Fsf-friends August 2009

fsf-friends@gnu.org.in

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17 discussions

Internet, tech skills growing quietly in Goa...
by Frederick Noronha (FN) 02 Sep '24

02 Sep '24

INTERNET, TECH SKILLS GROWING QUIETLY IN GOA PANJIM, April 30: Goa's BSNL internet service provider is already providing some 3000 broadband connections in the state, and roughly another 24,000 people dial-up to get access the Net using this central government-run service. These figures emerged during an informal discussion at the monthly meeting of the India Linux Users Group (Goa), a network promoting Free Software and Open Source in the state. ILUG-Goa, which holds its meetings usually on the fourth Saturday of each month at the Goa Science Centre at Miramar, sees a range of tech issues -- usually directly related to Free Software and Open Source in Goa. During it's meet on April 29, a range of issues came up for discussion, from how to partition your hard-disk (to install GNU/Linux side-by-side with Windows), to software tools to ehance productivity, and various internet and broadband options available to users in diverse parts of Goa. For instance, there are some useful Free Software tools to monitor your bandwidth usage on BSNL's broadband. One such tool is available for free download at http://tinyurl.com/qgu9p Called the Data One Broadband Statistics, this is a screen-scraper written using Perl to download usage statistics of BSNL's Data One (www.bsnl.co.in/service/dataone.htm) broadband service and total it. Generally, BSNL (www.bsnl.co.in) allows only the Microsoft-based IE and has no monthly total. But trust Indian software talent to find a work-around. This solution comes from the Free Software/Open Source network in Chennai. Meanwhile, the Goa free software network stays connected and announces its event via http://iluggoaannounce.notlong.com There are no fees for joining, all are welcome, and encouraged to form parallel user-groups in diverse parts of the state. Meanwhile, the Fedora Core 5 Free Software distribution has just become available on DVD in Goa. Number of foreign magazines are also available. Members of ILUG-Goa such as engineer Bijon Shaha and software pro Arvind Yadav gave diverse views on techies-only distros like 'Gentoo'. Debopriyo 'DP' Sarkar pointed to a 'mindmap' of various Free Software distributions or 'distros' available, which was illustrated at linuxhelp.blogspot.com Earlier, there was a brief presentation on FreeMind. FreeMind is a premier free mind-mapping software written in Java. It has the potential of playing the role of a high productivity tool. Operation and navigation of FreeMind is faster because of one-click "fold/unfold" and "follow link" operations. Other members raised a range of issues -- from how to get started in GNU/Linux, to playing around with tools like StumbleUpon, and how to encourage Free Software usage in schools and educational institutions. Remy Furtado of Rosary College, Navelim expressed an interest in working on the Free Software tool Moodle, ideal for distance education, as the Goa University moves to a pattern of semisterisation. Goa Engineering College's Prof George Easaw has done work on this platform, as have others. Reacting unofficially, BSNL officials said Goa now had six STMS 155 MBps connectivity, which was resulting in a speedy expansion of broadband to many parts of the state. But for broadband facilities to become available in village areas, at least 60 subscribers were needed to make operations viable. So far, broadband from BSNL is available in a growing number of areas in Goa: Panjim, Vasco (except Cortalim, but including Sada, Mangor, Bogmalo, Sancoale and other areas), Ponda, Bambolim, Merces, Dona Paula, Porvorim, Mapusa town, Calangute-Candolim, and Saligao, among others. Equipment has already been installed in Aldona exchange, and broadband facilities are expected to go functional -- ------------------------------------------------------------- | India Linux Users' Group, Goa | | Join the friendly user group | | Mail list http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ilug-goa/join | ---------------------------------------------------------- | | http://groups.yahoo.com/group/teach-yourself-linux | | http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ilug-goa-announce | | http://www.iosn.net/country/india/organizations/ilug-goa/ | ------------------------------------------------------------- , , / \ .-. * SOFTWARE ((__-^^-,-^^-__)) (. .) * FREEDOM `-_---' `---_-' / V \ * SHARING `--|o` 'o|--' // \\ \ ` / /( )\ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER ): :( '.^^_^^.' SHARE IT EQUITABLY :o_o: \_/ \_/ "-"

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Careers in FLOSS... (Dec 2003 issue of LFY)
by Frederick Noronha (FN) 06 Jun '24

