Posted on September 19th, 2010
Well, Software Freedom Day Melbourne has been and gone for another year! This year’s event was absolutely amazing, with thanks to Multimedia Victoria, Linux Australia, the State Library of Victoria, VicNet and Linux Users’ of Melbourne, whose generosity enabled us to produce hundreds of free DVDs packed with free and open source software (FOSS) tools, and deliver a fabulous program of workshops and talks.
I had the privilege of delivering a WordPress workshop with Sarah Stokely and Anthony Cole, whose experience – both technical and with blogging in general – ensured that participants got a well rounded introduction in WordPress’ strengths and limitations. The workshop was fully booked – and we had a waiting list just as big!
A huge thanks here is due to Peter Lieverdink, who with the folks at Computerbank enabled us to have not only 10 operational computers for the workshop, but also a server to run it from! Many thanks guys!
The notes from the workshop will be polished off and set out to participants shortly 
UPDATE: Slides are now available!
Please note that these were produced by Sarah Stokely, Anthony Cole and myself
Software Freedom Day Melbourne 2010 WordPress Workshop notes (ppt format, 1280kb)
We know what you’re thinking – why aren’t they in Open Office Impress format? Well, we had to collaborate over multiple machines – this document *will* still open in Impress!
Posted on September 10th, 2010
To save myself from going stark raving bonkers studying for my MBA (Computing), I’ve been knitting in between study sessions. This jumper had been on needles since about January, and time was rapidly running out to be able to wear it this winter.
The design is very simple – it’s a top down raglan, with the sleeves held on stitch holders while the bodice is knitted. As I’m pretty curvy, I used short row shaping for the bust, then used stitch holders evenly spaced (two on the front about a third in on either side and two on the back but slightly closer to centre) to mark decreases for the waist. Because I’m bottom heavy, the hips fan out quite a lot, using the same markers from the wait decreases. While the cuffs of the sleeves are done in a simple 2 x 2 rib, the bottom band and the neckline are done in double crotchet so that they sit flat without adding a lot of texture or bulk.
Overall I’m very happy with this effort – although it’s a closer fit than I would have liked! Never mind, hopefully it will be a looser fit next winter!
The yarn chosen is Lincraft’s Silky – I don’t think it’s made any more – which is a good thing. Although the end result is pleasing, it has to be one of the worst yarns ever. There were up to 6 joins per 50g ball, and it did shed a bit, which is to be expected given the amount of microfibre content.
Silkwinter
Posted on September 5th, 2010
It’s just under two weeks until Software Freedom Day is celebrated – and I’m so excited by this year’s event!
It’s promising to be the best Melbourne event ever – with Senator Kate Lundy confirmed to speak on Government 2.0 and Rami Olwan of Creative Commons also speaking. And let’s not forget a raft of short presentations from the likes of Richard Jones, who spearheads Melbourne’s Python community and Colin Jacobs – chair of Electronic Frontiers Australia. Luminaries Donna Benjamin and Ben Sturmfels will also be addressing what is expected to be an audience of several hundred.
I really feel that this year has marked a turning point in the promotion of free and open source (FOSS) tools and a coming of age of the community. Netbooks are now shipped with Linux, GIMP is a term in widespread use and WordPress and Drupal are tools of choice. The community has gained credibility through programs such as the LUV Beginners’ Workshops, and through consistent delivery of engaging and informative events – such as previous Software Freedom Days.
The global financial crisis has highlighted the need to derive significant value for money from the software tools that we use – and in some ways has caused both businesses and individuals to question why they’re paying hundreds of dollars for tools when FOSS equivalents are freely available.
Growing awareness of privacy violations and the general attitude of some large social networking sites toward user ownership of data has also come to the fore, helped in no small part by the efforts of Paul Fenwick. The Patent Absurdity campaign, aiming to abolish software patents, has highlighted the need to reform restrictive practices which stifle innovation – and therefore the information economy.
Interested? More information below
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Software Freedom Day Melbourne 2010 is kindly and generously sponsored by:
