Next for Sainthood...? KDE Developers

ones
I'm not quite sure this group fits into the "Linux Luminary" pages, but they might not be far off.

KDE Devs...bless your over-worked. under-appreciated hearts. And I mean that with all my being.

See, I AM a KDE user, albeit a fickle one. When KDE 4.0 came out, I ran, not walked to Distrowatch to find a distro that would have the new KDE as it's backbone.

There were several. I thought it sucked.

There were also several million unified howls of anger, confusion and dis-satisfaction...to include mine.

Dante's Inferno seemed like a Kindergarten field trip in comparison.

So I did what any busy user would do...I switched to Gnome....kicking an screaming mind you....but switched none the same and became fairly comfortable in those confines. With caveat of course...Nautilus could, ahem...use some work.

Nautilus I know Konqueror,

Konqueror is a friend of mine...

and Nautilus, you are most certainly no Konqueror.

So, A close colleague and I have had a running discussion on this for months. Mark Van Kinsley is a business owner and Geek Extrordinaire out of Sidney New York. I also count him as one of my closest friends and confidants.

His advice? "It ain't going away Ken... You are gonna need to learn it eventually."

He's right.

Whether he or I likes it or not..."not" is often an option, given my insecent requests for help as I am convalescing. He made the trip thousands of miles on his own dime to take part and actually assumed a leadership roll in Lynn Bender's amazing Linux Against Poverty...a project that netted us over 100 usable and fairly up-to-date computers to give away to disadvantaged kids. He and Victor manned the pxe/distro install lab...assuring the whole thing ran smoothly.

Our rare but unified consensus?

KDE 4X isn't going away. If you are going to advocate, teach and mentor Linux Users, it's best to be comfortable and knowledgeable in all Desktop Environments. Van Kinsley is right.

Foolish me...diving in before sounding the depth of the waters.

While I found the initial attempts at "rebuilding" KDE4x to be inadequate as a solid DE, I turned to Gnome as my prime mover. See...the OS is important but only as efficient as the DE that interfaces with it.

There is no other way to look at it. Your desktop environment dictates the mood, speed, appearance and dexterity of your desktop.

Never underestimate my ability to overstate the obvious.

KDE 4X had plenty of the "inter"...it just lacked an easily-recognizable "face". So at least metaphorically, we have (or had) an incomplete DE.

That being said...here as well as other places and loudly by some, more measured and reasonable by others...

Consensus seems to be that KDE4X is fastly reducing it's measurement on the "This-sucks-O-Meter". The Turning Point?

KDE 4.3

Even after my illness I still find it almost impossible to sleep for 4 hours... given moderate strength pharmaceuticals for insomnia. I don't bother to toss and turn anymore, chasing the sleep I will never capture. It frustrates me.

I just get up and start my day....most days beteween 3 and 4 AM. Just the way it is.

Given that extra time my life is not being wasted in unconsciousness, I read a lot. I read exclusively about matters and decisions within the Linux Community. From the Kernel IRC channels to LXer.com and Carla Schroder's LinuxToday.com.

And from time to time, stumble into jewels like this. Don't gloss this over...within you will find some of the most honest, and heartfelt, if not angry responses by the KDE Dev group to their detractors...and it all makes sense.

I'm not particularly fond of immersing myself into various factions and politics...I have my own mission and I need to concentrate on that. Which of course, leaves little time to do much else.

Unless you are up at 3 AM and the info-mercials have gotten on your very last jangled nerve. That usually draws me to my computer and I begin looking for things I believe to be important.

I have found a new belief...or at least a fairly provable theory.

The KDE guys are:

1 - taking immense heat and facing almost unbearable pressure in making eveyone happy.

2 - fairly well slated for sainthood as none to this point has donned automatic weapons and hunted down some less-than-kind remarks and commenters.

You are stronger men than I. And please...I was just kidding about the automatic weapons. It's beyond absurd to think anyone would obtain automatic weapons to do their critics harm.

They are illegal here...semi-auto's would have to suffice.

At the very best, I am a Linux PowerUser. I can ssh/shell into my home box and use either the terminal or Konqueror to access my files. I can use Telnet, I install 99 percent of my software from the command line and I have even mastered google search via terminal. Not geeky, just easier. I can do a bit more than the regular user, but maybe not near as much as you. But what I can do...and often do with abandon.

I change the l0ok of my desktop to make it a showplace for Linux Demonstrations. I have created some nothing-less-than-stunning environments to demonstrate to New Linux Users...and they've all been KDE presentations.

KDE is working hard to make that not only possible again, but even more beautiful as well.

See...they had some problems at first...and please, I was the first to jump down their throats with file-sharpened Golf Cleats. An act I sincerely apologize for. See, these guys are doing good things...they ARE listening to their users...even the loudest critics that have evolved or shown themselves to be complete Arschloch's. Given some of the unreasonable or pointed posts on the above-linked site, they are not only Arschlochs...

They are Archloch's mit ohren.

Yeah, I have my gripes...KIO's didn't work forever but are getting better. I seem to be one of the only people on earth that actually use my mouse gestures in Konqueror. It was a pleasure to see OpenSuse implement these first. I came to depend greatly on them. Hopefully others will follow suit.

But gripes aside...I have nothing but respect, admiration and even a bit of envy toward the KDE developers. If ever given a chance to ask only one question of them, it wouldn't be about coding or api's.