06 Jun '24

=========================================== LINUXForYou * Dec 2003 (Vol 1 No 10) In India Rs 50 (with CD) http://www.linuxforu.com Pages 102 * US$7.95 0 74470584957 =========================================== THIS ISSUE has probably reached your city. Saw it in Bangalore, and also got a complimentary copy from the LFY team at LinuxBangalore2003. But when I reached back to Goa on Dec 4, it wasn't in as yet. So it might take time to reach 'small town' India... FN REVIEWED: Mandrake 9.2 * PhProjekt * StarOffice 7.0 COMPUTERS AT TIS HAZARI, the session courts for the city of New Delhi, are being shifted over to Linux, courtesy the National Informatics Centre. - Rahul Chopra in this month's editorial. LINUX LEARNING CENTRE at Bangalore is offering courses in administration, security, development (internals and programming essentials, programming with Qt, device driver programming, MySQL & PHP), RHCE and Red Hat rapid track certification. www.linuxlearningcentre.com DotGNU RELEASES CD: It can now be used to implement application programs and Web services in C# and C applications under multiple operating systems, including GNU/Linux, FreeBSC, MacOS, MS Windows. The 219 MB release 0.1 CD is available as a free download at http://download.freedom.biz/dotgnu/dotgnu-0.1-cdrom.iso.gz.torrent e-Bridge calls itself "the new state-of-art training facility from eSpark Infotech is now open in the heart of Bangalore". It's offering embedded Linux courses (Linux fundamentals, programming Linux, embedded C & Linux, realtime C & Linux, Linux internals, device drivers, networking) and DSP courses (DSP fundamentals, TI/analog dev programming, audio/video, image processing, bio-medical systems). www.ebridgesolutions.net Linux.net provides a free e-mail service to those who want an e-mail address that ends in '@linux.net' MAJOR UPDATES and releases: OpenNA Linux 1.0, Gibraltar Firewall 1.0, Xandros Desktop 2.0, Onebase Linux 2.0, CUPS 1.120rc6. CAN YOU MAKE money with open source? Registration entails a "nominal fee" of Rs 5000 for a three-day conference. http://www.linuxasia2004.com/attendees/ February 11-13, 2004, New Delhi. SEND IN YOUR favourite slogans for a tee-shirt, and win five free copies of the shirt... LFYedit at efyindia.com MONEY CAN't buy respect, says Robert Adkins. Some of us might have met this guy at LB2003 in Bangalore. He's the CTO of Technetra Corp, and an advocate and implementer of FLOSS solutions for government. He can be contacted at radkins at technetra.com CAREERS WITH FLOSS: The number of students opting for courses in Open Source is growing steadily, even as industry experts predict a growing need for trained professionals in this expanding field. EXIT RED HAT, ENTER FEDORA: It's official now; the free (of cost) version of Red Hat Linux will not be available anymore. This has created a lot of FUD in an already unstable environment, thanks to the SCO episode. But is Red Hat closed for good? WEB-BASED COLLABORATION SOFTWARE: PHProjekt is an easy-to-install collaboration suite, which runs on the open source platform and databases. As the design of the system is developer-friendly, adding new features and components is a piece of cake. STAROFFICE: The latest version of Sun's office suite, StarOffice 7, may just be the right solution for the cost-conscious user. It loads faster than the earlier version, and sports some noticeable improvements. IN THE LFY CD THIS MONTH: Slackware (the "oldest Linux distro") and a range of GNU software for Windows users. FALLING BACK on backup systems. MAKING ADOPTION OF Linux in the enterprise easy. www.linux4e.com Business partners required: http://wwww.linux4e.com/partners ooWRITER HELPS YOU create your own templates and styles so that you can work with documents easily. Open Source is key to IBM's vision of computing. User empowerment is key to Microsoft's, writes Alolita Sharma USING DATABASE functions in Calc, a tutorial. (Wish there were more how-tos for the user in this mag! --FN) HALDIA DOCKS: it has a uniquely designed Linux installation with an active-active cluster set up, which is considered the best of its kind. This has ensured efficiency and cost-effectiveness. BASIC UNIX commands and concepts: an extract from *Running Linux* (Shroff Publishers, Pp 674 only Rs 425 in India). VxWorks and LynxOS are definitely the biggest embedded operating systems in use today. But slowly they are acknowledging the power of GNU/Linux and how it can help them maximise deployments. HELP LINUX GO INDIAN: By using various translation tools, you can join Language translation groups working across India to help translate GNU/Linux into your language. EXPERT INTRODUCTION: Multi-threaded programming under Linux. KICKSTART YOUR Linux installation (Part I): Installing Red Hat Linux on multiple machines one after another can be quite tedious. To avoid answering the same question over and over again, try the KickStart method, as it does not need any user intervention. WRITE CHEQUES. NOT JUST BOOKS: Niyam Bhushan on how anybody can turn thoughts into words, and words into wealth. NFS CLIENTS for Windows. OpenSSL PACKAGE offers a vast crypto library of algorithms WAIT QUEUES in Linux device drivers UNDERSTANDING recursive sub-routines INDIA-RELATED NEWS: HP launches GNU/Linux laptop Mandrake's latest distribution Oracle announces 10g for GNU/Linux Delixus offers India Linux CxProtect anti-virus mailing solution for mail-servers Trade management system from Network Programs Netweb Technologies unveils Tyrone MRO-Tek rolls out Network Management Systems Review of FLOSS at BangaloreIT.com =========================================== DISCLOSURE: This journalist (FN) writes a monthly column for LFY and gets paid for it. Promoting awareness about the content of LFY however is not part of the job, and is carried on with the intention spreading awareness about FLOSS among different GNU/Linux user groups in India. -- Frederick Noronha : http://www.fredericknoronha.net : When we speak of free Freelance Journalist : http://www.bytesforall.org : software we refer to Ph 0091.832.2409490 : Cell 0 9822 122436 : freedom, not price.

