To me it sounds like gaining so much popularity that I am not going to go for it. However I was recommended by someone to mine LTC...

I want to start mining altcoins - which hardware I need? Which program I need? How to get started?
I want this to be my hobby - I have no intention to invest anything like 12k dollars to this but what is the set-up for mining some easier coins? Howabout, how to join in a pool (to be more specific: after logging in, what are the next steps to start mining)?

I think 1 satoshi will be worth of a dollar if not even that - who wants the paper trash?