Date: Fri, 27 Jun 1997 00:21:06 -0700
Subject: NASA Update Day4
The list is growing. For those of you who are new, these are the e-mails that I've been sending out every night from NASA. They started as e-mail to my family (at ten.ncm|regnilod#ten.ncm|regnilod). Then I added some of you last night and tonight. I'll probably add more tomorrow night.
Today was much the same as yesterday. I spent it working on the project my pI assigned (trying to put Linux on his laptop). I got a lot of reading done and feeling slightly more comfortable. I sneaked it home tonight to play with over the weekend.
The highlight of the 'day' (not the night) was attending a seminar around 11:30 on information technology at Ames Rsearch Center. This gave me an idea of what Ames policies were. Here's the highlights of the presentation:
*Ames has approximately 4000 macs (yes 4 thousand), 2000 pcs, and 1800 machines running Unix.
*The average cost of a computer at Ames (not including the big ones) was $5000.
*Ames spends over $4,000,000 a year on computing (might just be software - I'm not sure)
- There are over 4,000 software packages in use at Ames
- The current move is to do more outsourcing of computer work. This move was not met by favorable response by the audience. Until this was announced, the presentation was going smoothly - very few questions. Then this came along and the audience had tons of questions. The speaker (Chief of information technology) finally said that he was against it himself, but it was something they were going to have to live with.
Tongiht, we went over to Doug's (director) house to have a BBQ. One of the other RAs cooked for us. Then we did the hot tub at his house. Currently, there is a big party upstairs - alcohol and all. I thought this woiuld be a good time to do e-mail.
The team is having a great time. We just don't feel like family. We ARE family. I should probably go soon, but a few more things.
The University of Montana (especially Golden Key, the DHC, and HSA) hated to lose me and my computer skills and also my good nature (if ya want to call it that). I have one thing to say to all of you who miss all that. The University of Montana should be proud that it gave me up. I'm now being exploited for my computer skills by NASA. Everybody around here, all the RAs, the director, and my PI (principal investigator) are using my computer skills. This may be a little arrogant (it is not meant to be), but the University of Montana gave me because NASA needed me. NASA may not be any better than UM, but UM has made that sacrifice so that the whole country can be served. It's like giving up a treasurable item, which I don't think I am, because your country needs it more. I think about UM every day. They all know I'm from Montana and NOT montana state, I take pride in being from MT and having a degree from UM. NASA can never change that.
Now i'm tired. Better get to bed (or to the party). We have guest speakers planned for tomorrow. The next day is free. We're all going to San Fran that day(Sat). On Sunday, who knows. Monday and Tuesday will be PI days and then we leave for Pasedena and Planetfest and the landing of Sojourner. Until then have a great Big Sky day!!
Happy Birthday Joan (a day or two late)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hello to my excellent sisters, Luci and Shari.
— Don the computer Man
aka Don the Man (as called by the others!!)