[olug] Install Fest Press Release - thoughts

Mon Dec 8 05:45:56 UTC 2003

Sounds really good Tim, great work, very professional.

Thoughts that caught my eye...

1. do we call it "Install Fest" or "Installfest"?  I prefer the later,
gives me a mental picture of "infestation" or something nasty.

2. <2cents> yes, everybody knows the popular operating system by the name
"Linux", but I feel promoting that misnomer really does an injustice to
the entire FSF and GNU community who went out to create a "free operating
system" and laid the many years of groundwork to do so, and then watched
their efforts become 'forgotten' as we call the whole think "linux" after
just the kernel.  I feel many newbies and older hackers alike who've been
using the OS for some time now, really miss out on the true history and
roots of what they have and why they have it.  GNU/Linux I feel is more
correct, and better to leave people a bit confused at first and to explain
the real history of the movement and meaning of the words, rather than
everyone just praising "Linux Torvalds" as some superhero, when he really
didn't do all that much, just got the credit in the end. "an operating
system created by Linus Torvalds"... I just don't by that, but it's a very
common misconception, I wish we could change that.  

RMS/FSF gets credit for the "free software/operating system" movement and
the GPL, while Torvalds gets credit for creating the very successful
'bazaar/open source/decentralized' software development model for
something as big and advanced as an entire 'kernel'.
</2cents>

3. With similiar regards to 2, I appreciate the mention of gnu.org (as the
very last thing) and other free-unix options, even though we haven't
really done any BSD installs in the past to my memory (hope to have some
this time!?)

<2cents> Perhaps we might also want to make mention of the software as
"free and open source software" (FOSS) of "free/libre open source
software" (FLOSS) as thats quite popular thoughout the world and in many
other 'FOSS' oriented circles.

I'd even support the idea of changing/expanding/having an alternate name
for OLUG as "FOSS Omaha" or something similiar.  I don't want to break any
unitiy between fellow LUGs by any means, but think this would be more
accurate and comprehensive for the diverse group interests?

Just one of the things I've been reading lately for a report:
http://www.maailma.kaapeli.fi/FLOSS_for_dev.html
</2cents>

4. Just a few parts where the "_" came up in the article, probably from
transiting out of a document.  And the "OLUG organizes the Install Fest.."
sentence seemed a bit wordy.

Really though, great job and thanks for getting the official word out. =)

Note, might want to turn any young kids (at the installfest! or parents)
onto FREEDUC (http://www.ofset.org/freedu-cd/), Knoppix based distro with
educational tools for kids, cosponsered by UNESCO... even though FOSS
won't be on the agenda this week at the World Summit on the Information
Society (www.itu.int/wsis) thanks to our fatherland!
(http://www.apnic.net/mailing-lists/s-asia-it/archive/2003/01/msg00059.ht
ml)

cheers
Brian

On Sun, 7 Dec 2003 22:24:53 -0600 (CST)
"OBrien, Timothy  (Omaha Linux Users Group - OLUG)" <IrishMASMS at olug.org>
wrote:

|(Sent out tonight to the local Omaha media outlets. Thoughts?)
|
|Omaha Linux User's Group Install Fest Press Release
|
|For Immediate Release
|
|Omaha, Nebraska -- December 7th, 2003 -- Omaha Linux User's Group (OLUG),
|announced the date for the first biannual Install Fest in 2004, to take
|place on January 17th, 2003. The purpose of these events is to give away
|as much free software as possible, in particular the Linux operating
|system. Experienced Linux users will be on hand to help newer users
|install, configure and use their new software. Post-Install Fest help
|will be available from the OLUG mailing list and web site.
|
|_The members of OLUG have an Install fest twice a year to assist
|individuals who are interested in the Linux operating system or need
|assistance in installing, configuring, or troubleshooting a device or
|software problem_, said Tim O'Brien, Event Manager. "The response from
|the local Linux and open source community, and from various commercial
|organizations has simply been excellent._
|
|The Winter InstallFest 2004 will be held in Omaha on January 17 from Noon
|to six pm in the Clarkson College dormitory and AIM computer lab building
|on the corner of 44th and Douglas  (one block south of 44th and Dodge);
|in the two computer labs on the first floor. Further details, including
|registration information and directions are available at the OLUG Web
|Site(http://www.olug.org).
|
|-------------------------------------------------
|OLUG is the Omaha Linux Users Group. Organized in early 1994, they have
|hosted a plethora of monthly meetings with talk topics ranging from _The
|*nix file & directory  structure _ how & why" to "Setting up and
|configuring MythTV". There are usually around 20 - 30 people at each
|meeting, and over 200 individuals registered on the mailing list and web
|site. OLUG is loosely organized, with a few people acting as contact
|points and no charter to bog things down. Anyone is welcome to come to
|the meetings; there is no membership, fees or any other formalities. To
|become a member, just show up to meetings; register to join the mailing
|list and the web site. Our primary interest is in getting information
|about Linux to members of the Nebraska and Iowa community. OLUG organizes
|the Install Fests because the USer Group members love the opportunity to
|let the technology savvy members and computer users of the local
|Community know about the user group, and what Linux is all about  They
|hold monthly meetings, open to all, to discuss and learn about Linux and
|other free software, and operate an active mailing list.
|http://www.OLUG.org
|
|Linux is a free Unix-type operating system originally created by Linus
|Torvalds with the assistance of thousands of developers around the world.
|
|Linux is developed under the GNU General Public License, the source code
|for Linux is freely available to everyone. Linux is a sophisticated
|operating system, and is usually distributed and used with other free
|software, particularly that from the GNU project. http://www.linux.com
|and http://www.gnu.org
|-------------------------------------------------
|
|
|-- 
|Timothy "Irish" O'Brien
|Publicity & Social activities chairperson
|Omaha Linux User's Group (OLUG)
|----------------------------------------------
|A: No.
|Q: Should I include e-mail quotations after my reply?
|=====================================================
|An often repeated quote on news.admin.net-abuse.email:
|<I>
|"Spam is not about content, it is about consent".
|</i>
|
|
|_______________________________________________
|OLUG mailing list
|OLUG at olug.org
|http://lists.olug.org/mailman/listinfo/olug
|

-- 
 Brian Wiese | bwiese(at)cotse.com | aim: unolinuxguru
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