[Crapshoot E-Zine] Issue 15: 04.30.02

        
      Issue 15: 04.30.2002
      Sorry about publishing this issue so late; I had a very hectic week, but 
it was fun. I didn't really have time to write this issue until today, so bear 
with me and check it out.

      My German lessons are going well. I'm able to say a few phrases and have 
found ways to use it daily. I actually had an intelligent conversation, in 
German, with my teacher, Mrs. Destang (she speaks several different languages 
including German and Spanish). We basically exchanged greetings, I told her I 
understood a little German, and she told me to go sit down and read my book. It 
was really cool...I was speaking another language! I can also speak a little 
German with my mom (she took a few years of it in high school), my friend Shawn 
(he's learning it as well), my maternal grandmother (as she's been learning it 
ever since I've known her) and my other teacher Mr. Ignoffo (he took a few 
years of it in high school).

      Besides my little exploration with German, I installed Red Hat Linux 7.2 
in a dual-boot configuration on my workstation (Windows 2000/Red Hat Linux 
7.2). Last time I tried Red Hat Linux 7.2, I couldn't get the sound, PPP 
connection, and CD-Roms to work. Last time, I used a copy of the Professional 
Edition, which is the same as the Standard Edition, but it includes a few extra 
CDs of applications. This time, I'm using a Standard Edition that was given to 
me by the head geeks at Champion Solutions Group, where my mom works now. I'm 
finding reasons to use Linux as much as possible since I installed it. Only 
problem is that I have 240mb worth of updates to download and install via Red 
Hat's Update Agent.

      Word of advice about the Update Agent, NEVER close the application via 
the "Kill App" option. I did so and couldn't get it to finish what it was doing 
at a later time. It stopped working, so I had to go to the Red Hat Linux 7.2 
Errata site and download the latest version. After the update, it started 
working again. Actually, once you get Linux up and running, you should probably 
update the update programs, if one is available in your distribution. Some 
distros, like Slackware, don't have an update agent, however in the case of 
Slack, one isn't needed. Since Slack is such a bare-bones distro, very few 
updates need to be downloaded in comparison to bigger distros such as Red Hat.

      I've noticed that GNOME doesn't seem as stable and fast in Red Hat Linux 
7.2 as it does in Red Hat Linux 7.1 (KDE runs very well, but I'm not much of a 
KDE fan). Since it's a new version of GNOME (1.4, I think?) thought, it's 
understandable. Not to mention, I'm running it on a PII 233mhz with 256mb RAM. 
It runs fine, but it's a little slow. Linux can run on a system like that with 
decent speed and no problems, however, since Red Hat added the Nautilus file 
manager, it eats up my resources. I'm actually running Red Hat Linux 7.1 with X 
Windows and GNOME on a Pentium 200mhz machine with 128mb and still getting 
great results. After I download the updates, (I'll probably start it tomorrow 
morning and let it run all day) everything should run smoother.

      On Thursday, Mom took me to work with her for "Take Your Child to Work 
Day". I like the people there; they're very nice. I mostly hung with Dave and 
Rob (the top computer gurus) and Roseanne (training and certification 
specialist). I also talked with some other people there such as Dwight. At the 
end, I walked away with two Linux class textbooks (big binders with printouts 
covering Linux administration and networking), IBM and Red Hat merchandise, and 
a copy of Red Hat Linux 7.2 Standard Edition.

      I talked to the computer gurus about Linux, in which one of them showed 
me his laptop, which was dual-booting with SuSe Linux and his Sharp Zaurus, the 
Linux-powered hand held. The Zaurus costs about $500, but it runs a 206 mhz 
StrongArm processor, has 64mb RAM, and a color screen. You can attach Compact 
Flash memory and network cards and SD cards, including 1 GB IBM microdrives. 
The Zaurus has a QWERTY keyboard and a full range of applications from word 
processors to web browsers to a VNC client/server to a SaMBa server/client. Oh, 
it was great.

