Newsgroups, often called SIGs (special interest groups), get lost in the clutter of the web and email but they are an important resource and handy reference when you're digging in to a specific topic. Like what, you ask? Well, there's a group for clutter, for example, and public speaking, publishing, coping with loss, diseases, childcare woes, PT Cruiser lovers, Desperate Housewives fans, and thousands of other special interests.

To test-drive a newsgroup or SIG and see if it suits you, browse the list of groups at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/

http://groups.google.com/grphp?hl=en&tab=wg&q=

And remember, the web is global, so you'll find plenty of groups on foreign languages, ethnic cooking, science, religion, and technology, full of like-minded people around the world, ready to share insights with you.

When you click Start / Programs, do you have so many programs showing you can't see the full display? Not everyone has this problem but if you do, click Start and right-click on All Programs. Then choose Explore or Explore All Users. That's the easy way to open the Windows program folder so you can delete, reorganize and create folders for similar items, such as all Internet related programs, all Games or all Utilities.

They kept the lights on late one night at Iowa State University and figured out the typical annual electricity usage for equipment.

A computer that's always on $65

Computer turned off nights and weekends $21

CRT monitor turned off off nights & weekends $40

A black & white laser printer $8

and for comparison... Annual cost to operate a refrigerator $150

We recommend putting a computer in Stand By overnight, to save energy in rebooting.

Here is an excellent resource to improve your digital photography skills, just in time for summer vacation.

Remember, printing photos at home can be expensive, but Office Max (www.officemax.com) has great pricing on their store brand of photo paper, and if you run out of ink, Cartridge World is standing by at 2865 Pfingsten in Glenview.

1. If you're getting bored with Word, PowerPoint and other Microsoft Office programs, download some fresh, free templates to spice up your computer. Browse through the templates for business documents, stationery, resumes, even diet & exercise templates. http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/default.aspx

2. (I'm repeating this important tip from last month, since we have loads of new subscribers this month). Have a Plan B if your computer fails. It could be a summer storm, or a sudden failure you can't predict. If your computer conks out - be sure your data is backed up and you have access to another computer.

3. Learn to capture screen shots with a few clicks. On any screen, press PRTSC (print-screen). Then click Start / Programs / Accessories / Paint. This is a little program that can capture any graphics and save them as BMP or JPG. By pressing PRTSC, you copied the screen. Now click Edit / Paste and the screen shot will appear in Paint. Okay - maybe it will take you six minutes the first time, but it's a handy trick.

4. Convert any document into a PDF (Adobe portable document format). Try it free at https://createpdf.adobe.com/

5. Improve your search techniques by reading this article on when to use quotes, and the minus sign, to get precise results.

1. You have over 100 messages in your Inbox.

2. Your calendar is on paper, and you write down information from emails... on paper, longhand.

3. You're out of printer ink or paper, and you don't care.

4. You're not sure if MP3 is music or exercise equipment.

5. You were shocked to learn they don't make computers with floppy disks any more.

6. Your cat uses the computer more than you do.

If you're at Printer's Row Book Fair on Saturday, June 3rd, stop by and say Hello. I'll be at the Illinois Women's Press Assn. booth all morning.

Helen Gallagher

Phone: 847-998-6240, www.cclarity.com

Feel free to forward this issue of Computer Clarity's monthly e-newsletter to your friends, or invite them to subscribe on my site at www.cclarity.com. There's no charge.