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For many, August combines carefree summer activities with back-to-school preparations. You'll find ideas for both seasons in this month's Great Sites list which includes delicious summertime peach recipes as well as advice for helping your students be successful this fall.
In addition, this issue contains a Pinterest spam alert and tips on how to recognize the difference between a legitimate email and a hoax. We also tell you about a recent change regarding the email address displayed on your Facebook Timeline and how to make adjustments if needed. Just for fun, check out the two videos that showcase creativity—a marriage proposal using a movie trailer and artistic masterpieces made from dust.
We think you'll find the information contained in this newsletter to be a valuable tool for enhancing your Internet experience. As always, we appreciate your feedback and suggestions. Please send your thoughts, comments or questions to newsletter@greenmountainaccess.net.
- The Green
Mountain Access Team
Aaron, Adam, Amanda, Eric, Kris,
Phil, Richard, Seth, Scott, and Tom
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Win a Free Auto Detail from Showroom Shine
This month we are giving away a free auto detail (outside wash and wax) to Showroom Shine in Waitsfield, a $100 value. Congratulations to last month's winners of tickets to the Addison County Fair and Field Days. The drawing for this month’s raffle will take place on August 15th. To be entered into the raffle, simply click this link and leave your name and contact information.
Tips for Protecting Your Computer and DSL Modem during Lightning Season
During the summer months we see a major increase in the number of modem and computer related problems and this year has been no exception as we have had a large number of lightning storms already this season. It is very important to protect your computer equipment and DSL modem from the power fluctuations that occur during these storms. Every computer, modem, monitor, printer, etc. should be connected to a "computer grade" surge protector and Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS).
A UPS is essentially a battery that is placed between the wall outlet and your computer. It provides constant power to your computer and even allows it to run for a short time after a power outage, giving you time to save your work and properly shut down your computer. While a surge protector and UPS will help protect your computer during a lightning storm, keep in mind the best and cheapest protection is to simply unplug your computer and DSL modem from both the electrical outlet and telephone jack during severe storms.
We highly recommend staying away from less expensive surge protectors that are not specifically designed for use with sensitive electronics and computer equipment. Some surge protectors are single use units, and if the unit sustains a power surge (i.e. lighting, power spikes, etc.) it may not protect against future surges. In addition, a surge protector will not protect against the power dips that occur during these storms. Often times your computer equipment will not experience immediate failure, but the damage has been done and will appear further down the road.
Any reputable computer or audio video store should be able to point you toward the unit that will best meet your needs. While surge protectors may not stop every single surge, they are well worth the peace of mind. Many even offer equipment replacement guarantees in the event that the protection fails.
WCVT in the Community
Being a local business means that our customers are also our neighbors and friends. Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom feel strongly that community involvement is not just a nice thing to do; it is the right thing to do. Here are some highlights of recent and upcoming activities:
Tech Support Hosting 2 Free Seminars On Wireless Connectivity
We will be offering two free Internet technology seminars on Wireless Connectivity on August 7th in Hinesburg and August 8th in Waitsfield. Seminars are free and open to the general public, but space is limited. RSVP via email seminar@gmavt.net.
Wireless Connectivity Seminar - Hinesburg
When: August 7th
Location: Carpenter-Carse Library (69 Ballards Corner Rd, Hinesburg)
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Wireless Connectivity Seminar - Waitsfield
When: August 8th
Location: WCVT Main Office/back garage (3898 Main Street, Waitsfield)
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Hope to see you there!
Come Visit Us at the Addison County Fair & Field Days –
August 7-11
 Don't miss Vermont's largest agricultural fair in New Haven, Vermont, which runs August 7-11th. The Addison County Fair and Field Days offers something for everyone including: a children's barnyard, cattle judging, tractor pulls, demolition derby, rides, crafts, exhibits, live entertainment, pony and ox pulling, midway, parade, youth activities, and the Vermont products dinner. For more information, visit www.addisoncountyfielddays.com and be sure to "friend" them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/addisonfielddaysvt.
 While your visiting the fair, be sure to stop by our booth located in the Lucien Paquette building. We will have various Apple products on display for you to demo (courtesy of Small Dog Electronics) connected to our high-speed Internet service so you can surf the web, check your e-mail, and talk to our knowledgeable staff. We look forward to seeing you at the fair.
