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.

January, 10 2016 – SIG-Computing: File Organization and The Cloud, SIG-Linux: Election and Z shell

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General Announcements

Mike Bader, president of SEMCO, will start the meeting with the election process and general announcements.

When: Sunday, January 10, 2016 at 1:30 P.M.
Where: Map to meetings at Altair Engineering

file_organization

SIG-Computing
Topic: File Organization and The Cloud, PowerShell Quickie

SIG-Computing Chairman Jeff Marraccini will present File Organization and The Cloud, and PowerShell Quickie. Picked up a lot of pictures, movies, and family items you plan to scan and save for posterity during the holidays? Jeff will cover file organization in the current era, including a quick overview of private (BTSync, OwnCloud, etc.) and public cloud services. The objectives will include keeping organized, archival copies, and selective sharing with family and friends, without using social media sites!

Afterwards we will take a very brief look at PowerShell, Microsoft’s preference for automating tasks in Windows and Windows Server. An overview of resources to make the most of PowerShell will be presented and you will have copies of all the links. Learning PowerShell is a great New Year’s goal as it is a huge improvement over batch files!

Also: Questions and Answers following presentation and during social time before SIG-Linux meeting. Snacks available during social time.
When: Sunday, January 10, 2016 at 1:45 P.M.
Where: Map to meetings at Altair Engineering

zsh

SIG-Linux
Topic: Election and Z shell:

Before the presentation, the group will hold its annual election for chairman. Afterwards current SIG-Linux Chairman Brian Brodsky will demonstrate some of the features of zsh. Zsh is a shell designed for interactive use, although it is also a powerful scripting language. Many of the useful features of bash, ksh, and tcsh were incorporated into zsh; many original features were added. All are welcome.

When: Sunday, January 10, 2016 at 4:00 P.M.
Where: Map to meetings at Altair Engineering

Free Wi-Fi available.

December 19, 2015 – 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 15, “The Documentation Interlude” 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, December 19, 2015 at 2:00 P.M.

December 13, 2015 – SIG-Computing: Windows 10 Update + a look at Windows Server 2016, SIG-Linux: Audacity

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General Announcements

Mike Bader, president of SEMCO, will start the meeting by taking nominations for Board Members and making general announcements.

When: Sunday, December 13, 2015 at 1:30 P.M.
Where: Map to meetings at Altair Engineering

Windows 10

SIG-Computing
Topic: Windows 10 Update + a look at Windows Server 2016:

SIG-Computing chairman Jeff Marraccini will present an updated look at Windows 10 and a look at the soon to be released Windows Server 2016. Microsoft has released the Windows 10 November 2015 update, known as Threshold 2.  The holiday season is also upon us, and most new PC’s are shipping with Windows 10.  We will take another look at Windows 10 as friends and family will probably be immersed in it over the next few weeks, and the countdown to the end of the free Windows 7/8/8.1 → Windows 10 upgrade for existing systems also is now only six months away. Please bring your Windows 10 questions!

We will also take a look at Microsoft’s new Windows Server 2016 product which is nearing release.  Currently in Technical Preview, it has a lot of the “look” of Windows 10, but under the hood there are massive changes that Microsoft hopes will drive businesses, institutions, and even hobbyists running servers to reconsider Windows over Linux.  Will they succeed?  Let us take a look together at what is coming.

Jeff has been with Altair Engineering for 18 years in various IT roles. He currently manages a world-wide team taking care of computing, network, and related services for 2,300 staff across more than 40 sites. His team manages many computing clusters based on Linux distributions and Windows Server along with several storage back-ends. Jeff resides in Troy, Michigan and his LinkedIn site is http://jeffmarraccini.com/.

Also: Questions and Answers.
When: Sunday, December 13, 2015 at 1:45 P.M.
Where: Map to meetings at Altair Engineering

SIG-Linux
Topic: Audacity:

SIG-Linux Member Richard Jackson will demonstrate Audacity an open source, audio recording and editing program. Audacity is available for Linux, Windows, and Mac. All are welcome.

When: Sunday, December 13, 2015 at 4:00 P.M.
Where: Map to meetings at Altair Engineering

Free Wi-Fi available.

November 21, 2015 – SIG-Programming: Python

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snake-312561_1280

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 14, “Iterations and Comprehensions” 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, November 21, 2015 at 2:00 P.M.

November 8, 2015 – SIG-Computing: What’s Hot for the Holidays, SIG-Linux: Scribus

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General Announcements

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

When: Sunday, November 8, 2015 at 1:30 P.M.
Where: Map to meetings at Altair Engineering

Mistletoe

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.
When: Sunday, November 8, 2015 at 1:45 P.M.
Where: Map to meetings at Altair Engineering

scribus_splash

SIG-Linux
Topic: Scribus:

SIG-Linux Chairman Brian Brodsky continues with the third in a set of presentations on Scribus. Scribus is an open source and freely distributed desktop publishing program. It is available in many platforms including Linux, FreeBSD, PC-BSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, Solaris, OpenIndiana, Debian GNU/Hurd, Mac OS X, OS/2 Warp 4, eComStation, Haiku and Windows. All are welcome.

When: Sunday, November 8, 2015 at 4:00 P.M.
Where: Map to meetings at Altair Engineering

Free Wi-Fi available.

October 11, 2015 – SIG-Computing: Secure Development Practice: a Crash Course at High Speed, SIG-Linux: Scribus

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locks

SIG-Computing
Topic: Secure Development Practice: a Crash Course at High Speed:

Susan Sons, Senior Systems Analyst at Indiana University’s Center for Applied Cybersecurity Research, will present a half-hour overview of the state of software development practice with a focus on tools and processes effective in reducing security defects in code. Susan will then stick around for a half-hour “ask me anything” session to answer questions on this and other areas of information security. Bring your questions!

Susan Sons works as a Senior Systems Analyst at Indiana University’s Center for Applied Cybersecurity Research. She spends about half her time helping NSF-funded science and infrastructure projects improve their security, the other half helping to secure a DHS-funded static analysis project (it’s called the SWAMP, and it’s free for anyone to use to make their code more stable and secure!).

Also: Questions and Answers.
When: Sunday, October 11, 2015 at 1:45 P.M.
Where: Map to meetings at Altair Engineering

scribus_splash

SIG-Linux
Topic: Scribus:

SIG-Linux Chairman Brian Brodsky continues with the second in a set of presentations on Scribus. Scribus is an open source and freely distributed desktop publishing program. It is available in many platforms including Linux, FreeBSD, PC-BSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, Solaris, OpenIndiana, Debian GNU/Hurd, Mac OS X, OS/2 Warp 4, eComStation, Haiku and Windows. All are welcome.

When: Sunday, October 11, 2015 at 4:00 P.M.
Where: Map to meetings at Altair Engineering

Free Wi-Fi available.

October 17, 2015 – SIG-Programming: Python

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snake-312561_1280

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 13, “while and for Loops” 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, October 17, 2015 at 2:00 P.M.