Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts
c/o Harold Bieber
Emory University School of Law
1301 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA 30322
Founded in December 1994, we have hosted a plethora of monthly meetings with talk topics ranging from "How to Configure PPP" to "How to Write Device Drivers". We usually have around 40 - 100 people at each meeting.
The ALE group is loosely organized, with a few people acting as contact points and no charter to bog things down. Anyone is welcome to come to the meetings; there is no membership, fees or any other formalities. To become a member, just show up. Our primary interest is in getting information about Linux to members of the Atlanta community.
ALE has three monthly meetings to accomodate the growing Linux Enthusiast population of the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Central meeting is held at Emory University on the second Thursday of the month. The ALE NorthEast meeting is held at Edeltacom Data Center on the first Thursday of the month. The ALE NorthWest meets the third Thursday at the Weather Channel. Directions are on the left sidebar.
Our Featured Presentation for the
Thursday, August 21st, 7:30pm
ALE Central meeting will be
“Using OpenOffice & Base with External Databases”
— or —
“Poking a Lance at Micro$oft Abscess”
presented by James Kinney
Synopsis:
– OpenOffice.org BASE is the database module initially released with OpenOffice.org version 2.0 and, for simple single user applications, it is currently on the HSQLDB database engine written in Java. However, BASE also has native drivers allowing OpenOffice.org users to connect to external full-featured SQL database servers such as MySQL, PostgreSQL and even Oracle through ODBC or JDBC drivers. OpenOffice.org BASE can hence act as a GUI front end for SQL views, table design and query. In addition, OpenOffice.org has its own Form wizard to create dialog windows for form filling and updates. Our presentation will be looking at some of the ways these OpenOffice BASE connections to external databases can be implemented and utilized for both single user applications and in a multi-user local network environment.
(reference Wikipedia entry on OOo Base)
Bio:
– James has been a Linux user since 1993 (Go Slackware!) and a raving loon about open source ever since. He masquerades by day as a Linux admin to support his hardware acquisition addiction. Outside of work, James spends countless hours tinkering with Linux systems in between long bouts of Linux software testing and researching things to do with Linux systems. He has been known to carry Fedora DVD’s into places that sell computers and give them to innocent bystanders while lecturing about how they should be using Linux and not the other stuff. Occasionally, James brews beer and organizes gatherings of beer drinkers around Linux topics. He is actively involved in working to displace other computer platforms in schools as a founding member of Georgia Open Source Education Foundation (gosef.org) and works with community groups such as Boys and Girls Clubs of America and the Clarkston Community Center to set up Linux thin client systems to support these groups need for reliable, low cost computing platforms for social support.
– James claims to have a family life as well, one where he is (mostly) tolerated by his wonderful wife, (often) dismissed by his teenage daughter and (usually) worshiped by his pre-teen super-geeky son. In addition to helping feed those mouths, he also feeds a collection of 4 legged creatures that bark or meow and a small orange thing that swims in a tiny tank of water. Of course, his additional claim to a also having stand up comedy career is dubious at best.
Links:
OpenOffice.org BASE page
Tech Tip on curing an Abscess data base by importing to OpenOffice.org BASE
============================
We will be meeting in our usual Gambrel Hall room 1C venue.
Meeting time frame is 7:30pm to ~9:30pm
Directions to Emory Law School can be found
HERE (or via the side bar link).
Due to schedule demands on the moderator and some red tape delays in securing a meeting room the August 7th, 2008 ALE Northeast meeting has been canceled.
Our apologies for any inconvenience, but we do expect to resume the regular First Thursday schedule of ALE Northeast meetings beginning with September 4th, 2008.
Our Featured Presentation for the
Thursday, July 17th , 7:30pm
ALE Central meeting will be
Securing Communications with OpenVPN
presented by
Brian MacLeod
Synopsis:
Whether it is at the office, on the campus or at home, secure network
traffic is becoming more and more important. Learn how you can set
up your own basic virtual private network with OpenVPN, and what
advantages and disadvantages might be found in using it.
Bio:
Brian MacLeod is a Linux System Administrator and developing VOIP
geek at Georgia Gwinnett College. When he is not exorcising the
Micro$oft demons or listening to echoes in telephones, he likes to play
around with critical network services to see what he can break…
err… improve.
============================
We will be meeting in our usual Gambrel Hall room 1C venue.
Meeting time frame is 7:30pm to ~9:30pm
Directions to Emory Law School can be found
HERE (or via the side bar link).
To complement the ALE OSPREX development project,
Daniel Howard was invited to share a presentation on his
work in promoting and supporting Linux in educational
environments. Thus our Thursday, June 19th, 7:30pm
ALE Central meeting is:
Bringing Linux to Georgia’s
Schools and Communities:
An Update from the Georgia
Open Source Education Foundation
with presenter Daniel Howard
Synopsis:
Building on the success of a 7 school Enterprise LTSP pilot project
that delivered over 2,000 Linux computer systems to Georgia students
last year, Atlanta Public Schools is expanding their comprehensive
Linux computer program into at least 30 more schools over the next
two years. Now Dekalb County schools have also begun a Linux
classroom pilot, while charter schools, community centers, and Boys’
and Girls’ Clubs all over Atlanta are discovering why Linux is the
superior choice for providing reliable, secure, high performance,
education compatible computing with minimized costs and liabilities.
