[GLLUG] more Penguicon thoughts

[Richard Houser]

Stanley C. Mortel wrote:
> My thoughts based on what I've read from all of you:
> 
> Richard -  Sure, let's do a MythTV panel.  By next year I hope and plan 
> to have it implemented at home with all of its feature set.

I'll plan on it then.  I'll look into scheduling and the like sometime 
late fall or early winter when all that stuff starts coming around.

> Chick - I'm all for widening the scope of volunteers to other LUGs.  We 
> should somehow minimally check on the character of those doing security 
> and the credentials of those doing tech. support.  Just a bit of Due 
> Diligence.  Also, maybe we could implement a backup plan, with an "on 
> call" person for a 4 hour time block to be called if the next volunteer 
> doesn't show up.  It would be good to do something so that the last 
> security person doesn't get stuck holding the bag if someone is a no-show.

I love the idea of an on-call person.  That's a lot more fair than 
someone getting an extra hour or two tacked onto their shift due to a 
no-show.  In my case, I had to be leaving the building shortly at an 
unknown time (was waiting for the call).  I really couldn't be counted 
on to finish off an extra shift, as I needed to get back at the 
convenience of an old schoolmate that was letting me crash at his place.

> Perhaps we could do something like an Edubuntu install for the 
> youngsters, with whatever "age appropriate" OSS we can come up with.  
> They are, after all, the soon-to-be techies that we should reach out 
> to.  If that is baby sitting, then fine - just another small service we 
> provide.  Adequate signing should result in youngsters going to the 
> "proper" machines.  We might also have them on the tables that divide 
> the lab from the Chaos Machine area, maybe facing outward.  Then if 
> security sees kids heading into the lounge proper, they can direct them 
> to the Edubuntu box(es).  If they face out, the users would be a bit 
> less likely to intentionally call up XXX content on the screen.

Again, another great idea.  If we were to get an additional table added 
all along the width of the dividing table wall, we would have enough 
room to place kid-friendly machines all down that wall.  Tuxracer, 
tuxtype2, tuxpaint, kdeedu, a selection of OSS games, and some basic 
productivity applications would go a long way.  I think sacrificing the 
more mature content from the projector and facing all the gaming 
machines away from the chaos would be a more than reasonable compromise 
that could work for everyone, kids included.

> The Con makes it pretty clear that the whole place is not particularly 
> kid-friendly, but an additional disclaimer about content in the lab 
> might be in order.  I'd say we leave the actual enforcement as an 
> individual decision.  If you want to kick little kids off the game box 
> then do so.  If you don't want to be bothered, it is not your / our 
> responsibility.
> 
> To my mind, it seems best that the game box(es) stay in the lab.  They 
> do demo linux and OSS, and branching out to another room will increase 
> the time commitments substantially.
> 
> I personally won't be sleeping in a GLLUG room and we seem to use the 
> computer lounge as the place to socialize with other GLLUG members.  But 
> I'm basically neutral on the issue.
> 
> If we can use our own wireless box that would probably be very good.  I 
> suspect it will depend on the hotel's policy.
> 
> OK, that's my 2 cents.
> 
> 
> ****************************
> Stan Mortel
> mortel at cyber-nos.com
> ****************************
> 
> _______________________________________________
> linux-user mailing list
> linux-user at egr.msu.edu
> http://mailman.egr.msu.edu/mailman/listinfo/linux-user