[TheUbuCon] IRC Meeting Notes

[John Mark Walker]

Howdy,

Below are the meeting notes from our IRC chat. The things I need most
at the moment are...

1. help with outreach to NY-area LUG's, particularly college and
university LUG's
2. brainstorming session topics. I have some ideas here, but I'd like
to hear from everyone else - what sessions do you want to see?

Otherwise, enjoy the chat transcript ;)


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(02:47:24 PM) The topic for #ubucon is: The UbuCon New York - February
16 - http://wiki.ubuntu.com/TheUbucon RSVP at
http://wiki.ubuntu.com/TheUbuconRSVP
(02:54:12 PM) GNu_Joe: humm up to 14 people, 386 seats open, so far
it's going to be nice and cozy
(02:54:25 PM) porkrind: ha...
(02:54:49 PM) porkrind: if last time was an indicator, most of those
won't fill up until the last week
(02:55:10 PM) porkrind: GNu_Joe: how cold is it?
(02:55:16 PM) GNu_Joe: I would have thought the NYCLug would fill that up
(02:55:28 PM) porkrind: they will. some of them have confirmed to me
but not filled it up
(02:55:41 PM) porkrind: er... not RSVP'd on the list
(02:55:56 PM) porkrind: I think we'll get somewhere around 100
(02:56:00 PM) GNu_Joe: porkrind, let's see in Poughkeepsie it's now 13deg
(02:56:06 PM) porkrind: oy
(02:56:32 PM) porkrind: yeah, it's freezing here too... must be down to 50
(02:56:35 PM) porkrind: heh
(02:57:12 PM) porkrind: so how many of you guys are active in college
or university LUG's?
(02:58:17 PM) n8k99: I go to school at uni of phoenix no meat space interactions
(02:58:20 PM) GNu_Joe: I'm representing mhvlug.org
(02:58:35 PM) lh_ubuntuhat: porkrind: hey you
(02:58:38 PM) porkrind: n8k99: ah... wow
(02:58:44 PM) lh_ubuntuhat: yes, officially wearing ubuntu hat, not google hat
(02:58:45 PM) lh_ubuntuhat: :)
(02:58:47 PM) porkrind: lh_ubuntuhat: hey, wth are you??? ;)
(02:58:49 PM) porkrind: haha
(02:59:08 PM) porkrind: GNu_Joe: cool... how many from that LUG do you
think can make it?
(02:59:10 PM) lh_ubuntuhat: :)
(02:59:10 PM) GNu_Joe: lh_ubuntuhat, where do you get a Ubuntu hat? ;-)
(02:59:24 PM) ***lh_ubuntuhat checks the ubuntu store
(02:59:29 PM) porkrind: from the ubuntu store in a mall near you... duh
(02:59:35 PM) GNu_Joe: porkrind, at this point 3-4 but I expect about 7+
(02:59:39 PM) porkrind: ok, cool
(03:00:09 PM) porkrind: so as I mentioned before, if you know how to
get ahold of college LUG's, I'd really like to do some outreach there
this next week
(03:00:10 PM) lh_ubuntuhat: porkrind: we can probably get some google
folks to help with the installfest
(03:00:28 PM) porkrind: lh_ubuntuhat: cool. yeah, I'd also like to
figure out how many googlers will be there
(03:00:28 PM) ***n8k99 ubunhats come preinstalled on system76heads
(03:00:50 PM) lh_ubuntuhat: porkrind: i'll send out an invitation and
ask folks to register
(03:00:55 PM) porkrind: sweet. thanks
(03:01:07 PM) porkrind: anybody have friends at NYU?
(03:01:17 PM) GNu_Joe: porkrind, We have Marist, Vassar, and SUNY New
Palz covered
(03:01:18 PM) lh_ubuntuhat: GNu_Joe: they do indeed have hats at the
ubuntu store!
(03:01:30 PM) porkrind: GNu_Joe: awesome.
(03:01:44 PM) Seven-iron: Will the Installfest be dedicated to Ubuntu?
I have about 125 CDs from other distros I can bring and leave there
(older versions).
