Bill Yanko, from the Lake Wildwood Mac User Group, will do a presentation on "GOING PAPERLESS."

"I will be sharing my experiences about Going Paperless.  This is a project I’ve been working on for some months now and I've learned a lot.

There are a number of factors to consider when switching from a primarily paper based filing system to a digital records system.  These include the best way to digitize your documents, how to organize a large number of files, and how to find documents later when you’ve forgotten the file names or where you put them.  Security, including both access and backup becomes more critical.

I’ll be reviewing the pros and cons of different kinds of scanners, describing systems and software options for organizing and retrieving your information, and highlighting some security options.  All of the software that will be discussed have free trial periods for evaluation so you can check out these programs yourself without having to spend any money.  If you’re interested in reducing your paperwork clutter, this presentation will provide some good tips on how to get started.&quot

The remainder of the meeting is an open forum for Questions and Answers and anything else that might be pressing and fun — kind of an odd mix.

SAME TIME • SAME PLACE • SAME DAY (but make it the 13th)

OCTOBER MEETING possibilities

I know this jumps into a topic that most cannot afford or are not willing to buy into because of it's limitations — the latter would be me — and that it is NEW technology, but I have convinced Matt Vanderpol to do a demo on the iPad only, and I say this lightly, only because I am interested in what it can do first hand and I think it would be informative for everyone to see it in use — plus, he does better at demo's than I do. [we have a bluetooth keyboard borrowed for the demo - thanks]

After which of course we may have a few other demo's I have asked some members to do, OR, and I say or with gritted teeth, I will redo the demo on iCal and other calendar programs to keep you on time and up to date, as well as, covering a general wide phrase BACK UP: which when I say it I mean to ARCHIVE your files, pictures, and emails, NOT your system, which is quite a different subject and tactic — and one that most people do not think about or do it poorly.

NOVEMBER MEETING possibilities

There is this latest craze, actually been going on for several years now, but as time goes by it gets easier and easier to do, is STAYING IN TOUCH WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

We all have been bitten by that bug, that fantasy that we can connect to everyone in our past — and most are doing it.  If you are one of the few that have not had a taste of this exciting craze — and it may be more than that — then I will be going over the history of correspondence and staying in touch with friends and family starting with the old pen and paper, the landline phone, video tape, email, the cell phone, myspace and facebook, and MORE.

WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN TO US NOW AND THE FUTURE?  WHAT ARE THE BEST WAYS TO SHARE INFO, PICTURES, AND VIDEO with in this CONNECTING WITH THE PAST?
You will have me to go over it for you.

IMPORTANT LINKS to have bookmarked

• http://www.sierramousetrap.org/
• NEWSLETTER RSS FEED
• View Past Issues
• (THIS) WEBSITE RSS FEED
• Lake Wildwood Mac User Group (not a competitor but a part of the family)

Yes we changed it and it was posted on the website http://www.sierramousetrap.org/ awhile back, but I know most have busy lives and sometimes forget to check on things they know they should — I know, I am that way at times; you put it off, you put it off, and then, "OH NO… I missed it." Or something like that.

Well, I am here to inform you with the latest on the happenings for this coming meeting.  Since I have been scatter-brained and have caused some problems I am pleased to announce that we have a special guest from outside our group to cover most of the meeting:

Bill Yanko, from the Lake Wildwood Mac User Group, will do a presentation on "GOING PAPERLESS."  I have read it and it is quite interesting and useful — I know we, as a high tech society, have tried to do this for years — one thing they touted that computers would do — eliminate paper.

The remainder of the meeting is an open forum for Questions and Answers and anything else that might be pressing and fun — kind of an odd mix.

SAME TIME • SAME PLACE • SAME DAY (but make it the 13th)

OCTOBER MEETING possibilities

I know this jumps into a topic that most cannot afford or are not willing to buy into because of it's limitations — the latter would be me — and that it is NEW technology, but I have convinced Matt Vanderpol to do a demo on the iPad only, and I say this lightly, only because I am interested in what it can do first hand and I think it would be informative for everyone to see it in use — plus, he does better at demo's than I do. [we are asking if anyone has a bluetooth keyboard Mat could borrow for the demo]

After which of course we may have a few other demo's I have asked some members to do, OR, and I say or with gritted teeth, I will redo the demo on iCal and other calendar programs to keep you on time and up to date, as well as, covering a general wide phrase BACK UP: which when I say it I mean to ARCHIVE your files, pictures, and emails, NOT your system, which is quite a different subject and tactic — and one that most people do not think about or do it poorly.

