Debian Google Summer of Code 2008

Steve McIntyre wrote on debian-devel-announce list about this years Summer of Code program, Guess, I should pitch in and do something this year.

Hey folks,


Google are running their Summer of Code programme again this year,
and if we want to take part again we need to apply between March 3rd
and March 12th. If we're accepted as a mentoring organisation, then
students will be able to apply to work with us up until the 1st
April.


I'm volunteering to be an admin again, and I'll deal with making the
application for Debian as an organisation. Beyond that, some more
admins would be useful to help out later on. If you'd like to help,
let me know ASAP!


Then we'll need mentors and ideas for the programme itself. As in
previous years, the easiest place for us to collect those is in the
wiki. Please fill your ideas in there. Last year's suggestions for
projects are still in the wiki if you're looking for inspiration,
but *please* don't just copy things across wholesale!

Read More

Sasi Kumar on why India should adopt open document standards

Here is an update to the Dr. Sasi Kumar's article India must adopt free standards. It seems that the Redmond company responded predictability. Now the author sheds some light on the so called clarification on his blog.

Microsoft has responded to my write-up about the need to adopt the Open Document Format. As may be expected, they are just trying to convince people with propaganda. Since Infochange is unwilling to publish my response to Microsoft's clarification, I have to do it here

Microsoft Responds

Read More

Top 5 Sub $300 laptops compared

Amy wrote me to say 'just posted an article "Top 5 Sub-$300 Laptops Compared" . I thought I'd bring it to your attention just in case you think your readers would find it interesting.'

The post mentions 'Elonex ONE', 'Zonbu' and 'PC 2G Surf' which I have never heard of. Does anyone provide more information and comments about these devices.

Read More

OLPC XO-1 demo-ed at ILUG-Goa Meet

This tiny and unusual computer was demoed at the monthly meeting of ILUG-Goa, the Free Software and Open Source user group that meets at the Goa Science Centre in Miramar, last Saturday (Jan 26, 2008).


Ms. Rut Pinto Viegas Jesus, a Copenhagen-based PhD researcher of Goan-Portuguese ancestry, managed to bring down one model of the computer, while visiting Goa on holiday and a family visit to her relations in Santa Cruz and Salcete.

The 4000-rupee computer shows up in Goa

Read More

If Operating Systems Ran The Airlines

An old LG (#45) post, never fails to amuse me after so many years

UNIX Airways


Everyone brings one piece of the plane along when they come to the airport. They all go out on the runway and put the plane together piece by piece, arguing non-stop about what kind of plane they are supposed to be building.

Air DOS


Everybody pushes the airplane until it glides, then they jump on and let the plane coast until it hits the ground again. Then they push again, jump on again, and so on ...

Mac Airlines


All the stewards, captains, baggage handlers, and ticket agents look and act exactly the same. Every time you ask questions about details, you are gently but firmly told that you don't need to know, don't want to know, and everything will be done for you without your ever having to know, so just shut up.

Windows Air


The terminal is pretty and colorful, with friendly stewards, easy baggage check and boarding, and a smooth take-off. After about 10 minutes in the air, the plane explodes with no warning whatsoever.

Windows NT Air


Just like Windows Air, but costs more, uses much bigger planes, and takes out all the other aircraft within a 40-mile radius when it explodes.

Linux Air


Disgruntled employees of all the other OS airlines decide to start their own airline. They build the planes, ticket counters, and pave the runways themselves. They charge a small fee to cover the cost of printing the ticket, but you can also download and print the ticket yourself. When you board the plane, you are given a seat, four bolts, a wrench and a copy of the Seat-HOWTO.html. Once settled, the fully adjustable seat is very comfortable, the plane leaves and arrives on time without a single problem, the in-flight meal is wonderful. You try to tell customers of the other airlines about the great trip, but all they can say is, "You had to do what with the seat?"

Read More

Wake up to the music

Using cron/mplayer and some shell glue you can create your own musical alarm clock to wake you up everyday. Ever since the Cron-MP3 alarm clock was published some years ago, it never ceases to dazzle me what you can do with little creativity.

Read More

Volunteer with Free Software Foundation of India (FSF-I)

The FSF-I website is the right place to get the complete information on its latest activities and read the FSF-I charter to know more about the foundation . It is however the FSF-Friends mailing-list where the most the interaction and information exchange takes place. If you need to stay informed about FSF-I and other related activities in India then this is the list to join.

To be volunteer you can register as FSF India Volunteer and get listed in the FSF India Volunteer Directory . But its not a must, if you can spare a little of your time and do any of the tasks then just shoot a email to the admins . There is a list of various tasks that you can help out with on the foundations website.

The the FSF-Friends mailing-list isn’t the only list, there are many others see if anyone suit your interests. Perhaps you can also join a regional mailing-list thats near your city and meet other free software advocates and volunteers.

1. Delhi


2. Pune


3. Andhra Pradesh


4. Tamil Nadu


5. Bangalore



6. Kerala

Well, you can also take a look these few specific tasks which I think would need some attention of volunteers.

• Submit News regularly : Some of activities and events news don’t really make it to FSF-I portal news feed.

• Populate the mailing-lists : Various lists like Fsf-dev fsf-prog and fsf-edu are very inactive perhaps you can participate and start relevant discussions.

• Document Free Software Projects : The Indian Free Software Project Directory is an excellent resource for various projects from the subcontinent. You can contribute and keep this up-to-date. The FSUG-Bangalore had a similar initiative which died out .

• Content in Indian Languages : Perhaps its a good idea to have content in various Indian languages, the translation of GNU GPL of licenses is a good start.

Read More