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O'Reilly News for User Group Members
March 31, 2005
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Book News
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-Firefox Hacks
-iPhoto 5: The Missing Manual
-Python Cookbook, 2E
-Silence on the Wire
-Windows Server Cookbook
-Degunking Your PC
-Java in a Nutshell, 5th Edition
-Access 2003 Personal Trainer
-SharePoint User's Guide
-Apache Security
-MAKE Subscriptions Available
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Upcoming Events
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-MAKE Editor Phillip Torrone on Science Friday--April 1
-Greg Kroah-Hartman, ("Linux Device Drivers, 3rd Ed"),
PDXLUG, Portland, OR--April 14
-Greg Kroah-Hartman at Powell's Tech Books--April 16
-Bonnie Biafore ("QuickBooks: The Missing Manual" & "Online Investing
Hacks"), Kansas City Investor Fair--April 29-30
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Conference News
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-Register for the 2005 MySQL Users Conference,
Santa Clara, CA--April 18-21
-Where 2.0 Conference
-OSCON Is Coming
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News
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-Tax Time: A Year-End Checklist of Accounting Tasks
-Opting in to Privacy Problems
-SafariU Revolutionizes the Textbook
-Automating Windows (DNS) with Perl
-make for Nonprogrammers
-Closed Source PHP
-Movies Made Easy in iPhoto 5
-Exploring the Mac OS X Firewall
-Owen Linzmeyer ("Apple Confidential 2.0") on MacRadio
-Five More Annoying PC Annoyances
-Microsoft, Blogging, and Transparency
-Miguel de Icaza Explains How to "Get" Mono
-Flexible Event Delivery with Executors
-Java Component Development: A Conceptual Framework
-HDTV on Your Mac
-Resurrect Your Old PC for Music--with Linux
-Ajax: New for 2005
================================================
Book News
================================================
Did you know you can request a free book to review for your
group? Ask your group leader for more information.
For book review writing tips and suggestions, go to:
http://ug.oreilly.com/bookreviews.html
Don't forget, you can receive 20% off any O'Reilly, No Starch,
Paraglyph, Pragmatic Bookshelf, SitePoint, or Syngress book you
purchase directly from O'Reilly.
Just use code DSUG when ordering online or by phone 800-998-9938.
http://www.oreilly.com/
***Free ground shipping is available for online orders of at
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applies to U.S. delivery addresses in the 50 states and Puerto Rico.
For more details, go to:
http://www.oreilly.com/news/freeshipping_0703.html
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New Releases
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***Firefox Hacks
Publisher: O'Reilly
ISBN: 0596009283
This highly focused book offers all the valuable tips and tools you
need to maximize the effectiveness of this hot web browser. It's all
covered, including how to customize its deployment, appearance,
features, and functionality. You'll even learn how to install, use,
and alter extensions and plug-ins. Aimed at clever people who may or
may not be savvy with basic programming tasks, this convenient
resource describes 100 techniques for 100 strategies that effectively
exploit Firefox.
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/firefoxhks/
Sample Hack 69, "Make New Tags and Widgets with XBL," is available
online (along with five others):
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/firefoxhks/chapter/index.html
***iPhoto 5: The Missing Manual
Publisher: O'Reilly
ISBN: 0596100345
Updated to cover Apple's newest release, "iPhoto 5: The Missing
Manual" comes fully loaded--and in full color--so you can exercise all
the power, flexibility, and creativity of the stunning new iPhoto 5.
This witty and authoritative guide starts out with a crash course on
digital photography and then explores every aspect of iPhoto 5, from
camera-meets-Mac basics to sharing your digital photography with the
world.
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/iphoto5tmm/
***Python Cookbook, 2E
Publisher: O'Reilly
ISBN: 0596007973
Like its predecessor, the new edition offers a collection of solutions
to problems that Python programmers face every day. Updated for Python
2.4, it now includes over 200 recipes that range from simple tasks,
such as working with dictionaries and list comprehensions, to complex
tasks, such as monitoring a network and building a templating system.
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/pythoncook2/
***Silence on the Wire
Publisher: No Starch Press
ISBN: 1593270461
Author Michal Zalewski is respected in the hacking and security
communities for his intelligence, curiosity and creativity, and this
book is truly unlike anything else. "Silence on the Wire" is no
humdrum white paper or how-to manual for protecting one's network.
Rather, this
narrative explores a variety of unique, uncommon and often elegant
security challenges that defy classification and eschew the
traditional attacker-victim model.
