A trip to the Ohio Linux Fest

I am a new Linux user. I started out in late 2004 trying out Fedora Core 4. It is now just Fedora 7, they dropped the Core part because they combined the “Core” packages with the “Extra” packages. After Fedora Core 6 I decided to give Ubuntu a try and am using it on an HP Pavilion dv6000 laptop. But that is not what I want to share with you. What I wish to share is my excitement over the upcoming Ohio Linux Fest. I am not a Systems Administrator or a Programmer. I don't even work in the IT industry. I am excited about meeting some of the leaders of this community that I have become a member of. The guest list at this point is, to say the least, prestigious. Max Spevack, Fedora Project Leader ; Bradley Kuhn, Freedom Law Center ; Warren Woodford of MEPIS at [HYPERLINK@www.mepis.org] ; Don Parris from [HYPERLINK@lxer.com] and Jon 'maddog' Hall to name just a few that I can recognize. I have never met any of these people but I have used the fruits of their labor. I've experience Freedom. The Ohio Linux Fest is also about Freedom and it holds up to those values. The event itself is free and open to everyone. It will be on Saturday, September 29th. You can, if you wish, buy an “All Conference Pass” for $65.00. But even then, you get something in return. I know I am doing it! Yes, coming from Hawaii will make it a little more expensive for me but, the value I will get in return is worth it. The presentation schedule is chock full of great things. Beginning with Ubuntu - Steve Stalcup, The Challenges of Building a Linux Distro - Warren Woodford and An Open Source Data Source For Fun and Learning - Mat Kovach to name only a few. For full details please visit [HYPERLINK@www.ohiolinux.org] . I am also looking forward to seeing the guys from The Linux Links Tech Show. These guys put on a great podcast about Linux, the community and Linux news. Check them out at [HYPERLINK@tllts.org] . I also believe Chess Griffin of the Linux Reality podcast will be there. Chess discusses Linux on his podcast in such a way that is is easily understood and makes sense. I have learned much from listening. You can check him out at [HYPERLINK@www.linuxreality.com] . The forums are also very friendly and helpful. I post there often and try to help fellow new users get started. That is a lot of information in one area. But it doesn't end there. The Ohio Linux Fest also has a University. The OLFU will be held on Friday, September the 28th, the day prior to the conference and for a small fee offers more in depth classes and presentations. The total cost for the University is $300.00. Some of the classes offered are The Open-Source Stack: One Approach to Spam Fighting – St. Pierre; Disaster Recovery – Jesse Trucks and Documentation – St. Pierre. I hope to see you there. If you are greeted with a smile and an “Aloha” you will know it is me. I invite you to join the community. Come out and meet some of the people that help shape the future of Linux.