Re: Optaros
Optaros is a good group as far as I can tell. I just discovered them recently in my job search, pursuing them with great interest because it seemed ideal (Get paid to develop solutions based on OpenSource). I interviewed with them, and was offered a postion as a consultant with them (actually the title was Sr. GUI Developer). But, I decided to decline the offer in favor of a postion with OASIS. My decision was influenced in part by the 50% travel that they expect (which can mean working for a stretch of several months at a client location, with only weekend trips home.) My decision was also influenced by the amount of compensation offered, but I am guessing that I/somebody could have negotiated a higher offer. Optaros has a stated policy of having staff dedicate 10% of their time to open source projects to keep up to date. And, they also seem to 'get it' in that they *want* people to be comitters on open source projects. You could make the analogy that it is the equivalent of the traditional consulting companies who boast how many advanced degrees their consultants have on average. "We are comitters on this project, so we know the solution better than anyone else". More than that, they understand the lifecycle and benefits of FOSS development. If client enhancements are not comitted back into the codebase, then the delivered project is essentially a fork and more difficult to maintain. Clients don't have an interest in monetizing an enhancement to FOSS, they are more interested in a robust (and self-maintaining) solution. They also don't have the skills/capacity to join in the community development process. So, without an Optaros, a company is more likely to be a leech. With an Optaros, they have a solution; support; a conduit to see their investment sewn into the project; and thus future dependability. If you are a consultant, they are worth checking out. There are others too. - Greg ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss
Re: Linux + Windows install question
Peter wrote: >Am I better off >putting that Win HD in my machine before installing Linux (or is it >better or just as easy to put the Win HD in the machine after the Linux >install is complete)? > I usually suggest that people install Windows first and Linux second for a dual boot configuration. The Windows bootloader will not recognize other OS's but lilo or grub is perfectly OK with giving you the choice. Definitely Windows first Now whether to put the second HDD on as a slave or as a primary on the second controller That is the question Brian ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss
Linux + Windows install question
I am going to be installing Linux (Debian) on a new HD. I also have a Windows HD that will likely make it onto that machine. Am I better off putting that Win HD in my machine before installing Linux (or is it better or just as easy to put the Win HD in the machine after the Linux install is complete)? Thank you in advance for your input. Peter -- Peter [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- http://www.fastmail.fm - Access all of your messages and folders wherever you are ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss
Re: Toll Booths (Was: Re: [OT] NH protest against HP printers with RFID chips Nov. 5th)
> I don't think this is true. In nearly all the cases I have seen, they are > taking existing cash-only booths and making them cash and Fast Lane. > I have not see one case where they have reduced existing Fast Lane booths > to > dual use. Exits 9 and 10 are often down to only one dedicated FastLane booth, when they have always had 2 before. One of the dedicated ones in each case has switched to usually being a hybrid. I imagine this is less often the case in the city if that's where you're talking about. -Neil ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss
Re: Toll Booths (Was: Re: [OT] NH protest against HP printers with RFID chips Nov. 5th)
On Thursday 27 October 2005 9:41 am, Neil Schelly wrote: > My qualm here is that they are turning FastLane-only booths to > FastLane/Cash booths outside of the city at least. That effectively > makes another cash booth and takes away a FastLane booth. The cash > booths are getting quicker and the FastLane booths are getting slower. I don't think this is true. In nearly all the cases I have seen, they are taking existing cash-only booths and making them cash and Fast Lane. I have not see one case where they have reduced existing Fast Lane booths to dual use. -- Jerry Feldman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Boston Linux and Unix user group http://www.blu.org PGP key id:C5061EA9 PGP Key fingerprint:053C 73EC 3AC1 5C44 3E14 9245 FB00 3ED5 C506 1EA9 ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss
Re: List archives?
