Linux Contractor Fired for Using Firefox/Linux

This is a complicated story but one that must be told. I'm not sure there is anything that can be done about it except rage at the moon...

But it needs to be told none the less.

Did I mention it gets complicated? It does, but it does so for a reason. Let's introduce the starting lineup.







The Players:

*Our Principal - In the US.

*An Indian Contracting Company

*A large computer/server company with three letters in their name.

*A large credit card company with four letters in their name.

*A friend of The Principal

The Principal is a guy who works with Linux Servers for a living. He was contacted by the Indian Contracting Company and asked to apply for a project position through the large company with three letters in their name. The contract was to patch the 1000+ linux servers with some proprietary SAN access software

With me so far?

Ok...so our Principal went through a grueling month-long process of applying for employment to be awarded this contract...a lucrative contract at that.

Of course, when you've been unemployed for any period of time, the term lucrative becomes relative.

He jumped through all the hoops...ran the gauntlet so to speak, and came to the very last step...a simple competency test to be taken online. He was given the URL and instructed to complete the test and notify the Project Manager at the computer company with three letters in their name when finished. He dutifully logged into the website and hit enter.

The page would not render.

At all.

Our Principal called the Project Manager and told her of the problem. It was soon deduced that our Linux Server Guy was using Linux on the Desktop with Firefox.

Now, I'm going to ask you to remember that he was dealing with a Project Manager that is employed by a huge computer/server company with three letters in their name. She was in charge of switching a large credit card company with four letters in their name over to Linux Servers. It isn't completely out of our realm of understanding that she didn't know what Linux on the desktop is. I will give her that. But I cannot let slide her next inquiry:

"What's this Foxfire thing?"

You've got to be kidding me...

No really.

But wait...it gets better, or worse...depending on where you sit.

The Project Manager mentioned that she would ship our Principal a laptop with Windows/Internet Explorer to him so he could finish the process and begin work. He was going to need it anyway to access MS Windows VPN only...it was how they would access the large credit card company with four letters in their name network. That was the setup for the project.

Not ideal, but it facilitated getting the job.

While waiting for his laptop to be over-nighted, our Principal decided that he might be able to contact someone who was in charge of the Windows/Internet Explorer site only, and see if there was something he could do at his end. IE4Linux had not worked and neither did trying to fool it into thinking Firefox was IE. He called them and asked for tech support.

They did not have a tech support but did take his number down and assured him he would receive a call back.

Turns out this probably wasn't the wisest move.

But who knew?

The company that ran the testing website ended up calling the Project Manager at a large computer/server company with three letters in their name and relayed the information they had received from our Principal.

Within a couple of hours, our Principal received a phone call from the Indian Contracting Company and was informed the project had been canceled. His services would no longer be required.

It stunk...it stunk of high suspicion if not outright lies.

Our Principal had spent a month of his time securing this contract and rightfully suspicious, he called his friend...the friend who had gotten him on the list for the project in the first place.

His friend made a couple calls. His friend called him back within the hour.

The Project had not been canceled. He had been fired. The reason?

The project manager reported that the Principal "refused to use Windows and Internet Explorer".

Which was not true.

Not only was the Principal taken off the project list...

It is reported that he has been blackballed from any future projects funded by this large computer/server company with three letters in their name.

So now let ME rage at the moon.

Because that's all I can do...

The irony? The "compentency test" was a Security & Privacy test from the four letter credit card company that HAD to be taken on MS Windows with IE?

I'll let you be the ones to point out the obvious...the fact that this large computer/server company with three letters in their name is reportedly a "friend to Linux". I'll let you talk about how a Linux Professional who uses Linux as their desktop environment was denied access to employment. Employment that was based on his knowledge of Linux. Yeah, the server side...but still...

Now let's brag about how much ground Linux has made...

And a Linux Project Manager for said company asking the question:

"What's this Foxfire thing?"

Stunning Breakthrough in Wireless Reception Technology

Wireless innovation is evolving...and Skip Guenter is the architect.

The call came in about 7 PM last Monday. It was from Skip Guenter.

"You on a secure line?"

"Yeah", I said..."I guess so".

"Well, I can't take the chance it's not secure. Stay there, don't leave and don't tell anyone I'm coming by."