I would simply ask what substance they take to supress homicidal rage.

Might come in handy some day soon.

All-Righty Then

Road Trip Anyone...?

I had the distinct pleasure of meeting the unsinkable Stormy Peters at the Linux Consortium a while back in Austin.

What a great lady.

Her and I have parallel projects, albeit hers is focused in Mexico.

Stormy needs a hand...

She needs a laptop cart transported from LA to a school in San Fran.

Anyone available? I've already had someone volunteer to pay your fuel charges.

Man, I would consider it a personal favor if someone could do this.

And no Jerry...not you ;-)

All-Righty Then

Time to Face Some Facts

First off...

Thank you.

From the deepest part of my being, the place where all the Love and the Hope and the Joy within me dwells...

Thank you.

The outpouring of support and Love has been tearfully humbling and I cannot, in my most emotional and creative moments, express to you my gratitude. All I can do is promise you that I will live up to your expectations of me.

Notice the emphasis on "Live".

When I lost my job months back, I spent a lot of time in prayer and thought...through those mechanisms, I came to realize that trying to run The HeliOS Project from behind the wheel of a truck wasn't getting the job done. I knew we could do more.

With a leap of faith, I just started doing it full time. I am divorced with minimal child support, and that is thanks to my still-loving ex-wife Debbie. And no...I can't 'splain it...it just is. My needs are meager and I live as such. I would rather devote what I have to what I do. My deepest thanks go to David and Dee Rodriguez for making this possible.

I only have one real focus:

I want to make sure that every disadvantaged kid in Austin Texas has an up-to-date and Linux-Powered computer.

It's just that simple. It is my calling...it is my passion.

But, as I have recently found out, even passion must be metered in moderation.

So it's time to face some facts.

I can no longer build/repair and deliver 3-5 computers a day. I've been professionally warned and that warning was dire.

Bleak.

I believe I will heed wise counsel now.

So...The HeliOS Project is going to be making some logistical changes. Here is what we are going to need if we are to survive.

I need some truly dedicated people. And please, not to be flippant, look up "dedicated" before you commit to working with us.

See...we're not just giving computers away, we are brutally smashing open an opportunity that has been locked away from these kids. Be it through locked-down and proprietary software, lousy parenting, mismanaged finances or just being plain poor, I personally don't give a damn.

They will have a Linux-Powered computer...and they will have it just as soon as we can get it to them.

Now I need your help to do it.

Qualifications and rules.

*Commitment - let me know when you are available so I can coordinate the installation.
Being there means being there.

*No child-related misconduct convictions. We must check to protect ourselves.

*Absolute knowledge of Linux Distributions and networking procedures.

*Installers are never alone in the home or the room without one of their parents or guardians present.

Those are not tough things...I spent 6 hours in a large installfest with 50 local folks who easily matched them.

I don't mean to come off as authoritarian or being a jerk...these are just the things that have to be in order to keep what we do alive.

If you want to be part of the best thing someone could ever do, email me icanhelp@fixedbylinux.com. I am inviting you to come join the most joyful and fulfilling endeavor I have ever experienced. The pay sucks...

And oh...but we'll pay your gas most times.

All-Righty Then

Stairway To Hospital

Editors note - I want to thank, from the very center of my being...where my love lies, everyone who has helped me get these medical bills paid. With 1 more stay scheduled for testing, they are greatly appreciated. As the founder of a Non Profit, it would be disastrous for us on a professional level for me to go into unpaid debt. May whoever looks over you, place a loving hand on your shoulder and give you a gentle squeeze. - Ken

I don't have what you might consider a long attention span. I mean, sure...if you want to talk Linux, are pointing a gun at me, holding out a bag of cash, or are a stunning redhead that could talk a man into robbing banks...well sure, you have my attention. Outside of that, I am a poor candidate for a listening ear.

Just the way I am.

So when the little warning signs started popping up..Drinking RedBull by the gallon just to function, waking up as tired as I was when I went to bed...stuff like that. I did what I always do when faced with stuff like that.

I ignored it. SNAP another RedBull to start the day.

Physically, everything catches up with you. Carrying a computer to a third floor apartment, I lost consciousness and let gravity take its course. I'm sorry to say the computer didn't make the fall. I did, with seemingly no injury aside from a bruised leg.

Diagnosis: Excessive Fatigue Disorder.

"No big deal...ain't nuthin' broke...get to work."

That was my dad, circa 1968 after I was scorpion stung on our ranch.

So...even from the grave, he is right. I am under a friends care now, at least until I can walk without the aid of someone next to me. Once on my feet.

Good Lord Katy Bar The Door...we have kids counting on us. I told you...I'm not the best listener.

A good friend, Hugo Estrada has offered to do installs when he can. I only have two pending as of now due to this health issue...and I don't know how long my recovery time will be. Should I not be able to resume my duties, we are always looking for volunteers in the Austin area.

And Thank You...you humble me with your open hearts and generosity.

All-Righty Then

This was unexpected

Hey folks,

As some of you heard, yesterday I collapsed while carrying a computer uspstairs. Lost complete consciousness and was transported to the nearest hospital where I was admitted for tests.

Diagonis was extreme exhaustion and dehydration. I am home now with orders to stay either in bed or in my home as quietly as possible. I am still very weak...who knew...?

I do have a problem though. My copay for the stay is 300 dollars and I just don't have it. That's not counting the ambulance ride, which is outrageous I hear.

