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About This Month's Authors
Not Linux

About This Month's Authors

Matthias Arndt

Matthias Arndt, 20 years old, I'm a Linux enthusiast, I'm from Germany and I will start studying computer sciences in conjuction with economics in October. I like good old Rock'n'Roll and, of course, Linux.. I love writing stories and I have always wanted to write for a computer magazine.

Shane Collinge

Part computer programmer, part cartoonist, part Mars Bar. At night, he runs around in a pair of colorful tights fighting criminals. During the day... well, he just runs around. He eats when he's hungry and sleeps when he's sleepy.

Fernando Correa

Fernando is a computer analyst just about to finish his graduation at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Now, he has built with his staff the best Linux portal in Brazil and have further plans to improve services and content for their Internet users.

Pat Eyler

"pate" is a linux/unix/networking geek who enjoys playing on the command line. When he's not puttering with or writing about computers and networks he likes to play with his kids, cook, and read. Talk to him at .

Daniel Feenberg

Daniel Feenberg is an economist and IT director at the National Bureau of Economic Research, a non-profit foundation in Cambridge, where his main work is the analysis of the behavioral effects of income taxation. He first used Unix (Bell Labs Version 6) in the mid 1970s on a PDP-11 with 3 glass teletypes and 10 megabytes of disk storage. But it ran 'ed' fine.

Ray Ferrari

I am a newbie to the Linux community, but have been following the rise of popularity for almost two years now. I continue to learn as much as possible about the Linux operating system in an attempt to become proficient and knowledgeable in it's use as an internet platform. I have volunteered on the Debian mailing list, and I continue to assist the Linux Professional Institute(LPI) promote their agenda. I help staff the LPI booths at events and write articles updating their achievements.

Eric Kasten

I'm a software developer by day and an artist, web developer, big dog, gardener and wine maker by night. This all leaves very little time for sleep, but always enough time for a nice glass of Michigan Pinot Gris. I have a BS double major in Computer Science and Mathematics and an MS in Computer Science. I've been using and modifying Linux since the 0.9x days. I can be reached via email at or through my website at http://www.sunpuppy.com.

Mark Nielsen

Mark founded The Computer Underground, Inc. in June of 1998. Since then, he has been working on Linux solutions for his customers ranging from custom computer hardware sales to programming and networking. Mark specializes in Perl, SQL, and HTML programming along with Beowulf clusters. Mark believes in the concept of contributing back to the Linux community which helped to start his company. Mark and his employees are always looking for exciting projects to do.

Ben Okopnik

A cyberjack-of-all-trades, Ben wanders the world in his 38' sailboat, building networks and hacking on hardware and software whenever he runs out of cruising money. He's been playing and working with computers since the Elder Days (anybody remember the Elf II?), and isn't about to stop any time soon.

Kapil Sharma

Kapil Sharma is a Linux/Unix and Internet security consultant. He has been working on various Linux and Unix systems for more than 2 years. He is providing commercial support for Linux/Unix systems and writing technical articles. His professional web site is linux4biz.net.

Juraj Sipos

I live and work in Bratislava, Slovakia as a library information worker, translator and research reader at the Institute for Child Psychology. I published some of my poetry here and in USA, I translated some books from English (e.g., Zen Flesh, Zen Bones by Paul Reps). You can see some of my stories and poetry at http://www.crosswinds.net/~aproximetri/index.htm. Computers are my hobby.

Martin Skjöldebrand

Martin is a former archaeologist who now does system administration for a 3rd world aid organisation. He also does web design and has been playing with computers since 1982 and Linux since 1997.

Chris Stoddard

I work for Dell Computer Corporation doing "not Linux" stuff. I have been using computers since 1979 and I started using Linux sometime in 1994, exclusivly since 1997. My main interest is in networking implementations, servers, security, Beowulf clusters etc. I hope someday to quit my day job and become the Shepard of a Linux Farm.

Ben Tindale

I'm working full time for Alcatel Australia on various xDSL technologies and writing Java based web apps. I've currently taken a year off from studying to work, and have just sold my share in an internet cafe I helped to found. So much to learn, so little time :)

Not Linux

Here are some of the more amusing spams LG received this month:

"I am searching for only 10 elite individuals with the work ethic necessary to generate a cash-flow for themselves of $2,000 - $5,000per week."
"Somos XXXXX - COLOMBIA, ONG que trabaja en favor de los Niños de las Calles Colombianas. Trabajamos por la infancia que ha recibido como herencia un país destruido y roto por la violencia y la corrupción.... En nuestra TIENDA SOLIDARIA encontrara la satisfaccion solidaria a su gusto. En ella entre otras cosas puedes afiliarte a nuestro "Club Niños de Papel" el cual sera nuestra gran base humana, para conseguir la recuperación de los niños de la calle de Colombia."
[I'm not sure of this translation since I'm not a native Spanish speaker, but here goes: "We are XXXXX - Colombia, (NGO, Non-Governmental Organization?), who labor for Colombia's street kids. We work for the child who has inherited a country destroyed by violence and corruption.... In our SOLIDARITY SHOP you'll find the means to satisfy your yearning for solidarity with them. In it among other things you can join our "Paper Children Club", which will be our great human base to help the street kids of Colombia to recover." Hmm, save the children by buying a trinket. And how much of the profits go to the children?]
"Dear Friend! How are you today? We hope you're doing great. We are happy to announce that our famous Secret Wealth Money-Making System is now being released again to the general public."
This is a legitimate business announcement, being sent in compliance with all rules & regulations that govern internet commerce. We respect your privacy. You received this email because we are on the same opt in list or we've had contact in the past."
"^[$BFMA3$N%a!<%k$K$F!"BgJQ<:Ni$$$?$7$^$9!#^[(B"
"CONFIDENTIAL! The SOFTWARE They Want BANNED In all 50 STATES. Why? Because these secrets were never intended to reach your eyes... Get the facts on anyone! Locate Missing Persons, find Lost Relatives, obtain Addresses and Phone Numbers of old school friends, even Skip Trace Dead Beat Spouses. This is not a Private Investigator, but a sophisticated SOFTWARE program DESIGNED to automatically CRACK YOUR CASE with links to thousands of Public Record databases."
"We need a bank account number to which we will wire US$31 MILLION, of which you will keep 30% as your share...."

Michael Orr
Editor, Linux Gazette,