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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">If you would like to have a speaker on
zfs, that is my area of expertise.<br>
<br>
lk<br>
<br>
On 11/25/13 2:08 PM, John Frisk wrote:<br>
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<div>Having helped out to run the Penguins Unbound group I
like the ideas Michael and Erik have proposed. Even
though Penguins Unbound has had InstallFests centered
around Ubuntu, we just had our InstallFest in November
and there was Mint, Fedora, Ubuntu, etc. all tried out.
I believe there will always be a place for activities
like that in which one could say it falls in the
eco-system of Linux. <br>
</div>
Going forward there are several great ideas proposed for
future topics (ZFS, Puppet) for the group. These will
not be Ubuntu or even Linux specific per se but have ties
the IT professional community in general (and happen to
run on Linux).<br>
</div>
<br>
I would support meeting in January to refocus the group. I
think the mailing list serves its purpose for a casual
question/communication vehicle but I am unaware if the TCLUG
has met (other than to occasional social event). <br>
<br>
I would even propose a straw man that really centers around
the IT professional community that has tracks (like a
conference).<br>
</div>
These tracks could include something like: applied languages
(java, ruby, php), operating system focus (android, BSD, et.
all), scripting/automation, etc. Each track could meet
whenever it wanted assuming some volunteer to manage said
track. There are already groups that have this focus and
maybe they would (if they wished) coordinate and/or run the
track. In short, I'm proposing that while a Linux User Group
is definitely a piece of the fabric of the IT community, the
fabric is rich and should be flexible to the other pieces of
fabric to promote computing in general. The refocus could
help bring out the focus around Linux and what is needed by
our community in the Twin Cities.<br>
<br>
</div>
Count me in to be willing to assist.<br>
<div><br>
</div>
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<div class="gmail_extra"><br>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Nov 25, 2013 at 12:30 PM,
Michael Moore <span dir="ltr"><<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:stuporglue@gmail.com" target="_blank">stuporglue@gmail.com</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
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<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0
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There seemed to be a great deal of interest in
desktop Linux 10 to 15 years ago. Local Linux events
were well attendend. Apple was languishing and a lot
of smart people were trying to do what they could to
avoid Microsoft's apparent monopoly of everything.<br>
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<div><br>
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<div>10 years ago you pretty much needed local Linux
support because you were going to have some sort of
install problem. If you were coming from Windows you
might not have ISO burning software so even getting
a CD might be difficult. If you got past install,
you might need to compile a kernel to get support
for some specific piece of hardware. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Users coming into Linux now are likely to
discover it online, discover support communities
online and ask for help in distro-specific forums
instead of joining a local LUG. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0
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But these days? Look around. It would appear desktop
Linux is increasingly becoming more and more obscure
as people move on to their Macs, iPads, iPhones and
Android devices.<br>
<br>
Who runs Linux on the desktop these days? A few Unix
graybeards (myself included) and some stubborn
idealists. All the cool kids have MacBook Pros.<br>
<br>
Ironically, in many ways, given the rise of the web
and the corresponding reduction in importance of the
Windows based application ecosystem, it's never been
a better time to run Linux on the desktop. We've got
a few high quality web browers and email clients at
our disposal. PC hardware to run Linux on has never
been more affordable. And Linux installs in a
breeze.<br>
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<div><br>
</div>
<div>I think Linux use has become more mainstream, and
users aren't and don't have to be as vocal about it.
I heard a discussion between non-technical people at
church a while back about the merits of Mint vs.
Ubuntu. Some of the people installing Linux today
are the ones who 10 years ago would've been called
on to remove adware from a relative's computer. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>10 years ago, the local LUG (at least where I
was) was also the primary place to go to for other
technical help like scripting, web development, tech
job hunts and other things that aren't strictly
Linux related. The LUG was simply the watering hole
for local tech savvy population. (REALLY Off topic
material had to have "OT" in the subject line). If
you're going to get into scripting today you might
be better off joining a Python or Ruby mailing list
rather than one focused on Linux. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>If Linux and tech users are headed to
distro/topic specific support groups it does raise
the question of what the purpose of a local LUG is.
If it's just to hang out online and handle the
occasional Linux related email, then the current
state of the mailing list probably mostly fine. If
we want to have a more defined purpose then Erik's
proposed January meeting sound like an important
chance to refocus the group.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>--</div>
<div>Michael Moore</div>
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<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
TCLUG Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:tclug-list@mn-linux.org">tclug-list@mn-linux.org</a><br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://mailman.mn-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list"
target="_blank">http://mailman.mn-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list</a><br>
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<pre wrap="">_______________________________________________
TCLUG Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:tclug-list@mn-linux.org">tclug-list@mn-linux.org</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://mailman.mn-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list">http://mailman.mn-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list</a>
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