(03:01:59 PM) porkrind: Seven-iron: I think it makes sense to have as
much there as possible
(03:02:09 PM) porkrind: but I'm getting a stack from Canonical, so
we're covered either way
(03:02:47 PM) GNu_Joe: what version?
(03:02:50 PM) porkrind: the last time I had an Ubucon, a lot of people
had installed it and just wanted to troubleshoot
(03:02:54 PM) porkrind: GNu_Joe: 6.10
(03:03:11 PM) porkrind: so I figured it makes sense to have one room
dedicated to troubleshooting and installation
(03:03:22 PM) GNu_Joe: yup
(03:03:27 PM) n8k99: I have a stack of 6.06
(03:03:47 PM) porkrind: Looks like a few NYLUG'ers will help out with
that - so if we have people from Google and other LUG's doing the
installfest, I think we're covered there
(03:03:58 PM) Seven-iron: Lesseeee ... I know I had Debian Sarge CDs
and FC5 on CD also. I figure bringing DSL won't hurt either, but I
think it's 2.4
(03:04:07 PM) porkrind: ok
(03:04:22 PM) GNu_Joe: So.... any cool talks lined up?
(03:04:30 PM) porkrind: GNu_Joe: I'm glad you asked :)
(03:04:36 PM) porkrind: I
(03:04:38 PM) GNu_Joe: ;-)
(03:04:56 PM) GNu_Joe: Is Mark going to show up?
(03:05:07 PM) porkrind: I've been speaking with some guys at Eben
Moglen's group at softwarefreedom.org, and I hope Eben can make it,
but I don't know
(03:05:25 PM) porkrind: GNu_Joe: I don't think Mark can make it. He 's
supposedly skiing or something
(03:05:49 PM) porkrind: GNu_Joe: but there will be a couple of
Canonical people there, and I'll devote at least one session in the
main auditorium to them
(03:05:56 PM) GNu_Joe: how about Jono?
(03:06:05 PM) porkrind: GNu_Joe: I'm talking to him on Monday. I hope so
(03:06:23 PM) porkrind: according to his schedule, he's speaking
somewhere else that day, so we'll see
(03:07:20 PM) porkrind: so between opening and closing, a Canonical
session, and a possible Eben Moglen session, there's not actually that
much open in the main auditorium
(03:07:34 PM) GNu_Joe: just tell him it's a heavy metal install
fest... he'll make it
(03:07:38 PM) porkrind: haha!
(03:07:42 PM) porkrind: I'll do that
(03:08:08 PM) porkrind: my main concern is making sure there's enough
going on in the other 2 rings of the 3-ring circus
(03:08:28 PM) porkrind: and by the way - this isn't a conference
that's about the speakers, it's about the participants and attendees
as much as anything
(03:09:06 PM) GNu_Joe: ok, right that's why I'm here, what do you need?
(03:09:06 PM) porkrind: so before I go any further... what is
everyone's background here? developer? sysadmin? interested
enthusiast?
03:09:29 PM) ***GNu_Joe all of the above
(03:09:32 PM) porkrind: the last time, we had some interesting
impromptu sessions from people that just happened to show up
(03:09:46 PM) porkrind: and I dont' want a rigid schedule that
prevents them from speaking
(03:10:10 PM) Seven-iron: I'm an interested enthusiast!
(03:10:15 PM) porkrind: so here's what we need - a couple of
interactive sessions about developing on ubuntu
(03:10:18 PM) porkrind: Seven-iron: hear hear!
(03:10:29 PM) GNu_Joe: so.. like mostly BOF sessions?
(03:10:34 PM) porkrind: a couple on just simple, end-user stuff
"here's how I got my laptop working"
(03:10:36 PM) n8k99: artist in school to become a developer
(03:10:36 PM) porkrind: GNu_Joe: yes
(03:10:44 PM) porkrind: n8k99: oh, you're gold
(03:11:05 PM) porkrind: n8k99: do you have any tricks with linux
graphics packages to show?
(03:11:49 PM) Seven-iron: Sorry ... web client severely lags ... how
do ppl envision the "here's how I got my laptop working" session?
