Club Linux Coffs Harbour

Com'on fellow Linux users, lets vote for Matthew for the local bussiness thingo.

I attempted to use the 'AusKey Secure Identity Data Exchange Thingy' only to find it does not work with GNU/Linux. I emailed them to let them know about their broken system and just recieved this cut&paste response:

The AUSkey solution currently does not support the Linux platform. This is consistent with other ATO systems.  The 'technical information' link on the AUSkey site outlines the operating systems and browsers that are officially supported.

NEW YORK--IBM nearly recouped the $1 billion it said it invested in the Linux operating system in 2001, the head of IBM's four server groups is expected to announce Wednesday.

Big Blue said more than a year ago that it would invest $1 billion in Linux--spending money on tasks such as bringing the Unix clone to its full line of servers, bringing its broad software portfolio to Linux, training its services and consulting personnel, and placing advertisements such as full-page ads in major daily newspapers.

This year I ran a trial at a primary school in Lismore where all the year Year 5 and 6 students had a HP 2140 Netbook running Ubuntu. The trial has been a huge hit and will be continued next year. All computers in the school are now running Ubuntu KK. I have been asked to role out the same system at SFX Woolgoolga next year. Please let me know if you would like to know more about the pilot program.

Corrections are now available to address security problems to the stable distribution Debian GNU/Linux 5.0 (codename lenny). Also offered are a few adjustment to serious problems in the Debian project's third update. However, the update does not translate into a new version of Debian GNU/Linux 5.0 instead users can expect updates from some of the packages.

Riding around Northern Chiang Mai today I passed this:

I woke the owner up, he spoke a little english and said that we open source people should stick together and share the knowledge. He looked a bit sleepy so I let him toddle back to bed.

Yes it's genuine, and utterly incomprehensible. Must lose something in the translation.

(via BoingBoing)

It's just been brought to my attention that the Coffs Coast Community College is offering courses this semester in OpenOffice.org and the GIMP, led by one David Bryant, a familiar face to ClubLinux regulars. Well done David! I would advise anybody interested to enrol ASAP.

Earlier this month the Free Software Foundation (FSF) announced a "reboot" of it's High Priority list, a list of projects critical to allowing people to use their computers in freedom. I've finally had a look at the revised list, and think it's right on the money.