So your room is too small for your PS3, or maybe your Xbox 360 finally gave in and flashed you the ole’ red ring of death – don’t sweat it! It really isn’t as bad as you think! So, what’s the fuss all about?

The Educational Gaming Commons (EGC) has opened up a brand spankin’ new gaming lab in Findlay Commons that’s completely free for you to use. Seriously – free! And they’ve got all the major equipment for you to use; Xbox 360, PS3, Ninendo Wii, and PC machines to feed your inner World of Warcraft addiction.

All you need is a valid Penn State ID+ card and you’re in – from 8:00 a.m. to midnight (sorry, all-night raids will have to take place elsewhere!), seven days a week, in room 6A of Findlay Commons.

Check out the EGC’s Web site, http://gaming.psu.edu/, for a list of available games and equipment. Plus, you can check out all the cool ways they’re trying to incorporate gaming into education, too.

EducationalGaming Commons

WHAT THE

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Protect Your DataEveryone’s heard how identity theft can really screw up your life. Between bogus expenses and ruined credit ratings for years afterward (buh-buy new car and solo apartment living!), why take any chances? Get rid of all sensitive informa-tion, like your social security number, and enable the encryption feature on your computer.

Keeping your data secure involves more than just encryption, it also means keep-ing personal data out of the hands of people who shouldn’t have it. Millions of fake e-mails are sent out daily mimicking the legitimate names and logos of banks, institutions, and corporations to fool you into revealing sensitive data such as your password or credit card number. Never disclose personal information via e-mail, no matter who requests it. Remember, Penn State will NEVER ask you for this kind of information in an e-mail. To learn more, visit Penn State’s Take Control Web site, http://its.psu.edu/takecontrol.

Protect Your ImageThink the scariest thing to happen to Facebook is that your mom’s signing up? Not so fast. Social networking sites are great for keeping in touch with old friends and making new ones, but also carry a lot of dangers. People aren’t al-ways honest, and you never know if the person you’re sharing information with is who they say they are. Be aware that what you post may be misinterpreted, cause harm to your reputation, or your

No matter how many times you’ve heard it, the message has never been as important as it is today; use protection. Thank-fully, Penn State makes it easy to stay protected. Get tested regu-

larly so that a virus doesn’t sneak up on you when you least expect it, and make sure you have the tools to cure what ails you. You don’t want to have to clean out your entire system because of one small mistake. Even This Squirrel has to keep a tight handle on his nut stash!

image could be distributed without your knowledge or consent. It was fun

on Homecoming weekend, but a year later when you get asked about it in a job interview? Not so much. Trust us, it happens.

Protect Your ComputerAutomated virus tools are always look-ing for ways to break into and take over your system. Severe attacks may delete important data, steal personal information you have stored, crash your system, or spawn new attacks. A firewall can help protect your computer by blocking these potentially hostile connection attempts. Learn how to set up or enable a firewall at http://kb.its.psu.edu/ and search for “firewall.”

You should also download anti-virus and anti-spyware software, which by the way, Penn State provides for you at https://downloads.its.psu.edu/. Computer viruses, while easily avoidable, are curses that just keep on destroying.

The reality is we need to go out of our way to protect ourselves. Check out Penn State’s Take Control Web site for tips on how to keep your digital identity safe.

Penn State’s annual Take Control security campaign is underway! This Squirrel will be leading an online treasure hunt at

WINWIN This Squirrel’s “Nutbook”

http://its.psu.edu/takecontrol/

Bookmark these Penn State sites:

Take Control Web site: http://its.psu.edu/takecontrol/ Free Anti-virus Software: https://downloads.its.psu.edu/Knowledge Base: http://kb.its.psu.edu/ITS Student Web site: http://its.psu.edu/students/

QUICKQUESTIONSSIMPLEANSWERS

Why can’t I share my password with my family and friends?

Your Penn State Access Account is your digital identity at Penn State and is the key to accessing many University ser-vices. Selecting a strong password and changing it regularly are important ways to protect your privacy and personal information. We have found that in many cases, it is some-one’s ex-friend, ex-partner, or ex-roommate who will cause trouble or gain unauthorized access to private information. So don’t share it with anyone, not even your parents, your best friend, or your partner – it’s for your own protection!Get all the details you need at http://its.psu.edu/password/.