With that he hung up.

Within the next two hours, Skip "skipsjunk.net" Guenter revolutionized the PC wireless world. His innovation, while shamelessly stolen, did miraculous things and I am here to present it to you today.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you the DSWD - V1 and DSWD- V2 .

Original night research at Skipsjunk's remote facilities to maintain highest security levels on development.























Note the surgical precision by which Guenter cut and splayed the metal mesh to insert the highly developed usb wireless adaptor extension. You won't find that quality of craftsmanship anywhere in today's manufacturing environment.

Of further note and interest is the high-tech USB signal routing cabling device used in this technological marvel. Yes, I know...it's breath-taking. Drink in the precision of its placement. Understandably overwhelming, I know.






















Of course, the calculations used to increase signal strength took hours. Using the Linux Super Computer at the secret night time testing location, Guenter was able to hone the signal from a constant 47 percent to a signal that ranged from 72 to 94 percent.

But despite his brilliance and tenacity, problems persisted. The signal would fluctuate between the afore-mentioned percentages. For anyone else, this vast improvement would have sufficed.

But not for Skip "94percent" Guenter.

After crunching the numbers for what seemed to be hours, Guenter began to develop an answer to the problem. Sheer genius prevailed, along with brilliant engineering to steady the signal to a 5 point fluctuation...an acceptable range for Guenter. While solid signal strength did drop from the previous peak of 94 percent - the constant range of 83 to 88 percent insured a steady signal.

Given the wireless router is 168 feet away and sitting behind two load-bearing walls, it's nothing short of amazing.

The new improved version (v2) provides steadier signal levels with the new specially designed and formulated "double backplane reflector".






















Not only was the engineering and focus of this project without peer, the mounting of the device was stunning.

Because of security concerns around the avant guard mounting method we've had to exclude any photos that depicted the mounting mechanism.

Besides the giant black zip ties don't show up so well at night and nobody has a lens that'll show the nail jammed between the sheet metal roof and the 2x4 beam it's hanging from.

Once the appropriate patents were applied for and all components of the DSWD- V1 and V2 deemed as proprietary, we were able to present the DSWD - V1 in the daylight.

















All kidding aside, this was built for about 30 bucks and did boost the wireless signal about 44 percent. What you are seeing is a Belkin USB dongle attached to an extension coupler and run inside through a crack in my door. The "parabolic" effect is actually a dumpling skimmer used by many Chinese eating establishments to dish dumplings and strain them from the cooking pot. You can purchase one at any Asian market for about 10 bucks. I've bought signal boosters that cost almost twice what building this did and it didn't increase the signal but by maybe 20 percent.

My thanks to Skip "operators-are-standing-by" Guenter for his time and patience in putting this together. Please note much of the descriptive or bold text is his.

All-Righty Then

Arabic Speakers Needed in Austin

Recently, we took on a project for a Iraqi couple who had spent 3 years in a refugee camp prior to finally getting to the US. Their names are Ziad and Mona and they need help far past my ability to help them.

It's not just a matter of the system we gave them being Linux...these folks are not computer users and the concept of right and left mouse clicking eludes them.

A challenge I know...

Now try to imagine trying to teach them with the Language Barrier in place.

We will be helping people like this from time to time. Their story would tug at your heart, but having seen a ten thousand refugee migration in 1991, I can only imagine. These are great people and need our help.

I have also been unable to find an Arabic keyboard or overlay locally so if you know of where we can get one without the wait induced by Internet ordering, we would appreciate your help as well. These folks live on North Lamar in North Austin so if you are able to spend an evening or two with them and help them learn to use their computers, I would be grateful.

This will truly objectify the "community" in The Linux Community.

شكراً

helios

The HeliOS Project Drawing Winners Announced

Try as we did, we were not able to do a live drawing via Twitter this time. We've had spotty wireless signal for over a week but hopefully, Skip Guenter's directional device to be installed later this evening will solve that.

Here are the winners of our drawing. Each winner will be notified by email and we should ship all prizes by this Wednesday. I want to personally thank those who participated. Your participation has allowed us to continue our work and for that I am grateful.




