Frogs
Dec 09, 2009 GMT
I am at the 8th International Information and Telecommunication Technologies Symposium hosted by the Federal University of Santa Caterina (December 9th, 10th and 11th) and I have just finished listening to a very interesting talk by Professor Antonio Alfredo Ferreiro Loureiro (Federal University of Minas Gerais) on "frogs".
Actually his talk was not *really* about "frogs", but about ad-hoc sensor networks used to sense environmental issues. These sensors are very simple (and often "slow") computers that... more »
Anniversary of LPI Certification in Brazil and remembering Rocket Science
Nov 24, 2009 GMT
Seven years ago, in early December, I helped to proctor the first Linux Professional Institute (LPI) test in Brazil, which had been hosted by 4Linux in Sao Paulo. At that time I gave out a "Linux License Plate" made by Compaq (nee Digital) Computer Corporation and a clock made from a CD-ROM signed by Linus Torvalds.
This year I have been invited back on December 5th... more »
Project Cauã: A large-scale project to reduce waste, improve computing, help solve digital inclusion and create jobs
Nov 23, 2009 GMT
Five years ago I started shifting my discussions regarding Free Software to try and address the question of "How do I make money with Free Software?" Four years ago issues around usability of closed-source software in today's modern world began to creep into my talks, leading to the question of how much time is wasted on a world-wide level by software that does not do what you want and need it to do. Three years ago I started to address the issues of energy utilisation and how much the... more »
Three-in-one
Oct 31, 2009 GMT
I just got back from a three-conference trip, Futurecom in Sao Paulo, "I FÓRUM DE SOFTWARE LIVRE DE DUQUE DE CAXIAS" in the city of Duque de Caxias, a community of Rio de Janeiro, and Latinoware in Foz do Iguassu, Brazil. Each conference was interesting in its own way.
Futurecom is the largest telecommunications show in Brazil. Having been put on for many years in Florianopolis, this was its second year in Sao Paulo.
A large trade show floor, with large booths, many of whom had bars of different sizes and food offered to attendees. It has been a long time since I have been... more »
Some nice things happened on the way through life.....
Oct 29, 2009 GMT
Recently a couple of very nice things happened to me.
I needed a favor, and a friend of mine reached out to help me.
They were person who I have known for about ten years, and although they have always been nice to me, this last "help" was just when it was needed most.
As I thanked him, he reminded me that I was instrumental in getting him into Free Software, and that this had made a huge, positive difference in his life.
He reminded me that I had invited him to join me at dinner with the CEO of a company where he soon found... more »
I never won a Nobel Peace Prize.
Oct 11, 2009 GMT
I woke up on the morning of October 9th to find that President Obama had won the Nobel Peace Prize.
There was a lot of discussion about whether President Obama had "earned" the honor or not, and a lot of discussion about how the Nobel Peace Prize is not always for what you have done, but encouraging you to keep going in what you are doing.
As I read his acceptance speech, I thought about Free and Open Source Software, and applied parts of his speech to my favorite subject.
"Let me be clear, I do not view it as a recognition of my own... more »
