Bristol Wireless News

Regular readers will be aware of the existence of Tux, the Linux kernel mascot (news passim) and now if you live in the United States, you’ll be able to show your commitment to free and open source software by carrying a Tux-branded Visa credit card, courtesy of the Linux Foundation, the non-profit organisation dedicated to accelerating the growth of Linux.

The Linux Foundation says it “is pleased to offer a Linux-branded affinity card for those who want to support the Linux Foundation’s activities while expressing their commitment to Linux. The Linux-branded credit card is an easy way for anyone to contribute to the growth of Linux and identify themselves as supporters of the community by carrying Tux in their pocket.”

For every card activation, the Linux Foundation will receive $50, as well as a percentage of every purchase made with the credit card. All funds via the programme will go directly towards providing community technical events and travel grants for open source community members to accelerate Linux innovation.

Visit the Linux Foundation for details.

Your correspondent (for his sins. Ed. ), in addition to filling the role of press officer for Bristol Wireless, also acts as the co-operative’s Company Secretary. As a part of that that role the following email has today been circulated on Bristol Wireless’ general mailing list:

Hi all

One of my duties as company secretary is to keep the shareholders’ register up to date and I’ve become aware when issuing notices for recent general meetings that some of the email addresses recorded in the register are no longer valid and that the register does not have physical addresses for some members of the co-operative.

I’m therefore asking all members of the co-operative to contact me on my email address (woodsy [at] bristolwireless.net) to provide these missing details so I can keep the register as current as possible.

As I have to give notice of a quarterly general meeting in the very near future, members’ co-operation would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Kind regards
Steve Woods
Company Secretary, Bristol Wireless Community Co-operative

Rachel, the co-host of Bristol Dorkbot writes:

Hi Everyone

I just want to clarify that the Dorkbot next meeting is on Tuesday 21st July at the Pervasive Media Studio. You can sign up at the website for the meet now!

NOTE: the PMS website has it down this evening, so if anyone thinks that its this evening hold your horses there until next week!!!

Aside from a couple of interesting presentations of mystery and wonder next week, we also can reveal the plans beginning to hatch forming from the invites and different opportunities that are being put forward to Dorkbotters.

More to be seen on the website soon.

BTW if you see the website doing strange things they will be moving the site soon to a new server.

For easy quick info you can also go to the twitter stream at www.twitter.com/dorkbotbristol.

Catch you all real soon.

Best

Rachel

Co-host, Dorkbot team

Our old friend John Palfrey has emailed us with an update and picture of his Linux Lounge bus, which is gradually coming together as a showcase for open source IT and green energy technologies.

The bus is a 1984 MCW Mk11 Metrobus, 9.5m in length and is powered by a 10.5L 6 cylinder Gardner engine. From 1984 to 2005 it spent its life in the North-East of England finishing up with “Go North East” as a school bus. It was then retired and converted to a mobile casino. In November 2006 John purchased it for a well-earned semi-retirement in the West Country being converted into an IT centre on the top deck and a servery below.

John writes that he still has a few jobs to do, including an LTSP suite on the top deck. John says: “I am working with the green energy organization Panacea, who are very excited at the prospect of promoting their stuff on the bus. I will show a video of theirs and some PDF files on the prototype equipment they are working on. Have a look at their site; it is full of green OS energy projects.”

John continues: “I don’t have any inside photos of the bus yet as its still a mess due to lack of storage space. I need to book up some events for August onwards. Have a look at the Linux Lounge website and I would appreciate any comments you may have – good or bad.”