Stop Microsoft
Miscellaneous => The Lounge => Topic started by: KernelPanic on 16 September 2002, 02:15
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MES FAQ's were a great idea suggested by void main. The idea though seems to have fizzled out.
Developments need to be forced forward so I am gonna do some forcing... (http://smile.gif)
I think that the writing of the FAQ's needs to commence soon, The Webmaster can be contacted next time he shows up ;)
I think that the writing of the FAQ's should be done in a linux kernelesque fashion.
I think voimain should be in the middle (our Linus) then I think specialists for each area shoud be chosen ie Networking, Installation and distro specific stuff etc. These will be our 2nd in command outer circle.
The average person will submit a question and/or answer for possible inclusion in the final FAQ. The area leader then makes the decicion into what make the 'final cut'. The area leader submits the FAQ for his area to void main, and void main gives it the once over. Once evrything is written void main lets it be checke by the MES as a wole and finally it goes to The Webmaster to be posted/hosted.
I know I have made that sound complicated but just think of it in terms of how kernel submissions are made.
What does everybody think about this?
Ideas, suggestions?
Nominations for an area leader eg creedon for debian?
Lets get this sorted soon, because it will make us finally and definitevely the best anti-MS site on the WWW.
Tux.
[edit - title changed by Calum]
[ September 16, 2002: Message edited by: Calum ]
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well f00bar asked me this week what was going on about it, because he wants to translate the results into dutch, so i agree we should get onto it.
i am planning on writing a few things like this for the www.newtolinux.org.uk (http://www.newtolinux.org.uk) site, namely stuff about XFce desktop environment and so on.
Basically, i'm there, if we're going to do this, so somebody coordinate me in and i'll get writing... :D
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I need to get 40winks now because i'm cream crackered, but i'll check back here in the morning.
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a lot of questions could be answered by just searching through threads. Like, installing things in linux just search the Linux forum for it and you will find many matches.
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I think it would be a good idea. I don't know that I need to be in the middle of it though. I doubt the web master would have much time to update the FAQ which is why I thought it might be a good idea to actually host it on another system so one or more of the members can have authority to update it.
But then again, if we make it database driven, written in PHP or Perl, webmaster might be willing to install it on the MES server and post a link to it. UserIDs could be set up within the database/PHP program so certain members would have authority to update the database of questions.
I also think we should limit it to questions that are frequently asked on these forums (hence the name FAQ). If several people have the authority to update it the chances of it growing/living/breathing are greater. We can always browse over the entries looking for errors and correct them at will. I could do this but it usually takes a wild hair to get me going. Maybe I'll start working on it tonight.
If I get something promising I could see if m0r might want to install it on his machine (at least temporarily). If I do get started on it, it really shouldn't take more than an evening to write but I don't want anyone to hold their breath waiting on me as I get side tracked very quickly and easily.
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take a look at www.unix.com (http://www.unix.com)
they have a forum for FAQs
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I'd love to pitch in on the FAQ's but i'm too damn busy with work, writing for MacNut, and writing my "What is the TCPA" article.
This sounds very Linux focused - What about Mac? I'd love to write an FAQ on the Mac...
I'll reply again tomorrow as to what my status is.
BTW: I have a server that we can use if needed.
[ September 15, 2002: Message edited by: The_Muffin_Man/B0b ]
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Once I read this thread I started working on a PHP driven FAQ type of thingie. I'll probably finish it in an hour or so.
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Done. Anyone wants to tell me where to host it, at least to test it? It needs MySQL and PHP support to function. Ionichost.com has a shitty database that doesn't allow me to do anything :(
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quote:
Originally posted by The_Muffin_Man/B0b:
BTW: I have a server that we can use if needed.
[ September 15, 2002: Message edited by: The_Muffin_Man/B0b ]
?
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quote:
Originally posted by Master of Reality / Bob:
?
Oh.. Oh! /goes to look for Muffin's contact...
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The_Muffin_Man/B0b, are you willing to give me an account?
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Erm...it's not account based...standard unmodified Apache 2 setup.
But it does work. If you need proof goto:
http://www.akgames.net:8000/ (http://www.akgames.net:8000/)
Quirk, I PrivMessaged you.
[ September 16, 2002: Message edited by: The_Muffin_Man/B0b ]
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Get on AIM! I'm on right now!
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Dood! Wats ur name?
Check your PM's!
[ September 16, 2002: Message edited by: The_Muffin_Man/B0b ]
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Just in case you didn't know...the one in your profile doesn't work!
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well i tried to register fuckmicrosoft.cjb.net and fuckmicrosoft.tk and both are already registered. the cjb.net points to a 404 error and the tk one points to (of all things) microsoft.com.
