HAPPY BIRTHDAY...US

[Jeber]

As you may or may not realize, Scot Finnie's Newsletter Forums was/were opened for business on March 18th of last year. Today, we celebrate our first birthday as an online community.And I say community with pride. This group of people, who began this place as a meeting and discussion site for readers of the online newsletter sent out by Scot, turned it quickly into a neighborhood, though a neighborhood of geeks, it's true. That's my metaphor for this place. The hood. I often expect to see some of you out watering your lawns as I pass by. This is the local coffeeshop, or cafe. There are those here to whom I have spoken, at least for a few moments, nearly daily for a year. I don't do that with most of my family.I have no doubt that LilBambi will be along shortly with the historical slideshow, with appropriate Google links to cached material. Since I rarely remember one day to the next, I'm pleased to leave that topic to someone who can.As you might expect, we need to set a couple of limitations. Please don't post more than once, at least until after midnight on the 18th, at the end of the day. In conjunction with that, please do not reply to posts. And please...this isn't meant to be a popularity contest, so no "favorite admin/mod/highlander/cleaning crew person" type contests.So what do we want you to post? What do you want to post? What have you learned during your time here? What's your favorite forum/topic/thread? Do you have a comment...complaint...change of mailing address for the newsletter? Let us know. Share with us. Just...let it all hang out. Dude.Thank you, Scot. Thank you administrators. Thank you fellow moderators. And thank you, fellow Highlanders all...who have added a new, intersting, educational. heart warming, and fun aspect to my life.To year two...

[Bruno]

. . . . . .HIP . . HIP . . . HIP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HURRAAAAAAAAAY !! . . . . . . Bruno

[teacher]

I have learned so much on the forum. I think I am now more aware of security issues as new threats arise, more comfortable in what I know about hardware and software, and I now know what is Linux. On top of knowing what is Linux, I think I learned a thing or two about it. Even more important than that is the friendships I have made with the folks here on the forum. Many of these have developed into very real friendships. Thanks to Scot and all the folks on the forum that have made this the very best place to be on the Internet! Julia

[quint]

...to all, for your continued help and guidance, on a most wondrous journey...

[ross549]

Yep, this is the first BB where I have really felt the sense of community. I have also had the pleasure of making some new friends too.

[Guest LilBambi]

