FSUG-Bangalore November 2008

fsug-bangalore@mm.gnu.org.in

53 participants
115 discussions

discussions in the meeting yesterday
by Senthil Sundaram (sensunda) 10 Nov '08

10 Nov '08

Dear All I thought some aspects of what we discussed yesterday so that it will help in minutes. This is not complete , i am only putting in what I remember, others do pitch in , mainly related to RMS visit. thanks Senthil Pranesh from CIS was coordinating the session along with Anivar a) A good number of people atteneded the meeting. About 15 of us joined the meeting late at 3.45, . I guess the meeting started at about 3.15 and about 7-8 of them had discussed some bit and had to rebrief the rest of us on RMS visit. b) Later BMS students also joined at 4ish c) It was a good day as we saw some good participation in fsug Banner during RMS visit ------------------------------------ d) Anivar informed - that "RMS had informed that he would like to speak in FSUG and Colleges' banner - taking into consideration the demand - he will speak at two events - and insisited - the organisers be the same e) Senthil : The event should be as broad based as possible. Including new and different groups who have expressed interest in RMS visit : Kannada Bloggers, Slum computer Center, Free software friends in the industry ( who joined yesterday in good numbers ) - who have been working on free software for the past some time - a joint banner of all groups might be ideal - if not every body can work - under FSUG banner. However folks explained reasons why it needs to be 'RVCE-Christ-FSUG' Banner. Suggestions for Schedule during RMS visit --------------------------------------------------------------- f) It was confirmed after discussion that the schedule is not confirmed, and its only a initial meeting g) Except for the RVCE program fixed some time earlier h) it was discussed that FSUG could and should play a signifinact role in coming up with a schedule in the best interests of the free software movement i) and in which different folks can be given space - within the constraint of 'Two Events' . j) FSUG decided to work using a wiki page and float in suggestions, which can be finally decided by RMS. How do we go about it ------------------------------- The new suggestions are put up by respective folks http://bangalore.gnu.org.in/index.php/Events:RMS_visit_to_Bangalore discussions are happening at : http://bangalore.gnu.org.in/index.php/Talk:Events:RMS_visit_to_Bangalore

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RMS-Bangalore Visit -lets meet and plan properly
by renuka prasad 09 Nov '08

09 Nov '08

Hi all I am sorry for being a bit late..... Well as it was announced few months back about RMS visit to india to attend Trivendrum Conference, i requested Nagarjuna and Arun to check the possibility of RMS visit to R.V.C.E to release the book "Free Software, Free Society :Selected Essays of RMS " to kannada ( that time i was a bit fond of telling Free software philosphy in kannada thought of translating that book) and give public talk. After a month response came from Arun that RMS has confirmed bangalore visit -- but was not knowing the dates the again after communicating several times it was confirmed that RMS will be in bangalore from 12th to 14th of december 2008.. ( arun please update if any changes are there) My request is Lets meet and plan properly : ( shall we meet coming saturday --- November 8th 2008 ) As i was surprised to see the mail came from arun telling that i am co-ordinating the Events and RMS meetings and other related things -- i am considering myself responsible and thought of communicating to all of you and move further with your valuable suggestions / comments and support Agenda : 1. Oganizers : FSUG-Bangalore and RSST ( R.V.C.E ) for the book release and Public talk by RMS Being associated with FSUG-Bangalore since a year or two it is by default that FSUG-Bangalore is an organizer of this event. R.V.C.E is the place i work , fortunately RSST agreed to support this event --waiting for just a final nod abou the event venue. If any body else want to be as joint organizers i am very happy if you can extend your support and take some responsibilties which could be discussed during meeting 2. Invitees : Since we are releasing book : i thought it would be good to invite few scholors for this event...talks are going on few have shown interest and yet to confirm Political leaders are being communicated by R.V.C.E management -- yet to get final list of political leaders who will be invited TV serial producers and Directors 3. Schedules Assuming 12th of November 2008 morning RMS is in bangalore RMS Will be staying in R.V.C.E guest house --- ( Hopitality is taken care by RSST - r.v.c.e management ) 12th After noon to evening : Meeting with governemnt officials and representation to government How about Press Conference in evening -------------Anivar can you please take this up , if any body else wants to join hand please do so --as i have seen anivar has good links i thought he would be appropriate 13th --- 9.00 am to 1.00 pm : release of the book + RMS public talk 3.00 pm to 7.00 pm : carnatical music program + meeting with Producers / Directors Some arrangeents has to be made where RMS gets a treat of carnatical Musical during his visit to bangalore 14th -- can we have a session of 2 hours where some of the hackers wants to meet RMS and show their contributions to RMS ---- ( this is just my thought ) >From few days ----------------------- Christ College also wants to have RMS at their College and adress them ---which has to be decided by RMS and then they also can proceed further ---- 4. Sponsorers We will not be charging anyone any amount of money for public to hear RMS talk Currently we need funds ----To book tickets for RMS and his friend from trivendrum to bangalore ( taken care by R.V.C.E ) ----Hospitality , RMS will be staying in R.V.C.E guest house ( any other arrangements also will be made by R.V.CE ) ----Publicity ---------Need some sponsorship, right now we dont have any one -- little support from R.V.C.E will be there ----Carnatic Music Programm ----- We need a sponsorer ---- Logistics for invitees ---- Other expenses ---Any get together ---- How about a GNU 25th anniversary celebration ( a small party ) -------please give your valuable suggestions / comments and support -------please feel free to add to the agenda and confirm you presence ------------------------------------- -------where shall we meet ? -------CIS is a nice place , Sunil Abraham is that ok --- and is it ok with others to meet there (sunil abraham please dont take trouble of providing cake + tea , i think we can manage without that ) ----------if it is not possible at CIS office we can meet at cubbin park -- Please pass on the message to who ever you know and ask for their support / suggestion to make these event and RMS visit successfull in carrying on the free software movement initiated by RMS...

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Please Update FSUG-Bangalore wiki
by Anivar Aravind 08 Nov '08

08 Nov '08

Dear Friends, Please Update Following Sections in our Wiki Users Help Users: Find a person in your area to help you with Free Software http://bangalore.gnu.org.in/index.php/FSUG-Bangalore:Users_Help_Users CD/DVDs to Grab http://bangalore.gnu.org.in/index.php/FSUG-Bangalore:CD/DVDs_to_Grab GNU/Linux Hardware Compatibility Database http://bangalore.gnu.org.in/index.php/FSUG-Bangalore:GNU/Linux_Hardware_Com… Write Reviews on hardware, Free Software Applications or Distributions at http://bangalore.gnu.org.in/index.php/FSUG-Bangalore:Reviews Anivar -- Any responsible politician should be encouraging a home grown Free Software industry because it creates the basis for future jobs. Learning Windows is like learning to eat every meal at McDonalds.

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Re: [FSUG-Bangalore] RMS visiting India
by Vikram Vincent 08 Nov '08

08 Nov '08

Renuka, 2008/11/3 Vikram Vincent <vikram.vincent(a)christuniversity.in> > 2008/11/1 Joseph Varghese Fr. <frjoseph(a)christuniversity.in> > >> Vikram can check with the availability of it on Monday >> <snip> >> > > The main auditorium is free from 10AM - 1PM on the 12th of December. > Kindly excuse me from today's meeting as I have been bed-ridden for the last one week and not been able to even attend work. My condition has still not yet improved. Please ensure in today's meeting that Christ University's requirement for RMS visit for 12th as above is discussed. Keep me in touch. I shall check my mail later in the day. -- Vikram Vincent +919448810822 http://swatantra.org/

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Graziano Sorbaioli on Free Software Computer Campaign
by Rakesh 'arky' Ambati 07 Nov '08

