From russell at pdxlinux.org Mon Dec 1 06:13:10 2025 From: russell at pdxlinux.org (Russell Senior) Date: Sun, 30 Nov 2025 22:13:10 -0800 Subject: [PLUG] REMINDER: Portland Linux/Unix Group General Meeting: Plan 9, with Anthony Sorace In-Reply-To: <7824c399-88a2-436a-a5aa-2fdbe1f53eda@pdxlinux.org> References: <7824c399-88a2-436a-a5aa-2fdbe1f53eda@pdxlinux.org> Message-ID: <606beaec-958a-4ed9-80c2-21a979c3f8ae@pdxlinux.org> Just a reminder, coming up this week! On 11/15/25 01:28, Russell Senior wrote: > Who: Anthony Sorace > What: Plan 9 > Where: 1930 SW 4th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97201-5304, Room 86-01 > When: Thursday December 4, 2025 at 7 PM > Why: The pursuit of technology freedom > > > Summary: > > Plan 9 is an operating system with some very interesting properties, > especially around distributed systems, networking, and resource > sharing. It was originally developed by the same group at Bell Labs > which developed Unix and shares a clear heritage that will make many > parts familiar to experienced users of other unix-like systems, but in > many ways represents an "alternate universe" for how Unix might have > developed. While it's seen only limited commercial use, it has proven > itself suitable to a wide range of applications, including > supercomputer clusters, network appliances, and embedded systems. And > as a small, consistent system with a unifying philosophy, it can be > interesting to study and explore even outside its practical utility. > > Together, let's take a brief tour of this alternate universe's > history, what makes it exciting to people who live (or visit) there, > the current landscape, and where it might (or might not!) be > interesting for you. > > Bio: > > Anthony Sorace (he/him) is some sort of engineer. Professionally, his > work has focused on system architecture and process analysis, looking > at how people can use computers to solve (some of) their problems. On > the side, he enjoys messing about with networking, databases, and > systems software. He is a slightly reluctant web programmer and > enthusiastic cook. He has been using Plan 9 since the late nineteen > hundreds, a few weeks before starting a job at Bell Labs working with > related technology, and currently serves as a director of the Plan 9 > Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to advancing research on > lightweight distributed systems using these technologies. > > Calagator: https://calagator.org/events/1250482315 > > With luck, the talk will also be streamed live here: > http://www.twitch.tv/kngbwlf, and later posted to YouTube. > > PLUG is back at Portland State University, thanks to the Computer > Science Department and to Andrew Greenberg. The room is in the > basement of the PSU Engineering Building (also connected underground > to the Fourth Avenue Building, or FAB). Enter through the Engineering > Building. The outside door will be locked, but there should be someone > present at the entrance to let you in starting at 6:40pm until 7pm. > There will be a sign on the door with a phone number you can SMS if > there isn't someone there to let you in immediately. > > From russell at pdxlinux.org Wed Dec 3 23:43:45 2025 From: russell at pdxlinux.org (Russell Senior) Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2025 15:43:45 -0800 Subject: [PLUG] Charles Jordan Community Center Computer Lab Message-ID: <03ff300f-17c4-434d-ae56-d04f9ddd0ed0@pdxlinux.org> A few months ago in mid-September, I happened to notice that Portland Parks and Recreation website said that they had a community center with a computer lab. That was the first I had ever heard of it. With a little more research, I found that they'd received an equipment grant in 2012 from Free Geek, running Ubuntu, to expand some previously existing computer lab. I wondered, given the current state of Free Geek, what the condition of the computer lab was and made a mental note to stop by some day, wondering whether PLUG might help support it. ? https://www.portland.gov/parks/charles-jordan-community-center (listed under amenities on the right side) Today while I was in the neighborhood, I stopped by to ask about it and to suggest that PLUG might be able to help them. However, the nice person I talked to said words to the effect: "Oh, that hasn't been around for years, since before the pandemic". I told him I'd seen it on their website recently and suggested they should probably remove that mention if it didn't really exist, and they expressed some surprise. I came home, found the link I'd seen before, confirmed it looked like the current site, and then left a voicemail with more detail about where I had seen it, so by the time you read this it might already be gone. So, oops. I guess the City of Portland has zero computer labs, instead of just one. -- Russell Senior PLUG Volunteer russell at pdxlinux.org From barnmichael at gmail.com Thu Dec 4 00:10:49 2025 From: barnmichael at gmail.com (Michael Barnes) Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2025 16:10:49 -0800 Subject: [PLUG] Charles Jordan Community Center Computer Lab In-Reply-To: <03ff300f-17c4-434d-ae56-d04f9ddd0ed0@pdxlinux.org> References: <03ff300f-17c4-434d-ae56-d04f9ddd0ed0@pdxlinux.org> Message-ID: So everybody should drop in and ask to use the Computer Lab. Then tell them you're not paying an admission fee if there is no computer lab and walk out. Tell them the website says they have one. Be sure they see your disappointment. Michael On Wed, Dec 3, 2025 at 3:44?PM Russell Senior wrote: > A few months ago in mid-September, I happened to notice that Portland > Parks and Recreation website said that they had a community center with > a computer lab. That was the first I had ever heard of it. With a little > more research, I found that they'd received an equipment grant in 2012 > from Free Geek, running Ubuntu, to expand some previously existing > computer lab. I wondered, given the current state of Free Geek, what the > condition of the computer lab was and made a mental note to stop by some > day, wondering whether PLUG might help support it. > > https://www.portland.gov/parks/charles-jordan-community-center > (listed under amenities on the right side) > > Today while I was in the neighborhood, I stopped by to ask about it and > to suggest that PLUG might be able to help them. However, the nice > person I talked to said words to the effect: "Oh, that hasn't been > around for years, since before the pandemic". I told him I'd seen it on > their website recently and suggested they should probably remove that > mention if it didn't really exist, and they expressed some surprise. I > came home, found the link I'd seen before, confirmed it looked like the > current site, and then left a voicemail with more detail about where I > had seen it, so by the time you read this it might already be gone. > > So, oops. I guess the City of Portland has zero computer labs, instead > of just one. > > -- > Russell Senior > PLUG Volunteer > russell at pdxlinux.org > From refugia at zoho.com Thu Dec 4 02:31:05 2025 From: refugia at zoho.com (Patrick O'Connor) Date: Wed, 03 Dec 2025 18:31:05 -0800 Subject: [PLUG] Charles Jordan Community Center Computer Lab In-Reply-To: References: <03ff300f-17c4-434d-ae56-d04f9ddd0ed0@pdxlinux.org> Message-ID: <19ae732ed92.6cac2df9434475.4353065292843167045@zoho.com> It is located on Foss avenue. A linux lab would be apt. Do you want me to inquire? I work for portland parks & wrecks. That's in our zone. Patrick ---- On Wed, 03 Dec 2025 16:10:49 -0800 Michael Barnes wrote --- > So everybody should drop in and ask to use the Computer Lab. Then tell them > you're not paying an admission fee if there is no computer lab and walk > out. Tell them the website says they have one. Be sure they see your > disappointment. > > Michael > > > On Wed, Dec 3, 2025 at 3:44?PM Russell Senior wrote: > > > A few months ago in mid-September, I happened to notice that Portland > > Parks and Recreation website said that they had a community center with > > a computer lab. That was the first I had ever heard of it. With a little > > more research, I found that they'd received an equipment grant in 2012 > > from Free Geek, running Ubuntu, to expand some previously existing > > computer lab. I wondered, given the current state of Free Geek, what the > > condition of the computer lab was and made a mental note to stop by some > > day, wondering whether PLUG might help support it. > > > > https://www.portland.gov/parks/charles-jordan-community-center > > (listed under amenities on the right side) > > > > Today while I was in the neighborhood, I stopped by to ask about it and > > to suggest that PLUG might be able to help them. However, the nice > > person I talked to said words to the effect: "Oh, that hasn't been > > around for years, since before the pandemic". I told him I'd seen it on > > their website recently and suggested they should probably remove that > > mention if it didn't really exist, and they expressed some surprise. I > > came home, found the link I'd seen before, confirmed it looked like the > > current site, and then left a voicemail with more detail about where I > > had seen it, so by the time you read this it might already be gone. > > > > So, oops. I guess the City of Portland has zero computer labs, instead > > of just one. > > > > -- > > Russell Senior > > PLUG Volunteer > > russell at pdxlinux.org > > > From kingbeowulf at linuxgalaxy.org Thu Dec 4 02:37:59 2025 From: kingbeowulf at linuxgalaxy.org (King Beowulf) Date: Thu, 04 Dec 2025 02:37:59 +0000 Subject: [PLUG] Charles Jordan Community Center Computer Lab In-Reply-To: <03ff300f-17c4-434d-ae56-d04f9ddd0ed0@pdxlinux.org> References: <03ff300f-17c4-434d-ae56-d04f9ddd0ed0@pdxlinux.org> Message-ID: <3ea0196b-7b1d-445e-9722-4dc48dd0a49c@linuxgalaxy.org> On 12/3/25 15:43, Russell Senior wrote: > A few months ago in mid-September, I happened to notice that Portland > Parks and Recreation website said that they had a community center with > a computer lab. That was the first I had ever heard of it. With a little > more research, I found that they'd received an equipment grant in 2012 > from Free Geek, running Ubuntu, to expand some previously existing > computer lab. I wondered, given the current state of Free Geek, what the > condition of the computer lab was and made a mental note to stop by some > day, wondering whether PLUG might help support it. > > ? https://www.portland.gov/parks/charles-jordan-community-center > (listed under amenities on the right side) > Still listed.? Be a shame if a computer lab can't be resurrected. I bet PLUGgers have all sorts spare hardware.? I also to know of under employed geeks who could help with support, education, etc for a modest remuneration or honorarium. -Ed From russell at pdxlinux.org Thu Dec 4 06:24:09 2025 From: russell at pdxlinux.org (Russell Senior) Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2025 22:24:09 -0800 Subject: [PLUG] Charles Jordan Community Center Computer Lab In-Reply-To: <19ae732ed92.6cac2df9434475.4353065292843167045@zoho.com> References: <03ff300f-17c4-434d-ae56-d04f9ddd0ed0@pdxlinux.org> <19ae732ed92.6cac2df9434475.4353065292843167045@zoho.com> Message-ID: <3f85a231-c48b-45ac-8c3f-275015806acb@pdxlinux.org> On 12/3/25 18:31, Patrick O'Connor wrote: > It is located on Foss avenue. A linux lab would be apt. LOL, good catch, indeed. > > Do you want me to inquire? > > I work for portland parks & wrecks. That's in our zone. If you could arrange a meeting to talk about whether it's considered desirable and what a collaboration might look like, that would be cool. > > Patrick > > > ---- On Wed, 03 Dec 2025 16:10:49 -0800 Michael Barnes wrote --- > > So everybody should drop in and ask to use the Computer Lab. Then tell them > > you're not paying an admission fee if there is no computer lab and walk > > out. Tell them the website says they have one. Be sure they see your > > disappointment. > > > > Michael > > > > > > On Wed, Dec 3, 2025 at 3:44?PM Russell Senior wrote: > > > > > A few months ago in mid-September, I happened to notice that Portland > > > Parks and Recreation website said that they had a community center with > > > a computer lab. That was the first I had ever heard of it. With a little > > > more research, I found that they'd received an equipment grant in 2012 > > > from Free Geek, running Ubuntu, to expand some previously existing > > > computer lab. I wondered, given the current state of Free Geek, what the > > > condition of the computer lab was and made a mental note to stop by some > > > day, wondering whether PLUG might help support it. > > > > > > https://www.portland.gov/parks/charles-jordan-community-center > > > (listed under amenities on the right side) > > > > > > Today while I was in the neighborhood, I stopped by to ask about it and > > > to suggest that PLUG might be able to help them. However, the nice > > > person I talked to said words to the effect: "Oh, that hasn't been > > > around for years, since before the pandemic". I told him I'd seen it on > > > their website recently and suggested they should probably remove that > > > mention if it didn't really exist, and they expressed some surprise. I > > > came home, found the link I'd seen before, confirmed it looked like the > > > current site, and then left a voicemail with more detail about where I > > > had seen it, so by the time you read this it might already be gone. > > > > > > So, oops. I guess the City of Portland has zero computer labs, instead > > > of just one. > > > > > > -- > > > Russell Senior > > > PLUG Volunteer > > > russell at pdxlinux.org > > > > > > From russell at pdxlinux.org Thu Dec 4 06:26:42 2025 From: russell at pdxlinux.org (Russell Senior) Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2025 22:26:42 -0800 Subject: [PLUG] REMINDER: Portland Linux/Unix Group General Meeting: Plan 9, with Anthony Sorace In-Reply-To: <606beaec-958a-4ed9-80c2-21a979c3f8ae@pdxlinux.org> References: <7824c399-88a2-436a-a5aa-2fdbe1f53eda@pdxlinux.org> <606beaec-958a-4ed9-80c2-21a979c3f8ae@pdxlinux.org> Message-ID: A final reminder, this is tomorrow (Thursday) evening! Should be interesting! On 11/30/25 22:13, Russell Senior wrote: > Just a reminder, coming up this week! > > On 11/15/25 01:28, Russell Senior wrote: >> Who: Anthony Sorace >> What: Plan 9 >> Where: 1930 SW 4th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97201-5304, Room 86-01 >> When: Thursday December 4, 2025 at 7 PM >> Why: The pursuit of technology freedom >> >> >> Summary: >> >> Plan 9 is an operating system with some very interesting properties, >> especially around distributed systems, networking, and resource >> sharing. It was originally developed by the same group at Bell Labs >> which developed Unix and shares a clear heritage that will make many >> parts familiar to experienced users of other unix-like systems, but >> in many ways represents an "alternate universe" for how Unix might >> have developed. While it's seen only limited commercial use, it has >> proven itself suitable to a wide range of applications, including >> supercomputer clusters, network appliances, and embedded systems. And >> as a small, consistent system with a unifying philosophy, it can be >> interesting to study and explore even outside its practical utility. >> >> Together, let's take a brief tour of this alternate universe's >> history, what makes it exciting to people who live (or visit) there, >> the current landscape, and where it might (or might not!) be >> interesting for you. >> >> Bio: >> >> Anthony Sorace (he/him) is some sort of engineer. Professionally, his >> work has focused on system architecture and process analysis, looking >> at how people can use computers to solve (some of) their problems. On >> the side, he enjoys messing about with networking, databases, and >> systems software. He is a slightly reluctant web programmer and >> enthusiastic cook. He has been using Plan 9 since the late nineteen >> hundreds, a few weeks before starting a job at Bell Labs working with >> related technology, and currently serves as a director of the Plan 9 >> Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to advancing research on >> lightweight distributed systems using these technologies. >> >> Calagator: https://calagator.org/events/1250482315 >> >> With luck, the talk will also be streamed live here: >> http://www.twitch.tv/kngbwlf, and later posted to YouTube. >> >> PLUG is back at Portland State University, thanks to the Computer >> Science Department and to Andrew Greenberg. The room is in the >> basement of the PSU Engineering Building (also connected underground >> to the Fourth Avenue Building, or FAB). Enter through the Engineering >> Building. The outside door will be locked, but there should be >> someone present at the entrance to let you in starting at 6:40pm >> until 7pm. There will be a sign on the door with a phone number you >> can SMS if there isn't someone there to let you in immediately. >> >> From russell at pdxlinux.org Sat Dec 6 05:09:03 2025 From: russell at pdxlinux.org (Russell Senior) Date: Fri, 5 Dec 2025 21:09:03 -0800 Subject: [PLUG] ANNOUNCEMENT: Monthly PLUG Clinic on Sunday, December 21, 2025 NEW VENUE Message-ID: <7d5bda11-feee-4f71-87db-d334958a2789@pdxlinux.org> Where: Albina Large Community Room 2B ??? ??? ??? Multnomah County Library, Albina Branch ??? ??? ??? https://multcolib.org/hours-and-locations/albina-library ??? ??? ??? 205 NE Russell Street ??? ??? ??? Portland, Oregon 97212 When: Sunday, December 21, 2025, 1pm-5pm See also: https://calagator.org/events/1250482332 The PLUG Linux Clinic returns again this month on December 21, from 1pm-5pm, but at a different venue this month. The beautiful, newly re-opened Albina Branch Library on NE Russell Street. There is also access from the North side of the building, on Knott Street, west of MLK,Jr Blvd. Volunteer helpers are as desirable as helpees. Helping is fun and rewarding. If you've ever helped out at a PLUG Clinic before, come checkout the space! -- Russell Senior PLUG Volunteer russell at pdxlinux.org From rowlett at access.net Sat Dec 6 19:57:15 2025 From: rowlett at access.net (Richard Owlett) Date: Sat, 6 Dec 2025 13:57:15 -0600 Subject: [PLUG] Determining if a USENET server is up and running properly??? Message-ID: <7604bfbc-ff61-7369-fe5a-cb3890cdc10f@access.net> I use SeaMonkey 2.53.21 on a Debian 12.8 system. My USENET connection is news.eternal-september.org port 119. I used it earlier today without problem. Now it's asking for a new password. As a trouble shooting 1st step I went to http://www.eternal-september.org/index.php?showpage=recoverp&language=en and entered my email address. I got a return email with the expected UserID and password. What do I do now? TIA From kingbeowulf at linuxgalaxy.org Sat Dec 6 23:53:57 2025 From: kingbeowulf at linuxgalaxy.org (King Beowulf) Date: Sat, 06 Dec 2025 23:53:57 +0000 Subject: [PLUG] Determining if a USENET server is up and running properly??? In-Reply-To: <7604bfbc-ff61-7369-fe5a-cb3890cdc10f@access.net> References: <7604bfbc-ff61-7369-fe5a-cb3890cdc10f@access.net> Message-ID: On 12/6/25 11:57, Richard Owlett wrote: > I use SeaMonkey 2.53.21 on a Debian 12.8 system. > My USENET connection is news.eternal-september.org port 119. > I used it earlier today without problem. > Now it's asking for a new password. > > As a trouble shooting 1st step I went to > http://www.eternal-september.org/index.php?showpage=recoverp&language=en > and entered my email address. > I got a return email with the expected UserID and password. > > What do I do now? > > TIA > I'm using news.eternal-september.org port 563 for SSL connections.? Seems to be working. They also reported (via eternal-september.support) today: "Authentication server became unresponsive due to a network problem that is currently being investigated. Back to normal now." People reported issues connecting with some clients. -Ed