Take A Load Off Fannie

I can remember with crystal clarity at least a dozen people tell me with a straight face, "Real Estate Never Goes Down" as little as 2 years ago. Not only does it indeed go down, but we are now in the biggest financial mess this country has been in since the Great Depression.

Presenting: Ronald Jenkees

I ran across Ronald Jenkees on YouTube.com and he is so obviously talented that I figured the least I could do is give him a spot on my blog.

Russia Rising?

"We live in an epoch changing time. The end of the millennium, the end of the century, the end of the ideological era. It is all global border-lines, challenging us to just so global answers, large-scale reflections. However, within the smaller cycle of our Russian social life the obvious *volte-face* is taking place. It is going to be quite comparable with perestroika and “democratization” in its significance and consequences. In the ideological sense, perestroika was the transitional period from late Soviet, nominally socialist society, to the liberal and democratic model. The term “post-perestroika” has been applied to the description of that political, ideological and cultural model, which appeared after the radical break with the Soviet past and the establishment of the western capitalist market system in Russia." - A. Dugin

A brilliant photo of Alexander Dugin speaking at a Russian Nationalist rally in '07:



"Alexander Dugin, the leader of the Eurasian Movement, speaks during a rally of Russian nationalist groups in central Moscow, Sunday, April 8, 2007, with a billboard in the background. Several hundred young supporters of Russian nationalist groups rallied under heavy guard in downtown Moscow Sunday, calling for the resurrection of the Soviet empire."

www.daylife.com/photo/04szfz4fXL0V0

Video on Free Software and the Third World

An interesting documentary on free software use in Third World economies.

Alan Dayley : Phoenix Linux Users Group

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with Alan Dayley of Phoenix Linux Users Group. Alan had some very interesting things to say from both a Arizona perspective, and from the perspective of someone who helps manage a Linux Users Group.



JMZ: Alan, welcome to my blog! First off, I'd like to thank you for doing this and for all the effort you've put into fostering a Linux community in the Phoenix area. Our readers would like to know a bit more about you, how and why did you first start using Linux?

AD: Thank you for the invitation, Josh. I started really learning about Linux in April of 2000. I had heard of Linux and knew it only as "another version of Unix." I was a mostly happy Microsoft OS user and developer. In April 2000 I started a new job. One of my new co-workers mentioned that we should start using Linux as a testing platform for the company products. He "knew of" a Linux user group meeting somewhere in Mesa. That May (or maybe June) I went to my first PLUG East Side Meeting and walked away with a boxed set of SuSE Linux 6.4 as a door prize.

Install Fest 2002

For the next few months I dual-booted the family computer, doing my real work, like email and so on, in Windows 98 and booting to Linux to play around and learn. At some point I realized that I was not really learning Linux very well by playing. That is when I simply determined to do everything in Linux. If I didn't know how to do something in Linux, I'd force myself to learn how. In January 2002 we migrated the whole family to Linux and have not gone back. The funny part of the story is that the friend and co-worker that pointed me toward Linux is not a regular Linux user, even today. Nor do we use it as much at work as I would like. In fact, at work I am mostly a Microsoft OS user too. But at home and whenever I can, I use Linux and other FS/OSS software. I use it for the freedom and the "tinkerability." As a programmer, I like to dig into the code, though I don't do it much in practice. As an administrator of my family's computers, I like that I don't need to worry about viruses and many of the other attack vectors out on the Internet. I appreciate that my kids can use Linux or Mac or PCs equally well and know concepts like "word processing" instead of just a specific application like "Word" I really like that I don't have to worry about licenses and forking out money to get the functionality I need.

JMZ: I think the 'tinkerability' factor is probably the most attractive aspect of using Open Source for most. This tends to draw in hobbyists who want to learn the principles of computer science or operating systems, the hobby crowd, and also attracts a segment I will call 'power users', who need to get more out of a system than the closed source , ahem *brand X*, platform does not offer. ;) The latter group are looking for superior performance and enhanced market options. Do you think that PLUG is more for the 'garage tinkerers' (the ham radio enthusiasts of today), or for the power user types?

AD: My perception is that most members of plug are into tinkering rather than being power users. The line here is also very blurred but I think most PLUG users would rather understand how things work and have a stable, tailored solution instead of high performance. For example, many PLUG members will brag about how their personal workstation or server is on hardware that is more than 5-years-old. Power users don't brag about old hardware! Still, tinkering around and getting great performance out of old hardware is a powerful thing. So, does that make everyone a power user? ;^) That's how the distinction between tinkering is blurry for me.

