Recycling of PC's - Update, new information pending... from the President.
This is going to be a continuing monthly item - it is just a very important issue regarding our environment; can't be over-emphasized!
Previously, I had a separate column regarding this issue, and gave several choices of places to take stuff for recycling. If you can hold off one more month on doing this, please do - we are still in the process of setting up and defining what could be beneficial to CFCS - one of the recyclers has offered to pay a small amount per pound to CFCS for Desktops, Scanners and Printers dropped off by our members, but we are still in the talking stage! (There would be no 'bonus' for' monitors, but there would be no charge either!) If you have urgent need to get rid of items, and can't wait the month, please call or email me; also, I'd appreciate any feedback on what happened if you did anything with the info from before. We'll also have more info on a couple of religious groups doing recycling.
Interest Groups Forming
The following new Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are forming under the Central Florida Computer Society Umbrella. Please read over the descriptions of these new groups and contact any or all of them for more information. You do not have to be a member of CFCS to attend one or two SIG meetings as a guest, but you will then need to become a member of CFCS to continue to attend.
Beginning Second Life Special Interest Group
Second Life® is a 3-D virtual world created by its Residents. Since opening to the public in 2003, it has grown explosively and today is inhabited by millions of Residents from around the globe. Now is the time to become of member of the vast new world. We are starting a Special Interest Group (SIG) for adults, especially older adults and senior citizens, to learn about Second Life and how to get started using this exciting community. We will be using the Global Kids Curriculum with an emphasis on adult learning to you get started. To learn more about Second Life go to http://www.secondlife.com .
Second Life® is a rapidly expanding online world, entirely shaped and built by its residents. Hundreds of thousands of people are now living in this 3-D world, making friends, visiting nightclubs and even making real money with the businesses they operate there. Many universities, colleges and schools also have a strong presence in Second Life, which is completely FREE
Hewie Poplock, known in-world as Webprof Magic, is forming this exciting group. If you want to learn more and to attend one of our organizing meetings, contact beginningSL@hewie.otherinbox.com and you will be notified about the first meetings. Once you get the experience, some meetings will be held in-world.
Central Florida Experienced Second Life Special Interest Group
If you are currently an experienced Second Life® User, Liz Stenger, known in-world as CallieDel Boa, is forming a Special Interest Group for Central Floridians to meet and compare notes. This SIG will be focused to those who teach using SL, Mentor in SL, do business, or wish to, and involved in other ways. Although the first meeting or 2 will be face to face, most meetings will be held in-world.
If you wish more information on this group or be notified on the first meeting, contact experiencedSL@hewie.otherinbox.com
Conferencing and Communication Special Interest Group
There are many ways of communication with other people. Some of these include on-line meeting software or services, conference calls through Internet phone services, etc. Some involve texting. Others include voice and / or voice & video. This SIG will explore and test the many different services and software for meetings and for business. Many of these also work nicely for family get togethers on line.
If you are interested in learning more about this SIG and when & where it will meet contact conferencesig@hewie.otherinbox.com

Folding at Home distributed computing project -- people from throughout the world download and run software to band together to make one of the largest supercomputers in the world. The goal: to understand protein folding, misfolding, and related diseases.
CFCS is participating in this worthwhile project that uses the spare computer cycles of your computer when it's not doing anything as a member of the "super computer" team. Learn more about it at http://folding.stanford.edu.
If you decide to download and install the client, join our team to give CFCS credit for the work your computer accomplishes by entering in team number 70013.
The "Enjoy The City - Orlando" book, which is only $20.00! There is MUCH more value in these books (see below); and, we'll have these until the January meeting! Here is why they are better:
1) You get one Free Oil Change @ Firestone = $20 savings! (This one coupon immediately puts you at 'break-even! ')
2) There are six coupons for $5.00 off at Albertsons (Publix accepts these too) so you are now $30 ahead!
3) There are many, MANY more Restaurants! Most have four to six Coupons each; some of them have twelve!
4) Lots of Car Washes, Dry Cleaners, Movies, and Recreational Stuff
5) Your CFCS actually makes twice as much on these books as on the others!!
These will be available at the CFCS General meetings and the SIGS; please bring your checkbook or a $20 bill - it should be a 'no-brainer' that you'll want one for yourself! Maybe two - one for each car! Also plan to take some on consignment to sell to your neighbors, relatives, and friends so they can save too!
Contact Stan Wallner, at president@cfcs.org or 407-230-8321 if you have
any questions. Also, he can get some books to you - for your own
purchase or on consignment for you to sell for CFCS.
SPRING
& FALL REGIONAL CONFERENCE
Website
Spring Conference - March 13, 14 & 15 -2009
Zephyrhills, Florida
Just about everyone these days has some kind of media on their computer; whether it's pictures, audio recordings, or video. Most likely, the only transferring of media that you've attempted has been to transfer audio recordings to a portable player. Some of you may also have a player that can play videos/movies, and so you've also transferred media that you've downloaded from the Internet to your portable player.
But how about that nice big TV set you have in your living room or den? Whether it's a standard CRT based TV set or a new high definition panel, it may be going to waste when it comes to looking at your collection of pictures, or playing your video clips, whether they are full movies/TV shows or videos that you've taken with your digital camera or cam-corder. .....more
Visit Mike Ungerman's Google site to see the presentation he gave at CFCS's Sunday meeting, Sept 21st. The link is: http://docs.google.com/Presentation?id=df794sg7_10fpts6pdk