A great deal of this success is due to the evangelizing, promotion
and support efforts of the Georgia Open Source Education Foundation.
Come get an update on how we’re helping bring Linux into schools
and communities throughout Georgia one venue at a time, and what
a difference it’s making to students and non-profit organizations in the
greater Atlanta area.
Bio:
Daniel Howard is a founder and CEO of GOSEF, a non-profit
group dedicated to promoting and sustaining the use of Open
Source Software in public and non-profit institutions through
advocacy, outreach, support, and recycling of donated hardware.
He has been a dedicated Linux evangelist and supporter since
2004, when he and William Fragakis established a highly successful
computer program at his daughter’s elementary school by converting
aging or dysfunctional Windows classroom PC’s into Linux thin clients
using K12LTSP with dozens of Open Source educational applications.
The substantial improvements in student performance attributed to the
Linux technology at Morris Brandon Elementary convinced
administrators to install Linux student computers throughout the
Atlanta Public Schools system.
For more background, see the GOSEF.org web site.
============================
We will be meeting in our usual Gambrel Hall room 1C venue.
Meeting time frame is 7:30pm to ~9:30pm
Directions to Emory Law School can be found here.
========
PS: There may be some Linux / ALE related T-Shirts available
at the meeting for a nominal donation that will go to a worthy Open
Source project. Grab a shirt and say “Linux” wear-ever you go!
When the virus of MS Windows has become the disease,
Ubuntu Linux is your painless and permanent cure!
Discover the Healthy Freedom of
Open Source & Linux Technology!
Let us introduce you to all the Familiar, User Friendly
and System Compatible solutions for enhancing your
Personal Computer experience at:
The Spring 2008 Ubuntu Linux
Install Fest & Forum
A public invitation to Free Software, Free Technical Help
and Free Information from the generous, patient, friendly
and informed Open Source technology professionals of
Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts and Ubuntu-Georgia
Saturday, May 17, 9:00am to 5:00pm
at Emory Law School Gambrell Hall, Room 5e
[ Directions to Gambrell Hall ]
ALE Install Festivals are a great way to RESTORE, REVIVE OR RECYCLE
OLDER PC’s and keep them out of the landfill. EXTEND THE LIFE OF YOUR
CURRENT PC BY MAKING MORE FUNCTIONAL, FAST & FRIENDLY!
We help provide all the peripheral parts like monitors, mice and keyboards so
that all you have to bring is your laptop or computer CPU case and we’ll help
you discover how seamlessly Ubuntu Linux will work for you and your system!
And note that experimenting with Ubuntu is entirely USER SAFE. By default,
the Ubuntu exploration and installation processes will KEEP ALL YOUR
EXISTING SYSTEM DATA AND FILES IN TACT AND ACCCESSIBLE
(though you can also choose to entirely remove all M$ viruses from
your system as an additional bonus of choosing to switch to Linux).
AND WHETHER YOU COME TO OBSERVE, EXPERIMENT OR INSTALL,
IT COSTS YOU NOTHING!
Like most everything Linux, the ALE Linux & Ubuntu Install Festivals are
totally FREE and OPEN to anyone and everyone interested in learning
how using their computers and exploring the internet can be cheaper,
simpler, easier, safer and a whole lot more fun.
Other features of the Spring 2008 Install Fest will include:
– Hands on demo systems where you can experiment with all that Linux offers
and find out just how simple and familiar free computing choices are.
– Assistance with safely booting your AMD/Intel PC or Mac with an Ubuntu Live
Install CD so you can freely explore and test the free Linux Desktop environment
and any of the many dozens of useful free programs that are included, all without
making any changes to your existing system whatsoever.
– Knowledgeable, patient help with installing Linux onto your system hard drive
when you decide that Free Computer Freedom is a really great deal!
– Free Copies of the Ubuntu Hardy Heron (v8.04 LTS) Live Install CD will be
available to everyone attending. Note that free Ubuntu Live CD’s can also be
ordered, requested or downloaded for burning anytime atUbuntu.com/getUbuntu
– Demonstrations of the free Ubuntu Desktop and other major Open Source
software like Open Office packages will be offered at the Install Fest.
– Light refreshments will be available throughout the day and lunch will be
available for a modest contribution.
– A plethora of Linux & Ubuntu experts at the ready to assist with any questions
about anything involving Open Source, Linux and Ubuntu.
An event schedule and related information can be found HERE.
To learn more about Ubuntu GNU Linux and the Hardy Heron 8.04
release specifically, please visit Ubuntu.com
For any additional information needs, please contact:
Aaron Ruscetta, 404.315.0406 // aruscetta@gmail.com
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