We've been exhibiting at the Home Builder & Improvement show at the Farm Council grounds in Saline. Pretty good crowd - a lot of people stop by to chat about computer issues. I'm trying to attract attention by soliciting their PC questions... most people still look askance and wiggle away. Some talk and talk and talk... but thats OK.
O, btw, go get yourself a look at the Sunday AA News, business outlook section, p10. Not near Ann Arbor? Go to
the web site .
I think its pretty cool.
We'll be at the Expo through today, Sunday. I'll also spend a couple of hours at the Washtenaw Business Expo at the Four Points on Tuesday (3/24).
Come on up and see me sometime...
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
O Noes! We R Hacked!
I saw this dire warning this afternoon:
What to do?
Well, lets examine it for clues.
1. Windows Internet Explorer will not scan the PC for viruses, so we know we're being duped.
2. The word choice in the dialog sounds like it was translated directly from another language. Hilarious.
3. OK or Cancel? What would you choose? I chose to go to Process Explorer (or use Task Manager) and cancel iexplore.exe. Kill it right off. Choosing either OK or Cancel will yield the same result in that either click will be captured and launch a web site that downloads the payload. Then the real party starts.
As a precaution, I ran AVG, Malwarebytes, and Super Anti Spyware. All scans showed that there were no infections.
The moral of the story is to be ever vigilant and not to rely completely on the automated processes like security applications. Use common sense. Or you could always call me and ask.
What to do?
Well, lets examine it for clues.
1. Windows Internet Explorer will not scan the PC for viruses, so we know we're being duped.
2. The word choice in the dialog sounds like it was translated directly from another language. Hilarious.
3. OK or Cancel? What would you choose? I chose to go to Process Explorer (or use Task Manager) and cancel iexplore.exe. Kill it right off. Choosing either OK or Cancel will yield the same result in that either click will be captured and launch a web site that downloads the payload. Then the real party starts.
As a precaution, I ran AVG, Malwarebytes, and Super Anti Spyware. All scans showed that there were no infections.
The moral of the story is to be ever vigilant and not to rely completely on the automated processes like security applications. Use common sense. Or you could always call me and ask.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Checking in
Well, I've successfully avoided posting for about three weeks! W00T!
Sorry, but it occurred to me (ok, it occurred to others to tell me) that my blog was getting a tad, shall we say, Dull? Yes, we shall. It was dull. Anyone want to read about the hard drive or CD I installed? Viruses defeated? PCs and networks set up?
I think not. Not all the time anyway. So I'll break the fourth wall and let you in on what else I've been doing. Its a bit more exciting.
I've joined the Saline City Environmental Commission as an interested community member. I don't actually live within the corporate boundaries of the city, so I can't be a sworn member, but I'm still very interested in the environmental affairs of the city.
I do live within York Township, so I've joined the township environmental commission. We've got a really interesting program on tap for our Earth Day workshops. More info can be found on the township web site or on Facebook. I've created an event page for it; get on Facebook already!
I'm the chairman for our annual Friends of NRA Banquet; it is held on Wednesday, April 22. Funds raised at this event help us at Tri County to have educational and recreational events for the community, for no or low cost. Tickets are on sale now, but don't delay.
We at Cartridge World are manning a booth at the Home Improvement Show at the Saline Fairgrounds, March 20-22. We're also at the Greening of Milan Expo, April 20-21.
Looking to May, I will help organize the Taste of Milan event, on the 14th, then immediately drive to Nashville for our corporate annual meeting, 15-17th.
June, we at Tri County host Women on Target the 13th. Its a good over view-type event for women of all ages who might not have any experience with various shooting sports, but are curious. Since I'm a NRA Certified instructor, I always help out.
In July, we have Celtic fest on the 9-11th. I'm helping with gate control this year.
August, Saline Summer Fest will feature a 5k Run. I've done a few runs, and am proud to have been approached to help out.
