On of my favorite family freeware programs is the KEA COLORING BOOK. This is suitable for both children and adults.
This is downloaded and installed on your computer and is not just any run of the mill color in the pictures software. KEA allows one to use a lot of creativity, such as mixing colors and adding our own details. The drawing and painting tools include a black marker and paint brushes that can be adjusted from fine to wide. There is also an eraser and an "OOPS!" button to undo mistakes.
KEA comes with several coloring page pictures; and more are available for download (also free) at the KEA website.
Using the parental feature you can add pictures that you or your child has drawn. These can also be submitted at the KEA website; if selected your drawing will be placed in the online catalogue of coloring in pictures.
There is also a blank page where you can use the painting and drawing tools to draw and paint freehand.
The KEA pallet holds a large variety of colors and provides a mixing tray where you can select and mix colors from the pallet.
Completed artwork can be saved in jpeg form. I enjoy creating my own drawings to color in, save and use to decorate email or to create my own "email post cards"
While the program is absolutely free, they do accept small donations via Pay Pal to help keep the project up and running.
Every so often a coloring contest is held.
DOWNLOAD KEA COLORING BOOK
Friday, April 20, 2007
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Grammy now has a pet fly in her computer!
After reading a number of negative, 'thumbs down" reviews and contrasting these with the "thumbs up" comments I JUST HAD to down load JAY THE DANGER FLY from the Game Give Away of the day website. The negative comments are nearly all based on the fact that this is "another clone of a shooter game" and that it is silly.. and a kid's game.
Hmmmm...
Sounded like something this old lady might enjoy and that the young folks we know might also find to be fun.
I DID AND IT IS!
The story line is 'corny'. However, this is part of it's charm. Jay The Danger Fly is bright, cheerful, funny and filled with light-hearted surprises.
AND is not as easy as it looks. Happily we are given a choice of 3 levels. Grammy choose the EASY level and I've, so far, been unable to get past the mean landlady in the kitchen. It was a relief to me when a hint showed up across the bottom ot the screen telling me how I might accomplish this. So, I know it is possible. Trouble is - it takes a bit of skill! Which brings me to another good thing to say about this funny game; it is challenging enough to keep even this adult coming back to "try, try again".
The key to success is to help your cute fly hero (JAY) avoid colliding with as many of the objects thrown at him as possible... this includes "bullets" shot from certain objects in the form of puffs from a DDT spray can, corks from a wine bottle , fragments of broken crockery and so on. One must stay alert and not doze off at the keyboard.
There is the choice to play using the key board or mouse. Grammy chose the mouse (easier for me to manage,)
When the game is first opened a menu appears with the following helpful buttons:
START
README
WEBSITE
SEND PROBLEM REPORT
QUIT
If you choose to try this game I hope you will take time to READ the readme as it well details how to play and explains what all the little bits your fly collects are for. ( "When all else fails - read the instructions")
I know, I know .... we old ladies are SUPPOSED to be content with playing solitaire using a worn out deck of cards, sit on park benches and sadly watch strangers passing by or bake dozens of cookies even when no one has time to come see what's in the cooky jar...So, it does surprise some that quite a few grammy's are out here (canes, walkers, silver hair, knitting bags and all learning new things and enjoying life.. slow as we may look we are still capable of keeping up mentally and, oftener than realized, leave some of the young folks behind in the dust... heck most don't even SEE us speeding past!!)
I suspect that some of the negative and sometimes rude comments were posted by folks collecting freeware who want only the type of games they prefer to be offered.. and even by younger folks who, sadly, are no longer "young at heart".
NOTE: This game, JAY THE DANGER FLY, is SHAREWARE. It was free yesterday only. They are offering a 'tetris' game until midnight today.
Hmmmm...
Sounded like something this old lady might enjoy and that the young folks we know might also find to be fun.
I DID AND IT IS!
The story line is 'corny'. However, this is part of it's charm. Jay The Danger Fly is bright, cheerful, funny and filled with light-hearted surprises.
