Hi,
The activities of GNU Labs, a free software-based volunteer project,
began at the MES College of Engineering, Kuttippuram, on Friday with a
day-long workshop.
http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/06/stories/2008120652210300.htm
GNU Labs encourages the idea of sharing knowledge, supporting the
ideals of the Free Software Foundation. It aims at improving the
existing work of free software by helping students to complete their
curricular project works.
More about GNU Labs http://fci.wikia.com/wiki/GNU_Labs
If anyone is interested to start a GNU Lab in their college can use
the wiki discussion page. A website for GNU Labs is under
construction.
Cheers
Praveen
--
പ്രവീണ് അരിമ്പ്രത്തൊടിയില്
<GPLv2> I know my rights; I want my phone call!
<DRM> What use is a phone call, if you are unable to speak?
(as seen on /.)
Join The DRM Elimination Crew Now!
http://fci.wikia.com/wiki/Anti-DRM-Campaign
*Praveen A* pravi.a at gmail.com
<fsf-friends%40mm.gnu.org.in?Subject=%5BFsf-friends%5D%20Statement%20of%20FS…>
*Tue Dec 2 *
>That does not surprise anyone. Because even on this list I don't seem
>to remember seeing you. Just the work on defeating OOXML would speak
>volumes. Microsoft managed to buy ISO, but we stood firm and I'm
>really proud if the role FSF India, especially Nagarjuna, along with
>many others, played. We were leading the world to protect document
>Freedom. This is just one incident, and I can go on. May I ask where
>were you when the whole Free Software community around the world were
>fighting to protect document Freedom?
Yet again you have proved that you know nothing and no one outside
this mailing list of yours. If you are justifying the works of the so
called directors so much, then you should probably be able to answer
the next set of questions as well. Being board members of FSF-I it is
obvious that each of them commands respect and we too had high regards
for them, but the Kochi incident shook our beliefs to the roots.
During the Kochi Conference, when the protesters were barging into the
sponsors' stall and pasting posters in such an uncivilized way,
holding such esteemed positions, we expected that the board members
present there would exercise their power and take charge of the
situation. But what followed left us astonished, we realized that
stopping them was out of question and besides this, they even joined
hands with them! Wasn't that a scar on the entire event? Wasn't it an
immature act? Couldn't the board members have thought of anything but
a protest? Wasn't the event a pride for them like it was to all of us?
We were so glad to be a part of such an event and were even
complimenting the achievements of FSF so far, but what followed left
us speechless. It was this melodramatic piece of unformulated crap
that sparked off all the controversies. And to clarify another thing,
all the success accomplished so far is the result of a concoction of
the efforts put in by millions of us across the country and not just
one or two people in the lime light like you have mentioned. So if we
don't appear on the mailing list it does not mean that we don't exist.
It just means that we appear and make our voice heard when required so
people like you and those in power realize that there is a lot more
outside your little world thats keeping watch on every move of
yours...
>he readily recognised the work Nagarjuna has done and wanted us to be proud
that we have a fighter
>like Nagarjuna.
Ya right, we too appreciated the fight Nagarjuna had been fighting in
the yesteryears, he is undoubtedly still fighting but there seems to
be an entire turnover in the cause and reason he is fighting for
now!!! Lol...
Point to ponder: "No fighter fights alone to win a battle, he needs
his entire army to stand by him!" So does your fighter Nagarjuna!!! We
are all members of the army, you've gotta remember that!
>I am now really amazed at the shear number of people pop in here and
>repeat the same lies. Do you seriously think everyone would just
>believe your words and start doubting about people like Nagarjuna and
>others in FSF India?
>The community know them very well, because unlike people like you who
>come here and shout again again, we have seen what they have done,
>what they are doing and what they are ready to do.
>They don't need certificates from you.
I'm surprised that you are amazed by the number of people you see now,
didn't you know that our organization had all of us and not just a bunch of
you??? How many people would lie? You have the answer yourself, you
are amazed by the number of people lieing you say, i guess in your
amazement, you forgot to notice that these people are from varied
parts of the country! How then are all of them stating the same so
called "LIE"? The entire country is lieing against a handful of you
who are being so honest? Thats so sad! I just wish it were a little
believable! And by the way which community are you talking about? You
seem too confused, it is ALL OF US that together makes the community,
and if so many of the members of this very community are questioning
you today, whom are you talking about in you lines - "The community
know them very well" "we have seen what they have done, blah blah
blah" Who is this 'WE"? Just you and a handful of those who claim to
put us all out and state that they and they alone are the community?
Lol!
Who said we are certifying them? This is perhaps the first time I'm
listening to something so ridiculous, I don't think a Leader needs to
be certified by his team, as far as i know it has to be the other way
round! A leader needs no certification, his acts should speak for him
and not people like you or anyone else. So get the facts clear before
you speak on behalf of our leaders bcoz else u'll be ridiculing them
by your childish talk like you just did!
With Freegards,
Sandeep
Hi,
While the sum of money is accumulated with the investor, the sum of
knowledge in the form individuals is extremely difficult to unite for
wide range of reasons, which the investors exploit (for individuals
involved seldom come together against investors' exploitation).
How would an Employee Agreement of a FOSS company differ from a
Proprietary Company? While its total surrender of everything at
Proprietary Companies for a monthly salary how are FOSS companies
different in this regard?
Can successful FOSS entrepreneurs & employees at FOSS only campanies
like Redhat (not forcing if you really want to go by any
Non-disclosure agreement with your Employer) share their experiences?
--
Regards,
Sri Ramadoss M
>2. Was the "National Free Software Conference" in Kochi a follow-up to the
conference held in Hydrabad in 2007?
> No, it cannot be considered so. FSF India came to know about the `Second
National Conference in Kochi` only when the organisers started sending mails
to various fora about the >conference. We were surprised to see this because
FSF India was one of the organisers of the first conference in Hyderabad. We
tried to communicate with the organisers of the >conference in Kochi and
clarify the situation. The facts will be clear from the communications we
had with them in that regard that we are publishing now.
>After the communications from FSF India, the organisers removed the
reference to the first national convention organised by FSF India and
renamed the convention in Kochi as >simply the 'National Free Software
Conference'.
>The Organisers of the event continued to refer to their event misleadingly
as the followup to the first convention organised in Hydrabad by FSF India,
jointly with Swecha and >University of Hyderabad.
#########################
The one question that came to my mind after reading that post was,
'Does one name an event based on the people organizing it or based on
the kind of event being organized?' Does your above stated answer mean
that only if FSF India is part of the organizing team, an event can be
called a National Conference from now on? Why are you refraining from
accepting the 'National Conference in Kochi' as a follow-up to the
conference held in Hyderabad, is still not clear.
-----------------
I have not seen any active and live participation by FSF-I
in any other place but the mailing list here, where you
actively participate in warding of the blames put forth on you or
simply criticize and comment on other's work. This is really annoying,
the position you hold requires you to set an example to all those looking up
to you. Don't mind me suggesting but i think it would be much appreciated
by all of us if we could get to see some constructive work
from your side.
We need some positive stories in between all the flame isnt it ?
Here is one from Gudalur. How Adivasi movement relates to free software.
http://guss.web4all.in/?p=14
With regards,
Arun.
The mails I had posted in response to the statement by the FSF-I Board on
the FSF-friends and FSUG-Bangalore mailing lists have been vandalised.
See
http://mm.gnu.org.in/pipermail/fsug-bangalore/2008-November/002447.htmlhttp://mm.gnu.org.in/pipermail/fsf-friends/2008-November/005788.html
I am CC'ing all the currently listed list admins and RMS.
To whoever did this: You cannot silence our voices by simply deleting mail
content.
I am resending my response.
Greetings,
>From http://www.gnu.org.in/board-statement-on-recent-issues
<quote>
* *
*9. Are the members of the Director Board of FSF India elected? *
<snip> As mentioned in the answer to an earlier question, FSF India is not a
mass movement and is not a democratic organisation. The purpose of FSF
India, as of FSF, is to provide guidance to the Free Software movement. This
purpose could be easily defeated if it is made into an elected body.
</quote>
India is considered one of the biggest democracies in the world and the Free
Software Movement is for the democratisation of technology and knowledge.
However, the namesake of FSF in India ie., FSF-India, whose role is to lead
the Free Software Movement has clearly defined itself as undemocratic.
Let us take things objectively to analyse, debate and come to some sort of
an understanding.
Democracy, transparency and openness are considered the pillars of the free
software movement. We talk about free(or open) standards, free knowledge,
etc.. and then we hear "Democracy? That is only for theory."
How can one ensure democratisation of knowledge if one is undemocratic?
The Board of FSF-I may have to (re)read the works of Eben Moglen and
actually implement it in their functioning. I think the following quote of
Eben Moglen is important in this context. From
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Transcript_of_The_System_Of_Ownership_Of_Ideas
"Haven't you heard," we say, "The era of presidents for life is over. We are
holding elections, here. Here, we made this, its called democracy. Would you
like some? Take it, its free."
In solidarity with the Free Software Movement,
Vikram Vincent