It’s time to march into spring and this March issue gives you plenty of ideas to explore as you move through the month. Since we don’t want scammers to take you on a detour, we include a warning about tax-related scams and share valuable tips to help keep your identity safe. You’ll also find helpful tips about the “404 Page Not Found” message and how to
save on your printing costs.
Just for fun, check out the Pinterest pins, videos, and websites we’ve selected for you. They feature lots of fresh ideas for your spring activities, whether it’s cooking something new, sprucing up your home, or planning your vegetable garden.
We think you’ll find the information contained in this newsletter to be a valuable tool for enhancing your Internet experience.
Here’s what’s inside our March 2014 Newsletter:
SCAM ALERT – WATCH FOR IRS TAX-RELATED SCAMS
NEWS FROM THE SHOP
THIS MONTH’S FAQ – WHAT DOES “404 PAGE NOT FOUND” MEAN?
SITES OF THE MONTH – GREAT SITES TO CHECK OUT IN MARCH
TWO TO VIEW – A COUPLE OF AMAZING VIDEOS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS
SHORT TUTORIAL – HOW TO PRINT ONLY A SECTION OF A WEBPAGE
The Gulfcoast Networking Team
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SCAM ALERT – WATCH FOR IRS TAX-RELATED SCAMS
It’s not only tax season at the IRS; it’s also tax season for scammers. Since tax-related scams are becoming increasingly common and more sophisticated, the IRS has issued these tips to help you spot potential fraud and reduce your exposure to identity theft:
1. Be wary of any unexpected communications claiming to be from the IRS. If you receive any tax notices, take them to the person who prepared your income tax return to determine their validity and to create a necessary course of action if the notice is legitimate.
2. Don’t talk to anyone claiming to be from the IRS on the phone. The agency will not call you on the phone.
3. The IRS will never send emails to taxpayers. If you receive an email supposedly from the IRS, forward it to phishing@irs.gov and do not open any attachments.
4. The IRS will never ask you for your bank account PIN number, passwords, or other similar confidential information such as mother’s maiden name for bank accounts or credit card accounts.
5. Don’t carry your Social Security card or any documents that include your Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. Keep them stored in a safe place away from the eyes of others.
6. Don’t give a business your Social Security number or ITIN just because they ask. Give it only when required. If you are self-employed providing services to other businesses, you may be required to provide this information on IRS Form W9 for 1099 purposes. For this reason, it may be prudent to apply for a Federal ID number to further ensure the security
of your Social Security number.
7. Secure personal information in your home in a safe place.
8. Check your credit report every 12 months to make sure there’s no unusual activity or illegitimate credit lines.
9. Protect your personal computers by using firewalls and anti-spam/virus software, updating security patches, and changing passwords for Internet accounts.
10. Don’t give personal information over the phone, through the mail, or on the Internet unless you have initiated the contact and are sure of the recipient.
11. Be careful when you choose a tax preparer. Most preparers provide excellent service but there are a few who are unscrupulous.
For more on this topic, see the special identity theft section on IRS.gov.
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NEWS FROM THE SHOP
As I write this, there are just five weeks before Windows XP sunsets. We STRONGLY encourage anyone with a Windows XP box to contact us ASAP to see what options are available. We are building some great Windows 7 systems with our 3 year warranty. We also have access to a number of name brand systems with Windows 7 installed.
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Try Yummy Tomato
Butternut Squash Soup
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/291537775850347718/
Sliding Barn Door Adds
Cool Country Touch
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/291537775850074822/
This Baby Giraffe Is Too Cute For Words
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/291537775850347890/
You haven’t started pinning on Pinterest yet and you want to get started?
To sign up, go here https://pinterest.com/join/signup/
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THIS MONTH’S FAQ – WHAT DOES “404 PAGE NOT FOUND” MEAN?
Question: Sometimes when I try to visit a website, I get a message that says something like, “404 Page Not Found.” What does this mean and what should I do next?
Answer: This error message means the page corresponding to the URL you entered cannot be found on the site’s server. It’s possible the page no longer exists or that there is an error in the URL you entered. To rule out the second possibility, check the URL carefully to ensure you didn’t mistype. If it seems accurate, try these steps:
1. Click the reload button in your browser.
2. Try removing one level of the URL at a time. For example, if you typed in “http://www.abc.com/x/y/z,” remove “/z.” If you still see nothing, or an error message, remove “/y,” and so on. If you finally get to the home page (e.g. “http://www.abc.com”), try browsing or doing a search for the information you’re looking for.
