Discussion April 2017

discussion@lists.fsfe.org

30 participants
12 discussions

Help for requesting to liberate a software
by Kaartic Sivaraam 30 Jul '17

30 Jul '17

Hello all, I came across an offline dictionary application for Android that uses Wiktionary as it's source. The name of the application is "English Dictionary - Offline". The developer provides dictionaries in other languages too. Unfortunately it is not a free software as the source of the application is not available and it's not licensed under a free software license. I thought it would be nice to try to liberate the application as it would be easy to port it to other languages and further it would give it's users, freedom! As I'm not experienced with this, I would like to hear suggestion about how to contact the developer about liberating the application. A rough draft of the mail I could think of (with the help of template to convince your friend) for liberating the application could be found below, ====== Dear developer, The "English Dictionary - Offline" is a great application and is doing a great job in helping users to search meanings of words easily. It's good to see the application available in multiple languages. It would have been better if it were "Free software" [1]. That would help others to easily port the application to other languages and might also help in increasing your dictionary's popularity. As you may already be aware, releasing your program as Free Software doesn't mean you won't make money on it. You are free to charge whatever you want for Free Software as long as you provide users with access to the application's source code so that they may improve and share "English Dictionary - Offline" with their friends. Thank you for your time and effort. I look forward to hearing back from you :) and to see "English Dictionary - Offline" and it's counterparts in other languages in F-droid [2] soon. Links ===== [1] : https://www.fsf.org/about/what-is-free-software [2] : https://f-droid.org/ Sincerely, Kaartic Sivaraam ====== Please send in your valuable thoughts and suggestions about liberating the application. Thanks in advance. -- Regards, Kaartic

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Please help us spread the word on Roundcube Next
by Georg C. F. Greve 29 May '17

29 May '17

Dear all, In the spirit of full disclosure, let me start by pointing out that I am CEO and - along with other employees, some of whom you will also know - shareholder of Kolab Systems AG (https://kolabsystems.com) and that Kolab Systems has been the driving force behind Roundcube for the past years. Kolab Systems has also agreed to help the Roundcube Next team in its aim to refactor and build the next technology generation. So I am not neutral. That said, I genuinely believe it is extremely important for the Free Software community to get behind Roundcube Next and help us push it forward, as well as bring others on board with it. The longer story is here: http://blogs.fsfe.org/greve/?p=676 TL;DR, Part I: As a community we *require* technologies that compete with Google Apps, Office 365 and the likes in features, convenience, UI/UX, yet provide full control and freedom to users. TL;DR, Part II: Application Service Providers should get on board with that push *right now* because otherwise they will find themselves forced into becoming re-sellers for Office 365 and Google Apps -- and increasingly unable to compete with their features & networking effects. Some already understood this, and have joined the Roundcube Next community, such as cPanel (http://blog.cpanel.com/on-to-the-next/), Tucows, and now also Fastmail (http://blog.fastmail.com/2015/06/05/fastmail-supports-roundcube-next-develo…). But there are many more providers using Roundcube today who have not joined, nor have they contributed in the past. For them it should be obvious to join. And then there are those that have their own home-brew interfaces (such as Fastmail) who get the unique opportunity to become part of a new, growing community that will create a technology that will make them fully competitive against the "big clouds" in 18 months from now. Unfortunately, most of them have not realized this yet. So unless your provider is cPanel, Tucows, Fastmail or Kolab Now, all of who are part of this already, please encourage them to step up and join the community to push for Roundcube Next. Direct link for your convenience: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/roundcube-next--2/x/4658765#/story Best regards, Georg -- Georg C. F. Greve <greve(a)fsfeurope.org> Member of the General Assembly http://fsfe.org/about/greve/ http://blogs.fsfe.org/greve/ http://identi.ca/greve

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ideas for laptop selection
by Daniel Pocock 30 Apr '17

