Igneous Quill

Improve My Ruby #1

igneousquill@gmail.com (Adam Gonnerman) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:30:00 +0000

Although I've played around with both Bash and Python, I keep coming back to Ruby. This is partly because that's what the developers where I work use (I'm in QA and customer service and not a developer). In general, I find Ruby to be pretty user friendly and accessible for a n00b like me.

My basic guide is Chris Pine's "Learn to Program." A friend gave me the book, but a shorter version is also available online. In attempting to do the work suggested in the book I came up with the two items below.

The first is a simple program that asks first, middle and last names and then puts them together at the end. Check out how I did the spacing on the last line. That can't be the best way to do that, can it?

puts 'What\'s your first name?' firstname = gets.chomp puts firstname + '? Nice! So how about your middle name?' secondname = gets.chomp puts 'That\'s a good middle name. I guess you know what I want to know now! What\'s your last name?' lastname = gets.chomp puts 'Great! So your full name is ' + firstname + ' ' + secondname + ' ' + lastname + '.'

The second item here asks for first, second and last names, counts the letters and then tells you how many letters there are in your full name. This works, as does the other script above, but I can't help wondering if there isn't a better way to do this.

puts 'What\'s your first name?' firstname = gets.chomp puts 'What\'s your second name?' secondname = gets.chomp puts 'What\'s your last name?' lastname = gets.chomp fullname = firstname.length.to_i + secondname.length.to_i + lastname.length.to_i puts 'Your name has ' + fullname.to_s + ' letters!'

As you can see and as I have already said, I am a newbie when it comes both to programming and to Ruby. I'd appreciate any help, understanding where I am and accepting that. Also, if you are familiar with another programming language and would like to show how the two programs above would look in that language, feel free to do so in the comments as well.

Interview with World Convention President B.J. Mpofu

igneousquill@gmail.com (Adam Gonnerman) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:30:00 +0000

Craig Brown of the Australian Churches of Christ interviews World Convention President B.J. Mpofu at his home in Zimbabwe. They discuss mostly the relationship between the Australian and Zimbabwean churches but also matters of ministry and mission in partnership that will be of general interest.

Taken

igneousquill@gmail.com (Adam Gonnerman) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:30:00 +0000

Tracking Children Via GPS

igneousquill@gmail.com (Adam Gonnerman) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:30:00 +0000

In his novel "Hominids" Robert J. Sawyer describes a parallel earth where Neanderthals became the dominant species of hominids, and homo sapiens died out. The near-angelic Neanderthals of this imaginary world are eco-friendly atheists who sterilize rather than execute the criminally violent. They also have advanced surveillance implants embedded in all members of their society, providing a detailed audio-visual record of everything that goes on in their lives. This information is transmitted and securely stored at a central archive, accessible only by the individual whose life has been recorded, or via the equivelant of a court order. That may be okay for improbably intelligent Neanderthals living in a fictitious idyllic world, but here in the real world there's no way that information would be kept confidential or used only as promised. So, why am I in favor of GPS tracking for children?

Several options exist for parents to use the latest technology to keep tabs on their children. Just last month the Insignia "Little Buddy" GPS tracker went on sale through Best Buy. Some say this is awful, others love it. It's a pocket-sized device that children can carry and which parents can use to see where there kids are at all time. I think it's a nice idea, but doesn't go far enough. I think children need GPS implants.

Think about it. Put a "Little Buddy" in your 4-year-old's pocket and she may or may not lose it during the day. Your dear, sweet 6 year old might just decide that spashing down in a mud puddle seems like a great idea, soaking both his clothes and the $100 device in his pocket. Either way, you'd be out a lot of money. On the other hand, put a chip under your kid's skin and that thing isn't coming out easily without a doctor's assistance.

What I'm suggesting is a logical solution for parents to use with their underage children. Specifically, I think parents should have the chip removed by the time their kids become teenagers, although this is precisely the age when many parents become particularly concerned. I am not interested in government-mandated chipping of all people, nor even all children. This is something I'd like to see offered for sale and used or not, as parents make up their minds. At first it would be pricey, but I'm sure price could go down over time. Make the chip small enough to be unnoticeable and insert it under the skin. Parents could activate it remotely just from time to time to test, conserving energy.

This isn't technology that I think is unreasonable or even that far off in our future. In the event that a child disappears, parents would be thankful they had taken the step and authorities would have a means to swiftly retrieve the child. In an abduction, hours may matter. Why take the chance?

FOSS, FUD and Freeloaders

igneousquill@gmail.com (Adam Gonnerman) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:30:00 +0000

The open source community is, in my experience, a fairly friendly place for the most part. Seriously. Only rarely do I run into serious jerks in the FOSS crowd. When I do, though, the circumstances usually follow a pattern.

For a long time I walked in religious circles, thinking, talking and writing mostly about Christian theology. In particular I focused on the Stone-Campbell Movement. What I found time and again was that any time I expressed disappointment with the state of affairs among Churches of Christ, I was attacked. My status as a Christian was questioned more times that I can count (why do people always run to that so quickly?) and the last straws were being excluded from a forum because of who I linked to on my blog and separately being told by someone I should stop preaching because I was a hypocrite. Is it any wonder I'm no longer trying to deal with this crap?

The funny thing is that people are people, not matter the area of interest. Not long ago I wrote about what hinders GNU/Linux desktop adoption. One comment received on that post accused me of spreading FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt) and implied I was a "freeloader." Per my long-standing and recently-explained blog comment policy, that comment was deleted.

FUD is what curmudgeonly, anti-social geeks squeal any time any criticisms of FOSS or GNU/Linux are raised. Even if one is a Linux enthusiast, as I am, the accusation can be leveled. So, my friendly criticisms of GNU/Linux make me as much a FUD-spreader in some people's eyes as my disillusionment with Churches of Christ made me "unfaithful" in the view of others.

But wait! How am I a "freeloader"? This is another epithet spat by geeks who program in their underwear from their mother's basement. Usage varies, but typically it is applied to what I would call the "average user." You know, Joe and Jill Internet, the normal, non-geek person who just wants to browse the web, send e-mail, maybe do homework, sync music to an mp3 player and possibly edit and upload photos. Apple and Microsoft see these folks as customers. A small but occasionally vocal minority in the FOSS and GNU/Linux communities call such regular, rank-and-file folks "freeloaders" because they neither contribute to the code nor help with bug reporting or design, and because they ask questions expecting help, rather than being told to "read the manual".

There is nothing wrong with people downloading Ubuntu, for example, using it and providing feedback. That's contributing. There is also absolutely nothing wrong with a person doing everything I said except provide feedback. If someone is perfectly happy using Ubuntu or any other Linux distro and has nothing to say about it, great! If someone has questions and doesn't want to become a computer programmer to get the answer, real help should be provided.

To my critics in the Churches of Christ I say this: I am no hypocrite, but you are Pharisees. To those glassy-eyed geeks who call people like me FUD-spreading freeloaders, you are jackasses. See how easy and fun name-calling can be? Go out, get some sun and get a life.

Blog Comments Policy

igneousquill@gmail.com (Adam Gonnerman) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:30:00 +0000

Blog comments are just as much a part of the post as the post itself. Comments may agree, disagree or simply shed more light on what a blogger wrote about, and they can create a productive conversation. As such, I consider it well within my rights to take an editorial approach to comments on this blog.

Igneous Quill began as my attempt to sort out my thoughts after some unfortunate events took place in my life. Over time the blog has transformed into a place for me to opine about science, technology and life in general. During nearly 4 years of blogging I've only felt the need to delete a handful of comments. Most were spam ads, others were not. It's the "others" I think need to be explained today.

What I am looking for are like-minded people who share at least some of my interests. With over 6 billion people in the world, I don't believe I need to spend precious time and energy debating people who do not respect me and other people.

Any comment that I judge, by my own criteria, to be disrespectful to me or other people will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Debate is okay, disrespect is not.

Another cause for comment deletion is irrelevance. The aforementioned spam ads obviously fall into this category. Comments that have nothing to do with the post in question may be deleted as well. It's okay to pop in and say "hi" in a comment, but it is not acceptable to use a post about Linux to lecture me on the evils of Scientology (unless there's a very apparent connection between the two).

I sincerely hope that you find this blog worthwhile. If not, there's a big Internet out there. Keep looking and I'm sure you'll find a site you like...or you could go make one of your own. Why not?

Any questions?

Prosperity Gospel in the Developing World

igneousquill@gmail.com (Adam Gonnerman) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:30:00 +0000

The Prosperity Gospel - Clip from Nathan Clarke on Vimeo.

The video above is a clip from a brief documentary that is to come out shortly. It shows a prosperity gospel preacher in Africa. The prosperity gospel, the unholy spawn of certain covetous American preachers, has spread to the developing world. This really isn't news, but it makes me sad. Poor people's misplaced faith being exploited by greedy liars who promise them health and wealth in exchange for money should raise the ire of all thinking people. In Brazil this evil is institutionalized in such powerful neo-pentecostal denominations as the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG). When I was in Brazil I heard story after story of families ruined financially and marriages destroyed by the UCKG and others.

Before someone points out that the church I attend passes a collection plate, allow me to say that the money taken in is counted, the church informed about how much there is and how it is spent, and no one is currently on the payroll. We take up an offering to pay the legitimate bills of the congregation (electricity, water, etc) and to fund missions and day-to-day ministry. There is honesty and transparency in what we do, in contrast to what we see in prosperity preachers.

Vaccinate!

igneousquill@gmail.com (Adam Gonnerman) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:30:00 +0000

When I was a child laws went into effect in my home state, Missouri, requiring people to wear seat belts while driving. There was quite a bit of grumbling about the state invading people's rights. Now, I think most folks there see the potential benefits of wearing a seat belt as rather obvious. While I like that fact -- on ideological grounds -- that New Hampshire has no seat belt or helmet laws, the time I visited there I wore my seat belt without fail. As I see it, if someone else wants to risk disability or death by not wearing a seat belt, that's there business. Yes, even though I know that there are possible added costs to the public when uninsured people get into accidents and require medical care. This somewhat libertarian philosophy of mine does not extend, however, to vaccinations for children.

It was something of a shock for me to read recently that there is a significant, active anti-vaccination movement in the United States. This is the 21st century, right? Have people really forgotten the countless generations of humanity that knew the silent sorrow of childhood deaths due to disease? Apparently, yes.

Arguing without any real, scientific evidence that vaccinations actually cause problems, like autism, parents are turning away from vaccinating their children. Many states actually leave vaccination as optional. Isn't that their personal right, a decision to be made "in family" and that impacts only them? No.

Vaccinations don't always "take." I've been vaccinated against many diseases, but that doesn't mean that I actually have all those immunities. There could have been a vaccination failure, and I'll only know if I get sick. My kids are also current on all their vaccinations, and they go to school. What if one of their vaccinations failed, and someone who has never been vaccinated goes to school with that specific contagious illness? I do not want my children being maimed or killed by a disease simply because some other parent believed the pseudo-scientific rhetoric of some silly celebrities.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, or perhaps tend to agree with the anti-vaccination crowd, please get informed. A good place to start is the recent Wired magazine article that made me aware of this problem.

NPR Interview with Gary Vaynerchuk

igneousquill@gmail.com (Adam Gonnerman) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:30:00 +0000

Last week I enjoyed the NPR interview above with wine seller and now published writer Gary Vaynerchuk. He talks about using social media to pursue your passions and eventually profit from them. The interview made me somewhat curious about his book, "Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion."

If you liked the radio interview, check out the video below for more from Gary.

Halloween 2009

igneousquill@gmail.com (Adam Gonnerman) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 04:45:00 +0000

Banned Cartoons - Looney Tunes - Bugs Bunny - Transylvania 6-5000 @ Yahoo!7 Video

Happy Halloween from Igneous Quill!

Taking Pictures at the Olympics

igneousquill@gmail.com (Adam Gonnerman) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:30:00 +0000

In 2016 the Olympics will be held in Rio de Janeiro. Considering my connections to Brazil, I'd love to be able to be there. Six years should be enough to prepare, right? It's hard for me to think that my daughter will already be 18 and my son 13 that year. Ouch. One thing I'd better not do if we do make it to the games: Take pictures and then share them under a Creative Commons agreement.

Click here to read about the IOC's draconian anti-photo sharing policy.

Let's hope that the power-mad IOC comes to its senses soon.

A descoberta de um novo planeta

igneousquill@gmail.com (Adam Gonnerman) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:30:00 +0000

Já escrevi dando a minha opinião que o Brasil deveria se envolver mais na exploração espacial. Gostaria de apontar o fato que, na descoberta relatada no vídeo aqui, a agência espacial americana NASA não pegou estas informações através de astronautas que foram até estes planetas. Provavelmente foram utilizados satélites, observatórios e técnicas avançadas para enxergar e analisar estes planetas que existem fora do nosso sistema solar.

O Brasil pode também desenvolver métodos para participar nos trabalhos científicos internacionais, contribuindo para aumentar o conhecimento humano. O que falta são programas governamentais e projetos de ONGs para incentivar os jovens a procurar fazer uma carreira nas ciências.

Veja também:

Deixe o povo sonhar!

O Povoamento do Sistema Solar

GNU/Linux: Not Just DIY Computing

igneousquill@gmail.com (Adam Gonnerman) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:30:00 +0000

There was a time, not long ago, when GNU/Linux was only for hardcore geeks. Whatever distro one used (or made from scratch), a fair amount of programming knowledge was required. Linux was almost exclusively a "back end" server system. Of course it's still very popular for servers, but there are more and more desktop distros available that are ready "off the shelf."

When someone buys a computer with Windows pre-installed there isn't much to do. Just turn the computer on, adjust a few settings and that's it. If you have to do the installation yourself, that's somewhat more of a pain. In my experience it can take a couple of hours to install and then register Windows. By comparison, Ubuntu, a Linux distro, can be installed in minutes.

You won't hear much about Linux in general or Ubuntu in particular in computer stores. Though Windows and Mac fanboys would have you believe that's because Linux "isn't ready" for the popular market, I really don't think that's the case. I currently use Ubuntu 9.04 on my laptop, and Ubuntu 8.10 on my family's desktop computer. I receive regular security updates for both and there is a wealth of software applications available. I can do everything and more with Ubuntu that I could do with Windows XP.

How much does Ubuntu cost? $0. You can download the latest stable release, burn the image to a CD and either boot it as a live CD without installation or do a full install (dual boot is also an option), all at no cost other than the CD you used. If you try it out as a live CD you'll be able to get an idea of how it works without actually installing it on your computer. If downloading the operating system sounds too technical to you, don't worry. You can request a free CD of Ubuntu, and it will be sent to you via regular mail.

GNU/Linux isn't just for "do it yourself" computer users any more. Give Ubuntu a try and see what free, open source software can do.

Inacreditável: Mulher reclama para Microsoft sobre Windows pirata que ela instalou

igneousquill@gmail.com (Adam Gonnerman) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:30:00 +0000

Impressionante.

Ao invés de lidar com problemas de software pirata, meus amigos, instala Ubuntu. É um sistema operacional moderno, forte, seguro, estável e disponível de graça.

Esta mulher da gravação...ela pode ficar com a pirataria e se manter longe da comunidade de software livre!
___
H/T Plágios de Júnio Bocelli

Veja também:

Diga "não" ao Windows 7 (Igneous Quill)

Why I'm Going to Wait to Upgrade to Ubuntu 9.10

igneousquill@gmail.com (Adam Gonnerman) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:30:00 +0000

Ubuntu 9.10 will become available on October 29, just a couple of days from now. Ubuntu is my Linux distro of choice. I use Ubuntu 8.10 on the family computer and 9.04 on my laptop. However, I won't be upgrading either to Ubuntu 9.10 very soon. Why?

The family computer needs to remain consistent. My wife and kids could adapt to a mildly different look and feel (it isn't that big a leap from 8.10 to 9.10), but why bother? 8.10 is stable and works great for everything the family needs.

My laptop will eventually get the 9.10 upgrade. I'm not going for it now, though, because it needs time "in the field." There's been bug testing on beta editions, but now it's going to really be put through its paces in regular use by a larger number of users. So far as I'm concerned, let them find the bugs. A month or so later I'll be glad to upgrade.

One more reason why I'll hold off on upgrading is that I've got my laptop configured just the way I want it. Although an upgrade wouldn't necessarily lost my data (I'll back it up anyway, of course), I will lose settings and applications in the process. I'd rather not have to "redo" all that right away.

Now, if a new computer comes my way, or a friend wants to give GNU/Linux a try, I'll be sure to have a copy of both 9.04 and 9.10 on hand. It's great having a sturdy, reliable and up-to-date operating system.

CatComm and the Rio Olympics

igneousquill@gmail.com (Adam Gonnerman) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 10:30:00 +0000

A group I just heard about, Catalytic Communities (CatComm), is a finalist in an Ideablob contest. At stake is a chance to win $10,000 that CatComm could use to train community organizers in Rio de Janeiro in preparation for the 2016 Olympics to be held there.

In the process of building infrastructure in anticipation of the games, many slum communities (favelas) are at risk. Catcomm wants to help these communities organize with a view towards using the international attention and influx of money to benefit the favelas.

Regular readers of this blog know that Brazil is near and dear to my heart, and supporting this project's chance at $10,000 would cost you nothing. Just go to the project page on Ideablob, register and vote. It's that easy.

2016 Olympics in the “Cidade Maravilhosa”

igneousquill@gmail.com (Adam Gonnerman) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 10:30:00 +0000

Originally Published on Cristo Invicto.

You've probably already heard that the 2016 Olympics will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It could be you don't know much about Rio or even Brazil right now, but that's likely to change over the next few years. As someone who lived in Brazil, is married to a Brazilian-American and has Brazilian-born children, I couldn't help but be familiar with the city. I've been there a few times, both to take care of business at the American consulate and on vacation. I've been to the top of both Sugarloaf Mountain and the mount where the Christ statue stands twice. I've walked the beaches and wondered at the shanty towns clinging to the hillsides. I've contemplated the violence, crime and incredible beauty of Rio de Janeiro. Now the entire world will have a look. What will hosting the 2016 games mean for Rio de Janeiro, and indeed for Brazil?

In Brazil there's talk of a "parallel power" structure in Rio. There's the official, government power, but also the unofficial criminal "authority." If a gang member is killed and the criminal lords call for stores to close in mourning, they disobey at their own risk. Rio's a city where people are cut down by stray bullets, kidnapped and held for ransom (as in other Brazilian cities), held up in broad daylight on busy streets and generally mistreated. On the other hand, citizens of Rio are proud of their majestic, historic city and the happy, active people who inhabit it. Rio de Janeiro is complex, as terrible as it is wonderful.

Hold the 2016 Olympics in Rio means that all eyes will be on that city. Perhaps now, finally, the municipal, state and federal governments will take the serious steps necessary to stamp out corruption in the police force and bring down the drug lord. Maybe the slums will receive new infrastructure and the children better opportunities. Or, maybe not. It could be that the government will just tidy things up and sweep enough trouble under the rug to keep up a good appearance through the games. I don't know.

What I do know is that this is an opportunity for me to talk more about Brazil, drawing attention to the positives and negatives while attempting to find and help implement real solutions. The 2016 Olympics could be good for Rio de Janeiro in particular, and Brazil in general. I hope and pray that this will be the case.

FFmpeg and Video Conversion in Ubuntu

igneousquill@gmail.com (Adam Gonnerman) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:30:00 +0000

The other night my wife asked me to help her get a flash video for her and convert it to a usable format for a class presentation. I tried various different methods of converting the video, including FFmpeg, but to no avail. Then I discovered that my version of FFmpeg was actually limited. Apparently there are legal issues involved and the Ubuntu repositories offer a copy of the program lacking certain conversion abilities.

Click here for possible solutions. I didn't bother compiling my own copy. I just used sudo in the terminal to get the unstripped version.

Downloading YouTube Videos

igneousquill@gmail.com (Adam Gonnerman) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:30:00 +0000

If you want to download videos from YouTube, here are some options.

First, if you use Linux, just open the browser to the video you want, let it fully load (the red line needs to go all the way across, showing that the entire video is ready to play) and then go into the ~/tmp folder on your system. You should be able to see the video there as an .flv file (without the extension). Just drag and drop the file anywhere else on your computer, and you have it.

Second, if you need the file to be in a format other than .flv, there are some online options. In the past I have recommended vixy.net, but now I've found that GAZZUMP seems more reliable and offers more file formats on download. Try them both and see which suits you best.

How Facebook Succeeds as an Online Forum

igneousquill@gmail.com (Adam Gonnerman) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:30:00 +0000

There were e-mail addresses and bulletin board systems, and by the mid-1990's e-mail discussion lists were proliferating. Web forums came along too. Then, earlier in the present decade, MySpace and Facebook showed up. In my opinion, Facebook succeeds where other forums fail for two reasons: ease of use and focus on existing contacts.

First, consider MySpace. I really don't like it. I set up a profile a few years ago but gave up on it right away. I never use it. Why? It's packed with banner ads and I can't make it do what I want. Navigating the labyrinthine site is a nightmare. It took me several tries just to figure out how to change my profile pic.

Now, is Facebook really that easy to use? Yes and no. I think most people can start using Facebook right away after signing up. Of course, a lot of functionality won't be understood or used for a while. The same is true for anything new to a person. It takes a while to learn. The point is that once you figure out how something is done on Facebook, it generally makes sense and you can do it again. Also, Faceook has functionality that MySpace still (inexplicably) lacks, like the ability to import blog posts via RSS feed.

Second, look at Ning. It seems like a great idea, and apparently there are a lot of Ning sites out there. If you have an interest in something you can either find a Ning community for it or form one. Ning sites offer numerous means of communication, including blogs, private messages, a forum and chat. I have yet, though, to find a very large, very active Ning site. Why? Limited audience.

Ning sites appeal to niche groups with very specific interests. As such, they don't draw in a variety of people. The Intersection seems to be fairly active, but it focuses on a specific denomination -- the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) -- and so has more ability to draw in people with "real world" connections and more varied interests. I've had a Ning forum for a while now, but with such a limited focus I doubt it will be going anywhere soon.

What sets Facebook apart from Ning is that it allows people to bring all of their contacts together in one place. My mother is on Facebook, as are friends and relatives I rarely or never see. I have access to privacy settings and so can control what people see about me. If anything gives Facebook "staying power" it will be its foundation in real life relationships.

Love it or hate it, I think Facebook appeals to a broad base of people and has something no one else really offers right now. What do you think about it?

Don't Run Your Business Like the Krusty Krab

igneousquill@gmail.com (Adam Gonnerman) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:30:00 +0000

A Guest Post by Aaron Magruder.
Originally Published on Enabling Your Business Through Technology.

If you have ever watched Sponge Bob Square Pants, you know how inefficient the Krusty Krab runs. What if there was a way for Mr. Krab's to increase employee productivity, improve customer satisfaction and increase revenue?

First, Mr. Krab's is always running out of his office checking the kitchen and cash register. If he had a Cisco IP Video Surveillance system, he could manage up to 16 Cameras and see what is going on right from his color ip phone. Add the 2-way audio and he could tell Squidward to get back to work from his desk, while counting his money.

Second, the staff is constantly being side-tracked by singing and dancing (Sponge Bob) or falling asleep on the job (Squidward). Only if Mr. Krabs had a system to alerts his staff of daily task that needed to occur, rather than spending his time keeping them on track. With IPCelerate integrated into the Cisco Small Business Communications Systems, he could add daily task management with escalation alerts if they are not completed.

Finally, How does Mr. Krabs keep track of Sponge Bob and Squidward's time? With an integrated time clock in the Cisco UC500 Office in a Box, Time Clock is a free add-in. He would be assured that only the time worked is paid for and have a way to track breaks, lunch, export data into Quickbooks and have an at-a-glance view of hours worked.

Summary

We all know how cheap Mr. Krabs is. The Cisco Small Business Communications System (i.e UC500) is an all-in-one office in a box that includes your network, voice, video, wireless and security that won't break the bank.

NonStop Networks, LLC

Cisco Unified Communications Solutions

http://www.nonstopnetworks.net | http://forum.nonstopnetworks.net

What Hinders Popular Acceptance of the GNU/Linux Desktop

igneousquill@gmail.com (Adam Gonnerman) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:30:00 +0000

Last week Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols shared five ways he believes the Linux desktop "shoots itself in the foot." Although I'm not knowledgeable enough to comment on all his five points, as an Ubuntu user I feel comfortable discussing some of what he said.

First, he discussed the lack of advertising and marketing for Linux desktops. Sure, there isn't much in the way of advertising (though there was a radio ad in Austin recently), but how could there be? With so many distributions of Linux available, many of them community-driven rather than sponsored by a commercial corporation, money just doesn't isn't available to fund heavy marketing. In reality, it isn't just a question of advertising.

When an average person goes to buy a computer, they think in terms of Mac or PC. Rarely will the operating system really come up, unless it's a question of version. They expect to see OSX on Macs (if they even know the operating system's name) and some version of Windows on PCs. That's it. Linux doesn't even come into the picture. Most regular users simply see the software as part of the overall computer package they are buying. When they do buy a computer from a retail store that has Linux (and this is quite rare) they don't know what it is and often don't have the patience to work through the differences from Windows.

