Most Atrocious Use of Linux

So, I have come to the personal opinion that I have found the most atrocious use of the Linux kernel to date.  Gtech lottery systems.  Now, I don't know if its as bad on all of Gtech's products, because my only experience is the ones in Washington. 

But goodness, I didn't think it was possible to make a system more finicky and unstable than Windows ME.  This thing absolutely stinks.  And the major problem, Java.  Its what the whole system is running on.  There is a quick boot from the bootloader, then its on to a Java interface, and this thing is buggy as hell.  Sometimes the system I work with prints mystery tickets, sometimes it won't print tickets at all.  It will crash if communication with Olympia gets cut off.  Its a nightmare to deal with some days.

So, as this seems to be the most shameful misuse of the Tux logo, I'm giving it two fruit, as it is still more secure than the NPC windows units Wal-Mart used.

Product Pick: Rosewill RC-215

So, here we are again with another product pick, this time I'm reviewing the Rosewill RC-215, a SATA 1.5G/ATA raid card.  Now, this pick will be short and sweet.  Windows 7 automatically detected the hardware and set it up in-system, but this raid controller gets an automatic fail, 1-fruit listing.  Why?  Because the bios wasn't installed on the chip, and I haven't been able to find a way to flash the rom with the update.  Even Rosewill's own Rom update couldn't install it.  Till next time, catch you on the flip-side.

If You're in Susanville

So, I'm happy to lend a link to a friend of mine back in my home town of Susanville California.  She has a photography studio going, and her work is fun and imaginative, so check it out.

Photo Alchemy

and lets hope you enjoy the photo-show.

Giving it a Second Go

Okay, now last year I tried to drum up interest in the DF Con idea, and that fell flat on its face.  Not because their wasn't interest, but because I couldn't get facilities, and we didn't have enough content to warrant a convention.  This year I'm hoping to change all of that.  I'm roughly setting a date for early July, and we'll see how things go from there.  We already have more stuff ready for this year, so lets hope things work out for the best.

Giving Up Facebook

I just got a message today from an old friend via Facebook.  He said he was quiting Facebook and gave me his phone number and email.  I called and talked with him for a while, and brought up the subject of why he was leaving the social network.  His response was simple enough, he'd had enough, of the privacy issues and drama, not something new to gripe about in the world of blue and white.  What did hit me was how easy it was for him.  He had no problem with it at all, just left, no questions asked.

Which seems complete anti-thesis to idea that social networking is becoming an essential part of our culture.  I began to realize that as far as personally and business wise, I could drop Facebook, too, and never really give it a second thought.  I don't really use it all that much.  So, think about that to yourself, how important is a social network to you?