-- "In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress." - John Adams
Monday, December 12, 2011
John Adams
Which Mac to Buy: iMac or Mac Pro?
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A reader who wishes to remain anonymous has to make the kind of difficult choice that many of us would welcome. He writes: "I work in a graphic design studio and we have a budget to upgrade our Macs. I can't decide what would be better -- a tricked-out 27-inch iMac or an 8-core Mac Pro. Each would be packed full of RAM and have the best graphics card available. Do you have any opinions one way or the other?"
[INFO] InfoManager for Monday, December 12th, 2011
InfoManager for Monday, December 12th, 2011 ---------------------------------------------- by Lynn Wegley, InfoManager, with coeditor Fred Showker What's Here: 01 Safenetting Holidays 02 Invoice Pro simple invoicing application 03 Drawing for iPhone, iPod touch 04 AccountEdge Pro 2012 05 I'm Away 06 Tap to Trap Apple 07 Office for iOS? 08 Custom Calendars with Posterino 09 Printer Pro 3 10 Appy Holidays Apps 2 11 DiskAid 5.0.4 12 VisualCommander v3.0 13 Kampel: What's Your Favorite FREE Software? 14 Ug Netnews via FaceBook: 15 FaceBook.com/groups/UGNet/ 16 TUAW : Best of 2011: Mac game apps 17 Mike Henigan: 12 Days of Facebook 18 Quotes: Broun, Adams and Drucker 19 ... and have a great week! ----------------------------------------- 01 Safenetting Holidays User Group Network UGN Safenetting and Cybercrime report By now, you're probably finished with Christmas and working on the new year. Well, the cyber crime industry has not finished with YOU -- Here are the headlines: * Suspension of Disbelief: magicians' friends targeted by phishing scam * Sophos: most USB sticks lost on the subway are swimming in malware * New zero-day vulnerabilities found in Adobe Flash Player * Malware Programs Stuxnet and Conficker Interlinked * Who would believe this is from Bank of America? * Anti-spam law doesn't seem to have an impact * Hitting 'reply' to a spammer can cost you * CyberThieves Market Fake Win 7 Security * Student phishing scam: Two remanded * G Data Internet Security 2012 . . . and more! http://www.ugnn.com/2011/12/safenetting-holidays/ ----------------------------------------- 02 Invoice Pro simple invoicing application Invoice Pro is a simple and flexible invoicing application. The app has been designed to manage several companies with the same application, and enables you to produce a PDF version of the invoice, ready to print or send via e-mail, in just three steps. http://www.ugnn.com/2011/12/invoice-pro/ ----------------------------------------- 03 Drawing for iPhone, iPod touch ZeusDraw Mobile, now upgraded to 2.3, is a versatile, professional drawing and painting program for the iPhone/iPod touch. It works for anything from doodling on a photo to serious drawing. http://www.ugnn.com/2011/12/zeusdraw/ ----------------------------------------- 04 AccountEdge Pro 2012 Acclivity has announced AccountEdge Pro 2012, an important update to their premium small business accounting software for Mac and Windows. The latest version for the US market features a redesigned command center, mileage tracking, and the ability to create multiple billing rates. AccountEdge 2012 also contains numerous forms enhancements, more precise sales reporting, and updated company file maintenance capabilities. http://www.ugnn.com/2011/12/accountedge-pro-2012/ ----------------------------------------- 05 I'm Away Eltima Software has announced the release of I'm Away 1.0 for Mac OS X. I'm Away is a simple FREE utility that helps change your statuses in the most popular Instant Messengers on Mac with one click only. Statuses can be changed in Skype, iChat, and Adium with a hotkey you choose yourself. http://www.ugnn.com/2011/12/im-away/ ----------------------------------------- 06 Tap to Trap Apple FaceGroom Technologies, iOS apps and games developer, has announced the updates on their strategic Game app 'Apple Trap', has been turned to free for download. users can now download this freaky strategic game free for their iPhone and iPad device. The latest version Apple Trap 2.0 features 3D visualization of the apple arriving on the game play and Integration of GameCenter will support you to globalize your score and game