Apple and Microsoft are two well-established names with recognizable brands. Advertising and marketing would certainly help GNU/Linux, but where will the money come from, and who is going to take the time to help new Linux users figure out their new systems?

Second, Steven brings up "bad techie attitude" in his article. Supposing someone switches from Windows to Ubuntu, he or she is going to have a hurdle or two to overcome in gaining familiarity with GNU/Linux. It isn't that Linux is more difficult. Indeed, I truly believe that distros like Ubuntu and Linux Mint are ready for non-geeks. The challenge goes back to what I mentioned above with Windows-accustomed users trying to learn new (to them) paths in Linux to accomplish tasks they know well how to complete in Windows. The new Linux user will likely turn to the Internet for help and end up in a forum.

My experience with forums when I switched to Ubuntu was generally positive. I asked questions, making it clear I was a newbie, and I don't remember a single derisive comment. The only aggravation was that a couple of times I posted questions and was berated for either posting in the wrong place or for failing to look for the answer before asking. I hate being told to look harder, and I actually want to learn about technology. Imagine being an average user, just trying to take a screenshot or set up Empathy, and being told to "look before you ask."

I have to give the Ubuntu forums credit for making my first experience with Ubuntu positive. Questions posed were responded to swiftly and often by more than one person. Still, why drive away good people who just want to figure out how something works on their computer?

Third, Mr. Vaughan-Nichols says there's "too much infighting." I guess I've stayed out of most of that, although my post about not showing the command line to newbies upset some folks and exposed a division of thought and philosophy in the community. I've heard of spats between Debian and Ubuntu developers (although these groups overlap in places to some extent) and have heard more than one person at NYLUG meetings speak of Slackware as somehow superior to all other distros, but I have yet to see the real, serious "infighting." Maybe once I get deeper I'll see it, but right now I don't see how it's hindering the efforts to promote GNU/Linux.

The one attitude that I believe really can limit wider acceptance of Linux desktop distros is the one that insists that all people who want to use it must become deeply computer savvy. No, they don't. Photographers will want to learn how to work well with image manipulation software, recording studies with sound software, little old ladies with e-mail and browsing, etc. That's it. A regular, average computer user should not have to become a programmer or even open a command line in order to use their computer.

See Also:

Five ways the Linux desktop shoots itself in the foot (Computerworld)

No Linux Finger Pointing, Please (InformationWeek)

Please Don't Show the Command Line to the Uninitiated (Igneous Quill)

National Missionary Convention 2009

igneousquill@gmail.com (Adam Gonnerman) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 10:30:00 +0000

The National Missionary Convention will be held in Peoria, Illinois from November 18 to 22, 2009. This is the largest missions gathering of the independent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ.

Linux, Open Source and Action

igneousquill@gmail.com (Adam Gonnerman) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:30:00 +0000

Big Bear over on Polar Bears and Penguins says that Linux is for doing, not socializing. I agree!

Many see Linux as an end in itself. I've been guilty of slipping into this mindset, gleefully mocking the many failures of Windows and extolling the virtues of GNU/Linux.

Yes, I love using Ubuntu. No, I can't imagine going back to Windows, and I hope I'll never have to go that way again. Macs are okay, but give me Linux.

Still, there's a life to be lived. What I like most about Linux is that it is open source, made to do the job. If it doesn't suit, get in there and change it. The government in Brazil did just that, creating their own modified distro to launch in schools.

Linux, and open source software in general, is for doing. What do I want to do with it? I'm still trying to work it out, but I'm hoping it involves community development in Brazil.

What do you do, or want to do, with Linux and open source software?

Welcome Back Jaycee

igneousquill@gmail.com (Adam Gonnerman) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:30:00 +0000

It been nearly two months since Jaycee Dugard's whereabouts, and the conditions of her 18-year confinement, were uncovered. The story of what happened to her has been in the back of my mind this entire time. This is due both to me being the father of a girl about the age Jaycee was when she was kidnapped and to questions concerning theodicy and divine sovereignty that I've been mulling over. There really is no "good" angle that I can see in what happened to her. Any good she will find must be within herself, with the future and with her family, including the two daughters she bore while under the power of her kidnapper.

The photos above are from around the time she was taken, and from the cover of an issue of People magazine to be released this coming Friday. People close to her say she and the girls are doing very well, while therapists warn that a long road lies ahead for the family.

The future is before you and your life is your own, Jaycee. Welcome back!