CianBlog.com - Lucian Savluc - Blog

September 18, 2007

Free Geek Vancouver - an admirable initiative

Last time I promised to come with an interesting story, here it is:

A week or two ago I went to buy lunch outside my office building and I had the curiosity to enter in a building nearby, where, on the entrance was a tag saying “Free Geek” and and sticker with Ubuntu :)

So what I found inside: a pretty big deposit full of computers, monitors and other parts surrounded by a frantic activity. I said hello to one of the persons there and we start to chat.
This is how learned about one of the most admirable initiatives I found in the last time.
My chat partner was David Repa and he explained to me on short what is all about: they are a group of Free/Open Source Software enthusiasts who volunteer to recycle old computers, everything that can be reusable, by receiving it from people who instead to throw them on the garbage, donate it to them.
Although this sounds familiar, there are a few points that impressed me: they take the old computers and rebuild reliable PC from that parts, cleaning all on the hard drives and installing only Free Software!. Anybody can come and help, and if he donates 24 hours of work he will receive a free system. Every week, they held seminars about using Free Software and people can come and ask questions and find the best practices. They also grant hardware for non-profit organizations. And finally, they are recycling the waste to the recycling centers.
So, what do you think? Sounds great, isn’t it?! And they are really doing what they mean, I saw this with my eyes.

No more words, I suggest you to check their website http://freegeekvancouver.org.

I hope this would provide inspirations for IT Romanians people and mostly for ROSI group members and other Opens Source and Free Software enthusiast although what are doing those guys here is an example for all of us about what means care about community, collaborations - a clean and open society:

“We provide a place for people to share technology, and to work together building healthier, more empowered communities. We want to see transparency, accountability, and sustainability become the norm in our industry and in our neighborhoods.”
Free Geek Vancouver

Well done friends!

July 23, 2007

“O Canada”

Filed under: About Life & Everything, English, Living in Vancouver, BC, News & Bolts — Lucian Savluc @ 5:27 pm

DSCN2090 After almost 4 years since we moved from Romania, we can say we start to feel here like home: we became Canadian citizens a few days ago!

I found a lot of times, when you are wishing something very strong and you fight for it many years, when you finally achieve your goal you almost feel nothing..
Not this time: the road until here was so tough but the feeling we got when we realized finally we won, was great. And it wasn’t about only getting the Canadian citizenship it was the feeling that our experience on this amazing journey pays all the effort and sacrifices.

Canada is a great country and we are glad we chose to come here and made it our home. We pushed our limits, but most of all, we learned that people are people everywhere on the globe, with good and bad, with light and dark, with joy and sadness, and regardless from where we come, what our skin color is or what language we speak, the single thing matter is your character and your spirit. I don’t want to sound lame, but this is really what I feel. 

Sometimes I think Canada is like an amazing experiment where God tries to create a new world, one that comes from John Lennon’s song - Imagine .. Is not perfect of course, but it would pay a lesson to many other countries.. And I still consider that, if you decide to immigrate, there is no other one like a better place to chose.

On a ordinary Friday for the rest of the world, but a special one for the 70 people coming from 22 countries to became Canadian citizens: more pictures on flickr.

July 4, 2007

Is warm, is summer, and is vacation

Filed under: About Life & Everything, English, Living in Vancouver, BC — Lucian Savluc @ 10:14 pm

 

Water Play

 

Two sets of photos I shot on Canada Day long weekend here in Vancouver:
Coal Harbour and Barnet Marine Park.

I love the one above – Water Play; Is warm, is summer, and is vacation

May 27, 2007

Thank you! All of you who participated and helped eLiberatica!

It was a great feeling I had there: we are not alone, we can do great things together, good things, and we can make a stand. And the satisfaction and results we can achieve are more we can dream.
Even apparently we are ordinary people, without too much power, eLiberatica proved that together we can speak on our behalf.

Now, ROSI who actually are comprised by all of us who participated somehow at eLiberatica can go further and try to influence what is happening in Romanian IT field; can influence individuals, companies but also the government. We have to go in the same line with the rest of the world where our place is! We where for too long outside. We should not leave the country for finding better life, we must build our better life there and make Romania a part of the world community. And together we can do that. Now I know.

—-

I received a few hundred emails and I started to respond each of it, but it seems that I can not handle all. For the ones of you I didn’t respond yet personally, you should indulge me, I’ll try to do it in the next weeks.

What I wish to assure you is that I read all your emails you sent to me and your thoughts and suggestions and encouragement matters a lot for me.

I hope that what I wrote on the top of this message is explaining my fillings and my determination to go future together with you. You can count on me.
All my best for all of you!

May 20, 2007

Conferinta eLiberatica - “Despre ROSI si eLiberatica - trecut, prezent si viitor”

In primul rand multumesc tutoror celor care au fost alturi de noi la eLiberatica. Ati fost minunati! Pot sa spun cu siguranta, am discutat cu fiecare oaspete in parte, toti au fost deosebit de impresionati de primirea facuta, de calitatea prezentarilor celor din tara, de entuziasmul vostru al tutoror.

eLiberatica a intrecut de departe toate asteptarile noastre.

