Why didn't you read this in the PD first?

Because their editor and publisher have refused to return my emails, for months.

I guess they don't support social media innovation in real NEO, or real NEOans.

Power to realNEO.

Disrupt IT

"a team of some of the world's best programmers"

Who are the programmers, Norm? Inquiring minds want to know.

Just how does a member of Realneo proceed to inquire about acquiring one of these super machines?

What's the special arrangement?

I clicked through to ICearth and saw the cool graphic with music, but one more click took me to the old 404.

Google took me to cinelerra.

One thing I have noticed about this open source world is that the conversations do seem to presuppose a fair amount of extant computereze in the user.

Yes, now that I have an old computer lovingly restored with open source free software. (Thanks Jeff!) It is way cool, but when I have a question, I google the issue and find myself in geek land. In fact, in an attempt to learn more about geekiness I have committed to taking a class about computing's cutting edge. But in the world of acronyms and base knowledge that programmers and code writers know, I am woefully an outsider. I want the government to go with easy to use flexible free software. And I want the public including me to know about these free alternatives, but the language barrier is tough. We (my classmates and I) had a conversation about proprietary software. I mentioned that when I go to fill out a FAFSA (free application for student aid - every college student must do it to go to school each year), I must use Internet Explorer. Why does the government force me to use the MS browser. Why can't I fill out the form using Firefox or Chrome? Well, "it is because Windows has such a huge install base" I was told. Great!

We're in an economic downturn and people are strapped for cash. Where's the user friendly open source Turbo-Tax for getting your refund and why aren't municipalities using free open software to cut expenses? Maybe they need help making the transition from proprietary software, which is probably where they cut their teeth with a keyboard way back when when they figured out that they could eliminate the pretty stenographer or ditch the Edison Voicewriter/Dictaphone. Go to Best Buy to buy a computer - you have two choices - Steve Jobs or Bill Gates. Where's the storefront for getting your rehabbed cheap computer running Linux/Ubuntu/Open Office/GnuCash with a list of suggested add-ons for media and other applications? Where's the help center, training class?

I'd like to see someone do the numbers on all the PCs running Windows in NEO government and show the cost savings of switching to open free options. You think this is what Matt Dolan is gonna do to cut taxes? I sorta doubt it, but who knows.

One thing I learned from running my own business for a quarter century - it's all about removing barriers to entry. Why don't you come see this cool dance? I won't like it, I won't understand it. Well, you might... here's a comp ticket and I'll have so and so pick you up and drive you to the show. OK, I'll bring the show to you. OK, I'll discuss the show with you and answer your questions. OK, no question is out of bounds. You will never be made to feel dumb. OK, see that wasn't so bad, was it? Wow, you had an insight we had never considered - good for you and thanks. Never assume anyone has any prior knowledge - let them show you what they know and praise them for knowing and having handled each little brick in the foundation. You gotta handle and review each brick and all the mortar. There could be a missing link that, when replaced, makes a stronger more flexible foundation for new knowledge. Let's remember that we all have our specialties in this new fragmented world. There is nothing scarier than hearing financial planners tell you that they "don't understand" derivatives. Jesus!

So, yesterday my laptop running Windows XP was running slowly. I thought - time to backup the files and start over (format the drive). I googled computer running slowly. I got lots of advice, including things I should download and use. But which source to trust? Do I want more bells and whistles or do I just want to be sure I have the data and can reinstall with a clean copy of Windows. Why do I need to keep this laptop with Windows for now? Primarily because I have used MS Money for about 12 years (it was free with the first computer - quicken cost money). I can't find an online source that explains easily how to migrate the financial history in MS Money to GnuCash to make the transition seamless. I read about this guy and that woman's efforts, but find them giving up on migrating their history to GnuCash.

I do have a few word docs and excel files that should open easily in Open Office. Photos are in Picasa for now (thanks Martha) and I am not a photographer, so I don't really need media editing software right now until I learn to use the camera. Everything else I do is online - in a wire, a cloud. I ought to be an easy migrant. Got my tent and ready to travel to a brave new world of free computing. I have some old correspondence in MS Outlook that I'd like to hold onto for nostalgic reasons, but I haven't used that program for a year or more. Thank God I was able to stop using MS Access for that last business I worked for! Jeez - what a pain!

