| | | | |
Welcome to the April 2007 edition of the HAL-PC/HALNet monthly eBulletin. If you wish to stop receiving these bulletins, send an email to e-bulletin-off@hal-pc.org. This month:
News for HALNet Users, Events, Clear Lake, SIG News, Movie Night, Class Listing, Volunteer of the Month, In Memoriam - George Ely, Magazine. |
NEWS FOR HALNET USERS!!
NEW WORM ATTACHED TO FAKE SUPPORT EMAIL
There is a new worm in circulation attached to a spam email saying there has been abnormal activity from your IP address. The email appears to come from the support division of an ISP and asks you to install a patch that is supposedly included in an attached ZIP file. DELETE THE EMAIL IMMEDIATELY AND DO NOT OPEN THE ATTACHMENT!
See the HALNet User Support Virus Information Page for details.
Computerworld article about the record-setting malware
AUTHENTICATION REQUIRED FOR OUTLOOK/OUTLOOK EXPRESS
The HAL-PC/HALNet Mail servers will be requiring "Authentication" to send messages in the immediate future. Please make sure your Email client (program) has Authentication turned on. Most email clients do, however, Outlook and Outlook Express do NOT have this on by default.
For Outlook Express (and some versions of Outlook): Go to tools, accounts, mail. Find your HAL-PC HALNet account and highlight it if necessary, then click the properties button on the right. Click the Servers tab. Look for "My Server Requires Authentication" and put a check in it. Click OK then close the accounts box, then close Outlook.
For more information see:
Outlook Express - "Authentication Required" or "Relaying Denied" Error
Outlook 2002/2003 - "Authentication Required" or "Relaying Denied" Error
PLEASE PREPARE FOR NEW WEB SERVER
In the coming weeks, HALNet will be moving all its user accounts to a new web server. Your home page URL will remain the same (http://www.hal-pc.org/~username), but the ftp server address will change. To prepare for this move, we ask you to PLEASE CHANGE THE SETTINGS IN YOUR FTP PROGRAMS NOW from www.hal-pc.org to users.hal-pc.org. Thank you for your cooperation!!
POSTINI CHANGES
All email delivered to HALNet's mail server passes through the Postini
service. Only those users who have activated spam and virus filtering
have their mail filtered by Postini. Due to an astronomical increase in spam attacks,
the volume of mail delivered to our server by Postini that is addressed to
accounts that DO NOT EXIST IN OUR SYSTEM has been slowing our mail server
to a crawl. To combat this problem, we have changed Postini's way of dealing with our
account to prevent the delivery of mail to non-existent accounts.
The graph below illustrates the drop in incoming messages resulting from this change:
Mail server performance has dramatically improved as a result.
When this was implemented on Tuesday morning, a 'Welcome to Postini' message was generated in error for every HALNet account not already subscribed to the filtering service.
We sincerely apologize for any confusion or inconvenience caused by this.
What has happened is that everyone is now REGISTERED with Postini.
If you choose to activate the filtering services, contact the office at
713-993-3300 or filter@hal-pc.org to activate your free 30-day trial of the filtering service.
GET FREE HALNet INTERNET ACCESS FOR REFERRING YOUR FRIENDS!
You can get a free extension of time on your HALNet account for referring new users to our service! For every signup you refer, your account will be extended by $10.00 worth of time. Dial-up users will get an extra month, DSL accounts will get $10.00 worth of extra days. Here's how the program works:
- Go to the User Account Login Page and login with your HALNet user id and password
- In the upper left corner of the client administration page you will see a button labeled 'Referrals'. Click it
- The Referrals information page tells you how the program works. At the top of the page you will find the following words:
----------------------------
Highlight this url, copy it and paste it into an email to your friends and neighbors.
Tell them to follow the link to sign up for HALNet service.
https://office.hal-pc.org/halnet/referrals/join1.php?more_time=XX
----------------------------
This is a specially-generated link to the online signup page that is keyed to your HALNet account. Be sure to tell your friend to follow that link to sign up so you will get credit.
|
NEW SUITE ACCESS POLICY |
|
HAL-PC has implemented a new Headquarters Suite access policy. HAL-PC members will be required to swipe their membership cards in the card reader located outside the suite doors to access the suite after 6:00 pm. If you have not received a permanent membership card, or if you have lost yours, contact Cynthia at 713-341-8104 for a replacement. If you are a visitor, please signal the attendant at the desk you need access, and please make sure to sign the guest register at his desk. Remember, guests are welcome to attend a SIG or event one time as a visitor!
|
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS
Movie Night, April 13 -- 6:30 pm: Hitch
Saturday, April 14 -- 12:00 - 1:00 pm:
A Framework for Reducing Malware Incidents in Home User Environments Using Microsoft Platforms
Saturday, May 5 -- 1:00 - 3:30 pm: Digital Cameras for Everyone
|
COMING AT CLEAR LAKE
Satruday April 21 -- 1:30 pm: Master Geneaologist (TMG) Software SIG - Demonstrations by Jerry Woodman.