Happy Birthday Scot Finnie's Newsletter (SFNL) Forums! :thumbsup:It is amazing how the Forums have grown over this past year!For the first couple weeks after it's Official debut on March 18th 2003, there were Topics only... no specific Forums for specific areas of interest. In about two weeks time, it became apparent that specific areas, or Forums, were definitely needed and the following (these are the current names, some names and descriptions have changed over time) Forums were added and applicable Topics were moved into these Forums:Q&A: Answers to Tough QuestionsWindows and MicrosoftAll Things Linux (ATL)Security and NetworkingForum Feedback and SuggestionsThe Water CoolerForum Test AreaLater in 2003, Application Software was added and the FireFox (aka Firebird), Thunderbird and Mozilla Sub Forum was formed and Topics were again moved that were applicable. Soon after, the Hardware Forum was added.Earlier this year, a new 'under glass' area called SFNL Forum Announcements was added to keep Highlanders and newcomers informed of anything new and to announce important information. Later, after some discussion by fellow Highlanders and the Admin/Moderation Teams, All Things Mac (ATM) and Programming & Web Dev were added as the latest Forum additions. We now have a full page of various types of Forums on the main page of SFNL Forums!That is quite a different look from when the SFNL Forums first started with simply Topics on the main page!Through fellow Highlanders' experiences and knowledge, we have all learned more about Securing our computers, protecting ourselves better from viruses, worms, trojans and keyloggers, and of course from spyware/malware, etc. We have learned through the experiences of fellow Highlanders about some wonderful applications and some awesome hardware. Highlanders have also pooled their knowledge and experience to help fellow Highlanders overcome problems with various versions of Windows, applications, networking quandaries, and so much more. We are very fortunate to have so many very talented and knowledgeable Highlanders in our midst. I stand in awe of the time and effort put forth by our fellow Highlanders to help one of us with a problem.And when we all need some R&R or some comic relief, there is always the ever popular Water Cooler where we can kick back and enjoy ourselves.We have also seen many Highlanders who may have been a little hesitant, actually trying out other operating systems as well! ATL has fast become one, if not the premier "Linux Explorer" (a much more suitable term than Linux Newbie and far more descriptive anyway), friendly Linux help area on the Internet and that is no easy task. Bruno, with great support from his fellow Mods in ATL, Teacher and Peachy, and with help from some fellow Highlanders as well, have done an outstanding job of helping Highlanders get started in exploring various distributions of Linux. Bruno has also put together a wonderful set of Indexed Tips for Linux Explorers and has just posted his 150th Tip yesterday.To grow and expand our knowledge, experience and understanding in all areas of computing is a truly great thing.But the chronology of the growth and diversity of the SFNL Forums is not the only story. The growth of the SFNL Forums as a real online community is truly amazing.Real friendships have been forged over this past year through the SFNL Forums, and these friendships have at times actually spilled over into real life.This past August when Hurricane Isabel made landfall in NC, folks from all across this country and around the world were keeping in close contact through the Forums with fellow Highlanders who were in the damage path of this hurricane. Lending moral support, links about the hurricane's path and news, how many were experiencing power outages, providing pictures, as well as some much needed comic relief to those concerned about what was about to happen...and not knowing is often the most difficult part.Many people along the damage path were devastated by Hurricane Isabel.During the hurricane it became evident that something was very wrong here where we lived and where others lived as well. Yes, trees had been flattened by the winds, water was rising, electricity was out and many had no water, but there was more for us -- to our dismay, there were pieces of our roof flying around out there in the hurricane winds like so many pieces of paper, or leaves in a fall breeze! As it turned out, the largest section of our roof on the east facing side of our house, had been badly hit by Isabel! And there was water running down the outside wall in our living room and into huge buckets in the upstairs bedroom above the living room.Our fellow Highlanders, headed up by Teacher along with Scot, worked together to bring Highlander donated funds and Highlander people power together to help put our roof back to rights! We were amazed! Not only did Highlanders donate funds to help us (that were turned into the materials needed), but some Highlanders (Teacher came from the Outerbanks, NC, Sieb and her Husband/Boys came from a mountain valley area here in VA, Ross549 and a friend of his came from a Norfolk naval base) were actually able to come to help us physically put our roof back together. This was a scary and daunting proposition as our two story house is on a slope and some areas are quite high off the ground. It was wonderful to get to meet some of our fellow Highlanders and spend some time with them and everyone pulling together to make this happen.Our local newspaper actually mentioned this unusual happening - an online community crossing over and becoming a real life community.Other great friendships have been forged as well, even among those who we have not had the pleasure of actually meeting in real life.I am very happy to be a part of such a wonderful group of Highlanders. And I thank Scot for giving us all a way to get to know each other ... and in some cases actually get to meet some of the wonderful Highlanders here ... folks that we might never have met at all if it were not for Scot forming the SFNL Forums.Happy Birthday !!SFNL Forumsand to all of us, Highlanders!

[Rons]

Happy Birthday SFNL forums and many,many more.

[mike180]

YEPPERS!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY YAHOO

[Guest Paracelsus]

I must say, even though I was part of the very early testing of this Forum...Back when Scot was unsure as to whether he should even host a Forum. And then...Which BB format to use?? InfoPOP was the early leader... Especially among we who were already familiar with it. However, the more we used IPB, the more we grew to prefer its layout and options. I recall a certain Admin (who shall remain unspecified... Don't want to breach Etiquette) who was absolutely Horrified that Scot would even consider IPB over InfoPOP. Yet even this person came to vigorously embrace IPB I must say that...I have taken far more from these Forums than I have contributed to them. A few of the greatest changes that have occurred for me, thanks to the Knowledge, Advice, Wisdom & Experience of the Staff and fellow members are:

• I was weaned off AO L
• I unplugged my modem and went Broadband (Oh!, Rapture!!)
• I learned that a Firewall and AVS are not enough to keep the bad people out of your System
• My understanding of System Configurations and Component Integration has increased greatly

