Welcome to the

Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts

Promoting Linux and Open Source Software Freedom in Atlanta Since 1994
Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts (ALE) is a diverse group of friendly people who enjoy the freedoms and benefits of GNU Linux Computing and Free Liberating Open Source Software technologies. From novices to network administrators, from smart phones to data centers, we strive to empower every information technology user with freely distributable software and to improve every computing environment with the superior security, functionality and flexibility of Open Source Operating System solutions. -- more about ALE --
For information about upcoming weekly and monthly meetings, please check the ALE Meetup Group Calendar. We do not, and never will, require anyone to sign up with Meetup (or any other service) to attend any of our meetings; we only use it as an additional platform to connect with others in the local Atlanta area who are also interested in Linux.

ALE CENTRAL SOLSTICE CELEBRATION & PECHA KUCHA CONTEST — Thurs., Dec. 17, 2009!

Filed at 5:14 pm November 26, 2009 under by Ruscetta

Our Featured Fun for the 7:30pm ALE CENTRAL MTG.
on Thursday, December 17, 2009, at the (usual) Emory
School of Law, Gambrel Hall, room 1C venue is

The Second Annual ALE Solstice Celebration
& GNU Pecha Kucha Contest

An ALE Solstice Celebration:
— This year’s December ALE Central Meeting will be an Open Social
event with ample time for chat and cheers with fellow Linux
enthusiasts. All Bad Puns, Geek Toys, Robots, Friends and Family
are welcome, with a special encouragement to invite anyone who
may be interested in learning more about Linux and GPL Open
Source Software in a casual setting. Opportunities for informal
Geek Gadget show and tell talks are also part of the plans.
— Provided refreshments may be limited, so guest contributions
of snacks and beverages will be welcome. Coolers, Ice and Cups
be on hand, with the possibility of an abundance of SWAG.

Plus a GNU OSS Pecha Kucha Contest:
— As topical entertainment for the evening everyone is encouraged
to participate in our Geek version of a Karaoke contest and provide
a (modified) Pecha Kucha style presentation on a Linux or Open
Source related topic (with the understanding that the relationship
to Open Source is Open to personal interpretation).
– In the ALE adaptation of the Pecha Kucha model, presenters are
allotted 10 minutes at the microphone and up to 20 computer slides
or mixed media elements in order to fully enlighten the audience
with absolutely all the salient information there is to know about their
Open Source related topic. After all the Pecha Kucha presenters
are done, the audience will select the winning presentation of the
evening and an appropriate prize will be awarded.
— Anyone planning to participate in the Pecha Kucha contest is
asked to please inform the Event Planner of this via email to
arxaaron @gmail.com. They should also see AV Support**
notes below.

=============
We will be meeting at Emory Law School in our usual
Gambrel Hall, room 1C venue. Meeting time frame is
7:30pm to ~9:30pm Directions to Emory Law School
can be found [here]
— Festivities may continue post meeting with a
Solstice drum circle, a warming fire, and similarly
interesting activities at the nearby Railroad Earth
Studios facilities.

=====
** AV Support:
A VGA RGB data projector, an amplified microphone and a sound system
connection (1/8″ mini stereo) will be provided for Pecha Kucha presenters.
A Linux laptop (single screen) with Ubuntu 9.04 installed and a Mac G4
iBook (with DVD player and support for most media file formats) will also
be available. Computer Slides should be compatibly formatted in OOo
Impress presentation format or as a series of jpg, png or pdf files. There
is also a document camera for displaying hard copy items or smallish
physical objects like Geek Gadgets.
=====

All offers to provide refreshments, amusements, SWAG or more
significant Pecha Kucha Contest Prizes are welcome. Please contact
us via email to arxaaron@gmail.com

ALE Ubuntu Linux Install Fest, Saturday, 2009.11.21

Filed at 2:41 am November 20, 2009 under by Ruscetta


On SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, from 9am to 5pm,
we hope you will join us for:

The Fall, 2009 ALE & Ubuntu Linux Install Fest
featuring Ubuntu release 9.10

The event is hosted this year by ITT Technical College
at their SW Atlanta Campus:

Two Crown Center
1745 Phoenix Boulevard
Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30349

(Note to please use the North end building entrance
and follow signs to Lab 1.)

This will be a great chance for the pros of the ALE and
Ubuntu user communities to mentor Linux students and
see the facilities of our ALE partners at ITT Technical
College. There will be opportunities to install the latest
Linux releases and get some face time help with your
Open Source technical challenges. Plenty of Ubuntu
disks will be on hand, plus install disks for many other
popular Linux distros like OpenSUSE and Fedora,
not to mention swag and raffle gifts. As always, plenty
of good Open Socializing and dutch treat pizza lunch
will be available, too!

We invite everyone to promote this event where ever
possible and appropriate! A printable PDF poster for
the event is available here.

NOVEMBER ALE EVENTS for 11/19 & 11/21

Filed at 4:54 pm November 10, 2009 under by Ruscetta

11/19 Central Meeting & Key Signing Party
11/21 ALE Ubuntu Linux Install Fest

The focus for our ALE CENTRAL MEETING
for 7:30pm on THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19th will be:

Protecting Your Identity and Privacy
with GPG PGP encryption:
An Overview and Key Signing Party

with an intro presentation by Charles Shapiro
and Key Party host Jeremy Bouse working in
consultation with ALE’s resident (and recuperating)
Guru of Cryptography, Michael Warfield.

The meeting will begin with a brief overview talk on PGP / GPG
starting at 7:30 pm, to be followed by a Key Signing Party
starting PROMPTLY at 8:00pm.

Synopsis:
— As in introduction to the Key Signing Party we’ll look at some
of the mechanics of using GPG and show why this tool is such a
valuable resource for enhancing the security of your data, as well
as protecting both your identity and your civil liberties in a world
that is increasingly driven by computers and information technology.
Note that participation in the Key Signing party requires
registration of your GPG Key Info in advance of the meeting.
Details about generating, storing, signing, registering and using
GPG keys are provided here. These step by step “HowTo”
instructions should make it easy for you to create a personal
GPG Public Key and participate in the ALE Key Signing party
by sending your Key Info to alekeyparty@wittsend.com.

The meeting will be at Emory Law School in our usual
Gambrel Hall, room 1C venue. The meeting time frame
is 7:30pm to ~9:30pm, and Directions can be found here
=============
AND THEN…
On SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, from 9am to 5pm,
we hope you will join us for:

The Fall, 2009 ALE & Ubuntu Linux Install Fest
featuring Ubuntu release 9.10

The event is hosted this year by ITT Technical College
at their SW Atlanta Campus:

Two Crown Center
1745 Phoenix Boulevard
Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30349

(Note to please use the North end building entrance
and follow signs to Lab 1.)

This will be a great chance for the pros of the ALE and
Ubuntu user communities to mentor Linux students and
see the facilities of our ALE partners at ITT Technical
College. There will be opportunities to install the latest
Linux releases and get some face time help with your
Open Source technical challenges. Plenty of Ubuntu
disks will be on hand, plus install disks for many other
popular Linux distros, not to mention swag and raffle
gifts. As always, plenty of good Open Socializing and
dutch treat pizza lunch will be available, too!

We invite everyone to promote this event where ever
possible and appropriate! A printable PDF poster for
the event is available here.