There's an article is going around Linux newsfeeds recently, titled "Where are the Linux Admins?", written by iTWire, an Australian IT publication. Looks like the same thing happening in Singapore is happening in Australia too.

NUS is not a Linux friendly establishment. It's getting better these 2 years, but the situation is still appalling. Sadly, the School of Computing is not pro-Linux either. Yes, the computing infrastructure is on Solaris, but the school modules, lectures, skill sets, tools, and emphasis, is not on open source, let alone Linux/Unix. Look, the one and only Unix system programming module is only 3 modular credits, compared to the norm of 4 modular credits. Is system programming that trivial?

It is not even cross platform. The software development module focuses on C# and C++ on VB6. Yes, Mac and Linux users have to find a Windows machine for this module.

With this curriculum, I am not surprised that the proficiency level in Linux has not increased much. The majority of people turning to Linux seems to be from the "Windows crashed on me" camp, and not the "Linux is cool/free/interesting" camps. How many of these will be interested enough to reach the proficiency of a Linux system administrator? I wonder.

This sad state of affairs is not encouraging. Even in linuxNUS, I am having trouble finding people with the expertise/mindset to do system administration. Using the 80/20 rule of thumb, there are few technically competent Linux users suitable to be system administrators, and fewer actually willing to be one. Sigh.

(Aside: I'm not saying that the interest level in Linux has not been increasing since linuxNUS was formed. I'm saying that while the user base has increased, the number of technically competent users has not really increased.)

This leads to an interesting question: how many fresh graduates are actually going on to work on Linux systems? The industry seems to be bemoaning the lack of competent Linux IT staff, yet there are so few competent Linux-trained graduates joining the workforce. I guess that means the "ls/cd" crowd will be the ones doing Linux system administration. Shudder...

Something must be done to make tertiary schools know that Microsoft is not the only platform used in the industry. If the industry doesn't complain directly to them about how misguided their pro-Microsoft platform curriculum is, Linux will forever be in a sad state of affairs in Singapore.

Gadgets, gadgets, gadgets, gadgets!

Okay, okay, sorry for the sensationalist headline. But I really bought a Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 2000. My wrist is starting to hurt, so decided to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome before it is too late.

But why Microsoft?

Well, from my head-spinning survey of the keyboards in Sim LIm Square, there are only 4 types of ergonomic keyboards available.

• A standard keyboard labelled "Ergonomic" (Yes, there's really one sold this way)
• A4 Tech Anti-RSI A-Shaped keyboards
• Microsoft Comfort Curve keyboard
• Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard

Of course, the first one is out.

I tried one of the A-Shaped keyboards, and it felt weird. Now, I can touch-type, so the key positioning does not feel out of place. However, the A-Shape doesn't feel ergonomic. My wrists were still skewed, though not as much as before.

That left the Microsoft keyboards. The Natural Ergonomic keyboard costs a hefty $80 dollars!! Typical Microsoft over-pricing, I guess. So that leaves the more affordable Comfort Curve keyboard selling at $28.

Review of the keyboard

The Comfort Curve keyboard basically elongates the middle keys and spreads the keyboard over a curve. This allows a touch-typist (both systematic and non-systematic typists) to keep his/her wrists straight, while allowing two-finger peckers to peck away as usual. Isn't that great? Compare this with the A-Shape keyboard or the Natural Ergonomic keyboard.

A soft tactile keyboard, the keys feel responsive, and they are relatively quiet. Just the kind of keyboard I like. Think I will get another, one for use at home, the other in the linuxNUS clubroom.

The packaging is not environmentally friendly though. The keyboard is packed in 1) a plastic bag, 2) a carton box, 3) a box sleeve. Is there a need to use so much material just for the packaging?!?

Oh yes, not to mention the two product manuals, which states (among other irrelevant things like optical laser precautions (!?!), battery powered precautions (?!?), etc) the keyboard can lead to "serious injuries or disorders". IT also warns one not to "ignore these warning signs", "promptly see a qualified health professional" for these "musculoskeletal disorders". All in good sense, but isn't that why one is buying this keyboard in the first place?!?!

Okay, the other product manual is more applicable, showing how one plugs in the keyboard to a USB port.