The sense of Camaraderie and Esprit de Corps that exists here is, in my experience, Unparalleled in Cyberspace This is the first place I come in the morning...And I'm always excited to see who posted what... What problems were solved (and how it was done), or new ones experienced...What new gem of a Tip, or cool piece of software and tools, I might find posted.I have come to know several of you better than many people with whom I work on a daily basis and feel a sense of friendship as warm as that I enjoy with those I've known far longer... and face-to-face To think... We owe all this to that impish little redheaded guy with the scraggly beard Way to Go!!, Scot

[GolfProRM]

Wow... a year already? This is crazy!! All I can say is that without this forum, I probably wouldn't even have heard of Firefox or Thunderbird (my two favorite programs). I'd probably still be an IE/Eudora user... It's been fun to work with all the Highlanders on these new products, and hopefully I've gotten a few of you hooked on 'gecko!' :)I can honestly say that I've never worked with a better group of people. This board has been nothing but positive from day 1, and it only keeps getting better!Even though I've never personally met any of you, I feel like I know you all very well and consider everyone here a friend of mine. All I have left to say is enjoy the new smilies!

[zox]

Wow!I am member of many online communities.I spend a lot of time in online world but since this forum came to life, special place have been reserved in my online schedule.It is not one of the, but certainly the best place and most friendly place I know.I just want to mention Adopters/adoptee program that we have in ATL as one of the very noble things that I really like and I have never seen anything similar on any of "other" online communities.Praises to Scot and mods for great job in making this place my online home.Good luck and I am looking forward for even better experience in year 2.Happy birthday to all of us!

[rolanaj]

This is the first place I go to look for answers to my computer questions, there is such a great bunch of people quick with answers or suggestions or even just words of encouragement. I follow all the topics and enjoy seeing others work out there problems and even sometimes when I'm lucky I get to offer help and give back.I really would like to thank Scot for creating such a great place on the web. Happy Birthday and may there be many more.

[greengeek]

Happy birthday. This is a great place to come to every day even if it is mostly to read lately.

[henderrob]

Happy birthday!!! This is the only forum I visit and participate in. Thanks to Scot Finnie for his newsletter and forums. Thanks to the moderators and everyone.

[Scot]

I'd just like to say Happy Birthday! to the forums too.I'd also like to thank all the moderators who put in so much time to make this place what it is (something special). We all know who they are. And they're the best.Ultimately the forums is about people helping people. That's how I measure its success after one year. And from what I can tell, it's a roaring success.What I like best is the number of real life friendships it has spawned. I never get tired of hearing about that.Everyone who comes here and contributes ... you are the essence of this truly real, vibrant, growing community. After three months, I remember hoping against hope that the fire we'd started would stay lit. At one year, I think we are able to warm our hands against it and pull up log and set a spell.Because it's not you, and you, and you anymore. It's "us."-- Scot

[Arena2045]

WOW. I can’t believe it’s been only a year! I remember working with Scot, and a number of early forum members on testing a number of different forum software… I also remember starting out with very little, but interest spread, we created a number of forums, and we continued to expand throughout the year!This fine community, which is made up of very knowledgeable people, is simply awe-inspiring!Happy Birthday!

[Guest Paracelsus]

WOW.  I can’t believe it’s been only a year!

I've no doubt that for many of you...So heavily involved with keeping this thing going on a day-to-day basis...It has probably seemed like an Eternity already! Keep up the great work!!

• Arena2045
• LilBambi
• Jeber
• Bruno
• Peachy
• ChrisP
• GolfProRM
• Teacher
• Quint
• NLineComputers
• Mike (Where ever You May Be)
• Ti(Just an Eerie Presence)tan (Whatever You May Be) and last, but certainly not Least...
• Scot

(Did I forget anyone?? )

[Raker]

The people on this forum have taught me so much,not only about computersThe friendliness and the way you conduct yourselves is absolutely outstanding,I for one are much richer for the experience.To each & everyone of you i sincerely wish you all the bestThank you all for allowing me to be part of your lives