Happy Independence Day! I’m on the road, but I thought I’d share a funny video with you. This is why I want to home school my children:

I had a disagreement with my network administrator today over the issue of VPN. Official company policy is that Linux is not supported. Even so, one of his techs had agreed to help me get the Cisco client working on my laptop so I can access my work computer on vacation next week. After hours of frustration, he finally figured out that I was on campus. “You can’t VPN into campus if you’re on campus!”

I went down to a local coffee shop to connect to the WIFI there and test the VPN. I was a little miffed by our trusty network admin, who said, “See? That’s what you get for using Linux.” I connected to the WIFI, entered my VPN credentials, and Voila - it worked like a charm. I was even able to Terminal Service and check on the status of my server.

Why must those who use free software be second-class citizens? I see it as a class distinction. The poor cannot afford expensive proprietary software, so they use a free alternative. In other areas of life, this usually means using something that works some of the time, and often breaks so often that you are constantly forced to repurchase. Wisdom says, “Spend a little bit more money now, and you’ll save in the long run.” (Buy a mac, my friend says.)

Well, the axiom doesn’t apply. Open source software is often, if not always, better than their proprietary cousins. What features are lacking are often riddled with patents which Linux cannot legally use. (DVD, anyone? What’s up with that?)

In reality, the best TCO, or total cost of ownership, is realized by using open source software. This is especially true on the server, where open technologies have led the way. Are you aware that 60% of web sites use Apache as their web server?

I’m ranting. 99% of you probably don’t have any idea what I’m talking about, but that’s okay. Open source software is one of my passions, and I’m not going to keep silent about discrimination any longer. I just hope that in my lifetime I can see open source software gain the reputation of being solid software that can withstand mission-critical applications.

I was reading Revelation today, and having thought about everything we’re going to have to go through, I figured it was time for me to write my bucket list. Here goes nothing:

1. Finish my MBA
2. Learn Spanish, French, and Russian
3. Eat a baguette from a bakery in France
4. Visit Paris in the Spring with my wife
5. Drink real Costa Rican coffee IN Costa Rica
6. Fulfill my wife’s lifelong dream by taking a second honeymoon to Bora Bora
7. Eat lunch with Mike Bickle one day
8. Meet my children
9. Eat vegetables from my own garden
10. Learn how to REALLY play the guitar

There you go. Ashley challenged us to do it two and a half months ago, but I’m just now getting around to it. There you go, Ashley. Enjoy.