30 Apr '17

Hi all, I'm currently looking at replacing my X220 tablet and hoping to choose something new without spending too much time. The main reasons for replacing the X220 tablet: 1. weight - I'd like to get something under 1.5kg, the lower the better and there are plenty of models between 1.0 and 1.2kg these days. 2. screen resolution - the 768 pixel screen height is troublesome for some applications 3. battery - it is not like new any more Looking around, though, if I choose a current model laptop (Lenovo or otherwise) it appears there is something of a minefield: - am I going to run into Secure Boot issues? I've met other people at events recently who had new laptops and were struggling to get into the BIOS and disable Secure Boot. - Windows included - can anybody give any tips on how to buy without paying the Windows tax? - dongles - many of them favor dongles/expansion ports these days, some of these dongles only work with the PSU, will the total weight with PSU and dongle really be less than my current laptop? Are there any specific models that anybody would recommend in the ultraportable form-factor (e.g. under i7, 16GB or more, 1.5kg, 12.5" - 14", suitable for use on small spaces such as on trains and airplanes)? Has anybody tried the 2017 models of the X1 Carbon or X270 with any Linux distribution? Regards, Daniel

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KHALED Routing Protocol (KRP).
by willi uebelherr 29 Apr '17

29 Apr '17

(español despues) Dear friends, this email from Khaled i received from the IETF discussion list. His first proposal was IPv10, a combination from IPv4+IPv6. After a short discussion to our/my proposal for geo-location IPaddresses i lost the contact with him. Now, i read his new proposal. He is also now focused to the direct connection. But based on the AS (Autonomous System), the private instances in our telecommunications. I hope, he will understand, that this is not a good way. And i am very sceptic, that all this private instances are willing to follow this proposal as a alternative rooting mechanism. But independent, this would reduce much the effort in the rooting. many greetings, willi Asuncion, Paraguay QueridAs amigAs, este correo electrónico de Khaled recibí de la lista de discusión IETF. Su primera propuesta fue IPv10, una combinación de IPv4 + IPv6. Después de una breve discusión a nuestra/mi propuesta de geolocalización IPaddresses perdí el contacto con él. Ahora, leo su nueva propuesta. Ahora también se centra en la conexión directa. Pero basado en el AS (Sistema Autónomo), las instancias privadas en nuestras telecomunicaciones. Espero, él entenderá, que este no es un buen camino. Y yo soy muy escéptico, que todos estos casos privados están dispuestos a seguir esta propuesta como un mecanismo alternativo de enraizamiento. Pero independiente, esto reduciría mucho el esfuerzo en el enraizamiento. con muchos saludos, willi Asuncion, Paraguay -------- Forwarded Message -------- Subject: KHALED Routing Protocol (KRP). Date: Tue, 25 Apr 2017 23:27:14 +0000 From: Khaled Omar <eng.khaled.omar(a)hotmail.com> To: ietf(a)ietf.org <ietf(a)ietf.org> Hi All, I think you all received the notification regarding the KRP ID submission, so here is the link for this Internet Draft: https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/draft-omar-krp/ For those who are interested in it, you will be welcomed to discuss it directly with me. Looking for your thoughts, suggestions, comments, modifications or any kind of positive participation. If you are not interested in the idea after reading the draft, please ignore this e-mail. Best Regards,

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Robert Steele: Trip Report – Could Norway Broker World Peace?
by willi uebelherr 28 Apr '17

28 Apr '17

Robert Steele: Trip Report – Could Norway Broker World Peace? 28.04.2017 http://phibetaiota.net/2017/04/robert-steele-trip-report-could-norway-broke… (español despues) Dear friends, yes, Robert Steele is very active. He wants to prepare the meeting of V.Putin and D.Trump in Hamburg with a focus to a resolute commitment to world peace. The dissolution of all US military bases outside the US, the use of military funds for Open Source Everything Engineering (OSEE) projects. We can go there without asking, right? If we compare the "left" statements with what is proposed by the "alternative right" Robert Steele, then the pseudo-left act in the early-infantile kindergarten. Maybe some of you know Robert Steele and his blog. He assigns himself to the Alt-Rights of the USA. The alternative rights. Today's only advanced force in the US. Paul Craig Roberts is also there. All their blogs are on the blacklists of the NeoZions (NeoCons and Zionists) with PropOrNot, Harvard Library and also Le Monde France. The central element at Robert Steele is the massive reduction until the dissolution of the military and OSEE, Open Source Everything Engineering. With that he is more far away like the FSF++ and the "Community Networks". Free technology requires a free environment. And the free thinking of the people. many greetings, willi Asuncion, Paraguay QueridAs amigAs, sí, Robert Steele es muy activo. Él quiere preparar la reunión de V.Putin y D.Trump en Hamburgo con un enfoque a un compromiso resuelto a la paz mundial. La disolución de todas las bases militares estadounidenses fuera de Estados Unidos, el uso de fondos militares para proyectos de Open Source Everything Engineering (OSEE). Podemos ir allí sin preguntar, ¿verdad? Si comparamos las declaraciones "de la izquierda" con lo que propone el "derecho alternativo" (Alt-Right) Robert Steele, entonces el acto pseudo-izquierdo en el jardín temprano-infantil. Tal vez algunos de ustedes conocen a Robert Steele y su blog. Se asigna a los Alt-Rights de los Estados Unidos. Los derechos alternativos. Hoy es la única fuerza avanzada en los Estados Unidos. Paul Craig Roberts también está allí. Todos sus blogs están en las listas negras de NeoZions (NeoCons and Zionists) con PropOrNot, Harvard Library y también Le Monde France. El elemento central en Robert Steele es la reducción masiva hasta la disolución de los militares y OSEE, Open Source Everything Engineering. Con eso está más lejos como el FSF++ y las "Redes Comunitarias". La tecnología libre requiere un entorno libre. Y el pensamiento libre de la gente. con muchos saludos, willi Asuncion, Paraguay