WCVT Employees Volunteer for Stars and Stripes Airshow
 A group of Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom employees volunteered to help setup for the Stars and Stripes charity airshow, held at the Sugarbush Airport. The charity airshow once again benefited the National Guard Charitable Foundation. Employees put up snow fencing, marked parking areas, cleaned the main hanger, and hung signage.
And The Winner Of One Free Month Of High-Speed Internet Service Is...
Congratulations Nancy Conrad for being this month’s winner of one-free month of high-speed Internet service. Nancy’s name was chosen at random from customers who completed our monthly Green Mountain Access technical support surveys.
Each month, one name is selected at random from customers who completed our online technical support or new user surveys. Survey requests are sent out via e-mail to customers after calling technical support, or establishing new service. So be sure to fill out those surveys!
Two to View — A Couple Of Amazing Videos You Don't Want To Miss
Movie Trailer Proposal
click here for video
 This groom-to-be used the big screen for a big proposal. Matt's girlfriend, Ginny, thinks she's about to see a movie trailer, but instead there's a film of Matt asking her father for her hand. Matt soon appears in the theater with popcorn—and the ring!
The Dirty Car Artist
click here for video
You've seen those cars in parking lots—the ones covered with what looks like an inch of dirt. What most of us view as eyesores, Scott Wade sees as canvases. Also called the "da Vinci of Dust," he turns them into mobile art galleries.
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SPAM Alert – Spammers Have Jumped On the Pinterest Bandwagon
All well-trafficked social media sites draw spammers trying to reel in unsuspecting users, and Pinterest is no exception. In fact, because of its rapid growth and heavy retail focus, Pinterest is especially attractive to spammers. (In case you're unfamiliar with Pinterest, it's a virtual bulletin board where you can "pin" images, share things you like with others, follow people you like, and have others follow you.)
In recent months, Pinterest users have reported receiving a surge of spam emails. Many of these emails are relatively benign—more annoying than harmful—and often attempt to get the recipient to visit a Pinterest board that links to a page about weight loss plans or retail deals. However, for legitimate businesses that use Pinterest, the influx of spam on the site can have more serious ramifications. For example, spammers can copy and attach viruses to a business's pin, causing its reputation to diminish.
Pinterest addresses this issue in its Terms & Privacy—Acceptable Use Policy. It reads, "You agree not to engage in any of the following prohibited activities: Send any unsolicited or unauthorized spam and spam comments on posts, advertising messages, promotional materials, email, junk mail, chain letters or other form of solicitation..."
Fortunately, Pinterest provides an easy way to report this type of spam. Simply click on the "Report Pin" button next to the image on the Pinterest site.
This Month's FAQ – How Can I Tell a Legitimate Email from a Hoax?
Question: I have friends that frequently send me important-sounding emails that I'm supposed to forward to people I know. How can I tell if the messages are legitimate or a hoax?
Answer: Good question. It's pretty simple. There are five signs that an email is a hoax:
1. Urgency
You'll see lots of exclamation points and words in all caps like URGENT!!! and WARNING!!!
2. "Tell all your friends"
There will always be a request that you share this "important information" by forwarding the message to everybody in your email address book or to as many people as you possibly can.
3. "This isn't a hoax"
The message may include a seemingly sincere premise like "My neighbor, who works for Microsoft, just received this warning so I know it's true. He asked me to pass it along."
4. Dire consequences
The text will predict dire consequences if you don't act immediately—a missing child won't be found, or someone won't be able to die happy.
5. History
Look for lots of >>>> marks in the left margin. These indicate that people who fell for the hoax have forwarded the message countless times before it reached you.
When in doubt, do your homework on a particular email at http://www.hoax-slayer.com, http://www.snopes.com, or http://www.scambusters.org. It's worth a few minutes of your time to avoid spreading misinformation to others.
Short Tutorial – How to Stop the @Facebook.com Address from Showing Up On Your Timeline
Facebook recently began shifting the default addresses of its almost 900 million users from the email addresses they chose when signing up on the site to their Facebook addresses, which are the username@facebook.com ones. This has many users concerned, in part because some security experts believe those @facebook.com addresses are even more attractive to spammers and other cyber-criminals.
