Category: Uncategorized

Maddog was the last and I was so glad to meet him. I’ve been missing him at several conferences, and we had a great chat about all things 🙂 Many people are worried about the patents issues, and frankly I’m worried too. We seriously need to make sure there is sufficient information out so that the US-AUS FTA doesn’t pass in government. We will be in so much trouble, as will Australian industry if it does. I think the problem is one that will come up inevitably anyway, but the FTA compounds the matter.

Maureen O’Sullivan has come up with some interesting thoughts. That authors of software should be protected against litigation of unknowledgable infringement of copyright or patents, and that free software should not be subject to software methodology patents, as it is in the best publics interest. An interesting argument, akin to the council being able to put a highway thought your garden if it is in the best interests of the public. Ownership not being total 🙂

Going to Sao Paulo now, to give another talk. Am quite happy with how everything has gone, and will blog in a few days of everything. Simply no time!

Bdale has said he’ll come to the wedding in November if it is middle to late november 😀 YAY!

I have to say, that I was not so impressed with Lessigs talk, it lacked any real substance, although I understand he only just got there before his talk. Maureen however, had a legal talk that rocked everyones world 🙂

ROOOOOCCCKKK!!!!!

OK, so I have been at the conferences in Brazil for 6 days now. I managed to catch the last few days of DebConf, which was awesome. Saw some talks, met the SSDP (Super Secret Debian Project) crew and lots of people I have so much respect and admiration for, some I had known online before and many kewl dudes I had not 🙂 I met up with Mako, Enrico, Thom (!), Martin, and my elected mentor, Bdale, who still rocks and inspires me. I also met up with some of the SkoleLinux guys, (playing ‘Liar’, a card game till 5 in the morning), and some more of Jeffs work mates, who were a great group and a lot of fun! I’ve had a Brazilian BBQ, pizza (they bring you slices of everything imaginable, including banana! Sweet!)

I learnt 3 new card games, including one I’m sure if I speak about it, the mafia or someone will be after me. I keep expecting to get in trouble now, so thankyou to that group of people for my induced paranoia. Whoops! Speaking! 😉

I met two awesome people, Lalo and Mai. They are an interesting pair, who used to be married. Mai has shown us so much kewl stuff of Brazil, of its people and night life. She is such a giving person, and we certainly owe her for showing us all a good time! 😀

There were some amazing women there too which was pretty kewl. Erinn Clark – a debian chick, Bielle – an anthropologist, Mika – interested in Medical and software patents, & Maureen O’Sullivan who is staying in my hotel (and is a crazy fun Irish woman, she rocks 😉 As well of course as the many Brazilian women. A big part of this years FISL was a women in free software track, organised in large part by Fernanda and Loimar. The track has been successful so far, but the welcome and warmth of these women, coupled with their excitement to see people like Erinn, Amia (sp?), Maureen, and myself around has been amazing. I have had so many pictures taken it is unbelievable. It is awesome to think I am helping these people, a little scary in part, but wonderful to be part of a happening and positive movement.

I truly believe we in Australia have a lot to learn from these people. They are so open and warm, so interested in their rights both politically and socially, so proud of their heritage and culture.

Sorry, this is a long blog, but so much is happening! So come FISL, and so much to do! I saw Enrico, Mako, Bdale, and a few other talks today, I spoke yesterday to over 300 people, who loved the talk (phew), and I’ve met Sulamita and Joice which is great 🙂 I’ve met some big names like Maureen, George Greve, Sergio Armedeus (amazing man!), Marcelo Branco, Larry Lessig (almost), & Maddog (finally! we kept missing each other at conferences, he is just as kewl as I thought ). It has been a great day!

To finish today off, we all went to a concert by Gilberto Bil, the Minister of Culture here is Brazil. He is so good, and the music is great. He also spoke today on Free Software, and the man really knows his stuff. Maureen is in heaven 😉

Well, my first day anyway 🙂 Debconf has been going for several days now. Caught up with several people, and met Erinn Clark, who is pretty kewl. She’s doing a talk on Women in Debian which should be interesting, and I spoke to her about GNURIAS and LinuxChix. Who knows, maybe we’ll start something really positive 🙂
Saw an rocking talk by Mako and Enrico, it was AWESOME, all about how how to take over the world using Custom Debian Distributions 🙂 Enrico is such an active speaker, a funny dude 🙂 More to come…

So after almost 22 hours travelling I arrive in Porte Alegre, almost miss my lift with Fernanda as I don´t see her, and then make our way to my hotel. I can honestly say I already love the place! The myth about meals being huge is all true! Massive 1 person meal, enough to feed me three times 🙂 I´m going partying tonight with Fernanda, and apparently all the Debconf gang, should be fun. My talk is in a few days so I have time to make it rock, I am looking forward to this heaps!

