[Blackpool] MFS Meeting. Tue, 15 Nov. Talk: "Talos Secure Workstation" + Campaigning: "MFS CETA letter"

[Michael Dorrington]

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

* Event: Manchester Free Software's November Meeting

* Talk: Talos Secure Workstation
* Speaker: Michael Dorrington

* Campaigning: MFS CETA letter

* Date: Tuesday, 15th November 2016 (3rd Tuesday of the month)
* Start time: 19:00
* Finish time: 20:30 (and then on for social)

* 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.

Every meeting we 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 meeting schedule is:

19:00-19:45 Talk: "Talos Secure Workstation"

19:45-20:30 Campaigning: "MFS CETA letter"


=== Talk ===

There are now several free hardware computer designs, many having used
Crowd Supply to seek backers to get all the way to being manufactured.
The Talos Secure Workstation is now on Crowd Supply hoping to become a
tangible reality.

What differentiates Talos from other free hardware is that it's very
powerful.  Most free hardware is low power consuming but also has lower
computing power, however Talos competes with high end workstation/server
non-free hardware.  Another differentiation is that Talos uses a Power
Architecture, an alternative to x86 and ARM.

Talos has some in particularly interesting features:

* Power Architecture using POWER8
* No Intel Management Engine or similar
* Hardware virtualisation support including IO
* Promised "open-toolchain FPGAs"
* Lots of PCIe slots
* Other I/O capability including GPIO pins

In the talk we will discuss the Talos specification, history, Crowd
Supply and future.  Discussion will be had on possible shared purchase.

More information:

*
https://www.crowdsupply.com/raptor-computing-systems/talos-secure-workstation
* https://www.crowdsupply.com/raptor-computing-systems/power8-cpus
* https://www.crowdsupply.com/about
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_Architecture

If you have experience of free hardware, Power Architecture or similar
then please consider giving a lightning talk at the meeting.


=== Campaigning ===

The "Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement" (CETA), an agreement
between the EU and Canada, was signed on 30th October.  This agreement
has anti-free software measures which Manchester Free Software oppose.

This campaigning section of the meeting aims to get a good start on a
letter detailing these measures, the negative effect they'll have on
free software, why people should value software freedom and the work
that Manchester Free Software does.

More information:

*
https://www.fsf.org/blogs/licensing/the-many-headed-monster-of-international-trade-agreements
* https://www.fsf.org/campaigns/trading-freedom
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CETA


== After-meeting ==

The meeting will be followed by informal discussion and socialising in
the Terrace (which is next door to Madlab).  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.


== Transport ==


=== 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
<https://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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