Beer is not free
Technology is expensive. It is easy today to download an operating system and supporting software that is free (as in price and liberties) if you have the means to connect to the internet, as well as the hardware on which the OS will eventually be used.
I was fortunate enough to be able to back the recent Ubuntu Edge crowd funding campaign (which at the time of writing has already broken just about all crowd funding records, but will still not meet the required amount to get funding). Yes, I would much appreciate it if you are reading this and somehow missed what this campaign is to go check it out and perhaps make a pledge but before you rush off to do so, there is another cause I would like to make you aware off (one that is also coming to a close in a few days), one to not put the latest or greatest smartphone in the world ever (period) in your pocket, but give someone in the world the ability to do things on a computer and the internet that most of us take for granted; Reglue – Helping those on the wrong side of the Digital Divide.
Rainbow nation
We live in a colourful world. So much variety, and now I am not talking of all the various distro’s out there, no. I am referring to people. Different shapes, sizes, languages, thoughts, feelings, perceptions, expectations,
Now people tend to find common ground in things, this draws them together. A major power to do this can be culture. Something that most people in a certain country have in common is their shared history and a kinship. This can make interactions around other topics smoother, more productive… we are all speaking the “same language” so to speak.
What happens when you are in a country where the native population makes out only about 13% of the population, and the rest are made out of ex-patriots of just about every country under the sun? Get ready for some spicy and varied interactions because this is a melting pot of flavour.
The country I am referring to is the UAE, and the reason I write this is to give some thanks to some great Ubuntu and FLOSS enthusiasts that are slowly building up an Ubuntu LoCo right here. Passionate individuals from all walks of life originally coming from all over the world working together with a shared focus. It isn’t always easy, but the will is strong.