play. http://www.ugnn.com/2011/12/tap-to-trap-apple/ ----------------------------------------- 07 Office for iOS? Tom's Hardware, which I feel usually understands Microsoft, ran this article a few days after the rumors started circulating about a possible Microsoft Office product for the iPad. http://www.ugnn.com/2011/12/office-for-ios/ ----------------------------------------- 08 Custom Calendars with Posterino Zykloid Software has revamped its popular software, Posterino, to include a new customizable calendar feature. To celebrate this latest innovation, the company is offering Posterino 2.5 for $19.99 USD through Sunday, December 11th. (Normally it is $29.95.) It's a small price to pay for software that lets you beautifully display your pictures in poster and now calendar format. http://www.ugnn.com/2011/12/custom-calendars-with-posterino/ ----------------------------------------- 09 Printer Pro 3 Readdle has announced the release of Printer Pro 3, its printing application which gives users the ability to print documents, email attachments, web pages, photos wirelessly from the iPhone and iPad. This release incorporates a completely redesigned interface and streamlined printing process, along with faster performance. http://www.ugnn.com/2011/12/printer-pro-3/ ----------------------------------------- 10 Appy Holidays Apps 2 Apps InfoManager Just in time for the holiday season -- whacky, wild, fun, unique holiday apps that are sure to offer something for everyone . . . * Jazz Christmas And Bach Classical Guitar iPad apps * Santa's Big Helper: 9 Christmas Apps in 1 * Christmas Lights Directory * Henry Motlies Xmas story * 3D Jingle Balls * Recipes Genius http://www.ugnn.com/2011/12/holiday-apps/ ----------------------------------------- 11 DiskAid 5.0.4 DigiDNA has announced DiskAid 5 for OS X and Windows, an update to their Utility app that enables the transfer of files between any iOS device and any OS X or Windows computer. An advanced complement to iTunes sync and file transfer/copy, the free version of the app allows unlimited file copying from any iOS mobile device to an OS X or Windows computer, plus access to the iOS File System, the Camera Roll, and external USB storage. The paid version adds transfer of SMS text messages, call history log, voicemail, voice memos, notes, contacts list, music, videos, and podcasts. http://www.ugnn.com/2011/12/diskaid-5-0-4/ ----------------------------------------- 12 VisualCommander v3.0 Princeton Satellite Systems has announced the release of VIsualCommander v3.0. VisualCommander is a revolutionary 64 bit Mac OS X application for data acquisition, hardware control, simulation and visualization. It provides a flexible, open environment that allows you to integrate all of your software tools and heritage code. http://www.ugnn.com/2011/12/visualcommander-v3-0/ ----------------------------------------- 13 Kampel: What's Your Favorite FREE Software? I don't know about you, but I use my computer in only one (human) language -- English. And I'm willing to bet that you do too, albeit perhaps not English. So why do you have a bunch of localization files for the Mac OS X operating system filling up your hard drive? Enter Monolingual - a handy free utility for reclaiming your space for more useful things' like international mp3 files, email or whatever you like. Monolingual is free from sourceforge.net for removing unnecessary language resources from Mac OS X, in order to reclaim several hundred megabytes of disk space. It requires at least Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) and also works on Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard). Version 1.3.9 is the last version for Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger). Catch up with Gary at http://www.facebook.com/gekampel http://monolingual.sourceforge.net/ ----------------------------------------- 14 Ug Netnews via FaceBook: Sorry you just missed David Pogue's "Techno Santa" ... unfortunately, this year's edition hasn't been posted yet ... but here you can see last year's. "CBS News video: Techno-Claus Gift Rhyme - 'Tis The Season for electronic gift-giving. For those who fear you might give someone a high-tech lemon, David Pogue of The New York Times gives us some suggestions, in verse." http://ow.ly/7VGiG ----------------------------------------- 15 FaceBook.com/groups/UGNet/ If you're not connected with UGN on Facebook ... maybe you should! :-) http://www.facebook.com/groups/UGNet/ ----------------------------------------- 16 TUAW : Best of 2011: Mac game apps During December and January, The Unofficial Apple Weblog is soliciting your nominations and votes for the best products for Mac, iPhone/iPod touch, and iPad. http://tuaw.com/tag/tuawbestof2011 ----------------------------------------- 17 Mike Henigan: 12 Days of Facebook On the 12th Day of Christmas my Facebook gave to me, * 12 dudes I'm blocking, * 11 friends just watching, * 10 corny topics, * 9 busted barbies, * 8 friends complaining, * 7 stalkers stalking, * 6 party invites, * Fiiiiiiiiiiiiive Drama Queeeensssss, * 4 game requests, * 3 photo tags, * 2 friends-a-pokin .. and * a creep who won't stop inboxing meeee! via Regina Sponseller, posted by Mike Henigan, Atlanta, * http://www.facebook.com/mikehenigan ----------------------------------------- 18 Quotes: Broun, Adams and Drucker "Posterity is as likely to be wrong as anyone else." - Heywood Broun "In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress." - John Adams "Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things." - Peter Drucker ----------------------------------------------------- 19 ... and have a great week! Remember, I invite all user groups to use this column in full or in pieces in your newsletter. Or add a link to their web site. Pau * Participate: http://www.ugnn.com/post-your-article/ * UGN Facebook Group : http://goo.gl/ksAm (come join!) * Follow and Be Followed: http://twitter.com/UGNnet * Subscribe: http://goo.gl/aKcC ---------------------------------------------- ** THE INFO MANAGER A weekly column from the mice of Lynn Wegley and Fred Showker. Lynn is a UGN veteran (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 been a volunteer from Honolulu to Boston and beyond. Currently working primarily the with the Cowtown MUG of Ft. Worth but also works with the Apple Corp of Dallas and is a lifetime member of TUMS the Tulsa Users of Macintosh Society). Fred has been user group guy since 1986, through the AOL UG Forum days, then out onto the web. ---------------------------------------------- Copyright 2011, All Rights Reserved. Affiliate User Groups are granted permission to reprint the InfoManager column or excerpts thereof so long as proper credit is given, and a clearly stated web URL link to: http://www.UGNN.com Subscribe or Unsubscribe: http://dtgnews.com/mailman/listinfo/infomanager_dtgnews.com PLEASE NOTE: If a link is disconnected due to your email client's wrapping of text, remove the return character or space separating the parts of the link and paste it into your browser. Thanks for reading! We'll leave the modem on for'ya! ---------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ Infomanager mailing list Infomanager@dtgnews.com http://dtgnews.com/mailman/listinfo/infomanager_dtgnews.com
Friday, December 9, 2011
The Winter of Our Occupation ...a proposal from Michael Moore
The Winter of Our Occupation ...a proposal from Michael Moore
Tuesday, December 6th, 2011
Friends,
And now it is winter. Wall Street rejoices, hoping that the change of seasons will mean a change in our spirit, our commitment to stop them.
They couldn't be more wrong. Have they not heard of Washington and the troops at Valley Forge? The Great Flint Sit-Down Strike in the winter of 1936-37? The Michigan Wolverines crushing Ohio State in the 1950 Blizzard Bowl? When it comes to winter, it is the time historically when the people persevere and the forces of evil make their retreat!
We are not even 12 weeks old, yet Occupy Wall Street has grown so fast, so big, none of us can keep up with the hundreds of towns who have joined the movement, or the thousands of actions -- some of them just simple ones in neighborhoods, schools and organizations -- that have happened. The national conversation has been irreversibly changed. Now everyone is talking about how the 1% are getting away with all the money while the 99% struggle to make ends meet. People are no longer paralyzed by despair or apathy. Most know that now is the time to reclaim our country from the bankers, the lobbyists -- and their gofers: the members of the United States Congress and the 50 state legislatures.
