pipka.org

I didn’t get to blog much over the last few weeks, so here’s a catch up 🙂

Just discovered the joy of Orkut, an “online community that connects people through a network of trusted friends” and latest fad for the online community 😉 So far I only have 14 friends but unbelievably am connected to 27561 people through these links. It has kewl profiling of people, community groups, photos, forums, and heaps of functionality. Check it out!

I never got to put up pictures of my class in china. Also some pictures from my presentation to the Beijing Linux Users Group. They are a great group and I hope to be able to help them develop.

We went and saw some Chinese theatre and acrobatics, which was awesome! A big hello to my drinking buddies Li li and Jenny. And then as a special treat on my last day, much to Natalie and my delight it snowed! We presented Simon his wonderful present and I flew home. I always get ‘homesick’ when I leave China. Oh well I’ll just have to return soon 🙂

We had my Dad’s birthday when I got home, where I finally got to wear my chinese dress with very red lipstick 🙂 It was a fun night with Dad being pampered as usual. Jeff was a little worried about dessert, but it was all good 🙂 I even saw my old Maths teacher.

The little I got to see of linux.conf.au was good. It was wonderful to see Bdale, Michael Davies, the old and then new LA committees, Thom, Mike Beattie, the CLUG/LUV/PLUG/LinuxSA/HUMBUG/SLUG/AUUG dudes, and all the rest, as well as meeting new people like Keith Packard (the naughty pixie) and Havoc (the cranberry juice extraordinaire). I did pretty well for the 1.5 days I got to attend 🙂

Had our first Linux Australia meeting which went well. We have a big face to face meeting in only a few weeks, then things will start rocking. More to come.

The elections for LA were excellent! I was still stuck in hospital but had live ward updates from Rusty through Alli. Thanks guys! We have a great new team and I’m really looking forward to working with everyone this year. We have a lot to do, and now with the fiddly things out of the way, we have the ability to get in and rock! I will probably call rank and barr Michael D from any duties for a month (otherwise he may not last the year 😉

Having not had the opportunity to speak to nearly as many people as I wanted to, I’d like to invite all people to bring to the linux-aus mailing list (linux-aus@linux.org.au) ideas and suggestions for this year. We’ll be getting a few things out of the way for the first 6 weeks (web site, clean up of actions etc) and then will be re-evaluating direction and tactics for the year.

I was very sad about not being able to go the much of the conference, but I had some wonderful visitors who made my day, and a card with more than 400 signatures on it from everyone at the Penguin dinner, thanks everyone! It was the best ‘get well’ present I could ask for 🙂

And now back home, still recovering from Influenza A (no, it isn’t SARS) and it looks like Jeff is coming down with it too. Another week off work to recover and then back into it. You find all these things that are really important and they make the work worries seem so small. Hopefully I can keep them in perspective…

So, I get to LCA, that I’ve been looking forward to for a year now, and I get Influenza A. The problem is that when you turn up at a hospital with flu symptoms having come from China the day before, you tend to get thrown in a ambulance and sent to quarintine. So I missed most of LCA being in hospital 🙁 I did get a rocking card with signatures from all the Penguin dinner attendees! Thanks everyone! It rocked way hard!!!

Also, Jeff has finally tasted his own vicious medicine. Check out Jeffs’ new look. Throw me a bucket.

Rock on! Many nominations already up. Only a few days to go and already such a great range of people. Lots of talent, lots of enthusiasm, next year is going to rock for LA!

Personally, I think the approach of transparency and openness works much better, and the response from the community reflects that. I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved, and am looking forward to seeing what LA can do with the community fully behind. The issues are sorted (almost) and now it can storm ahead! Rock on Linux Australia!

The group. From left (yes your left! not theirs!):

Matteo (Beijing LUG, from Italy, now lives in Beijing), Daniel (New Day Creations), John (New Day Pastor), Richard (Rabid Beijing LUG dude, great guy), Me, Natalie, Jenny (Richards Girlfriend, beautiful girl), Eilene (Daniels Wife), Amy (Beijing LUG, also works for the UN).

