Manchester Free Software

This month’s talk will be delivered by Leslie I’Anson from Manchester Free Software. Leslie’s talk has one very simple objective, which is to answer the following question:

“From the literally hundreds of GNU/Linux distributions in existence, what makes Debian special?”

Leslie has been using some form of the GNU/Linux operating system as his primary desktop environment since the Summer of 2007 and since then he has experimented with a multitude of different distributions; form the “easy-to-use” ( i.e Ubuntu, Fedora and openSUSE) to the down-right “hardcore” (LFS, Slackware, Gentoo and Arch). All in all, Leslie’s estimates that he’s used over twenty different incarnations of this popular free software platform.

However, one distribution keeps drawing him back – Debian (which incidentally was Leslie’s first ever experience of a free software operating system). Believing that he has finally settled down with his one true love, Leslie attempts to explain why this is and, as you will no doubt discover, the rationale behind this decision is far from purely technical.

So join us if you will for, what will (hopefully) be, an entertaining and enlightening introduction to both DebianDebian as operating system and as a project.

Also, as a special treat, Robert Burrell Donkin will be following this month’s talk with what he is dubbing a “Cryptography Un-Workshop”. Robert’s plan is to use this opportunity to gauge the level of interest before possibly embarking on a full-blown, audience-led, un-conference style, interactive talk and workshop later in the year.

The meeting will take place at the usual time, 7pm, at the Lass O’Gowrie pub on Charles Street in Central Manchester. We will be located in the Salmon Room upstairs, although there will be people around a little earlier downstairs (probably sampling the food and drinks on offer). Just ask at the bar if you can’t find us. The Lass website has full details of how to get there and the fine selection of food and drink available. The venue also provides wifi.

If you would like five minutes to tell us about something, please contact us.

The February administrative meeting will be on the second Monday of the
month at the usual time and place:

* Date: Monday, 8th February 2010
* Time: 19:00
* Location: The Waterhouse

The meeting is open to everyone and normally lasts about an hour. At the meeting we review what we’ve done, assess where we are and plan what to do. This is your opportunity to get involved. We welcome new people wanting to help the group achieve its goals.

We stay around for a social meet up afterwards, so it’s a good
opportunity to meet up with people and have a chat.

Minutes from last meeting which was held on 11th January 2010 are at
http://groups.fsf.org/wiki/Manchester/2010-01-11/Minutes

If you have something you’d like included in the Agenda of the meeting
please contact us.

This month’s talk will be given by Michael Dorrington from Manchester Free Software.

Graphical computer games are a part of software, even free software. They are fun and are useful for making the free software user happier.

Michael will be demonstrating 100% free software graphical games on 100% free software system. There are lots of free software graphical games. Unfortunately, many are not in a suitable state of completion, are not good games or require non-free video drivers. The talk will show top quality free software graphical games that work well on free video drivers.

The style of game demonstrated will include fast paced FPS, racing, graphically rich arcade, RTS, Point-and-click adventure.

The talk will include which graphics hardware works best in free software, what features are missing and the settings required on games to get them running at the required speed.

We welcome lightning talks from people demonstrating their favourite 100% free software graphical games on 100% free software system. Please contact us.

Michael has been using GNU/Linux for many years, has played some graphical computer games in that time and is currently Chairperson of Manchester Free Software.

The meeting will take place at the usual time, 7pm, at the Lass O’Gowrie pub on Charles Street in Central Manchester. We will be located in the Salmon Room upstairs, although there will be people around a little earlier downstairs (probably sampling the food and drinks on offer). Just ask at the bar if you can’t find us. The Lass website has full details of how to get there and the fine selection of food and drink available. The venue also provides wifi.

If you would like five minutes to tell us about something, please contact us.

The January administrative meeting will be on the second Monday of the
month at the usual time and place:

* Date: Monday, 11th January
* Time: 19:00
* Location: The Waterhouse

The meeting is open to everyone and normally lasts about an hour and an
half. At the meeting we review what we’ve done, assess where we are and
plan what to do. This is your opportunity to get involved. We welcome
new people wanting to help the group achieve its goals.

We stay around for a social meet up afterwards, so it’s a good
opportunity to meet up with people and have a chat.

Minutes from last meeting which was held on 14th December are at
http://groups.fsf.org/wiki/Manchester/2009-12-14/Minutes

The Agenda for this meeting will be at
http://groups.fsf.org/wiki/Manchester/2010-01-11

If you have any thing you’d like included in the Agenda please contact us.

This month’s talk won’t be a talk but our Christmas party!

We can use this opportunity to do some keysigning, have an informal chat about OpenPGP, informally discuss what we’d like to do next year, and anything else free software related.

The meeting will take place at the usual time, 7pm, at the Lass O’Gowrie pub on Charles Street in Central Manchester. We will be located downstairs (probably sampling the food and drinks on offer). The Lass website has full details of how to get there and the fine selection of food and drink available. The venue also provides wifi.

The December administrative meeting will be on the second Monday of the
month at the usual time and place:

* Date: Monday, 14th December
* Time: 19:00
* Location: The Waterhouse

The meeting is open to everyone and normally lasts about an hour and an
half. At the meeting we review what we’ve done, assess where we are and
plan what to do. This is your opportunity to get involved. We welcome
new people wanting to help the group achieve its goals.

We stay around for a social meet up afterwards, so it’s a good
opportunity to meet up with people and have a chat.

Minutes from last meeting which was held on 9th November are at
http://groups.fsf.org/wiki/Manchester/2009-11-09/Minutes

Draft Agenda for this meeting is at
http://groups.fsf.org/wiki/Manchester/2009-12-14

If you have any thing you’d like included in the Agenda please contact us.