This Blog Is Not For Reading

Ubuntu Hour at the Egg Roll King Restaurant in August 2013

The first Ubuntu Hour of the new year for Waterloo Region will be at the Egg Roll King restaurant this coming Thursday. Here’s the details:

Event: Ubuntu Hour Kitchener
Date: Thursday, 13 February 2014 iCal
Time: 7:00pm to 9:00pm (yes, I know that’s not an hour)
Location: Egg Roll King Restaurant, 85 Courtland Avenue East, Kitchener, Ontario Map
Organizer: Bob Jonkman
Register: on the Ubuntu Canada LoCo Portal (optional, but appreciated)

Join !Ubuntuca in the Fediverse, or follow @UbuntuWaterloo on Twitter.

Picture of Ubuntu Hour by Darcy Casselman. Creative Commons — Attribution — CC-BY

NaNoWriMo — Why so black?

NaNoWriMo is National Novel Writing Month, in which people (the WriMos) try to write a 50,000 word novel during the 30 days of November. That’s not as ludicrous as it sounds — 50,000 words over 30 days is only 1667 words a day (with 10 days off for good behaviour, at least, 10 days with only 1666 words). 50,000 words is about the size of Brave New World, which someone once told me was the benchmark for NaNoWriMo (but TIL that Brave New World has 64531 words).

The first year I participated I got a terrific start on my first novel. All 675 words. Last year I got as far as the novel description. 11 words. But this year I have better idea. I’ve got some unfinished blog posts queued up, so I’ll take their word count, flesh them out, count the word difference, and submit that as my daily writing quota. Of course, it’s possible that I’ll edit more out of an incomplete blog post than I’ll be adding, so there’s a very real possibility of a negative word count. If that keeps up I might end up with a deficit at the end of the month. Let’s see how the NaNoWriMo word counter deals with a Buffer Underflow.

Come join me in the Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge region pages. Here are some handy links for local WriMos:

The NaNoWriMo crest has all rights reserved, and so couldn’t be used here. From their FAQ page: Logo: Please do not use our logo (or parts of our logo) on anything without our permission.

The months of October and November are shaping up to have some great lectures and presentations on cryptography, security and privacy.

Keysigning materials

Yesterday started off with an informal keysigning at the KWLUG meeting. The presentation was on the Scratch programming environment, nothing to do with GnuPG/PGP or cryptography. But a few of us exchanged little slips of paper with our key fingerprints, verified that the name with the fingerprint matched the person we knew, signed the keys, and so improved our standing in the Web of Trust. I hope that this becomes a regular part of all KWLUG meetings. The more people that participate, the more confident we can be about the validity of keys we may not have verified ourselves.

Today I attended the first UofW CSClub lecture on Security and Privacy by Sarah Harvey. If you’ve been following the news about the Snowden revelations you’ll know why security and privacy is important. The room was full of computer science, math and cryptography students, so the discussions were deep and technical.

Sarah Harvey shows a slide of Edward Snowden

There was a vacancy in the November KWLUG meeting so I asked Sarah if she would repeat her lecture. Let’s see what the KWLUG bosses have to say…

There are more CSClub lectures scheduled, check the schedule on the CSClub site.

KWCrypto logo, the M-209 cipher machine

I’ve volunteered to do a presentation on Encrypting E-mail with GnuPG, Thunderbird and Enigmail, followed by a formal keysigning. I’m developing the presentation notes and keysigning procedure on the KWCrypto Interest Group Wiki that was set up after the Kwartzlab keysigning party last year. Please join me on the Wiki and the mailing list — I’d appreciate the help.

–Bob.

It’s shaping up to be a busy few weeks for Ubuntoids in the Kitchener-Waterloo region:

Ubuntu Global Jam

 

Ubuntu Global Jam Kitchener Pictures!

When: Saturday, 14 September 2013 from 10:00am to 5:00pm iCal 1
Where: Computer Recycling
Location: 66 Queen St. S., Kitchener, Ontario, Canada Map 1
Entrance: Use the door on Charles Street
LoCo Event: Ubuntu Global Jam Kitchener | Ubuntu LoCo Team Portal
Info: UbuntuGlobalJam – Ubuntu Wiki
Blog: Charles’ Tech Talk: Ubuntu Global Jam, Saturday, September 14, 2013

Charles McColm (@chaslinux) has arranged to use the workshop at Computer Recycling on Saturday from 10:00am to 5:00pm, where he’s got lots of computers of varying specs that we can use to test the installation of Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy Salamander. We’ll document any problems with the installation procedure, any hardware incompatibilities we find, and maybe build a system or two in the process.

And for those people who don’t want to get grubby with actual hardware, there’s bugs to be triaged, documentation to be written, and code to be coded.

We’ll set up a couple of computers so we can be online with other Jams (it’s a Global Jam, after all), and Computer Recycling has a pretty good sound system so we can listen to the Hacker Freedom Song for inspiration all day long (OK, maybe not that).

