Welcome to the BMUG Database & Network SIG Information Page!
BMUG Database & Network SIG Meeting Information:
NOTE: Unfortunately, the Grand Lake Neighborhood Center has closed. Meetings are now held at Tech Liminal. Please see below for more details.
December, 2009 meeting:
Along with the usual general discussion of questions, answers, news, and rumors relating to the latest in the world of Macs, databases, and networking, the following topics and/or demonstrations are scheduled for the BMUG Database & Network SIG meeting on Sat., 19/Dec/2009, at 10:30 ( more on the location and directions below ).
Continued potpourri of items:
We'll discuss my visit to W3C TPAC and all sorts of other exciting things that have came up in the last month or so. Links to discussed items here.
Also, for those that might be interested, O'Reilly is offering the free online course Learn to Build iPhone Apps with HTML, CSS, and Javascript starting again in Jan. ( presented by CreativeTechs ).
Or do Palm Pre programming via the recently announced Project Ares.
If you're a "people who make websites" person you might want to take a look at A List Apart's results of their 2008 survey.
Continuing side note: We've also been attending some other good SIG/UG meetings lately in the bay area. For those meetings, check out our Google Maps mashup of public UG meeting venues in the greater S. F. Bay Area ( it's still a bit rough, but we'll try to improve it over time as an example work ).
If your browser doesn't support Google Maps, see our meeting's Yahoo maps link under the "Location" section below.
More details about other local groups can be found at:
See also these for Apple User Groups, The MUG Center, 4D User Groups, and a list of our links to various resources. For those in the South Bay, you may want to check out the A32/SVMUG or the Silicon Valley Google Technology User Group offerings.
And, need serious Mac help fast? In case you didn't know it, you can now make free on-line reservations for Genius bar support at your local Apple Store ( now over a 3-day window - and if you're a $99/yr. ProCare member, you can do it up to 14-days in advance ). Unfortunately, Apple recently changed the One to One instruction for $99/yr. to only be available to purchases made at an Apple store or on-line, but I think they still offer the free Personal Shopping help.
Also, for those that might be interested, O'Reilly is offering the free online course Learn to Build iPhone Apps with HTML, CSS, and Javascript starting again in Jan. ( presented by CreativeTechs ).
Or do Palm Pre programming via the recently announced Project Ares.
If you're a "people who make websites" person you might want to take a look at A List Apart's results of their 2008 survey.
Continuing side note: We've also been attending some other good SIG/UG meetings lately in the bay area. For those meetings, check out our Google Maps mashup of public UG meeting venues in the greater S. F. Bay Area ( it's still a bit rough, but we'll try to improve it over time as an example work ).
If your browser doesn't support Google Maps, see our meeting's Yahoo maps link under the "Location" section below.
More details about other local groups can be found at:
See also these for Apple User Groups, The MUG Center, 4D User Groups, and a list of our links to various resources. For those in the South Bay, you may want to check out the A32/SVMUG or the Silicon Valley Google Technology User Group offerings.
And, need serious Mac help fast? In case you didn't know it, you can now make free on-line reservations for Genius bar support at your local Apple Store ( now over a 3-day window - and if you're a $99/yr. ProCare member, you can do it up to 14-days in advance ). Unfortunately, Apple recently changed the One to One instruction for $99/yr. to only be available to purchases made at an Apple store or on-line, but I think they still offer the free Personal Shopping help.
Last meeting ( October, 2009 ):
We discussed repair problems in relation to my sending my MacBook in for its end-of-warranty checkup, my visit to Silicon Valley Code Camp, we tested a VNC app. on a Touch connecting to an external server, and Mr. Sabsay showed his code for replacing Flash w/ PHP for rotating pictures on a site.
Next month's ( January, 2010 ) meeting:
Meeting Place & Time - The meeting should be held at its NEW place and normal time - Tech Liminal, Sat., 16/Jan/2010, starting at 10:30.
Meeting Subject TBD - The subject is still to be determined, and, as usual, we're always open to suggestions.
Meeting Subject TBD - The subject is still to be determined, and, as usual, we're always open to suggestions.
About the BMUG Database & Network SIG:
The BMUG Offices in downtown Berkeley have closed and the Database & Network SIG has moved to another location. For more information about the current status of BMUG itself, please check:
Depending on circumstances, the place and time of our future SIG meetings may change and will be announced as part of a particular meeting's notes at the top of this page.
