Tech Tips for the Basic Computer User. David Pogue's NYT tech column offers tips you may not know about, such as double-clicking a word to define it before copying. Readers add more in comments.

I would add Keyboard shortcuts in Windows XP and Keyboard shortcuts in Mac OS/X, from Microsoft and Apple, respectively. The operations you perform frequently are almost always faster using a few keystrokes.

(The one everybody should know: Ctrl-A selects all text; Ctrl-C copies it to the clipboard; Ctrl-V pastes it into the new email/textfile. For Mac users, substitute Command for Crtl.)

Continuing the theme: Keyboard shortcuts for Firefox, IE 5.5, 6 and 7, and Safari browsers.

Yesterday's news: I'm enjoying the Patriots' sloppy football. It's fun to watch something other than controlled perfection, holding one's breath for a winning streak that's now been shed. Especially when they win anyway. It was great to see Cassel's long ball to Moss.

After the Super Bowl loss, I'm emotionally less attached. Their fate is not mine.

Condolences to Ian Donnis, Providence Phoenix News Editor and blogger (Not for Nothing), whose father died last Wednesday.