"Ken D'Ambrosio" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > Hey, all. On occasion, I like to wend my way down the paths of list > history, looking for this or that. Alas, we don't seem to have anything > that's pre-2002; I most certainly have some stuff from pre-2002, but certainly not the 10+ years that I've been on this list... mwl, where are you? He's got archives of everything on the net since the epoch ;) -- Seeya, Paul ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss
Free-software consulting - Re: Optaros
On Wed, 26 Oct 2005 22:25:18 -0400 [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Christopher Schmidt) wrote: > Are there lots of open source consulting firms around? Yes. A number of folks on this list do Free-software consulting, either a little bit or a lot. And there are quite a few firms which aren't visible on the list. I've been using Free software at every client I've had since about 1998; the trend is clear towards more use of Free software, and more gratifyingly, toward ever more up-front & obvious use of Free software. (As you noted in your OP a lot of the early use was guerilla, things like Apache used "kinda" without management's knowledge.) That's changing, and there seems to be more and more interest in Free software used in daylight. (Let's see... you're in Mass now, right?... :) > Do they do good things for the community? Mixed record, as Ted noted. There has been the occasional horror story. OTOH, that's exactly to be expected - any suppliers of any service will be of about the same spread of qualities over the long run. Especially consultants. :) There have been far more start-ups than survivors (so far), FWIW. Write to me directly if you'd like details on what I know (and don't know). I'll be happy to share. -Bill ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss
Open Source Consulting, was: Optaros
On Oct 26, 2005, at 10:25 PM, Christopher Schmidt wrote: Are there lots of open source consulting firms around? Yup. Do they do good things for the community? Define 'good' and 'community.' In my experience, there are hacks out there, and there are skilled entrepreneurs. Some leave their clients very happy with their solutions, some leave a dissatisfied customer for us to pick up as a client. (To be fair, there are a lot of potential clients out there with unrealistic expectations, too. One of the best skills a consultant can learn is to Just Say No.) Overall I would say people who offer, support and service Open Source software do the OS community good. I contribute where I can, occasionally in cash, often in promotion, but best with satisfied customers. There are leaches who just take, whine that it doesn't work as good as Microsoft Access (ha!) and spread FUD about OS. So, it's a mixed blessing. In web applications, GPL compatibility requirements are pretty slim: since in many cases, you're not redistributing the software (you're running it yourself) there's no need to contribute back changes. Do some people take the time to push changes upstream? Sure. In my business, I'm working with mature applications so bugs are few. However, I spent a lot of time with the MySQL support folks recently chasing down some bugs and/or funny behaviors in their MyODBC drivers, for example. It was self-interested and much as generousity: I needed to get stable drivers working with a client, so helping MySQL AB do that was in both our interests. What do people think about this type of business (consulting on open source) in general? It keeps a roof over my head . Ted Roche Ted Roche & Associates, LLC http://www.tedroche.com ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss
Open Source Consulting, was: Optaros
On Oct 26, 2005, at 10:25 PM, Christopher Schmidt wrote: Are there lots of open source consulting firms around? Yup. Do they do good things for the community? Define 'good' and 'community.' In my experience, there are hacks out there, and there are skilled entrepreneurs. Some leave their clients very happy with their solutions, some leave a dissatisfied customer for us to pick up as a client. (To be fair, there are a lot of potential clients out there with unrealistic expectations, too. One of the best skills a consultant can learn is to Just Say No.) Overall I would say people who offer, support and service Open Source software do the OS community good. I contribute where I can, occasionally in cash, often in promotion, but best with satisfied customers. There are leaches who just take, whine that it doesn't work as good as Microsoft Access (ha!) and spread FUD about OS. So, it's a mixed blessing. In web applications, GPL compatibility requirements are pretty slim: since in many cases, you're not redistributing the software (you're running it yourself) there's no need to contribute back changes. Do some people take the time to push changes upstream? Sure. In my business, I'm working with mature applications so bugs are few. However, I spent a lot of time with the MySQL support folks recently chasing down some bugs and/or funny behaviors in their MyODBC drivers, for example. It was self-interested and much as generousity: I needed to get stable drivers working with a client, so helping MySQL AB do that was in both our interests. What do people think about this type of business (consulting on open source) in general? It keeps a roof over my head . Ted Roche Ted Roche & Associates, LLC http://www.tedroche.com Ted Roche Ted Roche & Associates, LLC http://www.tedroche.com ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss
List archives?
