ME as an UBUNTU user...

For years I've been using Windows as my OS. I used Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows ME, Windows XP, and Windows Vista. That's five generations of Windows! whew! Until recently, I took up an MA with a subject that focuses on FOSS (Free and Open Source Software). During our classes, we would discuss and report anything and everything about FOSS. I was a bit confused about everything that was coming my way 'cause everything seemed so new to me. I don't know what FOSS is. What's Linux? What's Open Office? What's Apache? What's LAMP? It was hard to understand! But later, a friend of mine (sir RJ, my classmate in MA) convinced me to try requesting for a CD from UBUNTU and install it on my PC. I was like "Duh? What for?" He said, "Just try it. It's free." So I made my request from https://shipit.ubuntu.com/ and after 4 weeks the CD's arrived. I made some researches before I installed Ubuntu on my PC. And I found vidoes in YouTube which showed the unique features and advantages of Ubuntu. I was amazed with the desktop effects that ubuntu has and I was so excited to give it a try. I installed Ubuntu within my Windows XP (Dual Boot) and then tried out the features that it had. At first look, the desktop would look dry as hell! But later I found out how to modify things here and there, and I was able to make the desktop look the way I want it to be. Ofcourse, I first tried out the effects. It was MIND-BLOWING!!! But that isn't the only feature that Ubuntu has. I was wondering if it was possible to run Windows applications in Ubuntu. The answer came from sir RJ himself. "YES! Just download and configure wine from http://www.winehq.org/
" and there it was. I can run most of the windows application in just one click. But most of the applications would not run due to hardware issues. That's when I researched about restricted hardware. What's good about Ubuntu is when you attach a device to your computer it automatically detects it. You don't need to install any other drivers for your devices. It just works! Well except for other hardware that Ubuntu considers as "restricted" this means that the software being used for the hardware is not open-source. But the internet works great! It also has pre-installed applications like Open Office, Pidgin, Movie Player, Games, etc. Open Office is the counterpart of Microsoft Office. MS Office has MS Word, Open Office has Open Office Word Processor. MS Office has MS Excel, Open Office has Open Office Spreadsheet. And what's good about it is that you can open your old .doc, .xls, and .ppt files in Open Office. And you'll be given an option if you want to save the file in its original MS Office format or in the Open Office format. Pidgin is an IM tool. What's good about pdgin is that you could activate multiple IM's at once. It supports AIM, Yahoo Messenger, Google Talk, IRC, MSN, ICQ, and more! It's a universal chat client. Unfortunately, Pidgin does not currently support video and audio conferencing, nor any form of audio/video communication. But the developers plan on implementing multimedia messaging in the future.

These are only some of the features that Ubuntu has. I am still an Apprentice in the Ubuntu-Linux world. And I am still learning so much about it. I am actually planning to study systems administration using the Ubuntu server in the future. For now, everything is still a puzzle to me. I am like a baby who was given a new toy. Curious. But I am already benifiting from it. Simply by using it. Why? 'Cause I don't have to pay for updates! I don't have to buy registration keys. I don't have to pay for anything! (well except for the electric and internet bills... hehe...) but software-wise, NADA!

I'll ask you this, if you're a Windows user, how much did you pay for your OS? If you're in the Philippines and you're using Windows VISTA you would've spent P9,000 to P12,000 for the OS alone. You're gonna have to purchase Microsoft Office 2007 and that's around the same price. Unlike XP, well you'll find lots of downloadable applications in the web, and there are lots of pirated CD's out there in the black market. But still, you'll have to pay for those pirated CD's.

Come to think about it, I made a good move by switching to Ubuntu. And one more thing... it's VIRUS FREE!!!

So, what do you think? Is it time to switch? You decide.


Best regards,

Jonathan Paul Solis
Ubuntu User

Music moves me...

I was 10 years old when I first got interested in playing a guitar. My uncle had a guitar hanging in his closet. He didn't know that I would secretly go in there and mess with his guitar. Well ofcourse, at first I didn't know how to "actually play". I was just simply amazed by the different sounds it would make. One day, my dad saw me playing with the guitar in my uncle's bedroom. Inspired, or maybe motivated to make me learn, he bought me a nylon-stringed guitar the following day and asked my uncle to tutor me everyday during the summer of 1992. So, the first day came. And on the 1st day, I learned all the basic chords, and I learned to play two full songs! It was "Everything I do, I do it for you" by Bryan Adams and "Knocking on Heavens Door" by Gun's 'n Roses.

Before that, I was actually already listening to heavy metal bands (on cassette tapes) like Metallica, Megadeth, Motorhead, Slayer, Pantera, and the likes. And Hair-Metal bands like Bon Jovi, Poison, Guns n Roses, Aerosmith, Ratt, Cinderella, Twisted Sisters, etc. Later came the Grunge-era with the likes of the immortal NIRVANA and counterpart Pearl Jam. Other bands came into the picture, like Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains, Creed, etc. Local pinoy bands also came into the picture which sort-of also influenced me one way or another. The Eraserheads, Rivermaya, Wolfgang, Yano, and The Youth were some of these local bands.

But hey! Even before digging to these type of tunes, I was a Vanilla Ice and MC Hammer addict! And V. Ice's pinoy counterpart, Francis M. was a great inspiration! these people make me want to dance like crazy!