07 Nov '08

Hi, Sharing this blog post for your reading pleasure. Cheers --arky Graziano Sorbaioli on Free Software Computer Campaign ===================================================== Graziano Sorbaioli is the man behind the Free Software Computer Campaign. All he wants is summed up in just few words "DELL, we want a free software computer". This post is excerpts from an email conversation with Sorbaioli about the ideas behind this campaign. What's an ideal free software computer? Our ideal computer (desktop, laptop, netbook) has: 1. an Atheros wireless chip because it uses free (as in freedom) drivers and so it can function perfectly in every GNU/Linux distribution. 2. the coreboot free BIOS. 3. a fully free GNU/Linux distribution preinstalled like gNewSense Don't you think some underdog hardware maker like lemote should be encouraged instead of begging Dell to produce a free software computer? As you can read from my posts on the gNewSense forum, I knew about that machine even before Richard (Stallman) started to endorse it. The point is that free software activists should make it VERY EASY to all the people don't care yet about freedom, to purchase a free software desktop/laptop. How many people you know would buy a laptop online from a Chinese unknown company? Many people I know don't buy things online but in store.Many people buy Dell because Dell makes a great great advertisement campaign on all major newspapers, even on free tube journals and free press. It's not enough that Lemote will start to ship a free software laptop because nobody knows Lemote. People know Dell, HP, IBM, Lenovo, Asus, Acer, Sony and so on. I chose Dell because they already made a little step selling computers with Ubuntu preloaded. Ubuntu is not a fully free GNU/Linux distribution but this is a lesser evil compared to buying a machine with windows preloaded. So I decided to convince them to make a little extra step and sell us a free software laptop but I can't do this alone. I need ALL your help. I need you write all your friends, FSF, FSFE, FSF India, slashdot,boingboing, and your local favourite online newspaper, all your GNU/Linux user groups. We all need to keep asking Dell EVERY SINGLE DAY for such a machine. Only if they receive a LOT of requests they will know people are interested in a free software laptop and will surely develop it. They are a company after all. All they want is to make more money. If they saw a lot of people want it, they will surely do it. <a href="http://playingwithsid.blogspot.com/2008/11/graziano-sorbaioli-on-free-softw…">Graziano Sorbaioli on Free Software Computer Campaign</a> Rakesh 'arky' Ambati Blog [ http://playingwithsid.blogspot.com ] Be the first one to try the new Messenger 9 Beta! Go to http://in.messenger.yahoo.com/win/

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steal the film and meet jamie king
by Senthil Sundaram (sensunda) 05 Nov '08

05 Nov '08

The Centre for Internet and Society and Pedestrian Pictures cordially invite you to the screening of Steal This Film by Jamie King The director will be present at the screening to anchor the post film discussion. Film: Steal This Film (TV Cut) A new edit combining Steal This Film and Steal This Film II, which hasn't been previously released or screened. Date and Time: Saturday, November 8, 2007 17:30 - 19:00 hrs. Venue: The Centre for Internet and Society D-2, Third Floor, Shariff Chambers (Wockhardt hospital building) Cunningham Road, Bangalore (For directions to the venue call, CIS on +91 80 4092 6283.) More about the film: 'Steal this Film' is a documentary series (which are available for free download online) about the culture of piracy and issues surrounding intellectual property, and the cultural and economic implications of the Internet. It has been selected for screening at Sheffield International Documentary Film Festival, South By Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas, the Singapore International Film Festival, and the International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam. Links: http://www.stealthisfilm.com/ <http://www.stealthisfilm.com/> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steal_This_Film <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steal_This_Film> http://www.boingboing.net/2007/12/29/steal-this-film-part.html <http://www.boingboing.net/2007/12/29/steal-this-film-part.html> More about the director: Jamie King is a film maker, writer and activist working enthusiastically in the area of new media, post-IP culture and social organisation. A former editor of Mute Magazine, lobbyist at the UN, journalist at ITN News, and consultant for Channel 4 Television, Jamie is now focused on radical approaches to sharing, exchange and co-operation indicated by network technologies across a variety of media. Co-organiser of the 2003 WSIS? We Seize! counter-UN summit, Jamie continues to be involved in highlighting the importance of information politics in the social movements. STEAL THIS FILM I and II, documentaries exploring the uncertain future of intellectual property, have been downloaded over 4 million times via BitTorrent and featured at numerous international film festivals. -------------------------------- Pedpics is unstoppable in November - nearly 20 films will be screened throughout the month! Besides this screening on Nov 8, there will be two film festivals this month, more announcements soon. -- www.pedestrianpictures.org <http://www.pedestrianpictures.org/>

