I have left Blogger and its Google world.
You can view my posts and writings on WordPress
http://djbailey.wordpress.com
Open source, open societies.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Living the Free software lifestyle
First of all thanks to Wonderboy for giving me the idea and inspiration.
In my never ending quest to rid myself of proprietary software and its associated corporate control, I am making some changes. Some of these I had already done, but had not really put into effect like setting up an Identi.ca account. I also added an account at Jabber so that I can use it with Pidgin my free and multi-platform IM client.
I am also getting rid of the Twitter bar in my browser and replacing it with the Identi.ca bar so I can post updates from Firefox.
I am also thinking of switching to Ekiga rather than Skype. Both are free as in price, but only one of them is free as in freedom. You guess which one. There will be other changes to come as well. Watch this space for updates.
In my never ending quest to rid myself of proprietary software and its associated corporate control, I am making some changes. Some of these I had already done, but had not really put into effect like setting up an Identi.ca account. I also added an account at Jabber so that I can use it with Pidgin my free and multi-platform IM client.
I am also getting rid of the Twitter bar in my browser and replacing it with the Identi.ca bar so I can post updates from Firefox.
I am also thinking of switching to Ekiga rather than Skype. Both are free as in price, but only one of them is free as in freedom. You guess which one. There will be other changes to come as well. Watch this space for updates.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Do the Cubans know something we don't
Cuba recently launched its own answer to Windows this week, or, in the bigger picture, what the Cubans are calling “US Hegemony.” Nova, the new open source OS being offered by the Cuban government, is being made to boot out US-based Microsoft products.
Cuba joins the list of countries the have dumped Windows in favor of Linux. What are the reasons, well for one they are worried about US spy agencies exploiting backdoors in the code. A well justified fear, especially when Microsoft may be the biggest spy of all.
But perhaps a better reason is
Do you hate pervasive and corrupt corporations that try to run your life?
Do you use Windows?
Cuba joins the list of countries the have dumped Windows in favor of Linux. What are the reasons, well for one they are worried about US spy agencies exploiting backdoors in the code. A well justified fear, especially when Microsoft may be the biggest spy of all.
But perhaps a better reason is
The free software movement is closer to the ideology of the Cuban people, above all for the independence and sovereignty.
Do you hate pervasive and corrupt corporations that try to run your life?
Do you use Windows?
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Is school boring for you?
Educated, confident, creative people are dangerous to the status quo, dangerous to a centralized economy, dangerous to a centralized system of command and control. Those in power don’t want you educated. They want you schooled.
Truer words were never spoken or written. These were taken from a recent blog post by Dave Pollard. The quote was excerpted from 101 Reasons Why I'm an Unschooler. The post, and I'm sure the book, present some very good reasons why so-called modern schooling is designed to produce drones and wage slaves and not thinkers.
The authors own experience with 'independent study' is illuminating. By removing the shackles of schooling he got a better education than he ever could from even the best teacher. The educational model that we follow, with teachers teaching a standardized curriculum to a mass of students, was begun in the 17th century and has changed little since then. This form of schooling does violence to students as smart students are held back, slow students become frustrated by their lack of ability in 'required subjects' and average students become envious of how easy it is for the smart students to succeed.
The unspoken truth is that modern education was never designed to produce thinkers, it was designed to produce conformity and obedience. Thus the emphasis on management over education. Teachers are taught how to control and instruct and students are taught how to behave and learn correctly. If you go all the way back to schooling's origins in Martin Luther's Prussia and Calvin's Geneva it had the same purpose, social control through access to correct learning.
When I think of the IB's Learner Profile and the skills it suggests, I wonder how many of them will really be learned through the use of a standardized curriculum. How can a student be an independent risk taker when 80% of their grade is going to come from three hours of standardized exams.
What both authors suggest is the basis for a Libertarian approach to education and was the foundation of the home-schooling movement.
It is not up to teachers or school administrators to figure out what you should be or do. It’s not up to the State, it’s not up to your guidance counselors. It’s not up to your parents. What you do with your life ought to be up to you. What you learn ought to be up to you. How you navigate the world and create your place in it ought to be your decision. Your life belongs to you. School does its best to disabuse you of this notion. Unschooling celebrates it. Unschooling puts the responsibility for creating a satisfying life squarely where it belongs: in the hands of the one living it.
