Re: [Hampshire] [ADMIN] February meeting - This week!
Couple of admin points: First of all, the MAC address deadline is now no longer in effect! Hoorah! Simply rock up, find me, and ask me to register you. However, it's preferable to mail me in advance, as then you'll have your accounts ready to go when you get there. Secondly, currently the Mountbatten Atrium North entrance is currently shut due to a safety issue. Please use the Mountbatten South entrance this weekend. Signage will be in place accordingly. Now, onto talks, and yes, hopefully, I'll have something to present. It should be a 3-part talk covering the following: - Technology in sport - Real-time Python - The basics of Raspberry Pi and Media (and why you should, or shouldn't!) It's expected to be a 30-minute slot max (~5-10 mins on each topic). I'm happy to go into further depth on some parts of the topics upon request. Don't take me as an expert on any of these, because I'm not - but there's projects I've got on the go which you'll find out details of on Saturday during the talk. Regards, Chris On 28/01/13 22:56, Tim Brocklehurst wrote: Hi guys, The february meeting is this Saturday (where did January go?) in Building 59 at Southampton University, from 1pm. Please send your MAC addresses to Chris Malton by Wednesday if you wish to have WiFi access. From the recent mailing list traffic, we seem to have lots of interest, and a few offers of talks/demos. The following is not definitive, but so far we have: Rich Bensley - Starting with MySQL Tim B - From Windows 7 to Linux - Basic setup and CLI (on request). Chris Malton - Doing cool streaming stuff involving servers, PIs and networks. [I presume, Chris. - Unconfirmed] We will also have a Raspberry PI to play with, as we did last month. Please don't feel that you have to be an expert to come to the meeting, experience is not a pre-requisite! See you there, Tim B. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
[Hampshire] [ADMIN] February meeting - This week!
Hi guys, The february meeting is this Saturday (where did January go?) in Building 59 at Southampton University, from 1pm. Please send your MAC addresses to Chris Malton by Wednesday if you wish to have WiFi access. >From the recent mailing list traffic, we seem to have lots of interest, and a few offers of talks/demos. The following is not definitive, but so far we have: Rich Bensley - Starting with MySQL Tim B - From Windows 7 to Linux - Basic setup and CLI (on request). Chris Malton - Doing cool streaming stuff involving servers, PIs and networks. [I presume, Chris. - Unconfirmed] We will also have a Raspberry PI to play with, as we did last month. Please don't feel that you have to be an expert to come to the meeting, experience is not a pre-requisite! See you there, Tim B. -- Hampshire Linux User Group Chairman -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Promoting LUG meets via social networking
On 28/01/13 22:24, Michael Daffin wrote: I wonder if it is worth setting up a webpage that users can request a topic for a talk/demo and possibly where other users can register topics they are willing to talk about. This seems like the ideal way to get people engaging via social media. Putting out a tweet/fb/G+ post which specifically asks for feedback such as "What talks shall we give next month?" or "What would you like to talk about at the LUG?" will likely garner responses. These could be filtered, collated and posted on the website or mailing list. Using the mailing list or website to request new topics falls into the "preaching to the converted" I was hoping to work around with my initial mail at the start of the thread. Cheers, -- Alan Pope Engineering Manager Canonical - Product Strategy +44 (0) 7973 620 164 alan.p...@canonical.com http://ubuntu.com/ -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Promoting LUG meets via social networking
On Monday 28 Jan 2013 22:44:00 Lisi wrote: > On Monday 28 January 2013 22:24:31 Michael Daffin wrote: > > I wonder if it is worth setting up a webpage that users can request a > > topic for a talk/demo and possibly where other users can register topics > > they are willing to talk about. > > We used to have one on the wiki. Has it been deleted/removed? > > Lisi No, it hasn't been removed; As you know, Chris Dennis is working hard on the new website, to try to streamline exactly that sort of process. I am sure he would appreciate any help or insight. Tim B. -- Hampshire Linux User Group Chairman -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Promoting LUG meets via social networking
On Monday 28 January 2013 22:24:31 Michael Daffin wrote: > I wonder if it is worth setting up a webpage that users can request a topic > for a talk/demo and possibly where other users can register topics they are > willing to talk about. We used to have one on the wiki. Has it been deleted/removed? Lisi -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Promoting LUG meets via social networking
