LAMPD or "Linux as my primary desktop" is still elusive. I have a new T41 and started over in the planning. Outlook 2003 is rather pleasant and I always have a Windows based game that I think I will have the time to play sitting in the CD drive. A USB 2.0 DVD burner and the Sprint G3 connection to my phone makes this combo hard to move from.

I still feel like I can't move until I understand everything about how to do everything in Linux. For example, I seem to stumble over the route command in Linux which is where I am having a problem with my other RH9 based laptop when I am using WiFi card or Sprint G3 connection. It is little setbacks like that slow the move down. I think it is a catch 22. I won't move until I feel comfortable but I can't feel comfortable as LAMPD until after I moved and built my confidence.

I have been contemplating sometime the possibility of making my primary workstation Linux instead of the corporate Windows XP. I have that Freedom (some do not) but want to build a pro/con list to do so. I think it is possible now as some things that were preventing me from moving are now available on Linux. I am going to build a list of "features" that are important to me that I use on Windows and rate that against what it would take to get it to work on Linux. Some things I have already moved over and work rather well (vpn client to coprorate network) and some things work even better (using my cell phone and Sprint G3 service to access the internet). Some I know are going to be a problem (Delorme TopoUSA mapping program) or impossible.

I downloaded Gnome Meeting and got it working (I think). As far as this kind of stuff, the speed at which Linux is moving forward is amazing. It might be behind but we are running faster than the rest (well, the other racer). Gnome Meeting, my RedHat is off to you.

Here is my latest line of thinking on how to use Slashdot. I wanted to begin experimenting with what is the best way to use the Friends/Fans/Foes/Freaks (I like how they all start with 'F', I'm sure that was the idea) stuff with Slashdot. OK, I can't force at gun point people to be my fans...multiple problems with that now that I think about it. So I had to start being a fan. But Who? So I pulled up user number 1 and thought. If CmdrTaco thinks they are valuable to have as a friend then they are good enough for me. So my Friend list mostly matches his. Now, if I am using this incorrectly then I'm sure a few are looking at their Fans list and saying, who the heck is chamilto0516.

At least this journal entry is here to answer their question.

In addition to the moderation and meta-moderation features, I have begun to explore the usefulness (and I see them as useful) of slashdots friends & freaks, journals and message systems. I still haven't put it all together yet but I see something I like and is beneficial every time poke at this big Perl script.

In the last month I have meta-moderated about a half dozen times and have even been given 5 moderator points. Until I saw it in action, I never would have understood the brilliance in this collective quality effort/program. You are basically having a group bring the quality of something they depend upon without an army of central authority. I remember my former consulting employeer's knowledge base always had poor quality because a small staff was responsible for the whole things content. They often didn't know how to classify information correctly because they didn't know the subject matter. You have solved that problem (not for them, they don't have slashcode...they do have Lotus Notes but I guess they have bigger fish to fry).

I'm thinking of using such a technique to build an RFI/RFP question bank up and running and force users of the system to moderate and meta-moderate often. Hmmm...can I do this? Did you patent this concept?

Slashdot, my hat is off to you.