(03:11:51 PM) porkrind: the last ubucon had a wide array of people -
from google developers to out-of-work people off thestreet who had
just installed ubuntu on their old laptop
(03:12:01 PM) n8k99: unfortunately - no and I will be out of town- I
committed to attending a friends wedding
(03:12:16 PM) porkrind: Seven-iron: I could see an interactive session
with about 4 or 5 presenters each covering their different experiences
(03:12:28 PM) porkrind: n8k99: bah... priorities ;)
(03:12:50 PM) n8k99: porkrind yeah
(03:12:58 PM) ***n8k99 doesn't want to grow up
(03:13:03 PM) porkrind: haha
(03:13:15 PM) GNu_Joe: session I would love to see "how to report a
bug, and get it fixed by following through"
(03:13:26 PM) porkrind: Seven-iron: so we'd call it something simple
like "ubuntu on laptops" and make sure there are at least a couple of
people there with something to show
(03:13:30 PM) porkrind: GNu_Joe: yes
(03:13:43 PM) lh_ubuntuhat: porkrind: will we make the channel log of
this meeting available?
(03:13:48 PM) porkrind: a couple of the best sessions last time were
along the lines of "how to participate in Ubuntu"
(03:13:54 PM) porkrind: lh_ubuntuhat: yup
(03:15:00 PM) GNu_Joe: I hope this does not sound cheesy but Ubuntu
installs cleanly leaving the person going what next?
(03:15:12 PM) porkrind: GNu_Joe: yeah, that's it
(03:15:24 PM) porkrind: at the last ubucon, we had 2 sessions on how
to participate in ubuntu
(03:15:37 PM) porkrind: one was a technical session all about
launchpad and related tools
(03:15:41 PM) Seven-iron: Can I presume Xubuntu will be just as
welcome as Ubuntu? I'm trying to recall some of my installation
misadventures with wacky mouse pointers and sudden shutdowns.
(03:15:58 PM) porkrind: the other was more of a general, here are the
various way to interact with Ubuntu communities
(03:16:03 PM) porkrind: Seven-iron: certainly
(03:16:07 PM) GNu_Joe: I like the idea of "video editing" or "sound
editing" aka how to accomplish something cool
(03:16:11 PM) porkrind: and kubuntu... and edubuntu
(03:16:30 PM) porkrind: GNu_Joe: yes, absolutely. I want mostly end
user-focused desktop stuff
(03:16:41 PM) porkrind: GNu_Joe: with the right mix of sysadmin and dev stuff
(03:17:08 PM) porkrind: but I'm actually not really concerned about
getting speakers - it's mostly get the right people to show up, and
out of that, you'll get a certain % of speakers
(03:17:20 PM) porkrind: so here are the top priorities of what I need
at the moment:
(03:18:03 PM) porkrind: 1. outreach to LUG's - if you know of any
LUG's that have not been covered - NYU, columbia, CUNY, etc. - I need
to know about it so that they're on my radar. or just contact them
directly
(03:18:12 PM) Seven-iron: I'm just a big fan of xfce since the
hardware in which I install's a bit older.
(03:18:28 PM) porkrind: Seven-iron: that's a good point because there
will be some people there with *ancient* hardware
(03:18:42 PM) porkrind: so we shouldn't forget about xubuntu
(03:18:58 PM) n8k99: maybe fluxbuntu either
(03:18:59 PM) GNu_Joe: porkrind, do you have a flier?
(03:19:04 PM) porkrind: and it goes without saying that if any of you
want to say something, by all means, put your name down
(03:19:14 PM) porkrind: GNu_Joe: no, but I need one... which was my next thing
(03:19:28 PM) porkrind: GNu_Joe: I have the text, but I need someone
with graphics-foo to put together a cool flyer
(03:19:41 PM) n8k99: I can handle that porkrind
(03:19:44 PM) porkrind: so if you can help, or if you know someone that can...
(03:19:47 PM) porkrind: n8k99: sweetness
(03:20:08 PM) ***n8k99 yells at the GIMP
(03:20:10 PM) porkrind: lh_ubuntuhat: as for logistical stuff, will we
need any volunteers for any of that day's functions?
(03:20:12 PM) porkrind: n8k99: ha
(03:20:45 PM) porkrind: and if someone can show me how you use
cinepaint on Linux, you'll be golden
(03:20:50 PM) porkrind: or blender for that matter
(03:21:10 PM) n8k99: ooh now you're asking for alot
(03:21:19 PM) n8k99: ;-)
(03:21:52 PM) porkrind: haha
(03:21:56 PM) porkrind: yeah... heh
(03:21:58 PM) GNu_Joe: porkrind, we had a Merist prof. give a killer
Blender demo, also I have the project Orange DVDs
(03:22:07 PM) porkrind: oh, that would rock
(03:22:17 PM) porkrind: can you ask him?
(03:22:27 PM) GNu_Joe: porkrind, I'll try
(03:22:36 PM) porkrind: ok... thanks
(03:23:25 PM) porkrind: so... think about whom to invite... think
about what you'd like to see re: sessions... and I'd like to have a
good portion of the schedule filled out by next Friday
(03:24:00 PM) porkrind: anyway... is this a good time for you guys, or
would you like to tri a different date and time next week?
(03:24:13 PM) porkrind: Seven-iron: everything ok? are you using some
gee-whiz irc-web gateway?
(03:25:38 PM) porkrind: oh... and does anyone have a blog that they
want added to the ubucon blog?
(03:25:42 PM) GNu_Joe: porkrind, I did that Ubuntu overview did you
get a chance to look at the slides?
(03:25:58 PM) porkrind: GNu_Joe: yes - I was actually going to ask you
about that
(03:26:09 PM) Seven-iron: fraid so .... I'm trying to keep up with
this web client
(03:26:12 PM) porkrind: GNu_Joe: I was going to steal a little of that
for the opening session
(03:26:14 PM) porkrind: Seven-iron: doh
(03:26:28 PM) porkrind: either that, or I'll give a quick intro and
then let you do the "intro to Ubuntu" bit
(03:26:36 PM) porkrind: GNu_Joe:
(03:26:52 PM) GNu_Joe: porkrind, by my guest, I stole the original layout ;-)
(03:27:01 PM) porkrind: haha... well, in that case :@)
(03:27:22 PM) GNu_Joe: porkrind, just let me know what you want to do
(03:27:28 PM) porkrind: ok, cool
(03:27:51 PM) porkrind: alrighty... so for now, there's not a whole
lot else to discuss. I'd like to get together like this again next
week. what time is best for everyone?
(03:28:37 PM) GNu_Joe: porkrind, question is there any restrictions
that we should know about? like no cameras?
(03:28:47 PM) n8k99: porkrindcan you email me text for the flyer?
(03:29:00 PM) porkrind: n8k99: yes, I will do that this weekend
(03:29:04 PM) Seven-iron: this time seems to work well enought for me
... maybe I'll use a reeeeal client this time
(03:29:13 PM) porkrind: GNu_Joe: good question - google is very
reluctant to allow cameras
(03:29:15 PM) n8k99: you have to work out photography issues with
google's in house staff
(03:29:27 PM) porkrind: with permission, you can take some shots. we
ran into that last time
(03:29:40 PM) porkrind: Seven-iron: heh... well, however you can participate
(03:29:44 PM) n8k99: with advance notice they will video the talks for us
(03:30:02 PM) porkrind: n8k99: yup. I'll Leslie very very nicely if
she can help get that set up
(03:30:04 PM) GNu_Joe: more content for google video I guess
(03:30:07 PM) porkrind: heh
(03:30:20 PM) porkrind: and now youtube... can't forget youtube ;)
(03:30:21 PM) GNu_Joe: is there WiFi?
(03:30:23 PM) Seven-iron: Will there be a camera phone check at
Google's entrance, too?
(03:30:41 PM) porkrind: Seven-iron: hmm... I had a camera phone and
nobody checked... but then i didn't try to use it, either
(03:30:49 PM) porkrind: GNu_Joe: there's always wifi
(03:31:06 PM) porkrind: GNu_Joe: if it's like the mountain view
office, there will be guest wifi - but I'll need to confirm that
(03:32:59 PM) lh_ubuntuhat: porkrind: sorry, add moment
(03:33:13 PM) porkrind: lh_ubuntuhat: no worries. I empathize
(03:33:17 PM) lh_ubuntuhat: i think we'll be okay without logistics
volunteers - I will be there, along with susan and my new assistant
tiffany
(03:33:20 PM) lh_ubuntuhat: so we're golden
(03:33:25 PM) lh_ubuntuhat: :)
(03:33:28 PM) porkrind: lh_ubuntuhat: you'll be there???
(03:33:29 PM) lh_ubuntuhat: brb
(03:33:32 PM) porkrind: dude... I didnt' know that
(03:33:36 PM) lh_ubuntuhat: porkrind: oh yeah
(03:33:37 PM) porkrind: awesome
(03:33:38 PM) porkrind: haha
(03:33:49 PM) lh_ubuntuhat: <--- professional geek herder
(03:34:25 PM) lh_ubuntuhat: GNu_Joe: there should be guest wifi, but i
will confirm
(03:34:29 PM) lh_ubuntuhat: brb folks
(03:36:21 PM) porkrind: alrighty... well unless there are any pressing
questions, I'm going to drift in and out from here on
(03:36:57 PM) porkrind: n8k99: I'll work on getting you some text tonight
(03:37:24 PM) porkrind: oh one other thing... are any of you planning
to man the ubuntu booth at linuxworld?
(03:37:29 PM) n8k99: ok great - when do I need to have this finished
(03:37:39 PM) porkrind: n8k99: whenver you can :)
(03:37:46 PM) porkrind: n8k99: can you have it early next week?
(03:37:56 PM) ***n8k99 wants a mm/dd not at $string
(03:38:01 PM) porkrind: haha
(03:38:17 PM) porkrind: 01/31 - is that cool?
(03:38:23 PM) n8k99: perfect
(03:38:31 PM) porkrind: n8k99: sweet. you r0x0r
(03:38:49 PM) n8k99: we hope that is true, now don't we
(03:39:01 PM) porkrind: right... I guess I'll have to see the flyer first ;)
(03:39:08 PM) Seven-iron: since ppl will be bringing in ancient
hardware, I'm presuming some of 'em may not even have bootable CD-ROM
drives or even CD-ROMs period. Can we help these ppl get something
installed?
(03:39:31 PM) porkrind: Seven-iron: I don't think that will be too
much of a concern, but it probably wouldn't hurt to be prepared
(03:40:06 PM) lh_ubuntuhat: back
(03:40:08 PM) porkrind: Seven-iron: but that brings up one issue -
setting up an install server in case we need to do network installs
after booting from a floppy or something
(03:40:25 PM) porkrind: Seven-iron: I shall bring that up with lh_ubuntuhat
(03:41:25 PM) Seven-iron: i have an oooooold panasonic toughbook
(P233) which would qualify. I've seen something nifty ideas for
installing without a CD-ROM drive.
(03:41:53 PM) porkrind: Seven-iron: I had to do that with an old vaio
- but that was with suse, and I did network installs
(03:42:03 PM) porkrind: I assume you can do the same with
debian/ubuntu, but I haven't tried
(03:42:17 PM) Seven-iron: kewl!
(03:42:17 PM) porkrind: lh_ubuntuhat: we were wondering about setting
up an install server
(03:42:38 PM) porkrind: in case we come across the odd laptop that
can't boot from cdrom and has to boot from floppy or some such
(03:43:10 PM) porkrind: just any old machine we can turn into a ubuntu
repository
(03:43:30 PM) Seven-iron: Yes, I've seen and done network installs
with Debian. I'd love to see the same with (any flavor of) Ubuntu, but
I can't seem to find such a resource.
(03:44:13 PM) porkrind: Seven-iron: hmm... ok
(03:44:18 PM) porkrind: then I need to dosome digging
(03:45:00 PM) porkrind: perhaps I can turn my macbook (running
ubuntu!) into an install server. that would be sweet
(03:46:13 PM) GNu_Joe: I though the powerpc version was dropped?
(03:46:34 PM) porkrind: GNu_Joe: I'm using the intel-based one
(03:46:59 PM) Seven-iron: I'll go find a reeeeal IRC client in the
meantime. I can't stand the lag. C ya next week.
(03:47:05 PM) porkrind: ha... ok..
(03:47:16 PM) porkrind: Seven-iron: c-ya next week - same bat time,
same bat channel

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