[aclug-L] FW: New Linux Website

["Dale W Hodge" <dwh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I got this in the mail today.  It looks like he's a bit of an activist, but it's
still interesting.

--dwh

-----Original Message-----
From: David Blomstrom [mailto:GeoBear@xxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Saturday, November 23, 2002 3:45 PM
To: Recipient list suppressed
Cc: ER@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: New Linux Website


I'm writing to publicize a new open-source/Linux activist website and
solicit any feedback you care to offer.

I'm not currently using open-source software. I'm an experienced web
designer but am still basically a computer geek who wasn't even aware of
open-source until fairly recently.

My immediate interest lies primarily in open-source's political potential.
I'm a sworn enemy of corporate corruption in general and Bill Gates in
particular, and I was delighted to learn that Microsoft is running scared
of Linux.

Accordingly, I've begun publicizing Linux on my website. My primary
open-source site is at http://www.geobop.com/gnu/ In addition, I've listed
Linux user groups in all 50 states on my North America site. Go to
http://www.geobop.com/World/NA/ and click on the name of your state, then
look for the Linux penguin near the bottom of that state's home page.
Please advice me of any corrections or additions I should make. I also put
in a plug for Linux on my home page, at http://www.geobop.com/

The theme I'm trying to develop is "Rediscovering American Values" - as in
escaping Microsoft's monopoly, corruption and the growing global digital
divide and returning to honesty, diversity and international cooperation. I
welcome any comments or suggestions on my project and have two particular
requests:

1) I'd really like to help popularize Linux among less experienced computer
users and would like to learn about individuals and companies who help
people install Linux, whether for a fee or gratis. Many Linux fans say
people should do it themselves in order to learn about it. But there are
many people who are simply to ignorant of computers. Moreover, they can
learn by watching someone else install it - or direct them in installing
it. Accordingly, I'm thinking of listing some Linux buffs who make home
visits, if you can suggest any.

2) I'd like to try to earn some revenue from my open-source activism, if
possible. I lack the technical skills, but I have pretty solid writing
skills and I can advertise commercial open-source products and services on
my website. (My sites are currently averaging about 13,000 visits a day,
with traffic nearly doubling in spring.) I'd particularly like to sell
advertising to local companies on my 50-state sites. Can you suggest any
local or regional companies that might be good contacts?

I can also advertise on my other websites. For example, I've been delving
into politics on my Symbols site at http://www.geobop.com/Symbols/ and am
working on a new political site for both children and adults. I can even
work some Linux logos (like the penguin and chameleon) on my animals site
at http://www.geobop.com/geozoo/  I welcome any tips on possible commercial
ventures - writing, advertising, affiliate programs, etc.

I'm currently unemployed (thanks partly to Bill Gates), and I may only have
a few months before I get uprooted, so I'm hoping to get Linux up and
running very soon - once I decide whether I should partition my hard drive,
buy another hard drive, or get a separate Linux computer! I also figured
out that I might actually save money by leasing a dedicated server and
moving my websites on to it. That's the other reason I became interested in
Linux. (I also need to learn about things like Apache software, MySQL, etc.)

I'd appreciate it if you could share this e-mail with your group or list-serve.

Thank you.

David Blomstrom  GeoBear@xxxxxxxxxx


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