Where does the time go
Posted in Ubuntu, events on 08/27/2009 09:18 pm by Laura CzajkowskiBaffling, I know I’m a list whore, but not even I can seem to manage to get a week lately where there isn’t one event or another happening so much so I’ve gone and left the blog alone for a bit and really only updated via identi.ca/twitter which them means friends who are not on there are wondering where I’ve gone and hidden myself under.
So it’s the end of August already, a month since the Geeknic where we had 27 adults and 7 kids turn up. It was a lovely day at farmleigh, sunshine, fresh food, music and great conversations were had. It was great to get away from the computer screens and I am a firm believer in the fact a community is successful with more face to face interaction if it can be done. IRC is great and mailing lists are good for discussion, but a face to face chat can solve so many questions in a timely manner.
The geeknics during the summer have proved this, as many more people who don’t use IRC or are possibly quiet on mailing lists have come along and introduced themselves to the rest of the LoCo. Another thing of not just going to the pub this means that people who don’t want to go to a pub come along and are more inclined to take part, the final big factor for the great turn out was having it on the weekend, where everyone could relax and weren’t tied down with having to go home early. Many people brought along their families making it a real day out and this was also great as it really focused the idea about the day about getting away from the computers! Going by the photos, everyone enjoyed themselves.
Ubuntu-ie LoCo members having a picnic
That night we met some of the canonical folks who were over in Dublin for a sprint. It was great to meet more of the folks behind the system I use every day. Even better was I remembered the names from meeting them at UDS, lordie I need name tags for folks!
This week has been hectic, working on the final bits and bobs for ossbarcamp. Timetable is all done and dusted, rooms booked and double checked and the pub (the important bit) was confirmed, though this was after a light heart attack of ringing them and no answer only to find the pub had closed up and was for sale, 20 min panic later and new pub sorted. Not really a shortage of pubs over here really.
The barcamp has talks covering a diverse topic range so there should be something for everyone.
- Teach your boss how to Floss
- Growing Eucalyptus with Ubuntu
- Automated Documentation
- Landscape Server, easy management and lots of Ubuntu boxes – HEAnet
- Using Free Culture in an internet free world
Are just a sample of some of the talks, so looking forward to that, and a great way to celebrate Software Freedom Day, there seems to be a lot going on which is great!
This evening I was working on the Ubuntu-NGO project and working with Jan Stedehouder on working on what way we should approach NGO’s and also by going through the case studies and making it a bit clearer how they are benefiting using open source and why others should use it!
So it’s been busy and also had to fit work in around all of this, no rest for the wicked!
