pays off financially.  The scammer knows It is much easier to get someone to fall for a scam if they think it is their "friend" asking for financial help.  The scammer has technology and software to do this for him/her; he does not actually sit trying to hack accounts or clone them individually.

There are some things you can do to lessen the chances of your account being hacked without your knowledge.  Some of those tips were in last week's email but today I've done a couple of screencasts to walk you through some Facebook settings you can check either on a laptop/desktop computer or a mobile device:

1) Facebook Security & Privacy on a web browser on a desktop/laptop computer:  https://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/c3nVe8VDUL5

2) Facebook Security & Privacy on the Facebook app on a mobile device:  https://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/c3nVfdVDURP

It is a good idea to review these settings from time to time.  Maybe put it as a regular "to-do" item on your calendar every 3-4 months?

Hope you have a wonderful Tech Tip Tuesday!  Many of us enjoyed absolutely gorgeous spring weather these past couple of days but are bracing for the return of winter tonight!  So, if you are stuck inside these next couple of days maybe you can find time to review your Facebook settings.  :-)

Has your Facebook account been hacked?

Quite frequently I see a Facebook post from a friend that says "I've been hacked.  Don't accept any friend requests from me," or something similar.  Then there is a comment about changing their password.  In reality, that probably won't take care of the problem.

More than likely, their Facebook account has been cloned, not hacked, so changing the password will probably not make any difference.  What's the difference between hacking and cloning?

If an account is truly hacked it means the password has been compromised and someone is actually using your FB account, and yes, your password should be changed.

BUT, if you are already friends with someone on Facebook you will not get a second request from them to be their friend.  When that request occurs it is coming from a cloned Facebook page.  A cloned FB account is one that someone has created using the information that is publicly available from your "real" FB account, things like personal information, your profile picture, friends list, etc.  Then "Friend Requests" are sent out from this new FB account, not your "real" one.

What should you do if that happens?  People who get the Friend Requests can report it to FB or you yourself can report it.  Begin by clicking here:  https://www.facebook.com/hacked

How can you better protect your "real" Facebook account from both hacking and cloning?  Read through the 4 tips below.
1)  Make sure your password is secure and change it every 6 months.
2)  Make your Friends list Private.
3)  At the very least, choose to make your posts visible to just Friends, NOT Public.
4) Set up 2-Factor Authentication so that if your account is logged into on a different computer, you will be notified.

Next week, I'll share some additional information (how-to videos) about securing your Facebook account and answer the question - "Why does someone want to clone my Facebook account and send out friend requests?"  But, in the meantime, here is a really good article if you'd like to read more today:  https://www.ricksdailytips.com/beware-duplicate-friend-requests/

Hope you have a terrific Tech Tip "Thursday."  Looks like we have another cloudy day here, but one with warmer temps.  52 days until Spring.  :-)

Wordle

Have you played Wordle?  It is found here:   https://www.powerlanguage.co.uk/wordle/   I'm not a gamer so maybe that is why I didn't know anything about Wordle until last week; I may have just ignored any reference to it.  Once I heard about it I became hooked, along with millions of others it seems.  I am not a person who enjoys playing games on the computer or phone, but I am enjoying the challenge of Wordle.  Part of its appeal is that it is short, challenging, and there is only 1 puzzle per day.  The goal is to figure out one five-letter word each day.  Sound easy?  It isn't.  I'm getting better, I think, but I'm not finding it easy.

Below is what my screen looked like on yesterday's puzzle when I completed it.  Each day you begin with a 5 x 6 grid of empty squares.  You then enter words trying to guess the 5-letter word for the day.  With each try, squares turn green if you have the correct letter in the correct place.  Squares turn yellow if you have a correct letter but it isn't in the correct place in the word.  Squares turn gray if the letters you entered are not found in the word.  You only get 6 tries to enter the correct word; if not successful, you are done and must come back the next day for a new puzzle.  There is not a time limit and you are only in competition with yourself.

Some cautions:

1. Wordle is only available on the web at this address: https://www.powerlanguage.co.uk/wordle/  Unfortunately in the Google Play store and the Apple Apps store there are fake Wordle apps; DO NOT download any of these. Wordle can only be played using a web browser.
2. There is an option to share your success on social media.  As tempted as you might be to do this, I would encourage you to refrain from doing so. 

Give the game a try. Take your time; there is no rush.  You can even leave the webpage open while you think about possible solutions.  Enjoy expanding your vocabulary!

Don't hang up!

Has your smartphone ever called someone without you purposely placing the call? Smartphones and watches sometimes seem to have minds of their own, don’t they? Most of us quickly disconnect when we discover we’re unexpectedly calling someone, BUT if you accidentally initiate a call to 911 on your phone or watch, please stay on the line and talk with the dispatcher to let them know you are okay. 

What happens if we hang up before they answer? It will mean extra time and work for emergency services because they have to follow up on ALL calls from mobile phones with a call and text.  Even if you quickly disconnect, Emergency Services have already received the call and are then tasked with making contact with you. Staying on the line and assuring them you are okay will allow the dispatcher to be more efficient and continue to serve others who may be in need. 

Happy 2022! Did you receive any new technology as holiday gifts? With most pieces of new technology there is a learning curve so take some time to explore and learn about any new gadgets so you can really use and enjoy them!

Jeline

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