'NetlineNews
 September 2003

 Welcome

Welcome all of our new Internet subscribers.   This newsletter is sent out the first of each month.  Scroll down for some tips and tricks along with links to some useful, informative, and entertaining websites.  We hope you enjoy this newsletter.  Your comments are always welcome.   netnews@meltel.net

 
If you prefer not to receive this newsletter each month, you may be taken off the mailing list any time.  See unsubscribe instructions at the bottom of this newsletter. 
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 Editors Comments

Bye-bye Summer and hello Fall!  I am not sure about anyone else, but for me I can not believe how FAST summer went! 
We at diversiCOM would like to give a BIG THANKS to everyone that attended our 75th Anniversary Picnics!  We had a good turnout and appreciate all the support you gave us!
 Viruses and worms have rapidly increased on the Internet, your local help desk has provided you with information that will help you protect your computer from potential viruses and worms! Also with school starting there will be an increase in children surfing the Internet, we have provided you with some guidelines to keep your children surfing the Internet safely! Plus, many more interesting and informative sites, including a "time capsule" site where you can look up the price of gas when you were born.  So sit back and enjoy the WEB!
Send me a tip or comment:  netnews@meltel.net
 This Month's Issue
<> Your Local Help Desk
<> Tech Tips & Tricks
<> Sites of the Month
<> Humor is Good Medicine
NetlineNews Archives		 <> Feature of the month
<> Internet Classes
<> This Month's Chronicles
<> Questions & Answers
<> Top Ten
 Your Local Help Desk

Protecting yourself from virus threats
With the recent increase in viruses and worms spreading throughout the internet, we would like to take the time to remind you of some things you can do to protect yourself from these potential threats to your computer and your data.

  1. Make sure you have anti-virus protection on your computer. This is the first step in making sure you are protected from harmful viruses. Along with having this on your computer you want to double check that your subscription to the anti-virus is up to date. Most anti-virus companies only make their products valid for one year. After this you need to upgrade or purchase a completely new anti-virus program.

  2. Having anti-virus software on your computer does not automatically protect you from new threats. You need to make sure you continually check for and download new virus definitions. New viruses are released daily, so it is imperative that you keep these definitions up to date.

  3. Be alert and careful when opening up emails. Do not open emails that you are suspicious of or if it is from someone you do not know. Also be careful opening emails with attachments. If it looks suspicious delete it!

  4. A few of the new viruses/worms are using vulnerabilities in the Microsoft family of OS. Microsoft usually is aware of these vulnerabilities beforehand, and will release patches to fix your OS. These can be downloaded using the Windows Update feature on your computer. Doing these updates will also help protect you from potential threats.

Help Desk hours are:
Monday - Friday: 8am to 9pm
Saturday: 10am to 2pm
256-8324     764-8324     597-8324
e-mail: support@meltel.net

 Tech Tips & Tricks
We realize that more and more students are expected to utilize the Internet for schoolwork. With that in mind we would like to share a few Internet safety guidelines and rules that you should talk to your children about, so they can surf the Internet safely.  
  • Do set up rules for being online and don’t break those rules without parent’s permission.
  • Don’t give out your home address; telephone number, school name or location, or parents work name, address or telephone number without your parent’s permission.
  • Don’t respond to a message that is mean or makes you feel uncomfortable.  Tell your parents about this type of message right away and don’t engage in conversation with this type of people
  • Don’t ever agree to meet an online acquaintance in person
  • Don’t use the Internet as a place to harass other students, this is a violation of your Acceptable Use policy and your Internet service can be terminated if harassing material is delivered.

Have fun surfing the Internet and remember to be SAFE! Here are some other links for Internet Safety:
http://www.safekids.com/
http://kids.getnetwise.org/
http://www.yahooligans.com/parents/

Arm yourself with the information needed to defend yourself from computer viruses.
 http://cnet.com/software/0-5067630-8-6319437-1.html
http://www.mcafeeb2b.com/avert/virus-alerts/default.asp
 http://www.f-secure.com/
 Sites of the Month

Please send me your top 5 websites: netnews@meltel.net

Ever wonder how Labor Day came about and what it means? This site will answer all your questions! www.dol.gov/opa/aboutdol/laborday.htm

Did you always want a "time capsule," of the year you were born, or the year you graduated?  Now you can, Enter the date and get a printable "time capsule" including a listing of the top news headlines, songs, toys and books, plus what the price of gas, milk, stamps, ect. were!
http://www.dmarie.com/timecap/

Sundays = GAME DAY!  View your favorite teams schedule and get the inside scoop!   http://www.nfl.com/