JMZ: So why do you put so much into PLUG?

AD: Fostering the Linux community in the Phoenix area comes naturally to me. I enjoy it and get a great deal out of it. I appreciate the thanks but also know I get more than I put in so it doesn't usually feel like a sacrifice.

JMZ: I think one of the reasons you stand out amongst the leadership of PLUG is you like to keep things light, and most importantly: *fun*. PLUG is very much a hobbyist group, but some including myself express a desire to have an organization more devoted to career development. What do you think limits PLUG from operating in this way? Do these two groups antagonize one another, or do they overlap?

AD: Fun is important to me in everything I do. Of course I find Linux/FS/OSS particularly interesting and fun, so the attitude bleeds over into the people part of the group. PLUG can be both hobbyist and "professional," if that is what we make it. However, over the years I have noticed the reality that those desirous to do career development rarely come to meetings. Probably because they have used up their available free time developing their careers. This is not to say that those who do participate in PLUG don't work on their careers, but that they find the interaction of the group valuable in more ways than just applying to their jobs. I personally have used a great deal of what I learn in the group on the job. Everything from understanding of different licenses to tools and applications that are available. For example, it's hard to deploy a solution when one is ignorant of its existence. PLUG interaction exposes me to solutions that I may not need now but may come up later. I have a hard time defining the difference between hobbyist and career development when it comes to personal interaction within the group. We recently had a presentation on using the GNU screen utility (http://www.gnu.org/software/screen/), very handy for a hobbyist or professional. Would it have been a career development presentation if the person talking had worn a tie? I think the content of the email discussions and meetings already apply to both audiences. The manner of presentation is definitely hobbyist and so sometimes feels like it's not career focused.

JMZ: Who do you think are the top 5 contributors @ PLUG?

AD: Only five? It's hard to narrow it down that much.

- The Steering Committee: I will count this group as one. They do regular, sometime mundane work to keep things going. They jump to the front to do presentations when there isn't any other. They start things and fix things.

- Alexander Henry deserves special mention for his work to start and keep the monthly Install Fest going for several years now.

- Darrin Chandler: He's actually a "BSD guy" but his participation with the group over the years has been tremendous.

- A member known as "Tuna" has made a large impact recently. (I'm not using his real name because he is a minor.) He started the West Side Stammtisch with fliers and all. He is a knowledgeable contributor to the group at a young age.

JMZ: What kind of people constitute PLUG?

AD: My view of the types of people participating in PLUG is skewed by my own interests in programming. I seek such people out. However, I think most of the members are system administrator or IT people. This would be followed by hobbyists, programmers and then users. The interesting part is that these lines are crossed all the time. I'm a programmer but I know most any system administrator would write rings around me when it comes to any scripting code like Perl. The open nature of FS/OSS defies anyone to remain in a "pigeon hole" somewhere, even socially in face-to-face meetings. So many users are learning programming and hobbyists are learning enterprise class principles. The cross pollination is very strong and easy.

PLUG Meeting.

JMZ: Are there any interesting trends as far as PLUG attendance goes?

AD: PLUG attendance at the meetings has been largely stagnant lately. There has been some growth at the West Side Meeting but we usually have a core group that is almost always attending with additional new comers that stop attending after a few times. I don't have a good handle on reasons for these people who come but don't continue. I have seen more and more people who are not into computers by trade express interest in Linux and PLUG. It could be that the "market" for group members is shifting away from the technically inclined to more people who see computers as a tool rather than something to tinker with. PLUG will have to shift in that direction too gain a following from those people.

JMZ: I know that most are hardware people- but you've got some web developers and the like- whats the view from a leadership position? How do you account for the fact that PLUG is one of the most active Linux organizations in the country? (given that Phoenix is not considered to be a tech center).

AD: The Phoenix area is a great place to live and work because the people tend to be friendly an accepting, at least in my experience. PLUG reflects that, to a large extent. Lately we have had some heated email exchanges, the first in my recollection at such a strong level. That was both a disappointment and highly out of character to the group. Traditionally PLUG has been and still is accommodating and respectful to all comers. I think the openness to participation keeps the group alive. Besides, what else can you do on a summer afternoon when it's too hot to go outside except email and talk about Linux! ;^) The recent opening of offices for major companies that run on Linux and FS/OSS adds to the energy. I have also been involved with several "proprietary" software people who are driving more social interaction between all developers. Events like Desert Code Camp, largely organized by closed software developers, are opening more channels and possibilities for FS/OSS interaction where it would have been previously discounted or ignored. It's exciting to be here as things begin to bubble! The members and Steering Committee that work and make things happen are the biggest reason PLUG stays active. As long as that continues, PLUG will be worthy of participation and be a viable source of interesting information.

