Past Meetings

The SEMCO meetings (except for SIG-Programming) since May 2020 have been recorded. To access the recordings, go to the bottom of each meeting notice and click on “Comment” and the links to the recordings will be displayed. Click on the links to download or play the recordings.

November 20, 2016 – SIG-Computing: What’s Hot for the Holidays, SIG-Linux: Backups: Strategies and Software

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General Announcements

Mike Bader, president of SEMCO, will start the meeting and make general announcements.

When: Sunday, November 20, 2016 at 1:30 P.M.
Where: Altair Engineering, Inc., 1820 E. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, MI 48083
Map to meetings at Altair Engineering

Christmas Tree

SIG-Computing
Topic: What’s Hot for the Holidays:

Richard Tapaninen of the Micro Center computer store will review the hottest current technology offerings and explain how they work.

Also: Questions and Answers following the presentation and during the social period before the SIG-Linux meeting. Snacks available during the social period.
When: Sunday, November 20, 2016 at 1:45 P.M.
Where: Altair Engineering, Inc., 1820 E. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, MI 48083
Map to meetings at Altair Engineering

SIG-Linux
Topic: Backups: Strategies and Software:

As computer data storage has evolved from kilobytes on floppy disks to terabytes on hard drives, so too has the means of dealing with the maintenance of stored data. SEMCO member and former SIG-Linux Chairman Michael Rudas will discuss backups in Linux and dual boot environments, including software solutions (mostly free) and tips and techniques for getting the most out of your data storage.

All are welcome.

When: Sunday, November 20, 2016 at 4:00 P.M.
Where: Altair Engineering, Inc., 1820 E. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, MI 48083
Map to meetings at Altair Engineering

Free Wi-Fi available. Our thanks to Altair Engineering, Inc. for providing our meeting space!

October, 2016 – SIG-Programming: No Meeting

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Topic: Meeting Canceled:

The October SIG-Programming meeting has been canceled. The SIG chairman Richard Jackson has a conflict and can’t host the meeting this month.  We will inform you about the November meeting when the details are worked out.

We are learning Python using the book “Learning Python” by Mark Lutz. It is an O’Reilly book http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920028154.do, but can also be purchased at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Learning-Python-5th-Mark-Lutz/dp/1449355730/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1416007152&sr=1-1&pebp=11416007164251.

We are to continue reading Chapter 23, “Module Coding Basics” for the next meeting. If you have any questions contact Richard Jackson (see below). All are welcome to come.

Where: October Meeting Canceled.

When: October Meeting Canceled.

October 9, 2016 – SIG-Computing: The No-Nonsense Guide to the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, SIG-Linux: Docker Containers

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General Announcements

Mike Bader, president of SEMCO, will start the meeting and make general announcements.

When: Sunday, October 9, 2016 at 1:30 P.M.
Where: Altair Engineering, Inc., 1820 E. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, MI 48083
Map to meetings at Altair Engineering

SIG-Computing
Topic: The No-Nonsense Guide to the Michigan Freedom of Information Act:

Edward Vielmetti explains in plain language how and why you might use FOIA laws to obtain government documents. This guided should be useful for people involved in the political process, as well as for businesses that work or want to work on government contracts. From fixing a broken sidewalk to obtaining a crime report, the Michigan Freedom of Information Act is a versatile tool to ensure that you are not ignored when it is your turn to deal with City Hall.

Edward Vielmetti is a writer and entrepreneur based in Ann Arbor, MI. He wrote the weekly “FOIA Friday” column for the AnnArbor.com newspaper. Ed has 30 years of Internet experience, including work as a consulting engineer at Cisco Systems, co-founder of MSEN, a Michigan based Internet Service Provider, and work with Syntech Development on solar energy control and monitoring systems. You can find him on Twitter as @vielmetti.

Also: Questions and Answers following the presentation and during the social period before the SIG-Linux meeting. Snacks available during the social period.
When: Sunday, October 9, 2016 at 1:45 P.M.
Where: Altair Engineering, Inc., 1820 E. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, MI 48083
Map to meetings at Altair Engineering

SIG-Linux
Topic: Docker Containers:

SIG-Linux Chairman Brian Brodsky will continue the discussion on Docker Containers under Ubuntu. From Docker’s website: Docker containers wrap a piece of software in a complete filesystem that contains everything needed to run: code, runtime, system tools, system libraries – anything that can be installed on a server. This guarantees that the software will always run the same, regardless of its environment.

All are welcome.

When: Sunday, October 9, 2016 at 4:00 P.M.
Where: Altair Engineering, Inc., 1820 E. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, MI 48083
Map to meetings at Altair Engineering

Free Wi-Fi available. Our thanks to Altair Engineering, Inc. for providing our meeting space!

SIG-Linux notes 11-Sep-2016

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Thank you for the excellent discussion this evening!  The links I presented are below.  Have a super week!

 

Lynda.com full course on Docker (your public library likely provides free access to Lynda.com, please check your library’s web site – if you live or work in the City of Troy, the site is http://www.troypl.org/):  https://www.lynda.com/Docker-tutorials/

 

Getting Started with Docker (Linux, Mac, Windows, AWS, Azure):  https://docs.docker.com/engine/

 

The one I started with:  https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-install-and-use-docker-on-ubuntu-16-04

 

Quick example building up a web application:  http://anandmanisankar.com/posts/docker-container-nginx-node-redis-example/

 

One of the hardened / specialized Linux-based operating systems to run containers:  https://mesosphere.com/blog/2016/04/19/open-source-dcos/

 

 

 

SIG-Computing notes for 11-Sep-2016

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Thank you for the great meeting today!  These are the notes:

Intel could delay 7nm to 2022, 10nm is already delayed:  http://www.ocaholic.ch/modules/news/article.php?storyid=15387

New cross-platform malware for Linux, Mac, Windows (sheesh!):

http://m.theregister.co.uk/2016/09/09/mac_backdoor/

Google may be on the verge of a massive speech synthesis improvement with AI-developed WaveNet!

https://regmedia.co.uk/2016/09/09/wavenet.pdf

Intel could delay 7nm to 2022, 10nm is already delayed:  http://www.ocaholic.ch/modules/news/article.php?storyid=15387

New cross-platform malware for Linux, Mac, Windows (sheesh!):

http://m.theregister.co.uk/2016/09/09/mac_backdoor/

Google may be on the verge of a massive speech synthesis improvement with AI-developed WaveNet!

https://regmedia.co.uk/2016/09/09/wavenet.pdf

Other links that came up during the meeting today (great discussion, thank you all!):

SpywareBlaster:  https://www.brightfort.com/spywareblaster.html

Malware mitigation without having to boot up into Windows:

Avira Rescue CD:  https://www.avira.com/en/download/product/avira-rescue-system

AVG Rescue CD:  http://www.avg.com/us-en/avg-rescue-cd

Looking up unknown phone numbers:  http://www.okcaller.com/

Stopping robo callers and other annoying callers (not all carriers are supported):  https://www.nomorobo.com/signup

Turning off WhatsApp marketing involvement with Facebook (please do this before the end of September 2016 if you are concerned!):  https://www.whatsapp.com/faq/general/26000016

Free DNS service to help block malware and fix ISP name look up problems:  https://www.opendns.com

Add ons to web browsers (including some mobile / tablet ones) to block unwanted ads:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UBlock_Origin

Thank you again for providing these great links during the discussion!

 

Autonomous Vehicles Presentation

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Additional Information Suggestions from R Neff

Autonomous Vehicles:

Intelligent Transportation System:

  • USDOT Intelligent Transportation System – National Architecture http://www.iteris.com/itsarch/html/menu/hypertext.htm
  • ITS America: http://www.itsa.org/

Dedicated Short Range Communication:

TV Programs:

  • 60 minutes October 4, 2015 (Requires $0.99 monthly membership to view episode)

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/self-driving-cars-google-mercedes-benz-60-minutes/

  • http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/discovery-presents/videos/autonomous-cars/

Articles:

September 17, 2016 – SIG-Programming: Python

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Topic: Python:

We are learning Python using the book “Learning Python” by Mark Lutz. It is an O’Reilly book http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920028154.do, but can also be purchased at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Learning-Python-5th-Mark-Lutz/dp/1449355730/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1416007152&sr=1-1&pebp=11416007164251.

We are to continue reading Chapter 23, “Module Coding Basics” for the next meeting. If you have any questions contact Richard Jackson (see below). All are welcome to come.

Where: Richard Jackson’s home. Call Richard Jackson at 248-546-3694 for directions.

When: Saturday, September 17, 2016 at 2:00 P.M.

September 11, 2016 – SIG-Computing: Latest Developments in Battery Technology, SIG-Linux: Docker Containers

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General Announcements

Mike Bader, president of SEMCO, will start the meeting and make general announcements.

When: Sunday, September 11, 2016 at 1:30 P.M.
Where: Altair Engineering, Inc., 1820 E. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, MI 48083
Map to meetings at Altair Engineering

SIG-Computing
Topic: Latest Developments in Battery Technology:

Barry Murphy will discuss existing technology for tablets, laptops and smart phones. He will cover the current latest technologies and their availabilities. Barry will also talk briefly about lighting technologies and the newest LED bulbs.

Barry Murphy has been the owner of Batteries + Bulbs in Birmingham for 15 years.

Also: Questions and Answers following the presentation and during the social period before the SIG-Linux meeting. Snacks available during the social period.
When: Sunday, September 11, 2016 at 1:45 P.M.
Where: Altair Engineering, Inc., 1820 E. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, MI 48083
Map to meetings at Altair Engineering

SIG-Linux
Topic: Docker Containers:

SIG-Computing Chairman Jeff Marraccini will demonstrate setting up Docker Containers under Ubuntu. From Docker’s website: Docker containers wrap a piece of software in a complete filesystem that contains everything needed to run: code, runtime, system tools, system libraries – anything that can be installed on a server. This guarantees that the software will always run the same, regardless of its environment.

All are welcome.

When: Sunday, September 11, 2016 at 4:00 P.M.
Where: Altair Engineering, Inc., 1820 E. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, MI 48083
Map to meetings at Altair Engineering

Free Wi-Fi available. Our thanks to Altair Engineering, Inc. for providing our meeting space!

Brian Brodsky’s Notes of his Favorite Podcasts from August 2016 SIG-Linux Meeting

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The notes on Brian Brodsky’s favorite podcasts including the last two that he did not have time to cover at the August 2016 SIG-Linux meeting are at:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxD-6ro_Q8n1aTN6aHN3eU9hU00/view?usp=sharing

If people from the group email me links to the podcasts or sites they shared at the meeting I will post a list of those as well.

August 20, 2016 – SIG-Programming: Python

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Topic: Python:

We are learning Python using the book “Learning Python” by Mark Lutz. It is an O’Reilly book http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920028154.do, but can also be purchased at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Learning-Python-5th-Mark-Lutz/dp/1449355730/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1416007152&sr=1-1&pebp=11416007164251.

We are to read Chapter 23, “Module Coding Basics” for the next meeting. If you have any questions contact Richard Jackson (see below). All are welcome to come.

Where: Richard Jackson’s home. Call Richard Jackson at 248-546-3694 for directions.

When: Saturday, August 20, 2016 at 2:00 P.M.