Hey, all. On occasion, I like to wend my way down the paths of list history, looking for this or that. Alas, we don't seem to have anything that's pre-2002; I just checked the three archive links off the wiki, and no dice. I imagine *someone* has a gnhlug mailbox somewhere with everything from pretty much forever (Ben?). Perhaps if that person exists, they could gzip it, and we could throw it up on the wiki? Just kinda wondering... -Ken ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss
Another tuna fish removed :(
As many on this list are likely to remember, there was once a great man page for tunefs in the original BSD. And, like the tuna fish in that man page, another comical documentation entry has been removed, this time in the open source world :( I actually just discovered this today. On a debian system, try this: $ apt-get moo and then, if you have aptitude installed, trying: $ aptitude moo gets you the response: There are no Easter Eggs in this program. Sad, so sad. -- Seeya, Paul ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss
Re: Toll Booths (Was: Re: [OT] NH protest against HP printers with RFID chips Nov. 5th)
> Has anyone been to Atlanta? The EZ-Pass style toll system is what it > should be like anywhere they have an auto-payment type system. You can go > 80mph through the toll plaza. They have two larger lanes on the left side > of the highway and you can zip through like it wasn't even there. Your > little transponder beeps and all is well. This seems to be the direction MA is headed anyway - I know at least a few places have these more separated FastLane paths now. They aren't quite safe at 80MPH, but I don't expect they can redo the entire tolling system for that in a day. At least I hope that's why they're doing it this way on some of the newer tolls. > EZ-Pass seems silly when you still have to wait in like 5-6 cars deep. > Sure it moves faster, but when the cash (now also ez-pass) lanes only have > on person, and the coin lanes have 2-3, it seems silly. My qualm here is that they are turning FastLane-only booths to FastLane/Cash booths outside of the city at least. That effectively makes another cash booth and takes away a FastLane booth. The cash booths are getting quicker and the FastLane booths are getting slower. I love the idea of making FastLane booths out of all the cash booths, but the whole point of FastLane is the dedicated FastLane booths. The lines are getting longer there and shorter in the cash booths because it's cheaper to turn a FastLane booth into a FastLane/cash booth than to turn a cash booth into a hybrid. Eh well... they'll get there eventually. > Then yo go through NY and they have GATES on the EZ-Pass lanes that you > have to actually stop and wait for the gate to raise up... what's the > point! And that's why NY/NJ drivers shouldn't be allowed on the Mass Pike. They all stop in the toll booths, even with everyone else going the usual 15-25MPH. -N ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss
Re: Toll Booths (Was: Re: [OT] NH protest against HP printers with RFID chips Nov. 5th)
On Thursday 27 October 2005 9:26 am, Bill Freeman wrote: > The "point" is for them to be able to reduce their staffing (fire > token sellers/toll collectors). What? You thought that this stuff was > for the customer's convenience? Innocence of youth, I guess. Certainly not. It all comes down to more revenue, lower cost. -- Jerry Feldman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Boston Linux and Unix user group http://www.blu.org PGP key id:C5061EA9 PGP Key fingerprint:053C 73EC 3AC1 5C44 3E14 9245 FB00 3ED5 C506 1EA9 ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss
Re: Speaking of Subversion
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > Hi All, > > I'm looking for a couple of things related to Subversion: I would: a) head over to subversion.tigris.org and poke around b) read the O'Reilly book - online at svnbook.red-bean.com - free with subversion - with source you can even print a dead tree copy c) join the svn-users mailing list d) poke into #svn on freenode. > The first is an integrated build system. Subversion is a revision control system. Make is a build system. Don't confuse the two. There are many different build systems, some good, some not. Some may work with svn, but afaik, there's nothing "integrated with" svn. > The second is a web-based front end like the CVSweb stuff. Is this > built into SVN? There are several. Since svn uses apache as it's network transport, you can "just browse" the repo if set up correctly. There is also a port of CVSWeb to svn, called ironically enough, SVNweb. There are others as well. > I am sure that I will have many more questions. See above. This is likely not the best place to ask :) > This is my first experience with SVN, so I really have no idea what > I'm doing (like this is different from other days? :-) SVN is a lot like CVS, but infinitely better. If you understand CVS, SVN will not be difficult to grasp. -- Seeya, Paul ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss
Toll Booths (Was: Re: [OT] NH protest against HP printers with RFID chips Nov. 5th)
Travis Roy writes: ... > Then yo go through NY and they have GATES on the EZ-Pass lanes that you > have to actually stop and wait for the gate to raise up... what's the point! The "point" is for them to be able to reduce their staffing (fire token sellers/toll collectors). What? You thought that this stuff was for the customer's convenience? Innocence of youth, I guess. Bill ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss
Re: [OT] NH protest against HP printers with RFID chips Nov. 5th
"Thomas M. Albright" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: >> Are rental car companies responsible for the speeding violations >> of those renting? > > No; note the difference between renting and borrowing. You are paying to > use the car. Your name is in the records as the current user of the car. > If the car is used to break the law, you are responsible. > >> Are employers responsible for speeding violations of employees when >> driving company owned vehicles? > > See the above answer. It's all in the paperwork. So, if I "rent" the car to my friend for $5, and have him sign some paperwork, I'm in the clear? >> Are parents responsible for speeding violations of their children when >> the kids borrow the car from Mom or Dad? > > They should be. Parents should always be held accountable for the > actions of their minor children. I can say that: I am a parent. If I > don't teach my kid properly, so he doesn't know right from wrong, that > should be put on me as much, if not more, than him. Actually, yes, if they're a minor. And though not a law, I'll certainly be held responsible by my insurance company! It's my insurance they're on, and it's my insurance premiums that'll go up! -- Seeya, Paul ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss
Re: Toll Booths (Was: Re: [OT] NH protest against HP printers with RFID chips Nov. 5th)
On Thursday 27 October 2005 8:16 am, Travis Roy wrote: > Has anyone been to Atlanta? The EZ-Pass style toll system is what it > should be like anywhere they have an auto-payment type system. You can > go 80mph through the toll plaza. They have two larger lanes on the left > side of the highway and you can zip through like it wasn't even there. > Your little transponder beeps and all is well. I am unaware of any tools in Atlanta, but some of the toll systems south of NY are now higher speed. The Mass Pike at Allston has 2 open-style lanes in either direction but they still enforce the 15 MPH speeds as NY does with their 5MPH. -- Jerry Feldman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Boston Linux and Unix user group http://www.blu.org PGP key id:C5061EA9 PGP Key fingerprint:053C 73EC 3AC1 5C44 3E14 9245 FB00 3ED5 C506 1EA9 ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss
Re: [OT] NH protest against HP printers with RFID chips Nov. 5th
Brian Chabot <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > Plus all over they have cameras. Pointed at your license plate. You > know it wouldn't be too hard to use OCR and a stopwatch to catch you > speeding through tolls. Travis Roy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > That is probably the most important thing to me with RFID, that it > only transmits a unique ID that is later cross referenced by somebody > else that has the information. I don't want my name and other info > sent over RF waves, but if 2451346256345243245 does and then a cop or > whoever can look up "2451346256345243245" and that brings up my info, > that's alright with me. And what if it *isn't* you driving the car. The big difference between them issuing you a ticket at the toll booth and cross-referencing the information is the fact that may not in fact be you driving, and you're getting mailed a ticket for something you may not have done, nor even be aware of. If they issue the ticket at the booth, they can at least issue it to the actual person driving. But if they just record the license plate number or RFID number and "mail it in", as they often do with traffic-light cams, there is no way they can know you weren't driving the car. Suddenly you now have to defend yourself against a crime you didn't commit. The best case scenario is that they drop the charges when you contest, however, you've still been cost a day of your life defending yourself. The worst case scenario is that you have to prove your innocence and somehow lose. So, now you're out time, money, at least one vacation day from work, in addition to increased insurance premiums. Tell me again how this use of technology is a good idea? > If you're worried about it, you can take other roads, use coins for > this trip, or (novel concept) not break the law. Right, and how about the novel concept of the *state* not breaking the law! Are you aware that *every* speed limit sign in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with the exception of those within and marked by School Zone signs, must, by state law, be approved and issued by the State Highway Dept. ? Are you also aware that *daily* hundreds of speeding tickets are issued to drivers based on speed limit signs "just put up" by local towns without having followed the proper State laws? So, by law, if there is a speed limit posted in an area, and that speed limit was not approved by the State Highway Department, *legally* you can not be issued a speeding ticket for speeding in that area, because it an unlawfully posted speed limit. So, if the State can't even follow the simple laws of posting properly approved speed limit signs, *why* should I ever think they're going to do so when it comes to the abuse of a technology that has the ability to easily increase their revenue with little or no expenditure on their part? -- Seeya, Paul ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss
Toll Booths (Was: Re: [OT] NH protest against HP printers with RFID chips Nov. 5th)
(However, they will ticket you if you go too fast through the toll booth). That's the one thing I don't like about the Fastpass/EZ-Pass system up here. Has anyone been to Atlanta? The EZ-Pass style toll system is what it should be like anywhere they have an auto-payment type system. You can go 80mph through the toll plaza. They have two larger lanes on the left side of the highway and you can zip through like it wasn't even there. Your little transponder beeps and all is well. EZ-Pass seems silly when you still have to wait in like 5-6 cars deep. Sure it moves faster, but when the cash (now also ez-pass) lanes only have on person, and the coin lanes have 2-3, it seems silly. Then yo go through NY and they have GATES on the EZ-Pass lanes that you have to actually stop and wait for the gate to raise up... what's the point! ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss
Re: [OT] NH protest against HP printers with RFID chips Nov. 5th
On Wednesday 26 October 2005 6:14 pm, Brian wrote: > > just as you can challenge a radar device on > > its calibration. > > Have you ever tried that? I have. It doesn't work very well. The radar > companies basically train the cops on how to defend themselves and their > radar units in court. This is true. You would probably spend more on an attorney than the resulting ticket and added insurance costs. The chances of getting a mis-calibrated radar today is probably very rare. I pointed this out because if the states start to use times through the toll booths to issue tickets, they must also insure that the systems are properly time-synced because there is always the guy who will hire an attorney to challenge it. While it is not important enough for me to research properly, I believe that at least in Ma. when Fast Lane was initiated, the legislature passed a law that would prevent it from being used this way. (However, they will ticket you if you go too fast through the toll booth). -- Jerry Feldman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Boston Linux and Unix user group http://www.blu.org PGP key id:C5061EA9 PGP Key fingerprint:053C 73EC 3AC1 5C44 3E14 9245 FB00 3ED5 C506 1EA9 ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss
