Two Words, One Answer.
Should work
 How Linux Works: What Every Superuser Should Know $37.95 In my work, I need to use Linux once in a while. For quite some time, I've searched for an introduction to Linux that would give me a solid overview of the system without bogging me down in detail. Of all the books that I've looked at or read, this is the best, if now somewhat dated, introduction to Linux I've found. Blair Ward takes you straight into the mechanics of how Linux works. Note that this is a different approach than the books that promise to teach you how to learn to use Linux by showing you how to play music and movies. "How Linux Works" moves you into the essential commands of Linux, explains what they do and, where appropriate, some of the options available to you. Not the "some" in the last sentence. A small failing on Ward/s part is his not explaining all the options available for a command. His logic is readily apparent: he didn't want to bog the reader down with stuff they might never use in a lifetime. On the other hand, I am interested specifically in a handful of commands and not all the options are listed and explained for some of these, which is a disappointment. I guess that is what my well thumbed copy of "Linux In A Nutshell" is for - and which I constantly complain about having too much detail. Sometimes, you just can't win. The real coolness about "How Linux Works" is that Ward provides enough detail to familiarize the novice user with how to get around in Linux, how to use the important tools without overloading anyone. In a matter of minutes with this book, much of my ignorance and confusion and Linux was dispelled. It was a great feeling. The book, published in 2004, is becoming a bit dated. For the most part, the newer things that aren't covered are no loss for me and are covered in other publications - and the essentials of Linux are unchanged. A lot of material, as I mentioned, is simply not here. For example, there is no mention of working with the NTFS file system which was well-established in 2004, though not on Linux per se. Overall, this book is great and fills my need for an intro that gives me the basics of about how Linux live and breathes while it is doing its thing. Nice piece of work. Jerry  I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I T-shirt Large White $17.95  Machines Should Think People Should Work $8.99 Steeped in geek reminiscing of an 8-bit world where science will simultaneously run amok and yet save us all, this awesome pop/industrial quadrio have put together a fun album that not only passes the time with mad beats and wit, it's also a great bit of skilled musicianship. You've always got me when people sing with modulated robot voices (the aptly-named 'Robot Anthem', as well as 'Battle'), but that's only the beginning: The Lovely Dawn gives us heavenly vocals on 'FTS Beta 9'. 'Push the Button' shows Andrew at his funniest (a charming tale of what happens when you dump a nuclear physicist). Guest singer Adam Boose provides a nice change of pace with 'Slip and Scream'. 'I Know You' is one of the melodic pieces of noise I've ever heard...it really pushes an envelope here, and Jim's contributions (as well as Peter Griffin's...trust me on this one) is one of those tracks you don't think you're going to like, and yet grows on you quite a bit on repeat listening. 'Andromeda 8' is ethereal, and would work well as the ending of a dystopean science fiction epic. Lori also provides solid vocal work on 'Sea of Tranquility' and several other tracks...the band as a whole have assembled a great team of members and collaborators, resulting in a remarkably solid CD from beginning to end. The only downside I can see, if you can call it that, is if you choose to only download a song or two to sample the wares: one of their strengths as a band is their diversity. And while each song sounds like it belongs on the same album taken as a whole, there's an awful lot of musical diversity on display here. If you must, I'd recommend 'Push the Button', 'FTS Beta 9', and the incredible 'Have You Done This Before?', a humorous rant on where the gleaming future we were all promised as youths went. They've also got a great website with additional music! |
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