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Kerala school training material
by Raj Mathur 14 Oct '09

14 Oct '09

Hi, Can someone point me to a comprehensive collection of materials used for training in Free Software in schools in Kerala? Any and all of these would be appreciated: - Teachers' training material - Teachers' training curricula and time frames - Ditto for the Train the Trainers programme - School curricula on and using FS - Accompanying textbooks, training guides, etc. Anything else that is available apart from this would be great. Thanks, -- Raju -- Raj Mathur raju(a)kandalaya.org http://kandalaya.org/ GPG: 78D4 FC67 367F 40E2 0DD5 0FEF C968 D0EF CC68 D17F PsyTrance & Chill: http://schizoid.in/ || It is the mind that moves

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Hyderabad based NGO needs help
by Arky 29 Aug '09

29 Aug '09

Hi, Hyderabad based NGO Devnar Foundation would like to try free software. Can anyone in Hyderabad help this organsation adopt gnu/Linux. You can contact Eric Ofori (Intern) #040-27536600 Cheers --arky Rakesh 'arky' Ambati| IT Consultant| http://www.braillewithoutborders..org | Blog: http://playingwithsid.blogspot.com Love Cricket? Check out live scores, photos, video highlights and more. Click here http://cricket.yahoo.com

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GNU/Linux Preloaded Laptops to Kerala MLAs
by Anivar Aravind 27 Aug '09

27 Aug '09

http://anivar.movingrepublic.org/2009/gnulinuxlaptops-to-kerala-mla Kerala NiyamaSabha Website published Tender for Purchasing GNU/Linux Preloaded Laptops to 141 Members of Kerala Legislative assembly The Tender Demands Ubuntu 9.04 Preloaded & Ubuntu compatible / Certified Laptops as Requirements We Must Congratulate TD Kuriachan, Network Administrator, Kerala Legislative Assembly IT Section (cc'd) for Making it as a Free Software Preloaded Purchase. Anivar Aravind -- "The resources of the world are for us all to share. Let us affirm our faith in that common cause" - Dr. Ilina Sen

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[X-Post][Commercial] Job Posting for FOSS Project at IITB
by punchagan 27 Aug '09

27 Aug '09

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Kadambari Devarajan <kadambari.devarajan(a)gmail.com> Subject: [X-Post][Commercial] Job Posting for FOSS Project at IITB Hello, Project positions are open at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) for a new government funded project on adoption of Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) in science and engineering education in India. For details regarding the project, visit : http://fossee.in/ For details regarding applying, please refer the following advertisement / job posting : http://www.ircc.iitb.ac.in/IRCC-Webpage/RecruitmentGenerateAdvertisement.js… (Refer the section under Aerospace Engineering in the advertisement link for the project "Assimilation of Open Source Software in Science and Engineering Education" with code "P(06-1)") Interested candidates should fill and submit the application forms provided here: http://www.ircc.iitb.ac.in/IRCC-Webpage/PDF/Application_online.pdf The last date for receipt of applications is August 31st, 2009. Interested candidates may send in their filled applications by email to : recruit(a)ircc.iitb.ac.in explicitly mentioning the job code.It is mandatory to also send the filled application forms by postal mail to the address mentioned in the advertisement. The email submission is simply to accelerate the process of evaluation since we are close to the deadline. Regards, Kadambari Devarajan, Research Assistant, IITB. -- Puneeth Chaganti

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Fwd: [FSF] Free Software Foundation launches public awareness campaign against Microsoft and proprietary software
by Nagarjuna G. 26 Aug '09