JMZ: Alan, what do you see for PLUG in the next year?

AD: In my opinion PLUG is on the edge of amazing things. If the members can push the group into the local consciousness, capitalizing on the increasing main-stream awareness of Linux, exciting things can come about. An example for the opportunity and challenge before the group: For years I have tried to have my father try Linux. Ubuntu CDs and demonstrations were well recieved but unused or triggered no action. He recently went shopping for a small laptop and, to my surprise purchased an Asus Eee PC without MS Windows. I asked him if he was going to get Windows for it. "No," he replied, "if they ship it with Linux and all this software, I'll give it a try. Besides, it looks good." The challenge for PLUG is to draw such people in because a large percentage of new Linux users will be "non-geeks" like my dad. That will require changes to how we address our meeting audience and communicate in the group. We are trying to move in that direction with multiple topics in one meeting to cover all levels of knowledge. We also have a base for a much improved website and online precense to pul in those that expect "Web 2.0" interaction. But all of this takes work and time from volunteers. If it does not happen, I fear PLUG will miss the people we want to reach the most: new users.

JMZ: Any final words?

AD: First, I thank you for this chance to interview. It has been fun. Second, I have found PLUG to be the single most helpful and valuable resource for my own introduction and education in Linux. I encourage all those interested in Linux to participate with your own LUG, where ever that is. And, if you are in the Phoenix area, PLUG would love to hear from you, especially! Lastly, I would deviate a bit from the main thread in this interview and mention freedom of a wider nature. The world's freedom to create and do and share has never been greater than what we have now. It should only get better. But, many of our freedoms are under attempted restriction by industries and government who enjoyed the default restrictions that digital data eliminates. If we don't choose and use our freedom, we will loose it through DRM, draconian copyright laws and other measures. This effects everything from music to engineering to education. The power of a digital world is only just being imagined and we must do what we can to grow it. PLUG certainly strives to do our little part in that effort.

JMZ: Wow, I feel like Im back in the 90s with all this internet optimism! Thank for being on my blog, Alan.





you can also read more of Alan's thoughts at Freedom Bytes Blog.

for more information on PLUG visit http://plug.phoenix.az.us/

Josh Weiss: Networking The Poor in Guatemala with Partners In Solidarity

I recently had the opportunity to talk to Josh Weiss, who works with Partners in Solidarity. Partners in Solidarity was founded by Matthew Rutman with the vision of bringing computers and technical education to the rural schools and NGO's of the Guatemalan state of Quetzaltenango. The project facilitates the donation of computers, supplied by Next Step Recycling in Eugene, Oregon, to allow for the implementation of laboratories. In partnership with Guatemalan NGO INEPAS, Partners in Solidarity provides sustainable development within the communities of Quetzaltenango, through the dual means of encouraging both computer literacy and community organizing. Josh Weiss, a consultant and technology worker from California, is currently living in Quetzaltenango and working as a volunteer for Partners in Solidarity.

A computer lab built by Partners in Solidarity

JMZ: Can you describe the current state of Guatemala?

JW: I see Guatemala as still reeling from the socioeconomic effects of its 30-plus year Civil War. The Guatemalan Civil War was fought for a variety of reasons, including significantly: a more equitable distribution of land, educating the rural, poor and indigenous, increasing access to health care, encouraging democratic participation and the defeat of the 500 year old patronage farming system. When the civil war ended in 1996, a series of peace accords were signed by the government which promised to address these issues. As the government has been slow in fulfilling its promises, many local and international NGOs have formed to take up the work that addressed in the accords, i.e. building schools, clinics, water treatment centers, monitoring elections, etc. In the Guatemalan Highlands, this includes, for example, the work done by ourselves, Cafe Conciencia and Enlace Quiche. Enlace is a local NGO, funded by USAID, which creates a digital curriculum for teaching Mayan culture and language, as well as training Rural people in technical skills. Incidentally, we use the software created by Enlace on our computers to teach the Kiche language and culture, the predominant indigenous culture in the Quetzaltenango area.