If you love to quilt you will enjoy this online Quilter's Magazine. Check the project archives and get free patterns with cutting and quilting directions.
http://www.thequiltermag.com/

Love to watch TV? You will enjoy this website that lists most of the television series (past and present) episodes with the date of airing and the stars of the series. http://www.epguides.com/grid/fall.shtml

Need a dictionary or thesaurus?  Get an online one!
http://www.webster.com

Being a parent is a tough job!  This website offers you great advice for pregnancy, infants, toddlers, & children!
http://www.parenting.com

We could use your HELP!  Send us a list of topics you are interested in!
netnews@meltel.com 
 
Humor is Good Medicine

Dear GOD, Did you mean for the giraffe to look like that or was it an
accident? -Norma

Dear GOD, Instead of letting people die and having to make new ones,
why don't You just keep the ones You have now? -Jane

Dear GOD, Thank you for the baby brother, but what I prayed for was a
puppy. -Joyce

Dear GOD, Why is Sunday school on Sunday?
I thought it was supposed to be our day of rest.-Tom L.

Dear GOD, Maybe Cain and Abel would not kill each other so much if they had their own rooms. It works with my brother. -Larry

Dear GOD, If You watch me in church Sunday, I'll show You my new shoes.-Mickey D
Feature of the Month

GET Your Own 800#

as low as
$.08 a minute!

Toll Free Service is great for:
  • Small Businesses
• College Students
• Long Distance Relatives
   

Call us for more details!
256-7471            548-3200
597-3333            764-7600
Free Internet Classes

Beginner Internet Classes
Melrose High School Library
Sept. 30.....7:00pm to 9:30pm

Beginner Internet Classes
Eden Valley High School-Rm 127
Sept. 9.....7:00pm to 9:30pm

Beginner Internet Classes
Kimball High School
Media Center
Sept. 29.....7:00pm to 9:30pm

Call to register and for more info:
Melrose Telephone Company
256-7471        548-3200
597-3333        764-7600


Internet Beginner I Class
Sauk Centre High School Library
Sept. 17.....7:00pm to 9:00pm

Call to register and for more info:
 351.1460
This Month's Chronicles

Flower: Aster
 Birthstone: Sapphire
Sept. 1........ Labor Day
Sept. 2........ School Starts
Sept. 7........ Grandparents Day
Sept. 23...... Autumn Begins

This Day in History
 www.scopesys.com/anyday

Horoscope 
 Virgo..............Aug. 23 - Sept. 22
Libra..............Sept. 23 - Oct. 22

Questions & Answers

How do I scan attachments for viruses before I open them?  Or does the anti-virus software automatically do it?  I have Norton AntiVirus.

A: If Norton AntiVirus is configured properly it should automatically scan for viruses. Double check to make sure the Auto-Protect feature is enabled. Also remember to keep your virus definitions up to date.

Another option might be to scan  a file or folder for viruses individually. You can save an e-mail attachment to your computer and scan it or you can save attachments into a "download" folder and scan the whole folder at once. This is also a way to scan files you download off the internet.

Send us your questions and we will do our best to answer them!
netnews@meltel.com


 
Top Ten Favorite Elementary School Excuse Notes

10. "Jerry was at his grandmother's yesterday and she did not bring him to school because Jerry couldn't remember where the school was."

9. "Ronnie would not finish his work last night. He said his brain was too tired of spelling."

8. "Eric hurt his knee in a karate tournament over the weekend. He won his age group, but was in too much pain to do his math assignment."

7. "Amy did not do her homework last night because we went out to a party and did not get home until late. If she is tired, please let her sleep during recess time."

6. "Henry stayed home because he had a stomachache from eating too much frosting."

5. "It was my fault Mike did not do his math homework last night. His pencil broke and we do not have a pencil sharpener at home."

4. "Scott didn't practice last night because he lost his tooth in the mouthpiece of his trumpet."

3. "Diane was late on Wednesday. She fell asleep on the bus and was taken back to the bus yard."

2. "Cody was absent yesterday because we were at disco bowling until 2am."

1. "Tommy wasn't in school yesterday because he thought it was Saturday."
-Top ten list from David Letterman
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 Disclaimer
We do not have financial interest in, or endorse, any of the sites, or products offered by the sites, listed in this customer newsletter.  No opinions expressed on these sites should be considered to be the opinion of diversiCOM Melrose Telephone Company or it's employees. This is a free service of diversiCOM Melrose Telephone Company to enhance your Internet
surfing experience. It is our policy to not share your e-mail address with any third party for any reason.