3. Test the URL at the site http://downforeveryoneorjustme.com. This site will tell you if just you are unable to access the page or if it’s a problem with the site itself.
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SITES OF THE MONTH – GREAT SITES TO CHECK OUT IN MARCH
Chasco Fiesta
http://www.chascofiesta.com
The 2014 edition of the Chasco Fiesta will be here before you know it. The fiesta runs from March 21st through March 29th in downtown New Port Richey. Highlights include the street parade on March 22nd and the boat parade on March 29th. There will be music every night, different styles for different tastes, so check out the Chasco calendar of events and plan your visits to Sims Park Accordingly. The Chasco Fiesta gives area non-profits an opportunity to raise money to fund their operations and the Fiesta has become the largest special event in Pasco. Gulfcoast Networking is very pleased to be donating the web hosting for this event.
Rob Marlowe for Mayor
http://www.robmarlowe2014.com
Just in case you hadn’t heard, I’m running for mayor of New Port Richey this year. The election is April 8th and I encourage you to check out my website for details on what I see as the issues facing our city. (Political advertisement paid for and approved by Robert C Marlowe, non-partisan, for Mayor of New Port Richey)
Antiques Roadshow Sweepstakes
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow
If you’re a fan of Antiques Roadshow, enter the “Golden Ticket” Sweepstakes now for a chance to win a 3-day, 2-night trip for two to Chicago and experience an exclusive VIP day during Roadshow’s 2014 Tour. This site also offers resources to value your treasures.
Score Big With Party Recipes
http://allrecipes.com/recipes/holidays-and-events/events-and-gatherings/march-madness
You’ll find “slam dunk” party food here to keep the gang happy while watching the games. Big winners include Boilermaker Tailgate Chili, Annie’s Fruit Salsa and Cinnamon Chips, Grilled Bacon and Jalapeno Wraps, and Antipasto Squares.
Green Means Go … Enjoy Ireland!
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/ireland-photos
Given St. Patrick’s Day, March is the month when many people’s thoughts turn to Ireland. Leave it to National Geographic to capture this country’s most beautiful scenery. If you can’t get there in person, this site’s stunning photos are the next best thing.
Get Tips For Spring Planting
http://www.garden.org/foodguide/browse
It’s the time of year to start planning your garden and this site has plenty of resources to help you successfully grow vegetables, fruits, and herbs. You’ll be able to harvest plenty of expert advice from the Plant Finder, How-To Videos, Food Garden Guide, and much more.
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TWO TO VIEW – A COUPLE OF AMAZING VIDEOS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS
http://www.eNewsletterHome.com/_eNewsletter/2014/1403_VIDEO_A.htm
Coca-Cola Happiness Machine
Watch the fun reactions on the faces of people when they’re surprised by a special Coke machine at a bus stop in Sweden. The machine displayed large images of summer scenes during the dead of winter.
http://www.eNewsletterHome.com/_eNewsletter/2014/1403_VIDEO_B.htm
Tips For Growing Giant Tomatoes
The Three-Minute Gardener, Marvin Meisner, shares his tips for how to grow giant tomatoes. He takes you through the steps of choosing the right tomato variety, preparing the soil, watering, pruning, and plant support.
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SHORT TUTORIAL – HOW TO PRINT ONLY A SECTION OF A WEBPAGE
To save on paper and ink, you may sometimes want to print just a portion of a webpage rather than the whole thing including the ads, comments, etc. After all, what’s the point of printing extra pages that just end up in the trash?
Here’s how to print only a portion of a webpage:
1. Highlight the portion that you want to print by left-clicking at the beginning of the text and dragging your mouse until the end of the text.
2. Once this is highlighted, click your cursor arrow on “File” from the menu bar.
3. Click on “Print” from the resulting drop-down menu.
Many webpages feature icons with options such as Print, Email, and Share. If this is the case, click on their Print icon and an advertisement-free version of the article will appear, ready to print.
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We hope you found this newsletter to be informative. It’s our way of keeping you posted on the happenings at our shop.
Thanks for your business!
Best regards,
Rob Marlowe, Senior Geek
Gulfcoast Networking, Inc.
6335 Grand Blvd
New Port Richey, FL 34652
727-847-2424
(We have used our best efforts in collecting and preparing the information published herein. However, we do not assume, and hereby disclaim, any and all liability for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions resulted from negligence, accident, or other causes.)
© 2014 Gulfcoast Networking, Inc.
Portions ©2014 Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc., used with permission.