Using an agile methodology to build anything that is an expensive one-shot build (bridge, rocket, automobile, etc) that has to last forever is insanity.
Using a "systems engineering" top down approach to build something that can be torn down and built instantly for virtually free is equally stupid. Especially when the complete specifications are simply not available now.

Technology has changed. Connected devices and package management tools have made systems that used to be expensive one-shot builds into systems that can be reconfigured, repurposed and rebuilt nearly instantly and for nearly free. It's now an agile world. Get used to it works with a few warts that will be fixed in the next update.

You should look at what Nixon wanted to do in the 1970s.

Ubuntu server is very good, but you really will have to deep-dive into Apache and the mail server of your choice which adds about 200% over just learning Linux. In your case, though, it sounds more like you are setting up to serve a few PHP apps. If that is the case, I'd recommend setting up on a Cpanel based hosting service (Cpanel runs on CentOS and has become a de-facto standard for serving PHP apps like PHPBB 3). If you need a dedicated server, you can find places where you can get a Cpanel server for $100/month-$200/month... or you can license it for your own server. There is a reason that Cpanel is so popular...

Ignore all the static here about "another admin who doesn't know what he/she is doing". Every one of us here knew nothing at one time. Yes, you'll learn a few lessons the hard way, but as long as you have regular backups and pay attention to ensuring users have strong passwords, you probably will not do anything you can't recover from.

[joke]I'm sure passing a law mandating that CO2 no longer enter the atmosphere will work about as well as Indiana's ill fated attempt to legislate the value of pi.[/joke] Even if the legislation indirectly tired to stop CO2 emissions by targeting human behaviors, it would be rife with loopholes, ignored, and probably near unenforceable.

If the problem is the level of CO2 in the atmosphere then develop the process and supporting technology for removing CO2 from the atmosphere. Sure, funding the solution is political, but it's not a grade a scapegoat, beard and all. Solve the problem instead of putting a stupid hack in place that only works when specific human behaviors are the source of CO2. Apply science. Engineer. Invent. Make something that actually solves the problem instead of a workaround for idiot users that will only work until a better idiot comes along.

They wouldn't have this issue if there wasn't an opposition that will shout it to the heavens every time a mistake or revision is made in relation to global warming but every statement made in support of it is ignored, even if the two are part of the same package.

When you advocate a political solution (carbon credits, taxes, laws, regulations) to a scientific problem, you create a fantastic scapegoat that can be used by politicians to further their own power. The ones shouting at the heavens? They are using the scientists as the scapegoat. The ones screaming "end of the world"? Same play, different angle. Both are the oldest play in the political playbook. On top of that, creating a crisis ("we're destroying the earth"), gives politicians cover to move quickly and with impunity.

People in real sciences forget that political types have a science of their own: political science, complete with it's own great masters like like Socrates, Plato and Machiavelli. If you think a political solution is the best way to address a technology problem, you are tossing a gross of bottle rockets in a campfire and acting surprised when people get burned.

Don't worry about teaching them computer science, focus on sharing what you do. Bring in some pictures and video. Maybe make a little powerpoint with a wireframe mock up, an UML chart, ERD or flowchart, some code and a screenshot of the finished product and talk about how you take an idea, plan how to implement the idea (or solve the problem), and then create code. Kids will really be interested in what happens if you make a mistake and how you boss decides you are doing a good job (if you are the boss, then talk about finding good people, and what makes a person good or bad for the job). They'll also be interested in the place your work (big picture, the building, what it looks like) and the kinds of people you work with.

Maybe go around the office and explain what people on your team do (analysts, testers, etc) and ask them simple questions like "why is your job important" so the kids get a sense that you are part of team, and that everyone has their part to do. Adults forget a lot of times that kids are just as smart as adults, they just don't have any experience... so they are VERY interested in what your life is like even if they aren't ready for CS120 yet.

Facts: Caldera purchased SCO, Inc. Life was good. Then investor Ralph Yarro pushed Caldera into a radical direction in 2002. First, most of SCO was spun off as Tarantella. Second, SCO was renamed the SCO Group and began trying to extort license revenue out of companies that used Linux.

It was bizarre. A near 100% reversal of direction. To date, no one, and I mean no one, from Ransom Love (former Caldera CEO) to Darl McBride (CEO pushed in by Yarro who displaced Love) can explain what happened. Up unitl 2002, Caldera had fought tooth and nail to get Linux into the enterprise (that is what their distribution was) and suddenly did an about face and started attacking Linux.

At this point, I'd love to hear the story of what cause the change in 2002.

Wait until they ribbonize the task bar.

I think MS is about to have a Unity moment.

If your GUI is so cryptic you need a search box, you've failed as a GUI designer.

Challenge rejected. There is a difference between complaining about change and complaining about the addition of the suck feature.

A) Angry Birds is ranked 3rd and Angry Birds Rio is ranked 4th in Android sales as of right now on both Google and Amazon's app stores.

And you are correct in thinking that last year's thinking is what you are selling right now. This year's thinking will lead to products in the future.

The problem with Android is that there isn't the same capabilities to lead to uniform software on all the Android platforms.

Not one of the factors you cited matters. See Microsoft Windows for an example of why. It may suck, but in it's time Windows nearly put Apple under because of three things:

- Windows API and PCs were compatible enough. Imperfect, yes. Good enough, yes.
- It allowed computer manufacturers to spend less on R&D getting new models to market compared to Apple (or Sun, Silicon Graphics, etc...).
- More importantly, there was a lot more manufacturing capacity behind PCs which led to very fast price erosion... which increased unit sales quickly.

Oh, and Android is MUCH better than Windows was back in the 3.11 days.

It's absolutely no wonder Apple is kicking Android's butt

Except that isn't happening. Android is outselling iPhone, and Android tablets hold 30% of the market and are gaining momentum quickly enough that many analysts think that we are 1-2 years from Android beating iPad. Personally, I think it will happen faster as prices on Android tablets will go down to $100-$150 in the next year.

Actually, the whole idea that there's more money in iPhone is last year's thinking and Angry Birds is last year's game.

The end result is that the very wealthy will have the most educated children. Those in the upper middle class who are willing to sacrifice will have reasonably well educated children....The poor can go fuck themselves.

In most states with strong reform movements, Vouchers are allowing even the poorest parents to send their children to the expensive private and parochial schools that rich families send their kids to. Charter schools are also giving parents better alternatives to traditional public schools, but the benefit is not as large as what you see with vouchers.

These shitheads have gotten parents to sue schools for ridiculous things.

Like violating their child's constitutional rights and/or injuring them.

These shitheads have gotten on school boards and are in local, state, and federal government.

Which in a democracy is how your fix a problem. Run for school board. Get a job with the DOE. Do something. If others agree with you, they'll vote you in (or hire you) and you can help fix the problem. Chances are they won't vote for you because you are rude and you show a profound lack of respect for the people that would otherwise probably elect you or hire you.