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

FSM Sept 15th - Software Freedom Day 2018!
by PuZZleDucK 26 Aug '18

26 Aug '18

Hi All, It's time again to get excited about all the benefits Free and Open Source Software have given us over the past year and get together to talk about how Freedom and Openness can improve our human rights, our privacy, our security and our communities. It's Software Freedom Day! Free Software Melbourne and Linux Users Victoria are celebrating the 15th annual Software Freedom Day with talks about Open Data, Free and Open Source Software, Open Hardware and of course Linux. We'll also be having plenty of networking opportunities and introductions to local open source technology groups. Software Freedom Day is a family friendly event and we have a code of conduct we follow. In short: Be respectful. Be mindful. Work together. Please invite anyone that is interested along to help make it a great day. Entry is free any time with light refreshments on site (snacks and sodas) and the delightful culinary options of nearby Errol st at the conclusion of proceedings. Hope to see everyone on the 15th for a fantastic Software Freedom Day 2018! Details Date: Saturday the 15th September Time: Talks starting at 1:00pm and wrapping up at 5:00pm Location: Electron Workshop co-working space Address: 31 Arden Street, North Melbourne Map: https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/2556615434 Travel Tips: http://www.electronworkshop.com.au/map/ Parking: Plenty of on street parking in the area Code of Conduct: http://freesoftware.org.au/code-of-conduct/

1 0

FSM July 19 - Contribute to Trove
by Ben Sturmfels 18 Jul '18

18 Jul '18

[Forwarding to list on behalf of Ben M - we seem to be having some mailing list signup issues] The Trove search engine provides access to content from Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums (GLAM) and is a rich and deep source of Australian history and culture covering content such as newspapers, journals, maps, diaries, correspondence, photos, music, objects and artworks. It enables searching and sorting the items using various criteria such as the publication, date, geography, author, content and other metadata...but did you know we can make it even better? This month we'll go through setting up an account on Trove and see how we can contribute to this valuable collection of Australian heritage. We'll review some old documents that have been run through optical character recognition and confirm or correct the text to improve future accessibility and search. We'll also see how easy it is to add tags to any item to help discoverability and we'll also talk about useful commenting and the new user lists After the Trove session Michael will take us through all the Free and Open Source Gnews for the month. Then we'll head down to Errol street for dinner and more Open Source chatter. This will be a hands on session working with Trove so try and bring a laptop or tablet to work from. See you all on Thursday the 19th at Electron Workshop for Free Software Melbourne July. Event details Thursday 19th July, 6:30-8:00pm 31 Arden St, North Melbourne, Victoria, 3051 Map: http://osm.org/go/uG4HWyqEz?m=&node=2556615434 Running late or can't find us? Call Ben on 0419 390 496

1 0

FSM Jun 15th - AMD, Installfests and the Gnews on privacy
by Ben M 11 Jun '17

11 Jun '17

Hey Freedom Fans, This month at Free Software Melbourne we're going to be talking AMD, Installfests and the rising importance of privacy and security in modern life. We'll kick things off at 6:30pm by having a read through the final draft of the AMD submission (and quickly fixing any typos we find) before preparing to send it to AMD and publish it on our website. We're also going to discuss what we might need to do to run an installfest as part of a FSM event later in the year. We'll take a look at the documentation available and consider a few case studies of installfests. We'll discuss what kind of approach we might take and what the important factors to consider are. If time allows we might also run through the process in some virtual manner. We're also super lucky to have Linux Users Victoria run a Debian 9 launch party on Saturday the 17th (just two days later) that will probably involve an installfest so if you've ever wanted to run or participate in an installfest then this is your month. We'll then have our regular Gnews segment hosted by Tatiana this month. I've been warned that we'll be focusing heavily on the current security and privacy issues that have been becoming ever more prevalent in these troubled times. What role can Free and Open Software play in this emerging landscape and how is this being reported in the wild? What can we do to make progress and better communicate the message of FOSS? So if you were hoping for more of Ben rattling off release dates then I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed. As usual we plan to finish up about 8:30pm and head down to Errol st for continued conversation and tasty cuisine. See you all there! Thursday 15th June, 6:30-8:30pm Electron Workshop - 31 Arden St, North Melbourne, Victoria, 3051 Map: http://osm.org/go/uG4HWyqEz?m=&node=2556615434 Travel tips by Electron Workshop: http://www.electronworkshop.com.au/map/ Running late or can't find us? Call 0419 390 496

