Bits & Bytes - July 2005

“I was raised on a farm in South Mississippi. I often went barefoot the entire summer. We didn’t have inside plumbing; neither did the grammar school I went to. I plowed corn with the mules, chopped cotton, dug potatoes, swam in the pond, and listened to the Grand Ol’ Opry on a battery powered radio.” From these humble beginnings, arose a man who ultimately became responsible for a 300-engineer design group at Hughes Aircraft Company.

After graduating from Fernwood High school, Bob joined the U.S. Army and spent three years in the Army Security Agency at Fort Devens, Massachusetts. There, he worked in communications and cryptography. “I was an instructor for a couple of years in basic electronics and cryptographic equipment,” Bob explains.

The GI Bill helped Bob attend Mississippi State University, from which he graduated with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. Afterward, Bob left Mississippi for Southern California and began a 33-year career with Hughes Aircraft Company. “I worked on communications equipment for the B-58 bomber, worked on many communications projects for the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines, and designed cryptographic equipment for the NSA,” Bob says proudly. “The most fun was working on the highly classified projects for the CIA and FBI. Finally, I became a manager with 300 engineers working for me.”

Bob retired in 1992. He and his wife, Renee, winter in Florida but always come back here for the beautiful spring weather. “We’re living out our dream here in the gold country,” Bob says with a smile in his voice.

While not instructing at GCCLC, Bob plays golf, raises Koi, and fights weeds, Poison Oak, and Scotch Broom on his lovely property in Grass Valley. “I also do income taxes for the AARP.” Bob also enjoys his and Renee’s four grown children and eight grandchildren.
Before Bob hooked up with GCCLC, he was a charter member of the South Yuba River Park Association. “This was before Bridgeport was even a park,” he points out. “I was in on the formative years of the Association, helping to form our non-profit group, and eventually served as the Association’s president,” he explains.

Along with instructing, Bob serves as the chief coordinator of the GCCLC’s governing committee. As Bob explains, “The most fun I have is working with the people and seeing them invigorated and enthusiastic about their jobs. I enjoy instructing because it’s always a delight to see their eyes light up when they finally ‘get it.’ Sometimes they even let out a Whoopie!” Bob says laughingly.

What’s in the future for the GCCLC? “I just want to see it grow and flourish and continue to be a valuable resource for the community and its citizens,” Bob says. Knowing Bob, something tells me this is just what will happen

Tech Tips

Submitted by: Mitch Bain

If you go to Google and search "Windows Shortcuts" you'll find a gazillion, some of which are actually useful -- and work in almost all Windows applications!

F1: Help
Alt + F4: Quit Program
Shift + Delete: Delete item permanently.
Shift while inserting CD-ROM: Bypass Autorun
Ctrl + O: Open
Ctrl + S: Save
Ctrl + Z: Undo
Ctrl + A: Select All
Ctrl + X: Cut
Ctrl + C: Copy
Ctrl + Y: Paste
Ctrl + I: Italics
Ctrl + B: Bold
Ctrl + U: Underline
Ctrl + Left-Click: Multiple selections in Explorer
Ctrl + ESC (or WIN key): Start Menu
Shift + Arrow key: Select
F5: Refresh current window

To learn more (and find out what the Windows key and the Application key do) go to: www.internet4classrooms.com/winkeyboard.htm

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E-mail it to the editor at
publicity1@goldcountrycenter.org

Thursday, July 21 (9:00-11:00)
"How to Share your Photographs"
Presented by Roger Thornburn

Have you taken lots of photos that are gathering dust in your computer? Then find out how you can share them with your friends and family electronically.

Occasionally Students will have an emergency that necessitates missing a class. If this happens to you, we ask that you go through the lesson at home and then come to a lab where lab monitors are available to help. If you’re still having difficulty, we will try

to make up classes you miss, but can't guarantee to do that in all cases. Whether or not make-up classes will be provided is up to individual instructors.

Coaches play a key role in the teaching process. Coaches are roving helpers. They assist the instructors and help students during classes. We like to have three coaches per class. All that’s needed is basic knowledge; how to perform simple computer tasks, i.e. save, cut, paste, format, send and receive e-mail, surf the Internet, etc.

If you are uncertain whether or not you qualify, center personnel will be pleased to do a personal skills assessment. Tutoring is available to sharpen skills if needed.