Helping people discover the possibilities of open-source software, generative AI, and lifelong learning.
While listening to an audiobook version of The Tao of Pooh—one of my favorite books—I found myself drawn into our public library book club’s monthly selection. The Taoist philosophy resonated with me, particularly in how it mirrors the spirit of…
How five decades of computing innovation have made powerful technology more accessible to everyone. In 1977, I was a sophomore at Clemson University, taking a course in probability and statistics. Our classroom tools were textbooks, pencils, paper, and Texas Instruments…
I’ve spent much of my life teaching people how to use technology. Along the way, I’ve discovered that teaching Linux and open-source software is about much more than computers. It’s about helping people discover new possibilities, gain confidence, and take…
I’ve been hooked on open-source productivity tools for years—first OpenOffice, then LibreOffice when The Document Foundation forked the project. And honestly? I’ve lost count of exactly how many years it’s been. Back in 2009, while serving as Technology Director at…
Imagine spending countless hours crafting essential documents, eye-catching marketing materials, and informative publications for your small business, only to be blindsided when the software you’ve depended on for years is abruptly discontinued. To make matters worse, all your invaluable files…
I’ve been writing a lot about technology and technology tools in the past several years on this blog, but this week I’ve spent time reviewing what I wrote twenty years ago when I started blogging. I started blogging after a…
Containers aren’t new, but I am new to using them. I’m particularly interested in locally hosted AI. In the past, I wrote several articles about utilizing Ollama, GenAI, and other locally installed large language models (LLMs) on my Linux desktop.…
They’re fighting EVs with righteous rage:“Those batteries are a threat!They’ll bring the power grid to its knees—Our nation’s doomed, you bet!” “Save the grid! Protect the land!No EVs in our state!”Then someone says, “Data centers?” “Now that’s progress! Build them…
One of my friends lives at a retreat center with a large solar array that powers a large house, chapel, and five separate smaller cottages, all with full electric service. The solar array connects to power inverters, then to a…
A friend of mine contacted me because he said he had “messed up” his computer. His laptop is a Dell 7440 with a BIOS date of April 28, 2016. It’s a dual-core Intel Core i5-4300U with 8 GB of RAM…