[Swlug] Introduction

[Rhys Sage]

Hi Paul,

You're not alone in being a virtual Linux virgin. I got my OND, HNC and HND in computing in 1990 but never managed to obtain work in computing though at the time I would dearly have loved to have worked as a programmer. I ended up doing other things and commencing a splendid collection of PTSD and cPTSD. I've worked in a variety of countries and at one time was pretty fluent in Russian. Now it's very much of a challenge. I remember the first edition of Linux coming out and Tony Toft - the lecturer in West Glam Institute of HE exploring Linux with all of us in the Systems Analysis and Design class. 

Now, I attend only the virtual meetings as I'm currently located in South Carolina but I do plan a trip to Britain in October or November. Whether I'll make it to a meeting is unknown. It's a nice dream though. Having been through Covid and having had Covid about 14 months ago and something similar in 2019 I'm rather wary about going anywhere unmasked and in enclosed spaces (mind PTSD plays in there with crowds and enclosed spaces).

I am experimenting with a variety of SBCs - Pi Pico, Pi Pico W, Arduino Metro, Arduino Nano, ATTiny88 and ESP32. I have a fair stash of electronic components but have to look up circuits. I'm playing around with a bit of robotics and doing some other DIY things. There is general convergance between some projects. 

My most stunning project so far is a 20 foot long blue LED penis on top of a shipping container that flashes a morse code message into the sky. That flashes for an hour around dusk every day. I know they wanted to put that in the MagPi blog "because it's a blue flashy wang thing". 

I run a youtube channel but seem to be doing DIY as well as electronics and a few reviews.

So welcome to a bunch of assorted oddballs. Some of us started meeting in a pub in Wind St in Swansea. I remember one fellow came in proudly with a tiny folding laptop that was about 6 inches in size. He was proud of it and I remember I was dismissive and I very much regret that.

Rhys Sage