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Fwd: Application for Info Activism Camp, India
by Anivar Aravind 03 Nov '08

03 Nov '08

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Info Activism Team <poornima(a)tacticaltech.org> Date: Fri, Oct 3, 2008 at 10:52 PM Dear Anivar Aravind, We are proud to announce our next big event - The Info-Activism Camp in India, February 2009. Below you will find more details of the camp as well as the application form. We would really appreciate it if you could pass this onto others who might be interested in participating. Please also refer to the website www.informationactivism.org for more information about the camp. Please note that this website will be developed further in the coming months. Thanks once again for your interest in the camp and good luck with the application form. THE INFO-ACTIVISM CAMP: This is the first-ever international camp on Info-Activism and is a week-long affair. The event will bring together 120 rights advocates, technologists, designers and activists working in the global South to share skills and ideas on digital advocacy. DATES: This is a seven day long workshop, to be held in Bangalore, India from the 19th to the 25th of February 2009. If you would like to participate, you will need to attend the entire event, which means arriving in Bangalore on or before the 18th and leaving on or after the 26th of February 2009. FEES AND SUBSIDIES: Participants will arrange for and fund their own travel to Bangalore. Once there, transport to the venue from the airport in Bangalore will be provided. We ask for a participation fee of 100 Euros to cover meals and accommodation during the meeting. In case you are unable to cover your travel or participation costs, please indicate in the application form below. WHO SHOULD ATTEND: This is an event for experienced professionals actively working with marginalised communities and the on-profit sector in the global South, with experience in advocacy and campaigning, and regional or international networks. Camp participants will be advocates, technologists, designers and strategists who have used OR PLAN TO USE technology tools and tactics in their campaigns. They need not be experts but need to have a proven aptitude for the use of technology tools and basic computing skills along with a track-record of active involvement in rights advocacy initiatives. We are interested in a range of skills and expertise, be it in campaigning, design or technology. We are particularly interested in applications from advocates who deal with issues such as Sex Workers Rights, HIV and AIDS, LGBT rights and environmental justice. Participants whose work centres on the gathering, dissemination and design of information would benefit immensely. ELIGIBILITY: 1. To be eligible to attend, you will need to send a completed application form by the 8th of November 2008 by noon GMT. 2. All participants at the Info-Activism Camp are required to be proficient desktop users of computers. 3. All participants must be available from 18th till the 26th of February 2009. Applications from women are highly encouraged. APPLICATION QUESTIONS: Please answer the following questions. You need not write long responses, but please provide us with enough information to understand your skills and interests, and to have a sense of why you want to attend the Info-Activism Camp and what you can contribute to the event. 1. PERSONAL INFORMATION a. First Name : Middle Name : Last Name : Nick Name (if any): Would you like to keep your real name private? b. Gender: Male/ Female/ Transsexual/Transgender c. Date of Birth: d. Nationality: e. Country where you live and work now: f. Address for Correspondence (to send pre-event materials) : g. Affiliation/organisation g.1 Current affiliation/ organisation: g.1.1 Legal status (i.e., non profit, for profit, academic etc.) : g.1.2 Category (i.e. advocacy & campaigns, human rights, technical etc.) g.1.3 Mission of the affiliation/ organisation: g.1.4 Your position : g.2. Previous affiliation/ organisation: g.2.1 Legal status (i.e. non profit, for profit, academic etc.) : g.2.2 Category (i.e. advocacy & campaigns, human rights, technical etc.) g.2.3 Mission of the affiliation/ organisation: g.2.4 Your position : h. E-mail address: i. Telephone and emergency contact number(s): j. Anything else we should know about you (allergies, diet, medical condition, special needs): k. Will you need to receive a participation fee subsidy in order to attend the camp? If so, please explain why. l. Will you need to receive a travel subsidy in order to attend the camp? If so, please explain why and estimate how much (in Euros) your round-trip travel to Bangalore will cost. m. Do you require a visa to travel to India? If yes, please provide us an estimate of how much your visa to India will cost and whether you will be able to cover this cost. THE RECOMMENDED WORD LIMIT FOR EACH QUESTION IS 300 WORDS. 