- Free-software-melb-announce - lists.softwarefreedom.com.au

Discussion group this Thursday 18 April, 6pm - DRM in HTML 5
by Ben Sturmfels 16 Apr '13

16 Apr '13

Hi Folks, Our monthly discussion group is on this Thursday 18 April. Look forward to seeing you there! ---------------------------------------- Free Software Melbourne discussion group ---------------------------------------- Thursday 21 March, 6-9pm VPAC Head Office Training Room (see website) http://www.freesoftware.asn.au/melb/ Agenda: - DRM in HTML 5 - experiences with e-book readers - Tasty dinner at a nearby restaurant

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Free software discussion group this Thurs 21 March
by Ben Sturmfels 19 Mar '13

19 Mar '13

Hi Folks, Sorry for the late announcement. I'm looking forward to seeing you all this Thursday night for Free Software Melbourne discussion group and dinner. I had an amazing experience this week; a video call using free software that worked beautifully. It's been a long wait for a free software equivalent to Skype. Perhaps we're close! I'd love to hear your experiences with video calling. Trisquel 6.0 was also released very recently; the fully-free distro endorsed by the FSF. I'll be giving a quick demo. Join us for all that and more free software chatter. Regards, Ben ---------------------------------------- Free Software Melbourne discussion group ---------------------------------------- Thursday 21 March, 6-9pm VPAC Head Office Training Room (see website) http://www.freesoftware.asn.au/melb/ Agenda: - Free software video calling: are we there yet? (discussion) - Trisquel 6.0 (demo and discussion) - Tasty dinner at a nearby restaurant

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Come play free software games with us on Thursday 21 Feb
by Ben Sturmfels 20 Feb '13

20 Feb '13

Hi Folks, We had such a great time at the September free software games night that we're doing it again this Thursday. Please come along and join us! Regards, Ben ----------------------------------- Melbourne Free Software Games Night ----------------------------------- Thursday 21 February, 6-9pm VPAC Head Office Training Room (see website) http://www.freesoftware.asn.au/melb/ We'll be playing a wide range of games including some casual and some multiplayer action games. Absolutely no gaming or technical experience is required. We're happy to help you get started. Please bring $10 for pizza and a laptop if you have one. Copies of the games will be available on the night.

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Barbeque this Thursday at Birrarung Marr
by Ben Sturmfels 16 Jan '13

16 Jan '13

Hi Folks, This Thursday we're holding our Free Software Melbourne barbeque. Everyone is welcome, especially if you haven't been along before. Look forward to seeing you! Regards, Ben -------------------------------- Free Software Melbourne barbeque -------------------------------- Thur 17 Jan 2013, 6pm at Birrarung Marr public barbeques http://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-37.819999&mlon=144.974934&zoom=17&layer… We'll provide the meal including meat, a vegan and vegetarian alternative, salad, plates, cutlery and soft drink. Please feel free to bring any other drinks you'd like. The event costs $20 (full) or $10 (student/concession). This covers food and a donation to the international End Software Patents project run by Ciarán O'Riordan. Please RSVP by email ben(a)sturm.com.au by 5pm Thursday. Please mention any dietary requirements. We'll be using a permanent gas barbeque so aren't affected by a total fire ban.

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linux.conf.au free software conference this month
by Ben Sturmfels 07 Jan '13

07 Jan '13

Hi Folks, Just a quick reminder that in a few weeks, Canberra will be hosting linux.conf.au, Australia's community free software conference. linux.conf.au 28 January to 2 February 2013 http://www.linux.conf.au/ This is a large conference, with around 700 attendees and over 150 talks and workshops. Some of the talks are highly technical and others aren't, but with five or six talks running at the same time, you'll find something to interest you or someone interesting to meet. If you can afford the time and cost, I'd definitely recommend attending. Get your registration in quick though, tickets are nearly sold out. Regards, Ben

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BBQ postponed, casual dinner tomorrow (Tues) if you can make it
by Ben Sturmfels 17 Dec '12

17 Dec '12

Hi Free Software Lovers, Unfortunately we've had to postpone this month's barbeque on the Yarra. Sorry about that, I was really looking forward to it, but December just got a bit complicated. But... if you're in the city at 6pm tomorrow night (Tues 18 December), Alex and I are meeting for casual dinner at Big Mamas (Korean). Sorry for the very late notice. Please come along if you can make it. It's near the corner of Swanston Street and Victoria Street: http://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-37.806124&mlon=144.96314&zoom=17 If I don't see you, merry Christmas and a happy GNU year. Regards, Ben

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Free Software discussion group this Thursday 15 November
by Ben Sturmfels 08 Nov '12