Depending on circumstances, the place and time of our future SIG meetings may change and will be announced as part of a particular meeting's notes at the top of this page.
General information:
The BMUG Database SIG was originally formed in the mid-'80s to discuss issues and questions related to all PC databases, with a primary emphasis on Macintosh programs, and 4th Dimension ( now 4D ) in particular. However, since network usage has become an integral part of using databases, in the '90s we changed the name to The BMUG Database & Network SIG, and added discussions relating to the setup and use of home and office networks of Macintosh's and PC's as well. Network topics include, but are not limited to, Ethernet Hubs/Switches/Routers, DSL, wireless access, cross-platform file sharing, printing, and any appropriate WEB applications.
Attendance at all meetings is free, though Tech Liminal does appreciate, but does not require, a $1 donation per person for the use of the facilities.
Topics Note: We've worked with the Apple Store San Francisco to hold some special meetings in their "auditorium", usually on a week-night at 18:30, so if you have something really special to demo, and want a quality venue, with easy access, big screen presentation, and plenty of seating, let us know and we can work with you to host it there.
Attendance at all meetings is free, though Tech Liminal does appreciate, but does not require, a $1 donation per person for the use of the facilities.
Topics Note: We've worked with the Apple Store San Francisco to hold some special meetings in their "auditorium", usually on a week-night at 18:30, so if you have something really special to demo, and want a quality venue, with easy access, big screen presentation, and plenty of seating, let us know and we can work with you to host it there.
Day/Time:
SIG meetings are usually held on the 3rd Saturday of each month, and now start at 10:30. Meetings last until ~13:30, then those that are interested ( and hungry ) retire to one of the many local food emporiums for lunch and more discussion.
Location:
Meetings are usually held at Tech Liminal, 268 14th St., Oakland, between Harrison and Alice Sts.
If your browser does not support Google Maps, see this Yahoo map.
Parking Note: Street parking is available for $2.00/hr, payable by cash or credit card to a machine in front of Tech Liminal, but is limited to 2-hour blocks at a time. There is a cash only paid lot next to the building, just before Alice for $3.50 on weekends, and after 16:00 weekdays ( $6.50/day on weekdays before 16:00 ). Free "neighborhood" parking is a few blocks away. Also, see the "Directions... By car:" section, below for more info.
For those with a GPS unit try:
N 37.802725d , W 122.267046d
( also as: N 37d 48m 9.81s , W 122d 16m 1.37s )
If your browser does not support Google Maps, see this Yahoo map.
Parking Note: Street parking is available for $2.00/hr, payable by cash or credit card to a machine in front of Tech Liminal, but is limited to 2-hour blocks at a time. There is a cash only paid lot next to the building, just before Alice for $3.50 on weekends, and after 16:00 weekdays ( $6.50/day on weekdays before 16:00 ). Free "neighborhood" parking is a few blocks away. Also, see the "Directions... By car:" section, below for more info.
For those with a GPS unit try:
N 37.802725d , W 122.267046d
( also as: N 37d 48m 9.81s , W 122d 16m 1.37s )
Directions to Tech Liminal:
By car or BART: See here courtesy of Tech Liminal.
By transit: From San Francisco, take AC Transit line NL from the Transbay terminal. Get off at Thomas L. Berkley Way & Broadway, then it's 4 blocks down Broadway to 14th, and ~3.5 blocks out 14th to 268. The NL leaves S. F. every 30 min., starting at 06:05, and gets to the Broadway stop in about 15 minutes. Fare is ~$3.00 each way.
From or Berkeley buses, see these lines to Downtown Oakland: 1, 11, 12, 13 ( which runs right by it except on weekends, when it only goes Broadway and west ), 14, 15, 40, 51, 59, 62, 63, or 88.
Please see the links in the "Location" section, above, for a map of the meeting location.
Those that are iPod inclined can copy/paste this section into a text file and place it into your Notes folder for viewing on the fly. If you have an iPod photo version you can probably even get the above linked maps onto it for viewing. If you have an iPhone you're really set!
If you need more information about the BMUG Database & Network SIG, if you want to schedule a demonstration, or if you have a suggestion for a discussion topic, please feel free to drop us a note.
Thanks for your time. We hope to see you at a SIG meeting.
glenn bookout
BMUG Database & Network SIG Leader
Thanks for your time. We hope to see you at a SIG meeting.
glenn bookout
BMUG Database & Network SIG Leader
Our SIG is a...
