Fsf-friends February 2008

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Internet, tech skills growing quietly in Goa...
by Frederick Noronha (FN) 02 Sep '24

02 Sep '24

INTERNET, TECH SKILLS GROWING QUIETLY IN GOA PANJIM, April 30: Goa's BSNL internet service provider is already providing some 3000 broadband connections in the state, and roughly another 24,000 people dial-up to get access the Net using this central government-run service. These figures emerged during an informal discussion at the monthly meeting of the India Linux Users Group (Goa), a network promoting Free Software and Open Source in the state. ILUG-Goa, which holds its meetings usually on the fourth Saturday of each month at the Goa Science Centre at Miramar, sees a range of tech issues -- usually directly related to Free Software and Open Source in Goa. During it's meet on April 29, a range of issues came up for discussion, from how to partition your hard-disk (to install GNU/Linux side-by-side with Windows), to software tools to ehance productivity, and various internet and broadband options available to users in diverse parts of Goa. For instance, there are some useful Free Software tools to monitor your bandwidth usage on BSNL's broadband. One such tool is available for free download at http://tinyurl.com/qgu9p Called the Data One Broadband Statistics, this is a screen-scraper written using Perl to download usage statistics of BSNL's Data One (www.bsnl.co.in/service/dataone.htm) broadband service and total it. Generally, BSNL (www.bsnl.co.in) allows only the Microsoft-based IE and has no monthly total. But trust Indian software talent to find a work-around. This solution comes from the Free Software/Open Source network in Chennai. Meanwhile, the Goa free software network stays connected and announces its event via http://iluggoaannounce.notlong.com There are no fees for joining, all are welcome, and encouraged to form parallel user-groups in diverse parts of the state. Meanwhile, the Fedora Core 5 Free Software distribution has just become available on DVD in Goa. Number of foreign magazines are also available. Members of ILUG-Goa such as engineer Bijon Shaha and software pro Arvind Yadav gave diverse views on techies-only distros like 'Gentoo'. Debopriyo 'DP' Sarkar pointed to a 'mindmap' of various Free Software distributions or 'distros' available, which was illustrated at linuxhelp.blogspot.com Earlier, there was a brief presentation on FreeMind. FreeMind is a premier free mind-mapping software written in Java. It has the potential of playing the role of a high productivity tool. Operation and navigation of FreeMind is faster because of one-click "fold/unfold" and "follow link" operations. Other members raised a range of issues -- from how to get started in GNU/Linux, to playing around with tools like StumbleUpon, and how to encourage Free Software usage in schools and educational institutions. Remy Furtado of Rosary College, Navelim expressed an interest in working on the Free Software tool Moodle, ideal for distance education, as the Goa University moves to a pattern of semisterisation. Goa Engineering College's Prof George Easaw has done work on this platform, as have others. Reacting unofficially, BSNL officials said Goa now had six STMS 155 MBps connectivity, which was resulting in a speedy expansion of broadband to many parts of the state. But for broadband facilities to become available in village areas, at least 60 subscribers were needed to make operations viable. So far, broadband from BSNL is available in a growing number of areas in Goa: Panjim, Vasco (except Cortalim, but including Sada, Mangor, Bogmalo, Sancoale and other areas), Ponda, Bambolim, Merces, Dona Paula, Porvorim, Mapusa town, Calangute-Candolim, and Saligao, among others. Equipment has already been installed in Aldona exchange, and broadband facilities are expected to go functional -- ------------------------------------------------------------- | India Linux Users' Group, Goa | | Join the friendly user group | | Mail list http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ilug-goa/join | ---------------------------------------------------------- | | http://groups.yahoo.com/group/teach-yourself-linux | | http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ilug-goa-announce | | http://www.iosn.net/country/india/organizations/ilug-goa/ | ------------------------------------------------------------- , , / \ .-. * SOFTWARE ((__-^^-,-^^-__)) (. .) * FREEDOM `-_---' `---_-' / V \ * SHARING `--|o` 'o|--' // \\ \ ` / /( )\ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER ): :( '.^^_^^.' SHARE IT EQUITABLY :o_o: \_/ \_/ "-"

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Careers in FLOSS... (Dec 2003 issue of LFY)
by Frederick Noronha (FN) 06 Jun '24

