Russell John at Swissotel Singapore

About Me

Here’s more than what you might want to know about me…

Birthday 2nd February (Bengali: 20th Magh; Hebrew: 19th Shevat; Hijri: 18th Rabi al-Thani)

Place of Birth Dhaka, Bangladesh (South Asia)

Horoscope Aquarius (Bengali: Kumbho, Chinese: Water Dog, Native American: Otter)

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator ENTP

Political View Left-Libertarian

Blood Group A +ve

I Love Computers, Internet, IRC, trance music, and my mom
I Hate Spyware, crowded places, endless waiting, stubborn and proud people

Strength Persistence, creativity, and “wild” imagination
Weakness Instability, fear of intimacy, and cleavages (ahem!)
Phobias Trypanophobia and ophidiophobia

Greatest Passion Computing and photography
Greatest Possession Mom
Greatest Necessity Happiness
Greatest Fear Losing my near and dear ones

Interests Technology, art, event management, and astronomy. Computer related interest includes: Linux, Open Source software, CMS, wide area networking and information security.

Friends Some real great human beings with great hearts
Enemies People who underestimate me

Hobbies Photography, origami, philately, SETI@Home, and abstract painting

GPG Key ID 91F003D2 (gpg –keyserver pgp.mit.edu –recv-keys 91F003D2)
Key Fingerprint 46F7 968E 01D9 1FE0 56A0 8998 A55A 2782 91F0 03D2

Registered Linux User # 257084
Registered Ubuntu User # 8989

Geek Code, Hacker Key, OmniCode & Blogger Code

GCS/E/IT d--@ s: a- C+++>++++ UL++++$ P+ L++++$
E++ W+++$ N+(++) o+ K? w-- O? M- V- PS Y++
PGP++>+++ t-- 5? X++ R tv(+) b+(++) DI--
D G++ e++ h>++ r- y-
v4ln3sw5CHU$hw6 pr5$ck7$ma8u8 FL$w2m5l7$i2e6 t4b4en6sMr4g3
sxy cm170 kg70 ha0d0d0d ey0d0d0d esO sp= anO hdd Lo24,00N-90,00E GM+6N ZoQ LABN(9)&LAEN(9) Crc(9) EdE(9) RlD Kd! MBENTP FH! IN16 AdC&N&I Pr*
B9 D+++ T+ K- S+ F- I O++ X- E+ L C-- Y1 R+ W+ P+ M2 N- N+

Organisations I Was / Am Involved

Boy Scout Movement:

  • Scout (1993-1994)
  • Assistant Petrol Leader (1994-1995)
  • Petrol Leader (1995-1996)
  • Assistant Senior Petrol Leader (1997)
  • Senior Petrol Leader (1997)

I am proud to be an ex-scout of Dhanmondi Tutorial boy scout unit.

Linux and FOSS Organisations:

I was an active contributor to now-defunct International Open Source Network and Linux Counter for many years.

Other Organisations:

Other Affiliations:

  • Help Volunteer – BOINC
  • Editor – Goodreads
  • Editor – Open Directory Project (DMOZ) (2010-2017; no longer operational)

Technical Skills

Hardware:

I have used IBM XT, AT, RS-6000 and various generic AT-bus 386 and 486 boxes, Pentium, MMX, Pro, II, Celeron, III, 4; AMD K5, K6, Athlon, Duron, Xeon and Cyrix boxes. I have worked with different brands and types of Ethernet hubs, modems, switches, routers, radio link and WiFi equipments.

Operating Systems:

“Geek by nature, Linux by choice.”

I am well equipped with various flavours and look-a-likes of UNIX. I have more than 20 years of working experience with numerous GNU/Linux distributions, including Red Hat, Fedora, CentOS, Debian, Ubuntu, Slackware, SuSE, Mandrake, Mandriva, Gentoo, Yopper, Knoppix, Dragon Linux, Damn Small Linux, and more. I also have years of working experience of FreeBSD, OpenBSD, Sun Solaris, and Novel Netware.

Also, I am expert in Microsoft DOS and all the variants of Windows operating system. I have developed software under DOS, 9x, NT4, 2000, and XP.

Languages:

My high level languages include C, C++, TCL, COBOL, Pascal, Perl, and several BASICs.

While studying in University, I lead my team at the Asia Regionals of prestigious ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest twice in a row.

Speaking and Organising Experience

  • Introduction to Linux and Open Source Software
    • April 7, 2005 at North South University, Dhaka
  • Use of ICT in Classrooms
    • September 29, 2005 at Mahmudunnabi Foundation, Chittagong
  • Training of the Trainers: Computer Essentials
    • February 18, 2006 at Kala Kakali High School, Chittagong
  • Teacher Professional Development Using Linux
    • March 9 to March 13, 2006 at Central Gono Bidyalaya, Sonargoan
  • Migrating to Linux: An Introduction to Open Source Tools
    • June 15, 2006 at North South University, Dhaka
  • Free and Open Source Software: Development Opportunities (Keynote Speech)
    • Semptember 17, 2006 at BCS Computer Show 2006, Dhaka
  • Ubuntu Linux for Home Users
    • April 8, 2007 at East West University, Dhaka
  • Prospects of ICT in Journalism: Status and Trends
    • March 24, 2008 at BRAC Training and Resource Centre, Savar
  • Ubuntu Hardy Heron Release Party
    • May 17, 2008 at Hunger Project – Bangladesh, Dhaka
  • Ubuntu Intrepid Ibex Live
    • October 21, 2008 at Presidency University, Dhaka
  • Fedora Infinity Day: Cambridge Release Party
    • January 18, 2009 at Presidency University, Dhaka
  • Ubuntu Jaunty Jackalope Live
    • May 29, 2009 at Presidency University, Dhaka
  • Ubuntu Karmic Koala Release Party
    • November 21, 2009 at IBAIS University, Dhaka
  • Bontu-Mintur Adda
    • July 23, 2010 at University of Dhaka, Dhaka
  • An Introduction to Linux and FOSS
    • October 30, 2010 at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel, Dhaka
  • Linux Boot Campaign 1.0
    • February 12, 2011 at Daffodil International University, Dhaka
  • Using Social Media to Promote Democracy and Human Rights
    • October 18, 2011 at Hotel Hasan International, Jessore
  • Introducation to Social Media & Networking
    • February 20, 2012 at HOPE Center, Savar
  • The Human Face of Big Data: SETI@Home
    • October 2, 2012 at Red Dot Museum, Singapore
  • Seminar on Linux
    • September 11, 2013 at American International University Bangladesh (AIUB), Dhaka
  • Ubuntu 14.04 Release Party
    • April 19, 2014 at University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), Dhaka

Photography Exhibitions

  • Sidr Aid Photography Exhibition
    • January 27, 2008 to January 31, 2008 at Russian Cultural Center, Dhanmondi, Dhaka
  • “Ekshathe Dekhi”
    • February 1, 2008 to February 3, 2008 at Chobir Haat, Shahbag, Dhaka
  • Samudra Gupta Aid Photography Exhibition
    • May 29, 2008 to July 3, 2008 at Institute of Fine Arts, Dhaka University, Dhaka
  • BP Challenge Photography Exhibition
    • Julty 4, 2010 to July 11, 2010 at Dhaka Art Center, Dhanamondi, Dhaka
  • BP Challenge Season II Photography Exhibition
    • May 25, 2012 to May 31, 2012 at Dhaka Art Center, Dhanamondi, Dhaka

Work Experience

  • November 2022 to Present – Ambassador, Freelancer.com
  • May 2011 to Present – Consultant, Trance Informatics
  • July 2010 to Present – Hostmaster, Trance Host
  • October 2008 to January 2009 – Faculty, Daffodil Institute of IT
  • March 2008 to March 2011 – Consultant, Compurius
  • August 2007 to February 2008 – Managing Partner, SiproTech Systems
  • May 2005 to Septepmber 2006 – IT Specialist, Relief International
  • May 2004 to November 2004 – System Analyst, Bangladesh Rubber Industries
  • July 2002 to March 2004 – Technical Director, Polaris Systems
  • March 2002 to May 2002 – Course Instructor, FasTracKids International
  • February 2001 to December 2002 – Technical Specialist (Volunteer), You Owe Me, Inc.
  • April 1999 to May 1999 – Asst. Programmer, Advantech Limited

I have worked for over a thousand clients/companies in 70+ countries around the globe as a freelance consultant/technical advisor since early 2000s. I also worked as visiting faculty at various education institutions.