We didn’t know when we went there that it was a religious setup, which was interesting, but they are doing great things for the community around them. We are helping them set up an IT community centre which will also be used for training. We don’t have much to work with 🙂 but we’ll get there. The kids were gorgeous and wonderful. Matteo was a favourite but Richard just made them cry. Natalie didn’t have much more success.

Found a place that did blood pudding as we walked through the nearby village. Found a dude practicing gung fu, with the sword who (with a little Pia promting) gave us a little demo. A beautiful sunset and it was all over.

Went with the Beijing LUG to meet an orphanage with IT issues. We toured the place, played with the kids (who were absolutely cute), and then set to work checking out their resources and trying to convince them of the business case for Open Source. We left feeling pretty confident, however need to help organise donors. Will be posting pictures tomorrow, but it is certainly a good opportunity for open source to get some attention in China.

China is still behind in IT. I am very keen on returning at some point to help create a standard for security, education, and ways it can help the people. Need to further define my goals but I think I/we can do a lot of good here 🙂

New years day was wonderful. Up early (who needs sleep anyway) and off to the forbidden City for the day. Gris and I were holding Mao up before Li Li and I did the obligatory wanky photo shots with our shiney new flags. Hot Pot for lunch. Then inside. Wonderful place. I’ve been once before but not all the way through. Check out http://pipka.org/photos/china/20040102/ for all the forbidden city photos. We ran out of time, but left the place feeling quite in awe. I had a similar experience in Pompei with Jeff. Just imagining and feeling the history. It kind of hangs in the air, like humidity, calling out to you, and whispering stories of ancient (or at least old) civilisations).

Have decided to scan and put up all photos from when I was last in China.

Saw the lowering of the flag ceremony. Wasn’t there in time to beat the throngs of people. Next time we’ll bring our own milk crates.

Apparently not many people are nominating. This made me a bit worried until I realised that people are waiting on the confirmation of membership details. CRAP! Got to get moving. Only 4 days of nominations left! Then the required 7 days before the AGM. I truly wish I had more time to make this run smoothly, delegation is supposed to be much easier than this 😉

It was Gris’ b’day on New years eve, so we took her for a surprise Peking Duck Dinner. She enjoyed herself, and the cake. Lotsa fun 🙂

For New years, we found a funky club with good music (except for the occasional AC/DC song) and hung out with Shannon and his girlfriend Helen with Helens family and friends, although they were a bit silly at times. We also met Cindy who was very kewl, and interesting to speak to. I had a great night. Was home by 4:30.

Fisticuffs? and then maybe not. WEIRD! Natalie has many endearing attributes

Linux Australia has been quite a focus for me this year, and I find myself getting more excited about the sweet things LA could do. Being in China ATM has been enormously frustrating as I have so much I want to get done for LA before the conference, and communication is sparodic at best when limited to internet cafes. I will definitely be trying for the committee again, and am keen to keep on as President. There is still so much to be done to ensure the organisation is what the community wants and needs. Communication is obviously a big part of that, and something Linux Australia is getting better at 🙂 So much to do! So little time in a day, and I keep having to tell myself I am over here studying and need to make sure I pass my exams 🙂

Gris, Li li and I decided we’d go to some markets and check out some Beijing night life. On the train into town there was an extremely tired gentleman who was luckily oblivious to our silliness. We grabbed dinner with Shannon at a great Beijing Noodles place, and then proceeded to an excellent bar. I’ve always been a fan of games, and this place had everything! A pool table, a 4-person foozball table, a huge mother connect 4 game, and a huge mother jenga game. A few skillful moves and then JENGA!

Li Li and I lit some candles for Hanukkah, and had a wonderful Peking Duck lunch for Christmas with about 35 other students and our wonderful teacher.. I got a present. It wasn’t a real Peking duck feast but it was fun 🙂

Gris arrived last night 🙂 While Li Li and I were waiting we tried a new place to eat. I ordered as part of my meal some hot milk. Big mistake. Got something that wasn’t very milk-like and during one mouthful, we found that it had lamb placenta in it. Wonderful…

We went to the Summer Palace today which was great! Especially the frozen lake which was solid and fun to stand on. Some people found it more scary than others. I’ve always had a love affair with temple dogs and chinese architecture so it was good fun.