I have never come to the community and asked for personal donations, but being a non profit I cannot stand for any delinquent payments or bills. If you can see your way clear to give me a hand, I would sure consider it at 180 day loan.

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Ken

Let Their Eyes Be Opened...

Editor note...upon the passing of Linux and Technology advocate Bruno Knaapen, we've renamed the Center to The Bruno Knaapen Technology Learning Center.  Thank you Bruno.


h

We've been threatening to do this for some time.

It is now a done thing...

Mostly anyway. A touch here and there...

Two months ago, Christina Collazo contacted me and asked if I was up to a challenge. She had been tasked with putting together an East Austin Computer Learning Center and didn't really know how to do it.

We do...

And we did.

For those that don't know, East Austin isn't exactly Beverly Hills...

Not by anyone's stretch of the imagination. Through it's reputation for violence, gang activity and drug trade, East Austin is populated with some of the nicest people there are.

I now know many of them. Hard-working and loving people that just haven't yet found their way out of that place. Others do not...they have nice, comfortable homes and for them this IS home...they wouldn't leave if paid to do so.

We decided to do what we could to give them a hand...a guiding hand out of there.

Roll Call...the answered calling.

Tom King
Roy Hall
Chris Scott
Skip Guenter
Ceasar and Christina Collazo

These were the people that assembled at the 2200 block of East 2nd Street on the 15th of August to make this Learning Center a reality.

With the temperature already in the mid-90's, we arrived at the back entrance of the Cristo Rey Catholic Church...this is the wonderful place that houses the Learning Center. Carrying in huge CRT monitors, computer boxes and various and asundry fixtures, this team went to work transforming a barren room into a place of learning and hope.

A place powered by the will of a global community.

A place powered by Linux.

There's not a lot to tell about the process...a lot of heavy labor, younger knees than mine crawling under tables to connect cat 5 to the adjoining sockets...testing, adjusting, testing, replacing, testing...and ultimately...

Success.

This place will be used by the entire community. We have pledged one person to teach classes a week and Christina Collazo, the Director of the Center, has another person coming in to do the same in Spanish. I want to personally thank Ceasar Collazo for his strong back, ultimate patience and warm smile. It literally made the day work for us.

I want to thank everyone who took part in this...and not just the folks mentioned above.



There was a huge amount of time and fuel expended in running to get missing or broken parts and components. The day cost us a few hundred dollars but you...the people that support us, made that possible by becoming a member of the "Walk A Kid Home" program. A simple effort to fund the building and installation of individual computers for these kids. We blew through most of it in a three day period...but that's three dozen computers built and delivered all over Central Texas. Thank you. You made this happen.

It's you folks that made this possible. My thanks go out to those who help us do what we do.



You are the architects of this project...

we are just swinging the hammer.


All-Righty Then...

Mission Accomplished

Three days.

2400 miles.

One Ford Super Duty Pickup Truck and Camper.

Two guys.

One mission.

To drive through or into 5 states, sleep little, load 45 computers and30 flat panel monitors, reverse direction.

Rinse, Lather, Repeat.

Most of you know what this is all about...some won't. Brian Henry, Tech Guru at Ivy Tech Community College in Sellersburg Indiana contacted me a while back and said that he wanted to support The HeliOS Project. He stated that the various computer labs were being refreshed and that he wanted to donate the decommissioned computers to us. He explained that about half the machines were Pentium 4's and the other half was comprised of Xeon Desktop units. He wanted to know if we would be interested in these machines. And by the way...there were about 30 LCD flat screen monitors included.

Oh...ya think?

Not to be flip over his question....his offer and query had more to do with our ability to get them into our possession rather than our need for them.

The planning began... First, the obvious.

We looked into truck rental...that seemed logical. Unfortunately, even when the exhorbitant price was digested, there were other "additonal fees" that put this option well out of reach. We actually didn't realize the "additional fees" existed until we physically went to reserve the vehicle.

We had already come to the community and explained in helios' rush to get it done, he had neglected to figure in the fuel costs. As dumb a move as that was, our new hero and permenant Saint within these halls, Alex van Kaam, came through and gave us a hand...not to mention a few others. You will see them listed shortly in the Linux Luminary blogsite.

Nasty surprise those "additional charges"...and with only a week left, we would seem to be in a jam.

We had a plan B.

A reader of The Blog of helios had a neighbor who was an Executive at Fedex. He contacted me and said that they had spoken and there was a chance that Fedex would ship the computers and monitors to us for free. Unfortunately, the wheels in Big Business move slow...and with only a very few days until our window of opportunity closed, we had to disregard this as an option. My thanks to the great guy that tried to arrange this...we owe you much. He too merits the badge of Linux Luminary.

Plan C...and the least likely to emerge as viable...

From about 6 counties away and a three hour drive from me, lives a man that quietly goes about the business of Linux Advocacy. As we did early on, he works in Senior Centers, introducing those residents to Linux and makes their computing lives much less complex. He and his wife are retired, living on a fixed income and are not exactly wealthy. Regardless, he had been looking for a way to support The HeliOS Project for two years.

He found it.

He contacted me and suggested that he drive three hours to my place and pick me up, drive over 1100 miles to pick up this equipment and return me and said equipment safely home, then drive an additional three hours home. I was stunned.

He would do it for fuel, food and lodging...he refused a dime of recompense...

And he additionally refused to allow me to identify him.

He picked me up at 8:30 AM last Sunday....In what has to be the most superior traveling pickup truck I have ever rode in.

This was, in any respect, a cross-country jaunt. Now let me explain to those who might not have experienced something like this. Here you have two complete strangers, encased into a compartment roughly six feet by six feet by four feet, traveling a total of 2300 plus miles for hours on end. Two people with their own idiosyncrasies, habits and ways... What are the odds that a combination of ten fingers would be around a one or more throats halfway through the endeavor?

One would imagine very good...

Unless you were united in the same goal...belonging to the same community...sharing the same universal values that drive most of us.

It was an amazing trip.

Now on top of that, I got to meet Brian Henry. Brian towered over me by at least 10 inches. A comparative bearded giant, Brian greeted us as good and old friends. He wasted no time in getting the equipment loaded onto carts and out to the truck where the three of us loaded them and then spent a short time talking shop in his office. I don't think I've met a nicer, more gracious person. I want to thank Brian and his staff, to include a special thanks to another great Tech Guy there. I am absolutely horrible at names and make no excuses for the malady...I am remembering his name as Shawn. Shawn went out of his way to make us welcome and his firm handshake conveyed that warmth.

Returning to Austin at about 4:30 PM on Wednesday, we unloaded the computers and said goodbye for now...new and good friends...many computers richer and with the comforting cushion of less than three dollars left in the General Fund.

Talk about cutting it close...yet it would have cost us over 200.00 dollars more to do it by rental truck.

So...as I confessed earlier, my cynical outlook on the existence of the mythical "Linux Community" was not only wrong, it bordered on foolish...maybe crossing that border from time to time. The computers we obtained in this adventure will fuel the minds and imagination of dozens of children who, under any other circumstances, would have never had that chance.

Some of you have referred to me as a "hero".

Please don't do that any more.

If you want to see a real hero...you will have to take a journey of your own...you will have to navigate yourself.....

Only to the closest mirror.

All-Righty Then...

Almost there...Almost

And a day it has been...we've traveled across or into three states, and will traverse two more before we reach Sellersburg Indiana tomorrow afternoon.

It's been a great day. 766 miles traveled in a 2000 mile journey to pick up 40+ Pentium 4 and Xeon desktops and 25 flat panel monitors...monitors that were badly needed to finish a hanging project.

Again, our thanks go out to those that made this trip possible, to those that made the offer of the machines and those who supported us by picking up and storing those that we might not get into the vehicles. Thanks go out to Richard Stultz for the unselfish offer.

We owe you a lot and will work to put these machines to the best use possible. "Our kids" will know of the help you've provided. Now, I need to go wash approximately 766 miles of road off of me and get some sleep. Tomorrow we meet Brian Henry and Possibly Robert Stultz...our "Indiana Connection".

All-Righty Then...

Windows Users - The Charlie Browns of Computing

There is a pleasant surprise here shortly so stay with me for a bit. Cool surprises await....or not. Depending on your SEF . (Surprise Expectation factor)


What I have to say isn't necessarily directed at Linux Users...you know what I am about to say chapter and verse...most will anyway. But everyone personally knows a Windows User...lots of them in most cases. Many of you have went as far as to refuse free support for them...as have I. I too have tired of fixing the same problems over and over. So, when my home-care nurse bemoaned the fact that her Windows laptop was not responding, I took a look at it. Like I had a choice?

Oh, and just guess what I found?

Two keyloggers, 28 separate viruses/malware and two suspected java exploits. Norton Antivirus Premium caught only one of the malware exploits but claimed it could not delete or cleqn it. sheesh. Because "Nurse Cratchet" (her descriptor, not mine) pretty much dictates my life for the next week, I fixed her computer and showed her the actual problems and causes, and in doing so, we discussed much; and she came to some surprising conclusions. As a result I installed Mint Linux as a dual boot and after getting IE4Lin working, she was able to use Linux to log into her server at the hospital. Here is the joint article Megan (her real name) and I put together. She introduced factors I may had missed so I would like to give her partial credit for writing this. Pass it along to your favorite albeit belabored Windows user. - h

So...

Are you excited about the new Windows 7? Microsoft has promised you a "New and exciting environment". Secure past any other Windows effort and even 10 bucks cheaper than Vista.

Wow...ten whole bucks off of a multi-hundred dollar piece of software. How Generous.

What a deal you are getting. So you are looking forward to it I am guessing...and the promises this new system offers you.

Just like they promised in Vista.

Just like they promised in XP.

Just like they promised in ME.

Just like they promised in Win98.

Are we beginning to see a pattern emerge here? Every time Microsoft promises you a" new and secure environment for your computer", it ends up being the same old stuff with a fresh coat of paint and security features that take a 15 year old hacker about 12 minutes to circumvent.

If he's taking his time and is easily distracted.

And you know the morbidly funny part of this? You actually paid for this misery. And you continue to pay for it every time you take it to your favorite tech shop to "get it fixed".

"No really Charlie Brown...I won't move the football this time. Kick the football Charlie Brown."

Sadly, the majority of you will end up flat on your back again, blaming the computer, blaming the software...

Blaming everything but the real problem.

The Windows Operating System controlling the computer.

You don't want to explore the alternatives. You would rather listen to the false misconceptions about other operating systems and find comfort in that ignorance. You would rather be miserable and go through the rituals of fixing your computer over and over than using it. I don't think there is much I can do for you....aside from again charging you 75 bucks an hour to fix it.

See you in six months.

And let me dispel a common misconception. You paid for Windows on that new computer...it is written into the cost of the computer and the prices are set per unit by Microsoft. The majority won't even flinch. 2-300 additional dollars they didn't have to spend on a system that will ultimately fail them.

But I said the majority of you.

There are some that are ready to seek alternatives...and many of you don't know you have one.

I am the founder of The HeliOS Project. We obtain old computers, refurbish them to current technology standards and then give them away to disadvantaged Central Texas kids.

Every one of those computers have one thing in common...they don't run Microsoft Windows.

They run Linux.

An operating system born from the free spirit of tens of thousands of programmers and contributors all around the globe. Global Enterprises such as RedHat, Suse and Canonical also pay their developers to give us free software. Linux is created by the will of a global community. Many of them are unpaid, doing this work so you CAN have choice in how you operate your computer.

But it's not just John and Jane Computer User that can benefit from Linux.

Having retired from the US Army, I still have contacts within various units and groups therein. When I got wind that the Army had switched their battle gear computers and protective devices over to Linux, I phoned around until I found someone that remembered me....ahem...remembered me too well. After a bit of lies and other story-telling, I asked him what he could tell me about the Linux switch to their equipment and computers. His answer was short and without ambiguity.

"When a Microsoft System crashes at home or work, it's a pain in the ass. When a Microsoft System Crashes here, my men and women die."

That is serious food for thought. Oh, and the myth that Linux is too hard for the everyday user?

Before you make any premature judgments, be aware that we consistently have 10 & 12 year old kids picking this system up and using it in as little as 30 minutes. Linux is easy, and millions have used it in place of Microsoft Windows and never used Windows again. Entire nations have switched to linux...by the millions. And again...sure there is a bit of a learning curve...

As there will be with Windows 7.

As there was with Vista.

As there was with XP.

As there was with ME.

As there was with Win98.

This time, why not put your learning efforts into something productive.

Like a system you won't have to fight viruses...or even fear them for that matter. A computer that doesn't have to go into the shop every six months. That means you don't have to run all that antivirus software that messes up your computer. (hint...no more "$$$ubscriptions" to run out).

And folks...you can get it for free. There are exceptions to all the rules. like "If it sounds too good to be true, it is." Well, let me introduce you to that exception.

Linux

There really is no reason for you to do battle with your computer. I am going to link you to a webpage that explains the "whole Linux thing". From there, it's up to you. And if you should happen to find sanctuary in this great way to compute...

Pass the word on to Charlie Brown.

There is one particular nurse that has through, calm and logical demonstration, switched her laptop to Mint Linux, albeit dual boot. (simple training wheels). She actually squealed in delight when her Youtube video's played and Hulu.com delivered what it promised to deliver.

Even her favorite "Windows Certified repair shop could not make that happen in her Windows partition. Just a few minutes of measured, logical discussion and demonstration.


And you know...? Sometimes that's all it takes. Simply some calm and logical discussion.

All-Righty Then





-n- Nurse (RN) Megan. Thanks for keeping me down when I needed it. Of course, your placement of my IV had a lot to do with it. Smart woman that Megan...

Thank you for your concern, professionalism and compassion.

ROAD TRIP!...almost...

Edit- Please disregard the following post. Some extremely good friends of ours have met our fuel needs and have insured our comfort as we travel to pick up these great computers. A name you will hear again is Alexander van Kaam. Alex is a native of The Netherlands and stepped forward to not only make up the difference from the other donations, he gave us a decent nights lodging so we didn't have to sleep in the truck overnight.
Thank you Alex.


We are Ready...

We have our transportation lined up, much thanks to a kind soul in The Netherlands...he saw to it that we had the money we needed for a truck...

But...

I forgot something.

It takes fuel to get there. Like...duh!

Anyway folks, I forgot to add that into the calculation and we are trying to raise an additional 180 bucks.

THEN we can go get these computers. Really this time...I mean it.

A huge thank you to Brian Henry for working for us and to Richard...will omit his last name here for the time being as I don't know how he'd feel about it. Richard is going to meet Brian and pick up the Computers and Monitors so we don't have to fight a time deadline..

You will be hearing about all the people mentioned here on linuxluminaries.blogspot.com here in a few days.

And as always, thanks for being part of what we do. If you care to help, you can hit the donate button at the top left of this page.

Working our way up on slashdot

Hey folks,

We have a story on Lynn Bender's Linux Against Poverty. We have just turned "green" so there is still hope to make the mainstream on /. Would you stop by and vote?

Sure would appreciate it.

http://slashdot.org/submission/1053177/Linux-installfests-maturing

Ken

Pointing in the right Direction

Well hey folks...

Just a reminder that any further questions or comments you might have about Linux Against Poverty
should be directed to
http://www.linuxagainstpoverty.org.

The Linux Against Poverty website will be compiling data from the techs and other folks who put on the event and a manual will be written and disseminated from that website. If you have any questions concerning Linux Against Poverty in any way or fashion, please direct them to Lynn Bender at http://www.linuxagainstpoverty.org. As well, if you have any input for the documentation that is to be written, please submit it there as well. You may email lynn at lynn@linuxagainstpoverty.org. They are the ones that made this event possible and they are the ones that will see to the growth of the program in other places. I believe Lynn also has an ongoing blog there where you can catch up on what is going on. We here are going to concentrate on giving out the computers gained from this wonderful project and continue our efforts to grow. Of course, we are here to help them in any way we can in the future.

