Info Manager for November 18, 2002

[*]   45s for CDs?

[*]   MidAtlantic MUGs at new Apple Store

[*]   PC makers cut tech support along with prices

[*]   Henrico county given award for its iBook program

[*]   MUG Libraries

[*]   Short column this week

[*]   OSX Tip: Negative Monitor?

[*]   User Group of the Week: JoMacs

[*]   Web site of the week: Doody36

[*]   Quotes: Arnold Schwarzenegger
 

45s for CDs?

Most of us old foggies have a few 45 RPM records lying a round. Verbatim has now developed a line of CD-R disks that resemble them for us to record on. Take a look at the pictures of them at:
http://www.verbatim.com/products/products.cfm?pro_id=379

MidAtlantic MUGs at new Apple Store

Fred Showker reminded me that AACUG now has a story with pictures about the MUGs going to the new King of Prussia Apple store. To see the story and the pictures go to:
Go to: http://www.aacug.org/MUG/apple/prussia.html

PC makers cut tech support along with prices

CBS's Market Watch is reporting that along with cutting prices, PC vendors are cutting back on support. Really an interesting development, and one more reason to stick/go with Macs.
Full story at: Marketwatch.com

Henrico county given award for its iBook program

As you probably recall, Henrico County Public Schools distributed iBooks to its students last year. The National School Boards Association gave the school system its Trailblazer award at partly due to its laptop program.
Full story at MacCentral: http://maccentral.macworld.com/news/0211/14.henrico.php

MUG Libraries

We recently had a discussion about MUGs and their libraries. In this case, both hard copy and software.
     The basic consensus was that if you have a dedicated member, you can make it work, but otherwise, the library will sit unused. A couple of groups mentioned that they had donated their video library, books, etc. to their local public library, making sure that they included a label on/in each item that designated who donated it and how to contact the group. One group reported success at getting new members via this method. Certainly a good idea to support your local library.
     You might even take the library up as a project.

Short column this week

I have been going through a number of changes this fall and things are starting to fall into place. However, this week I am finishing up this column on Thursday evening at home.
     Tomorrow, I will be disconnecting from the Internet for the first time in about 20 years. Ok, technically it was Compuserve, the Source and others in the early days. But the point is, my home machine has been consistently on line since that time. (I think I tried all the early services.)
      I have been doing Internet itself for about 10 years and UseNet since 1984 when I was on the IsleNet connection in Honolulu. But I am moving and not taking my DSL account with me. I do not have a modem and will not be able to get my cable connection set up for a couple of months.
Meanwhile, I will produce these columns from work where I do have a T-1 connection. Looking forward to many more.

OSX Tip: Negative Monitor?

This was on the AUGD discussion list, and I thought I would pass it along here. It seems a UG member's young daughter hit some keys on their 15" LCD iMac, running OSX 10.2.1 and the monitor switched to look like a negative.

Kathy Holton (Midlands Macintosh User Group) came to the rescue with this solution:
"They have turned on the negative screen option in the Universal Access system preference.
* Go to System Preferences
* Click on Universal Access (bottom right)
* Click the HUGE button that reads Switch to Black on White
... or use: cmd-opt-ctrl-8

User Group of the Week: JoMacs

Josephine County Mac User Group provides services for Mac users throughout the Grants Pass, Josephine County and Southern Oregon region. Chris Kiltz, President, manages this full service Mac user group, commenting: "We exist to provide a community for the Mac Users of the area to come together and learn, ask questions, socialize and sometimes commiserate about using a Mac." JoMacs meets at the Grants Pass high school every 1st Thursday of the month, treating members to "how-to" sessions, seminars, guest speakers and occational social events. Carol Wiseman, Newsletter Editor, comments: "We always encourage people to "Think Different".
      Visit them online, drop a note and tell them you read about it in the "InfoManager"
You can visit with JoMacs, online at: http://www.jomacs.org/

Web site of the week: Doody36

One of my old AOL buddies, Amelia sent this one to me. At first it reminds me of an early arcade game. But as she says it is "happy making." Enjoy it at:
http://doody36.home.attbi.com/liberty.htm

Quotes: Arnold Schwarzenegger

"Strength does not come from winning.
Your struggles develop your strengths.
When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender,
that is strength."
      - Arnold Schwarzenegger

"Apologies to Mac owners, I'll be talking about tools for Windows in this posting, but have a little pity on us Windows folks. Video tools For PC's are widely thought of as terrible or ridiculously expensive, While you folks have some wonderful free or cheap video tools. So you Can read the following and laugh at all the calisthenics us poor Windows folks have to go through to make videos."
      -- Bob Rankin in the Internet Tourbus newsletter. (Available at: www.tourbus.com)

"Every memorable act in the history of the world is a triumph of enthusiasm.
Nothing great was ever achieved without it because it gives any challenge or any occupation, no matter how frightening or difficult, a new meaning. Without enthusiasm you are doomed to a life of mediocrity but with it you can accomplish miracles."
      - Og Mandino - 1923-1996, Speaker and Author

pau

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Also see: MUG NEWS bursts from the AACUG Mac User Guide (MUG)

Note: Features schedule

The InfoManager invites user groups to use his column in full or in pieces in their newsletter. Or add a link to their web site. He would appreciate word that you are doing so however and if you can, please send a pdf version of the newsletter for his perusal. Or provide him with a link. The address is InfoManager@user-groups.net. You can also use that address for feed back.
Note: Features schedule
1st Monday Vendor of the Month; (VOM)
2nd Monday "InfoManager's Humble Opinion (IMHO);
3rd Monday TBA (What would you like to see?)
4th Monday: User Group Tips. (Send them in)
5th Monday: Nothing extra - my day of rest. ;-)
Of course I could make adjustments to this schedule as I see fit and will take suggestions. Have a great week! Note: In light of the new AACUG MUG tabloid publication, I may be changing the above schedule. Please send me your input.
Pau

The Info Manager is a veteran of the UGN (AOL User Groups Forum) and User Group Network. He's been a supporter and volunteer on many, many UGNet and User Group Academy projects. As a long time user group member, he's served as volunteer from Honolulu to Boston and many points in between. Currently working with the Apple Corp of Dallas, the Dallas Mac Pack, Cowtown MUG of Ft. Worth and TUMS (the Tulsa Users of Macintosh Society) doing newsletter articles and the monthly CD-ROM Update. Post a lead Info Manager should follow up on.

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