:: TCMUG Newsletter Archive ::

Happy Holidays from all of us at TCMUG!

Vol 2 Iss 12 December 2003
*December Meeting and Holiday Treats
*TCMUG Membership Structure for 2004
*The Latest News
*The MUG Center Store - Holiday Shopping
*OS X Tip of the Month - Login Items Launch At Startup
*OS 9 Tip of the Month - Tailoring Your Apple Menu
*Mac Software Spotlight - iCalMaker

========== DECEMBER MEETING ==========
There is no meeting scheduled for December so we can enjoy the holiday season and avoid any scheduling conflicts. We hope that you have a safe and happy holiday season. See you in January.

*** Holiday Links For Your Enjoyment
Christmas.com - http://www.christmas.com/
Holidays on the Net - http://www.holidays.net/christmas/
How Christmas Works - http://www.howstuffworks.com/christmas.htm
Merry - Christmas.com - http://www.merry-christmas.com/

*** Get ready for the holidays with a new desktop from MacDesktops
Santa
http://www.macdesktops.com/index.phtml?Picture=1954&res=TRUE
Happy Holidays
http://www.macdesktops.com/index.phtml?Picture=1958&res=TRUE
Snowman
http://www.macdesktops.com/index.phtml?Picture=1959&res=TRUE
Merry X MacOS
http://www.macdesktops.com/index.phtml?Picture=1163&res=TRUE

The holidays are a time for great joy for some, and a time of stress and frustration for others. None of us should be denied the joys of the holiday season and so we have the following seven suggestions to help you "bust" the holiday stresses and enjoy this time more. Visit Dr. Wetmore's web site for more details at:
http://www.balancetime.com/freearticles.htm#busters
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========== TCMUG MEMBERSHIP FOR 2004 ==========
We are starting to plan for 2004!! We are working very hard to make it another exciting year for all local Mac users. We will be starting a small dues structure for 2004. Membership in the TCMUG will cost $20.00 annually for a regular membership and will include a monthly newsletter, a special "members only" section of the web site, online forums access, monthly meetings, discounts on software, hardware and books and much, much more! You can visit our web site to get all of the features and benefits at http://www.tcmug.org/aboutus.html
We are offering three membership levels for 2004. There will be a regular membership at $20 per year and we will have student membership (K-12 & College) at $15 per year and a senior citizen (60+ years old) at $15 per year. All levels of membership will enjoy the benefits of belonging to the TCMUG.
Please contact any of the officers if you would have any questions regarding membership and the associated dues. http://www.tcmug.org/contactus.html
We have an online membership form that you are able to download. You can download the form at:
http://www.tcmug.org/tcmug_memberapp.pdf
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========== LATEST NEWS ==========
How To Deal With Common OS X 10.3 Panther Problems. Visit this web site presented by Randy Singer to get a wealth of information on troubleshooting the latest OS.
http://www.macattorney.com/panther.html
----------
Should Creative Pro's Run with Panther? by David Morgenstern - creativepro.com contributing editor
With 150 new features, Mac OS X Panther sounds like the cat's pajamas. But is it right for content creators? David Morgenstern looks at some major productivity-minded additions and wonders if it's time for all Mac users to join the X-generation?
http://www.creativepro.com/story/feature/20497.html?cprose=daily
 
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========== MUG CENTER STORE ==========
The MUG Store has its usual assortment of excellent deals. But be warned. Some of these deals may be gone by the time you start your holiday shopping, as they're only available while supplies last.
Surf to the store to find great deals on an assortment of new, used and refurbished iPods, plus Apple products such as iSight and Panther sold at dealer cost.
Check out the new and refurbished Macs and find a ton of instant rebates on the latest Macs, including the G5. Instant rebates, free printers, free RAM, and free UPS freight on all orders - it doesn't get any better than the MUG Store for user group members.
Place your orders. http://www.applemugstore.com
Login schedule:
Oct. 1 - Dec. 31 User ID: / Password:
Jan. 1 - March 31 User ID: / Password:
This offer is available to members of U.S. user groups.
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========== OS X TIP OF THE MONTH ==========
Login Items Launch at Startup
OS X's Login Items is a reincarnation of OS 9's Startup Items Folder. Instead of dragging item aliases into the folder buried within the System Folder, however, Login Items is an independent system preference. Select System Preferences from the Apple menu or the Dock, and click Login Items. Simply drag and drop any items or use the Add button to browse for your application you want to have launched (or opened) when you startup your Macintosh. You can hide the items in the background during their launch by checking the small box adjacent to the item name.
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========== OS 9 TIP OF THE MONTH ==========
Tailoring OS 9's Apple Menu
It’s easy to tweak the layout of OS 9's Apple Menu. Start by removing items that you don’t use on a regular basis, such as Scrapbook and Network Browser, by taking them out of the Apple Menu folder within the System folder. Now create a folder for your favorite applications, utilities, etc., and add aliases of those programs to the specific folder. You can then separate applications from folders by adding a single space in front of the application name. You can get a bit more information at the following web sites:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=50642
http://www.macinstruct.com/tips/dec/week4.html

========== MAC SOFTWARE SPOTLIGHT ==========
iCalMaker
Do you need to convert iCal files to Palm desktop (or Palm to iCal), translate comma- or tab-delimited files of dates to an iCal diary, translate 'plain-text' to an iCal appointment, sort your appointments or produce plain-text output? If you do, then you need iCalMaker, the text-based iCal file editor from MMISoftware.
User group members can receive a 30 percent discount - that's $25 (US) reduced to $17.50 (US).
To get your discount, enter the coupon code in the iCalMaker integrated software purchase wizard.
iCalMaker - http://www.mmisoftware.co.uk/
This worldwide offer expires March 31, 2004.
*For MUG members ONLY.*
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========== SUBMITTING INFORMATION ==========

Have a software tidbit to share, a Mac related web site to suggest or a news piece to submit? Email me with all the information at kwarrene@mac.com
To unsubscribe from this newsletter: Reply to this email with the subject line of REMOVE.
Forward this message to all of your family, friends and associates so that they can join the TCMUG and receive the monthly newsletter.
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There will be much more information to come in the future as our MUG grows....stay up to date at the web site. If you have any comments or suggestions please feel free to contact any of the officers at http://www.tcmug.org/contactus.html