[UFO Chicago] New Linux Website

[David Blomstrom]

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@geobop.com