      After that, I moves the contents of a file cabinet from a training room 
on the first floor to the second floor. I was the only "child" doing it, as the 
others (all around ten years of age) ran away. No big deal, as Dave and Rob 
were going to show me the "Development Room" where they house racks and racks 
of servers, which they use to show possible solutions to clients. By moving the 
contents of the file cabinet and helping in general, Roseanne asked the 
managers if I could stay past noon (the "children" are supposed to leave by 
then), and they "okay"ed it.

      I went down to the "Development Room" afterwards, where Dave showed me 
all of the servers. I never imagined such a grand site. They had a Shark 
storage unit (120 TB per enclosure and up to two enclosures, if I remember 
correctly), an IBM FastT700 data unit (16.15 TB maximum over twenty-two racks), 
and a IBM DLT Tape Autoloader which holds about 125 100 GB (200 GB compressed) 
tapes per rack and can be expanded to sixteen racks. The APC power back up 
units were each (there were two) as big as my entertainment center. Man, was I 
in geek heaven.

      It seemed the gurus took a liking to me. Both of the gurus I hung out 
with were the "computer gods" of the company. Rob and Dave took me out to 
lunch, which is a big honor. Roseanne told Mom that I must go to lunch with 
them because its such a big deal. They're really nice, too. They're not 
intimidating, either, as they made me seem intelligent also and took the time 
to explain everything to me.

      Dave even let me explore the Linux server they have set up with the root 
(read: god) account. He told me to be careful and left the room. Oh, the Linux 
server was sweet. It was a Netfinity rack-mounted server running Red Hat Linux 
7.1 on a 1 Ghz PIII with 256 MB RAM and SCSI Ultra3 hard drives. I wish I had 
one, but even more, I wish I had a Sharp Zaurus, but both systems have very 
steep prices (at least for a fourteen year old).

      I'll try put the pictures up on my web site ASAP.

      Until next Sunday, see you later, and enjoy this issue of The Crapshoot.

      RJ Nowling
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      Except where indicated otherwise, all content is written by Ronald J. 
Nowling.
     

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      Table of Contents

      1. CS Site
      2. CS Audio
      3. CS Literature
      4. CS Goodies
      6. CS Links
     

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      CS Site

      Housecall

      Sadly, many people don't have anti-virus software or don't download 
updates regularly. This site is for them or for people who want to check their 
system with another anti-virus product just to be safe. When you visit this 
site, you're prompted to download a small Java applet that'll run in your 
browser, and after downloading it, the applet will download the latest 
anti-virus updates and scan your system for viruses. The best part is that it's 
free, but it doesn't run all of the time, only when you run the scan. You still 
need to have anti-virus software running all of the time.
     

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      CS Audio

      Fine Classics

      At some point or another, everyone wants to listen to some peaceful and 
relaxing Classical music, but if you're like me, you don't know anything about 
Classical music and don't know which CD to buy. What does it mean when its in C 
minor or when the song is played by such and such instead of such and such? 
Fine Classics plays music composed the most popular Classical composers.
     

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      CS Literature

      A Clockwork Orange-Anthony Burgess



      I think everyone has heard of this story, and if you don't, you just 
have. Recently, a special version of A Clockwork Orange was published that 
included an extra chapter that was excluded from the first U.S. version and 
wasn't part of the movie directed by Klubtcher. So go on, and read the real 
ending!
     

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      CS Webcam

      San Dona' di Piave

      Italy is such a fascinating county--from the county to the language to 
the people, but not everyone can travel there or live there. It's nice to take 
a look at Italy sometimes and that what this web cam provides--a look at San 
Dona' di Piave.
     

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      CS Goodies

      Name: Reborn | Type: Background Image | Creator: cybergenics

     

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      Links

      Free Online Virus Scan
      Fine Classics
      San Dona' di Piave
      Reborn
      Red Hat
      Champion Solutions Group
      Red Hat
      IBM
      SuSe Linux
      Slackware

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