Open Office problem with labels solved

I generally like Open Office, once I figure out the differences compared to using Word & Excel.  I encountered a peculiar problem with creating & printing the address labels in OO.  When I printed the labels, only the Canadian postal codes appeared on the printed label.  I posted the problem on the OO forums and found out that v 3.2 has a bug that doesn't recognize mixed text & numbers from a spreadsheet in a data source.  The forum tech provided a fix, which once I applied it correctly, worked like a charm. 

RIP Microsoft Works

I've had Microsoft Works on every computer I've owned since 1994.  It was pre-loaded on my first computer and I learned to use the various features.  It was easy to use, but unfortunately,  not compatible with any other office suite. After I got Office 97, I didn't use Works for much anymore, but I kept it so I could view the items I had saved in Works.  I have not upgraded it since Works 99, which included Word 97.  The current version, Works 9, claims that documents and spreadsheets can be viewed and edited in MS Office. Works is still available for purchase, but my new computer came with a pre-loaded starter version of 2010 Word & Excel rather than Works.  Though I can use Works 99 with  Windows 7, some of the features no longer function, but I see no reason to purchase the upgrade.

One thing that Works did extremely well was address labels.  I tried several times to convert my Works address book into Office, but never quite made the transition.  I eventually learned to create mailing labels in Word from an Excel spreadsheet  I found a program to convert my address book to Excel; however, it was an obnoxious little trial version that put their plug to purchase the program in about 25 cells that I had to edit. Now that I have my address book in Excel, I can finally put Works to rest.  I also saved the Excel spreadsheet in O-O, and can make address labels in O-O.  RIP Microsoft Works.

Windows Live Essentials 2011

I was prompted to install an update for Windows Live Essentials on my new laptop.  Since I do not have Outlook on the laptop and OE is no longer included with Windows 7, I decided to give Live Essentials a try.  Advise: don't bother with the 2011 version.  I might try the 2009 version or just get Thunderbird for a default mail program.

Why I hate dieting

After 2 weeks of serious tracking and exercise I have lost - 0 - lbs.  That's right.  I weigh exactly the same.  Though I feel better, I expected to see at least a little progress with shedding the extra lbs.  Frustrating.

Online vs software for financial management

Microsoft is discontinuing MS Money, which I have used for years. When the online features of Money 2004 expired, I just deactivated the online features and manually exported my accounts into the program. Though I can probably use Money 2004 indefinitely without the online features, Microsoft recommends using my own bank's features or Bundle.com. My bank does not offer interactive features. Quicken is another option, or Intuit's online program Mint.com.

I tried both Bundle.com & Mint.com, and I think Mint.com is much better

Advertising

I have to choose an advertisement and write a psychology paper about the ad.  I try to tune out advertising to whatever degree I can ignore it, but for this assignment, I have to actually pay attention to ads. Thankfully, there are plenty of YouTube ad videos available. A classmate suggested that I pick a product I like and find an ad for it.  I'm going to use a cat food ad, target audience: women over 35 who are pet lovers.  I could easily write about what annoys me with internet ads. I wish someone would invent a "rollover blocker". Especially for the ones that roll out when you get close but don't actually touch with the curser. I liked the Kodak printervention rollover. It did not rollover until I actually put my curser on the ad. The video was a parody of an infomercial/intervention reality show and the other tabs used a side by side comparison between the Kodak model and an HP model.  I could relate to both the high cost of printer ink, and, as an addictions counselor, the parody of intervention strategy.  It got bad reviews, though.  Most people saw a wannabe infomercial announcer and the environmentally negative "ink sink".  I agreed with the reviewers about the ink sink.  I would like to find a similar comparison with the cost of using a Canon printer.

Windows 7 Back up & Restore

Before I upgraded to  Windows 7 I found a decent free disk image back up program called Macrium Reflect, though I did not reinstall it after the upgrade.  The Windows 7 Back-up & Restore appears to have more features than XP Back-up & Restore, including the ability to make a disk image and a restore disk.  There may be no need for a 3rd party program.  My 80 gig external hard drive does the job, but with only enough storage to hold one image & back-up for the desktop & laptop.