@killyourfm @codemonkeymike it was great to have you out at @SeaGL this year! I never get a chance to actually attend the presentations, but looking forward to seeing it once we finish processing the recordings...
This project is super neat and I'm probably going to roll out a version for all of the less-technical folks I currently support.
I was wondering, have you connected with the #FreeGeek folks in Portland? The Seattle chapter shuttered some time ago, but I think they are going strong.
Not saying we did everything right, oh, we most certainly did not...
The #FreeGeek I miss was part mutual aid project, part hackerspace, part environmental action, part peer learning, part absurdist art project, primarily volunteer driven, and at times painfully idiosyncratic. I miss it so, so much!
I am pretty sure it is now just another charity with a dash of environmental advocacy and very rudimentary job skills training.
At least they can cross their Ts and dot their Is now.
Nevermind the fact that #FreeGeek was a springboard for me from being basically homeless into an world traveling (for better and worse) free software developer.
Nevermind that I met someone else at FOSSY in 2023 who their volunteering at FreeGeek landed them an engineering job at a Intel working on open source.
But because we did not properly track all our anecdotes during the organization's infancy, it was all basically worthless...
The talking points Juan Muro Jr. gave at the 2023 FOSSY panel on behalf of #FreeGeek just wrenched my heart.
"People don't need skills in open source, they need jobs and jobs don't do open source."
As someone who had a continuous presence there for 14 years as a volunteer, collective member, staff, and board liason with staff...
They inherited a multimillion dollar non-profit organization and tossed the values that got it there under the bus.
well, word's gotten out, so i can spread it around
the board and management of Free Geek Twin Cities are deliberately ruining it
https://www.reddit.com/r/TwinCities/comments/1nndfd3/wth_happened_to_free_geek/
UPDATE: This laptop has been claimed.
I offered it to a rather prominent Mastodon user who frequently posts #mutualaid requests but they didn't respond, so now I will offer it to you: I have a HP Spectre x360 convertible netbook which won't run Windows 11, but will run #Linux great. If you need it more than I do, it's yours, especially if you're in the #Portland area. I will ship it though if you're really in need and out of the area. If no one claims it it will eventually go to #FreeGeek.
Zoom registration link for those who can't attend in person:
https://oregonstate.zoom.us/meeting/register/JpEWh9V0RYqShLS15VnelQ#/registration
Questions? Contact 503-347-9700 or email [email protected]
On May 9th, the federal government announced the cancellation of the Digital Equity Act. The $2.75 billion act was passed to fund initiatives that bridge the digital divide across America. In Oregon, the Digital Equity Act would have funded: • More free digital skills classes for the community • More free one-on-one Tech Help • Low/No-cost internet plans • Provided faster, more reliable internet (including bringing internet access for the first time to some rural areas!) The Coalition of Digital Equity (CODE, headed by Free Geek) and the Oregon Broadband Equity Coalition (OBEC) are hosting a town hall event to highlight how the digital divide affects people across Oregon and how loss of this funding might impact organizations, schools, businesses, communities and individuals in Oregon. This Zoom registration is for those who are unable to attend the event in person. OSU is hosting the Zoom live streaming for the town hall. Event Details Date and Time: Wednesday, August 27th from 2-3:30pm In person location: Medford Library, 205 S Central Ave, Medford, OR 97501 IT support and Zoom live video stream provided by Oregon State University.
@arstechnica I used FreeDOS just a few years ago to update my Dell PC's firmware. So clutch! @freedosproject Awesome project.
Microsoft thinks you should recycle pcs that can't be upgraded to windows 11...
Please do not do this. Try linux or give them to someone else who will, or donate them to charitable organizations.
Goblins need spare computers everywhere!
#question
Can we have a #hashtag on here for people who wish to discard perfectly good computers, so other people on here who are less fortunate can get them and use linux or something?
Any opinions on a best hashtag for that?
*edit @generationX mentioned a hashtag, #computertruhe (which is a group or the german equivalent to this paying it forward of computers or related parts, and is active on mastodon!) This may translate to #computerchest and is the best lead on a relevant hashtag for this purpose so far!
#retux (for games?)
possibly #upcycling
Unique for this purpose suggested:
#takemytech (at least 2 votes!)
#sparePChere
#pc2hand
by area:
@PCsfueralle for Austria, like computertruhe for DE
#LinuxInstallParty may be relevant! DE I think!
#FreeGeek for #Portland and maybe #Minneapolis !
#Debian 12 Bookworm made installation and GUI much easier than previous versions, including nonfree repositories for proprietary driver support! Debian 13 Trixie (stable) drops later this year. It is upstream and all about open source, as a Linux option.
#mastodon #windows #windows10 #recyclewindows10 #policy #terriblepolicy #linux #payitforward #charity #computer #computerrepair #goblinsolutions
Wm Salt Hale
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Pablonius Monk 🇺🇦
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