NOVEMBER MEETING possibilities

There is this latest craze, actually been going on for several years now, but as time goes by it gets easier and easier to do, is STAYING IN TOUCH WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

We all have been bitten by that bug, that fantasy that we can connect to everyone in our past — and most are doing it.  If you are one of the few that have not had a taste of this exciting craze — and it may be more than that — then I will be going over the history of correspondence and staying in touch with friends and family starting with the old pen and paper, the landline phone, video tape, email, the cell phone, myspace and facebook, and MORE.

WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN TO US NOW AND THE FUTURE?  WHAT ARE THE BEST WAYS TO SHARE INFO, PICTURES, AND VIDEO with in this CONNECTING WITH THE PAST?
You will have me to go over it for you.

Oh, I’m not out of material, I just am tired of covering what I think you might want covered — and I do get tired of hearing myself talk about what I think is cool and important, which I know is different from everyone else.

So if anyone has any needs on help, information, or just want to see what something does or how it works — in the computer and Mac world — then PLEASE send along a note to smmug@sierramousetrap.org.

THIS GROUP IS DESIGNED AND MADE POSSIBLE BY YOU AND FOR YOU!!! So if you don’t let us know what is important to you, you stop coming and the group ends — we don’t want that.

iPad Opens Up New Worlds for Autistic Children – i’d take one…

Magic Trackpad is a Winner – be interesting to try one…

MacBook Pro Shines in Dual Environments – would I love an intel laptop?

New iMac Is Editors’ Choice – one sweet machine…

It will be the following Monday the 13th of September.

same location and same time.

I just wanted to clarify that for everyone, plus this is what I went to school for, spent all that money for on, and aspire to doing for a career.

Now onto the evenings tid bits. We had a fabulous turnout, and one I heard was there to soak in the iCal and Hard Drive information that I was going to present — we got to the iCal and Calendar stuff but not the Hard Drive stuff, but with so many things to cover, so little time, and the fact we missed last month sometimes the format or what was planned changes — we go with the flow of the people.

We did have an interesting and informative presentation by Matt Vanderpool who covered:
Readability http://lab.arc90.com/experiments/readability
allows for easier reading by removing clutter from the page with one click. While viewing a page in the browser click on the ‘Readability’ link in your boolmarks tool bar.

Instapaper http://www.instapaper.com
allows you to save an article to read later with one click. Resides in the bookmarks toolbar. There is a free account with or without password.

ClickToFlash: http://clicktoflash.com is a safari plug in. Allows viewing flash videos without loading flash.

NetNewsWire free w/adds, $14.99 without adds http://netnewswireapp.com

Rick Hartmann answered some questions about:
Cosmopod $11.95 http://cocoamug.com/cosmopod/
is a Safari add-on that helps you download and convert Flash, DivX, WMV and Real Media videos from the Internet to your Mac / iPod / iPhone / AppleTV automatically.

VideoBox $15 http://www.tastyapps.com
Converts Flash video into a native Quicktime format so it’s ready to view on your Mac, iPod, iPhone or iTunes.

FlagIt $15 http://www.tastyapps.com
Allows you to add labels & multi-colored flags to Mac Mail

Applejack 1.6 http://www.versiontracker.com/php/qs.php?mode=basic&action=search&str=applejack&srchArea=macosx|leopard&submit=Go
is now updated for Snow Leopard

Fairmount http://www.metakine.com/products/fairmount/
allows on-the-fly decryption of DVD content. Works in conjunction with VLC media player(must be installed) http://www.videolan.org/

WUnderground http://www.wunderground.com/
Loads of weather info. enter city. scroll down to see airport data, flights on time, sports weather, almanac etc,
On left side of page under ‘Website Spotlight’ there is a link to ‘Solar Calculator’

JIM HECK says he uses:
ReminderFox is a calendar/to do list ‘Add-on’ that resides in the bottom toolbar in the Firefox browser. It is active when the browser is open and gives automatic visual and sound reminders throughout the day. also has popups, repeat, and “remind until complete’ feature. Go to – Tools > Add-ons > Get Add-ons

Note: Safari 5.1 Now allows access and download to third party extensions. Preferences > extensions tab > get extensions

Keith Thomassen did a great EXCELL demo on how to use the formula’s, sums, and filling in cells.