See? Lots of interesting things going on. Arguably, I might be stretched a bit thin. We'll see. I'll update status on the goings on of these various events and commissions as things happen.
It won't be boring. Promise.
Sorry, but it occurred to me (ok, it occurred to others to tell me) that my blog was getting a tad, shall we say, Dull? Yes, we shall. It was dull. Anyone want to read about the hard drive or CD I installed? Viruses defeated? PCs and networks set up?
I think not. Not all the time anyway. So I'll break the fourth wall and let you in on what else I've been doing. Its a bit more exciting.
I've joined the Saline City Environmental Commission as an interested community member. I don't actually live within the corporate boundaries of the city, so I can't be a sworn member, but I'm still very interested in the environmental affairs of the city.
I do live within York Township, so I've joined the township environmental commission. We've got a really interesting program on tap for our Earth Day workshops. More info can be found on the township web site or on Facebook. I've created an event page for it; get on Facebook already!
I'm the chairman for our annual Friends of NRA Banquet; it is held on Wednesday, April 22. Funds raised at this event help us at Tri County to have educational and recreational events for the community, for no or low cost. Tickets are on sale now, but don't delay.
We at Cartridge World are manning a booth at the Home Improvement Show at the Saline Fairgrounds, March 20-22. We're also at the Greening of Milan Expo, April 20-21.
Looking to May, I will help organize the Taste of Milan event, on the 14th, then immediately drive to Nashville for our corporate annual meeting, 15-17th.
June, we at Tri County host Women on Target the 13th. Its a good over view-type event for women of all ages who might not have any experience with various shooting sports, but are curious. Since I'm a NRA Certified instructor, I always help out.
In July, we have Celtic fest on the 9-11th. I'm helping with gate control this year.
August, Saline Summer Fest will feature a 5k Run. I've done a few runs, and am proud to have been approached to help out.
See? Lots of interesting things going on. Arguably, I might be stretched a bit thin. We'll see. I'll update status on the goings on of these various events and commissions as things happen.
It won't be boring. Promise.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Hold Tight!
Not too tight.
So what did we do for Valentines, you ask? We went to the Beale St Smokehouse and saw ass-kickin blues courtesy of the Witchdoctors. They were murdering all my favorites, and I mean that in a good way.
This week, there's the usual networking (Morning Edition, A2B3, WRN, HBA), and many evening meetings. Mon - FNRA Banquet, Tues - York Twp Environmental, Wed - Air Rifle and Saline Environmental, Thur - Tri County general membership meeting, Fri - Artini Martini Crawl. Alright, the last one isn't technically a meeting. But there is booze, so theres that.
I even have a couple of virusy PCs to fumigate.
Larger news, we're one of the featured businesses in the upcoming Business Outlook section of the AA News, due out in March. How cool is that?
So what did we do for Valentines, you ask? We went to the Beale St Smokehouse and saw ass-kickin blues courtesy of the Witchdoctors. They were murdering all my favorites, and I mean that in a good way.
This week, there's the usual networking (Morning Edition, A2B3, WRN, HBA), and many evening meetings. Mon - FNRA Banquet, Tues - York Twp Environmental, Wed - Air Rifle and Saline Environmental, Thur - Tri County general membership meeting, Fri - Artini Martini Crawl. Alright, the last one isn't technically a meeting. But there is booze, so theres that.
I even have a couple of virusy PCs to fumigate.
Larger news, we're one of the featured businesses in the upcoming Business Outlook section of the AA News, due out in March. How cool is that?
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Peek into the chaos
Lessons from this week:
* If your PC tells you to download some very-convenient solution to a problem you didn't know you had, you're in too deep already.
* If your PC runs any operating system, the age of which can be measured in decades, you need to just let it go.
* Laptop DC Jacks are fragile as hell. I've replaced many of them now and I'm just appalled at how easily they break. Makes for good cash flow over here, but still.
* If you have a server at your business, and I mean a business you own in this case, so the server is your property, but you don't know the server's password... well, where to start? Its like not having keys to your own car.