You do, however, have the ability to decide which email address will be displayed on your Timeline. Simply follow the steps below.
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Log in to your Facebook account.
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Click on "About" under your contact information.
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Scroll to "Contact info" and select "Edit."
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Switch the crossed out circle symbol to a full circle for the email address you want to appear on your Timeline.
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If you want to deselect your Facebook email account and hide it from your Timeline, switch it from the full circle to the crossed out circle. (Note: The Facebook email address cannot be deleted, only hidden.)
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When you've completed your selections, press "Save."
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Vermont Festival of the Arts – August 1 – Labor Day – Mad River Valley
Entertain the soul, enlighten the mind, and energize the spirit, with 129 exhibits, performances, workshops, demos by a variety of Vermont artists. That adds up to plenty of ways to craft your way through Art in August at one of the premier Vermont festivals, in Waitsfield, Warren and surrounding towns. The 2012 festival includes both weekend and weekday events in: contemporary art, landscape art, fine art galleries, art exhibitions, culinary arts, cooking classes, painting classes, craft arts, literary gatherings, photography exhibits, art education, art in barns and art in open studios. For complete details and a list of events, visit ww.vermontartfest.com.
Addison County Farm and Field Days – August 7 – 11th - New Haven
Don't miss Vermont's largest agricultural fair in New Haven. Children's barnyard, cattle judging, tractor pulls, rides, crafts, exhibits, live entertainment, pony and ox pulling, midway, parade, youth activities, and Vermont products dinner. For more information, visit www.addisoncountyfielddays.com or visit them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/addisonfielddaysvt.
Swing Noire, Summer Cabaret Series – August 24 - Bristol
Come and enjoy live music in the newly renovated Holley Hall, Experience the magic of live music on a summer evening right in your in own back yard.
Dessert and refreshments will be available. On August 24, Swing Noire brings hot swinging jazz. Call it what you like—Gypsy jazz, hot swing, jazz manouche—but Swing Noire transports audiences back to the early days of jazz with the energy, soul, and sophistication of the 30s and 40s. Tickets are $8. For more information, call 453-5885 or visit www.bristolrec.org.
Vergennes Day, Little City 5K & 10K road races – August 24 and 25 It’s the 31st year of the Vergennes Day celebration. It all begins on Friday, August 24, with a Street dance featuring “Panton Flats” from 7 to 10 pm. On Saturday, enjoy a variety of events from 10am to 4 pm at Vergennes City Park plus five other venues. Family fun includes: A pancake breakfast, Little City 5K & 10K Races, 75 plus crafters/vendors, bandstand music, chicken BBQ, children's venue, car show, radio controlled airplanes, and more. Free shuttle, provided by Bet-Cha Transit, to all venues! Sponsored by the Vergennes Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Vergennes. For more information and a complete schedule of events, click here. |
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What's Everybody Doing Tomorrow?
http://zapaday.com
You may know what's on your calendar but what about everyone else's? This site tells you what's scheduled to happen tomorrow or another future day all over the world, in several categories including politics, culture, business, science, and sports. It's the most comprehensive public calendar on the Web.
Just Peachy Recipes
http://gapeaches.org
August is Peach Month and here's a site that celebrates this delectable summer fruit. Browse around to learn about the health benefits of peaches and pick up new recipes ranging from Peach and Prosciutto Pizza with Blue Cheese to Peach and Blackberry Pecan Crumble.
Back to School for Parents Too
http://schoolfamily.com
Children aren't the only ones going back to school. If you're a parent, you need to stay educated about your child's curriculum and other school issues. Here you'll find tips for parents of children from preschool to high school on promoting learning at home, working with teachers, using technology, and more.
Be a Smarter Shopper
http://consumerreports.org
Consumer Reports is a smart place to visit before you make major purchases. It offers consumer news, product recalls and safety notices, buying guides, price ranges, and other valuable information—all to help you make more informed choices and get the best value for your money.
Quick! Find a Quote!
http://quotesdaddy.com
Just the right quote can make your next presentation more impactful or a friend's tough day more tolerable. You'll find quotes galore on this site, organized by topic and author. You can also sign up to get quotes of the day, share great quotes via Facebook, or add a random quote to every email you send.
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