This sucks as i wanted to suggest we put one of those as the domain name for our complementary site. Also, i like the idea of getting a vhost from the webmaster and having it at http://faq.fuckmirosoft.com (http://faq.fuckmirosoft.com) but that will of course take time...
re: linux, yes this all sounds a bit linux orientated, and that would make it a bit redundant. yes, a faq for help would be good, but it should be about ALL ways to switch away from Microsoft, not just how to switch to linux, there are tons of sites about that.
I vote for many creative FAQ questions related to why you might want to switch and what ALL your options are. we should take up, to a certain extent, where other FAQs stop.
Re: 'search and it shall be given unto you', i agree, but some people don't search. Say we have a faq, that has all the relevant info in it without the need for the newbie to wade through 1000 back posts and read all of the bitchfests that famously litter these forums, well people are more likely to 1) read it and 2) take it seriously. at the moment, while there is a lot of good info, to the newbie, it's all formless goo.
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bob, I am talkin about getting ifo for the FAQ from old posts instead of trying to get people to write it all down again
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if you want to test it, put it on www.tripod.co.uk (http://www.tripod.co.uk)
i have found them to be reliable when hosting my forum (http://members.tripod.co.uk/polytheism). they provide php and mysql.
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okay, i have registered a site on tripod for use of this project.
PM me or one of the other mods (i posted the signin details in the private forum) if you want the login details.
what do you say for making this the current testing home of the faq?
i haven't put anything up there, but i am thinking of registering some easy to remember url redirect for it, and so on...
[ September 16, 2002: Message edited by: Calum ]
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vhosts aren't neccessarily difficult, as long as you have them going to an IP. See:
http://mesfaq.akgames.net:8000/Faq.htm (http://mesfaq.akgames.net:8000/Faq.htm)
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is this a competition to see where the faq gets hosted? ;)
well the final home of the faq could not be hosted on tripod, since they do not even give you a proper domain name, however the php and mysql is all set up if we want a seminal place for it. otherwise i will just let the tripod account rot into disexistence...
edit: okay, muffin man says his server will be ready to host the faq in roughly a week, in the meantime feel free to use this tripod account, which we can treat as a test host...
now... anybody know any questions that people frequently ask? :rolleyes:
[ September 16, 2002: Message edited by: Calum ]
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For Linux:
What distro do you reccommend (for a: Newbie/Intermediate/Expert)?
How much swap space do I need?
How do I configure Lilo/GRUB?
How do I install a program?
How do I configure Wine(X)? (This one could get ugly...)
The answers to these are somewhere in the forums. Anyone got something they asked as a newbie? All of those stupid questions you were too embarrased to ask, but never knew!
[ September 16, 2002: Message edited by: The_Muffin_Man/B0b ]
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Now that is a part that involves trwling through back-posts and bitchfests (http://smile.gif)
This all sounds cool, has anybody thought of how it will be laid out? it needs to be done well.
By 'well' I mean logically organised and accessible rather that 'pretty'.
Is anybody interested in turning this collection of ACSII we will have into something useful?, I am willing to help if need be.
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okay, but i think it should look nice as well, and i vote it should be slaved to the layout of this site (the M$ eradication site)
i personally would be willing to write about how to set up LiLo, although i know a dozen other people could write this in their sleep. if anybody does want something included in the LiLo faq, please email it to me at calum @ fuckmicrosoft.com thanks.
i would also be willing to write some sort of 'what's the difference between open source, GPL and whatever microsoft uses?' FAQ. again, email me with suggestions.
Now, if somebody else wants to write these FAQs rather than me, then they should post here and speak up. OR, as i say, email me with content and i will include credit where it is due in the things i write.
That's just copy, as to actual structure, ie writing the markup to go with the SQl and the PHP, somebody else will have to be in charge of that, but i vote for some sort of thing where we can fairly easily drop the copy into a simple template.
As i say, i will do both the FAQs i mention above, email me with content, post if you would rather do those two faqs yourself, or if you want to do some other faq.
Now, i sound a lot like i am grabbing the reins, but this is just my suggestions for how to coordinate this effort, anybody has better or other ideas, then over to you... :D
PS - the test server that may or may not end up being used by somebody can be viewed by going to www.faqfuckmicrosoft.tk (http://www.faqfuckmicrosoft.tk)
pps - at the moment, the tripod server redirects to these forums, but of course, once we have some content, it can show that instead! :rolleyes:
[ September 16, 2002: Message edited by: Calum ]
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Calum, would you be willing to have a (try) at translating some of the (shorter and simpler) FAQ's to german with me?
I say this because germans are technical and seem very open to linux. (despite their other negative factors (http://smile.gif) )
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hmm, but do you say this because either of us know any german?
i would love to help but i must say my knowledge of german is extremely limited!