Ubuntu Team Meeting in IRC

 

Every month members of the Canadian Team meet online in Internet Relay Chat to discuss all things Ubuntu — past events, upcoming events, new releases, Canonical’s future direction…

Ubuntu Hour Guelph

 

Verdi R-D writes:

Hellooo!

Just wanted to let you know the Guelph Ubuntu will be held this month on Friday, September 27, 2013 at the Pennywhistle Pub from 7 until 8 or whenever you feel like going.

Also, if you’re in the southern Ontario area, I suggest you check out the Ubuntu Guelph oriented mailing list. It’s available from Launchpad at ubuntu-ca-guelph@lists.launchpad.net . We also have an IRC channel set up at #ubuntu-ca-guelph .

Continuing from last month, I plan on sending out an email with a link to the survey I designed for last meeting so that everyone can fill it out once I figure out how to make a Google Apps for free form publicly accessible.

Thanks,
Verdi

Software Freedom Day Kitchener-Waterloo

 

Preliminary pictures and video from Laurel L. Russwurm

Pictures and resources from Bob Jonkman’s ownCloud

When: Saturday, 28 September 2013 from 10:00am to 5:00pm iCal 4
Where: Kwartzlab Makerspace
Location: 33 Kent Avenue, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada Map 4
LoCo Event: SFD Kwartlab | Ubuntu LoCo Team Portal
SFD Wiki: Kitchener-Waterloo SFD at Kwartzlab – Software Freedom Day Wiki
Sing-a-long: Celebrate Software Freedom Day Song

Presentations

1. Bob Jonkman: Building Your Own Cloud

2. Stefan Chirila: to be announced

3. Rick Jenkins: Blender

4. James Kelsh: Knoppix

5. Charles McColm: Instant XBMC

Other Activities

• Installfest
  • Bring your computer, laptop, tablet(?), phone(!) to get free software installed.
• Software giveaway
  • Pick up a CD or DVD with free software, or copy some free software to your USB stick or computer.

  • Open Disc Project should have a new release in time for SFD

  • Does Ubuntu-ca-kw still have 12.04 Precise Pangolin disks?

• Free Culture
  • a playlist of genuinely good CC-licenced music
  • a playlist of genuinely good CC-licenced video/movies
  • a bibliography of genuinely good CC-licenced books

There’s no end to geeky computer operating system release parties, it seems.

Debian Wheezy Logo

What: Kitchener-Waterloo Debian Wheezy Release Party
When: Monday, 6 May 2013 at 9:00pm (after the regular meeting from 7:00pm to 9:00pm) iCal 4
Where: St. John’s Kitchen, 97 Victora Street North, Kitchener, Ontario Map 4
Bring: Party snack or beverage
Info: Follow the mailing list discussion (April, May)
Online: IRC channel #kwlug on Freenode Web Chat

Ubuntu Canada Circle Logo

What: Guelph Raring Ringtail Release Party
When: Friday, 10 May 2013 7:00pm to 10:00pm iCal 3
Where: Diyode Community Workshop, Unit B, 71 Wyndham St. S, Guelph, Ontario Map 3
Online: #ubuntu-ca on Freenode Web Chat
Registration: Guelph Raring Ringtail Release Party on Ubuntu Canada LoCo Events

The KW chapter of Ubuntu Canada is having a release party for the latest version of Ubuntu, named “Raring Ringtail” on Thursday, 25 April 2013 at 7:00pm at the Kwartzlab Makerspace.

You’ll meet Ubuntu people from all over Canada during the IRC meeting from 7:00pm to 8:00pm; the Kwartzlab Radio team will be recording a podcast at 8:30pm; and there will be a live installation demonstration on a fancy new Lenovo laptop with UEFI and SecureBoot. And, of course, there will be cake, deviled eggs, and we may order out for pizza…

What: KW Raring Ringtail Release Party
When: Thursday, 25 April 2013 7:00pm – 10:00pm EDT iCal 1
Where: Kwartzlab, 33 Kent Avenue, Kitchener, Ontario Map 1
Online: #ubuntu-ca on Freenode Web Chat
Registration: KW Release Party on Ubuntu Canada LoCo Events (Registration is optional, but appreciated)

There is also a Toronto Raring Ringtail Release Party. Join Michael Kaulbach for a bottomless cup of coffee and free Ubuntu cupcakes!

What: Toronto Raring Ringtail Release Party
When: Thursday, 25 April 2013 8:00pm – 11:00pm EDT iCal 2
Where: Alio Lounge, 108 Dundas Street West, Toronto, Ontario Map 2
Online: #ubuntu-ca on Freenode Web Chat
Registration: Toronto Release Party on Ubuntu Canada LoCo Events (Registration is optional, but appreciated)

And there are rumours afoot of a Raring Ringtail Release Party in Guelph. More details as I unearth them….

Updated 26 April 2013: It’s here!

What: Guelph Raring Ringtail Release Party
When: Friday, 10 May 2013 7:00pm to 10:00pm iCal 3
Where: Diyode Community Workshop, Unit B, 71 Wyndham St. S, Guelph, Ontario Map 3
Online: #ubuntu-ca on Freenode Web Chat
Registration: Guelph Raring Ringtail Release Party on Ubuntu Canada LoCo Events

The Kitchener-Waterloo chapter of the Ubuntu Canadian Team had a wonderful Ubuntu Release Party today. Laurel Russwurm baked a cake and I made some devilled eggs:

Quantal Cake and Devilled Eggs

If you squint a little you can make out the Ubuntu logos…

Ralph brought the official Ubuntu banner:

At the Kitchener Quantal Quetzal Ubuntu Release Party

That’s Jeff, Sergiane, Raul, Ralph, Karim, Bob, and Henrique.

Then it was time to cut the cake:

Cutting cake is serious business!

And the second shift finishes it off:

The rest of the partygoers

That’s David, Gord, Bob, Ralph, and Darcy.

Many thanx to Paul for hosting and The Working Centre for the use of St. John’s Kitchen!

Pictures taken by Laurel L. Russwurm and used under a Creative Commons — Attribution — CC BY license.

Pictures!

Hello Everybodee! I’m happy to announce that we’ll be having the Kitchener-Waterloo Ubuntu Release Party for the version named Quantal Quetzal, v12.10 at St. John’s Kitchen this Saturday.

The best parties always happen in the kitchen. Although we won’t have access to the cooking facilities, bring along some snack food to share, maybe some blank DVDs, and your laptop or netbook.

St. John’s Kitchen, 97 Victoria St. N.

Saturday, 20 October 2012 from 4:00pm to 8:00pm iCal

St. John’s Kitchen Map
97 Victoria Street North
Kitchener, Ontario Canada

Automobile parking is available through Heit Lane in the Worth A Second Look parking lot; bicyles can be locked to railings at the entrance to St. John’s Kitchen.

Event link: http://loco.ubuntu.com/events/ubuntu-ca/2029/detail/
(Registration is optional, but appreciated)

Tux the Penguin, official mascot of the Linux kernel

More GNU/Linux Resources

People have asked me about GNU/Linux resources in K-W, so here are some of them, gathered in one convenient place. This is by no means an exhaustive list (yet). If you know of others, please let me know in the comments.

KW Linux Users Group — http://kwlug.org

The KWLUG mailing list for general discussion is where all the action is, along with a “Help” list for specific questions. Microblogging as @kwlug and !kwlug on Identi.ca and also @kwlug on Twitter.

Ubuntu Canada KW chapter — https://wiki.ubuntu.com/CanadianTeam/KitchenerWaterloo

There’s a low traffic Ubuntu-CA-KW mailing list. Microblogging on Twitter as @ubuntuwaterloo and on Identi.ca as @ubuntuwaterloo too, with a group at !ubuntucakw. Some members can also be found on the IRC channel #ubuntu-ca-kw on Freenode.net.

Ubuntu-CA-KW has regular Ubuntu Hours in Kitchener (first Friday of the month) and Waterloo (third Wednesday of the month) announced on Identi.ca, Twitter, and sometimes the mailing list.

Ubuntu Canada — https://wiki.ubuntu.com/CanadianTeam

Again, the Ubuntu Canada mailing list is where the action is, but there is also a web forum and the Ubuntu-ca.org website. Check out the Ubuntu Canada events listing. There’s an !ubuntuca group on Identi.ca, and many people can be found on the IRC channel #ubuntu-ca on Freenode.net.

Computer Recycling — http://theworkingcentre.org/at/comp_recycling/comp_recycling.html

Computer Recycling at The Working Centre sells refurbished computers pre-installed with GNU/Linux, and offers a repair shop with staff and volunteers who are enthusiastic and knowledgeable about GNU/Linux. Every Saturday is Ubuntu Day: 10:00am to 4:00pm, Hours are Tuesday to Friday, 10:00am to 5:00pm, at 66 Queen St. S. in Kitchener (use the entrance on Charles St).

Kwartzlab — http://kwartzlab.ca

You’ll also want to keep an eye on Kwartzlab, the local makerspace where many of the Ubuntu events are held. There’s a discussion mailing list for members and non-members alike. Visit the workshop on Tuesday Open Night, 7:00pm to 10:00pm at 283 Duke St. W., Kitchener.

Watcamp Calendar — http://watcamp.com

Also check the Watcamp calendar for other GNU/Linux and many other tech events happening in the Waterloo area.

That should keep you going…

Bob Jonkman <bjonkman@sobac.com>         http://sobac.com/sobac/
SOBAC Microcomputer Services              Voice: +1-519-669-0388
6 James Street, Elmira ON  Canada  N3B 1L5  Cel: +1-519-635-9413
Software   ---   Office&  Business Automation   ---   Consulting

Update 6 June 2012: Clarified microblogging names and groups

Image of Tux by Larry Ewing, copied from Wikimedia Commons. Permission to use and/or modify this image is granted provided you acknowledge Larry Ewing lewing@isc.tamu.edu and The GIMP if someone asks.