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/1593270461/index.html
***Windows Server Cookbook
Publisher: O'Reilly
ISBN: 0596006330
Written for all levels of users, this practical reference guide offers
hundreds of useful tasks for managing Windows 2000 and Windows Server
2003. The concise, on-the-job solutions to common problems are certain
to save you many hours of time searching through Microsoft
documentation. Each recipe also includes a detailed discussion that
explains how and why it works. Topics discussed include files, event
logs, security, DHCP, DNS, backup/restore, and more.
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/windowsvrckbk/
Chapter 6, "Processes," is available online:
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/windowsvrckbk/chapter/index.html
***Degunking Your PC
Publisher: Paraglyph Press
ISBN: 1933097035
Do your programs seem sluggish or refuse to run properly? Are you
tripping over a viper's nest of cords and cables at every turn? Do you
have printer drivers installed that date back to the Eisenhower
administration? Is it impossible to vacuum under your desk? Still
using dial up? If so you have PC gunk! "Degunking Your PC" will show
you the way to get out of the rat's maze of cables and old
plug-and-play devices and onto the road of perfect PC organization.
Joli Ballew, the author of the bestselling "Degunking Windows" will
show you simple, fast and effective ways to manage your PC hardware.
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/1933097035/index.html
***Java in a Nutshell, 5th Edition
Publisher: O'Reilly
ISBN: 0596007736
"Java in a Nutshell, 5th Edition" covers all the extensive changes in
Java 5.0. This classic remake has undergone a complete editorial
makeover in order to more closely meet the needs of the modern Java
programmer. Included among the improvements are more discussion on
tools and
frameworks and new code examples to illustrate the working of APIs.
And, as in previous editions, the fifth edition is chock-full of
poignant tips, techniques, examples, and practical advice.
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/javanut5/
***Access 2003 Personal Trainer
Publisher: O'Reilly
ISBN: 0596009372
Written in a non-technical and engaging style, this book lets people
of any technical level learn exactly what they need to know at their
own pace. The book starts with Access fundamentals and then moves up
to tables, fields, queries, forms, reports, and advanced topics, like
linking information from an external source. Included are detailed
diagrams, dozens of task-oriented lessons, and a fully interactive
training
simulation CD.
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/accesspt/
***SharePoint User's Guide
Publisher: O'Reilly
ISBN: 0596009089
This straightforward guide shows SharePoint users how to create and
use web sites for sharing and collaboration. Learn to use the document
and picture libraries for adding and editing content, add discussion
boards and surveys, receive alerts when documents and information have
been added or changed, and enhance security. Designed to help you find
answers quickly, the book shows how to make the most of SharePoint for
productivity and collaboration.
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/sharepoint/
Chapter 1, "Working with Sites and Workspaces," is available online:
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/sharepoint/chapter/index.html
***Apache Security
Publisher: O'Reilly
ISBN: 0596007248
This all-purpose guide for locking down Apache arms readers with all
the information they need to securely deploy applications.
Administrators and programmers alike will benefit from a concise
introduction to the theory of securing Apache, plus a wealth of
practical advice and real-life examples. Topics covered include
installation, server sharing, logging and monitoring, web
applications, PHP and SSL/TLS, and more.
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/apachesc/
Chapter 2, "Installation and Configuration," is available online:
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/apachesc/chapter/index.html
***MAKE Subscriptions Available
The annual subscription price for four issues is $34.95. When you
subscribe with this link, you'll get a free issue--the first one plus
four more for $34.95. So subscribe for yourself or friends with this
great offer for charter subscribers: five volumes for the cost of
four.
Subscribe at:
https://www.pubservice.com/MK/Subnew.aspx?PC=MK&PK=M5ZUGLA
The MAKE blog is available at:
http://www.makezine.com/blog/
================================================
Upcoming Events
================================================
***For more events, please see:
http://events.oreilly.com/
***MAKE Editor Phillip Torrone on Science Friday--April 1
Philip will be talking about DIY technology on NPR's "Science Friday"
with Ira Flatow. Visit the Science Friday site and look for your local
NPR station and broadcast times. Feel free to call in and ask
questions from 2 to 4 p.m. Eastern at 1-800-989-8255.
http://www.sciencefriday.com/
***Greg Kroah-Hartman, ("Linux Device Drivers, 3rd Ed"),
PDXLUG, Portland, OR--April 14
Join O'Reilly author Greg for a Linux chat at 7pm.
Fireside Coffee Lodge
1223 SE Powell Blvd,
Portland, OR 97202
http://www.pdxlug.org/
***Greg Kroah-Hartman at Powell's Tech Books--April 16
Greg will also be at Powell's Technical Books beginning at 1:00pm
April 16.