26 Aug '09

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: <peterb(a)fsf.org> Date: Wed, Aug 26, 2009 at 12:38 PM Subject: [FSF] Free Software Foundation launches public awareness campaign against Microsoft and proprietary software To: info-press(a)gnu.org, info-member(a)fsf.org, info-fsf(a)gnu.org Windows 7 Sins: Free Software Foundation launches public awareness campaign against Microsoft and proprietary software BOSTON, Massachusetts, USA -- Wednesday, August 26th, 2009 -- The Free Software Foundation (FSF) today launched its "Windows 7 Sins" campaign at http://windows7sins.org, making the case against Microsoft and proprietary software. Preceding the upcoming release of Microsoft Windows 7, the campaign's first public action will also be today -- a freedom rally at 12:00pm on the historic Boston Common. The campaign outlines seven major areas where proprietary software in general and Microsoft Windows in particular hurt all computer users: invading privacy, poisoning education, locking users in, abusing standards, leveraging monopolistic behavior, enforcing Digital Restrictions Management (DRM), and threatening user security. These points are outlined in the text of a letter the campaign mailed to the leaders of the Fortune 500 companies, now published on its Web site. The letter warns "Windows 7 decision makers" about the "lack of privacy, freedom, and security" they will suffer should they adopt Windows 7, and makes the case that they should instead adopt free software such as the GNU/Linux operating system and the office productivity suite OpenOffice.org. FSF executive director Peter Brown said, "Free software is about freedom, not price. Our growing dependence on computers and software requires our society to reevaluate its obsession with proprietary software that spies on citizens' activities and limits their freedom to be in control of their computing. There is free software available right now for any activity you or your business needs, and it is better in the most important aspect -- it respects your freedom." The FSF is asking concerned citizens to help get this message out by nominating other organizational leaders who are also "Windows 7 decision makers" to receive a version of the letter. Brown continued, "Many people are frustrated by the organizations they interact with and their support for a software industry that works against the freedom of citizens. Our national and local governments, NGOs, and our universities and schools that use proprietary software are undertaking bad public policy, often through ignorance or misplaced values. We hope to alert these decision makers to the positive contribution they can make to society by switching their organizations to free software." FSF campaigns manager Matt Lee added, "With |windows7sins.org|, we hope to make businesses and computer users aware of the growing dangers of proprietary software from both Microsoft and other companies such as Apple and Adobe. With the release of Microsoft's updated operating system, business leaders have the opportunity to escape to freedom and join a growing list of leaders who understand that sinking money and time into proprietary software is a dead-end inconsistent with their best interests." More information about the campaign, including the text of the Fortune 500 letter and a mailing list that will provide subscribers with information updates and action alerts, is online at http://windows7sins.org. About the Free Software Foundation The Free Software Foundation, founded in 1985, is dedicated to promoting computer users' right to use, study, copy, modify, and redistribute computer programs. The FSF promotes the development and use of free (as in freedom) software -- particularly the GNU operating system and its GNU/Linux variants -- and free documentation for free software. The FSF also helps to spread awareness of the ethical and political issues of freedom in the use of software, and its Web sites, located at fsf.org and gnu.org, are an important source of information about GNU/Linux. Donations to support the FSF's work can be made at http://donate.fsf.org. Its headquarters are in Boston, MA, USA. About Free Software and Open Source The free software movement's goal is freedom for computer users. Some, especially corporations, advocate a different viewpoint, known as "open source," which cites only practical goals such as making software powerful and reliable, focuses on development models, and avoids discussion of ethics and freedom. These two viewpoints are different at the deepest level. For more explanation, see http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html. Media Contacts Matt Lee Campaigns Manager Free Software Foundation +1 (617) 542 5942 x24 campaigns(a)fsf.org <mailto:campaigns@fsf.org> Peter Brown Executive Director Free Software Foundation +1 (617) 542 5942 campaigns(a)fsf.org <mailto:campaigns@fsf.org> info-fsf mailing list info-fsf(a)gnu.org Unsubscribe: http://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/info-fsf -- Nagarjuna G. http://www.gnowledge.org/

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Windows 7 Sins: Can FSF India take this up?
by justin joseph 26 Aug '09

26 Aug '09

Can FSFIndia take the initiative and mail the letter to companies in India. Also please mail it to the PSU's. http://windows7sins.org/letter/

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[Fwd: [FSF] Launching the Windows7sins Campaign - Join us Wednesday in Boston]
by V. Sasi Kumar 23 Aug '09