2. Why are you interested in attending the Info-Activism Camp? What do you hope to learn (minimum three goals) and how do you intend to use that knowledge? 3. Each participant will need to bring a project to the camp - this will help you pick up the appropriate tools and tactics that are relevant to the context you are working in. This can be a project you are currently working on/would like to work on/one where your skills are relevant. Please provide us with a short project description. 4. Camp participants are encouraged to teach as well as to learn. What areas of interest or expertise would you like to share with everyone else? 5. What does info-activism mean to you? Please express yourself creatively in whatever medium you choose - it doesn't have to be text; for example, you could use pictures, comics, video or anything that fires your imagination. [You don't have to attempt this question but we will really appreciate the response.] (Please ensure that multimedia files are no longer than 60 seconds and suitable to host on the web) THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ARE DIVIDED INTO 4 CATEGORIES. PLEASE CHOOSE ATLEAST ONE CATEGORY THAT IS APPROPRIATE TO YOUR EXPERIENCE. IF YOU ARE A RIGHTS ADVOCATE, CAMPAIGNER, ACTIVIST, FROM AN NGO OR NON-PROFIT ORGANISATION OR REPRESENTING A MARGINALISED COMMUNITY, PLEASE PROVIDE ANSWERS TO QUESTION NUMBERS 6 AND 7. 6. What is your experience of working with or participating in advocacy and campaigns? What kinds of projects and initiatives have you worked on or been part of? 7. Have you ever used or have ideas on using technology or digital media as a tactic in your campaign? If so, please briefly explain. IF YOU ARE A TECHNOLOGIST, A TECH-SUPPORT PERSON IN AN NGO, AN ACTIVE USER OF TECHNOLOGY OR DIGITAL TACTICS IN ADVOCACY, PLEASE PROVIDE ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 8 AND 9. 8. What role do you think technology/digital tactics can play in advocacy? Do you have any experience of using technology/digital tactics in an advocacy context or any technology experience that can be applied in an advocacy context? 9. What do you think the key challenges are in deploying technology/digital tactics in advocacy work? IF YOU ARE A DESIGNER (THIS INCLUDES COMICS, CARTOONS, GRAPHICS, INFORMATION DESIGN ETC.), PLEASE PROVIDE ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 10 AND 11. 10. What role do you think design (includes information design, cartoons, comics, graphics etc) can play in advocacy? Do you have any experience of using design as a tactic or tool in an advocacy context or any design experience that can be applied in an advocacy context? 11. What according to you are some of the key challenges in deploying design as a tactic or tool in advocacy work? IF YOU DO NOT IDENTIFY WITH ANY OF THE ABOVE, PLEASE PROVIDE ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 12 AND 13. 12. How would you describe yourself? 13. How do you think your experience is relevant to advocacy? IF YOU BELONG TO MORE THAN ONE CATEGORY, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ANSWER ALL RELEVANT QUESTIONS. APPLICATIONS THAT WILL OMIT ANY OF THE COMPULSORY QUESTIONS WILL NOT BE REVIEWED. Please send the application in plain text format (not as an attachment but as a reply to this email) to infoactivism(a)tacticaltech.org. The deadline for sending applications is the 1st of November 2008 at noon GMT (London time - http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/city.html?n=136 ) We will confirm the receipt of your application. Between the 5th and 10th of December 2008, we will personally inform each applicant by email if we are able to invite her/him. Best wishes, Tactical Tech -- Any responsible politician should be encouraging a home grown Free Software industry because it creates the basis for future jobs. Learning Windows is like learning to eat every meal at McDonalds.