Powell's Technical Books
33 NW Park Avenue,
Portland, OR 97209
http://www.powells.com/calendar.html#489
***Bonnie Biafore ("QuickBooks: The Missing Manual" & "Online Investing
Hacks"), Kansas City Investor Fair--April 29-30
Bonnie is a featured speaker at the NAIC Kansas City Investor Fair.
She'll be signing books there on both days, so be sure to stop by and
say hello. Doubletree Hotel, Overland Park, KS
http://www.better-investing.org/chapter/kansas/events/4875
================================================
Conference News
================================================
***Register for the 2005 MySQL Users Conference,
Santa Clara, CA--April 18-21
The MySQL Users Conference, co-presented by O'Reilly Media and MySQL
AB, brings together experts, users, and industry leaders with unique
MySQL insights, offering attendees a detailed look into new features
in MySQL 5.0, sessions and workshops designed to teach best practices,
and exposure to new open source technologies.
For more information, go to:
http://www.mysqluc.com/
Use code DSUG when you register, and receive 20% off the registration
price.
To register for the conference, go to:
http://conferences.oreillynet.com/cs/mysqluc2005/create/ord_mysql05
***Where 2.0 Conference
Join us at the first O'Reilly Where 2.0 Conference June 29-30 in San
Francisco. Explore the emerging consumer and enterprise ecosystems
around location-aware technologies--like GPS, RFID, WLAN, cellular
networks, and networked sensors--that enable an ever-growing array of
capabilities from local search and mapping to enterprise integration
and commercial
applications. Registration opens in April.
http://conferences.oreillynet.com/where/
To receive up-to-date conference news and information, sign up for the
conference newsletter on oreilly.com.
***OSCON Is Coming
Join us at the O'Reilly Open Source Convention in beautiful Portland
from August 1-5. OSCON 2005 will be at the Oregon Convention Center,
where we'll have tutorials, sessions, parties, BOFs, and a huge
exhibit hall. The Call for Proposals is closed, but registration and
hotel information will be available soon.
http://conferences.oreillynet.com/os2005/
To get the latest details as soon as we have them, sign up for the
OSCON newsletter on oreilly.com.
================================================
News From O'Reilly & Beyond
================================================
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General News
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***Tax Time: A Year-End Checklist of Accounting Tasks
Whether you handle your company's accounting yourself or hand off the
major accounting tasks to an accountant, Bonnie Biafore provides a
checklist of eight accounting tasks you'll want to complete shortly
after the end of your fiscal year. Bonnie is the author of "QuickBooks
2005: The Missing Manual."
http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/network/2005/03/28/quickbooks.html
***Opting in to Privacy Problems
Brian McWilliams looks at yet another way internet users may be
putting their privacy at risk. With list brokers now cutting deals
with e-commerce sites and internet marketing firms for data that
includes home addresses, phone numbers, and corresponding IP
addresses, you may be opting in for more than you bargained for when
you shop online. Brian is the author of "Spam Kings."
http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/network/2005/03/17/optin.html
***SafariU Revolutionizes the Textbook
With SafariU, educators and trainers can create and publish their own
textbooks, selecting exactly the book chapters, sections, or articles
they want from a wealth of information resources. SafariU costs
nothing to use and offers students more focused course content at less
cost. Visit SafariU to view a video demo and sign up for access:
http://safariu.oreilly.com
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Open Source
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***Automating Windows (DNS) with Perl
Perl is a fantastic tool for system administrators--even on Windows.
Though the shiny GUI is astonishingly useless (or at least too
mouse-friendly) for all but the simplest changes, there's plenty to
automate under the shell. Thomas Herchenroeder explains how he
wrapped dnscmd with Perl to make changes easily.
http://www.perl.com/pub/a/2005/03/24/perl_dns.html
***make for Nonprogrammers
If you're a typical FreeBSD user, you may never have compiled C source
code on your own. Yet if you've ever issued a make command, it's
compiled code for you. How does it do that? What does it do, anyway?
