Diary of a Network Geek

Okay, here it comes!

For some time now, Novell has been talking about releasing their Nterprise tools on a Linux kernel instead of their standard Netware kernel. Well, according to this press release, they’ve done it! You can get more information about Novell’s Linux offerings here.

I really can’t say enough about how exciting this is. I mean, to have such a huge company with such a great networking reputation backing Linux is just too cool. And, the news media is really talking it up. Slashdot.org had all kinds of stuff about Novell’s move to include Linux in their stable of products. Also, I’m pretty stoked because I just recently got my Linux+ certification and, of course, I love Novell products. Maybe, just maybe, I can avoid certifying on Microsoft products and instead ease into a Linux/Unix SysAdmin gig, with Novell on the side. Oh, man, that would be so cool! Ah, well, I guy can dream!

He was a great man, no matter your politics.

Strom Thurman was the oldest serving Senator, a war hero, and a truly amazing man. He was also, like me, a Freemason.
You can read more about his political careeer at MSNBC, here.

Give you a hint: It’s not selling books!

Nope, it’s selling software and services. Hey, I guess we are a serivce economy after all! According to this story at Wired News, Amazon.com has made their real money selling the software that runs their website and selling customized portal services for big customers. (Sort of like the work my wife did for IndigoPool.com.) And, they seem to be doing it for smaller customers, too, though the article didn’t seem to focus on that as much. In any case, it’s interesting to me because Amazon is one of the few survivors of the DotBomb.

Well, dang it, it was interesting to ME!

The digital age sure takes a toll on these guys.

Looks like there’s a bill in the works to make the FBI responsible for enforcing copyright laws, at least on-line. According to this article on MSNBC, that same bill that Orrin Hatch is backing, will give the FBI a whole lot more power when it comes to poking around in private copyright enforcement. Hey, weren’t the Secret Service supposed to handle stuff like that? Hmm, maybe that was just counterfieting currency. Anyway, seems like someone with RIAA has gotten to some senators that don’t really understand what’s involved here. Or, more frightening still, senators that do understand what’s involved and just don’t care! Man, these guys in government really scare me sometimes…. Hey, maybe I should run for office! I can’t do any worse than they do!
Well, there’s some stuff to think about, no matter how you slice it.

You know what I love best about having my own website?

It’s that I get to roast idiots who post comments that just lack substance or validity. Last week, I posted something about the Indian job squeeze. Well, it seems that some poor, cowardly reader who wouldn’t leave his name or an e-mail address didn’t like the idea that American jobs should go to Americans instead of temporary, guest workers. Well, isn’t that a shame?
I think we should scrape parasites off the American economy. I think we should let American citizens get first pick of American jobs. Next, legal immigrants (i.e. Green-card holders) should get their shot. Then, if there’s anything left, we ought to see if our NAFTA brothers need any work. You know, the Canadians and the Mexicans who agreed to participate in a shared economy. Along with them, if there are any folks in American territories, who need jobs, c’mon along. Finally, if there is anything left, maybe we should give up some jobs to the rest of the global economy. But, you know, I expect that every other country in the world should act the very same way!
Now, let me make this very, very clear: I do not have any problems with legal immigrants! Immigration to America is what made this country great. What I do have a problem with is parasites that want to come here, take our money, and then flee to their impoverished home countries to live like kings.
I’m an American. A citizen of the United States of America. As bad as our economy might be right now, we’re still arguably the fiscally strongest nation on the planet. And, I think we should stay that way by taking care of our own people first, not last. So, I stand behind my earlier comments. Start canceling the H1B1 visas and start giving jobs to your own citizens.
Now, if that makes me a “bigot” or a “racist” or, even, a “fascist”, as the cowardly commenter labeled me, then, so be it. I see myself as a proud American Citizen who thinks that fellow American Citizens should come first in our own country. Last time I checked, that was the definition of a Patriot. You want to work in the United States? Great! Become a citizen and pay taxes just like the rest of us do.

And, if any H1B1 visa holders don’t care for that, they can just, well, go home!

Senator Hatch needs to be more careful before he mouths off.

First, he had unlicensed software on his site while he was spouting about how copyright holders should be allowed to “destroy” pirates’ computers. Then, he has an outdated link to a search engine that redirects to an “adult” site. (Details about both are in this article at Wired News.)

Now, my question is, do we want this Luddite making decisions about our technology? I don’t, that’s for sure. But, you know what, he is going to be. He’s already introduced bills about this stuff, which he really doesn’t seem to understand. Why? Why do we let him? Look, I’m as good a Republican as anyone else in the Party, but I do NOT want this guy making long-term intellectual property law. Remember this at election time, folks. Hmm, maybe it is time to vote Libertarian…..

Well, I’m working on it!

So, I finished the Exam Cram 2 Novell Netware 5.x to 6 Upgrade book and I’m getting ready to study my but off. That usually means banging away at the Self Test Software pre-test until I score way up in the 90% and above range. That almost always assures me of a passing grade the first time out. And, when money is tight, that really counts. In any case, this method has worked for me in the past, so I’m pretty sure it will work for me again.

Okay here are two stories about kids and their place in society.

More to the point, how they’re inappropriately categorized. The first story is about gum with inappropriate, stick-on tattoos. The tattoos, which I normally enjoy, included nudity, sexually explicit material and references to the Klan. These are subjects that are inappropriate for me and I’m 34 years old! The gum is made in Turkey and shipped to a distributor here in the States, who has said they’d pull all the gum. I wonder if the factory people in Turkey sent us those tattoos on purpose? Trying to stir up trouble in the States and/or corrupt our children? No matter how you slice it, it’s damn disturbing. Now I have to watch what comes with the candy, not just how much candy my kids eat.
You can read the story here.

The other story is a little more cute. Apparently, a seven-year old got on the list for military recruiters and has gotten calls, or letters, from both the Marines and the Navy. But, little Joey doesn’t think much of the facilities that sailors get, so it looks like the Marines have the edge on recuiting this youngster!
You can read that story here.

I have to say that this is poetic justice.

Of course, the majority of H1B1 technology workers are from India, and based on my opinions previously expressed regarding that situation, it should be no suprise that this story on Wired News made me smile. It seems that the folks over in India who have been the source of outsourced jobs are falling prey to even cheaper markets. I wonder how they feel about that now? Can they taste the delicious irony of having jobs they stole from Americans being stolen from them? Will the cheapest market end up being trailer parks back here in the U.S.?

I hate the fact that I start to sound like a union rep when I get going, but I think it’s time for American jobs to go to Americans. I think we need to stop outsourcing tech jobs off the continent. Hey, let’s at least keep it inside the NAFTA borders, okay? Isn’t that what NAFTA was supposed to be about? If you’re a computer person, or related to one, remember these hard times and what caused them for those of us in the IT field when it comes time to vote. Vote for people that limited H1B1 visas and tried to give jobs to American workers. Divided we fall, but united we stand.

Hmm, this looks cool.

Of course, the big expense is getting that TV tuner card. And, I have no idea how that works with cable, or digital cable, but it must be doable. In any case, this article on Wired News seems to indicate that someone, somewhere has done it. I’m not sure that I could do it without a lot of effort, but, I have to admit that I’ve always wanted a TiVo. I’m just too, too cheap to shill out that kind of regular fee, though. I mean, really, digital cable is expensive enough! Still, being able to string together all the episodes of, say, the Justice League without any commercials. Or, better yet, X-Men:Evolution… Hmm, that’d be nice. Well, maybe I’ll do that one day. Should I solict donations to pay for it? Hmm, maybe that’s going a bit too far!