AGENDA
o Is your computer getting slower?
Check to see where all your speed went.

o The latest, best tool to fight malware.
If your computer is infected, this may be just the thing to get you back to normal.
It’s powerful and free.
It should definitely be in your malware tool kit.

o Planning to buy SD Memory?
Be wary of price alone.
There is another important factor to consider.

o Is your neighborhood safe?
See how to find out what’s going on around you.

o The current scam of the month.
This one is very clever with many variations.
Learn how to spot the trend and stay safe.

o Mints on the Pillow

See the Grab Bag SIG page for location, contacts, more.

AGENDA

o Tablets
The hottest Christmas gift this year.
But which one to buy?
Review of the models available along with the pros and cons of each.
If you have a tablet, bring it to the meeting to show off.
And yes, there still will be time to buy one for that special person, even if it’s you.

o How to extend your laptop battery life.
Laptop batteries are expensive.
We will discuss several options and techniques to extend battery life.

o How to get discount coupons.
Why pay full price when you can get a discount.

o The current scam of the month.
One that is baffling the IRS and is terrible for you.
The fix.

o Mints on the Pillow

See the Grab Bag SIG page for location, contacts, more.

AGENDA

o Keeping your computer cool
Heat is bad for your computer.
How to tell if it is too hot,
Where the heat comes from,
What to do about it.

o A review of 2 photo editors.
The cost and features of each.
Which to choose and why.

o The best way to email a photo or image.
How to set the best size and resolution.
How to make all your email images send easily.
A program that can help with all of this for free.

o The current scam of the month.
Do they ever quit? Apparently not. Don’t get taken.

o Mints on the Pillow

See the Grab Bag SIG page for location, contacts, more.

o So you want to buy a laptop?
What’s important, and what’s not.
How to choose the best one for you.

o Organizing your computer for speed and security.

o Should you partition your hard drive.
What this means, and why it is important.

o The best sale ever is coming to Austin.
You don’t want to miss this one. It only happens once a year

o Something on your car may be about to kill you.
What you should look for ASAP to see if you are safe.
This is an important safety alert.

o Mints on the Pillow

See the Grab Bag SIG page for location, contacts, more.

The Grab Bag SIG will not meet in September due to scheduling conflicts.

See the Grab Bag SIG page for location, contacts, more.

AGENDA
o Use your Cell Phone to Receive Emergency Notifications
This could be a life saver.

o Current list of the worst scams
Some are very clever. See how to protect yourself.

o What age is your brain?
Some fun tests that measure your brain age.

o How to get the best deals on purchases.
A review of 3 sites that advise:
Where the good deals are.
When is the best time to buy.

o What to do if you lose a cell phone
How to protect yourself from unauthorized calling costs.
How to recover your phone.

o Determine the best time to start taking Social Security.

o Mints on the Pillow

See the Grab Bag SIG page for location, contacts, more.

AGENDA
o Planning to rent a car?
Some tips that can save your big money.
How the frequent renters get the best rates and avoid the gotyas.

o How to tell if movies or software is suitable for kids.
Protect your children or grand children with real information.

o Paying too much for RX medications.?
Some tips and tricks from the medical community.
In some cases you can cut your drug costs in half.

o Streaming Video, is it time?
A review of what streaming video is and why you may want it.
What equipment you need and the cost.
How to set it up and get going.
This may actually reduce the money you spend on your TV subscription fees.

o Mints on the Pillow

See the Grab Bag SIG page for location, contacts, more.

o Clever Computer gadgets
Things you might want to have for your computer.
Good gift items for the nerd in your life.

o Home burglar alarms
A do-it-yourself item?

o How to save money on your Home Insurance

o Where to buy prescription glasses for $11.99.

o Keeping your reference books handy.
Your computer reference book may be of no use if:
You can’t find it,
Or, it’s too big to lug around.
A trick to overcome these issues.

o Don’t want to pay money for a good backup software.
How about free.

o Mints on the Pillow

See the Grab Bag SIG page for location, contacts, more.

AGENDA
o Virus of the month
This one is very clever and could easily infect you if you are not prepared.

o The Best must see web sites.
These should be on your bucket list.

o How to covert mp3 files into audio files.
If you car radio cannot play mp3 music files, this will allow you to play them through your car CD player.

o Unexplainable computer problems?
It may be as simple as a visual inspection if you know what to look for.

o The really big danger of using the internet to save your backups.
Mozy and other online backup services can burn you big time if you don’t know the rules.

o Mints on the Pillow

See the Grab Bag SIG page for location, contacts, more.

No Grab Bag SIG meeting in March.

It’s Spring Break.
Enjoy your time off.

In the mean time, here is a pillow mint. This is a short video of a snow plow train in action. Often the engineer cannot even see the tracks and has to go on faith that all is clear.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlA2INOpT78

See the Grab Bag SIG page for location, contacts, more.