[Blackpool] MFS Meeting. Tue, 19 Aug. Discussion points: "Libreboot, GNU Radio to space, Novena"

[Michael Dorrington]

Please feel free to forward this to those that would welcome it.

* Event: Manchester Free Software's August Meeting

* Date: Tuesday, 19th August 2014 (3rd Tuesday of the month)
* Start time: 19:00
* Finish time: 20:30 (and then on for drinks)

* Location: Madlab. (Manchester Digital Laboratory).
  - http://madlab.org.uk/
* Address: 36-40 Edge Street, Manchester. M4 1HN.
  - Opposite "Common" on Edge Street, Northern Quarter.
  - http://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=19/53.48413/-2.23639

Details
-------
The purpose of Manchester Free Software is to promote the Free Software
philosophy.

We'll start with an opportunity for informal key signing.  For an
explanation of what this is about see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_signing_party

The main part of the meeting will be discussions, with the following
Free Software related news items as possible discussion points, although
the discussion can go to other Free Software related topics if attendees
wish (note if the weather is good we might make an early move to
"Common" opposite to continue discussions):

* Libreboot

"Libreboot is a distribution of coreboot with proprietary blobs removed.
Like coreboot, libreboot is boot firmware intended as a free (libre)
'BIOS' replacement for your computer."
(Obviously, don't try flashing your BIOS unless you are very sure about
what you are doing.)

  - http://libreboot.org/


* GNU Radio to space

"Equipped with free GNU Radio software, a group of citizen scientists
has contacted, controlled, and is attempting to recapture a 1970s-era
satellite and bring it back into an orbit close to Earth."

  -
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/free-software-in-space-gnu-radio-and-the-isee-3-spacecraft


* Novena

Novena, the crowd funded Free Hardware "laptop" project, has updates
including all the PCB components have been ordered and the project is
roughly on schedule.

  - https://www.crowdsupply.com/kosagi/novena-open-laptop/updates


Feel free to raise similar items in the meeting for discussion.

After-meeting
-------------
The meeting will be followed by informal discussion and socialising in
the bar opposite, Common <http://www.aplacecalledcommon.co.uk/>.  There
are soft drinks available and there is no pressure to consume alcohol.

Location
--------
The meeting will take place at the usual venue of Madlab, details above.
 Ring the bell on the right of the door to be let in.  The venue
provides wifi.

Parking
-------
Around the venue there are parking meter bays that become zero cost
after 8pm on Tuesday so you will have to pay up until then and the
maximum stay is 2 hours BUT MAKE SURE YOU VERIFY ALL THIS on parking.

There are paid parking lots around the venue, they are marked by a blue
P in this OpenStreetMap centred on Madlab
<http://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=15/53.4843/-2.2365>.  Most of those
parking lots are owned by NCP <http://www.ncp.co.uk/>.

If you can’t decide otherwise then park in Manchester Arndale
<http://www.manchesterarndale.com/directions.aspx>.

Public Transport
----------------
Manchester Victoria (MCV) train station, Shudehill tram and bus station,
and Manchester Piccadilly bus station are all fairly close to Madlab,
see OpenStreetMap centred on Madlab
<http://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=15/53.4843/-2.2365>.

Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) train station and Manchester Central Coach
Station are not too far away either.

More Information
----------------
Information about Manchester Free Software can be found on the
Manchester Free Software pages on LibrePlanet
<http://libreplanet.org/wiki/Manchester>.

Regards,
Mike.
MFS Chair.

-- 
FSF member #9429
http://www.fsf.org/register_form?referrer=9429
http://www.fsf.org/about
"The Free Software Foundation (FSF) is a nonprofit with a worldwide
mission to promote computer user freedom and to defend the rights of all
free software users."

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