So keep coming back to check on things, but just like I say at the meetings, we cannot help you if you do not help us in what you need help with. So don’t be shy, open your mind and ask us questions…

Greetings everyone; hope all is going well for you this July of 2010; it has been a hot one and for me, as I am sure for others, it has been very busy — at times it almost feels like I cannot breath — but I excel in that type of environment although I may look like I want to just give up I find something to keep me going and finish the task and finish with fireworks.  Anyway, I do hope everyone has been safe, cool, and stayed creative with their Mac's.

Speaking of Apple; there have been some exciting new additions and updates to their line of products and software; take a visit to APPLE INC and see what has been happening.

Windows has been touting it's IE 7 with some strange and really stupid commercials — in my opinion — where people go into a bank and give their most secretive information just to get $500 to start a savings account?  Come on.  It's gonna cost them more than $500 to get me to tell them who broke my heart, what kind of underwear I wear, and my password for my bank account.  Please… Microsoft, stop insinuating that we are stupid, unless that's the market you are looking for to buy your imperfect products?

I may be a Apple Fan Boy, geek, and a Mac head, but I am not a total dweeb about it — thinks about it;  Anyway, I do have some issues with Apple;

• I have never understood why they do not have more USB ports, FireWire Ports, and other connections on ALL their macs — just make it standard like you did the airport card.
• Why they took away target mode.
• Why they made a laptop without accessability on it (macair)
• Why they made a smaller version of the MacAir and called it iPad and lets limit its use to certain things. (no, not an ipad fan)
• Why they took away laptop batteries for one built in that has never been tested to give the results they claim especially since the batteries they had before never gave the results they claimed.  So your telling me they got this figured out without testing it in real world use?  I don't buy, don't get it, and do not agree with it.
• Why they cannot make a laptop or computer, all in one complete with everything you can get a dell for the price of $499?  I mean, those guys are just laughing at us for spending too much money.  Hey I know we got the best and they have to buy more, but it's the idiots that they are selling to, the financially challenged, the first timers or the returning windows customers.  Can't Apple lower their prices a bit.

So as you can tell, I am not 100% sold on Apple, maybe 99.25%, but like with anything, we deal with it, we live with it, we get accustomed to it, but it sure beats dealing with the dark side.

August 2nd topics

• Matt will show us some neat tricks about browsers and website information downloading and saving — if I am correct; anyway, it is well worth the time to come and listen — Matt's demo of "1Password" was awesome last month and I am sure this will be no different.

• I will try and showcase some of the popular calendar apps, such as, iCal, Gmail-Calendar, Entourage, Hotmail, Yahoo, PreMinder, and others to remind you of important dates (we did have a question about Now-Up-to-Date to iCal and I found some interesting sites that help you do that)

• I will also cover an interesting topic about Identifying loss in available hard-drive space that Jim Heck brought to my attention; this would be a great topic for Rick Hartmann; but he is one busy person; hmmm, where have I seen that before?

• If anyone else has a topic, demo, or interesting tid bit they would like to, and are ready to, share then please let me know.  The more you all participate, the purpose of this group comes to life.

September 6th topics

• iPad demo by Matt?

• Questions and Answers

• I have a little test to give to everyone.

• If anyone else has a topic, demo, or interesting tid bit they would like to, and are ready to, share then please let me know.  The more you all participate, the purpose of this group comes to life.

Don't forget: MONDAY, AUGUST 2ndt, 2010, 7pm: LIBRARY: http://www.sierramousetrap.org/?page_id=4

iMove Slide Show Demo rev6 and review the steps to make a great movie slide show.