Yes!

I remember being on the steering committee to actually start up PLUG! That was kind of a first-hand experience. I really wish I could’ve been there when one of the big higher-ups in the whole Lynn scene came to Phoenix, and some of the club members took him out shooting at Ben Avery. That would’ve been a treat, even for me! oh well, those things happened. Yeah, in the early days, red hat was a bit over complicated, hard to set up, sometimes didn’t do what you wanted, what was generally pretty good for all of that. Debbie and just worked in most cases,  SUSE was a new up and coming thing and at least it had some accessibility. (although that changed later when they went open, SE and the more corporate model there product lost all that accessibility). For me, it’s mostly just been tinkering with it, using it at one time to actually host several virtual machines using VMware (including an open BSD firewall , tour, three different window sessions, a couple of Lennox guests (including one specifically for Development, and a number of other things). That was also the first time I had a PXE server running here in the house. That was interesting. So was starting up an NFS server to host all my files.  It’s amazing what you could do with the old VMware server 1.0 platform at the time! :-) How things have changed in the last 25 years!

Yeah, I’m very nearly pushing 60 these days, but I’d still like to earn some side hustle jobs. I’m not really a coder, although I do take write some scripts for various applications.  However, one of the things I’m good at is accessibility consulting. I wonder if any of the large companies here in town would mind paying me some side money to help them take care of accessibility issues (I can test websites well enough, but I don’t have , much access to a mini apps, which would probably be a bit more helpful).

Anyway, back to the grind.

– Eric
From the central offices of the Technomage guild, everything works and everything must go department.
Sent from my iPhone

