Folks,

Thanks to all 20 people who joined us last week.

I highlighted a $20 UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply.)
http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/productDetail.do?oid=134572&cm_keycode=85
Apparently, some folks also agreed it was a good deal. Circuit City sold
out at their Portage store and on-line.

This week, you can get another good deal on a UPS from Staples for $35.
http://tinyurl.com/34saqv
OR
http://staples.shoplocal.com/staples/Default.aspx?action=browsepagedetail&storei\
d=2278525&rapid=432110&pagenumber=11&listingid=-2092945945
It is still a good deal because this one has a larger capacity, which
translates to longer run time on the battery.

If you have any expensive electronics, you should have a surge supressor.
If your surge suppressor is five years or older, it probably should be
replaced by another for $10 or less because they wear out. If you are
replacing a surge suppressor, you should consider putting the purchase price
towards a UPS.

The UPS will protect you from surges, adjust for brown-outs, and for short
periods of time continue to deliver power to your electronics during power
outages. The last is the most beneficial to me because if my work is
interrupted by a 2 second outage I will not only lose my work, but it will
take me 10 to 15 minutes to re-boot my computer and open my applications.
And by that time, I have lost my train of thought and have to figure out
what I lost and how to best recover it. By then, I am not in the best mood
to do good work.

A UPS is highly recommended, if you get one at a good price. They use
rechargeable batteries that should last 3-5 years. When they won't
recharge, plan on buying another for $40 or less.

We are under a "Greeting Card" attack. Never click on a link that only
contains numbers!!! Especially when it comes in an email. Here is the
story:
http://informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=201200849

I also get MANY emails with "pdf" attachments. I think they are just stock
spammers, but I haven't clicked on any of them. I don't know of a way for
them to infect your computer, but I also don't want to be the first in the
group to find out that they can. (grin)

Here is a fun link:
http://www.weissman.org/phone.cgi
Check it out to see if your phone numbers spell something. Words tend to be
more memorable than numbers.

I've been reminded by Marilyn Boal that we will not be able to meet at the
Portage Library on August 16th due to prior commitments at the library. She
has a tentative agreement for us to meet at the Portage United Church of
Christ for that date. We could have a room, video projector and screen, but
would not have internet access. This is a very good alternative to the
library on that day. Let's decide at the next meeting if we want to move to
the church or take a week off.

At our next meeting, we will focus on Photoshop Elements. And we should
have plenty of time to take questions.

Hope to see you at our next meeting.

Cheers,
Rob Gray

_________________________________________________________________
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