[sf-lug] happy software freedom day!

[jim stockford]

    today is software freedom day. talk it up with someone new to
the idea.
    Richard Stallman was in the SF area recently pitching the four
freedoms, which go something like this, software we use should
permit:
     *  The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).
     * The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to
your needs (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition
for this.
     * The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your
neighbor (freedom 2).
     * The freedom to improve the program, and release your
improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits
(freedom 3). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.

The bullets above are from:
http://www.fsf.org/licensing/essays/free-sw.html

The link below gets you in touch with the group that
tries to coordinate software freedom day activities
world wide:
http://softwarefreedomday.org/sfi

Stallman emphasized that schools in particular should adopt the
principles and use only free and open source software, partly
wrt the ethics, partly to encourage those kids interested to become
good coders (to become a good coder you have to read lots of
code and write lots of code).