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Fellowship elections participation
by Erik Albers 27 Apr '17

27 Apr '17

Hi list, the Fellowship elections 2017 are over and the winner is Daniel Pocock. https://fsfe.org/news/2017/news-20170425-01 I like to thank all candidates for bringing life into this years election and every voter for rewarding our candidates' activities by participating in the elections. Unfortunately, we only had a participation of around 17 % which seems to be the lowest participation since we record participation (2014). Many of the list subscribers here have had the possibility to vote, so I like to ask for explanations and possibilities how we can raise participation? The low amount of participation leaves me in particular wondering as this year we had 7 candidates, each of them with a short representation in out wiki [1], public hustings [2] and a reminder three days before the end of elections. However, former elections with only one (!) candidate and without reminders and no public hustings (2016 and 2014) have had more participation ... Why is this? Please help us to understand what FSFE can do to make the electiosn more appealing or raise participation? Or help us to understand what was the reason that this year there was such a low amount of participation? Thank you very much, Erik [1] https://wiki.fsfe.org/Activities/Election/FellowshipElection_2017 [2] https://wiki.fsfe.org/Activities/Election/FellowshipElection_2017#Hustings -- No one shall ever be forced to use non-free software Erik Albers | Free Software Foundation Europe OpenPGP Key-ID: 0x8639DC81 on keys.gnupg.net

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Social <3 Digital: Berlin meetup
by Regina Sipos 26 Apr '17

26 Apr '17

*eventnews & incubation opportunity* Hey All, We’re launching a program bringing together grassroots social entrepreneurs, activist, civic techies and opens source hardware and software people. We will help them co-create and collaborate. Those who want to will be invited to a project dev sprint weekend and pitch to be admitted to an incubation program in which they can develop their prototypes, learn about social and hybrid business models, and develop viable and sustainable projects solving real social problems. We’re running 4 open barcamp-style events in Berlin (and one in Linz!) in May to establish the community: https://www.meetup.com/socialdigital/ <https://www.meetup.com/socialdigital/> More info about us and the incubation program: http://sdinnovation.org <http://sdinnovation.org/> Please feel free to join one of our meetups and forward this email to any of your friends and colleagues who are interested in saving the world or have some ideas how to do it. We’re nice, independent and will ensure all projects are open source and benefit and belong to those who create them :) And don’t hesitate to get back to me with questions, partnership ideas, etc. Warm regards to the FSFE community, Regina Founder&Director, Social-Digital Innovation Initiative http://sdinnovation.org <http://sdinnovation.org/> Twitter @reginasipos @sdinnovation Skype regina.sipos Tel. 0049(0)17620402509

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[Battlemesh] visiting Athens after Vienna?
by willi uebelherr 20 Apr '17