23 Aug '09

An interesting campaign. Maybe we could think of something similar for another day, say the Software Freedom Day? Best Sasi -------- Forwarded Message -------- From: Peter Brown <peterb(a)fsf.org> To: info-member(a)fsf.org, info-fsf(a)gnu.org Subject: [FSF] Launching the Windows7sins Campaign - Join us Wednesday in Boston Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 10:28:42 -0400 Hi everyone, This Wednesday, August 26 at 11am, the Free Software Foundation will be launching its Windows7sins.org public awareness campaign, drawing attention to the threats posed by the adoption of Microsoft's proprietary operating system. We have a launch event here in Boston on the Boston Commons from noon until 3pm, and we need everyone in the area to come along and help out and join in the ceremony as we conduct a ceremonial trashing of proprietary software. **We'll be launching our Windows 7 campaign with pomp and fanfare, with a giant 12 foot trashcan being filled with boxes of proprietary software.** The event promises to be lots of fun, and with thousands of people passing through the Boston Commons every day we hope you will help us connect with the public by handing out information and explaining the benefits of free software. There will be camera crews and photographers capturing the event and we will be getting these images up online as soon as possible on the day. Let us know you're coming and bring along your friends and work colleagues - mail campaigns(a)fsf.org if you have time to help us set up, or just turn up at the Boston Commons near the entrance to the Public Gardens from noon. If you're not in the Boston area, there will be plenty for you to do to help us launch the campaign and get the message out. Stay tuned for upcoming instructions... Thanks for your support! -- V. Sasi Kumar Free Software Foundation of India Please visit http://swatantryam.blogspot.com

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FSMK- newsletter3 -editorial.
by naveen mudunuru 21 Aug '09

