"A date which will live in infamy."
That's what President Franklin D. Roosevelt said about the attack on Pearl Harbor.  We can include the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and the coordinated suicide attacks on September 11, 2001... three days that no American forgets.

We do our best to memorialize those that died on during these events: we honor ALL of those servicepeople who died for our country every year on Memorial Day.  We also go to great lengths around the country on September 11th to memorialize those who perished in the attack.

I propose that we do something constructive to memorialize those people.  Normally, Random Acts of Kindness (RAOK) are celebrated world-wide on February 14th, Valentine's Day.  I think we have people who need a touch of kindness well before next February.  Let's see if we can give it to them early.

I approached the TBCS Board with my idea for us to celebrate at TBCS the way we do best: We will hold a Random Acts of Kindness day on Friday, September 11th.  Our repair crew will open up their arms to non-members on that Friday.  While they are repairing computers, we will show movies and hold discussion groups related to kindness throughout the day in our SIG room.

We like to feed everyone when they come to the Resource Center for one of our major events.  We had so many good potluck items the last time that we are going to do that again.  I know our culinary wizards will rise to the occasion that day, and show up with lots of palate pleasers.

I am calling the event: "Take Back 9/11".  We will heal a hurt by extending a helping hand.  Soon I will have a webpage with some suggestions for kindnesses you might want to bestow on others.

You know, I consider TBCS to be "Kindness Central" in the Tampa Bay Area.  I'm looking for ways to promote kindness at the Resource Center.  If you have ideas, please mail them to the Club Secretary.

2010 FACUG Technology Cruise/Conference next February!
The Florida Association of Computer User Groups (FACUG) is going to hold their next spring conference aboard the Norwegian Sky cruise ship.  We will sail from Miami on Friday, February 26, 2010.  We'll be calling on Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas, and we'll return to Miami on Monday, March 1, 2010.

The cruise prices are wonderful: $233.37 per passenger including taxes, fees, and gratuities (in the cheapest cabins), and the conference is only $50 for TBCS members and their spouses.  We'll have presentations, programs, vendors, cruise adventure, and fantastic food and activities.

There are only 99 of the cheapest cabins available (although the other prices are excellent also).  This one is filling very fast so you want to make a decision soon.  Go to:
www.facug.org for details and registration.

Notes: You will need a passport for this, and you can't escape me all that easy... FACUG has asked me to be the kickoff speaker on Friday.

Political Apologies...

I want to thank several of you for writing in support after my message last week apologizing for making a political statement during the last monthly meeting.  No one wrote to complain.  However, I will share with you an excerpt from one letter:

I thought our last Monthly Meeting was wonderful!!!  I loved that you were able to show us exactly what was so good about Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace.  What perfect timing... I hear the news that afternoon and there you are prepared to talk about it in the evening.

I don't know what the problem was with the jerks behind me but I thought possibly they had been drinking???  All I can remember is when you laughed and said "I guess you all will be paying my insurance" is when they got up and stomped out...  I almost went to the back of the room and asked our workers to not let them back in because they were scary with their comments and actions... but please be sure I heard you say nothing you need to apologize for and I totally enjoyed your talk.

I was, of course, making a joke about our medical system.  I assure you all that I DO pay for my own insurance -- I pay plenty.  <grin>

It's still a valid point for me NOT to talk politics from my bully pulpit.  I'll do my best.

Phil Sullivan's Hands-On Windows XP Beginner's Classes
Four 2-hour classes on Mondays 9:30-11:30am  $40 (NO make-up)
Since these are hands-on classes, they will be limited to only 6 people.
You MUST register for these in advance (see below).  Minimum class size is 3 students.
Here's Phil's schedule for the rest of the year: