Come and enjoy the second part of a friendly introduction to Ubuntu, a free and open source operating system.

***Space is limited, so please preregister by sending an email to:

info AT freegeekvancouver D0T org

[More on Ubuntu]

[Why Use Free Software?] 

Workshop: Free Your Computer, Free Yourself - Practical steps to get you on the road to liberation with free and open source software

Fri. March 20th, noon-1:00pm 

UBC campus, Vancouver BC

~ Students' Union Building (SUB), Room 216 ~

(Note: the SUB is the second building in from the main bus loop.)

Environmental and social responsibility has everything to do with your software choices.

Learn how to migrate to sustainable, community-powered software.

• What does "free and open source" mean?
• How can you start kicking old habits while maintaining productivity?
• Where can you find community support?
• What program can replace XYZ?
• What can you start doing right now?

Join this informal workshop on software freedom.

Facilitator: Ifny Lachance, Coordinator, Free Geek Vancouver

The first Wednesday of every month is...

WINDOWSLESS WEDNESDAY!!

Join us for a free DROP IN night of skill-sharing, problem-solving & education

7:00-9:30pm at Free Geek (back door)

• Getting help: all are welcome, beginners and up
  
• Helping others: we always need helpers with skills, please consider dropping by to help others
  
• Free or by donation.
• Note: we help with free & open source software/hardware issues only.

Want to try free and open source software? Find out how to install GNU/Linux on your computer? Or have a more complex question...? These evenings are first come, first serve. Drop in & write your name/question on the whiteboard; someone will come find you and lend a hand.

We assist folks who have GNU/Linux issues, hardware problems, or who are just plain curious. If you want to see what free and open source is all about, or try the Ubuntu operating system, you're welcome to drop by!

If you are already running a distribution of GNU/Linux, you might consider bringing your box down, so we can work together to solve your difficulties.

**CAN YOU HELP? We're always in need of extra helpers with skills and patience! Particular areas in demand: GNU/Linux & wireless, Ubuntu installs, hardware issues. Feel free to drop by and let us know you've come to help.

Check back here for updates, or join our announcement mailing list to stay posted about upcoming events!

Please note: Entry via back door. Indoor bike parking. Unfortunately our new location is not wheelchair accessible yet. We appreciate your patience while we work to change this; call us with concerns: 604-879-4335.

The first Wednesday of every month is...

WINDOWSLESS WEDNESDAY!!

Join us for a free DROP IN night of skill-sharing, problem-solving & education

7:00-9:30pm at Free Geek (back door)

• Getting help: all are welcome, beginners and up
  
• Helping others: we always need helpers with skills, please consider dropping by to help others
  
• Free or by donation.
• Note: we help with free & open source software/hardware issues only.

Want to try free and open source software? Find out how to install GNU/Linux on your computer? Or have a more complex question...? These evenings are first come, first serve. Drop in & write your name/question on the whiteboard; someone will come find you and lend a hand.

We assist folks who have GNU/Linux issues, hardware problems, or who are just plain curious. If you want to see what free and open source is all about, or try the Ubuntu operating system, you're welcome to drop by!

If you are already running a distribution of GNU/Linux, you might consider bringing your box down, so we can work together to solve your difficulties.

**CAN YOU HELP? We're always in need of extra helpers with skills and patience! Particular areas in demand: GNU/Linux & wireless, Ubuntu installs, hardware issues. Feel free to drop by and let us know you've come to help.

Check back here for updates, or join our announcement mailing list to stay posted about upcoming events!

Please note: Entry via back door. Indoor bike parking. Unfortunately our new location is not wheelchair accessible yet. We appreciate your patience while we work to change this; call us with concerns: 604-879-4335.

The first Wednesday of every month is...

WINDOWSLESS WEDNESDAY!!

Join us for a free DROP IN night of skill-sharing, problem-solving & education

7:00-9:30pm at Free Geek (back door)

• Getting help: all are welcome, beginners and up
  
• Helping others: we always need helpers with skills, please consider dropping by to help others
  
• Free or by donation.
• Note: we help with free & open source software/hardware issues only.

Want to try free and open source software? Find out how to install GNU/Linux on your computer? Or have a more complex question...? These evenings are first come, first serve. Drop in & write your name/question on the whiteboard; someone will come find you and lend a hand.

We assist folks who have GNU/Linux issues, hardware problems, or who are just plain curious. If you want to see what free and open source is all about, or try the Ubuntu operating system, you're welcome to drop by!

If you are already running a distribution of GNU/Linux, you might consider bringing your box down, so we can work together to solve your difficulties.

**CAN YOU HELP? We're always in need of extra helpers with skills and patience! Particular areas in demand: GNU/Linux & wireless, Ubuntu installs, hardware issues. Feel free to drop by and let us know you've come to help.

Check back here for updates, or join our announcement mailing list to stay posted about upcoming events!

Please note: Entry via back door. Indoor bike parking. Unfortunately our new location is not wheelchair accessible yet. We appreciate your patience while we work to change this; call us with concerns: 604-879-4335.

Activist, hacker and author Richard Stallman to speak on "Copyright vs. Community in the Age of Computer Networks"

Friday February 6, 7:30-10pm

Maritime Labour Centre, 1880 Triumph St (at Victoria) [MAP]

Admission FREE or by donation, no one turned away for inability to pay. Live music by the Creaking Planks! Tea and coffee will be provided.

Come hear about the total liberation of cyberspace!  There will be plenty of time for questions after the talk. This speech is designed to be accessible to everyone; the public is encouraged to attend! 

"Copyright developed in the age of the printing press, and was designed to fit with the system of centralized copying imposed by the printing press. But the copyright system does not fit well with computer networks, and only draconian punishments can enforce it.

"The global corporations that profit from copyright are lobbying for draconian punishments, and to increase their copyright powers, while suppressing public access to technology. But if we seriously hope to serve the only legitimate purpose of copyright--to promote progress, for the benefit of the public--then we must make changes in the other direction."

Richard Stallman launched the development of the GNU operating system (see www.gnu.org) in 1984. GNU is free software: everyone has the freedom to copy it and redistribute it, as well as to make changes either large or small. The GNU/Linux system, basically the GNU operating system with Linux added, is used on tens of millions of computers today. Stallman has received the ACM Grace Hopper Award, a MacArthur Foundation fellowship, the Electronic Frontier Foundation's Pioneer award, and the the Takeda Award for Social/Economic Betterment, as well as several honorary doctorates. His book "Free Software, Free Society" will be available for purchase, and there will be a book signing after the talk. 

This lecture is being sponsored by Free Geek Vancouver, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver Hack Society (VHS) and the Vancouver Fair Copyright Coalition. Richard Stallman will also be appearing at UBC; see the fsf.org website for details.

Links for the eager:

Free Software Foundation 

Free software for freedom

Linux and GNU

The first Wednesday of every month is...

WINDOWSLESS WEDNESDAY!!

Join us for a free DROP IN night of skill-sharing, problem-solving & education

7:00-9:30pm at Free Geek (back door)

• Getting help: all are welcome, beginners and up
  
• Helping others: we always need helpers with skills, please consider dropping by to help others
  
• Free or by donation.
• Note: we help with free & open source software/hardware issues only.

Want to try free and open source software? Find out how to install GNU/Linux on your computer? Or have a more complex question...? These evenings are first come, first serve. Drop in & write your name/question on the whiteboard; someone will come find you and lend a hand.

We assist folks who have GNU/Linux issues, hardware problems, or who are just plain curious. If you want to see what free and open source is all about, or try the Ubuntu operating system, you're welcome to drop by!

If you are already running a distribution of GNU/Linux, you might consider bringing your box down, so we can work together to solve your difficulties.

**CAN YOU HELP? We're always in need of extra helpers with skills and patience! Particular areas in demand: GNU/Linux & wireless, Ubuntu installs, hardware issues. Feel free to drop by and let us know you've come to help.

Check back here for updates, or join our announcement mailing list to stay posted about upcoming events!

Please note: Entry via back door. Indoor bike parking. Unfortunately our new location is not wheelchair accessible yet. We appreciate your patience while we work to change this; call us with concerns: 604-879-4335.

Want to help others learn free software? Get some teaching experience? Share  your brain matter? Join us as we discuss how to support software freedom, and make more educational resources available to all. If you would like to share your skills with others, or start learning ways to do that, we strongly encourage you to attend!

Agenda items include:

• Retrospective of past workshops
• Assessment of most-needed areas of instruction
• Adoption class
  
• Support for hardware grant recipients
• Upcoming curriculum, including regular workshops
• Training for trainers
• Future directions

MORE:

Join the education mailing list [HERE]
Read the burgeoning education section on the FG wiki [HERE]