Our thanks again goes out to Lynn for his hard work and dedication to a wonderful effort.

Ken

How Wrong Can One Man Be?

OK, for $10.000.00 and the grand prize, who is responsible for this quote?:

"There is no Linux Community...the best we've achieved is a large group of warring factions who use the vast real estate of the Internet to wage bloody war against each other."

Was it:

Eric S. Raymond maybe? No, How about Bruce Perens? No again? Let's go with John "Mad Dog" Hall...that sounds like something he would say, at least in his younger years.

Nope again. Much to my shame...

I said that.

Unfortunately, I was not content to say it just once...every time the "community" did something I perceived as counter-productive, I would dust it off and trot it out like it was brand new and some sort of profound revelation.

Yeah, and I said counter-productive...

Like dressing a school teacher down in public for doing what she thought was right. She may have been wrong around the edges, but at the core, she did her job. I mean, after the ashes settled, even that turned out for the better...she is now a Linux user. But still...

We do have our dark side. We, as in the Linux Community.

Because there is a Linux Community...dark side not-withstanding, it is a good community.

Linux Against Poverty was just one of the shining jewels we can claim as our own. While we were focused on that, there is an ongoing sister-effort taking place in Florida. Michael Hall along with his wife (he's the developer of Qimo,) an Ubuntu-based distro for kids; is doing pretty much the same thing we are. Oh, you really need to read Michelle Hall's blog. It brings what we do in this business into sharp perspective.

But wait...there's more.

There is a great website called http://www.growingupfree.com. It serves as a clearinghouse for organizations and individuals that do what we do. It's a good place to start if you are looking to get involved in something like this in your area

There is a new blogsite called Linux Luminaries. A site devoted to bringing the best of the best to the forefront of mention...those who give and give with their hearts. It won't just be devoted to our project, but much of it will.

There is a point to all of this.

These are, for the most part, Linux-based efforts. Now correct me if I am wrong, but I don't believe I have ever heard of a project called "Windows Against Poverty"...or Mac Attack on Poverty...

Neither have I seen much of Windows or Mac Users starting and following through with such initiatives.

It's the "follow through" part that gets to most of them... But in fairness, what have they got to rally behind? A stiff price tag and a draconian End Users License Agreement? No, neither of those would seem to invoke any community-minded spirit.

Sure, the corporates have funded huge initiatives to help those that need it...mostly when they had just gotten a black eye by getting caught doing something wrong. In my heart and mind I cannot believe anything they've done of this nature had any origin in altruism.

But that's the corporates...not the users. It's the Linux Users that form the root causes and projects that make a difference. It's the users that spend money out of their own pockets to enrich the lives of others...to indelibly and for the better change the lives of others.

It's the Users Stupid...

Not the corporates.

And it all comes back to what I said at the beginning.

Yes Virginia, there is a Linux Community. It lives and breathes in tens of thousands of lives every day...people helping people find a better way to run their computers.

Not multi-billion dollar corporations, not political action committees...it's the users that help people use their computers.

And in the most precious of cases...giving them a computer to use.

It's The Linux Community doing much of this.

So I was wrong and I proudly admit it...no shame, just growth.

Thank you for planting the seed.

All_righty then...

Gears and Pulleys

While the documentation for Linux Against Poverty is being written, many are asking specifically how we sat up the extensive (it's all relative) networking system we used to get the machines diagnosed, triaged and loaded with a specific Linux distribution.

Roy Hall, a final year student of ITT, in concert with Tom King put together the seemingly hodge-podge system that you see here. As "home made" as it looks. it performed in a stellar manner. It was a common occurrence to hear the line leader call out:

"Five is finished, Super OS online on three, pull it. Station two with Linux Mint - two minute warning. Station 9 fail, manual install."

Several banks of repaired computers lined the back of Union Park as technicians loaded the prescribed OS onto the machine. Computer's hardware was matched carefully with specific distros to insure maximum performance...many of the people knew that Super OS or Fedora was not going to run well on a PIII with 512 of ram. Distros like Vector Lite were used in those cases.

Specific server data?

Thanks to Roy Hall for providing the synopsis:

The center was controlled and monitored by two Dell 5000 series PowerConnect 24 port switches. We had two KVM switches, one per install station.

"The server we were working with was a Dell 2950 with two 3.0 GHz dual core processors, 4 gigabytes of RAM, and three 143 gigabyte SCSI drives in RAID 5. The OS I used for hosting the PXE server was Fedora 11 and when it came to setting up the PXE server, the website I found helpful was pxe.dev.aboveaverageurl.com. The images that we set up for PXE were Mint, Fedora 11, and Ubuntu. For any workstations that did not support PXE boot, I found two websites that were extremely useful: Etherboot.org or rom-o-matic.net."

Again, the entire "manual" for our Linux Against Poverty project will be out in about 3 weeks. There is valuable input from many of the people that took part in the physical repairing and diagnosing of the machines. The methods they used to set up their stations is as interesting as it is important, so please be patient as we bang this out. Watch this space for the finished product.

All-Righty Then

Going to Indiana - Yeah Baby...

First off, thank you to everyone that emailed me and offered their help and support. We are being offered tens of thousands of dollars worth of stuff that will help us immensely...2K round trip is worth it.