I have forgotten to mention I am attending this years International Free Software Conference in Brazil. I was invited there last year, but unforseen cirsumstances (ie – hospitalisation) stopped me going. It also stopped me meeting the President of China, Hu Jintao. I was not a happy pipka at the time 🙁

Anyway, I was reinvited this year, and will be speaking about how the culture is inclusive to all peoples, and has a low barrier to entry making it a wonderful diverse place of opportunity. I’ll be throwing in some observations about code Vs culture in Open Source, and why both need to be adapted for full benefits. A Brazilian friend of mine, Cesar suggested the name “Is Free Software a Macho Man thing” and I thought that was pretty kewl 🙂 I owe several Brazilians Aussie wine and beer, customs are going to love me 🙂

I’ll be dropping in on Debconf for at least a little while, so I’ll probably have to take more alcohol for that 🙂 It will be kewl to catch up with some wonderful people I’ve met both online and offline, as well as many of Jeff’s workmates, all of whom knew about the engagement before me 😛 Particularly looking forward to meeting Sulamita, Cesar, Mako, Martin (& all the Debian crew!), Bdale if he comes, and of course Marcelo.

I’m hoping to drink lots with Marcelo!, the Brazilian LPI contact, who is one of the funniest people I’ve met in ages. He introduced me to some Brazilian fruits while we were in Geneva, and I’m keen to further sample the many spirits they have 😉 The entire LPI group that worked together in Geneva were wonderful, and it was a priviledge and pleasure to meet every one of them.

ROCK ON!!! Excited Pipka! 😀

OK, normally I don’t reblog within a few minutes, however many thanks to Matt who took this wonderful photo of me consuming half a cow. The LUV gang rock! 🙂 Even the funny looking ones…

“They (american military) have their ways, but if you had your way, Saddam would still be in power!”. That petulant tone, defiant in the face of such human atrocities is almost too pathetic. Why even start to defend it? I realised today while listening to Alexander Downers latest blunder that he was very much like Squealer from Animal farm. He comes out whenever there is some sort of ‘foreign’ issue and tries to instill calm, and confidence while completely overlooking the issue at hand. He tries to strip anyone who speaks out of any dignity so their message is lost. Another example is the Australian woman who was taken hostage for 20 hours in Iraq. I read her statement and there was serious concerns raised about US military shooting at the medics trying to get aid to Iraqi civilians, and stories of first hand seeing civilians gunned down systematically by the ‘coalition of the willing’, the wonderful ‘liberators’ as they call themselves. Downer said ‘well I’m not saying she’s lying, however anyone under those circumstances would normally go to the consulate’. Talk about neutralising the issue! Make her out to be a liar and get onto the next inconvenience. Like an adept magician he distracts your attention just long enough for the concern at hand to disappear into the hat.

“Squealer was soon able to convince them that their memories had been at fault” – Animal Farm. We don’t want Farmer Jones back now do we? Rock on to Brian Deegan, the father of a Bali victim who isrunning against Downer in the Mayo electorate!

On the below note, I read an article comparing Jessica Lynch and Lynndie England. The England girl case disturbs me. The fact that she was there in photos looking coldly or with ridicule at the Iraqi prisoners, actively participating in their abuse is one big issue, but the fact that her family are vehenemently defending her saying she was in “the wrong place at the wrong time”, and that she was such a ‘good girl’ is ridiculous! They believe she couldn’t possibly be guilty of such cruelty, and little hometown stories are flying around about the girl who wouldn’t even shoot an animal. This is called propaganda in most countries. Fact is that what is happening is atrocious, and _ANY_ story trying to talk down and defend any ones actions could easily be seen to be condoning the behaviour. We are openly publishing in our magazines pictures of this nature and not even giving the prisoners the decency of somehow blurring their faces.

Imagine for a second, knowing a gang of people raped, then beat and set dogs onto your sibling, your mother, your lover. Imagine seeing photos of that, plastered all over any newspaper, foreign or otehrwise. How willing would you be to listen to how all those people were actually quite nice, and simply in “the wrong place at the wrong time”.

The chilling thing that came out of that story was the quote from her defense. “‘We are not there for a tea party. We are there because they blew up 5,000 of our people.’ Did she believe Iraq was involved in the terror attacks of 11 September 2001? ‘They were definitely involved … Maybe she took it to extremes.'”

WTF!? What are they being told over there? What are our own troops being told over there? If the American soldiers truly believe they are there on a revenge mission, how much compassion are they going to have. Especially for people who they for the most part have a language barrier with. Why is America being allowed to deal with _ANY_ prisoners given they occupied the country by force and showed signs of having an Iraq/Sept 11 link before. I saw an interview with a bunch of soldiers when they first went over and the same thing came through, “we’re gonna get those bastards for what they did 9/11”. It startled and concerned me at the time, it terrifies me now. The UN should be stepping in at the very least to ensure dealing with prisoners is done humanely and without hate. It is akin to Ariel Sharon letting the Lebanese Christian Militants among the Palestinian Muslim refugees in the early 80’s. We saw slaughter there, and Sharon was held at least indirectly responsible for his actions. I believe Bush should wear this, given the proof of his desire to take Iraq since way before September 11 and many other clues.

Seriously, this guy is just not listening!

Mr Howard, why don’t you try telling us here at home why we should agree to it, before going and trying to tell the US to agree to it. We haven’t even completed the FTA review yet, and already the Howard government is trying to swing votes overseas. Sounds like they’ve made up their mind, before even pretending to listen to what the public has to say about it.

I’m honestly disgusted. Democracy my ass.

…is that I have so many people that are close to my heart. My best friend Sue nearly cried over the phone, and that reaction was tempered by her mum (who is like a second mum to me) who tells me that I need to learn to “make house, care for your husband and have babies”, pfft! Talk about pressure! 🙂

Down to Yass for the weekend tomorrow, should be a wonderful weekend.