Pentru ca este un subiect pe care nu il voi putea acoperi in cateva minute, nu o sa continui aici, dar o sa revin cu un alt articol saptamana viitoare cand voi reveni in Vancouver.
In schimb, pana cand vom seta portalul ROSI si actualiza situl eLiberatica (si vom publica toate prezentarile si miile de poze facute) astfel incat sa putem primi acolo feedbackul si sugestiile voastre, va invit sa comentati aici. Tot ceea ce veti sugera vom lua in calcul pe viitor.

De asemenea, am postat mai jos prezentarea pe care am avut-o la deschiderea eLiberaticii, si pe care multi au ratat-o; aceasta va raspunde multor intrebari care mi-au fost puse la sfarsitul conferintei.
Deci despre viitorul ROSI si al eLiberaticii:

————–

Good morning! Welcome everybody!

I intend to talk in Romanian, because I would like to address my Romanian fellows, especially. But before doing so, I would like to say “thank you”, first of all to my dear friend Zak, because without him this conference wouldn’t have happened. Also, I would like to thank to all our local and international guests and keynote speakers who have given special value to this conference, making it one of the most important IT events this year in our country.
In addition, my greetings go to Agora, to all our sponsors, partners and volunteers, and to you, our dear guests.
Last but not least, I will say “thank you” to my wife who has bared my long late nights and weekends I spent to make this initiative happen.

And now, in Romanian, about ROSI and eLiberatica:
Nu intentionez a prezenta beneficiile Open Source si Free Software nici a vorbi despre construirea unei reputatii sau a unei cariere; ceilalti speakeri o vor face mult mai bine decat mine. In schimb doresc sa va impartasesc cateva intamplari .
Pe la inceputurile mele in Canada, a trebuit sa merg la oficiul vamal din Vancouver pentru a completa cateva acte… Doamna de acolo – de altfel foarte amabila – verificand formularul pe care l-am completat a remarcat: “Ah, Romania, Nadia Comaneci, she is the one who put that country on the map.” Am gandit atunci, desi nu am spus-o cu glas tare pentru ca nu am vrut sa fiu grosolan: “Romania se afla pe harta lumii de foarte multa vreme, doar ca dumneata nu ai stiut…”
Cu cateva saptamani in urma, citeam pe un forum extern ceva asemanator legat de eLiberatica; si anume ca acest eveniment va pune in sfarsit tara noastra pe harta – evident se referea la harta FLOSS a lumii. Cand am citit articolul – ca si in cazul primei intamplari – m-am simtit ofensat. Apoi, am inceput sa gandesc; sunt de condamnat acesti oameni pentru ignoranta lor, sau vina este a noastra, a romanilor, pentru ca nu stim sa ne promovam indeajuns initiativele, valorile, actiunile noastre.. Ca nu comunicam indeajuns cu restul lumii.

Multi m-au intrebat cum vad eu viitorul ROSI. Multi au fost si sunt inca probabil suspiciosi, traind cu impresia ca ROSI incearca sau va incerca sa se erijeze intr-o entitate ce doreste sa conduca miscarea FLOSS din tara. Cea care, cu totii speram ca se va naste.
Dar sa revin la ideea inceputa inainte: de ce, in general, lumea cand vorbeste despre Open Source si Free Software nu ne ia in consideratie si nici nu are habar despre noi. Cred ca raspunsul este evident: nu ne facem cunoscuti indeajuns.
Cand am inceput inchegarea grupului ROSI, nu cunosteam pe nimeni care sa aibe tangente cu Open Source sau Free Software in tara. Am cautat informatii pe internet si nu am gasit mare lucru: cateva mici comunitati, ceva entuziasti si sustinatori ai sistemului de operare Linux sau informatii disparate despre cateva evenimente cu conotatie FLOSS, cele mai notabile intamplate cu ani in urma. Si aici ma refer la conferintele ROSE si programul “Free Unix for Romania” despre care practic am aflat abia dupa multe luni de la infiintarea ROSI, abia cand d-nul profesor Jalobeanu m-a contactat.
O alta problema; majoritatea informatiilor gasite erau in limba romana. Daca un un strain, cauta informatii despre o posibila implicare in miscarea FLOSS din partea celor din tara noastra, practic nu va gasi nimic. 90 la suta din informatii, si acelea putine, sunt intr-o limba greu de inteles pentru cei care nu o cunosc.

In conceptia mea, ROSI trebuie sa o fie oglinda, o sala de prezentare, un panou de informatii, unde oricine poate gasi date despre orice are tangenta cu fenomenul FLOSS in tara noastra. Pentru ca avem ce sa prezentam acolo; contrar aparentelor, avem mult mai multe comunitati, evenimente si persoane care intr-un fel sau altul au adoptat si incearca sa promoveze conceptele, tehnologiile OS/FS in tara. Avem firme care produc soft Open Source… Exista tot ce trebuie pentru a naste o miscare grassroot cu conotatii nationale, Free/Libre Open Source Software!

Prin eLiberatica ne facem cunoscuti in lumea larga. Am dovedit ca se poate si putem duce la bun sfarsit ceea ce ne propunem. Am creat puntea de legatura, am deschis usa catre comunitatea mondiala FLOSS.
Pana acum, eLiberatica a insemant ROSI si ROSI a insemnat eLiberatica. Este timpul ca ROSI sa isi continue evolutia si sa capete o identitate. Dar toate acestea nu se pot intampla peste noapte. Trebuie rabdare, munca si mai ales implicare si daruinta. Mahatma Gandi a spus cu ani in urma:
“Almost everything you do will seem insignifiant, but is important do do it” – “Tot ce faci va parea insignifiant, dar este important sa il faci”… si as chimbat lumea.

Acum, revenind la aspectul practic – pentru ca in final faptele si rezultatele conteaza; dorim in primul rand, sa construim un portal ROSI. Un portal, unde orice organizatie, initiativa, comunitate care are tangenta cu FLOSS va putea sa fie listata. Vom sistematiza aceste informatii, le vom traduce in engleza astfel incat oricine vrea sa afle date despre grupurile FLOSS din tara va putea usor sa o faca.
Pe urma, vom adauga o sectiune de stiri, unde vom incuraja ca orice eveniment cu legatura FLOSS din Romania sa fie publicat. Vom traduce aceste stiri. Totul va fi bilingv si astfel ne vom adresa lumii largi. Vom adauga si un forum, unde membrii diferitelor comunitati vor fi incurajati sa schimbe informatii si sa discute pe un teren neutru. Alaturi, un Job Board. Si multe alte lucruri pot fi adaugate.
Nu dorim sa conducem pe nimeni sau sa ne atribuim merite care nu sunt ale noastre.
Vrem sa ajutam. Vrem sa facilitam comunicarea. Si acest lucru nu il putem face singuri. Avem nevoie de implicarea si ajutorul vostru al tuturor. Doar si prin faptul ca stim unii de altii, stim ca existam, avem o cauza comuna si incepem sa comunicam, deja este un pas urias inainte.
ROSI isi va gasi calea si isi va afla identitatea in timp.
ROSI ia cu adevarat nastere acum, chiar in clipa aceasta.

Am fost de multe ori intrebat cine sunt membrii ROSI. Probabil ca majoritatea dintre dvs deja ati citit articolele publicate pe aceasta tema sau informatiile de pe site; pana acum ROSI au fost de fapt toti cei care au ajutat si participat la organizarea acestei conferinte. Acestia reprezinta Initiativa Romana pentru Open Source si Free Software.
Pe “Basecamp” unde am coordonat proiectul, sunt inregistrati in jur de 40 de persoane. Dintre ei, unii au preferat doar sa asiste. Pe de alta parte, au fost o multime de cazuri, in care persoane care au ajutat substantial aceasta initiativa nu au dorit sa le creez un cont pe basecamp, in schimb prefereand sa conunice direct cu mine. Deci teoretic, nu fac parte din ROSI.
De aceea eu personal consider grupul ROSI fiind compus din toti acesti oameni care au participat si realizat eLiberatica. Nucleul a fost format, dar alaturi de ei, de aceasta initiativa apartin mult mai multi si as merge pana acolo incat, daca ar trebui sa-i numesc pe toti, ar trebuie sa va ridicati toti cei de aici, toata sala, in picioare. Pentru ca toti cei aflati in acest moment aici si altii care nu sunt in sala au facut sa se intample eLiberatica. NOI TOTI reprezentam Romanian Open Source and Free Software Initiative.

ROSI, se naste odata cu eLiberatica!

As dori totusi in final sa ii numesc pe cei care pana in acest moment, si-au sacrificat din timpul lor
si au ajutat cum a putut fiecare, la organizarea acestui eveniment. Inainte de aceasta, tot cu permisiunea dvs, voi cita o fraza celebra:

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing” – “Sinugrul lucru necesar raului sa invinga este ca oamenii buni sa nu faca nimic”.
Ca sa parafrazez as spune: “Singura conditie a progresului este ca oamenii buni sa se implice”.

Va multumesc pentru atentie si timpul acordat.

Ii rog sa pofteasca alaturi de mine (ii listez intr-o ordine complet aleatorie) – pentru ca trebuie sa ii cunoasteti si merita aplauze – pe: Adrian Florea, Adriana Nan, Alex Brie, Andrei Maxim, Aurelian Oancea, Laurentiu Fogoros, Leontin Birsan, Stefan Petre, Dan Mutescu, Daniel Tudor, Gabriela Bartic, Mihai Bucuroiu, Mircea Dragoi, Mircea Sarbu, Romulus Maier, Adrian Pop, Carmen Holotescu, Filip Chereches-Tosa, Raluca Borca, Felix Enescu, Alexandru Lapusan, Remus Cazacu, Laurentiu Buzdugan, Carmen Moise, Dave Macleod, Gabriel Radic, Jennifer Zickerman, Roberto Gerola, Tiberiu Turbureanu, Traian Anghel, Yovko Labrev, Bogomil Shopov, Andrei Bocan, Ionut Popa, Ciprian Alexandru si Mihai Gheza.

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