06 Jun '24

=========================================== LINUXForYou * Dec 2003 (Vol 1 No 10) In India Rs 50 (with CD) http://www.linuxforu.com Pages 102 * US$7.95 0 74470584957 =========================================== THIS ISSUE has probably reached your city. Saw it in Bangalore, and also got a complimentary copy from the LFY team at LinuxBangalore2003. But when I reached back to Goa on Dec 4, it wasn't in as yet. So it might take time to reach 'small town' India... FN REVIEWED: Mandrake 9.2 * PhProjekt * StarOffice 7.0 COMPUTERS AT TIS HAZARI, the session courts for the city of New Delhi, are being shifted over to Linux, courtesy the National Informatics Centre. - Rahul Chopra in this month's editorial. LINUX LEARNING CENTRE at Bangalore is offering courses in administration, security, development (internals and programming essentials, programming with Qt, device driver programming, MySQL & PHP), RHCE and Red Hat rapid track certification. www.linuxlearningcentre.com DotGNU RELEASES CD: It can now be used to implement application programs and Web services in C# and C applications under multiple operating systems, including GNU/Linux, FreeBSC, MacOS, MS Windows. The 219 MB release 0.1 CD is available as a free download at http://download.freedom.biz/dotgnu/dotgnu-0.1-cdrom.iso.gz.torrent e-Bridge calls itself "the new state-of-art training facility from eSpark Infotech is now open in the heart of Bangalore". It's offering embedded Linux courses (Linux fundamentals, programming Linux, embedded C & Linux, realtime C & Linux, Linux internals, device drivers, networking) and DSP courses (DSP fundamentals, TI/analog dev programming, audio/video, image processing, bio-medical systems). www.ebridgesolutions.net Linux.net provides a free e-mail service to those who want an e-mail address that ends in '@linux.net' MAJOR UPDATES and releases: OpenNA Linux 1.0, Gibraltar Firewall 1.0, Xandros Desktop 2.0, Onebase Linux 2.0, CUPS 1.120rc6. CAN YOU MAKE money with open source? Registration entails a "nominal fee" of Rs 5000 for a three-day conference. http://www.linuxasia2004.com/attendees/ February 11-13, 2004, New Delhi. SEND IN YOUR favourite slogans for a tee-shirt, and win five free copies of the shirt... LFYedit at efyindia.com MONEY CAN't buy respect, says Robert Adkins. Some of us might have met this guy at LB2003 in Bangalore. He's the CTO of Technetra Corp, and an advocate and implementer of FLOSS solutions for government. He can be contacted at radkins at technetra.com CAREERS WITH FLOSS: The number of students opting for courses in Open Source is growing steadily, even as industry experts predict a growing need for trained professionals in this expanding field. EXIT RED HAT, ENTER FEDORA: It's official now; the free (of cost) version of Red Hat Linux will not be available anymore. This has created a lot of FUD in an already unstable environment, thanks to the SCO episode. But is Red Hat closed for good? WEB-BASED COLLABORATION SOFTWARE: PHProjekt is an easy-to-install collaboration suite, which runs on the open source platform and databases. As the design of the system is developer-friendly, adding new features and components is a piece of cake. STAROFFICE: The latest version of Sun's office suite, StarOffice 7, may just be the right solution for the cost-conscious user. It loads faster than the earlier version, and sports some noticeable improvements. IN THE LFY CD THIS MONTH: Slackware (the "oldest Linux distro") and a range of GNU software for Windows users. FALLING BACK on backup systems. MAKING ADOPTION OF Linux in the enterprise easy. www.linux4e.com Business partners required: http://wwww.linux4e.com/partners ooWRITER HELPS YOU create your own templates and styles so that you can work with documents easily. Open Source is key to IBM's vision of computing. User empowerment is key to Microsoft's, writes Alolita Sharma USING DATABASE functions in Calc, a tutorial. (Wish there were more how-tos for the user in this mag! --FN) HALDIA DOCKS: it has a uniquely designed Linux installation with an active-active cluster set up, which is considered the best of its kind. This has ensured efficiency and cost-effectiveness. BASIC UNIX commands and concepts: an extract from *Running Linux* (Shroff Publishers, Pp 674 only Rs 425 in India). VxWorks and LynxOS are definitely the biggest embedded operating systems in use today. But slowly they are acknowledging the power of GNU/Linux and how it can help them maximise deployments. HELP LINUX GO INDIAN: By using various translation tools, you can join Language translation groups working across India to help translate GNU/Linux into your language. EXPERT INTRODUCTION: Multi-threaded programming under Linux. KICKSTART YOUR Linux installation (Part I): Installing Red Hat Linux on multiple machines one after another can be quite tedious. To avoid answering the same question over and over again, try the KickStart method, as it does not need any user intervention. WRITE CHEQUES. NOT JUST BOOKS: Niyam Bhushan on how anybody can turn thoughts into words, and words into wealth. NFS CLIENTS for Windows. OpenSSL PACKAGE offers a vast crypto library of algorithms WAIT QUEUES in Linux device drivers UNDERSTANDING recursive sub-routines INDIA-RELATED NEWS: HP launches GNU/Linux laptop Mandrake's latest distribution Oracle announces 10g for GNU/Linux Delixus offers India Linux CxProtect anti-virus mailing solution for mail-servers Trade management system from Network Programs Netweb Technologies unveils Tyrone MRO-Tek rolls out Network Management Systems Review of FLOSS at BangaloreIT.com =========================================== DISCLOSURE: This journalist (FN) writes a monthly column for LFY and gets paid for it. Promoting awareness about the content of LFY however is not part of the job, and is carried on with the intention spreading awareness about FLOSS among different GNU/Linux user groups in India. -- Frederick Noronha : http://www.fredericknoronha.net : When we speak of free Freelance Journalist : http://www.bytesforall.org : software we refer to Ph 0091.832.2409490 : Cell 0 9822 122436 : freedom, not price.