On Monday 28 January 2013 22:21:06 john lewis wrote: > On Mon, 28 Jan 2013 11:54:44 + > > Lisi wrote: > > On Monday 28 January 2013 10:36:26 john lewis wrote: > > > Even Debian, which used to have a reputation for being > > > difficult to get running, is nowadays a breeze. > > > > > > (It took about ten minutes to get a minimal install of Wheezy up and > > > running on an aopen Xcube box a few weeks ago > > > > You clearly have entirely open hardware!! Now that the installation > > kernel has *no* binary blobs, Debian is back to being sometimes a bit > > tricky. There is, of course, an unofficial installation disk which > > has proprietary drivers, and you can have a particular driver > > available on a USB key. But I would not call it a breeze any more. > > I have no idea how linux compatible the xcube box is. My existing > 'server' died after quite a few years of service, probably motherboard > failure so I looked on ebay for something cheap to replace it - the > xcube box was on offer for £40, it had a reasonable spec as far as > memory, speed, etc were concerned and had no OS installed. It arrived > two days after I ordered it and I had it up and running about half an > hour after the courier delivered it. > > I used a Debian wheezy netinst CD that I'd downloaded recently to give > the updated installer a try out and it worked perfectly. As usual I > only installed the basic minimum to get a bootable system, added a few > extras, geneweb for example and that was it. > > I like the system, it seems reasonably fast, it is silent and is > small enough to sit on top of the desk in an otherwise unused corner. > I haven't even looked inside the box ;-) > > Oh yes, nearly forgot - I did modify the /etc/apt/sources.list to > include the "non free" packages before the installer went off looking > for stuff to download. The crucial stumbling block would not usually exist on a second hand box, which is that many new boxen have wi-fi and/or ethernet cards that are not in the installation kernel because free drivers do not yet exist. This does make installation more tricky than it was in, say, Lenny. And many people new to Debian stumble on it. I am not saying that it is an insuperable obstacle, but it is a trap for the newbie Debian user. Lisi -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Promoting LUG meets via social networking
I wonder if it is worth setting up a webpage that users can request a topic for a talk/demo and possibly where other users can register topics they are willing to talk about. One problem with doing this on the mailing list is things can easily get lost, and not every one is configurable with requesting talks in it (especially newer users) having a nice web interface might help with this and formalise the process abit. I might be able to give some talks/demos about the command line, shell scripting, intro to archlinux, basic package management, systemd, raspberry pi, and possibly other areas, but it would help to know what people wanted from these talks/demos. On 28 January 2013 21:12, Andy Smith wrote: > Hi Ally, > > On Mon, Jan 28, 2013 at 03:15:13PM +, Ally Biggs wrote: > > This is why I haven't attended any meets as I know I would be out of my > depth. Or talks would be given on subjects I'm not interested In and would > be bored senseless. > > Conversely I think that many people (myself included) are put off > from doing presentations because they feel they aren't expert enough > in any area to pitch something of interest. > > I'm not sure what the answer is. > > > A making the transition from windows to Linux workshop would be very > popular covering areas such as installation. Beginners guide to the Cli, > package management etc. > > I do think that the rest of the LUG needs to know there is a demand > for this sort of thing at the time that the meetings are being > planned, so that we have time to plan a talk or a round table or > whatever. > > This does rely on newbies speaking up (at least on a wiki page or > similar) when the meetings are being planned. Traditionally this > does not happen. > > Cheers, > Andy > > -- > http://bitfolk.com/ -- No-nonsense VPS hosting > > -- > Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk > Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire > LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk > -- > -- Michael Daffin -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Promoting LUG meets via social networking
On Mon, 28 Jan 2013 11:54:44 + Lisi wrote: > On Monday 28 January 2013 10:36:26 john lewis wrote: > > Even Debian, which used to have a reputation for being > > difficult to get running, is nowadays a breeze. > > > > (It took about ten minutes to get a minimal install of Wheezy up and > > running on an aopen Xcube box a few weeks ago > > You clearly have entirely open hardware!! Now that the installation > kernel has *no* binary blobs, Debian is back to being sometimes a bit > tricky. There is, of course, an unofficial installation disk which > has proprietary drivers, and you can have a particular driver > available on a USB key. But I would not call it a breeze any more. I have no idea how linux compatible the xcube box is. My existing 'server' died after quite a few years of service, probably motherboard failure so I looked on ebay for something cheap to replace it - the xcube box was on offer for £40, it had a reasonable spec as far as memory, speed, etc were concerned and had no OS installed. It arrived two days after I ordered it and I had it up and running about half an hour after the courier delivered it. I used a Debian wheezy netinst CD that I'd downloaded recently to give the updated installer a try out and it worked perfectly. As usual I only installed the basic minimum to get a bootable system, added a few extras, geneweb for example and that was it. I like the system, it seems reasonably fast, it is silent and is small enough to sit on top of the desk in an otherwise unused corner. I haven't even looked inside the box ;-) Oh yes, nearly forgot - I did modify the /etc/apt/sources.list to include the "non free" packages before the installer went off looking for stuff to download. -- John Lewis Debian & the GeneWeb genealogical data server -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Promoting LUG meets via social networking
Hi Ally, On Mon, Jan 28, 2013 at 03:15:13PM +, Ally Biggs wrote: > This is why I haven't attended any meets as I know I would be out of my > depth. Or talks would be given on subjects I'm not interested In and would be > bored senseless. Conversely I think that many people (myself included) are put off from doing presentations because they feel they aren't expert enough in any area to pitch something of interest. I'm not sure what the answer is. > A making the transition from windows to Linux workshop would be very popular > covering areas such as installation. Beginners guide to the Cli, package > management etc. I do think that the rest of the LUG needs to know there is a demand for this sort of thing at the time that the meetings are being planned, so that we have time to plan a talk or a round table or whatever. This does rely on newbies speaking up (at least on a wiki page or similar) when the meetings are being planned. Traditionally this does not happen. Cheers, Andy -- http://bitfolk.com/ -- No-nonsense VPS hosting -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Promoting LUG meets via social networking
> There are no times for talks to "prebook". I have avoided this so that people > wouldn't feel discouraged from talking/demoing; thinking that a 30 minute slot > meant talking for 30 minutes. As we move towards a "workshop" setup, short > talks can be backed up with small group demos and walkthroughs. Talks can > still be scheduled, please just reply the the meeting notification and request > a time. > Cool, I will have a laptop and a VGA adaptor. That's for mysql if anyone is interested 5-15 mins max. Rich -- Richard Bensley - 07540878285 -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Promoting LUG meets via social networking
On Monday 28 Jan 2013 15:20:09 Roger Munford wrote: > It would be nice to know what time the talks will take place. > > Roger There are no times for talks to "prebook". I have avoided this so that people wouldn't feel discouraged from talking/demoing; thinking that a 30 minute slot meant talking for 30 minutes. As we move towards a "workshop" setup, short talks can be backed up with small group demos and walkthroughs. Talks can still be scheduled, please just reply the the meeting notification and request a time. The same goes for requesting talks or demos. There are lots of people who can help, so please post your requests on the meeting notification, and hopefully someone will be able to answer. I am happy to do a "How to setup a Linux-box starting from Windows 7" demo at any meeting. Just come and ask. Cheers, Tim B. -- Hampshire Linux User Group Chairman -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Promoting LUG meets via social networking
On 28/01/13 13:26, Robert Longstaff wrote: After attending many LUG's over the years in various regions. I have to say one of the best methods of helping people new to Linux and LUG's in general has been social meetups, generally held in a pub of some sort. Indeed. I plan to intersperse a number of pub meets amongst the Surrey LUG BaB meetings throughout the year - getting ever closer to the 'something for everyone' :) robert_ Brilliant, Robert! TYVM. -- Tony Wood -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Promoting LUG meets via social networking
