One advantage to using a single program for e-mail, appointments, and tasks is that Outlook can transform one type of item into another. If someone sends you an e-mail message about an upcoming meeting, you can drag it from the Inbox to the calendar icon in the Outlook bar on the left side of the screen.

Outlook will automatically create a new appointment with the subject line of the original e-mail message, and the text of the e-mail message will appear in the notes section of the appointment. All you need to do is modify the date and time, specify any additional options you want, or edit the subject line. When you're done click Save and Close to add the appointment to your calendar.

You can also use this technique if you receive an e-mail message and you don't have time to respond to it immediately -- you can easily add it to your calendar and schedule a block of time when you will be able to reply. Enter the date and time you want to reply and set the reminder to notify you when it's time to respond to the e-mail message.

For more Outlook tips and tricks check the WALS Outlook Support pages.

If you want to print just a selected passage from a Web page in Internet Explorer

1. Use your mouse to highlight the text you want to print
2. Click File
3. Click Print
   
4. In the Print window, in the Print Range section click on Selection
5. Then click the OK button.
   

If you visit a web site often you may want to create a shortcut icon for it on your computer's Desktop. Follow these steps to try it out:

Using Internet Explorer:

1. Go to the Web site of choice
2. Right-click with your mouse anywhere on the Web page
3. Choose "Create Shortcut" from the dropdown menu
   
   
4. A small window will pop up to confirm that a shortcut has been created
   
   
5. Click the OK button.
6. Your new shortcut should now appear on the Windows desktop.

Using Netscape 4.x:

1. Go to the Web site of choice
2. Right-click with your mouse anywhere on the Web page
3. Choose "Create Shortcut" from the dropdown menu
   
   
4. A small window will pop up to confirm the description and URL of the shortcut. If you want to modify or rename the shortcut, click in the Description field and type the text you prefer.
   
5. Click the OK button.
   
6. Your new shortcut should now appear on the Windows desktop.

You've seen the ads on TV promoting some fantastic new product but it just sounds too good to be true. The Does It Work? page on the KRBC television station (Abilene, Texas) web site attempts to find out if the items advertised are as good as they sound, with weekly hands-on reviews of new late-night TV gadgets. Here are just a few of the products they tested:

• Universal Inkjet Refill Kit
• The Baconwave
• Co-Pilot Hands Free Cell Phone Holder
• Fix A Flat
• Pro-Trim Paint Roller

And find out which product earned this evaluation: "In the end, I have to say that this is probably the worst product I've ever tested. Ever. It actually does the opposite of what it claims it will, and even though it is cheap, I wouldn't pay a dime for it."

A new series of waterproof books designed for reading while in the bathtub has been published, each one designed to fit in a soap dish. Titles in the new series include:

• The Amazing Book of Paper Boats
• Splish Splash: Recipes for the Bath
• Rub-A-Dub-Dub: Baby in the Tub
• Makin' Waves: Fun for Kids in the Tub
• Soothing Soaks: Relaxation for the Bath
• Clean & Serene: Meditations for the Bath

"Politicians who promise to cut taxes generally aren't talking about your taxes."
   -- Donald Kaul, Des Moines Register columnist

Think spring and make some Asparagus Guacamole Dip.

This issue of The Ides was written on April 15, 2002
Copyright 2001, Winnefox Library System

The Ides is written by Joy Schwarz.
Please direct any questions, comments or recipes to schwarz@mail.winnefox.org

URL: http://www.winnefox.org/ides/idesapr02.html