Photography & Computer News
May 01, 2009 Issue

Hi Everyone!
Welcome to April's Newsletter. Once again, there's a lot to cover in this issue, so let's get going!

IN THIS ISSUE

• Photo of the Month: Cormorant
• Computer Help: ME Parker Remote Computer Lessons
• Photography News
  
• Helpful Web Sites: Online Recipe Organizers

PHOTO OF THE MONTH:

Cormorant
Shark Valley - Everglades National Park

COMPUTER HELP: ME PARKER REMOTE COMPUTER LESSONS

As many of you know, I have been offering my computer and photography tutoring services remotely. This is a great way to continue lessons with me when you're up north. It's a simple process - all you need at your end is Windows XP or Vista, a high speed internet connection - and to download and install a small piece of software. I guide you through that part.

Once our two computers are connected, we can work together over the phone and on the screen. I can see your screen and even move your mouse, which allows me to help you learn as if I was sitting right next to you.

I'm really excited to be able to continue to offer this service to you! Not only will it mean more access to me during the summer months when many of you are up north, but it will also mean that I can meet with you (remotely) much more quickly and efficiently during the winter months when our calendars do not fit well.

If you are interested in this service with me, you will need to set up an appointment. Send an email or give me a call and we will stay in touch via REMOTE this summer!

Also, for those of you headed north soon, Dave at Action One Computers offers quick turn-around times for computer repairs during the summer. Many of my clients don't have a reputable computer repair shop up north and are at a loss when their computer's break or act up. Dave will have you ship the computer down to him (many of my clients choose to expedite shipping) and Dave is typically able to get things back up and running (or at least give you a diagnosis and estimate) quickly. Then, depending on the repair, he's able to ship it back to you however quickly you need it. If you have any questions about this, please keep Action One's number handy (239-498-2855). If you lose it, don't hesitate to give me a call and I'll help you get connected with Dave.

PHOTOGRAPHY NEWS

The LAST Side Street Artists art fair of the 2008-09 seaons is Saturday, May 2, from 10 am - 5 pm at the Bonita Shores Club just off Bonita Beach Road. For more information about this show, including examples of ALL our artist's work and show location maps, be sure to visit the Side Street Artists web site. These shows are indoors, so they are held rain or shine.

This show will feature many types of unique artworks such as glass art, pottery, paintings, photography and jewelry, all handcrafted by local Southwest Florida Artists, such as: Sondra Slone's lovely painted glass dinnerware; Sheri Chase, whose handmade jewelry designs are inspired by the intricacies of nature-created shapes and patterns that surround her; unique handcrafted wood and glass memory boxes by Boxes Unique by CBS; fused glass designs by Francine Gerson; Joan Stobart who paints watercolors, vibrant with the colors and shapes of nature; Ellen Pritts, who creates pottery and fused glass designs; Ira and Batya Gold, who handcraft writing instruments turned from responsibly harvested exotic and domestic woods; and Nancy Krchniak, who creates distinctive portraits.

Joan Stobart's "Docs" Painting

This will be the last show until November, 2009. For this show, I am offering a coupon for one free photo greeting card. Just click HERE to print the coupon. Bring it to the show and you get your choice of any one of my photo greeting cards (a $3.95 value!).

Additionally, because this is the last show of the season, I'll be offering some significant discounts on ALL my photography products.

Again, this show is   Saturday, April 4, from 10 am - 5 pm at the Bonita Shores Club just off Bonita Beach Road. For more information about this show, including examples of ALL our artist's work and show location maps, be sure to visit the Side Street Artists web site.

WEB SITE TIPS: ONLINE RECIPES and PHONE NUMBERS

I often get requests to train clients in how to organize their recipes on their computers so they can be stored and printed. While there are many good "stand-alone" software titles for accomplishing this, there are also several web sites that do the same thing.

More and more, these kinds of tasks are being moved online. An advantage to organizing your recipes on a web site is that they will never be lost unless the company goes out of business. This means that if you get a new computer, or your computer is lost, stolen or crashes, your recipes will be safe.

One of the web sites that I have used and test is WeGottaEat.com. You'll need to sign up for an account with them, but it's free. From there, you can type in your recipes and they'll become searchable and cross referenced by a wide variety of categories, such ingredients, meal type (entree, dessert, etc) and difficulty.

This web site also expands your recipe world by letting you browse recipes by other members who have made their recipes public. If you have a friend who is also a member, you can share directly with that friend. And of course, you can print with ease whenever you want.

One of the additional advantages to using web sites such as this is that your recipes are accessible to you no matter where you are! All you need is a computer connected to the internet and the web site address (who can forget WeGottaEat.com, right?). You just log in and there are all your recipes! Very cool.

If any of you have used other web sites - or other software for organizing your recipes, and would like to share your experiences, just send me an email and let me know!

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I'm always looking for new topics to cover that interest YOU, the reader! If you have ideas, just click to send me an email, or give me a call at (239) 498-0480.

Well, that wraps up another issue of my newsletter. Don't forget to mark your calendars for the Side Street Artists art show this Saturday, May 2!  I hope to see you there!

Until next month, thanks for reading!

M.E. Parker