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[X-POST] Microsoft lobbying the Government through ``friendly'' NGOs
by Raj Mathur 29 Feb '08

29 Feb '08

My my, hey hey, OOXML is here to stay (with apologies to Neil Young) And if you don't believe that then your friendly neighbourhood NGO is only to willing to try to convince your Government on behalf of one of its benefactors, MS. Now I'm beginning to think that $1.4B was too little :) http://wiki.linux-delhi.org/cgi-bin/twiki/view/OpenStandards/MsNgoLobby Also made it to Groklaw somehow. Regards, -- Raju -- Raj Mathur raju(a)kandalaya.org http://kandalaya.org/ Freedom in Technology & Software || February 2008 || http://freed.in/ GPG: 78D4 FC67 367F 40E2 0DD5 0FEF C968 D0EF CC68 D17F PsyTrance & Chill: http://schizoid.in/ || It is the mind that moves

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Article on why India should adopt open document standards
by V. Sasi Kumar 28 Feb '08

28 Feb '08

Dear friends, Please see my article on why India should adopt open standards and a response from Microsoft at http://www.infochangeindia.org/analysis236.jsp Microsoft's respose is actually a big joke. For instance, they claim that "Microsoft software is completely interoperable.". And just yesterday Microsoft has been fined a record $1.35 billion precisely for not providing information to enable interoperability! A response to Microsoft is on my blog http://swatantryam.blogspot.com/ since Infochange was not willing to publish my response. Best -- Dr. V. Sasi Kumar Please visit http://keralachinthakal.blogspot.com/ -- V. Sasi Kumar Free Software Foundation of India http://swatantryam.blogspot.com

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Google Summer of Code 2008
by CK Raju, Thrissur 26 Feb '08

26 Feb '08

Friends, thinkers, countrymen, "Google Summer of Code 2008 is on! Over the past three years, the program has brought together over 1500 students and 2000 mentors from 90 countries worldwide, all for the love of code. We look forward to welcoming more new contributors and projects this year. We'll begin accepting applications from mentoring organizations on Monday, March 3, 2008, and student applications on Monday, March 24th...." Link at http://code.google.com/soc/2008/ Nice news. Google is doing what most democratic governments are repeatedly failing to do ! CK Raju Thrissur

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Community-based networks -answer to last mile broadband.
by shirish 23 Feb '08