21 Aug '09

In this edition we choose to write about an important topic concerning each citizen of India. Let us start this with a simple question. Why do we endorse free software? Free software is 'freedom' software. The user has the full freedom to understand the software (by analyzing the source code), has complete freedom to upgrade or customize according to his need, and can also fix the bugs without any dependency. So freedom to understand a piece of source code is very crucial as far as an individual is concerned. *We know this, then why are we reiterating this basic question?* The union budget '09 proposed to provide a Unique Identifier (UID) number to each citizen in this country. It is argued that this UID number would help the Government in identifying targeted beneficiaries for various welfare schemes. Various departments based on their needs, would be using this number. Going forward, this UID number would avert the need for multiple proof of identity for citizens like, ration card, electoral card, pan card, etc.(Apart from availing Government services, it would be used for private needs also, such as opening bank accounts or seeking telephone connections). Hence no doubt, the role of this number is very crucial. Taking all these arguments into consideration, the implementation of this project has to take place with utmost care as it carries a very important projected role as far as society's progress, justice and welfare is concerned. Another important aspect is security. The UID database hold very crucial information and is very much important as far as National Security is concerned. Virtually this UID Database holds the key for all kinds ofinformation. Considering the global and national scenarios, this project is of prime importance. The project is very huge. Initial budget estimation is of Rs 120 crores. And for sure it would be revised multiple times before implementation (and can end up 3 to 5 times above budget estimation considering our practical experiences from the industry.) Any one can oversee the complexity of the work which includes construction of a new online database with identity and biometric details of each citizen of India. We feel this includes development of sophisticated applications which may include many tiers, huge databases, different types of reports, packages etc. It may also include interaction with different existing systems, and migration of data from those system. *So, what has happened? * Well, some disturbing news is heard. “*Microsoft is keen to partner in this project.” *We have serious reservations on the involvement of Microsoft in this crucial project. Freedom is each individual's fundamental right. He cannot allow infiltration to his privacy or dictating terms to him. What about a society? A society can be termed as progressive only when each individual's right and freedom is protected. This is exactly the State's role. It should ensure the freedom and well being of each of its citizens. Microsoft is notorious on denial of the freedom (in digital world). Restricting access to source code and not allowing modifications from users is denial of his fundamental right - freedom to know – which is the corner stone of any society's progress. Denial of freedom to know (for a user and in this context the user is Indian government) gives freedom for Proprietary Software companies to infiltrate his(user's) privacy. The sheer number of anti- rust suits against Microsoft and other Proprietary Software makers is a testimony to the monopolistic tendencies of corporates and their utter disregard to the laws of the land, in pursuit of making money by hook or crook. In one of those cases, Microsoft argued that it cannot continue revealing further information to the judge, as the information is closely related to US national security. In short Microsoft is bound by the US Laws and is having strong strategic alliance with US Government, obviously this is in conflict with our national interest as USA can use this alliance for achieving any objectives they wanted (they have also announced Cyber warfare NSPD 16 for crippling any networks across the world, which makes the whole scenario more complicated). All these facts suggests an impending danger is looming on the sovereignty of India if we allow Microsoft in implementing this project. Just imagine how terrible it will be if the presence of malicious code or bugs in Microsoft's proprietary closed source crashes or corrupts the database, where future ofmillions depends. The source code of a project which is having tremendous importance to India, should be owned solely by the Govt. of India and not by Microsoft or any other corporates. A software can be termed as secure only if the freedom to examine or modify the code lies with its user, in this case Govt. of India. As per IT Act 2000, public systems cannot have malicious code inside. IT Act further says, public systems should not cause leakage of sensitive information relating to "privileges of parliament, trade, or other sensitive information". This can only be ensured if public systems are only on Free Software. Besides this, what if Microsoft resorts to steal the most vital and crucial information (as Satyam computers did to World-bank) and thereby destabilizing the country as part of USA's global imperial agenda? It is unimaginable. Another classic example is the case of Venezuela’s state-owned oil company PDVSA, which demonstrated how Proprietary Software is a threat to the sovereignty of a country. ( http://news.northxsouth.com/2008/11/18/protecting-sovereignty-with-free-sof… idea-and-the-duty-of-governmentssays- stallman/). Apart from the security concerns shared above, we identify Microsoft's attempt as a crooked one! Microsoft sees the huge benefits it could accomplish by involving in this project. Huge budget involvement, support work (in software industry, majority of revenue is churned from the support work, and one can not deny the possibility of introducing bugs in the software for getting the support work!), upgradation work, backward entry to National E-commerce project implementations, increased market penetration and forcing of the implementation of IPR and copy right laws by close association with the policy makers etc are few of the advantages they could easily get! Adding to above, storage, distribution and display formats of this crucial data is very important. Openness andInteroperability are two vital and basic requirements for any standard. It is often correctly noted that the closed standards would drive one in to the folds of proprietaryrealm and thereby much serious patent complications. We must ensure that vital data of this stature is stored in formats that are open and free of all constraints like royalties, patent claims etc and there by should not allow to be controlled by anyone. Incidentally,this is also time where India's Draft Policy on Open Standards close to finalization, and in a surprise move, Nasscom – a representing body of the industry and MAIT recommended inclusion of standards under RAND terms and the usage of multiple standards in the same domain. Both of these recommendations have serious implications as far as India's interest is concerned. Issues of interoperability (between different standards), complications (on adhering to multiple standards) and high cost (of proprietary standards and bringing one in to the fold of patent issues) are few of the major issues. We suspect Microsoft's role and motivation on Nasscom and MAIT's recommendation. Another disturbing fact is Nandan Nilakeni whom our union ministry entrusted to implement this crucial project. This project can be handled easily by any senior administrative officer who is having prior experience of implementing complexecommerce applications. He could be biased as his previous company shares, business interest with Microsoft and also they voted for OOXML, much against national interest. Considering his links and role he played in Infosys, the possibility of Infosys being promoted cannot be overruled (and obviously going with the proprietary realm). All indications are that Microsoft is directing heavy lobbying in India for accomplishing its vested interests. Different studies have shown the superiority of Free Software when compared with Proprietary Software. Robert Francis Group (IBM-sponsored research) found securitylevels in GNU/Linux generally exceeded those in Windows, providing a more secure and manageable environment out of the box with significantly more functionality in terms of security integration and management. The Linux kernel programming code is better and more secure than the programming code of most Proprietary Software - based on a four-year analysis of the 5.7 million lines of Linux kernal source code conducted by five Stanford University researchers. So we should use only Free Software for the implementation of this crucial project. It is the only way for developing a superior implementation, in a very economical way which is important for a country like India where majority of population is in poverty and destitution. We are afraid that this project may lead to giving pathway for the Proprietary Software companies and their products to the ecommerce projects, which is against National interest in different ways – Huge economic loss for the national exchequer, inferior quality products, with future liabilities and the most important one - invoking gross vulnerability to National Security and stability. This needed to be countered at any cost. State should have control on the software products it purchases or develops. We cannot allow these proprietary s/w companies to loot public money for inferior quality products and allowing them to infiltrate in to the freedom of our fellow citizens. We appeal our readers to raise your voice against the infiltration attempts of Microsoft(and other companies who endorse proprietary realm in software industry) and to endorse Free Software for keeping nation's interest forefront. “*The most unfortunate thing is that India still* *seems to believe in proprietary solutions”* Dr.A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Former President of India, May 28, 2003 For Other Articles in the new letter. Click on the link http://fsmk.org/node/41 -- regards naveen Be Free, Speak Free, Work Free. Advocate "FREE SOFTWARE", FREE as in FREE SPEECH, not as in FREE BEER

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Fwd: [Fsmk-discuss] FSMK Newsletter Volume3
by Vikram Vincent 20 Aug '09