Does Penn State provide students with anti-virus software?Yes! Visit the Downloads Web site, https://downloads.its.psu.edu, and sign in with your Access Account user ID and password. Remember that you need to set Symantec’s Live Update feature in order to stay cur-rent on virus definitions.

What are my options for getting my Penn State e-mail?Penn State provides you with WebMail, but you’re free to use any e-mail service of your choice. If you choose to use another service you may forward your Penn State e-mail through the ITS Secure Server, https://www.work.psu.edu/. Sign in and click the “Change your e-mail forwarding address” link.

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You’re right – As of late spring 2009, Blackboard Inc. purchased ANGEL Learning with plans to integrate it into its product line.

ANGEL Learning, the company that created ANGEL, Penn State’s course management system, told This Squirrel that there are no significant changes on the horizon. Blackboard Inc. will eventually combine the best of both systems into a single product. The time line for these modifications is pretty long-term, so don’t expect to see a lot, if any, changes in the near future.

For now, Penn State is focusing on the needs of students and faculty – keeping ANGEL as easy for you to use as possible.

If you do happen to have an issue with ANGEL, there are several ways you can go about getting help. The ANGEL Help and Information Guide, right within ANGEL itself, allows you to do a search for your particular issue. If that doesn’t work, you can always contact ANGEL support at AngelSupport@psu.edu.

<3 This Squirrel

Dear Already Overwhelmed,

Learn It Quick w/ Lynda

AccessAcrobatAfterEffectsApertureASP.NETAutoCADAvid Xpress ProBentoBloggerBridgeCaptivateCINEMA 4DColdFusionContributeCorelDRAWDirectorDreamweaverDrupalDVD Studio ProEntourageExcelFileMaker ProFinal CutFireworksFrontPageGarageBandGrooveiLifeIllustratoriMovieInDesigniPhotoiWebiWorkKeynoteKulerLiveTypeLogicMac OSMayaMoodle

OneNoteOpen SourceOpenOffice.orgPagesPaint Shop ProPhotoshopPicasaPoserPowerPointPremiere ProProjectPublisherQuarkXPressQuickenQuickTimeSharepointSoundboothSoundtrack ProSQLStudioTwitterVisioWindowsWordWordPerfectWordPress.comXcelsiusZBrush

FALL

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One of the frustrations we hear is how annoying it is to be in the middle of a project and

not know how to finish it because the software is a complete mystery. Luckily, Penn State has brought a lovely lady on board to help out. We’d like to introduce you to Lynda.

Lynda.com, Inc. offers over a thousand video tutorials on leading software topics like Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, audio and video editing applications, operating systems, and so much more. These top-quality tutorials are taught by industry experts and are available to you 24/7 in order to fit in with your busy schedule.

Hundreds of convenient, online training videos now available to all Penn Staters.

Information Technology Services (ITS) has secured a license for Penn State students to use the Lynda tutorials at no cost. These videos are broken down into easily manage-able segments. All you have to do to access these video tutorials is visit the ITS Training Services Web site, http://its.psu.edu/training/. You’ll need to sign in with your Penn State user ID and password.

With Lynda by your side, you’ll be well on your way to learning how to edit photos using smart objects and masks in Photoshop!

Lynda Wrap-Up:

What: Lynda.com video tutorials

Where: The ITS Training Services Web site, http://its.psu.edu/training/.

When: 24/7

Why: Learn lots of cool stuff! Oh yeah, and impress your Professors with your class projects.

Student VideosWorth Watching

When you have a minute, watch a few intro-ductory videos about technology services at Penn State - short, sweet & to the point! http://its.psu.edu/students/videos/

CHECK IT.

Setting Up Your PSUWeb Space

navigate tohttp://personal.psu.edu/

click “Apply for Web Space...”

complete the short quiz... QUIZ?!

wait... you’ll receivean e-mail in about 3 business days

visit your home pagehttp://personal.psu.edu/Your PSU id

Create an e-port-folio, post your resume, connect with employers, move forward...

what now?... from this point on,https://work.psu.edu/ is the key to all the possibilities.

TAKE A MOMENT

Have a question for This Squirrel?

Become a fan on Facebook and submit your question any time! http://www.facebook.com/ThisSquirrel

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