Thanks to an offer that came from Left Field, we have a way to get the computers here. The person who made it possible has not given me permission yet to talk about it so suffice it to say we have the situation handled.

Due to people that are more generous than I could ever imagine. You know who you are...and there are several entities that came together to make this work.

Thank you.

All-Righty Then

ROAD TRIP!!!

To avoid any confusion, we have since gotten this problem solved. I wrote a short blog entry explaining how and when but some folks are being directed here instead of the new entry, I want to personally thank all the people who have offered solutions, often at personal sacrifice. You people define "community". Thank you for doing so. - h

You all know that the HeliOS Project takes old computers, rebuilds them and gives them to disadvantaged kids...

So...here is the situation.

We have 40 + pentium 4's and Xeon desktops with our name on them in Sellersburg Indiana.

We have 25 + flat panel LCD monitors with our name on them in Sellerburg Indiana.

Shipping them will be more burden on the people giving them than I want to ask...not to mention the pricetag

Truck Rental is about 600 bucks. Not gonna happen.

Who wants to take three days and drive us to Indiana and back in either a large van or a vehicle capable of towing a trailer. Of course we pay fuel and lodging. Leaving on the weekend of the 15th of August. Yeah, short notice...welcome to my life.

I have made contact with Bob Moore, the guy who helped me "scam" thousands of dollars out of the Linux community for the Tux 500 project. He is working on his end in Indiana to see if we can find someone to secure the stuff until we can make arrangements to pick it up...but that's a lot to ask of someone on short notice...

Like asking this of you isn't? We will be happy to give the person supplying the vehicle 10 of the computers for their trouble, plus expenses of course.

It will be an adventure, and I promise...after three days in a vehicle with me, all positive mental pictures you have of me will be permanently destroyed.

So...You down for it? Ah, c'mon...it'll be fun. You think I picked this graphic above on a whim? Bless the soul who has the courage...

OR...if you have a vehicle you would rent us for a decent price, we could do that.

mail me helios at fixedbylinux dott kommm

All-righty then

Walking a Kid Home

I grew up in a time where it was ok to walk home from school. The worst thing that could happen was that I would become distracted by a group of friends, a stray kitten...a shiny rock.

I am to this day easily distracted.

But ultimately I accomplished my mission, and that was...

To go home.

Today's society finds us using terms like "helicopter parents". Parents or guardians who feel such a need to protect their children that they "hover" over them every moment of their day. The phrase "why don't you go play outside" has been replaced with:

"I'll drive you to soccer practice and wait until it's over."

And that's a good thing. While stifling a kid's growth by welding yourself to them every minute of their day isn't going to help them grow, it can be a comforting and guiding force in their lives....done in moderation.

For about 4 years, we've been walking kids home...in a technical sense that is. Not only have we given them computers so they can learn, we've taught them how to use them to the fullest advantage. One of our most recent recipients, Chris Gomez, puts it as plainly as it can be put:

The computer is perfect. No everything is easy and simple to use. I think Linux is wayyyy better then windows. I really appreciate what you have done for me. The computer has open alot of doors for me . I can now further myself in my music. thank you.

(original email available for those who want to see it)

Chris took to Linux as if he had been using it forever. Kids don't care about platform...they simply want something that works. Show them the ropes and soon they've used that rope to build a bridge to their future.

Linux Against Poverty amassed for us almost 100 ready-to-go computers. Plug 'em in and they are ready to go to work. It was in every sense of the word, a blessing.

Now we need to get them to those that need them. This is gonna be the tough part and we could use your help in doing so.

A recent meeting brought forth the idea of individual sponsorship. It's a great idea. Money problems have dogged us from the beginning, as they do every non profit. We are in the midst of getting some grants written but those take much more time than we have. With school just weeks away, we have requests for machines and we just don't have a way to get them where they need to so. Fully aware that I am going to sound like Sally Struthers...

Would you walk a kid home?

It costs us on average, $25.00 to do an install. That includes fuel, vehicle use and all the other little things you wouldn't normally think of. What we can do is pretty efficient. Each person sponsoring an install will not only get their name engraved on the installed machine, we will post on this blog, each and every installation in picture format...from start to finish. Of course, if the donor is a corporate entity, that business will receive full mention and links here as well.

Roy Hall, Mark Van Kingsley and I stacked computers almost to the ceiling in our storage facility this past Sunday...now it's time to start taking them out and putting them to work. As of right now...we cannot do that. If you would like to sponsor a Linux Computer from The HeliOS Project, simply hit the donation button on the top-left of this page and you are officially a HeliOS Luminary. $25.00 gets it done.

Of course, we would appreciate you spreading the word of our project to your workplace, church or any other organization that might like to be a part of what we do. Until we can get some semi-permenant funding, this is the only way I can think of to do what we need to do.

And as always, I am open to suggestions.

All-Righty Then

A Day of Discovery

Linux Against Poverty...

No one knew really what to expect.

Some, mostly out of not knowing exactly what to call it, referred to it as an install-fest. Others simply lumped it under the heading of "Charity Event".

It wasn't really either of those things...but it was all of those things and more...

The BrainChild of Linux Against Poverty is Lynn Bender, a local network and database guru. Linux Against Poverty began as a simple idea. Lynn could gain access to a corporate pool of decommissioned computers. He could rally the aid of Linux/Tech professionals in Central Texas.

His purpose? Give kids who would normally never have a computer in the home an even shot at their future.