20 Aug '09

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Rameez Thonnakkal <ssrameez(a)gmail.com> Date: 2009/8/19 Subject: [Fsmk-discuss] FSMK Newsletter Volume3 To: Dear Friend, FSMK Newsletter Volume3 <http://fsmk.org/node/41> We are proud to say this because of the responses and encouragement you gave us. This time also there are enough and more reasons to read the complete news letter in single attempt. We are raising some serious issues in the Indian context through the Editorial. Dr. Sabyasachi Chatterjee is talking about patent issues. Ranjan an FSMK activist is talking about the free-software Philosophy. Mayank, Rahul and Praveen have come up with some Technical articles. Many items on News section from the free-software world. Still we are expecting the critical comments from you to make this venture a success. Regards, FSMK EB Team. _______________________________________________ fsmk-discuss mailing list fsmk-discuss(a)lists.fsmk.in http://lists.fsmk.in/listinfo.cgi/fsmk-discuss-fsmk.in -- Vikram Vincent +919448810822 http://swatantra.org/ http://fsmk.org/

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Maharastra signs MoU with M$
by Nagarjuna G. 19 Aug '09

19 Aug '09

Alert! let us send a strong letter to the ministers, education dept. as soon as possible. Check out several stories that appeared in all news papers. I have read on page3 in DNA. http://ur1.ca/9n8q -- Nagarjuna G.

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FSMK- news letter 3
by naveen mudunuru 19 Aug '09

19 Aug '09

Dear Friend, FSMK releasing its third consecutive news letter. We are proud to say this because of the responses and encouragement you gave us. This time also there are enough and more reasons to read the complete news letter in single attempt. We are raising some serious issues in the Indian context through the Editorial. Dr. Sabyasachi Chatterjee is talking about patent issues. Ranjan an FSMK activist is talking about the free-software Philosophy. Mayank, Rahul and Praveen have come up with some Technical articles. Many items on News section from the free-software world. Still we are expecting the critical comments from you to make this venture a success. Regards, FSMK EB Team. -- regards naveen Be Free, Speak Free, Work Free. Advocate "FREE SOFTWARE", FREE as in FREE SPEECH, not as in FREE BEER

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Fwd: [gnu-prog-discuss] GNU Generation
by Nagarjuna G. 18 Aug '09

18 Aug '09

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Matt Lee <mattl(a)gnu.org> Date: Tue, Aug 18, 2009 at 7:59 PM Subject: [gnu-prog-discuss] GNU Generation To: gnu-prog-discuss(a)gnu.org GNU Generation is a program by the FSF to involve young people (approx. aged 13-18) in free software. It is provided as a service to projects to find new young contributors, and to students to get interested in free software and start contributing to projects. Developers can create tasks, or projects, for students to complete on the GNU Generation page (http://fsf.org/gnugeneration). These projects can be incredibly specific, giving instruction on exactly what is to be completed, or more broad, offering only some general information about the task and how to get started. The goal for GNU Generation is for these students to become regular contributors to your project. There are a wide range of talents in the GNU Generation program already. Projects can include coding of any difficulty, from simple scripting to advanced C. They can include art, documentation, translation or other areas as well. Projects can even be solely advocacy; it is completely up to whoever creates them. If you do not have any specific ideas for projects, but would prefer to have students think of their own projects related to your application, you can leave your contact information and an overview of your free software application under the "Project specific" section of the brainstorming page on the site (http://groups.fsf.org/wiki/Group:GNU_Generation/Project_brainstorming). Chances are few participants will take the time to look into your project more deeply, but this will at least provide them with a place to start if they already use and love your application. If you have any ideas unrelated to a specific free software application, you can feel free to add them to the top part of this page as well. There is no guarantee that any particular project will be taken, though either way, projects represented here will definitely gain more exposure to participants. If you are interested, please see the website (http://www.fsf.org/gnugeneration) for more information on how GNU Generation can help students while helping your free software project. -- Nagarjuna G. http://www.gnowledge.org/

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Re: [Fsf-friends] Fwd: [en] Caracas Declaration
by Juan Carlos Gentile Fagundez 07 Aug '09

