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03-30-12 Ask Mr. Modem! Weekly Column
Message Forwarding Etiquette
Q. I know this may seem like a silly question, but what's the correct way to forward a message?
A. On its face, the act of forwarding a message is deceptively simple: Click the Forward button, slap on an address and click Send. That's the Classic NBA (No-Brainer Approach) used by millions of well-intentioned individuals. Unfortunately, it can and frequently does lead to problems and annoyances on the part of recipients. Follow these six rules and you will eliminate any of the myriad of headaches that can arise in conjunction with mail forwarding:
1. Remove all forwarding >>>> marks and previous recipient addresses. If you must forward anything, edit out the fat and just send the meat.
2. Include a short personal note to let recipients know why you're forwarding something. If you can't take the time to type a few words, is it REALLY that important to forward?
3. Investigate any message that might be alarming to a recipient. Don't rely on a message that states, “This is not a hoax.” Duh! Take the time to check it out for yourself on snopes.com or any similar hoax-debunking site.
4. Never forward chain email. When you see the words, “Forward this to everyone you know,” reach for the DELete key.
5. If you forward to more than one person, put your email address in the TO: field and all other recipients in the BCC: field to hide their addresses. You do not have the right to publish other individuals' addresses.
6. Request permission to forward any message sent to you alone. Email, as is true with any original work, is automatically copyright protected by the author. It is simply common courtesy to request permission before forwarding any message intended for your eyes only.
Q. I need to print my Outlook Express address book, but I'm not sure how to do that -- or should I just give up on OE and move to something else?
A. OE is a bit past its prime -- something to which I can relate. It's fine to continue to use it for the foreseeable future, but like all older software, it having been replaced by Windows Mail, then Windows Live Mail, in time it will become increasingly problematic. For that reason, many former OE users have switched to the free Gmail (www.gmail.com) service or Yahoo! Mail to be free of installed email software forever.
To print your address book, open it and with the addresses displayed, click File > Print. In the Print Style section, you can select Memo, Business Card or Phone List format.
Mr. Modem's Sites of the Week
Get Relaxed
Soothing sounds to help you feel less stressed. Choose from mellifluous melodies such as “Eternal Hope,” “Midsummer Sky,” or “Clear Water.” Music is accompanied by a photo slide show, which I thought moved too quickly to be relaxing, but maybe that's just me. Better still, forget the slide show, minimize the window and let it play in the background. Ahhhhh.....
www.getrelaxed.com
The Same Game
Invented by Kuniaki Moribe (as if you didn't know), this game board is filled with different colored bubbles. Clicking two or more adjoining bubbles of the same color will make them disappear. Bubbles no longer supported by removed bubbles will fall, and empty columns will be trimmed away by the remaining bubbles sliding to the left. The object of the game is to clear the board completely.
www.mah-jongg.ch/samegame
Sandlot Science
This Web site features a collection of optical illusions, puzzles, and brain-teasers. Click the “World's Most Amazing Optical Illusions” link for more than a hundred eye-mazing images and animations. Click the Search link to find specific items, or head over to the Reading Room to learn more about the science of optical illusions.
www.sandlotscience.com
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Published: Mar 5,2012 18:50
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Andy Cowan
Andy Cowan, an award-winning writer, whose credits include Cheers and Seinfeld, regularly contributes humor pieces to the Los Angeles Times and the CBS Jack FM Radio Network.
Paul M. J. Suchecki
Paul M. J. Suchecki has more than 30 years of experience as an award winning writer, producer, and cameraman. He's written numerous newspaper and magazine articles. Currently he writes, produces and shoots for LA CityView Channel 35 and his more than 250 articles for Ehow.com are approaching half a million readers.
Coby Kindles
Coby Kindles is a freelance journalist, screenplay writer and essayist. She has been a staff writer at Knight Ridder and a regular contributor to The Associated Press.
Debbie Milam
Debbie Milam is a syndicated columnist for United Press International, an occupational therapist, family success consultant, and motivational speaker with more than 20 years experience. Her work on stress management, spirituality, parenting, and special-needs children has been featured in over 300 media outlets including First for Women, The Miami Herald, Elle, Ladies Home Journal, The Hallmark Channel, PBS and WebMD.
Dan Rafter
Dan Rafter has covered the residential real estate industry for more than 15 years. He has contributed real estate stories to the Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Business 2.0 Magazine, Home Magazine, Smart HomeOwner Magazine and many others.
Jack Nargundkar
Jack Nargundkar has been repeatedly published in Business Week, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The New York Times. He is also an author of "The Bush Diaries" published in July 2005.
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