20 Apr '17

Dear friends, this email i received from the Battlemesh mail list. For your information. many greetings, willi Asuncion, Paraguay -------- Forwarded Message -------- Subject: [Battlemesh] Fwd: visiting Athens after Vienna? Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2017 23:52:51 +0200 From: panayotis antoniadis <panayotis(a)nethood.org> Reply-To: Battle of the Mesh Mailing List <battlemesh(a)ml.ninux.org> To: Battle of the Mesh Mailing List <battlemesh(a)ml.ninux.org> Dear all, Just to let you know that Exarcheia Net (a newborn "district" community network in Athens) will organize a libremesh hands-on workshop right after the battle mesh in Vienna with special guests, Juergen Neumann and the three libremesh masquetiers, Gui, Gio, and Pau :-) You can read below the initial message sent to the libremesh list, and you can contact me personally if you would like to participate and if you would need accommodation. The workshop will be self-organized and will last at least 2-3 days (June 12-15). It will include node installations, discussions about strategies on how to make such an initiative successful, and more depending on the interests of the participants. Personally, I will try to come also to Vienna between June 6-8, and I would be happy to present about this new effort in Athens and other related work through the netCommons project: http://netcommons.eu Best, Panos http://nethood.org/panayotis/ -------- Forwarded Message -------- Subject: visiting Athens after Vienna? Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2017 12:41:11 +0200 From: panayotis antoniadis <panayotis(a)nethood.org> To: lime-users(a)lists.libremesh.org CC: James Lewis <lewis.james(a)gmail.com> Dear all, As a quick introduction, I have been thinking and talking for many years about the importance of local applications in community networks, in the academia before and now somewhere in between research and action through the non-profit organization http://nethood.org/ My current base is in Zurich, Switzerland but I am working on various projects in my hometown in Athens including the new community network James Lewis mentioned in a different thread. For this project I mostly contribute through a nice roof overlooking the Exarcheia neighbourhood where the network is being deployed, and an empty apartment in the same building where I host friends, colleagues, activists, and more. In addition to offering Internet access to the various refugee squats that exist in the area, the long-term objective is to offer also a variety of local services and develop a different model for building community networks in big cities, anchored in different neighbourhoods and including open physical spaces for discussions, workshops, training, residencies, etc. To make the story short, we were thinking with James to organize a hands-on workshop perhaps after the battle of the mesh, June 12-15?, providing free accommodation for 7-8 people and possibly more, and a small real-life testbed (a short camping retreat in a close to Athens island is also possible :-)) I thought to share this idea first here, before opening it up to the battle of the mesh, to get a first feedback since it is mostly with libremesh that we want to experiment. What do you think? Would any of you would be interested to visit us in Athens? (depending on the prices I might be able to cover also the travel expenses from Vienna for 2-3 people) Best, Panos. _______________________________________________ Battlemesh mailing list Battlemesh(a)ml.ninux.org http://ml.ninux.org/mailman/listinfo/battlemesh

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FSFE General Assembly Fellowship Representative Election
by Paul Boddie 13 Apr '17

13 Apr '17

Hello, I noticed that the election of the Fellowship representative to the FSFE General Assembly has begun. I had previously wanted to know a bit more about the candidates' positions on how the FSFE might empower its volunteers and act as an amplifier for their activities. Unfortunately, the "hustings" were announced as taking place on two consecutive days [1], subsequently reduced to one [2], and then took place on the day that was "unannounced". There hasn't been any other discussion about the candidates' positions, as far as I can tell. Now, reading the candidates' statements, only one of the candidates mentions volunteering and really only in the context of more of it being required, which doesn't necessarily make sense if volunteer activities end up not being particularly efficient or productive. So, I wouldn't mind knowing what the candidates want to do about making FSFE a venue for individual Fellows to be able to make a difference, both in the organisation and beyond. (In the context of this being an election to a board with only a couple of Fellows present and the remainder being appointed [3], it might be interesting to know what the candidates *can* do about the above. But maybe that is another topic.) Maybe there's nothing to discuss here at all, but I thought it still might be worth asking about such things here, anyway. Regards, Paul [1] https://wiki.fsfe.org/Activities/Election/FellowshipElection_2017?action=re… [2] https://wiki.fsfe.org/Activities/Election/FellowshipElection_2017?action=re… [3] https://fsfe.org/about/team#general-assembly

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U2F key
by Karsten Dreifus 07 Apr '17

07 Apr '17

Dear Community, Is there any suggestion for a opensource based U2F key (which works well in linux)? I need to balance cost with openness, as some of the nitrokeys are very expensive (at least for me). Many thanks Karsten

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Discussion April 2017