A level playing field

A bridged Digital Divide

Pick your cliche'...

But regardless of what you call it, the goal of this global project can be found in the one-sentence phrase that defines The HeliOS Project:

"A child's exposure to technology should never be predicated on the ability to afford it."

It seemed that the two organizations shared the same goals.

Lynn could pull the first two things together easily, but he didn't have the network in place to get the computers into the right hands.

That is, until he heard of The HeliOS Project. Once he knew he could get the machines into the homes that needed them, he proceeded to execute his plan. That plan was Linux Against Poverty. In concert with myself and the Directors and volunteers of The HeliOS Project, Lynn put the plan into action.

To gather as many decent computers and hardware components as possible and make them ready for those who really need them.

Initially planned as a global event, it became obvious in a short time that others may not have the experience in organizing such a massive undertaking. The project was quickly tailored to execute in Austin first, document it thoroughly, then pass the documentation along to anyone who wanted to do the same thing.

Linux Against Poverty is unique in the fact that it marries the local tech community to both the municipality and the business community. Only when all of these entities are in step will this particular model be successful.

Saturday, the first day of August, 2009 saw the undeniable success of a well-executed plan. It wasn't flawless and without it's unique challenges and anxieties...but it happened and it happened on the backs of about 43 selfless, giving geeks. And that is what I want to tell you about.

The HeliOS Project works toward a noble cause, but it is not self sufficient. It relies upon the compassion, dedication and willing sacrifice of others.

Not exactly an easy thing to lay hands upon these days...unless you are in Austin Texas.

Arriving about 12 o'clock on Saturday, the volunteers for the project began arriving in groups...there was no "organizational meeting", no pep talks, no motivational speeches...those with an inherent leadership spirit quickly organized the teams that were to fuel this event and they went to work. No fanfare, no pre-event pom-pom waving...

45 people simply began busting their collective asses to get the job done.

I opened the back of the truck that myself, Mark Van Kingsley and Roy Hall had loaded early that morning and without anyone saying a word, a chain formed to move the 53 existing project machines into the staging area. It was already hot and it only took moments for the sweat to start pouring. The computers were neatly stacked and made ready to hit the line.

Before the day ended, over 40 computers were handed over the wall between the street and the outdoor patio of Union Park...the place that was our staging area for machines yet to see triage. These were additional machines brought by either citizens or representatives of local businesses in and around Austin.

Inside, people were quickly assembling tables, stringing cable and checking electrical circuits to get the different stations ready for the day. Most of these people were meeting for the first time but you wouldn't know it. They melded into a focused and purposful single unit...it was strangly quiet...everyone moved as if this had been rehearsed often.

It had not been...not at all.

I don't think I've ever seen such a complex and large effort come together so smoothly. And this isn't gracious hyperbole...this was an event that truly took its inspiration from its mission. Women worked quickly along side of men, picking up heavy server units and computers to put them into their places. During the entire day, I did not hear one complaint or gripe. And for those who might want to still refer to women as "the weaker sex...?


You might want to rethink that phrase.


Everyone knew what their work would accomplish and it was probably one of the most humbling moments I have ever experienced, exceptions none. There were major corporate CIO's and Senior Executives like Andy Krell from nFusion and Greg Poole from AMD loading and unloading trucks along side of...well, guys like me. They scraped knuckles on sharp metal edges and lifted computers until their backs ached.

Life-station and position or accomplishment meant nothing for this amazing 6 hour timespan...

It was all about getting computers into the homes of kids, who under any other circumstance, would never have one.

We will talk more about Linux Against Poverty in the next couple of weeks. There is simply too many stories inside of this one amazing story to be told at one time. However I do want to take this time to say something to the people that came together to make this thing happen.

This...event, this singularly astounding convergence of talent, dedication and compassion was successful because of you. No amount of planning or networking can make events like this succeed without people that care to the very core of their being. The fact that you all gave of yourself so completely to make Linux Against Poverty happen is....well, not to over-use the term, but you humble me by your actions. On behalf of The HeliOS Project and our volunteers I want to thank you for the gift you have so freely given the disadvantaged children of this community.

As well, a very special thanks goes out to Mark Van Kingsley of Sidney New York. Mark made the trip on his own dime all the way from the East Coast and was an invaluable help to me personally. Thank you Mark...you went way above and beyond the call.
As well, I would like to say a special thank you to Roy Hall who went way out of his way to assist me personally when things just too crazy to manage myself.

These kids will however, know that there is a bit of each one of you inside that shiny new computer we give them. We were going to engrave a name on the next 42 computers given out, each one representing a person that took part...but I have a better idea. A roster of your names will be presented to them on an attractive HTML home page, every time they turn on their machines. I think more than 42 kids need to know who you are.

All-Righty Then

These are only a fraction of the photos taken at Linux Against Poverty. Thank you to Nari and Bruce Roberts for the photos taken on this page. Once all the photographers have sent us their pictures, we will make a Linux Against Poverty gallery and post it via the blog of helios.

As well...while we did a fantastic job of collecting and repairing computers, we fell terribly short in gaining any real operating funding for The HeliOS Project. The media coverage we did get came very late in the time frame and people just did not have the exposure to our event they should have. Fact is, it will be pretty hard to get these computers delivered when we simply don't have the money to get there. We would appreciate it if you could click the donate button at the top left of this page and once again....give us a hand. Thank you. - h