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Saturday, January 17, 2004

Career-Op: Simplicity
by Douglas E. Welch, ComputorEdge Magazine

It is easier to buy a computer today than ever before. For your average user, any computer system they buy will have more power and more software than they will ever need. In fact, the biggest problem most users will face is learning how to use all the power they are given without getting hopelessly confused. This is where you and your high-tech experience come into play. With thousands of people buying new computers, or upgrading their existing systems, every day, they need your expertise to help them from going astray.

Lecture Series

De-mystifying Wildflowers

Saturday, 1/24 - 2:00pm

National Park Service Visitor Center

Join Park Ranger, Ken Low, and learn simple steps to help you identify our native plants and shrubs. Get prepared for this year’s wildflower season.

Site info & directions: 805-370-2301

Friday, January 16, 2004

Free?

Free After Rebate watches and publishes info on the large number of "free after rebate" sales available today. This comes on the heels of another site I always recommend, the More Stuff 4 Less Bargain Blog which reports on special deals as they occur.

Both sites also offer RSS feeds, so you don't have to visit them every day to stay informed.

Thursday, January 15, 2004

Adelphia Cable Modem Followup

A few days ago (here), I wrote about reducing the cost of your Adelphia cable modem service.

After that post, I received more info from my friend and fellow tech expert Sam over at NightsNWeekends.com. Sam says that the using your own cable modem, and saving the $3/month "rental" charge is fairly easy now. This unit, Motorola SURFboard External Cable Modem works great and doesn't require a call to Adelphia tech support to get it working. He has installed several of the units and is very pleased.

Circuit City's price is $60, after a mail-in rebate. At $3/month rental, the payoff time is 20 months.

Wednesday, January 14, 2004

Personal Firewall Day - January 15th, 2004

If you have ever wondered just why anti-virus software and firewalls are a necessary part of your daily, computer life, Personal Firewall Day can help you out.

Here you will find information on the how, why and where of keeping your computer secure from malicious attack.

Share this resource with your friends and clients!

From the web site...

COMPUTER SECURITY LEADERS JOIN FORCES TO EDUCATE CONSUMERS FOR PERSONAL FIREWALL DAY ON JANUARY 15, 2004

McAfee, Microsoft, Sygate, TruSecure and Zone Labs Sponsor Industry-wide Cooperative Public Service Initiative Endorsed by the Information Technology Association of America and the SANS Institute

San Francisco, CA – On January 15, 2004, America’s top computer software and security organizations will mark the start of a nationwide public service effort to educate consumers on protecting their home computers. Novice computer users can learn how to find and use tools that will protect a PC connected to the Internet from hackers on the Personal Firewall Day Web site (www.personalfirewallday.org.) Personal Firewall Day is also a call to firewall experts to share their expertise and advice with the their friends, family, and the public. The effort is sponsored by McAfee, Microsoft, Sygate, TruSecure and Zone Labs. In addition, both the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) and the SANS Institute, a leading security information and training organization, have endorsed Personal Firewall Day.

Info contributed by Sam at NightsNWeekends.com

LA Conservancy Walking Tours

Experience Unknown Los Angeles.

They also have a free, self-guided walking tour of downtown LA on their web site.

Introducing the Metro Day Pass Available January 1

The convenient way to ride all day.

Our new Day Pass makes it easier than ever to go Metro! You can ride any Metro bus or rail line all day long for just $3. If you board three or more times, you’ll save money over the single-fare price.

Buy your Day Pass on board any Metro Bus or at any Metro Rail station. You’ll get all of LA for 3 bucks a day!

Note: Additional zone charges required on freeway bus routes.

Senior/Disabled/Medicare rate for Metro Day Pass is $1.50. Additional 25˘ fee required to transfer to municipal bus lines (Senior/Disabled/Medicare 10˘).

Information provided by the MTA web site.

Events

Basket-Making Demonstration

January 18, 2004. 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Southwest Museum/Autry Museum - Griffith Park Campus

Join Lorene Sisquoc (Fort Sill Apache) as she demonstrates Cahuilla basket making.

Tuesday, January 13, 2004

Microsoft Updates for January are available

Microsoft's once-monthly Windows updates are now available. You can access them by visiting http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com.

This article from Microsoft Watch offers more information:

The January Microsoft Security Bulletins Are Out
.. but the Internet Explorer vulnerability discovered at the end of 2003 is not addressed by any of the new updates. What is in the trio of January updates are fixes to an ISA Server 2000, Exchange Server 2003 and various Windows data-access-component breaches. [Microsoft Watch from Mary Jo Foley]

Monday, January 12, 2004

Good news for Win 98/ME users

CNET News offers up this story that confirms a long extension to support services that were supossed to end this week.

Older Windows versions win renewed support
Microsoft prolongs support for Windows 98, Windows 98 SE and Windows ME until June 30, 2006. Support for Windows 98 was scheduled to end Friday. [CNET News.com]

The Princess Bride on the Big Screen

LA Blogs has info on a screening of one of our favorite films this Friday at the Nu-Art. Pity it past our bedtimes, though. (SMILE)

Midnight films
Do you love the Princess Bride? Up for a Midnight viewing of it? The Nuart theater on wilshire will be showing it at midnight Friday January 16th. Why pop in a dvd and watch it on the small screen when you can watch it on a huge screen with others! Here are a few other midnight showings at the Nuart... Battling Rodents of Unusual Size! The Princess Bride · Jan 16 New 35mm... [L.A. Blogs]

Sunday, January 11, 2004

Nature Journaling: Wintertime

SUN 1/18 11am

Sooky Goldman Nature Ctr

Glories of Franklin Canyon

Renew your spirit through nature journaling. Enhance the way you look at the natural world around you. Provide yourself with a record of your observations, thoughts, and feelings. Bring a sketchbook or pad, pencil, pen, and a small folding chair for your comfort. 2hrs WODOC

From the Santa Monica Mountains Outdoors Guide

Living History Day - Los Encinos State Historical Park

January 18, 1-3pm

16756 Moorpark St. Encino CA 91436-1068

Phone: 818-784-4849 - FAX : 818-784-0621 - laha@pacbell.net

Photos from previous event