Unloading a Shipment of Recycled Computers from Next Step Recycling in Oregon

JMZ: Do you think the current government regime is stable?

JW: This is a bit of a loaded question. The government IS Stable in the sense that there have been three "democratic elections" since the peace accords were signed, and that all the winners were non military figures. However, what they're doing to better the life of the people we work with, I can't say. There are currently countless problems in the county. Violence is incredibly prevalent: 12 bus drivers were recently murdered in one week by gangs in the capitol, there are lynchings, 26 police officers were kidnapped in the Atlantic port of Puerto Barrios the other day. Malnutrition is high. People are *very* poor. I couldn't believe my eyes last week when I did a school visit. 30 minutes off the main highway to the Pacific Coast, down a dirt road, to a community in the middle of a coffee plantation. I've never seen anything like it and I don't think the kids had ever seen a computer. So id say its "stable-ish".

JMZ: how does your organizations approach differ from others?

JW: I've learned a lot about sustainable development through my work. Basically we function like this: we tell teachers in our department (state) that we have a computer lab project. If they want to participate, they submit a formal application to the organization INEPAS. When INEPAS gets a proposal, they preform a study of the community to make sure that basic necessities, ie nutrition and sanitation, are available within the community. If the community is a good fit for the project, we send along a list of requirements for project participation. If the study shows these factors are lacking, we choose not to work in that community to encourage development in the proper order. Some of the requirements are: building the lab, putting bars on the windows, putting in electricity, having both a security and a maintenance committee, and having a curriculum. Once they do all that, they're requested to contribute 75 Q (About $10) per computer to help with project costs. These costs include the rental for our parts bodega, tech services, curriculum development, container transport and other costs. The contribution is an important part of creating sustainability as it it helps the communities take ownership of the computers. The parents really care, all those committees are volunteer, and let me tell you, seeing a group of twenty or so rural indigenous Mayans who have made the journey to Xela to meet with us and discuss the lab, all discussing their commitment to the lab project for their school (on a work day) is really something. Blows me away every time.

JMZ: so most of the rural Mayans see it as a path to college education?

JW: well, that's about 10 steps ahead I think. It really serves two dual purposes. One is the obvious, introducing kids to computation and the concepts of computers. Whether that's so they can write papers, use the Internet, play games, or find work in the future and yes, it's like literacy tests for voting in the U.S. Black South, they need to know computation to get to university, so at the least it removes that obstacle. University attendance is very rare among our schools, just because it's very expensive, maybe the first born son goes, but all school after elementary costs money, and costs are not only school costs but the transportation costs to get to school, which are really high, especially given the current cost of gas ,which is reflected in bus costs. Purpose two is getting the kids and the parents interested in and proud of their schools, which is huge. There was a Tulane university study done on the effects of our project, which demonstrated that that parents leave their kids in school longer, because they value an education that includes technology. Further, we install software which teaches art, geography, history and indigenous culture, which thoroughly augments the regularly available curricula. These effects are why INEPAS got involved. They developed our sustainable concepts, and administrate the selection of schools.

JMZ: do any of the rural Mayans use the net for business or even political goals? - I'm talking about usage aside from just preparing to become something other than a rural Mayan.

Josh Weiss speaking to a group of Guatemalans

JW: I'd say overwhelmingly, no. There's some interest from some potential donors to train them to use the Internet to sell products as part of getting them online. Mostly what happens now is ONGs in the cities use the internet to sell products FOR the rural population, as Cafe Conciencia above. It's a huge cultural shift (at least in my interpretation) to get people using the internet in that way and certainly one that would be great.

JMZ: coffee is the major export in G. ?

JW: Actually, the number 1 and number 2 income sources for Guatemala respectively are tourism and remittance payments from Guatemalans working abroad. After that, coffee is a large export along with some handicrafts

JMZ: How long has this project been operating?

JW: The project started as an independent organization 6 years ago in 2002. In 2003, the second year of the project, INEPAS got involved, beginning the community involvement aspect of the project. Its now a great partnership between ourselves, Next Step, INEPAS and a local org called Entremundos that provides office, storage and teaching space. As of last year, 2007, we became the official International Computer Placement Program of Next Step Recycling. The involvement of the social organization INEPAS in the Partners in Solidarity project is an important one. They began the sustainable aspects of our project, and will eventually be taking it over to leave it in Guatemalan hands. For them, the project serves not only to build community interest in schools, but to teach the communities about community decision-making and organizing (through the election and organization of committes). Thus, the project serves to teach more than just technology.

