My plans for Software Freedom Day 2011

This year's Software Freedom Day will be celebrated on September 17, 2011. Now, many of you would already know what this event is. But for those who still have no idea, it is actually an annual celebration of free software. It is actually an effort to educate and to increase awareness that there is actually free software which can be used as an alternative for proprietary software.

Together with Mr. RJ Ian Sevilla, we were able to successfully celebrate Software Freedom Day for two consecutive years (2009 and 2010). However, this year is going to be different. Since Rj and I have gone our separate ways in search for greener pasture, I'm planning a different approach in celebrating this year's SFD, but still retain the essence and purpose of the celebration. And since I am no longer connected with the education sector, I might find it a little hard to convince participants to come and celebrate with me. However, with 877 friends on Facebook, it's not gonna be that hard. I think it's time to bring my celebration to the social network. All I need now is support from friends with the same vision and belief.

You may not really know it yet, but I believe that many of you are already supporting this cause in your own special way. How? By using Free and Open Source Software, but you're just unaware of it. Every little amount of awareness counts! Are you using Mozilla Firefox? That's FOSS. Are you using Skype? That's FOSS! Are you using Open Office? That's FOSS! Are you using Ubuntu? That's FOSS!

Now, please don't get confused between Free Software and Free and Open Source Software, 'cause they are two very different things!

Anyway, I will be updating this post soon, so make sure to come and visit this page often. I may need to connect with other people who helped me celebrate the event in the past. Sir RJ, if you're reading this, give me a buzz!

Respectfully yours,

Jonathan Paul C. Solis

FOSS Advocate

Zamboanga city, Philippines

The fad about Angry Birds...

I've been reading about this game about midyear last year, and have been craving to have my hands on it. Wanting to give it a try, to know what the fuzz really is about the Angry Birds. But unfortunately, I don't have an iPhone or any android gadget. All I have is a PC. And recently, (about a month ago), I was introduced to a free PC version of the game by my office mate, and without hesitation, I started playing it. At first it felt boring, especially during the first 10 levels in the game. I never really paid much attention to it and just looked at it as just another game installed on my PC. It was not until my 2 year old son got interested in watching me play the game when I really got interested in playing it. My son loves the game! He loves watching the birds fly, and especially the pigs! He actually even imitates the sound the pig makes during an unsuccessful level (the snorting pig laugh...). When my son wakes up each morning, it's "birds... birds... birds..." right away... I even forget about my lack of sleep whenever he wakes me up as he drags my laptop bag on the floor... but one thing about my son's addiction of watching me play the game, is that he doesn't want to see my wife playing it... whenever I ask my wife to take over 'cause i need to pee or prepare a cup of coffee, my son would be delirious! He'd say "hinde ya... hinde ya..." push my wife's hand from the mouse, and pull me back by my index finger... me and my wife actually found it to be a problem, 'cause my son wouldn't let me off the PC... that's when I thought of downloading in-game clips from youtube and other angry birds clips just to make sure that I could step out of the PC once in a while and just let my son watch the clips. And guess what? It worked!

One day, we were walking around town and I was looking for some Angry Birds merchandise. I really wanted to buy my son a stuffed Pig (cause the pigs are actually his favorite, not the birds). And surprisingly, we found a back pack Pig with the inscription "Angry Piggy". Me and my wife immediately bought it, without hesitation. Now I'm looking for any stuffed Angry Bird item. My wife is also into it, she wants to have an Angry Bird shoulder bag.

Anyway, we're all into the Angry Birds craze! and it's pretty cool to have a new hobby once in a while...