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February 13, 2013
SPINNING A YARN
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Beat the computer blues Five strategies to avoid PC crashes and ‘The Blue Screen of Death’ By SHEA CONNER St. Joseph News-Press
First, you notice your computer struggling a little bit. Then, your screen freezes and your machine starts making some funny noises. And, suddenly, a modern-day image more frightening than Attila the Hun or Jason Voorhees appears: The Blue Screen of Death. You furrow your brow, and your forehead starts to perspire. You try to convince yourself that it’ll be all right, but you know what happened. Your computer just crashed. And as you reach down to unplug the power cord and swiftly stick it back in the outlet, you can only sulk and hope that the crash wasn’t fatal. If you’re one of the 92 percent of computer owners who use Windows, you’ve probably witnessed this frustrating experience before. Believe it or not, there are a few fairly easy ways to avoid this awful scenario. While some computer crashes are unavoidable or require professional assistance, others can be prevented with some routine maintenance. Here are five ways that you can stop the Blue Screen of Death from taking over your PC.
Beat the heat Matt Reid| St. Joseph News- Press
Saundra Keiffer, manager of the Rolling Hills Library Savannah branch, talks and spins with the Robidoux Spinning Guild recently.
Robidoux Spinning Guild turns old tradition into popular pastime By BROOKE VANCLEAVE St. Joseph News-Press
Once a month, a group of women meets at the Savannah Rolling Hills Library to share tips, laughs and a love for a hobby that is experiencing a revival. The Robidoux Spinning Guild is composed of area women who spin their own yarn. Some are beginners and others have been spinning for years. Some don’t even come for the spinning, preferring other projects and the company of their peers over the sometimes-complicated pastime. The soft whirring and continuous turning of the pedal-powered wheels could soothe even the most restless minds. Learning how to spin isn’t quite as soothing, though. “It’s one of those things that when you fi rst start there’s kind of a learning curve, so it’s not too relaxing at fi rst,” says Saundra Keiffer, library branch manager and spinning guild member. Yarn spinning involves twisting wool or other fibers into yarn from bundles called roving using a spinning wheel. The guild has met off and on since the 1970s, but it has tried to meet monthly at the library for the past 10 years, especially since knitting, crocheting and spinning have gained more popularity. “If you go to a fiber festival and they
It’s just fun. I think it’s the camaraderie, meeting wonderful people like these people and just doing something different together. There’s spinoffs besides spinning. — THERESA WILSON, yarn spinning beginer have a class in it, those classes are usually gonna be fi lled,” Ms. Keiffer says. She says many members have learned how to spin by taking classes at a shop in Lawrence, Kan., called Yarn Barn. Although guild members will readily impart their knowledge to those eager to learn, it is better to come to meetings with a couple classes under your belt in order to have more productive spinning sessions. Only five people braved the cold at the January meeting, but Ms. Keiffer says she sends e-mails to about 25 people each time a new date is set. Members usually gather on Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. and often bring food to share during
lunchtime. One of the main draws that keeps members coming back is the sense of community one can fi nd in the spinning guild. “It’s just fun. I think it’s the camaraderie, meeting wonderful people like these people and just doing something different together,” says beginner Theresa Wilson, who admits she’s only been at the wheel about ten times. “There’s spinoffs besides spinning!” “You could easily do it at home by yourself, but I mean, you get inspiration and we get to talk,” adds Marian Bryan, who says she has no interest in spinning but comes to meetings to work on knitting projects and catch up with her friends. Besides making yarn, guild members also share tips about knitting, raising sheep and chickens, gardening, dyeing yarn and other hobbies. “That’s what this is all about, is helping each other,” Ms. Bryan says. Anyone interested in learning about yarn spinning or who wants to join the Robidoux Spinning Guild can contact Ms. Keiffer at the library at (816) 324-
4569.
Brooke VanCleave can be reached at brooke.vancleave@newspressnow.com. Follow her on Twitter: @SJNPVanCleave.
Everything inside a PC generates heat, and too much heat can cause those delicate components to become unstable. Computers are designed to crash as a last-ditch effort to protect their own internal components from permanent heat damage, so Please see BEAT/Page A2
A2
Beat the computer failure blues
CONTINUED FROM Page A1 if you suspect your PC isn’t correctly dispersing enough heat, start by checking your fans. If one isn’t spinning or appears to be moving slowly, check its connections to make sure it’s properly powered. If not, have a professional replace it. Next, clear your computer’s vents, grates and filters of dust, pet hair, paper shavings or anything else that could prevent proper ventilation. “We don’t see computers that crash because of dust too often, but if they have a lot of pets in the home, it’ll happen,” says Steven Smith of Prolific Technologies in St. Joseph. “That dust and hair will clog the vents and cause some problems.” If you find any especially horrid areas, use a can of compressed air to clear the airways. Mr. Smith recommends that dog and cat owners do this every two or three months. For laptops, make sure that the machine sits on a hard, flat surface that won’t smother the chassis around its vents. Alex Cocilova, assistant editor for PC World, recommends monitoring the temperature of your computer with his favorite free monitoring tool, PC Wizard.
In addition to other helpful uses, it will show you the real-time temperature of all your system components.
Update your hardware
Many computer crashes are a result of hardware and installation conflicts. All of your system’s components consume IRQs (interrupt request channels) when installed, and every device requires its own channel to function properly. “When two devices share the same channel and are used simultaneously, a crash can occur,” Mr. Cocilova says. This may sound confusing, but the fix is pretty simple. In your Windows Control Panel (which you can find in the start-up menu), select “Device Manager.” This feature provides you with information about how the hardware on your computer is installed and configured and how the hardware interacts with your computer’s programs. Once you’re there, look for any devices marked with a yellow exclamation point. These are the ones with issues, and those usually can be fixed with a driver update. Just search your device manufacturer’s website for the latest driver software, or
re-install the problematic hardware itself.
Get defragmented
A computer’s hard drive becomes more and more fragmented every time a file is saved, a file is deleted or a program is installed. Unfortunately, fragmenting slows down the hard drive and also can give the operating system trouble when trying to find the necessary files to function. Eventually, the system will give up and crash. To cure this fragmenting issue, select the “Disk Defragmenter,” which can be found in “System Tools” under the “Accessories” option in your Windows start-up menu. Mr. Smith says this isn’t much of an issue with computers running Windows Vista, Windows 7 or Windows 8, but owners who are still running Windows XP should do this on a weekly basis. Your computer won’t let you save anything while the defragmenter is running, so it’s recommended that you run it before going to bed or work.
Clean your registry
Your PC’s registry is basically a vast library of system settings, and even when programs are uninstalled, their registry settings can stay behind.
The settings are useless to the daily operation of your computer but can nonetheless bloat your system because the PC slows everything down to scan these error-ridden registry entries. Mr. Cocilova says a good registry cleaner, such as Free Wise, is the perfect tool for clearing away the clutter. Free Wise will scan your registry, find the problems and exterminate them, leaving your registry free of obstructions. However, Mr. Smith says people should exercise caution when using registry cleaners because some of
them automatically delete things you might need to start your computer. If you do use one like Free Wise, make sure you always know the ins and outs of the program and examine what will be deleted.
Download a good anti-virus program
Malware is the most common and significant cause of The Blue Screen of Death, but the remedy for these infections usually isn’t too hard to grasp. Simply start up your trusted anti-virus program, make sure it’s Please see BEAT/Page A3
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TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, although you may not be able to see into the future, you can plan for what may happen in the next few days. Now is the perfect time to check in with friends. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, get all of your work ducks in a row because you want to ensure you are up for the next promotion or pay increase. Now could be the time to make work your top priority. CANCER - Jun 22/Jul 22 You may find that you have an easy time of reading people this week, Cancer. Use this trait to your advantage to find out how certain people feel about your new ideas. LEO - Jul 23/Aug 23 Leo, don’t get too excited when things seem out of whack this week. Keep calm and find out how you can set things on the right course. Lead by example, and others will follow. VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept 22 Virgo, try not to participate in any new activities this week. You are already overextended. Clear your to-do lists before you take on any other responsibilities.
SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov 22 Scorpio, you may be more focused on your fantasies and dream life than what is going on in your real life for the next few days. Just don’t wander around in a fog for too long.
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ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, be on your best behavior this week. Acquaintances both new and established will have their eyes on you, and it is essential that you make a good impression.
LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct 23 Show others how good their lives can be if they just follow a little of your own advice and take cues from what you have done already, Libra. Expect a few converts.
Every princess needs a knight in shining fur. 800
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
CLUES ACROSS 1. Jam into 5. Egypt’s capital 10. Disfigure 13. Biblical Hamath 14. Vipera berus 15. The three wise men 16. “The foaming cleanser” 17. Earthquake 18. Breezed through 19. South Pacific island 21. Legal possessors 23. List of dishes served 25. Jai __ 26. Superhigh frequency 29. Farm fanbatic 34. Double agents 36. No (Scottish) 37. Peninsula off Manchuria 38. As fast as can be done (abbr.) 39. Apulian city 70121 40. Talk show host Philbin 42. USA’s favorite uncle 45. More coherent 46. PBS drama series 49. Retirement plan 50. Be obedient to 51. French river 53. __ fatale, seductive woman 56. Made a surprise attack 60. Winglike structures 61. Belittle oneself 65. Department of Troyes France 66. Mains 67. Shoe ties 68. A carefree adventure 69. Mariner or sailor 70. Modern chair designer 71. ____ Gin Fizz cocktail
CLUES DOWN 1. Chew the fat 2. A prince in India 3. A Far East wet nurse 4. Axiom 5. The frame around a door 6. Fruit drink 7. Ugandan Pres. Amin 8. Real Estate Services 9. Brass that looks like gold 10. Nutmeg seed covering spice 11. River in Austria 12. Eliminates 15. Canadian province 20. Green, Earl Grey and iced 22. Four ball advancement 24. Vaselike receptacle 25. Highest card 26. Unction 27. 1st of the books of the Minor Prophets 28. Symbols of allegiance 30. Farm state 31. A citizen of Iran 32. More dried-up 33. Alt. spelling for tayra 35. Perfect examples 41. One point E of SE 42. Secretly watch 43. Three toed sloth 44. __ student, learns healing 45. Liquid body substances 47. Act of selling again 48. Stroke 52. Selector switches 53. Speed, not slow 54. City founded by Xenophanes 55. Picasso’s mistress Dora 57. Having two units or parts 58. 2nd largest Spanish river 59. Delta Kappa Epsilon nickname 62. The cry made by sheep 63. Air Cheif Marshall 64. Perceive with the eyes
SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/Dec 21 Sagittarius, it may be hard to concentrate this week, especially with so many ideas floating around in your head. But do your best to stay focused. CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan 20 Capricron, lend a helping hand when you see an opportunity to do so. Donate your time to someone in need or help a friend or family member complete a project. AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb 18 Aquarius, clarify your needs and wants. Until you can delineate between these factors you may be spending unnecessarily, which is not what your budget needs. PISCES - Feb 19/Mar 20 Pisces, it may take a few days for you to handle things, but don’t let that dissuade you from trying. Set your own timetable. FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS FEBRUARY 10 Glenn Beck, Talk Show Host (49) FEBRUARY 11 Taylor Lautner, Actor (21) FEBRUARY 12 Judy Blume, Author (75) FEBRUARY 13 Richard Tyson, Actor (52) FEBRUARY 14 Florence Henderson, Actress (79) FEBRUARY 15 Amber Riley, Actress (27) FEBRUARY 16 Elizabeth Olsen, Actress (24)
YOUNG LOVE
A3
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Beat the computer failure blues
Local couple find happiness together later in life
CONTINUED FROM page A2 up-to-date, and give your system the most expansive scan possible. Mr. Smith recommends downloading the free program Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, which has been the most trusted anti-virus program at Prolific Technologies for years now. “It grabs some obscure things that most programs don’t pick up,” he says. If the virus has disabled the ability to start up your anti-virus program, restart your computer in safe mode by pressing F8 before the Windows logo appears. Safe mode will disable any extraneous programs and drivers from launching, and allows just the core operating system to load. “Once in safe mode, you should be able to run your antivirus program, and complete a thorough scan from there,” Mr. Cocilova says.
By ERIN WISDOM St. Joseph News-Press
SMALL TALES
Margaret and Dennis Thompson don’t remember meeting. A look into the But the ordinary and St. Joseph extraordinary couple do lives of people in know that our community. whenever it happened, they had no inkling how happily married they’d one day be to each other. They were, after all, both married to other people when Mr. Thompson began attending Woodson Chapel Christian Church — where his now-wife also went — in 1957. Then, several years ago, their spouses passed away. “We’d known each other for 48 years and never thought about such a thing” as marrying, Mr. Thompson says. “But when the time was right, boy did we tumble.” It began three months after Mr. Thompson’s first wife, Clete, died on April 16, 2005. He noticed his second wife-to-be sitting across the church sanctuary — her eyes very sad, as she’d recently lost not only her husband but also her son — and he decided to call and ask if she’d have dinner with him a couple of times a week. They both could use the companionship, he thought. But what they got was much more than that, and much better than they’d bargained for. “The night I called her, she didn’t sleep a wink,” Mr. Thompson says. “I knew he was a good guy and a nice man,” Mrs. Thompson adds, “and I knew I was lucky to get him.” Soon, they were spending all day, every day together, then talking by phone in the evenings. She felt like a teenager again. He was ready to go ring shopping. And when they married on Nov. 6, 2005, at Woodson Chapel, there was standing room only in the sanctuary. “We put an invitation in the church bulletin, and when we walked in that day, we couldn’t believe it,”
Shea Conner can be reached at shea.conner@newspressnow.com. Follow him on Twitter: @stjoelivedotcom.
Check it out Erin Wisdom | St. Joseph News- Press
Have a heart
Dennis and Margaret Thompson have been happily married for seven years. Having known each other for most of their adult lives, they married after their first spouses passed away within months of each other. Mr. Thompson says. “It was wonderful so many people were so happy for us.” The couple had been concerned about the reaction they’d receive due to remarrying so soon after losing their fi rst spouses, and they even felt a bit guilty themselves. But overwhelmingly, the response was one of happiness for them — not only because they’d found happiness with each other but also because they’d both been dealt so much difficulty prior to that. Mr. Thompson had cared for his first wife since 1965, when she’d undergone surgery for a brain tumor that left her with a changed personality and a host of medical problems. Mrs. Thompson had cared for a daughter, Denise, who was severely disabled by cerebral palsy and passed away at 13. And later, she cared for her first husband, Bob, through his fight with cancer. Around the same time he passed away, she lost Denise’s twin brother, Dennis, in an accident. “We feel like the Lord rewarded us for the care we gave our loved ones and put us together, and it was fantastic,” Mr. Thompson says. “It’s not that we didn’t love our first spouses; we did. But this has just been special.” Now 81 and 80, respectively, Mr. and Mrs. Thompson can look back on connections they had
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things like shopping trips — although not being much of a shopper, Mr. Thompson acts more as a chauffeur and notes that “I tell everyone I’m a real go-getter: I leave her and then I go and get her.” Their favorite thing, though, is just to be together. They have the luxury of a lot of time for this, now that their days of working and raising children are behind them. But they never tire of each other, and they’re still waiting to have their first fight. “We just enjoy every day,” Mrs. Thompson says, to which Mr. Thompson adds: “Life is good. We both say this is the happiest we’ve ever been.”
throughout their lives without expecting — prior to seven years ago — that anything would come of them. He was born less than a year before her, and they both married their first spouses in 1951. Their children were in school together. Their families were in church together. And their first spouses passed away within five months of each other. “There’s so many coincidences, but they’re not coincidences,” Mr. Thompson says. “The Lord plans ahead.” They’ve made the most of the time they’ve had together so far. They honeymooned in Hawaii and, the following summer, visited 16 states and 13 national parks over a span of three weeks. Back at home, they enjoy simple
If you have any inclination to make a heart-shaped cake for Valentine’s Day but don’t want to invest in a heartshaped cake pan you might use only once a year, take heart: You can create the shape you want with a square pan and a round pan. Just cut the round cake in two and position each half on adjacent sides of the square cake, then use frosting to make it all seem seamless. More detailed directions are available in a Feb. 1 entry on Real Simple magazine’s blog, simplystated.real simple.com. — Erin Wisdom, St. Joseph News-Press
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Erin Wisdom can be reached at erin.wisdom@newspressnow.com. Follow her on Twitter: @SJNPWisdom.
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A4 Wednesday, February 13, 2013