Bill Smith wrote:
[...] let's see if i got this right: a guy volunteered to design a website for a LUG and insisted on using M$-specific tools. ummm...
Yes, it was very weird. Unfortunately, he was buddies with the guy who ran the server, and since it wasn't LUG "official" (sort of like WLUG's current) he couldn't be de-op'ed.
[...] at the risk of sounding technocratic, i think a person should have some level of functionality
I too advocate human functionality :)
before being allowed onto the 'Net. something BASIC (<ahem> pun intended),
Hmm... am I dating myself when I admit that I remember when computers actually ran BASIC?
maybe a test of some sort... "What is the difference between a hard drive and a floppy drive? (holding up a 3.5" floppy) Which one is THIS?"
Hold up a 5 1/4" floppy and watch 'em glaze over. :) I agree at a general level, but cringe when I think what our dear ol' government might consider "proper credentials." Visions of lobbyists and special interests sticking all sorts of propaganda in, politically correct, sensitive questions, and the like. "RAM" and "hard drive" deemed hostile, "RBLs" deemed discriminatory, "cache" deemed discriminatory to the financially challenged. I might fail whatever they manage to concoct. Then again, maybe I'm just too cynical. They've managed to institute a series of tests and checks to ensure that anybody taking to our roads is well-versed in the rules, and able to operate their vehicle properly, right?
<shrug> some days, i just want to pull out my Apple IIgs and stick to THAT. ...then i realize how slow it is, compared to my current system. :)
I do want to get my old Apple (the REAL apple, not that Mac impostor!) hooked up to my Linux box someday, maybe doing something "useful" like 'tail -f' on log files. I could still stand a game of Karateka once in a while. :) - Bob