JMZ: Any last words regarding your experience in Guatemala? there's a river near XeJW: Its beautiful down here, but in some ways is also pretty shocking. For one example, my mom was here visiting recently, and she noticed things I've stopped noticingla that is literally the town dump for a small rural community. As my mom was looking on in horror, a little kid walked up, smiled right at my mom, and threw a huge bag of garbage in the river, smiled again, and walked away. Its beautiful, shocking, exciting, scary. Shocking and scary because of the story I've just related, and the pervasive top-down cultural and environmental ignorance which allows situations like this to persist. Beautiful, however due to the capacity for change. Just after this story took place, I learned of (and am participating in as a helper and DJ) a festival being put on to clean up this river and raise money to put a garbage collection system in place in Zunil (the town from which the river gets its name).

JMZ: Thanks Josh!



There are many ways to help Partners in Solidarity. For more information on monetary or equipment donations, as well volunteering in Guatemala, please write to Matthew Rutman (psolidarity -at- yahoo.com).

• INEPAS, which is also a really great Spanish School offering 1-on-1 intensive Spanish courses in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala.

• Next Step Recycling, which provides all computers to Partners in Solidarity, among many other great projects.

• Entremundos, which provides Partners in Solidarity with storage and classroom space, as well as maintaining a database of volunteer opportunities throughout Guatemala.

American Healthcare and All You Can Eat Buffet

Healthcare is an issue on everyone's mind these days. Our politicians are talking about it, Americans are complaining about it, Non-Americans are ridiculing it, large overweight media personalities are creating funny documentaries about it. It suffices to say that Healthcare is a topic on everyone's mind.



The issue is in how Healthcare should be managed. The ones who are on the spot, the supposed Healthcare experts generally admit there is a problem. Then you've got the sick and wounded masses who are complaining there isn't enough, that services are inadequate, that profits grossly outweigh deliverables, and that other systems are thriving while ours is dying. While spending an afternoon helping a friend get the doctors, I thought of a good analogy. Americans love a buffet!

So on one end of the spectrum you have public healthcare. These are the systems found in Canada and many parts of Europe. On the other end you have private healthcare providers. America is generally run this way, although private practices have generally died out in the last 50 years. So we have something in between, what I will call The Healthcare Buffet.

In the Healthcare Buffet, you pay one price and take all you want. American's cannot pass a deal like that up, its just too too sweet! But this is not only what Americans value, it is what they are blind to. What is the experience of a buffet like? The food is usually un-nutricious, but perhaps tasty on a very superficial level, the kind of food that makes you want to eat more and more. But you're never satisfied. Finally you stop gorging yourself when your so full you think you're going to keel over. Wow what a great deal.

You look around the buffet dining hall at the other people at the buffet. They are all overweight, the kind of people who never think about what they are putting down their gullet- they are just concerned with how much they can stuff down their throats. They are foolish careless people who are destroying their own digestive systems in the name of eating. This is the type of person that a Buffet attracts.

Meanwhile you consider your other lunch options. There was the fancy gourmet place, you hear the food is good but prices are high. Then there was the company cafeteria, food is terrible but you don't have to pay at all! Hmm... what a dilemma.

This is our Healthcare dilemma. We currently have a buffet. A buffet that attracts the most irresponsible people whose only desire is to consume as much as possible. As supplies run low, the product gets 'greasier' and cheaper. Pretty soon its not a lunch at all, its just a big stomach ache. Much of the problem lies in the problems Americans have with dealing with the sick. It is considered to be unethical to treat a sick person differently than a healthy person. Its a good ethical principle, but its not a good economic principle. It breeds a lack of responsibility. Those who pay in are either clueless healthy young people who haven't discovered any other options (like our lunchgoer above) or unhealthy people who have lost their health due to either misfortune or , even more likely, abuse.




We need to breed the type of Healthcare consumer who is responsible for their own health. Not people who use thousands of dollars in diabetes medication and then drink a gallon of Coca-Cola. Not people who smoke their entire lives and then get lung cancer. Not the type of people who call the ambulance when they stub their toe.

We do want people who are interested in preserving their health, because it is the kind of commodity that is much harder to buy back once you've sold it.