AND is not as easy as it looks. Happily we are given a choice of 3 levels. Grammy choose the EASY level and I've, so far, been unable to get past the mean landlady in the kitchen. It was a relief to me when a hint showed up across the bottom ot the screen telling me how I might accomplish this. So, I know it is possible. Trouble is - it takes a bit of skill! Which brings me to another good thing to say about this funny game; it is challenging enough to keep even this adult coming back to "try, try again".
The key to success is to help your cute fly hero (JAY) avoid colliding with as many of the objects thrown at him as possible... this includes "bullets" shot from certain objects in the form of puffs from a DDT spray can, corks from a wine bottle , fragments of broken crockery and so on. One must stay alert and not doze off at the keyboard.
There is the choice to play using the key board or mouse. Grammy chose the mouse (easier for me to manage,)
When the game is first opened a menu appears with the following helpful buttons:
START
README
WEBSITE
SEND PROBLEM REPORT
QUIT
If you choose to try this game I hope you will take time to READ the readme as it well details how to play and explains what all the little bits your fly collects are for. ( "When all else fails - read the instructions")
I know, I know .... we old ladies are SUPPOSED to be content with playing solitaire using a worn out deck of cards, sit on park benches and sadly watch strangers passing by or bake dozens of cookies even when no one has time to come see what's in the cooky jar...So, it does surprise some that quite a few grammy's are out here (canes, walkers, silver hair, knitting bags and all learning new things and enjoying life.. slow as we may look we are still capable of keeping up mentally and, oftener than realized, leave some of the young folks behind in the dust... heck most don't even SEE us speeding past!!)
I suspect that some of the negative and sometimes rude comments were posted by folks collecting freeware who want only the type of games they prefer to be offered.. and even by younger folks who, sadly, are no longer "young at heart".
NOTE: This game, JAY THE DANGER FLY, is SHAREWARE. It was free yesterday only. They are offering a 'tetris' game until midnight today.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
What is a BLOG?
A blog is a web log. To log is to record a thing. The referred to web is not an artistically spun spider's web; it is the cyber space place where web pages are found when we venture out into cyber space.
I seem to recall that web logs were originally created by folks working with, exploring and/or experimenting with computer technology and programming and creating software. Web logs were then a way to log and to share project related information.
Web logs, it appears to me, then evolved into web journals; which are a type of public bulletin board filled with whatever information, thoughts or nonsense an individual might decide, or dare, to pin up there.
We now call these Blogs - and to keep a blog is to be a blogger and the act of posting a message is to be blogging.
Not all web logs share really useful information. Now a days ANYONE AT ALL who has access to a computer that travels into cyber space can become a 'blogger'. I believe the realm of cyber space occupied by bloggers is now called 'the bloggersphere'.
I seem to recall that web logs were originally created by folks working with, exploring and/or experimenting with computer technology and programming and creating software. Web logs were then a way to log and to share project related information.
Web logs, it appears to me, then evolved into web journals; which are a type of public bulletin board filled with whatever information, thoughts or nonsense an individual might decide, or dare, to pin up there.
We now call these Blogs - and to keep a blog is to be a blogger and the act of posting a message is to be blogging.
Not all web logs share really useful information. Now a days ANYONE AT ALL who has access to a computer that travels into cyber space can become a 'blogger'. I believe the realm of cyber space occupied by bloggers is now called 'the bloggersphere'.
Let's talk about Electronic Mail
My main motivation to own a personal computer was being able to join in the exchange of 'electronic mail' - or, as it is more commonly called, Email. I believed that since Email is convenient, easy and more immediate that others who use Email would easily respond. I hoped for more two-way, reciprocal communication with family and friends. While this hope was not entirely smashed; it was soon put into proper perspective.
For one thing, as with 'snail mail', many folks "just love to get mail". HOWEVER, while these folks have time to read they may rarely to never "have time" to reply or acknowledge received personal Email. So, in that respect it is no different from "snail mail". In my opinion, if a person has time to read your personal email message - they have time to reply. Even a brief reply takes only a FEW SECONDS!!