And so on and so on. Its all common sense stuff, but I think people panic when their computers stop cooperating. We rely so much on the wee beasties that we can't cope when they die. The answer, of course, is to accept their mortality and back up all important data.
This coming week, I've got no scheduled PC work (scary!), and a few networking opportunities. I'm not looking forward to a break in the pace, but we can't always choose, can we?
* If your PC tells you to download some very-convenient solution to a problem you didn't know you had, you're in too deep already.
* If your PC runs any operating system, the age of which can be measured in decades, you need to just let it go.
* Laptop DC Jacks are fragile as hell. I've replaced many of them now and I'm just appalled at how easily they break. Makes for good cash flow over here, but still.
* If you have a server at your business, and I mean a business you own in this case, so the server is your property, but you don't know the server's password... well, where to start? Its like not having keys to your own car.
And so on and so on. Its all common sense stuff, but I think people panic when their computers stop cooperating. We rely so much on the wee beasties that we can't cope when they die. The answer, of course, is to accept their mortality and back up all important data.
This coming week, I've got no scheduled PC work (scary!), and a few networking opportunities. I'm not looking forward to a break in the pace, but we can't always choose, can we?
Friday, January 30, 2009
Heads, Ugly, Ready to rear
A complaint that seems to be re-inventing itself is the dread AntiVirus2009 infection. While relatively minor as infections go, it has started infecting machines from which I had removed its predecessor(s) last year. I'm glad the providers of the anti-virus/anti-spyware apps are up to speed on the latest problems.
Unless they're in on it... very convenient if you ask me.
We've been bloody busy down here. The new name rollout is going smoothly as well. More on that by the end of Feb.
Unless they're in on it... very convenient if you ask me.
We've been bloody busy down here. The new name rollout is going smoothly as well. More on that by the end of Feb.
Monday, January 19, 2009
And now for something completely the same
As for amusement, that may have been it right there.
Recent activities include a few dead laptops, several misbehaving desktops, an errant wireless network, and a sloppy wired network. Several appointments for this week already, and not a complaint to be had from me.
Saline Leadership ended last week. It was on a high note (arts n crafts day!) (it was actually better than I made it sound right there). It was an interesting course. I'm glad I did it, and I would actually encourage you to get a second opinion should you consider joining. Not that there's anything wrong, mind you, but the commitment level is not trivial, and you must put some thought into it before hand. More than one person dropped out during the process due (I assume) to time constraints.
What set SLI apart from other Leadership initiatives was that it focused on what skills it takes to be a leader. As a guide, it used the idea of Learning Organizations put forth by Peter Senge. The disciplines he identifies in such an organization are Systems Thinking, Personal Mastery, Mental Models, Shared Vision, and Team Learning. Each has its role in creating a leader. Fascinating stuff, really, but not your typical Leadership Institute kind of curriculum.
Many things on tap for this week. I won't promise to keep up with them, but its a goal.
Recent activities include a few dead laptops, several misbehaving desktops, an errant wireless network, and a sloppy wired network. Several appointments for this week already, and not a complaint to be had from me.
Saline Leadership ended last week. It was on a high note (arts n crafts day!) (it was actually better than I made it sound right there). It was an interesting course. I'm glad I did it, and I would actually encourage you to get a second opinion should you consider joining. Not that there's anything wrong, mind you, but the commitment level is not trivial, and you must put some thought into it before hand. More than one person dropped out during the process due (I assume) to time constraints.
What set SLI apart from other Leadership initiatives was that it focused on what skills it takes to be a leader. As a guide, it used the idea of Learning Organizations put forth by Peter Senge. The disciplines he identifies in such an organization are Systems Thinking, Personal Mastery, Mental Models, Shared Vision, and Team Learning. Each has its role in creating a leader. Fascinating stuff, really, but not your typical Leadership Institute kind of curriculum.
Many things on tap for this week. I won't promise to keep up with them, but its a goal.
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