07 Aug '09

Helo I think this is better to go public, since i'm answering to you and forwarding some the persons that also were in the original mail. On Friday 07 August 2009 07:27:13 am you wrote: >Hi > >My name is Senthil and I volunteer for fsmk.org. This is just a question > out of curiosity. Nice to meet you and to try to satisfy your curiosity (I'll add at the bottom the original mail i answered to Nagarjuna, since that is also an important topic. Also I have a curiosity , do you work for cisco? hmm. > >I was interested in the tensions between Marxist groups in Venzuela and > free software. here i have a second curiosity. Is that what you think in India? Can you give me some information? This is the first time i hear something like that. And in my personal experience working as adviser in pdvsa for the migration, I have the oposite experience. Are normally the right wing persons that are going against the movement. Do you know president Chavez? He is left. He did the decree 3390. Did you know that? Maybe you are lacking of information. Do you know president Rafael Correa from Ecuador? Well that is also the left wing and he is absolutely commited with free software. Do you know also Fernando Lugo from Paraguay? He is also from the left wing, and also commited with free software. In my personal experience the groups stopping the real thing are the right wing groups. Let me explain something. Who knows about free software in Venezuela is mainly a rich person, to know something about fs you need to have networking and so on specially in this countries. Then before Chavez who had network was what today is 'opposition'. In fact this right wing persons don't like too much that was Chavez from left wing that really took care of Free Software. Then this kind of community don't want to spread knowledge to the poors (the poors normally are left wing - at least in this countries :) In fact they try to keep the important positions also in the government being deeply inside oposition, then doing nasty things. Many ministeries bought oracle, cisco and so on. That is very bad. > >Do the Marxist groups really contribute to free software and have they > adopted strong positions. Do they really help the free software movement. Lets say the right wing groups had damage a lot and continue doing this. Read my answer to nagarjuna asking him a very important thing for us. TO PUT ATTENTION TO WHAT HE IS DOING SPEAKING. > >We see a lot of tension in India between these groups and was wondering if > there is a pattern in the way these things work worldwide. Maybe the patern is the one of fight for freedom and equality between humans. At least that is are the left groups from the south. I hope to have answered to you, because this is the first time i've seen a question like that -> l " was interested in the tensions between Marxist groups in Venzuela and free software". Please send me information since if this is what arrives to India as new, many things are wrong. There will be some part some cracking to the information. warm regards juan > >Thanks >senthil ---------------- my answer to nagarjuna before --------------------- Dear Nagarjuna, you are missing the point forwarding this 'noisy declaration' This declaration was signed where? by 5 6 man? what is that?, the comunities in south-america are only this ammount of persons? hmmm Remember, South-America where you've been once or twice, is far from India, they dont speak english. You remember me when I try to understand malayalam. I can not. Will be better to be very informed how are things in the south. I put in cc some man that i think you should meet, or not depending if you want or not to understand how things are. Martin Olivera -> president of solar.org.ar Free Software Association of Argentina Diego Saravia -> author of ututo, the most important project on free software in South- America. He also gave to rms a honoris causa by the salta university. Also Diego has been one of the creators of solar itself, and more, also helped create ASLE , the ecuatorian Free Software Asociation, and also SOLVE in venezuela. AS you see, he was one of the creators of the 80 per cent of the Free Software Associations and also the important ones (of course Brasil is not there). Rafael Bonifaz -> worked for the Ecuatorian Government very commited with free software, one of the creators of ASLE. Then I think will be interesting to talk to the communities thanks very much regards juan -- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gutta cavat lapidem --------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.hipatia.net - http://aty.hipatia.net - http://guri.c-o-d-e-x.net Italia - tel: +39 3929657778 +39 3384192487 - India - +91 9633621956 jabber: jucar(a)hipatia.net -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fingerprint: 7464 DDDE 9D5D 3B6C CBF9 7699 A021 CE74 EA7A D95A Public key 0xEA7AD95A at http://pgp.mit.edu

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site inspired on Sasi's article
by Juan Carlos Gentile Fagundez 07 Aug '09

07 Aug '09

I'll really like to say thanks to Sasi Kumar, who inspired us to do a website to start collectivelly writing the history of free software free knowledge in south-america (to start). There is also the translation of Sasi's article to spanish. We started it 2 days ago. http://marroncito.hipatia.net marroncito means brown. In this site we aim to put all the things we remember from history, the good ones and the bad ones. thanks Sasi again juan -- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gutta cavat lapidem --------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.hipatia.net - http://aty.hipatia.net - http://guri.c-o-d-e-x.net Italia - tel: +39 3929657778 +39 3384192487 - India - +91 9633621956 jabber: jucar(a)hipatia.net -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fingerprint: 7464 DDDE 9D5D 3B6C CBF9 7699 A021 CE74 EA7A D95A Public key 0xEA7AD95A at http://pgp.mit.edu

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Fwd: [en] Caracas Declaration
by Nagarjuna G. 07 Aug '09

07 Aug '09

-- Nagarjuna G. gnowledge lab, HBCSE, TIFR. India.

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Fsf-friends August 2009