And they're crazy if they think that a little climate chaos (otherwise known as winter in the 21st century) that they've helped to bring about is going to stop us.
I would like to propose to my Occupying sisters and brothers that there are many ways to keep Occupy Wall Street going through the winter months. There is perhaps no better time to move the movement indoors for a few months -- and watch it grow even bigger! (For those who have the stamina to maintain the outdoor occupations, by all means, keep it up -- and the rest of us will do our best to help you and keep you warm!)
The winter gives us an amazing opportunity to expand our actions against the captains of capitalism who have occupied our homes with their fraudulent mortgage system which has tossed millions of families out onto the curb; a cruel health care system that has told 50 million Americans "if you can't afford a doctor, go F yourself"; a student loan system that sends 22-year-olds into an immediate "debtors' prison" of working lousy jobs for which they didn't go to school but now have to take because they're in hock for tens of thousands of dollars for the next two decades; and a jobs market that keeps 25 million Americans un- or under-employed -- and much of the rest of the workers forced to accept wage cuts, health care reductions and zero job security.
But we in the Occupy Movement reject this version of the "American Dream." Instead, I suggest we shift our focus for this winter to the following actions:
1. Occupy Our Homes. Sorry, banks, a roof over one's head is a human right, and you will no longer occupy our homes through foreclosure and eviction because well, you see, they are our homes, not yours. You may hold the mortgage; you don't hold the right to throw us or our neighbors out into the cold. With almost one in three home mortgages currently in foreclosure, nearing foreclosure or "underwater," the Occupy Movement must form local "Occupy Strike Forces" to create human shields when the banks come to throw people out of their homes. If the foreclosure has already happened, then we must help families move back into their foreclosed homes -- literally (see this clip from my last film to watch how a home re-occupation is accomplished). Beginning today, Take Back the Land, plus many other citizens' organizations nationwide, are kicking off Occupy Our Homes. Numerous actions throughout the day today have already resulted in many families physically taking back their homes. This will continue every day until the banks are forced to stop their fraudulent practices, until homeowners are allowed to change their mortgage so that it reflects the true value of their homes, and until those who can no longer afford a mortgage are allowed to stay in their homes and pay rent. I beseech the news media to cover these actions -- they are happening everywhere. Evictions, though rarely covered (you need a Kardashian in your home as you're being evicted to qualify for news coverage) are not a new story (see this scene I filmed in 1988). Also, please remember the words of Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur of Toledo (in 'Capitalism: A Love Story'): Do not leave your homes if the bank forecloses on you! Let them take you to court and then YOU ask the judge to make them produce a copy of your mortgage. They can't. It was chopped up a hundred different ways, bundled with a hundred other mortgages, and sold off to the Chinese. If they can't produce the mortgage, they can't evict you.
2. Occupy Your College. In nearly every other democracy on the planet, students go to college for free or almost free. Why do those countries do that? Because they know that for their society to advance, they must have an educated population. Without that, productivity, innovation and an informed electorate is stunted and everyone suffers as a result. Here's how we do it in the U.S.A.: make education one of our lowest priorities, graduate students who know little about the world or their own government or the economy, and then force them into crushing debt before they even have their first job. That way has really worked well for us, hasn't it? It's made us the world leader in … in … well, ok, we're like 27th or 34th in everything now (except war). This has to end. Students should spend this winter doing what they are already doing on dozens of campuses -- holding sit-ins, occupying the student loan office, nonviolently disrupting the university regents meetings, and pitching their tents on the administration's lawn. Young people -- we, the '60s generation, promised to create a better world for you. We got halfway there -- now you have to complete the job. Do not stop until these wars are ended, the Pentagon budget is cut in half, and the rich are forced to pay their taxes. And demand that that money go to your education. We'll be there with you on all of this! And when we get this fixed and you graduate, instead of being $40,000 in debt, go see the friggin' world, or tinker around in your garage a la the two Steves, or start a band. Enjoy life, discover, explore, experiment, find your way. Anything but the assistant manager at Taco Bell.