Typical of a Microsoft product, the packaging states that:

• it is designed for Windows Vista.
• It supports Vista, XP, Windwos 2000, Mac OS v10.1.5-10.3 (Goosh, there's a difference!? I don't see the Mac key though)
• it needs a minimum requirement of 233MHz processor and 128MB RAM. (Wow!! Even a keyboard requires so much resources?!?!)
• USB port

I guess this means people who are using Windows 9x, Linux, Unix, BSD, Mac Tiger (10.4) should change their operating systems. Or the use of the keyboard on these systems invalidates the warranty? Sheesh...

Altogether, the keyboard is great, but the marketing leaves much to be desired. Sigh.

Some thoughts

As an open source advocate, it's very tempting to paint all and any Microsoft product as "evil", "monopolistic" or "over-priced". However, doing so puts us at the same level as them. Being responsible (and successful) advocates, we have to be very clear on the good and the bad of both camps, and recommend F/OSS when it makes sense to do so. Pushing F/OSS and Linux when it is clearly not suitable just sets up the case for failure, which would not help our cause.

At least, in this case, the Microsoft keyboards are clearly better choices, so why insist on the other products? That's what market competition is all about, isn't it?

Okay, had a hectic week doing a report for class. Finally finished and submitted it. Yeah....

I found a few interesting videos these few weeks. Enjoy!

From Ruiwen,

Introducing the Apple iRack:

From Sieghart,

Early teaser for upcoming PLANET B-BOY movie (documentary):

Swordplay: (sorry, embedding disabled)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF-wv5pXrrk

From somewhere:

A ghostly video. Look carefully right after the car goes behind the tree...

Yes, miracles do happen...

And some physics videos from Amazing Things:

The hurricane balls:

Amazing Physics: (semi conductor magnetic levitation! Yes, that's liquid nitrogen...)

Waves in a large free sphere of water:

That's about all, I think. The list is long enough.

[My sister's lecturer included this gems in their lecture notes, supposedly to keep them awake during lecture.]

What Falling In Love Is Like

• "Like an avalanche where you have to run for your life." -- John, age 9
• "If falling in love is anything like learning how to spell, I don't want to do it. It takes too long." -- Glenn, age 7

On the Role of Beauty in Love

• "If you want to be loved by somebody who isn't already in your family, it doesn't hurt to be beautiful." -- Anita C, age 8
• "It isn't always just how you look. Look at me. I'm handsome like anything and I haven't got anybody to marry me yet." -- Brian, age 7
• "Beauty is skin deep. But how rich you are can last a long time." -- Christine, age 9

Why Lovers Often Hold Hands

• "They are just practising for when they might have to walk down the aisle someday and do the holy matrimony thing." -- John, age 9

Personal Qualitiies You Must Have To Be A Good Lover

"Sensitivity don't hurt." -- Robbie, age 8

EU and I were on our way home from school, by bus as usual. Somehow, the bus seems to be slowly, steadily, meandering left and right, crawling through the uncongested road today.

EU remarked, "The bus is very slow today."

"Hijack the bus lah!"

"Huh?"

"Hijack the bus, make the bus driver go faster."

"Kaoz..."

"No one will mind. The customer is always right, what..."

Every once in a while, I will read through the LUG HOWTO on The Linux Documentation Project. It's a good guide on the issues related to running a LUG, and sometimes provide inspiration about how to solve problems when things get thorny or heated.

[No, I'm not going to elaborate on the thorny or the heated issues...]

List of LUG HOWTOS
• Linux User Group HOWTO: http://tldp.org/HOWTO/User-Group-HOWTO.html
• Recipe for a Successful Linux User Group: http://linuxmafia.com/faq/Linux_PR/newlug.html

Of course, some of the issues highlighted are different from what my perspective on things, such as the one about using Yahoo!Groups to manage the mailing list. Yeah, I understand that it may not help one's public image, but for investing a lot of money for domains, hosting, manpower on administration and maintenance, and stuff like that may not be possible for a new LUG, especially a student LUG. These kind of services is still useful during the initial starting out phase, I believe.

Still, I'm trying to move away from using Yahoo!Groups, not due to the reasons above, but rather to capitalise on the domain name of the LUG. Of course, issues like archiving, spam filtering, and moderation will become much easier with a self-maintained mailing list. Then again, I have tried to do that for several semestral breaks, but keep hitting technical, administrative and even time problems. Sigh... Hopefully, I can do it successfully this coming semestral break.