So how to we migrate the populous to open source software with these (perhaps easy to remove) barriers? I'll be the guinea pig for NEO. That is unless you can introduce me to the first guinea pig so I can learn from her/him.

I built this for you.

Ed Hauser helped me bridge the digital divide in real NEO, before it went unreal.

I love you Ed - I wish you were here.

Do you finally get it, real NEO?

Disrupt IT

Wow! Kdenlive.

I also noted that Kieth copied and pasted the tags into his post of the Grandmaster Flash YouTube post. Could realneo use tags? Or does it and I have missed that as well? (By the way, I didn't miss Kieth's stuff, or your new video capabilities, just wasn't sure what exactly I was seeing).

It might be interesting to have a poll on how many users are accessing realneo on with Linux OS. How might we know or do you already know local businesses, organizations or governments that are using open source software?

How can we learn to optimize the capabilities of realneo? Help files? Tutorials? Search has long been a stumbling block for me. As you have noted, it's all still right here - a lotta lotta content. Yes I can use google with realneo or the poster's name to sometimes find what I am seeking, but it would be so cool to be able to further filter results.

Sort of like this: Freebase Parallax.

Freebase Parallax: A new way to browse and explore data from David Huynh on Vimeo.

Granted I never would have known any of this stuff had it not been for Betsey Merkel dragging me to REI where I eventually met you, Norm. You have been very patient with this old dog. (I also just deposited a check for realneo/realcoop from an appreciative lurker). I will look forward to learning more.

I know I know, physician, heal thyself... I am working on it. Running as fast as I can to catch up. (smiley) As has been noted here in the discussions of education, everyone learns at their own rate and in their own style. Me, too.

So Norm, I admit that I enjoy facebook. I have noticed an uptick in your sharing there of late, too.

Bugs and viruses? Cough... sneeze... Indeed they probably do reside in my machines. Well none do right now according to AVG.

I do learn though from my interactions with folks with whom I am connected on FB - many from outside the realneo community. I'll stay for now. I'm not Howard Hughes online, yet.

But since you also use Facebook and mention the viruses that I might be getting from using it, what should I look for and how would I remove it if I had it? Here's one remedy/warning I found from Computer Plumber. Since you and I have 59 Facebook friends in common, they might benefit from your advice on this, too.

And I would like to also say that some people have supported you in your work. Maybe not with millions, but with what they had to give. I can think of several people who have volunteered beaucoup time to realneo and a handful of member users who have kept the pages alive and invigorated with original and important content. Then there are the folks who have put considerable time and money into shifting traffic from one URL to another when the domain name was lost, retrieving the domain name, upgrading the technology, developing realcoop, and keeping the site alive for all to use. I know that you have appreciated the support you have received from the realneo community. Even if it is not enough to see all your dreams come true, it is what it is and for that support of this Content Management System from many people over the years, I am profoundly grateful.

All I may own is my data, on ICEarth... for many reasons I'll explain later.

At the core of ICEarth are these reasons, for you to consider now... from around 2000....

ICEarth - Information Community Earth - Conceptual Framework - normALST 02/07/01

The Emergence of “Info Mediated Enterprise”

One of today’s most critical global imperatives is "universal access." In our world’s now thoroughly computerized, internetworked economic, social and cultural environment, all people must have access to like information technology (IT) tools, resources and capabilities. As access becomes increasingly universal, exciting interpersonal dynamics become possible; like distant learning, telemedicine, virtual community, and 'infomediation,' a core interest of this document that enables the other dynamics listed before and many still to be seen on our virtual horizons.

Read On...

Disrupt IT

They want to kill our brains.

Conspiracy to commit murder.

Disrupt IT

We are building a complimentary suite of open source computers for different work and life environments.

We built the ICEarth Bigbang 1 and that is moving into video production this weekend, for benchmarking.

Now we begin building the portable equivalent - The ICEarth Max One - the world's most effective open source high performance high definition video production studio in a laptop - this will be amazing.

You'll see it here first.

Disrupt IT

When I can, I am forwarding this info to a friend who is a IT person who can explain to me in lay-speak what this is all about as you are so far over my head with this, Norm. Iceearth, bigbang, hdvideo, benchmark, roosters.....laptops.