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For many of us, May is topped only by December in terms of special activities and celebrations. The school year is winding down, summer fun is gearing up, and you may have Mother's Day gatherings plus graduations, showers, and weddings to attend. Take a break from the action now to get informed about online threats and opportunities.
This May issue starts with an alert about an antivirus phone scam that's now making the rounds. Be sure your family, especially any older members who are fairly new to computers, are aware of this scam so they don't become victims. Speaking of family, check out the original gift ideas in the Pinterest section. And keep going to learn about hacked email accounts, enjoy amazing videos, visit cool websites, and find out how to add smileys to Facebook.
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@gmavt.net.
- The Green
Mountain Access Team
Aaron, Adam, Amanda, Eric, Kris,
Phil, Richard, Seth, Scott, and Tom
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Put Your Voice Mail To Work For You
Are you taking full advantage of all of the features included with our voice mail system? Here are some tips on how to maximize your setup to stay connected even when you're on the road.
For your convenience, simply dial *99 to access your voice mail when calling from the telephone number that service is programmed on. 
You can even manage your voice mail settings online. Once logged in you can forward your voicemail messages as an attachment to your email so you can easily get your messages while traveling. You can also change notification features as well as listen to and delete your messages. To manage your Voice Mail online, visit www.voicemail.wcvt.com. Enter your 10-digit telephone number and your Voice Mail Pin.
For more information on new features and functionality, please refer to the following documents.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact our Customer Service Department at 1-800-496-3391 or csdept@wcvt.com.
Win a Gift Certificate to Rocky Ridge Golf Club
Each month, we raffle off a prize from a local business, so be sure to enter your name every month for your chance to win. Congratulations to Sally Ober, last month’s winner of a $100 gift certificate to Red Wagon Plants in Hinesburg. This month we have another great prize. Enter to win a $100 gift certificate to Rocky Ridge Golf Club in St. George. The drawing will take place on May 20.
Click here to enter for your chance to win.
Google Mail Tip - How To Setup A Vacation Responder
Going on vacation? No access to the Internet? No problem! Use GMA's Google Webmail vacation responder to let people know you won't be able to get back to them right away. You can set up a vacation response in your webmail settings that will automatically reply to anyone who emails you. While the vacation responder is enabled, it will send a response to anyone who contacts you.* If that person contacts you again after four days and your vacation responder is still enabled, webmail will send another vacation response to remind the person that you're away from your email. Here's how to set up a vacation response:
- Log into your GMA webmail account at http://webmail.gmavt.net
- Click the gear icon in the upper right, then select Settings.
- From the General tab, select Vacation responder on in the Vacation responder: section.
- Enter the subject and body of your message in the Subject: and Message: fields.
- Check the box next to Only send a response to people in my Contacts if you don't want everyone who emails you to know that you're away from your mail. If you use Google Apps, you'll also see an option to only send a response to people your domain. If you check both of these boxes, only people who are in your contacts and your domain will receive the automatic response.
- Click Save Changes.
While the vacation responder is enabled, you'll see a banner across the top of any Gmail page, displaying the subject of your vacation response. To stop Gmail from automatically sending the response, click End now within the banner. Or, if you'd like to edit the response, click Vacation Settings. Your vacation response will start over each time you edit it -- if someone receives your initial vacation response, and then emails you again after you've edited the subject or body of the message, he or she will receive the edited response, too. * Messages classified as spam and messages addressed to a mailing list you subscribe to will not receive a vacation response.
WCVT in the Community
Being a local business means that our customers are also our neighbors and friends. At Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom, we feel strongly that community involvement is not just a nice thing to do; it is the right thing to do. If you have a community service project in the making and are looking for help contact Alan Jones, at 496-8328 or via e-mail ajones@wcvt.com to see if we can lend a hand. Here are some highlights of recent and upcoming activities:
Come See us at the Vermont Business Expo
 The Vermont Business Expo is scheduled for May 22 & 23, at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center in Burlington, Vermont. EXPO is northern New England's largest business-to-business trade show attracting over 3,000 business leaders and hosting nearly 200 exhibitors. As in previous years, EXPO promises the same great networking events and a fantastic line up of seminars, meal events and award presentations. In addition, Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom will be sponsoring the free networking reception on Wednesday, May 22, at 5 p.m. where you can mingle, meet and relax with your colleagues. Entrance into the tradeshow and reception is free as long as you pre-register on or before May 17. Register online at www.vtexpo.com.
And The Winner Of One Free Month Of High-Speed Internet Service Is...
Congratulations Jasmine Dykstra for being this month’s winner of one-free month of high-speed Internet service. Jasmine'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
Dog Drinking Water...Very Slowly
click here for video
This footage from "Secret Life of Dogs" shows an Alsatian (or German Shepherd) dog drinking water in ultra slow motion. At times, its tongue looks more like a sea creature. Who knew that such an ordinary activity could look so extraordinary?
Food For Thought On 2,000 Calories
click here for video
The average adult needs to consume about 2,000 calories daily to maintain his or her weight. But what does 2,000 actually look like? This video takes popular foods -- including bagels, eggs, Big Macs, and pizza -- and shows how much of each totals 2,000 calories. |
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Scam Alert - Fake Antivirus Phone Scam Is Stealing Money And Identities
Many online scams start with an email but you also need to be cautious when the phone rings. There have been an increased number of reports recently of phone scammers claiming to be from Microsoft, or an antivirus company, or some random tech support facility. These callers will claim their systems have detected viruses and/or malware on your computer and they can help you with a lifetime of guaranteed support for just a one-time payment of $100 or so. The process typically goes like this:
- The scammers first want you to download a remote access service and grant them access to your PC.