If we type 'email' or 'how to email' or 'about email' (for example) into our web browser we will find plenty of web articles on the subject of email. I have read a variety of instructions for proper email composition. Some believe that ALL email needs to be "brief and to the point". That may be just fine for business, however, when writing a personal email note or letter we may do better to simply write as if we were penning a traditional "snail mail" letter.
A personal letter or note need not be long and drawn out to be interesting. However, our words do matter and a personal note or letter should be just that... personal.
It helps to tailor a personal email to the reader. For example, when I write to those who I know are "busy and on the go" I want to keep my message shorter and more concise without trimming it down to an impersonal business-like message.
WHO?????
When I receive an email I need to know right off WHO it is from. An email address alone does not usually convey this. In fact some email addresses are downright odd or anonymous and may appear to have no relation to the sender. It is helpful to identify ourselves by putting our name, our REAL name, in the FROM area.
For one thing, as with 'snail mail', many folks "just love to get mail". HOWEVER, while these folks have time to read they may rarely to never "have time" to reply or acknowledge received personal Email. So, in that respect it is no different from "snail mail". In my opinion, if a person has time to read your personal email message - they have time to reply. Even a brief reply takes only a FEW SECONDS!!
If we type 'email' or 'how to email' or 'about email' (for example) into our web browser we will find plenty of web articles on the subject of email. I have read a variety of instructions for proper email composition. Some believe that ALL email needs to be "brief and to the point". That may be just fine for business, however, when writing a personal email note or letter we may do better to simply write as if we were penning a traditional "snail mail" letter.
A personal letter or note need not be long and drawn out to be interesting. However, our words do matter and a personal note or letter should be just that... personal.
It helps to tailor a personal email to the reader. For example, when I write to those who I know are "busy and on the go" I want to keep my message shorter and more concise without trimming it down to an impersonal business-like message.
WHO?????
When I receive an email I need to know right off WHO it is from. An email address alone does not usually convey this. In fact some email addresses are downright odd or anonymous and may appear to have no relation to the sender. It is helpful to identify ourselves by putting our name, our REAL name, in the FROM area.
Multi Tasking Madness
Why not get back to doing ONE task at at time, such as driving, and doing it well and safely?
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Freeware VS Shareware & Free Download
If you are new to downloading software the terms 'freeware', "free download' and 'shareware' may create some confusion and misunderstanding.
Simply put...
Shareware is software that we must pay for to be able to keep and to use. This will normally be downloaded as a 'limited trial version'. The limitations vary - sometimes certain features are locked, or there will be a time limit; or both. To obtain a fully functional version one must purchase and register the software.
FREE DOWNLOAD or FREE TO DOWNLOAD does not mean that the software is free. All this means is the software can be downloaded onto your personal computer for you to try before deciding to purchase. This will be a limited version (as explained in the previous paragraph about shareware.)
FREEWARE is completely free for us to download, keep and use. Freeware will vary in quality. Some freeware programs, games and utilities are every bit as good as software that must be purchased. Just be sure that the free ware really is free, with no strings attached and is not contaminated with spy ware.
Simply put...
Shareware is software that we must pay for to be able to keep and to use. This will normally be downloaded as a 'limited trial version'. The limitations vary - sometimes certain features are locked, or there will be a time limit; or both. To obtain a fully functional version one must purchase and register the software.
FREE DOWNLOAD or FREE TO DOWNLOAD does not mean that the software is free. All this means is the software can be downloaded onto your personal computer for you to try before deciding to purchase. This will be a limited version (as explained in the previous paragraph about shareware.)
FREEWARE is completely free for us to download, keep and use. Freeware will vary in quality. Some freeware programs, games and utilities are every bit as good as software that must be purchased. Just be sure that the free ware really is free, with no strings attached and is not contaminated with spy ware.
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