It would be nice to know what time the talks will take place. Roger On 28/01/13 14:04, Richard Bensley wrote: The beginners guide to MySQL was also very popular. Yes - MySQL per se is not for *total* beginners. Pity I missed it. :-( I can certainly help in the MySQL front. I am a DBA for a trading platform. I train and implement MySQL at various levels, brunting its various idioms. A five minute flash talk I could certainly do just about anytime. I will be there with my brother, James, next Saturday. Rich -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Promoting LUG meets via social networking
This is why I haven't attended any meets as I know I would be out of my depth. Or talks would be given on subjects I'm not interested In and would be bored senseless. A making the transition from windows to Linux workshop would be very popular covering areas such as installation. Beginners guide to the Cli, package management etc. And a more advanced setting up a Linux server workshop would also be very interesting to myself and others. We are not all gurus plus think of the sheer amount of people out there who are getting there feet wet with Linux. Take the raspberry pi for instance this has opened the doors and has introduced a lot of newcomers to Linux. They would find this kind of introduction knowledge invaluable. Hell even running a raspberry Pi server setup course would be very popular :) Sent from my iPhone On 28 Jan 2013, at 14:05, "Richard Bensley" wrote: >>> The beginners guide to MySQL was also very popular. >> >> Yes - MySQL per se is not for *total* beginners. Pity I missed it. :-( > > I can certainly help in the MySQL front. I am a DBA for a trading > platform. I train and implement MySQL at various levels, brunting its > various idioms. > > A five minute flash talk I could certainly do just about anytime. I > will be there with my brother, James, next Saturday. > > > Rich > > -- > Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk > Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire > LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk > -- -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Suggestions for MySQL connectivity
Thanks for everybody's helpful advice. After the initial panic that it would not be possible to get a direct connection, it was, in fact quite straightforward and a host was found for me. For the record, tsohosts do it, they are good value and were very helpful. I copied that database, reconfigured everything that needed it and, hopefully, everything is as it was before. The new host does offer SSH access but I am not obliged to use it. I hope I am not being complacent because the data on the site is only a list of names (used to greet the customer) plus hashed usernames and passwords. Thanks again, Roger On 22/01/13 22:26, Tim Brocklehurst wrote: Clearly we have to go somewhere else. Can anybody recommend a hosting company that will provide a direct connection to MySQL? The "support" told me that it was a wicked thing to do a huge security risk. Not having been involved in software for several years, I am willing to believe that it could have become a problem, but is it such a risk that nobody will offer direct connections. If so what are the the mechanisms that are unsafe? Also what alternative techniques are available to transfer data between databases. Roger, Providing a direct connection to MySQL (or any database server) is probably not a good idea [1]. Put simply, while MySQL has some security features, I wouldn't rely on them over the internet. This drove me to hosting a similar setup internally at a company I was working for some years back. You could consider an SSH tunnel, or a VPN tunnel into the remote server, and then access the database through that. There are loads of examples of these, just google. The tunnel itself secures any data that is transmitted through it, so the other end just looks like a continuation of your LAN. However, if you do this you need to ensure that passwords and/or keys are kept safe, and are suitably strong. Alternatively, there is nothing to stop you hosting it internal to the company, as long as they have a sufficiently reliable (and fast enough) broadband provider. However, this has both pros and cons. Hope this helps, Tim B. [1] http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/en/security-against-attack.html -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Promoting LUG meets via social networking
>> The beginners guide to MySQL was also very popular. > > Yes - MySQL per se is not for *total* beginners. Pity I missed it. :-( I can certainly help in the MySQL front. I am a DBA for a trading platform. I train and implement MySQL at various levels, brunting its various idioms. A five minute flash talk I could certainly do just about anytime. I will be there with my brother, James, next Saturday. Rich -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Promoting LUG meets via social networking
