JEDIJF

Monday, May 28, 2007

Running Out of Time

Time flies when you are having fun. It seems to fly faster and faster as I get older and older.

No more posting fliers this week. Now, it's time to concentrate on the actual event. I think today, Memorial day, I will burn 5 Xubuntu 7.04 PPC alternate install cd's for the installfest in case we need them for the Girls Inc. Macs.

Busy week ahead. Tuesday afternoon follow up doctor 's appointment. The finger that was infected at the PACS presentation had to be taken care of by a hand specialist. No biggee, it was only one finger. It made typing this week interesting; especially in the yoda van.

Friday I have to take my wife to Montco Community College to take a test for her online course. She doesn't like to drive. Then Friday night, I have tickets to the Phillies game. Tickets are too good to pass up, and come with a free parking pass.

That only leaves Wednesday and Thursday for preparation for the Installfest. I would like to get to NTR to do some preliminary setup. Also, have to get all the gear together that we may need for the event.

Starting to get behind in my online course.Offensive Security 101 by the Backtrack crew. I have to get to work.

In true manic fashion, started thinking about / promoting another event, before even completing the installfest June 2nd. Software Freedom Day, Saturday, September 15th. That is the kickoff weekend for the new PACS season, and the timing couldn't be better. Ubuntu and the Opencd people are sponsors and providing cd's for the event. I will see tonight on our (PACSLINUX) weekly irc chat; every Monday night on freenode in room #pacslinux starting at 8pm, if the group is as interested in an event as I am.

Thanks to all veterans who served, or are serving this country. Thank you every day, and especially today for protecting our Freedoms and our way of life.

Saturday, May 19, 2007

PACS meeting SUCCESS

Wow! What a fabulous event. I was nervous and excited Friday night as I burnt more cd's. Do we need more ppc, are we going to have enough 7.04 386 live cd's; my mind was racing. The crowd is older, would they be open enough to even consider a different os? Is the G3 going to work as well out in public as it did in my living room. Have to get some sleep, the security sig (my favorite) starts at 8:00 am. HAVE to leave the house early enough to stop at WAWA for caffeine and nicotine. Woke up at 4:00 am, too early, get more sleep. Up again at 6:00; OK lets go. Oh no, the burn on my finger is getting worse; it may be infected; too bad, this is the event of a lifetime. Triple antibiotic cream, gauze, tape it up and start to load the Yoda Van. WAWA, caffeine; thank God (Yoda). Ok fire up Xchat, nobody is talking, maybe they're still sleeping. Pleia2 - writes - YEAH someone is awake. Lamalex awakes, yes the team is coming together. I arrive at PACS. It is 7:50 am, finish coffee, have a cigarette, grab some fliers, tape and scissors, let's go.
Nobody's here. Ok 4 people. WTF. Ok take this opportunity to get some fliers out. Finish with the security sig at 10:00 am. The security sig was very good today, good job Ben. Back to the van to get the G3.
Start the setup in the cafe. The G3 won't boot. WTF^2. Ok relax - set up the ubu iBook and the Toshiba with the faux Satanic Ubu. Reboot the G3, nothing. Check all connections, everything's plugged in; what gives. Reboot while screwing in monitor cable - ahh - the monitor tube - crackles on - G3 boots as it had the previous 2 times except this time the monitor was connected properly. DUH!.
People are around the table and interested! Start the sales pitch. Adrenaline, caffeine, nicotine, and an audience - ecstasy. Joe Terranova arrives with his girlfriend, loaded with pamphlets, cd's, tee-shirts (temporarily) and an Ubuntu BANNER. Sets up on another table. Lamalex arrives, followed closely by Lyz.
I've only met Alex once before and had never met Lyz, but through the Loco interaction it was as if I had known them for awhile. Virtual community is community.
I am very high voltage. I believe Kevin once identified it as spazzy. I am a salesman. I love human interaction, and to connect to people and grab their attention. I am very passionate about all of my endeavours. It's 5 of 12, almost time for the presentation. Kevin arrives; like a ninja, behind us calmly eating lunch. Kevin gets to play with the g3 during the presentation; I think he likes it.
Alex and Lyz setup a table right outside the presentation auditorium and wait to grab people as they leave the auditorium. The presentation's over and the crowd flows right to Alex and Lyz's table and start to DEVOUR the cd's -pamphlets- ubuntu women fliers (mostly men today, who knows). The demo table is next stop, where Kevin, Ben, Randy (pacs member),Rich (Pacs Linux Leader) and Norm (pacs member) help to show off the ubuntu family of products and register people for the installfest. WOW, what an EVENT!
I was talking to Chris, pacs board member, and long time pacs member, and he said HE "HAD NEVER SEEN A PRESENTATION CREATE SUCH A BUZZ".

Great job everyone. I feel part of something that is really special.

Thursday, May 17, 2007

Peer Pressure

Yes i have succumb to peer pressure. I thought this was a high school phenomena, but apparently it can resurface as a mid-life situation also.

My recent involvement with the Ubuntu LoCo Community, specifically the PA Ubuntu LoCo, and even more specifically the Philly / Southeastern PA team,
has truly reintroduced community into my life.

The IRC channel has drastically reduced my productivity, but at the same time increased my sanity. I don't seem to be as work obsessed. Maybe I'll be able to strike a balance.

Ok that's enough for now, I have to continue burning cd's for the upcoming
PACS meeting and Joe Terranova's Main Presentation this Saturday May 19th at 12:00 pm, and the Philly Team's first INSTALLFEST June 2nd, 10:00am to 6:00 pm at NTR.