> On Jun 20, 2024, at 1:38 PM, Keith Smith via PLUG-discuss <plug-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org> wrote:
>
> Mike,
>
> From about 2000 - maybe 2004 I was involved with the TFUG.  They were big on Debian.  They helped me with desktop questions and issues.  I was able to run a LAMP server in maybe 2002 with the help of TFUG.  Unfortunately I left the email relay open and someone found it and was sending spam through my server.  I was bounced from the only ISP in Tucson that would allow servers on consumer grade Internet.
>
> I'm a big fan of PHP/MySQL.  Been using both since maybe 2002.
>
> You seem to have decent Linux skills.
>
> I've been experimenting with ChatGPT (AI) for maybe 6 or 8 weeks now.  I think AI must be taken into consideration when making a career move.
>
> I'm interested in Cyber Security as well.  I suspect that to get into the game might require a lot of Windows knowledge as well as Linux.  I suspect there might be a niche for LAMP/LEMP hosting security.  Maybe there are others.
>
> If you are looking for a side hustle or freelance type of situation, I would suggest PHP/MySQL.
>
> I would suggest learning how to code using ChatGPT to help write your code. It is easier than you think.
>
> I recently had a discussion with a guy adverting on Craig's list.  He told me he was building websites using ChatGPT 4.  I'm using the free version 3.5.
>
> Remember code is reusable.
>
> I think there is a lot of prospects for those who have lower rates.  There is a few job boards where you can offer your services.
>
> If you are interested you will need to have entry level skills in (I'm sure you already know this):
>
> HTML
> CSS
> Some JavaScript
> Some AJAX
> PHP
> MySQL/SQL
> I recommend getting familiar with phpMyAdmin
> I think you could easily install and setup VirtualBox and configure it with a LAMP/LEMP stack for development. If you haven't done so already.
>
> If you have an extra box that has a decent CPU and some decent RAM Proxmox might be an option.
>
> Keith
>
>
>
>> On 2024-06-20 12:46, Michael wrote:
>> I was introduced to Linux in 97ish at an installfest at GCC. I went
>> with a friend and my computer where we put red hat on it. I remember
>> Hans was given a red fedora in appreciation for all his work in making
>> it happen. I don't think my friend ever got Linux running. I STRuggled
>> with red hat for two months, couldn't get internet to work, before I
>> brought the computer to a plug meeting and asked Hans to put windows
>> back on it.but I caught the Linux bug and at the next meeting, or
>> installfest, I put Debian on it. Everything worked with debian.
>> You know, I want to get into something IT related. I was thinking
>> cyber security but programming might be better as I probably will have
>> to train myself. What do you guys think I should do?
>>> On Thu, Jun 20, 2024, 10:15 AM <techlists@phpcoderusa.com> wrote:
>>> Thank you Mike!!
>>> What I really meant to say, in part, was there are some really
>>> talented
>>> and skilled people on this list. That is why I said one should take
>>> an
>>> inventory of what you have.  You are fortunate.
>>> Thank you for your willingness to help those of us that struggle. I
>>> love
>>> technology and specifically programming.  Technology has been a
>>> love/hate relationship.
>>> I was introduced to Linux in about 1998 or so.  I think at that time
>>> I
>>> bought a box set of RedHat version 4.2 ... or so I recall.
>>> I had a couple corporate programming jobs.  Nothing special.  I had
>>> to
>>> start freelancing to really get into the game.  I have to tell you
>>> it
>>> was all God.
>>> In the early days I was also on the Tucson Free Unix Group list.
>>> TFUG
>>> and PLUG have been instrumental in my success.
>>> Thank you for allowing us to lurk on your list and ask silly
>>> questions.
>>> Keith
>>> On 2024-06-20 06:14, Michael via PLUG-discuss wrote:
>>>> And thank you Keith for your words! I wish I could remember
>>> meeting
>>>> you. The only names I can associate with a 30 year younger face is
>>>> Brian and Hans.
>>>> On Wed, Jun 19, 2024 at 8:30 PM Michael <bmike1@gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>>> Thanks for the support, Eric.
>>>>> So glad that things are working out for you!
>>>>> On Wed, Jun 19, 2024, 12:14 AM Eric Oyen via PLUG-discuss
>>>>> <plug-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org> wrote:
>>>>>> Guys,
>>>>>> I am totally blind, and that’s partly due to traumatic brain
>>>>>> injury back in 1989. I’ve also had my moments where I am
>>>>>> exceedingly curse when it comes to some subjects. I also tend to
>>>>>> be a little bit obsessive, compulsive, and that happens to be
>>> the
>>>>>> autistic side of my nature which I’ve had all my life. I am a
>>>>>> bit unusual, but science and technology are my thing so I tend
>>> not
>>>>>> to ask too many questions because I’ve already done most of
>>> the
>>>>>> research. However, sometimes research isn’t enough and I may
>>> end
>>>>>> up having gas questions here. So, one should look past some of
>>> the
>>>>>> commentary on here and recognize and realize those of us were
>>>>>> traumatic brain. Injuries may not necessarily operate in a
>>> normal
>>>>>> fashion. I happen to be one of the few exceptions because the
>>> area
>>>>>> of the brain and question for me that was damaged with my visual
>>>>>> cortex.  Also, as an aside, I also have prosthetic eyes, so it
>>>>>> doesn’t matter what my visual cortex does because I wouldn’t
>>>>>> be able to perceive anything anyway. In any case, this really
>>>>>> hasn’t slowed me down much in both the accessibility and
>>> Lennox
>>>>>> fields. I’ve been writing a bunch of scripts, especially for .
>>>>>> Comes in handy when I want to download a video from YouTube and
>>>>>> then listen to it using VLC. Makes a lot easier than having to
>>>>>> deal with the stupid app and their commercials.
>>>>>> Anyway, that’s my opinion on this subject and now we should
>>>>>> probably get back to Lennox and what it can be used for and how
>>>>>> accessible it really is.
>>>>>> – Eric
>>>>>> From the central offices of the Technomage Guild,  Opinions and
>>>>>> research department.
>>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>>>> On Jun 16, 2024, at 6:22 AM, Keith Smith via PLUG-discuss
>>>>>> <plug-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org> wrote:
>>>>>>> I hear about and read about everyone wanting to get along.
>>> I
>>>>>> am old enough to know that is impossible.  I tend to get
>>> political
>>>>>> and my views are at odds with some or maybe most on the list.
>>>>>>> Here is what I came to say.  Shame on you all.  You need to
>>> take
>>>>>> an inventory for what you have.  Most of you can run me in the
>>>>>> ground.  I struggle with technology.  I always have.
>>>>>>> I talked with Mike about 10 years ago.  Apparently you do not
>>>>>> know that Mike experienced a traumatic brain injury.
>>>>>>> Mike do not let this get to you.  It is just junior and senior
>>>>>> high BS.
>>>>>>> I've been on this list since 1999 or 2000.  Some of the
>>>>>> questions I ask are probably annoying.  I use Google and as of
>>>>>> late have started using ChatGPT (AI) to seek information.  The
>>>>>> latter seems to do a better job.
>>>>>>> I believe we are all here because of our common goal to work
>>>>>> with, learn, and enjoy Open Source - I know I am.  I also know
>>> we
>>>>>> do not live in a vacuum. Other things overflow that are not Open
>>>>>> Source.
>>>>>>> We are a community.  I could go as far as to say we are a
>>>>>> family.  I heard a pastor say once that families prepare us for
>>>>>> the world.  I guess families have a lot of strife.
>>>>>>> Keith
>>>>>>>> On 2024-06-15 22:54, Steve Litt via PLUG-discuss wrote:
>>>>>>>> There's been a long thread of people mocking somebody who
>>> asked
>>>>>> a
>>>>>>>> stupid question. Yeah, the guy's annoying; annoying Open
>>>>>> Sourceenough that I piped
>>>>>>>> all his posts to /dev/null starting two or three years ago.
>>>>>> This thread
>>>>>>>> worsens the list's signal to noise, and personally, it
>>>>>> constantly
>>>>>>>> reminds me of the annoying person I killfiled years ago.
>>>>>>>> I have a suggestion. If the guy annoys you, either ignore him,
>>>>>> correct
>>>>>>>> him offlist, or killfile him and move on. There's no need to
>>>>>> mess up
>>>>>>>> the list with mockery. Whether you believe, as I do, that he's
>>>>>> an
>>>>>>>> attention seeking troll who thinks his stupidity is cute, or
>>>>>> whether
>>>>>>>> you believe his behavior is entirely caused by some sort of
>>>>>> brain
>>>>>>>> injury, either way, the on-list mockery does no good for
>>>>>> anybody.
>>>>>>>> Ignore him, correct him offlist, or killfile him and move on.
>>>>>>>> SteveT
>>>>>>>> Steve Litt
>>>>>>>> Autumn 2023 featured book: Rapid Learning for the 21st Century
>>>>>>>> http://www.troubleshooters.com/rl21
>>>>>>>> ---------------------------------------------------
>>>>>>>> PLUG-discuss mailing list: PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org
>>>>>>>> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings:
>>>>>>>> https://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss
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>>>>>> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings:
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>>>> --
>>>> :-)~MIKE~(-:
>>>> ---------------------------------------------------
>>>> PLUG-discuss mailing list: PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org
>>>> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings:
>>>> https://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss
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