As far as I can remember, it was actually my dad who influenced me into Heavy Metal without me actually noticing it. I remember so well how he would play BLACK SABBATH Vol. 2 over and over again. But I was such a young lad back then that I didn't even notice what type of music it was.

I got interested with having my own band when I reached High School. I've been with different bands since then even when I was in college.

I can't imagine where I would be without music in my life. Until now, I still play the music I love where ever I go. I still play with my bands when ever I get the chance.

I love music! No matter what genre. But the type of music that I dig the most is METAL!

long live HEAVY METAL!

ROCK ON!!!

My life as in IT instructor...

It's been roughly six months since I started teaching IT in my alma-mater. Yes, I am teaching in the same school I graduated six years ago. You might be asking "Why only 6 months?" Well, the answer is simple. It was never really my intention to teach. Yes. Never in dreams have I even thought of teaching! But I guess it's fate that brought me here.

But before I even got into the academe world, I've worked in other different companies (4 companies to be exact... a total of 5 companies in the span of 5 years!) I worked as Contractual clerk for DBP Service corporation for, 3 years. But between that, I also worked for Horizon Wi-Fi systems corp for... 3 DAYS! (LOL!)... after 3 years of working with DBP, I resigned and worked for a Canadian gold and silver mining company, TVIRD. My life with TVI was, by far, the best I've ever had! (I was the company's Systems Administrator) Imagine this... lodging, transportation, laundry, meals, cellphone load... all FREE!!! I would love to trade the job I have now for the job that I once had with TVI. Unfortunately, news came about a possible shutdown of the company due to depleted ore reserves. Thinking fast, I decided to resign even before the company actually shutdown (which I believe was a WRONG move...). Months later, the company temporarily stopped operation for 6 months. Only to open up again with a different material as their source of income... SULPHIDE... accordingly, the company no longer processes the product, but delivers the materials by bulk. Approximate lifespan for the Sulphide mine is 3 years, or more. But then, that's that.

Anyway, going back. So, I was jobless for 2 months when I read news about an urgent need for an HRIS Specialist at Universidad de Zamboanga. It was an opportunity I didn't dare to miss. I was hired after a few interviews and some examination. A few months later, 4 to be exact, I got fed up with the way the HR manager was running the place, plus the very small pay. Lies, corruption, swindling... these are only a few of the things I could remember about the former HR manager. Eventually, I resigned... again...

I was hoping I would be accepted in one of the Government offices which I applied for during my jobless days. But unfortunately, after wasting P1,000 for two separate ychological examinations, nothing. I was losing hope and was never planning to apply for any other. But then my phone received a text message one day. And to my surprise, it was our former GE head from STI College (now the Academic Coordinator) offering me a job as IT Instructor. I was hesitant at first, but then I pushed thru with my application. A few days later, I was hired. And I am so grateful of what I am right now. Not only will I gain personal knowledge, but I will also experience Professional growth.

Now, I believe in fate. Maybe its because most of my grandparents were instructors and professors, professionals in the Academic field.

I believe that fate brought me here, and I am doing all my best to be the best that I could be. It feels so great to be able to touch the lives of others. As it is said, "Teaching is the noblest of professions", and so I believe.

I dedicate my being an IT instructor to my ever loving wife, Neliza, and to my very healthy and bouncy baby boy, Paul Steven.

This is only the tip of the ice-berg for me. I am very sure that more blessings will come soon.

'til next time! Thanks for reading my blog!


Best regards,

Jonathan Paul C. Solis
IT Instructor

SFD 2009 - STI College Zamboanga!

On September 19, 2009, STI-College Zamboanga will be celebrating Software Freedom Day 2009!!!

The event's main purpose is to be able to spread FOSS awareness in Zamboanga city and it's neighboring provinces and cities in Region IX.

"Software Freedom Day (SFD) is an annual worldwide celebration of free/open-source software. SFD is a public education effort, not only to celebrate the virtues of free/open-source software, but also to encourage its use, to the benefit of the public.

Software Freedom Day was established in 2004 and was first observed on August 28, 2004 when over 70 teams participated. Since that time it has grown in popularity as more than 300 teams from over 60 countries celebrated on the second SFD, held on September 10, 2005. The primary sponsor for 2005-2006 was Canonical Ltd., the company behind Ubuntu, a Linux distribution.

From 2006 onwards, it has been decided the Software Freedom Day to be held on the third Saturday of each September: 15 September 2007, 20 September 2008, etc." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_Freedom_Day)

Pre-registration for the event is on-going! kindly visit:

http://bxserv.com/sfdr9/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=55

for pre-registration.

Student registration is P200.00

Professional registration is P300.00

Kindly email me at jonathanpaul81@gmail.com for inquiries on payment.

Please lclick on the following links for more information:

http://softwarefreedomday.org/

http://bxserv.com/sfdr9/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=28

http://www.sfdphil.org/cts/home

http://softwarefreedomday.org/

http://apps.facebook.com/causes/279869/40363421?m=95ac708a&ref=mf

Please help the cause in supporting OPEN SOURCE TECHNOLOGY by celebrating SOFTWARE FREEDOM DAY on SEPTEMBER 19, 2009.

Tentative venue for the said event in region 9 will be at the 3rd floor of STI College Zamboanga.

Please help us by celebrating with us.

Thank you so much!!!

Best regards,

Jonathan Paul Solis

Event Head Organizer - Software Freedom Day 2009

STI College Zamboanga city