Saturday, April 28 -- 1:00 pm: Digital Photography SIG - Margaret Maes, HAL-PC member, All About Scrapbooking
Saturday, April 28 -- 9:30 am General Computer SIG - Clear Lake Technical Staff, Basic PC Troubleshooting Step by Step
Friday, May 4 - 1:00 pm: Computer Investing SIG - Steve Morehouse, SIG member, Online Portfolio Management
Saturday May 5 -- 9:30 am: Camcorder & Video SIG - Carl Farley, HAL-PC member, Making DVD Labels
|
SIG NEWS
NEW SIG! The new Pure Basic SIG meets on the first Tuesday of the month from 6:00 - 9:00 pm. Here are 10 reasons you should come join us and learn about this exciting new programming language!
- Compiles to Machine Code (Assembly) true executables (using FASM)
- No run-times needed for your apps (no DLLs to distribute)
- Multi-platform support (Windows 95-2003, Linux, Mac-OS X, Amiga)
- Generous Licensing
Inexpensive ($99)
Life-time license (all future updates & versions included)
$99 includes all platform compilers
- Tiny executables (as small or smaller/as fast or faster than C++ w/out the runtime)
- You can write Console EXEs, Windows EXEs, DLLs, Services, etc.
- Multi-thread support
- Full OS API support
- In-line Assembly support
- Awesome online support community!
Please refer to the SIG Calendar for a complete listing of HAL-PC SIG meeting dates and times. If you are interested in starting a Special Interest Group that is not currently on our calendar, contact the Vice President for SIGS
|
SIG MEETINGS
WEEKLY MEETINGS: |
| MONDAYS: |
UNDERSTANDING THREATS TO YOUR COMPUTER: 7:00 pm
Email the SIG leader
|
| TUESDAYS: |
TC USERS GROUP - WEST: 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Email the SIG leader |
| WEDNESDAYS: |
BUILD OR BUY A COMPUTER: 1:00 - 4:00 pm
Email the SIG leader
LINUX WORKSHOP: 6:00 - 9:00 pm |
| THURSDAYS: |
LAPTOP INVESTORS: 9:15 am - 1:00 pm
A+ CERTIFICATION SIGS:
Skills & Drills: 6:00 pm
Email the SIG leader
Hands-On: 1ST AND 3RD THURSDAYS 7:00 pm
Theory: 2ND AND 4TH THURSDAYS 7:00 pm
Email the SIG leader
|
| FRIDAYS: |
PC UPGRADE & TROUBLESHOOTING: 9:30 am
CALL the HAL-PC front desk at 713-993-3300
Monday mornings around 9:30am to schedule an appointment
Email the SIG leader
COMPUTER INVESTING: 9:45 am - 2:45 pm
Email the SIG leader
MCSE CERTIFICATION LAB
Email the SIG leader
|
| SATURDAYS: |
LINUX: 2:00 pm (2nd and 4th Saturdays)
VISUAL BASIC PROGRAMMING: 10:00 am (1st & 3rd Saturdays)
Email the SIG leader
|
|
| First Monday |
CHIEF ARCHITECT: 7:00 pm
Email the SIG leader
BEGINNING ACCESS SIG: 7:00 pm
Email the SIG leader
|
| First Tuesday |
PURE BASIC: 6:00 pm
Email the SIG leader
CLARION: 6:30 pm
MACINTOSH APPS: 7:00 pm
LINUX 101: 7:00 pm
Email the SIG leader
|
| First Wednesday |
WINDOWS OS: 7:00 pm
Email the SIG leader
|
| First Thursday |
TC USER GROUP: 7:00 pm
Email the SIG leader
|
| First Saturday |
MULTI-MEDIA SIG: 10:00 am
Email the SIG leader
MONTHLY 'FOR EVERYONE' SEMINAR: 1:00 pm
Saturday, May 5: Scanning Basics for Everyone
Email the SIG leader
SAMBA STUDY GROUP: 2:00 pm
Email the SIG leader
|
| Second Monday |
COREL DRAW: 7:00 pm
ADOBE WINDOWS PUBLISHING: 7:30 pm
Email the SIG leader
|
| Second Tuesday |
VISUAL FOXPRO SIG
Beginning: 6:30 pm
Advanced: 7:30 pm
Email the SIG leader
|
| Second Friday |
INTERNET SIGS
Basic Internet: 6:00 pm
Internet: 7:00 pm
Email the SIG leader
|
| Second Saturday |
DATABASE & GUI DESIGN: 9:00 am - 12:30 pm
Email the SIG leader
STOCK MARKET: 1:00 pm
Email the SIG leader
PALM COMPUTING: 1:00 pm
INTERNET 101: 1:00 - 5:00 pm
LINUX SIG: 2:00 - 4:00 pm
|
| Third Monday |
OS/2 WARP: 6:00 pm
Email the SIG leader
ALPHA FIVE: 6:30 pm
Email the SIG leader
|
| Third Tuesday |
C#:
Beginning C# - 6:00 pm
Advanced C# - 7:00 pm
April 17 Program: Web Development with Visual Studio 2005, ASP.NET, simple data binding techniques.