- Next the scammers want you to buy and install antivirus software that's usually counterfeit or just a trial version that leaves you with non-functioning, useless protection. They may also recommend the latest Windows operating system, which is also likely to be counterfeit.
- Because the scammers were given unfettered access to your PC through the remote access service, they may install a backdoor Trojan -- a malicious application that enables them to steal your passwords, use your system and Internet connection to send spam, and more.
If you receive a call from someone saying your PC has been compromised, just hang up the phone. Reputable companies will not make unsolicited calls about the health of your computer. Microsoft recommends these do's and don'ts to help prevent becoming a victim:
DO:
- Be suspicious of unsolicited calls related to a security problem, even if the caller claims to represent a respected company.
- Use up-to-date versions of operating system and application software.
- Make sure security updates are installed regularly.
- Use strong passwords and change them regularly.
- Make sure your firewall is turned on and that antivirus software is installed and up to date.
DON'T:
- Provide personal information, such as credit card or bank details, to an unsolicited caller.
- Go to a website, type anything into a computer, install software, or follow any other instruction from someone who calls out of the blue.
Short Tutorial - How To Add Smileys To Your Facebook Comments
Want to go a step beyond text-only emoticons such as :-) when you comment on a friend's Facebook post? As long as you know the "code," you can insert a cute and colorful smiley instead. Simply type in the right characters, provided in the chart below, and they will change to the corresponding smiley when you post a comment. You'll note there are sometimes several different shortcuts listed for the same smiley; just take your pick.
SEE SMILEYS HERE... |
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Hinesburg Community Yard Sale Day – Saturday, May 11 – Hinesburg
The Hinesburg Business & Professional Association (HBPA) is sponsoring the 16th Hinesburg Community Yard Sale on Saturday, May 11, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The community sale site will again be at the Hinesburg Fire Hall. For further information on renting sale space, attending the sale or having your location included on the map, contact HBPA President Tom Mathews at 802-496-8537 or email tmathews@gmavt.net.
Big Truck Day and Children's Festival at Hinesburg Nursery School - Saturday, May 18
Come out and see what it like to be in the big trucks. This special day allows children of all ages to see, touch and explore dozens of their favorite big truck and vehicles. Climb on, peer through and explore fire trucks, dump trucks, school buses, cement mixers, tractors and much more! Parents will have just as much fun as the kids. After the kids are done investigating the big trucks, they will enjoy hands-on-crafts, face painting, bouncy house, story time, BBQ, bake sale, play zone, children's sing-a-long with local musician and HNS parent John Daly, special appearances by Monty the Moose from Vermont Children's Hospital at FAHC, Clifford the Big Red Dog and so much more! Bring your camera, your appetite and your friends to this wonderful family-friendly community event. Proceeds from the event benefit the Hinesburg Nursery School. The event runs from 9:45am - 2:00pm. For more information, visit www.hinesburgnurseryschool.com.
Mad River Valley Farmers Market – Begins May 18 – Waitsfield
It's that time of year again! You can find fresh produce, flowers, seedlings, honey, wool, eggs, meat, cheese and other farm products. In addition you can find crafts made in Vermont, baked goods, and prepared food. Every Saturday they have live entertainment. Hours are 9:00am - 1:00pm on the Mad River Green in Waitsfield. For more information, visit www.waitsfieldfarmersmarket.com.
Woofstock 2013 - Festival of Fidos - Saturday, May 18 - Basin Harbor Club
The Homeward Bound Animal Welfare Center has partnered with Basin Harbor Club and will holding their largest annual fundraiser, Woofstock 2013—Festival of Fidos on Saturday, May 18th from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at Basin Harbor Club in Vergennes. The event will begin with a 3K Walk and 5K Run and will be followed by various dog demonstrations (Dock Dogs, Disc Dogs, K-9 protection, agility training), a doggie costume contest, dog sled scooter rides, children’s activities, Lake Champlain boat rides, a silent auction, artists and other vendors, great food and live music. This will be a full day of family and dog friendly activities…what a great place to spend the day with your dog and help support the animals awaiting their forever homes! For more information, visit www.basinharbor.com or call 802-475-2311.
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Browse Through Billionaires' Backgrounds
http://bloomberg.com/billionaires
This fascinating interactive site gives you a look at the world's richest people including Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, and several members of the Walton family (of Wal-Mart fame). Get net worth summaries, find out about their prized possessions, and see how the rankings change over time.
Take A Virtual Tour Of The Smithsonian
http://mnh.si.edu/panoramas
The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History showcases amazing collections that give visitors a look at ancient life forms, rare gems, and a variety of other natural science specimens and artifacts. If you can't make it to Washington, D.C., take a virtual tour and roam around at your leisure.
Learn The Latest Sunscreen Guidelines
http://www.skincancer.org/prevention/sun-protection/sunscreen
While skin protection is an all-year issue, it becomes particularly critical during summer months when more skin is exposed. Before you shop for your next bottle of sunscreen, check out this site. It defines the acronyms (UVA, UVB, and SPF) and gives the new rules for sunscreen labels.
Don't Settle For Ho-Hum Hamburgers
http://allrecipes.com/recipes/meat-and-poultry/beef/hamburgers
May is National Hamburger Month so it's time to fire up the grill and
celebrate. If you're hungry for some new ideas, look through this site's
hamburger recipes that range from basic to gourmet. Be sure to watch the
video on how to make a perfectly cooked hamburger. |
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