And what else can it do? Dru Lavigne answers all of these questions.
http://www.onlamp.com/pub/a/bsd/2005/03/24/FreeBSD_Basics.html
***Closed Source PHP
A look at the many different options PHP Developers have for
protecting their source code from prying eyes when creating
commercial PHP Applications.
http://www.sitepoint.com/blog-post-view.php?id=238739
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Mac
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***Movies Made Easy in iPhoto 5
One of the best features in the current crop of consumer digital still
cameras is their ability to capture high-quality video. iPhoto 5 is in
step with this evolution and provides a great environment for taking
those snippets and creating real movies. Derrick Story shows you how.
http://www.macdevcenter.com/pub/a/mac/2005/03/22/iphoto_movies.html
***Exploring the Mac OS X Firewall
Like so many tools built in to Mac OS X, the firewall just works. But
what's really going on inside it? Peter Hickman explains why the
firewall works so well, and then takes you inside and shows you how to
fiddle with things. In the end, he returns you safely to the default
settings.
http://www.macdevcenter.com/pub/a/mac/2005/03/15/firewall.html
***Owen Linzmeyer ("Apple Confidential 2.0") on MacRadio
Listen to No Starch's author Owen on the Mac Night Owl Radio on the
March 24 show.
http://www.macradio.com/thursday/nightowl/index.php
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Windows/.NET
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***Five More Annoying PC Annoyances
After his first "PC Annoyances" was released, Steve Bass was surprised
by the barrage of email he received with yet more annoyances to fix.
That led to the just-released second edition of "PC Annoyances," where
he added 150 more fixes to irritating PC quirks. And if that's not
enough, he offers five more here.
http://www.windowsdevcenter.com/pub/a/windows/2005/03/28/pcannoyances.html
***Microsoft, Blogging, and Transparency
Author James Avery recently wrote about his experiences publishing his
latest book and how Microsoft bloggers helped him immensely. To James,
the benefits of increased transparency through the use of blogs cannot
be understated. James is the author of "Visual Studio Hacks."
http://dotavery.com/blog/archive/2005/03/28/2767.aspx
***Miguel de Icaza Explains How to "Get" Mono
It's perhaps the most controversial project in the open source world,
but this mostly stems from misunderstanding: Mono, the open source
development platform based upon Microsoft's .NET framework. Immediate
reactions from many dubious Linux developers have ranged from
confusion over its
connection with .NET to wondering what the benefits of developing
under it are. Throughout the course of its four years of intense
development, sponsored by Novell, Mono founder Miguel de Icaza has had
to frequently clarify the .NET issue and sell the community on it. In
this new
interview, Howard Wen asks Miguel to explain himself one more time.
http://www.ondotnet.com/pub/a/dotnet/2005/03/21/interviewmiguel.html
---------------------
Java
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***Flexible Event Delivery with Executors
Event-handling is critical to any GUI application, and many developers
know the hazards of making a method call to unknown or poorly behaved
code from the event-dispatch thread. J2SE 5.0's concurrency utilities
offer more fine-grained control over how code executes. Andrew
Thompson applies that to offer better ways to handle events.
http://www.onjava.com/pub/a/onjava/2005/03/23/executors.html
***Java Component Development: A Conceptual Framework
In general terms, a component is one or more classes with an external
API that satisfy some requirement. But how do you build components
that are really practical--that handle configuration changes or
third-party integration well? Palash Ghosh has some ideas about the
concepts behind components.
http://www.onjava.com/pub/a/onjava/2005/03/23/components.html
---------------------
Digital Media
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***HDTV on Your Mac
Even though the Mac is a little late to the HDTV party, you can roll
your own setup for not too much time or money. Erica Sadun shows you
how. http://www.macdevcenter.com/pub/a/mac/2005/03/29/hdtv.html
***Resurrect Your Old PC for Music--with Linux
Dig that clunker out of the closet! This step-by-step guide explains
how to upgrade even a 486-based PC to an efficient, Linux-powered
music machine. Total cost? About ten cents for a blank CD.
http://digitalmedia.oreilly.com/2005/03/23/linuxmusic.html
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Web
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***Ajax: New for 2005
Ajax is a term coined for an approach that utilizes the Document
Object Model, JavaScript, and XMLHTTPRequest to allow web
developers to create applications that don't require constant
page-refreshes to be used.
http://www.sitepoint.com/blog-post-view.php?id=238333
================================================
>From Your Peers
===============================================
Don't forget to check out the O'Reilly UG wiki to see what user groups
across the globe are up to:
http://wiki.oreillynet.com/usergroups/index.cgi
--
Neil Schneider pacneil_at_linuxgeek_dot_net
http://www.paccomp.com
Key fingerprint = 67F0 E493 FCC0 0A8C 769B 8209 32D7 1DB1 8460 C47D
Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who
are putting us on, or by imbeciles who really mean it - Mark Twain
--
[email protected]
http://www.kernel-panic.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/kplug-newbie