On 2013-01-28 08:17, Tim Brocklehurst wrote: On Monday 28 Jan 2013 08:10:56 Tony Whitmore wrote: On 2013-01-27 23:48, Lisi wrote: > I would have though that talks for the complete beginner would have a > very > limited audience at LUG meetings, where the majority of people > present are > experienced users. I'm not so sure. The most popular talk I did was "How to install Ubuntu", where I ran through installing and configuring Ubuntu to first log in. The beginners guide to MySQL was also very popular. Fancy doing the same again? Perhaps in more of a "workshop" format? Potentially, though I haven't installed Ubuntu for a few years. :) I also rarely make it to meetings these days. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Promoting LUG meets via social networking
On 2013-01-28 13:40, Imran Chaudhry wrote: The beginners guide to MySQL was also very popular. Yes - MySQL per se is not for *total* beginners. Pity I missed it. :-( I think Tony might have meant my talk which I did years ago? There was a huge attendance that day from several southern LUGs. Someone told me that a few had come for my talk - no pressure! (and did I mention my boss was in the audience?) Yes, it was your talk I referred to. :) I never expected so many would be interested as I assumed everyone would have that knowledge already or know how to access it easily. It really challenged my assumptions. But I thought I would try a talk and see what happens. Afterwards, quite a few people said they had learned something new. Exactly, which underlines the point. What is familiar technology and may seem easy to one person is probably not so easy for others! And therefore makes a great talk topic. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Promoting LUG meets via social networking
On 28/01/13 13:40, Imran Chaudhry wrote: I'm thinking about an intro to Perl talk - maybe at next LUG meet family commitments allowing. Adam Trickett did a talk on Perl at the LUG some years back. It was videotaped and put online. It was the single most popular talk watched on the HantsLUG Google Video channel. It's still available to download on archive.org. http://archive.org/details/HampshireLinuxUserGroupIntroductiontoPerlThefriendlyprogramminglanguage Cheers, -- Alan Pope Engineering Manager Canonical - Product Strategy +44 (0) 7973 620 164 alan.p...@canonical.com http://ubuntu.com/ -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Promoting LUG meets via social networking
>> The beginners guide to MySQL was also very popular. > > Yes - MySQL per se is not for *total* beginners. Pity I missed it. :-( I think Tony might have meant my talk which I did years ago? There was a huge attendance that day from several southern LUGs. Someone told me that a few had come for my talk - no pressure! (and did I mention my boss was in the audience?) I never expected so many would be interested as I assumed everyone would have that knowledge already or know how to access it easily. It really challenged my assumptions. But I thought I would try a talk and see what happens. Afterwards, quite a few people said they had learned something new. I'm thinking about an intro to Perl talk - maybe at next LUG meet family commitments allowing. -- GPG Key fingerprint = B323 477E F6AB 4181 9C65 F637 BC5F 7FCC 9CC9 CC7F http://about.me/imranchaudhry -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Promoting LUG meets via social networking
> After attending many LUG's over the years in various regions. I have > to say one of the best methods of helping people new to Linux and > LUG's in general has been social meetups, generally held in a pub of > some sort. > Indeed. I plan to intersperse a number of pub meets amongst the Surrey LUG BaB meetings throughout the year - getting ever closer to the 'something for everyone' :) robert_ -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Scamming call
On Sun, 27 Jan 2013 22:17:18 + Tony Wood wrote: Hello Tony, >Oh I like that, Brad: the witness protection idea. :-) >I think the pause on answering (many calls) is due to computer dialling >connecting the call centre worker when it finds an answered phone. Indexed caller devices are supposed to be illegal in the UK. I bet they get used though. Of course, with most of these calls coming from overseas, the point is moot. >When I'm addressed by name - in such circumstances - I never admit to >being ... I used to hand the phone to my (then 6 year old) daughter, f they ever asked to speak to Mrs Rogers. The por girl has been scarred for life. ;-) -- Regards _ / ) "The blindingly obvious is / _)radnever immediately apparent" Going round on the Circle Line trying to find a way out Titanic (My Over) Reaction - 999 signature.asc Description: PGP signature -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Scamming call
