Ohio Linux Fest Looms!

FeriCyde Chat ring out the bells again like we did when spring began wake me up when september ends --GreenDay Wake Me Up When September Ends

It's a nebulous concept, community. It's hard for some people to visualize -- I've even seen some people question it's existence. Those of us that are a part of it never have had this problem.

Maybe you'd like to see it first hand?

In a few short weeks, you, if you live somewhere near Ohio, can have the chance. Ohio Linux Fest happens September 30 in Columbus. It's a gathering place for Ohio LUG members but like most community events, there are no restrictions.

Wonder what Linux is? Come on down.

Wonder what's going on with Linux in Ohio? Join the party.

Trying to build a career around Linux? Come meet people that work with it every day -- maybe their company is hiring.

Want to learn about Apache (The worlds most popular web server) from someone actively involved in making it? Rich Bowen will be there -- and you can get in the door for free.

Speaking for myself, last years event was amazing. My only complaint was that I couldn't be more than one place at a time. Literally the whole day is packed with tech, commadery and geek party. Speaking of which, the party after last years event was a hoot as well. It's not like any road show I've ever witnessed, in other words. Things like LinuxWorld have their place -- but this is where the tires hit the pavement if you're really interested in finding out about Linux.

It may all sound too good to be true. The event is free, but you can, if you wish, sign up for an all conference pass which includes some extras -- lunch and a tee shirt among them.

I've been around the Linux crowd for a long time now. Some things just seem too good to be true. A free operating system that's secure, fun to use and stable? Hard for some people to believe until they experience it. OLF is a similar anomoly. A free event, happening in my back yard, that's all about my favorite technology.

Usually when I run into someone who's used Linux they almost seem to view the whole concept of the community -- the authors and supporters of Linux -- as something alien. It's hard for them to imagine the cohesion and the virtual network as a solid item. It's an event like this that can change all of that forever. You can go to OLF and actually touch the community. You can feel the excitement around you.

Regardless of where you live on planet earth, there's likely some kind of community interaction. Ohio is certainly no exception to this rule -- last year I ran into people from corporations all over the map. Banking, manufacturing, publishing -- all of the IT people were sharing stories that tell the real facts of the matter. They were explaining, without explaining, that regardless of any kind of spin on the Microsoft front, Linux has taken a solid foothold in corporate America.

Don't get me wrong, for every one of those was another person who just used Linux, ran a business based upon it, or used it at an ISP. Diversity, like the community, is what it's all about, after all.

For me it was an overload experience -- can you tell I'm a bit pumped about this year?

Don't miss out! Join the party! Come on down to Ohio Linux Fest 2006!