Ubuntu Wiki

About Me

Professionally

I'm an IT professional working in the United Kingdom. I have been working as web developer and database administrator in a very small development team. We typically follow a DSDM methodolgy in our development projects as we have multiple skills at our disposal.

In recent months I have been making use of a WUBI install of Ubuntu on a work computer. This first hand experience has given me the unique perspective to critically evaluate its uses. I find it an ideal way of introducing Microsoft Windows users to the operating system. I eagerly wait for MUBI to be released (similar to WUBI except for Apple Macs)

Ubuntu was first introduced to me by a colleague and since then it has become my operating system of choice. From tentative steps I feel that I am now quite confident with it. I have managed to successfully introduce a few friends to the operating system and now serve as their immediate access to help.

Socially

Socially I try to stay fit and active. My fitness regime includes Running, Cycling, Swimming and Badminton. I am also a keen snooker and pool player. Playing Snooker and Pool for the local pub team is my way of relaxing whilst at the same time socializing with friends.

I am not really a film buff, but can appreciate good cinema. I do however like music, especially from the 60's era. I like nothing more than putting a few LP's on in the dark and taking it all in.

Ubuntu Participation

Beginners Team

I am a member of the Beginners Team and I feel a sense of pride to be associated with it. Being a member of this team will allow me to enhance my Ubuntu education, while at the same time help others with their problems. It is also a perfect opportunity to socialize with the community and get to know individuals better.

My Padawan

I have taken up the role as Master to prospective Beginners Team members. In this role I seek to guide them in their membership application and also to introduce them to the team. Forming bonds early on with the padawan can only help our interactions with one another in the future.

It has been my pleasure to take the following on as padawan:

Diego Turcios

Young New Users Focus Group

I have been made joint lead of the Young New Users Focus Group. Its purpose is to help young new users integrate with the beginners team and by extension the Ubuntu community. The focus group is designed to be approachable for any help needed by younger users and also to encourage then to respect the Ubuntu Code of Conduct. This group is also a chance for the younger users to post anything they are not sure is suitable to be posted else where. The post is then analyzed and if necessary reworded, or if needed we advise to the user not to post it at all.

IRC Focus Group

I am joint lead of the IRC Focus Group. My reason for joining this group is twofold. Primarily I joined this group in order to help users in a real time environment compared to the delay in responses associated with forum assistance. My secondary reason for joining this group was to revive its original purpose of being a support channel, as it had become inactive. I also feel that helping others over IRC is also a good way to build relationships with community members.

Whube

Whube is a web information system that helps with organizing The Beginners Team. It seeks to manage the Beginners Team Focus Groups activities and Members in a more efficient way than mailing lists and wiki pages. Whube also includes a bug tracking feature, which we feel as a unit will be extremely useful for the Development Focus Group. The system is being developed in house by the more code minded people in the Beginners Team, most notably Paultag, Joeb454 and myself. Features will be added as needed and will be maintained by the 3 developers.

Wiki Focus Group

I have joined this focus group in order to do more for the community. I eagerly await to get more involved with this group and am looking forward to the start of the Summer of Documentation 2009.

Pages Worked On Summer of Documentation 2009

A list of pages that I have worked on:

• o Glossary of Terms	o How To Get Help
  o USB	o The GIMP
  o Software Management	o VNC

Ubuntu Forums

I am a member of the Ubuntu Forums. Here is the link to My Profile. I consider myself active in the support sections of the forum and always like to help where I can. I tend to post in the Programming Talk forum but I do also try to help out where I can in the Absolute Beginner Talk and also General Help forums. If I see a thread where I can contribute something useful I will definitely post in it. I have also signed the Ubuntu Code of Conduct and can be considered an Ubuntero.

Unanswered Posts Team

I am not a member of this team at present. I believe that I could contribute to this team as I have a diverse skill/knowledge base that may be of benefit to others.

Update

I have applied to join this group over two months ago, but my request has still not been processed as of yet. I remain hopeful that others will not go through this experience and also that my application is eventually seen to.

Update 2

It appears that the team is undergoing leadership reorganisation. In the last Beginners Team meeting a merger with the Beginners Team to form a new Focus Group was being discussed. If this merger does take place then I shall join the new focus group and also help with integration of the new comers in any way I can.

Update 3

This team is now under new leadership and does not appear that it will join with the Beginners Team as a Focus Group. Given this new direction it has taken I am going to reapply for membership as all membership requests (86, I believe) were rejected as the team was seen to be inactive at application date. I would hope to have this resolved within the next week and actively looking to make contact with the new leaders of this team.

UK Local Community Team

I am a member of UK Loco Team. It is nice to be able to meet and help fellow Ubuntu users in my own country. I look forward to getting more involved on the Ubuntu scene via this team.

Internet Relay Chat

My registered IRC nickname is Silver_Fox_. I am looking forward to getting to know the Ubuntu community members better through this medium. I am usually present in the following channels:

1. #ubuntuforums
2. #ubuntu-beginners
3. #ubuntu-beginners-YNU
4. #ubuntu-beginners-help
5. #ubuntu-uk

Please feel free to say hello.

Linux User Group (LUG)

I am trying to become more active on the Linux scene and this seems to be a sensible move for me to make. There are 2 different LUG's near to me and I plan to attend both sets of meetings next month. Once I have done that I will pick which one I liked the most and continue to attend. At the moment I am on a fact finding mission and trying to learn as much as possible about the two LUGs I am close to.

Goals For The Future

1. Continue to contribute to the Community Docs.

2. Become an Ubuntu Member
3. Decide which LUG to join

Testimonials

Since Silver_Fox's induction to the team, I have had the utmost pleasure in collaborating in several areas of the Ubuntu Beginners Team. Silver_Fox has taken up administrative roles next to me in the realm of IRC administration, and kick-started many initiatives regarding policy, moderation and activity. Silver_Fox is also helping me with the development of a team-wide web application that will be used to integrate the Ubuntu Beginners Team even further. These efforts mark an extraordinary dedication past the average member. Silver_Fox's work with the UBT alone is not only noteworthy, but exemplary. Please consider Silver_Fox's application favourably.

• -- Paultag ( Paul Tagliamonte )