08 Nov '12

Hi Folks, Join us for Free Software Melbourne discussion group this Thursday night. We'll hear about Adam's experiments in running his own free software network services and Ben F. will teach us about Super Cookies. I'll also be baking some Super Cookies. Yum. Look forward to seeing you! Regards, Ben ---------------------------------------- Free Software Melbourne discussion group ---------------------------------------- Thursday 15 November, 6-9pm VPAC Head Office Training Room (see website) http://www.freesoftware.asn.au/melb/ Agenda: - Running free network services from your home including email, chat, microblogging, code hosting and media sharing (Adam Bolte) - Maintaining your privacy on the web (Ben Finney) - Gold-coin donation for a free software project. I suggest we vote on one of the projects Adam or Ben F. mention. - Tasty dinner at a nearby restaurant

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Free Software discussion group this Thursday 18 October
by Ben Sturmfels 15 Oct '12

15 Oct '12

Hi Folks, October already! Wow, this month has certainly crept up on me. I'm looking forward to another Free Software Melbourne discussion group and dinner this Thursday, same time same place. Hope to see you there! Regards, Ben ---------------------------------------- Free Software Melbourne discussion group ---------------------------------------- Thursday 20 September, 6-9pm VPAC Head Office Training Room (see website) http://www.freesoftware.asn.au/melb/ Agenda: - Can crowd-funding campaigns like MediaGoblin's be the secret weapon for funding free software? (discussion) - Embarking on a project to reimplement the Australian Government's proprietary E-tax software (discussion) - Tasty dinner at a nearby restaurant <#secure method=pgpmime mode=sign>

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Games night this Thursday 20 September
by Ben Sturmfels 19 Sep '12

19 Sep '12

Hi Free Software Lovers, Hope you enjoyed Software Freedom Day as much as I did. We heard some exceptional talks and saw over 80 people in attendance at one point during the morning. A fantastic result, particularly thanks to the hard work of the Linux Users Victoria committee. Since too much free software is never enough, this Thursday is free software games night. Hope to see you there! Regards, Ben ----------------------------------- Melbourne Free Software Games Night ----------------------------------- Thursday 20 September, 6-9pm VPAC Head Office Training Room (see website) http://www.freesoftware.asn.au/melb/ We'll be playing a wide range of games including some casual and some multiplayer action games. No gaming experience is required. We're happy to help you get started. We'll order some pizza and eat in to allow more time for gaming. You don't need a laptop, but please bring one if you have one. There will be a number of desktop computers available. Internet access is available in case you need to download and install games. The list of games and versions will be sent around by Wednesday in case you'd like to get set up beforehand.

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Software Freedom Day: Saturday September 15
by Ben Sturmfels 14 Sep '12

14 Sep '12

I just realised that Lev's announcement about Software Freedom Day last week didn't go out to our announcement mailing list. Sorry, about the short notice. -- Regards, Ben -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [free-software-melb] Software Freedom Day: Saturday September 15 Date: Wed, 5 Sep 2012 10:03:22 +1000 From: Lev Lafayette <lev(a)levlafayette.com> To: Melbourne Free Software Interest Group <free-software-melb(a)lists.softwarefreedom.com.au> Linux Users of Victoria and Free Software Melbourne is hosting Software Freedom Day in Melbourne! At a conference dedicated to the theme of free software in a free society, confirmed speakers include Jon Lawrence of Electronic Frontiers Australia, Chris Samuel of the Victorian Life Sciences Initiative, Alec Clews of the Melbourne Raspberry Jam, Andy Gleme of the Connected Community HackerSpace, Daniel Jitnah of GreenwareIT, and Lev Lafayette of Linux Users of Victoria. There is a possibility that Belgian social theorist Michel Bauwens ‏will be attending. Presentations will cover the recent Internet surveillance laws, the importance of free software in scientific computing, new embedded technologies and micro-computers, free software and 3D printers, free software in education, and the business of free software. Software Freedom Day will be opened by Dr. Alison Parkes, senior lecturer in business information systems at the University of Melbourne, and Greens candidate for Lord Mayor of Melbourne. Free Software Melbourne will be hosting a games area, the One Laptop per Child project will be present, as will the Raspberry Jam group. There will be plenty of free software available, as well as copies of the OpenDisc. Software Freedom Day will come with a free lunch (with open sauce!). Software Freedom Day will be held at the Melbourne Unitarian Church hall (110 Grey Street, East Melbourne). It's about 5 minutes from Jolimont Station, or a brisk 10 minute walk from Parliament station. There's plenty of parking at the site as well! Free software has changed the world! Twenty years ago, free software advocates took on the multi-billion proprietary operating systems in the server, supercomputer, and mainframe world - and we won. Ten years ago, we took on the big online encyclopaedias with a free alternative - and we won. Now we're taking on producers themselves with three-dimensional printers. We'll win that as well. Come celebrate software freedom! For more information contact Deb Henry on 0409338182 http://softwarefreedomday.org http://luv.asn.au http://www.freesoftware.asn.au/melb/

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