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This month's GNU(s) Grazing is on November 8th
by Anivar Aravind 03 Nov '08

03 Nov '08

Dear Friends, As we Discussed I updated the wiki with Agenda http://bangalore.gnu.org.in/index.php/GNUsGrazing:8November2008 'Time: 3 PM (Is it fine?) , 8th November 2008 Saturday Venue: Centre for Internet and Society Agenda * GNU/Linux in Karnataka Schools , What we can do? * Planning events during RMS visit in Bangalore * Release of Kannada translation of Free Software Free Society * Followup on Say No to Software Campaign * SFD Essay Competition. Review of entries Jamie King, from the The League of Noble Peers :-) (director of Steal This Film(Two)) is now in Bangalore. Sunil is trying to arrange a screening of this Documentary & interaction with director on same day evening with Pedestrian Pictures. If we are planning this as an evening meeting we can participate in it too. GNU(s) Grazing : ------------------------ FSUG-Bangalore has meets known as 'Gnu(s) Grazing' where like minded Free Software enthusiast's meet to discuss, advocate and evangelize free software among fellow students, computer users, software developers and others. -- Any responsible politician should be encouraging a home grown Free Software industry because it creates the basis for future jobs. Learning Windows is like learning to eat every meal at McDonalds.

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Hands on Hacking Session
by Madhusudan C.S 03 Nov '08

03 Nov '08

Hi all, BMSLUG in association with Department of Information Science and Engineering, BMSCE has organized a Hands-On session on How to Hack on Free Software projects. We intend to cover most of tools that are usually needed for hacking stuff. And to be make it clear again, its not a boring lecture, but you learn doing it yourself. Please feel free to join us. There is no restriction on which department or college you belong to. Spread the word and any one can join us. The projects we have selected to Hack On are: 1. GNOME (probably and mostly GNOME-GAMES_ 2. KDE (the packages are yet to be decided) 3. GNUSim8085 The idea of this session is really not to get some code on the very first day. It will not be fair to expect any one to contribute on the very first day they are introduced to the tools in the business. We will take live bugs in these tools, help them fix these bugs live, So bugs selected will be common for everyone. And if possible we submit the patches under the name of BMSLUG-Hackathon. After this we will give some time for people to get to know things and say after a week or 10 days or so we will have a full fledged hackathon (probably a day long one) in BMSCE. Date: *05-11-2008*, *Wednesday* Venue: *ISE Lab, BMSCE* (Ground Floor, CSE+ISE+ECE Block) -- Thanks and regards, Madhusudan.C.S Blogs at: www.madhusudancs.info Official Email ID: madhusudan(a)madhusudancs.info P.S: This might help people who are interested in knowing where to start for Google Summer of Code 2009.

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Two day python workshop at RVCE on 14th and 15th of November 2008
by renuka prasad 03 Nov '08

03 Nov '08

Hi all In association with FSUG-BAngalore , A Two day workshop is arranged for RVCE students and faculties- but looking at BMS students initiatives - i too felt like keeping this workshop open for others too--if any one is getting beenifitted -what else is required? Venue : RVCE campus Date : 14th and 15th of November Timings : Morning 9.00 to evening 5.00 ( both the days ) Contents: Basics of Python ( hands on session ) Implementation of OOP concepts using python ( hands on session ) An hour session about Web application development with python + postgresql + Zope ( only demo) Resource Persons : Members FSUG-Bangalore Registration Fee : 200 Rs ( no lunch -- providing 4 DVD ( debian ) + 1 CD of material related to the workshop ) Registration fee is toward the payment for Resource persons + certificates + other expenses Interested people can reply here also or can call me and confirm 9901945674 Maximum No of Participants : 100 ( already 54 have registered -FCFS) with regards

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FSUG-Bangalore November 2008