1 0

FSM Working Group June 1st - The AMD Submission
by Ben M 26 May '17

26 May '17

Hi again Freedom Fighters, Time to turn up the heat on AMD and put our names along side the EFA, LibreBoot and others in saying we want control over our devices and not the other way around. We'll look over the current draft and make improvements along the lines suggested in a meeting earlier this year. The current draft can be found here: http://freesoftware.org.au/wiki/AMDLetter When we're happy with it we'll circulate it around the group for any further feedback before publishing and sending it to AMD Join us at The Leveson (46 Leveson St, North Melbourne) on Thursday the 1st of June, where we'll try out a working group over dinner (or drinks if you prefer). Don't forget to bring devices to work from and we'll bring a hotspot to use See you there

1 0

FSM May 18th - FSM Committee Functions and Behind the Gnews
by Ben M 15 May '17

15 May '17

Hey Freedom Supporters, This month at Free Software Melbourne I'll be taking us through a guided tour of the FSM committee and what it takes to organise and run our events every month. First up we'll take a look at the resources and tools available to us including the wiki materials, website, media etc; we'll also go through the process of announcing an event on the website, the mailing list and other platforms; then we'll take a look at some new initiatives we've adopted recently and discuss how we might be able to use our tools more effectively. We'll then have a special edition of our regular news segment "Behind the Gnews" where we'll look at the process of putting together the Gnews segment and of course we'll have a chin wag about current events as always followed by dinner down Errol St. Hope to see you there. Thursday 18th May, 6:30-8:30pm 31 Arden St, North Melbourne, Victoria, 3051 Map: http://osm.org/go/uG4HWyqEz?m=&node=2556615434 Travel tips by Electron Workshop: http://www.electronworkshop.com.au/map/ Running late or can't find us? Call 0419 390 496

1 0

FSM April 20th - FSM Elections, AMD Open Hardware submission and the Gnews
by Ben M 13 Apr '17

13 Apr '17

Hey there FLOSS fighters, It's time for our annual elections for the Free Software Melbourne Committee, so now is your chance to have your say in the running of the group. If you're interested in running then bring your enthusiasm and a short pitch about why you like Free Software and why you want to help the group. We'll also have a quick summary of the groups activities over the past year. After the election formalities Michael Verrenkamp will be sharing a draft submission he's prepared for AMD encouraging the adoption of open standards and open hardware. We'll have a read over the submission and have a discussion about other possible actions and similar initiatives we could address. We'll have a "short" pizza break and finish off with all the Gnews fit for public consumption* from the month gone by. Hope to see you there. * FSM is not responsible for Gnews induced indigestion Thursday 20th April, 6:30-8:30pm 31 Arden St, North Melbourne, Victoria, 3051 Map: http://osm.org/go/uG4HWyqEz?m=&node=2556615434 Travel tips by Electron Workshop: http://www.electronworkshop.com.au/map/ Running late or can't find us? Call 0419 390 496

