This enables you to view all posts, on a latest > earliest ranking.
Assuming you’re dining alone, or with an understanding and forgiving co-diner, you can eat some brain-food before the fried mozzarella sticks arrive, in a few seconds with these tips from Kim Komando.
Kim‘s a fun one to follow, for real-life tips.
And just for laughs, some sites you might never have seen before that will help you use AI the bestest ways:
Found this interesting article at neal.fun.
Websites on the internet are constantly trying to get you to complete actions. Whether it’s buying something, reccomending a friend or posting private information, there is a lot of value in getting you to perform specific actions. However, some websites go too far and try to trick or mislead you into doing what they want. This has led to what are called “Dark Patterns”, or shady ways of tricking you into performing actions without you knowing. Read more here.
Editor’s Note: I was going to title this post “Unfriendly Persuasion” but decided the reference was a bit outdated. See what I mean?
But back to business. Neal.fun is, as the name implies, a lot of fun. For example, “Where does the day go?”
Home is where your e-knowledge is. You have all you need, right? Everything about your e-setup is cozy and easy to use. You know your smartphone’s tricks like the back of the hand that’s always holding it, right?
And you seldom have to use an e-map at home. After all, when BFF says to meet by the Dolphin Fountain, you know exactly how to get there. But what happens when your travel buddy says “I’m just past the gelato stand” and you can’t find the stand or them? Here’s the secret map setting to use.
But then you get on your plane to Timbuktu* and you have to set your phone to airplane mode. Let’s face it: it’s a looong flight and your companion wants to listen to their podcasts or watch that classic movie they’ve always meant to watch… can they, in airplane mode? Yup. We’ve prepared a printable summary of what airplane mode can do for you to tuck into your carryon. It’s from the STUG Monitor, a members-only benefit. Want to subscribe?
* Why do we say Timbuktu when we mean strange, far-off place? I wondered too.
[Article written by Kate Holmes, STUG volunteer, with organizing help from Claude AI. I was too shook up to take proper notes of the fiasco.]
I recently got a new laptop and set merrily to, transferring my digital life from old to new. I’ve done this before. I know what I’m doing. Or so I thought. I finished the switchover in record time. Or so I thought.
Within the first few days, I noticed something odd. Files I was sure I’d saved to my Desktop weren’t where I expected them. Documents I’d created weren’t in my Documents folder — or rather, they were, but the folder wasn’t where it was supposed to be. Things felt slightly off in a way that was hard to pin down.
When you set up a new Windows 11 machine, or often when Windows 10 upgrades to Windows 11, OneDrive doesn’t just offer to back up your files. It goes ahead and redirects your core folders — Desktop, Documents, and Pictures — into its own sync folder, deep inside your user directory. Your Desktop is no longer at C:\Users\YourName\Desktop. It’s now at C:\Users\YourName\OneDrive\Desktop.
The folders look exactly the same on screen. The Desktop still looks like a desktop. Documents still looks like Documents. Nothing waves a flag to tell you that these locations have been silently relocated into Microsoft’s cloud sync system.
This matters for several reasons:
* Files you think are local may actually be in the cloud even only in the cloud, if OneDrive decides to free up local space
* If your internet connection drops, OneDrive can lose the plot. Files can appear to vanish or become inaccessible
* Anything that syncs to the cloud is subject to Microsoft’s terms, not just sitting quietly on your hard drive
* If you later unlink OneDrive, those redirected folders can end up stranded in unexpected locations
And here’s what happened to me: I accidentally sent a very large folder to the Recycle Bin during cleanup. Because it was inside OneDrive, recovering it was a hair-tugging exercise. It worked out, but only because I caught it fast (and I had AI on my side.)
If you are upgrading an existing machine from Windows 10 to Windows 11, you may hit the same issue. The Windows 11 setup process prompts you to sign in with a Microsoft account and strongly nudges you toward OneDrive backup. Many people click through those screens without realizing what they’re agreeing to. The folder redirect can happen during that process just as easily as it did on my brand-new machine.
If you’re already on Windows 11 and you’re not sure whether this has happened to you, here’s the quick check: open File Explorer, right-click on your Documents folder, choose Properties, and look at the Location tab. If the path shown contains the word “OneDrive,” your folder has been redirected.
On a new machine, before you do anything else: when Windows setup asks about OneDrive backup, decline it, or at minimum, uncheck the folder redirection options. You can always set up OneDrive manually later, on your own terms.
If the redirect has already happened: you can move the folders back. Right-click the folder → Properties → Location → Restore Default. Windows will move everything back to the local path. Do this before you unlink OneDrive, or things get complicated. [Note from Kate: Claude AI says this. I didn’t try that, so you’re on your own; remember, AI ain’t always right.]
Get your files settled, your folder structure sorted, and your backup solution chosen deliberately. You might choose OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, or something else. Only after you’re happy with your structure should you set up cloud sync on your own terms.
Now I assume that OneDrive is not a bad product. For people who want seamless cloud backup and don’t mind their files living in Microsoft’s ecosystem, it works well. But the way Windows 11 deploys it, silently, during setup, without a clear explanation of what folder redirection actually means, is a genuine gotcha. It catches experienced users, not just beginners.