A truly revolutionary call. When you make your choices about courses and colleges what criteria are you using? Do you look at the school's ranking or do you focus on how that school can develop you as a person? Which is more important to you? I see social media as helping with this unschooling approach. When I look at the uses of Twitter, online courses, Second Life or others it does help to break students out of the traditional school mold.
Think about these questions when you consider your own plans after high school. After you have your diploma, what will come next?
Truer words were never spoken or written. These were taken from a recent blog post by Dave Pollard. The quote was excerpted from 101 Reasons Why I'm an Unschooler. The post, and I'm sure the book, present some very good reasons why so-called modern schooling is designed to produce drones and wage slaves and not thinkers.
The authors own experience with 'independent study' is illuminating. By removing the shackles of schooling he got a better education than he ever could from even the best teacher. The educational model that we follow, with teachers teaching a standardized curriculum to a mass of students, was begun in the 17th century and has changed little since then. This form of schooling does violence to students as smart students are held back, slow students become frustrated by their lack of ability in 'required subjects' and average students become envious of how easy it is for the smart students to succeed.
The unspoken truth is that modern education was never designed to produce thinkers, it was designed to produce conformity and obedience. Thus the emphasis on management over education. Teachers are taught how to control and instruct and students are taught how to behave and learn correctly. If you go all the way back to schooling's origins in Martin Luther's Prussia and Calvin's Geneva it had the same purpose, social control through access to correct learning.
When I think of the IB's Learner Profile and the skills it suggests, I wonder how many of them will really be learned through the use of a standardized curriculum. How can a student be an independent risk taker when 80% of their grade is going to come from three hours of standardized exams.
What both authors suggest is the basis for a Libertarian approach to education and was the foundation of the home-schooling movement.
It is not up to teachers or school administrators to figure out what you should be or do. It’s not up to the State, it’s not up to your guidance counselors. It’s not up to your parents. What you do with your life ought to be up to you. What you learn ought to be up to you. How you navigate the world and create your place in it ought to be your decision. Your life belongs to you. School does its best to disabuse you of this notion. Unschooling celebrates it. Unschooling puts the responsibility for creating a satisfying life squarely where it belongs: in the hands of the one living it.
A truly revolutionary call. When you make your choices about courses and colleges what criteria are you using? Do you look at the school's ranking or do you focus on how that school can develop you as a person? Which is more important to you? I see social media as helping with this unschooling approach. When I look at the uses of Twitter, online courses, Second Life or others it does help to break students out of the traditional school mold.
Think about these questions when you consider your own plans after high school. After you have your diploma, what will come next?
Friday, April 17, 2009
Download this Movie
Well, the verdict just came in and predictably it was against The Pirate Bay. What a surprise!
As a protest I urge all of you to download the new Xmen movie that has gotten the Hollywood exec millionaires so upset.
You can find it here or here or here.
End Intellectual Property!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Read this Blog
The New York Times has started a rolling blog and update site called The Choice.The site claims it is 'demistifying college admissions and aid.' Which is a pretty worthy goal if you ask me.
It is focused on admissions in the US, but a lot of the general advice is applicable anywhere. I especially like the articles written by students about their experiences and struggles. Students waiting for acceptance notices are the same all over the world.
You can also get some good advice about the application process in general and how to manipulate the system to your advantage.
It is worth a look even if you don't add it to your favorites.
It is focused on admissions in the US, but a lot of the general advice is applicable anywhere. I especially like the articles written by students about their experiences and struggles. Students waiting for acceptance notices are the same all over the world.
You can also get some good advice about the application process in general and how to manipulate the system to your advantage.
It is worth a look even if you don't add it to your favorites.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Some good advice for the seniors
I put the link on Twitter but I thought you should see this.
The Washington Post has a good article about getting news this month. Whether the news is good or bad there are steps you should take. Read through what is written and see how much of it might apply to you.
It is not always easy to make decisions. Trust your instincts they are probably right.
The Washington Post has a good article about getting news this month. Whether the news is good or bad there are steps you should take. Read through what is written and see how much of it might apply to you.
It is not always easy to make decisions. Trust your instincts they are probably right.
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