1 0

FSM Working group hacking hackathon licensing
by Ben M 03 Apr '17

03 Apr '17

Hey there Freedom Hackers Another virtual meetup on the Riot channel for the working group this month, seemed to work well last month just using text and maybe we could jump on mumble if we need to chat As it's coming up on hackathon season, this month at the Working group we're going to have a go at putting together a "hackathon licensing guidelines" page for the wiki and a kit of materials, pitches, suggestions and links I imagine the popular github licensing page would be a good start along with the FSM licensing guide, but more diversity and event specific advice could be given. Feel free to drop any suggestions in the new FSM Riot channel: # and we'll scan back over on the night We'll be hanging around the #freesoftwaremelb:matrix.zammit.org room from 6:00pm on Thursday the 6th of April and start breaking up into "license family groups" and preparing a list of resources and info Event details Thursday 6th April, 6:30-8:00pm Location: Online in Riot chatroom: #freesoftwaremelb:matrix.zammit.org Wiki: http://freesoftware.org.au/wiki/ Having trouble connecting? Call one of the Bens on 0419 390 496

1 0

FSM March 17th - Snitch Hunt Reloaded and The Projects of Code for Victoria 1
by Ben M 14 Mar '17

14 Mar '17

Rosie Williams (@Info_Aus) has been hard at work on the updated Snitch Hunt game and boy does it look new and improved (and a little more functional). Snitch Hunt is a game that teaches the public about metadata. We'll have another go as a group to complete the tasks and prepare some feedback for future development https://whistleblower.network/snitch/index.php I'll also be running over the Code for Victoria projects created by the 2016/17 fellowships including Legal Aids reminder system, DELWPs biodiversity application and Treasuries contract reporting system Damien will be taking us through the gnews for the month and we'll be discussing the possibilities of Open Hardware See you all there Event details Thursday 17th March, 6:30-8:00pm 31 Arden St, North Melbourne, Victoria, 3051 Map: http://osm.org/go/uG4HWyqEz?m=&node=2556615434 Travel tips by Electron Workshop: http://www.electronworkshop.com.au/map/ Running late or can't find us? Call Ben on 0419 390 496

1 0

FSM 16th Feb - Rosie Williams and FSM playtest SnitchHunt
by Ben M 10 Feb '17

10 Feb '17

Hey there Free Software Melbourne, we're kicking off a new year with a bit of serious fun, we'll be joined by Rosie Williams from the Little Bird Network <https://whistleblower.network>. Rosie is an Open Data Consultant, programmer and one of the new generation of journalists covering issues like #CensusFail and #NotMyDebt SnitchHunt is a game that teaches the public about metadata: what it is and how it can be used to identify and track individuals. Come and test the open source beta version of SnitchHunt with Free Software Melbourne so the developer can see how different people handle the game. Numbers will be limited. Please bring your own laptop & internet connection to play although some may be accommodated by teaming up with others. https://whistleblower.network/snitch/index.php After our playtest of SnitchHunt we'll be having our regular Gnews review of the last couple of months. Hope to see you at 6:30PM on Thursday 16th at Electron Workshop (31 Arden Street, North Melbourne) for the monthly Free software Melbourne meetup followed by our usual stroll down Errol st to find somewhere for dinner and continued chatter *Event details* Thursday 16th Feb, 6:30-8:00pm 31 Arden St, North Melbourne, Victoria, 3051 Map: http://osm.org/go/uG4HWyqEz?m=&node=2556615434 Travel tips <http://www.electronworkshop.com.au/map/> by Electron Workshop Running late or can't find us? Call Ben on 0419 390 496

1 0

FSM casual dinner with Deb Nicholson
by Ben M 19 Jan '17

19 Jan '17

Happy new year Free Software Melbourne, After a stellar talk titled "Handle Conflict, Like a Boss!" Deb Nicholson from the Open Invention Network and OpenHatch will be stopping by Melbourne for a few days on her way back to the US. https://linux.conf.au/schedule/presentation/37/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x-HYunGtR0 We're organizing a casual dinner with Deb this Monday at 7pm at the Supper Inn Chinese Restauraunt, 15 Celestial Avenue, just off Little Bourke Street We'd love to see you all there but numbers are limited and so RSVPs are a must to either myself of Ben Sturmfields at the emails provided below: Ben S <ben(a)stumbles.id.au> Ben M <puzzleduck(a)gmail.com>

1 0