Digital Tipping Point

Oct 06, 2008 3:11pm GMT

In 2004 I was at the FISL conference in Porto Alegre, Brazil when I was introduced to a young man who wanted to create a documentary about the Free Software movement. His name is Christian Einfeldt and he is a lawyer in San Francisco, California Christian and Paul Donahue, his cameraman, had flown to Brazil to capture some of the excitement and flavor of Free Software that occurs at FISL.... more »

Microsoft admits that TCO for developing nation's schools is same for Linux and Windows.

Sep 30, 2008 6:25pm GMT

This is a very long blog entry. I wondered whether it would be better to write it here, or to write an article for Linux Pro Magazine. The editors felt that because of the timeliness of the subject it would be better to have it as a blog entry. For those who do not want to read to the end, the "Executive Summary" is: Microsoft admits that TCO for education students in developing... more »

Public Code With Public Funds

Sep 25, 2008 1:43am GMT

I was summoned to a large bank the other day. This bank administers funds for various philanthropic organizations, and often oversees grants for software development. The bank had an interesting idea. Since the grants they handed were purportedly for the "common good", why not make a stipulation that any software developed through a grant be a free and open source license? At... more »

Proyecto Ceibal: Uruguay's project for OLPC deployment

Sep 19, 2008 1:05am GMT

Last week I was in Montevideo, Uruguay. While there I visited the people who are rolling out the deployment of the XO (nee OLPC) systems, named "Proyecto Ceibal". Ceibal's office was located in an incubator where small businesses are started. Project Ceibal occupied two locations in the series of "incubator" buildings. Uruguay is very serious about deploying the laptops... more »

Ohio Linux Fest - October 10th and 11th, 2008: Columbus, Ohio

Sep 15, 2008 12:33pm GMT

On October 10th and 11th, 2008 the Ohio Linux Fest (OLF) 2008 Ohio Linux Fest (OLF) 2008 will occur. This is the sixth edition of this event, held every year in Columbus Ohio. I like OLF, because it is not only a community event, staged and run by volunteers, but it is also a family event, with people of all ages invited and involved. When I say "all ages", one of the speakers is... more »

Universities that do not use Free Software: Time for a boycott?

Aug 29, 2008 1:53pm GMT

I received an email recently from a young man in Brazil who wanted me to come to his university and talk to the students and faculty about using Free Software. I am normally happy to advise universities to use Free Software, but usually this is done in conjunction with some large conference held at the university or some other venue. I just do not have the time to visit each and every school.... more »

Jornadas Regionales de Software Libre: Open Source conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina (20/8/2008 - 22/8/2008)

Aug 20, 2008 4:38pm GMT

I am currently sitting in the main auditorium of the Jornadas Regionales de Software Libre (which I continuously abbreviate to "JRSL" in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Produced by a group of volunteers from various LUGs around Argentina, I was invited to participate by my very good friend, Daniel Coletti of CaFeLug. This conference will be going on during the days of August 20th to 22nd,... more »