23 Feb '08

Hi all, For a long long time I had been wondering that couldn't community based networks be the answer to last mile broadband. I knew I had read something about it sometime ago but the link was lost. Found it again, hence posting it so other people could take a lake at it as well & see if there is something that can be done about it.. If its a repeat, then sorry, its just the sort of thing which should be taken up. What do u guys think? http://emperor.canarie.ca/pipermail/news/2006/000281.html . If for some reason you're unable to reach the site use google's cache to retrieve them. Here's the gist of that mail. Bill St.Arnaud bill.st.arnaud at canarie.ca Wed Jun 7 10:08:29 EDT 2006 * Previous message: [CAnet - news] Looking for candidates to serve on ICANN board and related committees * Next message: [CAnet - news] The Changing Nature of Intellectual Authority * Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ] For more information on this item please visit the CANARIE CA*net 4 Optical Internet program web site at http://www.canarie.ca/canet4/library/list.html ------------------------------------------- [In a recent trip to Sweden I was pleasantly surprised to discover a very successful community fiber project in Vasteras Sweden. The local electrical utility Malarenergi has developed a unique and very successful solution for deploying FTTH to over 50% of the homes with an amazing 53 take up rate. They have over 30,000 customers and this is in despite of stiff competition from both a local telephone and cable company. More amazingly they have only a staff of less tan 18 FTEs to operate and manage the network. The Malarenergi is also a good example of how banks can play an important role in financing customer owned last mile networks. The banks have the security of the home to loan against and provide low cost financing - and they are not in the business of running networks. In Amsterdam the ING bank is a major financier of the Amsterdam FTTH project. As well a Swedish home can reduce 650 USD from the infrastructure cost in a tax reduction, which is another significant incentive for homes to get connected with fiber. For single homes Malarenergi have two kinds of customers. 1) Those who are organized in a community or condominium. This community makes agreements regarding cable Tv etc 2) Those who are stand alone customers. In the former case the network is a LAN which is purchased and owned by the community in that area. The juridical person is the community who can take loans and rent the networks out to the different homes. Two banks provides financing. For the individual home the customers usually arranges their own financing for the fiber by loaning on their house. The typical cost for the fiber is $USD 2800. For both types the Malarenergi sales pitch is 1) Futureproof. Malarenergi does not start building unless 60% or more of the homes in that area sign up. Most people do not want to be left behind. The homes increases in value (ap/prox 6500 USD according to some firms. See the sign up page http://stadsnat.malarnetcity.se/villa/ 2) Freedom of choice of the services. This means competition and valuable services. See for example internet prices http://www.malarnetcity.se/services/services.php?category=Privatpersoner&kin d=Internet 100 Mbps for less than $40 a month and a choice of at least 20 ISPs including Telia - the local telephone incumbent 3) The cost for the new fiber infrastructure spread out over 10 years is about (20-25 USD/month) plus 10 mbps internet (22 USD/month)is cheaper than an equivalent ADSL service. The network technology is provided by a company called PacketFront - www.packetfront.com which uses web services to allow customers to do their own provisioning and selection of service providers. Thanks to Matt Wenger of PacketFront and Robert Kelljberg of Malarenergi for this information -- BSA] ------------------------------------- To SUBSCRIBE: send a blank e-mail message to news-join at canarie.ca To UNSUBSCRIBE: send a blank email message to news-leave at canarie.ca ------------------------------------- These news items and comments are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect those of the CANARIE board or management. ----------- Bill.St.Arnaud at canarie.ca www.canarie.ca/~bstarn skype: pocketpro SkypeIn: +1 614 441-9603 http://www.fraserinstitute.org/ http://www.canarie.ca/canet4/library/customer/Last_Mile_Customer_Owned_Netw… :- If one isn't getting this link go to google's cache & read the same as html. http://www.frankston.com/ Engage, debate, say what u will , hoping for a better tomorrow :) -- Regards, Shirish Agarwal This email is licensed under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ 065C 6D79 A68C E7EA 52B3 8D70 950D 53FB 729A 8B17

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WORKSHOP by Moving Republic in vibgyor 2008
by MOBIN M 13 Feb '08

13 Feb '08

WORKSHOP BY MOVING REPUBLIC http://movingrepublic.org/ Date : February 14 and 15 Event: Vibgyor 2008- short and documentary film festival http://2008.vibgyorfilm.com/ Schedule : Workshop1- Towards hactivist media culture; Introduction to free software video production Date : February 14 Time :10-12A.M Place : Town Hall, Thrissur Workshop2- Towards hactivist media culture; Introduction to free software audio production Date : February 15 Time :10-12A.M Place : Town Hall, Thrissur Talkers: Anivar Aravind Hiran Venugopal Suresh P Krishnanunni

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Microsoft is like the Matrix
by Praveen A 04 Feb '08

04 Feb '08

MORPHEUS We are trained in this world to accept only what is rational and logical. Have you ever wondered why? As children, we do not separate the possible from the impossible which is why the younger a mind is the easier it is to free, while a mind like yours can be very difficult. NEO Free from what? MORPHEUS From the Microsoft. Do you want to know what it is, Neo? It's that feeling you have had all your life. That feeling that something was wrong with the world. You don't know what it is but it's there, like a splinter in your mind, driving you mad, driving you to me. But what is it? The Microsoft is everywhere, its products are all around us, here even in this room. You can see it out your window, or on your television. You feel it when you go to work, or go to church or pay your taxes. The computers use Microsoft products everywhere. It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth. NEO What truth? MORPHEUS That you are a slave, Neo. Read the full story http://siryes.blogspot.com/2008/01/microsoft-is-like-matrix.html Really superb. -- 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

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Fsf-friends February 2008