LOL... TIA... AFAIK... Do acronyms like these make e-mail messages hard for you to understand? And what about those clusters of punctuation like :-D that makes no sense in a sentence? The special language of electronic communication started with the invention of the telegraph (read the book The Victorian Internet for a good perspective on e-communications) and evolved because acronyms allow us to quickly type often-used phrases. And emoticons like ;-) communicate feelings in a medium that doesn't allow facial expression to be seen or tone of voice to be heard.

Some acronyms like FYI have been around a lot longer than e-mail, but new abbreviations are being invented every day in chat rooms and instant messaging.

Acronyms 101 is a source for the most common abbreviations you'll see, and you'll find new shorthand at Chat Abbreviations. My favorite new acronym is CICO just because it's wordplay on GIGO (garbage in, garbage out). Emoticons 101 is a good start for finding emoticons or smilies (they're usually meant to be viewed by tilting your head left so the right side of the emoticon is at the bottom).

And this wouldn't be complete without mentioning Useful Internet Emoticons from the book Dave Barry in Cyberspace. Have a :( day!

Part of the Windows Taskbar is the SysTray . At first the SysTray contains just the clock and a little yellow speaker (the volume control.) However, as you add software to your PC you may find your SysTray collecting what Wired's Jargon Watch terms "taskbar lint."

Removing icons for programs you rarely use can improve your PC's operation. Each tiny icon represents a program that's running in the background that takes up some of your PC's system resources. While some of these icons are important to have running in the background (such as WinVNC or antivirus software) many others can safely be disabled. Hovering your mouse pointer over any SysTray icon should pop up a small window that tells you what program it represents.

Note: if you remove a program's icon from the SysTray you'll still be able to open the program from the Windows Start menu or from the application's Desktop shortcut. Removing an application's icon from the SysTray just deletes a shortcut to the program, not the program itself.

In general, if you find that your SysTray contains a lot of icons for things you never use, try right-clicking the icon to discover if the program gives you the option not to show the icon in the Tray. Other programs like RealPlayer require opening the application and drilling down into the application's preferences to disable its Start Center. Here's how to remove this one in particular:

1. Double-click the RealPlayer icon
in the SysTray to open the application.


2. Click View, then
   
   
3. Click Preferences.
   
   
   
4. The Preferences window will open, and in the General section click the Start Center Settings button.
   
   
   
5. In the StartCenter Settings window click the Enable StartCenter box to remove the checkmark.
   
   
6. Click the StartCenter Settings window's OK button.
   
   
   
7. When the window pops up to ask you if you're sure you want to disable the RealPlayer StartCenter, click the StartCenter Benefits Yes button.
   
   
   
8. Click the StartCenter Settings OK button again.
   
   
   
9. Click the Preferences OK button to finish.

And for a walk on the weird side, take a look at an attempt to build the world's longest SysTray.

Do you simply push the power button to turn off your Windows workstation? I hope not! Windows must be closed down properly so it will be reliable the next time you start your PC. If you don't shut it down properly, you're soon headed for the day when your PC freezes up or crashes intermittently.

Here are the steps you should follow to shut down your PC:

1. Click Start
   
   
2. Click Shut Down
   
   
   
3. Click the Yes button on the Shut Down Windows window.




4. Wait for a message telling you that it's safe to turn off the computer
   
   
5. Now you can turn off the power on your PC.

"Never underestimate the power of a company that has convinced millions of people that the only way to turn off a computer is through the Start menu."
-- Steve Mims

The Consumer and Patient Health Information Section of The Medical Library Association has compiled its "Top Ten" Most Useful Websites.

Australian librarian Fiona has assembled Librarians in Music. The styles of music range from Goth to musicals, and lots of the songs have audio clips and lyrics available.

Here's one sample:

To books I am beholden
I know I'm bad
'Cuz of the knowledge that I'm holdin'
And I give you one warnin'
There will be no repeats
Get out of my face
While I'm readin' my Keats
     -- MC Poindexter & The Study Crew

Ms. Fi also hosts a weekly radio program in Sydney called "Between the Stacks" that "brings you all the latest news from the library and information world from around the world." You can listen to recent shows at http://www.blisspix.net/bts/.

"The eternal conflict of good and the best with bad and the worst is on. The librarian must be the librarian militant before he can be the librarian triumphant... The solution of our difficulties lies in recognition by the State that public libraries are not only good things, but that they are an absolutely necessary part of our educational system."
   -- Melvil Dewey, "The Relation of The State to the Public Library"

Laisser les bons temps rouler (let the good times roll) and whip up some Cajun Shrimp Pasta.

This issue of The Ides was written on June 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/idesjun02.html