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quote:
Originally posted by Calum:
hmm, but do you say this because either of us know any german?
i would love to help but i must say my knowledge of german is extremely limited!
We could give it a whole-hearted try.
- In fact scrub that... -
We could give it a half-hearted try, how does that sound?
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okay, but i vote that the call be open for anybody who may know more german than me to send you a PM or email so that if somebody more able than me pops up, you can work on it with them. As i say, i will definitely be up for it if that does not happen though...
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Bitte ein Bit! Die ersta strasse links, und dan get outta the house.... Or something like that. Guess I won't be much help on translation? (http://smile.gif)
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You could give the german windows users directions to a cliff to jump off (http://smile.gif)
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Funny - was talking PM with Calum just about this thing, that we should have a FAQ for people that think that we are right about M$, and want to change
OS.
He pointed me here, and i just want to say i'm volenteer for any Dutch translation ... just PM me !
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might i just say, if anybody is working on some FAQ or translation, by all means, arrange it via PMs, but do remember to announce evrything in this thread, so we do not reinvent the wheel.
so far, i commited to doing FAQs about using LiLo and about 'what's the difference between open source, GPL and whatever microsoft uses?' also. Any other contributors to these FAQs, as i say, PM me.
f00bar, i will PM you once these FAQs are under way.
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Sherlock 3 has a pretty good English to German translator. And for that matter an English to every commonly spoken langauge on the planet translator.
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verstanden calum
EDIT - cant spell calum
[ September 16, 2002: Message edited by: Tux ]
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but does Sherlock 3 post on this board? ;)
maybe we can get him to help us write the FAQ? :D
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Umm...someone with Sherlock 3 copies the FAQ into one field, pushes the translate button, and copies the translated version into a document or e-mail.
It's not that hard, really! :D
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okay, folks UPDATE -
I will be going offline soon for the rest of the evening, so in order that this FAQ effort can be coordinated coherently, i thought i would upload this document:
http://members.lycos.co.uk/faqfuckmicrosoft/who.txt (http://members.lycos.co.uk/faqfuckmicrosoft/who.txt)
Now, if you want to write a faq, what i propose is, go to that url and see if anybody is already doing one. if they are, get in touch with them.
If nobody is, then edit that document to include your own name and upload it. if you want the details for uploading to that site, then PM any of the mods, i posted full details in the private forum, so they all have access to them.
If we all keep this document at http://members.lycos.co.uk/faqfuckmicrosoft/who.txt (http://members.lycos.co.uk/faqfuckmicrosoft/who.txt) current, then we will stay coordinated.
Okay, go for it!
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there is now a todo.txt in the root folder too. This will contain questions to do... so far there is only one that i added.
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Hey, gosh I'm behind.
I haven't been to frequent on the forums lately and am new to this FAQ thing! I think it's a terrific Idea!
Where can post question suggestions? I would like to contribute some stuff on the MacOS.
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I don't think they are at the point yet of actually adding content. Still trying to work out the framework/methodology. But you could always start writing stuff and add it when they are ready.. They are trying to make it so the FAQ is dynamic but worst case scenerio is it could also be static and updated manually.
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email muffin man, he is coordinating the mac stuff.
for anybody who wants to get involved, go to http://members.lycos.co.uk/faqfuckmicrosoft/who.txt (http://members.lycos.co.uk/faqfuckmicrosoft/who.txt) and get in touch with some of the people there. that address points to our test site which has php and mysql, and if you want, email one of those people for the login details as well.
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Should there be a different document for the Dutch translation ? I'm gonna get right on translating that who.txt document, but have no clue where to put it ... could i PM it to you, Calum ?
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Psyjax: My e-mail address is listed here http://members.lycos.co.uk/faqfuckmicrosoft/who.txt (http://members.lycos.co.uk/faqfuckmicrosoft/who.txt)
Any submssions would be most welcome!
Thanks,
Dustin
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f00bar, email somebody on the who list to get the login details for the test site, then upload your translated documents there... not me though, as i am off to watch tv now! :D
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OK, the server is up, and I posted the who file on mine too...if you want to edit it though, you need a login from me.
http://mesfaqs.akgames.net:8000/who.htm (http://mesfaqs.akgames.net:8000/who.htm)
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okay, now that the 'real'machine is up and running, i say we let the test site go, and anybody who wants to officially do anything, send it up to muffin man's server, which will henceforth be considered the actual real one and only machine.
can we have urls posted here of the new locations of the who documents and so forth, please, muff? (what a nickname! :D )
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UPDATE: Go here to find out what i propose about coordination - to save us posting all over this board and editing 'who.txt'files about what we are doing... (http://forum.fuckmicrosoft.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=7&t=000597)
[ September 18, 2002: Message edited by: Calum ]