First Prize: Larado Quadrado Cube

Alan Jones

Second Prize: Toshiba Tecra M2 laptop

Jordan Schwartz

Third Prize: AMD 50x15 Internet Device

Samuel Seib

Live linux CD Do It Yourself Kits/Tuxbymail:

Sandi Raston
Phillip Marquez
Dana Johnston
Gregory Detrich

Edit: Our thanks to Alan Jones who has graciously refused the first place prize and asked us to use this computer for The HeliOS Project. We will post pictures of that install for Alan and the Linux Community when we do that particular install.

From the Directors and Volunteers of The HeliOS Project, we want to thank you for helping us do what we do.

All-Righty Then

Linux Dairy Council Steps to the Plate...

I've found myself in some pretty impressive company lately...

online anyway....for now.

Regardless, I am way out of my league here. They are called The Linux Dairy Council (got Linux?)

Here's a listing of the initial attendees of the first LDC meeting. If I missed you, it's my bad...please comment or email me and I will make the edits


Bryen Yunashko - Gnome Dev and OpenSuse Volunteer
Beth Lynn Eicher - Ohio LinuxFest Organizer
Mackenzie Morgan - Ubuntu
Larry Cafiero, Fedora Project and Redwood Digital Research
Joe Brockmeier, OpenSUSE
Nate Willis, - missed you at OSCON...hope to see you at SCaLE
Clint Savage, Fedora Project and Utah Open Source Conference
Alan Pope, Ubuntu
Will Smith (the Utah one, not the Hollywood one), Utah Open Source Conference

Many of us are stumbling around, trying to find the best way to get Desktop Linux into the awareness of the average computer user. There are millions of us already and I am fairly certain that even the most generous stats pertaining to Linux Desktop use are wrong.

There are more of us than I think many of us imagine.

But still...

on whole, the general computing public remains ignorant to the fact that they have a choice in how they use their computers.

Some that will read this blog will shrug and mentally file it under "WGAS"

(you'll figure it out.)

Well, there are many of us WGAS.

I'm going to equate it to a personal experience from a few years ago. I was in Tucson Arizona on Speedway Blvd, walking back to my seminar from lunch. At the curb, was a man in an obvious jam. He was trying to take some small but heavy boxes into a business from his car. I was able to observe him the entire block and while he struggled to keep them balanced and in his arms, maybe 25 people walked by him.

Like he did not exist.

Long before I was able to get within helping range, two young men spoke to him for a second and picked boxes from the top and helped him carry them to his destination.

I don't want to get into the social aspects of how we've become an untrusting society or how doing so might have been dangerous. We should help those who are struggling.

He was obviously on the downside of 60 and struggling with getting something done. He needed help. Could he have done it himself? Sure...stack them at the curb and take them in one or a few at a time.

Seeing the parallels here?

Windows Users do this almost every day. They've developed coping techniques to deal with the shortcomings of what they have to work with...from protecting their computers to transferring files from one folder to another. Tedious tasks most often that could be done much easier in most cases....and we all know examples of this beyond my simple two.

What The Linux Dairy Council prescribes is finding people that will stop and help someone in obvious distress carry some boxes inside.

Or show them that there is an easier way to use their computers.

The Linux Dairy Council Vision Statement:

The LDC is a project to help promote Linux in general, rather than specific distros. To help coordinate marketing and education activities around Linux by creating materials and organizing activities with other projects.

Many people might have some problems with being an active part of the Council...

You must, before anything else, check your distro bias at the door.

See, while we are seeking active and stable distros to take part in the LDC, it isn't a competition...we are going to attempt to use a cooperation model to get this done. Sure...you are a member of the LinuxMint or PCLinuxOS Community...great...get those distros onto as many computers as you want...after all, the goal is World Domination...right?

For Linux...not for any particular distro.

Within the LDC, distros are tools, not religious icons.

We are just now fleshing out some ideas to make this work. I am going to try my best to make it to SCaLE this winter and many of the LDC will meet there, hopefully having our own booth or one that we can at least form a presence. From there, we might be able to put some of our bigger projects into play...many smaller ones should be working by then.

But it's just starting and I wanted you to know. You are an important part of this...the most important part.

Marketing Linux will work...maybe not in the traditional sense, but it will work. We need your ideas.

And I wanted you to be a part of it.

All-Righty Then...