For all you foaming-at-the-mouth freedomites out there, this Saturday is Software Freedom Day. See: http://softwarefreedomday.org/ Show your friends, family, and colleagues that you care about them by celebrating Software Freedom Day with them this Saturday. This is a big one. This September marks the FSF's 25th Birthday.
How can you celebrate Software Freedom Day? -------------------------------------------------------------------- Upgrade any computers running Windows or OS X to any GNU+Linux distribution of your choosing. Nuke that flash player. Or, next time it breaks, let Adobe fix it for you. rm -rf ~/.ies4linux Switch from IIS webhosting to Apache. Upgrade your home NAT/router firmware to OpenWRT. Become more familiar with SSH and screen. When a website doesn't render in Firefox, it's broken. So call up the company and let them know. Replace vmware with kvm, qemu, Xen, VirtualBox-OSE or any of the other Free Software alternatives. Check out the latest gNewSense (Ubuntu with proprietary blobs removed) from http://torrent.gnewsense.org/gnewsense-livecd-deltah-2.1.iso.torrent It is even more free than Fedora! If you use gNewSense, you basically have zero risk of running proprietary code on your machine. Learn the difference between Free Software and Open Source. Become an FSF associate member. The FSF campaigns to raise awareness of software freedom, and end software tyranny. They are also to thank for most of the core GNU utilities upon which your GNU+Linux system is built. http://www.fsf.org/associate/ Buy your next workstation, or server, with GNU+Linux pre-installed! Even if you prefer to do your own install, you will have assurance that the hardware works, and is validated by the manufacturer. And you will be giving your vote for Free Software. Support the SFLC, who defend software freedom by holding violators accountable, and enforcing free software licenses in and out of court. http://www.softwarefreedom.org/ When choosing hardware, consider which vendors provide Free drivers, or participate in kernel development. Speak with your wallet, and ask "Does this support GNU+Linux?" and "Will you refund my purchase if it doesn't work?" before buying hardware. Stop using proprietary and patent encumbered formats like .mp3, .doc, .xls, .gif, .jpeg, .wmv, etc., and convert your old media to Free formats like ogg vorbis, open document format, png, svg, and theora. If someone "can't open" a free format, don't give them a patent encumbered file. Give them Free Software to open and work with it. There are even versions of most Free Software that users can use without installing to a system, or modifying system configuration so they don't have any excuses not to use it. Support other GNU+Linux users at http://www.linuxquestions.org/ and on your mailing lists. Switch from proprietary network services like Twitter, and Google Reader, to Free Software Solutions like itenti.ca, and Gregarious. Keep an eye out for AfferoGPL licensed Software As A Service sites, and give preference to them. They're gaining steam, quickly.