Photo credits Designboom.com, Sunday Robotics
I’d been running my business on WordPress for years and felt comfortable with all its ins and outs. So when the call went out for a WordPress instructor I raised my hand. “I can do that.” Like I said, I was at ease with that piece of software.
When I volunteered to teach a class, oh boy did I learn! I ended up learning as much as my students did. It was such a rewarding experience that I did another class.
If you like to learn, and/or like to teach, STUG has a place you can do so! Since 1982, the Sarasota Technology Users Group (STUG) has been a completely volunteer organization.
Many of us have learned the quickest way to become proficient in something is to teach it to others. We are always open to new topics, speakers and instructors. Get in touch with our President, Jim Cerny, at jimcerny123@gmail.com or Education Czar Bill Crowe at wtcrowe@verizon.net or 941-441-5158.
More comfortable doing research and writing on uses or aspects of current technology? We’d love to expand the Monitor with your articles if you have a love of and flair for writing. Contact Jim with your ideas.
Refurbish Group Manager Mike Hutchinson is always looking for volunteers. Think you’d like to help? This aspect of STUG is a blessing to our entire community. Learn more at https://refurbproject.org/
We hope your brain’s tick-tocking right now with something you can do to make STUG ever bigger, better, and more valuable to all of us. Remember, skill levels of our members range from “I don’t know how to turn the ‘thing’ on” to “let me show you how to disassemble and reassemble this device blindfolded, in a closet, in 27 seconds”. If you have any questions, ideas, suggestions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at STUG.
And you can help them continue their incredible gifts to people, young and old, who need but cannot afford a computer. The work is volunteer, but the rent, utilities, fresh batteries and needed parts come with bills due.
We love getting the thank-you notes. Wouldn’t you love helping us cover the expenses of the Refurb Project, and wouldn’t you even more, like to double your contribution whether it’s $25, $50, $75 or $100?
The Patterson Foundation will double unique contributions up to $100. If you wish to donate more, consider doing so in a family member’s name/ credit card to make the most of this generous doubling of your money.
The Giving Challenge is a community-based online giving event inspiring donors and citizen philanthropists to learn more about the nonprofits and causes in Southwest Florida they care about most.
What’s it all about? The Giving Challenge is a 24-hour online fundraising event hosted by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, connecting hundreds of local nonprofits with donors across Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties. The 2026 event runs noon April 15 through noon April 16, and thanks to The Patterson Foundation, donations between $25 and $100 are matched 1:1. It’s a great chance to double your impact for STUG!
What will you do with the donations? We will be fulfilling the mission of our Refurb Group. You know, those dedicated volunteers who refurbish computers for the community? The Group that has given over 25,000 computers to all aspects of Sarasota County and its neighbors. Read more about this incredible part of STUG.
Do we have to donate a specific amount? Any amount is welcome, but to qualify for matching funds, grants, and prizes, the minimum is $25, and donations must be made online.* Feel free to choose an amount meaningful to you — $92 because that’s the year you arrived in our area? The Patterson Foundation will double any donation in the $25–$100 range. If you’d like to give more than $100, having a spouse or family member donate separately will maximize the match.
How much is this costing STUG? The credit-card fee of 6% is deducted from all contributions, which pays for the processing of your gift. (So if you’d like to donate, say, $53 so STUG gets the full $50, that would be terrific!)
How has STUG gotten the word out? We’ve sent broadcast emails to all members, posted on our website, and promoted the event on Facebook. The real cost is the time and talent our volunteers have put in — and we hope you’ll spend a few minutes spreading the word too (read on…)
How can I help? In addition to any donation you choose to make, you can help spread the word to those you know. If you maintain a personal, club, residents or business email list, that’s a great place to spread the word. If you are active in on-line forums or discussion groups, on Facebook or X or LinkedIn, there’s more folks you can alert.
But I can’t ask friends to give money to my causes! You don’t have to! They can donate to one or many of the 700 local causes participating, but of course we hope you’ll make STUG the first item in your “gift basket.”
All you have to do is ask your on-line acquaintances to visit, between noon Wednesday and noon Thursday (Yes, for you night owls: you can visit in your jammies at 3 a.m. if that’s your bag), our profile page at The Giving Partner.
Is donating on-line safe? Ultra-safe. The Giving Partner uses state-of-the-art security. If you’d still rather donate in person, stop by the Refurb Shop either morning — a STUG Board member will be happy to help.
Is my donation tax-deductible? Yes, 100%.
Will my name get on a list? The only people who will ever see your email address will be us, and that’s so we can acknowledge your gift. The foundations and the financial processing service cannot see your address. And we, of course, never reveal, rent or sell your email to anyone. Never have, never will.
I’m not available on April 15 until late. Is it worth my while to donate that night or the next morning? Anytime during the 24 hours, from noon on April 15 through until noon on April 16, the Giving Challenge is active and your donation up to $100 will be doubled.
STUG 