On Mon, 28 Jan 2013 01:13:15 + Anthony wrote: Hello Anthony, >I'm pretty sure you'd enjoy a look at http://www.saynotocoldcalls.com. I wasn't aware of that site, but as soon as I visited, I realised who that guy is, and that he's already been compensated twice. -- Regards _ / ) "The blindingly obvious is / _)radnever immediately apparent" It belongs to them, let's give it back Beds Are Burning - Midnight Oil signature.asc Description: PGP signature -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Promoting LUG meets via social networking
After attending many LUG's over the years in various regions. I have to say one of the best methods of helping people new to Linux and LUG's in general has been social meetups, generally held in a pub of some sort. No lectures, don't need to bring your laptop. Just have a drink and a chat, there is no such thing as a stupid question. So long as you can remain reasonably coherent when friendly and impartial advice comes your way, it's generally a pretty good confidence boost for newcomers. Rich -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Promoting LUG meets via social networking
On Monday 28 January 2013 11:50:15 Andy Smith wrote: > Then I am baffled as to why you would claim that nobody needs > beginner talks I didn't say that. I said that I fear that if more experienced attenders are regularly bored stiff, they might stop coming. > when you yourself find existing talks go above your > head. I myself find *many* existing talks above my head. Not all. But I am not typical. Often I can't follow a talk because it is about something that I don't already know, and I can't see the slides. If I already know something about the subject, I can extrapolate better. Lisi -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Scamming call
On Mon, 2013-01-28 at 11:48 +, Brad Rogers wrote: > The use of those devices is supposed to be illegal in the UK, but I bet > they get used quite extensively. Of course, since most of these calls > originate overseas, the point is moot. Sadly the reason so many originate overseas is specifically to get around the issue of 'illegal in the UK'. Similarly, cold sales calls are against the TPS regulations, but surveys are not, which is why so many such calls are 'surveys'. If you then express any kind of interest in anything, you immediately become an 'interested party', and have in essence just agreed to be 'phoned on the matter .. i.e., it's no longer a cold call. Gordon. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Promoting LUG meets via social networking
On Monday 28 January 2013 08:10:56 Tony Whitmore wrote: > I'm not so sure. The most popular talk I did was "How to install > Ubuntu", where I ran through installing and configuring Ubuntu to first > log in. That's interesting!! And somewhat unexpected. > The beginners guide to MySQL was also very popular. Yes - MySQL per se is not for *total* beginners. Pity I missed it. :-( Lisi -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Promoting LUG meets via social networking
On Monday 28 January 2013 10:36:26 john lewis wrote: > Even Debian, which used to have a reputation for being > difficult to get running, is nowadays a breeze. > > (It took about ten minutes to get a minimal install of Wheezy up and > running on an aopen Xcube box a few weeks ago You clearly have entirely open hardware!! Now that the installation kernel has *no* binary blobs, Debian is back to being sometimes a bit tricky. There is, of course, an unofficial installation disk which has proprietary drivers, and you can have a particular driver available on a USB key. But I would not call it a breeze any more. Lisi -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Promoting LUG meets via social networking
On Mon, Jan 28, 2013 at 09:31:45AM +, Lisi wrote: > You misunderstand me, Andy. I myself would benefit from fairly basic talks > and generally find those I attend pretty much above my head. But it is my > perception that most of you are considerably more knowledgeable than I am. I > am also very conscious that in some locations everyone is in the same room > and an inaccessible talk can be very boring. Then I am baffled as to why you would claim that nobody needs beginner talks when you yourself find existing talks go above your head. Why are you so scared of asking for what you want that you would even go so far as to say there can be nobody else like you? I think that is highly unlikely. > Since my perception is that most of you are above my head, I also think that > having the talks too basic could drive people away. If we find a way of > attracting more total beginners, then obviously that balance would change. > > Are we perhaps meaning something different by "complete beginner"?? The same evening that you sent your email that said, "I would have thought that talks for the complete beginner would have a very limited audience at LUG meetings" you were, over on Surrey LUG, explaining to someone how to save the buffer in nano. Not knowing how to save a buffer in nano strikes me as "complete beginner". So between you and them, there's two, and I tend to think from the level of expertise demonstrated in most threads on LUGs that you and they are more the norm than you realise. Cheers, Andy signature.asc Description: Digital signature -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Scamming call