Email the SIG leader
HAM SATELLITE RADIO SIG: 7:00 pm
Email the SIG leader
|
| Third Wednesday |
LEGAL SIG: 7:00 pm
|
| Third Thursday |
FRONTPAGE: 7:00 pm
Email the SIG leader
GENEAOLOGY: 7:00 pm
|
| Third Saturday |
GENEAOLOGY SOFTWARE - THE MASTER GENEAOLOGIST: 9:00 am
ACCESS HELP WORKSHOP: 9:00 am
SCANNING & DIGITAL IMAGING SIG: 1:00 pm
ANTI-VIRUS, SPYWARE & ADWARE SIG: 1:30 pm
|
| Fourth Tuesday |
WEB DESIGN SIG: 7:00 pm
April 24 program: Continued discussion of Java Script
Email the SIG leader
THE TRADER'S SIG: 7:00 pm
Email the SIG leader
|
| Fourth Wednesday |
INVESTORS SOFTWARE 101: 7:00 pm
Email the SIG leader
|
| Fourth Saturday |
GETTRADERS SIG: 9:00 am
|
APRIL MOVIE NIGHT
The April movie will be Friday 04/13/07. The feature will be Hitch, starring Will Smith (2005). Smooth and sexy Alex "Hitch" Hitchens (Will Smith) is the master of seduction in this charming romantic comedy. His specialty? Helping clueless clients make a great first impression so they not only get to the second date, but make someone fall for them. When a gossip reporter (Eva Mendes) starts nosing around his business, however, Hitch finds himself out of moves as he forgets all his lessons and has to figure out a whole new strategy to love." Cartoons will begin at 6:30 and the feature at 7:00. As always, popcorn, candy and drinks will be sold as a fund raiser. Join us for a fun, free night out!!
|
Upcoming Classes - HAL-PC Headquarters
Map To Facility
Starting April 17
Working With Windows
Instructor: Bear Jones
Starting April 19
Getting More From Word - Business Writing
Instructor: Bear Jones
Starting April 23
Getting Web Surfing For Cowards
Instructor: Bear Jones
Starting April 26
Getting More From Word - Creative Writing
Instructor: Bear Jones
Starting May 1
Working With Windows
Instructor: Bear Jones
Starting May 3
Getting More From Word - Business Writing
Instructor: Bear Jones
Check the Class Calendar for the latest additions to the schedule. Some classes have minimum enrollments - Call 713-341-8102 for complete enrollment information.
|
VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH
HAL-PC's Volunteer of the month for April 2007 is Carl Farley of the Clear Lake Satellite Branch. Carl is one of the original four volunteers at HAL-PC Clearlake starting back in 1997, and has been volunteering at that facility ever since. In the early days he taught Beginner and Intermediate courses. Later, he saw the need for, and introduced and taught the original File Management course. Carl became personally interested in digital cameras, recognized the potential for HAL clients, and introduced and taught the first Digital Camera course.
Carl then turned his attention to the need for SIGs in the Clear Lake area. He introduced and coordinated the General Computer SIG, Digital Photography SIG, Computer Investing SIG and Camcorder and Video SIG. Today, Carl coordinates the activities of these SIGs, including securing a suitable meeting site, lining up speakers, advertising, SIG content, and the Clear Lake web archives of the presentation material. He is also the coordinator for the 5th Saturday mini-courses. In addition to his coordination activities, Carl is often the presenter at both SIG meetings and mini-courses.
The number of hours Carl spends in meetings, on the phone, on his computers at home and at the Senior Learning Center to make all of these projects interesting, high quality and relevant to our clients surely must rival the dedication of HAL-PC's most prolific volunteers. |
IN MEMORIAM GEORGE ELY
EUGENE WESLEY ELY passed on April 6, 2007. He enjoyed a long career with Ingersoll-Rand that took him to 102 countries and he lived on four continents. In retirement, Gene continued to be active as a volunteer with HAL-PC, serving as SIG leader of the Computer Investors SIG for many years. You may sign an online guestbook for the family here.
|
THIS MONTH'S MAGAZINE
Look for the HAL-PC Magazine online. This month: Todd Rosen on Windows Vista,
Reviews of Counterspy Malware Detector/Eraser and The Ripper Audio Conversion Tool
|
HAL-PC Monthly eBulletin ©2007 Houston Area League of PC Users, Inc.
All rights reserved |
