LarryThiel

ArizonaTeam/BannerAZ_b.png

Ubuntu-Arizona Loco Team - The Hottest LoCo on Earth!

About Me

I am a retired programmer (C, C++, Assembler, Perl, Scripting) and Project Manager for the phone company and others. I was an independent contractor for a few years doing multi-user database work back in the dBaseII and Optimum days.

My first exposure to *nix was to HP-UX 10 and 11 around 1985 at the phone company. My group produced a Unix application that had to run 24x365 on multiple servers in different states with automated fail-over whenever needed. My first exposure to Linux was later with Redhat Linux (prior to the swithover to Fedora and the emergence of RHEL). I used it primarily for remote X into the company when I was called for support at 3 AM. During this time I also spent 2 years on the ANSI XJ-311 C++ Standards Committee. I met some truly amazing people there.

After I retired, I did not use Linux for a number of years. Probably largely a direct result of my experiences with that early Redhat and the difficulty of doing many things. When I tried Ubuntu Edgy Eft, I realized how far Linux had come and subsequest releases showed continual significant improvements for users and for installation procedures. That tied it and I got started with local Linux groups.

I love SCUBA diving with nearly 800 dives to my credit. I wrote a Divers Logbook program back in 1988 using C and assembler for MSDOS and still use it today though running it with DOSBOX under Linux. I have been looking at SubSurface ( http://subsurface.hohndel.org/ ) which was initiated by Linux Torvalds and currently maintained by Dirk Hohndel. I recently made a proposal to add significant functionality to SubSurface.

I currently lead, am an officer, or participate in 5 computer clubs 3 of which focus on Linux and FOSS and all of which discuss those things.

  • PLUG - Phoenix Linux User Group
  • SLUG - Sunland Linux User Group
  • AZloco - Arizona Local Chapter of Ubuntu
  • ccPDSE - Computer Club at Palmas del Sol East
  • EVACC - East Valley Association of Computer Clubs

Contact Information

IRC

freenode.net #Ubuntu-US-AZ

GTalk

none

Email

lthiel@azloco.com

Website

none

Contributions

  • Have run Linux Installfests for the last 8 years and now average 30 per year
  • Built a generic PXE server for use at installfests and genericized to run on any LAN
  • Document special problems solved at Installfests and keep updating a "Lessons Learned" document
  • Give presentations on Linux and Linux applications at the Computer Tech Conference
  • Give many presentations at local computer clubs
  • Publish two weekly newsletters with news and tips links
  • Help manage AZloco
  • Participate in Ubuntu Hours
  • Submit and comment on bug reports for Ubuntu, other distributions and applications
  • Assist member of all my clubs with gratis trouble shooting and repairs
  • Participated in ANSI XJ-311

Goals

  • Get the Arizona team approved for another two years
  • Get more pictures of events and document them in the teak wiki
  • Publish Installfest statistics
  • Get many more people using Linux instead of proprietary platforms.

Future Goals

  • Begin active participation in the development of SubSurface

Comments

Note: This section is for people who aren't Ubuntu members to cheer or comments that aren't testimonials from existing members.

Testimonials

Note: This section is for existing Ubuntu members to leave testimonials. People who aren't Ubuntu members can leave a comment above in favor of the application.

If you know me and have something nice to say, please leave a comment here.

LarryThiel (last edited 2013-09-14 17:01:52 by 50-80-90-189)