On Sun, 27 Jan 2013 22:17:18 + Tony Wood wrote: Hello Tony, >Oh I like that, Brad: the witness protection idea. :-) >I think the pause on answering (many calls) is due to computer dialling >connecting the call centre worker when it finds an answered phone. The use of those devices is supposed to be illegal in the UK, but I bet they get used quite extensively. Of course, since most of these calls originate overseas, the point is moot. >When I'm addressed by name - in such circumstances - I never admit to >being ... Whne they asked to speak to Mr ROgers, -- Regards _ / ) "The blindingly obvious is / _)radnever immediately apparent" Why do they try to hide our past pulling down houses and build car parks Bricks & Mortar - The Jam signature.asc Description: PGP signature -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Promoting LUG meets via social networking
On 28/01/13 10:36, john lewis wrote: This would in itself be off-putting to a complete newcomer so perhaps, if it hasn't already been done, there should be a way of breaking the ice for some one new. Some years back we started having a "front desk" at the LUG meeting where people would be greeted. We would then direct them to someone who could help with specific queries or just show them around. Does this still happen at the Southampton meets (I haven't been for ages). Cheers, -- Alan Pope Engineering Manager Canonical - Product Strategy +44 (0) 7973 620 164 alan.p...@canonical.com http://ubuntu.com/ -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Promoting LUG meets via social networking
On Mon, 28 Jan 2013 09:56:00 + Victor Churchill wrote: > The LUG is different things to different people. It has always worked > pretty well as a group for self-help and information interchange > between members who are pretty committed and established Linux users. > My observation would be that it has perhaps worked less well as a > vehicle for introducing Linux to new or potentially new users and > supporting them in the early stages of getting to know Linux. > > Typical Saturday meetings seem to be largely attended by hard-core > long-term members and less so by new users, and I fear that there may > be many new/potential users who come to one meeting and don't come > again because they feel out of their depth. I don't know if things have changed in the last five year or so since we moved too far away from Hampshire to make attending LUG meets easy for me but meetings were mostly very informal - people turned up, found a space and got on with whatever they wanted to do that day. This would in itself be off-putting to a complete newcomer so perhaps, if it hasn't already been done, there should be a way of breaking the ice for some one new. > (It also seems to me that there has a bit of a downward trend in the > "long term user attendance", maybe due to the way that Linux itself > has changed over the years. That's a different discussion.) If it is the case that long term users are not turning up it probably is because there isn't the need for as much hand-holding with current Linux distros. Even Debian, which used to have a reputation for being difficult to get running, is nowadays a breeze. (It took about ten minutes to get a minimal install of Wheezy up and running on an aopen Xcube box a few weeks ago and about the same length of time to get ssh/rsync working so I can login to it remotely and use it as a headless backup system) -- John Lewis Debian & the GeneWeb genealogical data server -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Promoting LUG meets via social networking (Chris Dennis)
Hi Just try to log in and say forgotten password. Somebody who is hopefully still reading the list will get the reset code. Otherwise, I agree with Popey and others that social media would be useful, but it does need a strategy (meaning a bit of a plan, not a multi-page project). Maybe we could decide & delegate this LUG, with different peoples' experiences. -- Ed -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Promoting LUG meets via social networking
The LUG is different things to different people. It has always worked pretty well as a group for self-help and information interchange between members who are pretty committed and established Linux users. My observation would be that it has perhaps worked less well as a vehicle for introducing Linux to new or potentially new users and supporting them in the early stages of getting to know Linux. Typical Saturday meetings seem to be largely attended by hard-core long-term members and less so by new users, and I fear that there may be many new/potential users who come to one meeting and don't come again because they feel out of their depth. So some intentionally 'newbie-friendly' structures (specific events, or talks/threads at meetings) might be a great help in that area. As has been said already, it may be hard to set that upwithout causing the more established users to wander off due to lack of interest. (It also seems to me that there has a bit of a downward trend in the "long term user attendance", maybe due to the way that Linux itself has changed over the years. That's a different discussion.) -- best regards, Victor Churchill, Bournemouth -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Promoting LUG meets via social networking
On Sunday 27 January 2013 23:57:37 Andy Smith wrote: > Hi Lisi, > > On Sun, Jan 27, 2013 at 11:48:08PM +, Lisi wrote: > > On Sunday 27 January 2013 18:23:13 Robert Longstaff wrote: > > > Consequently, I think it would be great if people are prepared to do > > > intro talks on the subject (maybe advertise in advance so newbies > > > specifically come to that meeting) but I wouldn't want to make that the > > > main focus as the more expert users would likely drift away and take > > > their knowledge with them. > > > > I would have though that talks for the complete beginner would have a > > very limited audience at LUG meetings, where the majority of people > > present are experienced users. > > I'm struggling to find a polite way to say this but I don't feel > that a majority of the thread starters here are experienced Linux users > (from the post content) at all, and I also feel that there will be > lurkers who are put off from posting questions because of the > technical nature of posts they see. You misunderstand me, Andy. I myself would benefit from fairly basic talks and generally find those I attend pretty much above my head. But it is my perception that most of you are considerably more knowledgeable than I am. I am also very conscious that in some locations everyone is in the same room and an inaccessible talk can be very boring. Since my perception is that most of you are above my head, I also think that having the talks too basic could drive people away. If we find a way of attracting more total beginners, then obviously that balance would change. Are we perhaps meaning something different by "complete beginner"?? > So I am not sure that even very basic talks should be discouraged. > Everyone starts somewhere. > > Do bear in mind that experts are more able to go off and find > conferences and communities more befitting their level of expertise > anyway. (Hey, it's FOSDEM this weekend!) > > > So far there has been a good mix of talks and levels. This seems to me > > to be a much better idea. > > No one has proposed focusing exclusively on beginner talks. Robert > specifically spoke AGAINST focusing on such. "A good mix of talks" > does mean SOME beginner stuff. I was *agreeing* with Robert. He had just said: > > I think it would be great if people are prepared to do > > intro talks on the subject (maybe advertise in advance so newbies > > specifically come to that meeting) **but I wouldn't want to make that the > > main focus as the more expert users would likely drift away and take > > their knowledge with them.** (my stars) The second half of that paragraph is exactly what I think. Lisi -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Promoting LUG meets via social networking
On Monday 28 Jan 2013 08:10:56 Tony Whitmore wrote: > On 2013-01-27 23:48, Lisi wrote: > > I would have though that talks for the complete beginner would have a > > very > > limited audience at LUG meetings, where the majority of people > > present are > > experienced users. > > I'm not so sure. The most popular talk I did was "How to install > Ubuntu", where I ran through installing and configuring Ubuntu to first > log in. The beginners guide to MySQL was also very popular. Fancy doing the same again? Perhaps in more of a "workshop" format? Tim B. -- Hampshire Linux User Group Chairman -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Promoting LUG meets via social networking
On 2013-01-27 23:48, Lisi wrote: I would have though that talks for the complete beginner would have a very limited audience at LUG meetings, where the majority of people present are experienced users. I'm not so sure. The most popular talk I did was "How to install Ubuntu", where I ran through installing and configuring Ubuntu to first log in. The beginners guide to MySQL was also very popular. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