3. Occupy Your Job. Let's spend the winter organizing workplaces into unions. OR, if you already have a union, demand that your leaders get off their ass and get aggressive like our grandparents did. For chrissakes, surely you know we would not have a middle class if it weren't for the strikes of the 1930s-1950s?! In three weeks we will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the workers in my hometown of Flint, Michigan taking over and occupying the General Motors factories for 44 days in the dead of winter. Their actions ignited a labor movement that lifted tens of millions out of poverty and into the middle class. It's time to do it again. (According to the Census Bureau and the New York Times, 100 million Americans either live in or near poverty. Disgraceful. Greed has destroyed the core fabric of our communities. Enough!) Here are two good unions to get your fellow workers to sign up and join: UE and SEIU. The CWA are also good. Here's how to get a quick primer in organizing your place of employment (don't forget to be careful while you do this!). If your company is threatening to close down and move the jobs elsewhere, then it's time to occupy the workplace (again, you can get a lesson in how to successfully occupy your factory from my movie).
4. Occupy Your Bank. This is an easy one. Just leave them. Move your checking and your credit card to a nonprofit credit union. It's safe and the decisions made there aren't based on greed. And if a bank tries to evict your neighbor, Occupy the local branch with 20 other people and call the press. Post it on the internet.
5. Occupy the Insurance Man. It's time to not only stand up for the 50 million without health insurance but to also issue a single, simple demand: The elimination of for-profit, privately-controlled health insurance companies. It is nothing short of barbaric to allow businesses to make a profit off people when they get sick. We don't allow anyone to make a profit when we need the fire department or the police. Until recently we would never allow a company to make a profit by operating in a public school. The same should be true for when you need to see a doctor or stay in the hospital. So I say it's long overdue for us to go and Occupy Humana, United Health, Cigna and even the supposed "nonprofit" Blue Crosses. An action on their lawns, in their lobbies, or at the for-profit hospitals -- this is what is needed.
So -- there are my ideas for the five places we can Occupy this winter. Help the foreclosed-upon to Occupy their homes. Occupy your college campus, especially the student loan office and the regents meetings. Occupy your job by getting everyone to sign a union card -- or by refusing to let the CEO ship your job overseas. Occupy your Chase or Citi or Bank of America branch by closing your account and moving it to a credit union. And Occupy the insurance company offices, the pharmaceutical companies' headquarters and the for-profit hospitals until the White House and Congress pass the true single-payer universal health care bill they failed to pass in 2010.
My friends, the rich are running scared right now. You need no further proof of this than to read this story from last week. The Republicans' top strategist met privately with them and told them that they had better change their tune or they were going to be crushed by the Occupy Wall Street movement. They didn't have to change their greedy actions, he assured them -- just the way they talk and PR the situation. He told them never to use the word "capitalism" -- it has now been made a dirty word by the Occupy movement, he said. Only say "economic freedom" from now on, he cautioned. And don't criticize the movement -- because the majority of Americans either agree with it or are feeling the same way. Just tell the Occupiers and the distressed Americans: "I get it." Seriously.
Yes, in just 12 short weeks we have killed their most sacred word -- Capitalism -- and we have them on the run, on the defensive. They should be. Millions are coming after them and our only goal is to remove them from power and replace them with a fair system that is controlled by the 99%. The 1% have been able to get both political parties to do their bidding. Why should only 1% of the population get to have two parties -- and the rest of us have none? That, too, is going to change. In my next letter, I will suggest what we can do to Occupy the Electoral Process. But first we must start with those who pull the strings of the puppets in the Congress. That's why it's called Occupy Wall Street. Always better to deal with man in charge, don't you think?
Let's Occupy the Winter! An #OWS Winter will certainly lead to a very hopeful American Spring.
Yours,
Michael Moore
MMFlint@MichaelMoore.com
@MMFlint
MichaelMoore.com
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Wednesday, December 7, 2011
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