links for 2009-05-26

• Ex-Microsoft Exec, Argues For Open Source – wwj.com
  He was there and he's here to tell fortunes for free and open source software as the computing system to run the world in time.
  (tags: FOSS microsoft)

links for 2009-05-22

• Fedora Linux Wallpapers
  Fedora fans out there! This site is definitely for you!

links for 2009-05-12

• "Trademarks: The Hidden Menace: From an open-source perspective, trademarking should be considered as damaging to open source as copyright or patenting." By Keir Thomas, PC World
  A great resource for a discourse on whether Linux, free software, and open source should be insulated from the IPR system, or if they should, how they should work around it.
  (tags: FOSS IPR)

links for 2009-05-05

• 10 iptables rules to help secure your Linux box – ZDNetAsia
  Go try these. It's simple for a busy/impatient Linux administrator like me
  (tags: linux)

links for 2009-05-03

• Free Burma’s Political Prisoners Now!: HOME
  Your online signature has the power to free unduly imprisoned Burmese!
  (tags: activism burma)
• 24C3: Hacking ideologies, part 2: Open Source, a capitalist movement
  An interesting argument on what distinguishes open source from free software. Caveat: Before one reads this, s/he must read up on basic stuff on FS and OS and those that marry both.
  (tags: opensource FreeSoftware Hacking)

links for 2009-05-02

• Remix by Lawrence Lessig – Bloomsbury Academic
  Every digital activist's armor in the fight for 'open content' and access to knowlege.
  (tags: copyright creativecommons lessig)

Spam mail (1)

Google online promo?

I just received a spam mail from a person claiming to be “The Google Team”. Huh, I’m an instant winner of half a million pounds! How I wish!

links for 2009-03-13

• Climate fears 'being realised'' – BBC News
  International scientists say the worst-case scenarios on climate change envisaged just two years ago are already being realised.
  (tags: environment climatechange)

Losing 11 mothers a day

I’m fortunate and blessed to have my wife not to be one of 11 Filipina mothers dying daily due to pregnancy complications. After giving birth to our fourth and last baby, my wife and I decided that she be ligated. Why, for three deliveries, she has underwent life-threatening stages like post-eclampsia and high blood pressure. The decision was not that difficult to make. Particularly on my part.

The feeling of a husband waiting outside the delivery room fidgety is nothing compared to the sacrifice of his birthing wife. Good thing my wife got to understand the worries I have everytime she is brought to the delivery room. “God, please keep my wife and our baby safe. God, if you have to choose one alive, let it be my wife.” This prayer became became more fervent. Since God is good, four times did my wife overcome the suffering, with our babies bouncing like our little angels.

Of course, other reasons for the ligation are purely economic. One baby every barely three years means frequent emptying of our pockets and divided attention to kids. And I can’t imagine how much more if we had more than four.

But personal aspect aside, the figures are pretty revealing. What is more shocking is that high maternal mortality rate is most prevalent in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). This while infanticipating mothers in the National Capital Region enjoy good facilities the most. I think that this problem warrants an immediate action on the part of the government. Citizens, women and men alike, must also do their share by holding education sessions on responsible parenthood and campaigning for pregnant-women-friendly government services.

Let’s vote for Mother Earth on 2009-03-28

March 28, 2009. Saturday. 8:30 – 9:30 PM. Around one billion homes (spread across 80 countries and counting) are targetted to switch off their lights as a global vote to influence world leaders when they meet in December 2009 for Global Climate Change Conference. This meeting will inform official government policies to address global warming, which will replace the Kyoto Protocol.

In the homefront, the Catholic Church leads the way. Cardinal Rosales has this to say: “My countrymen, on March 28 let us all join efforts in saving electricity and protecting the environment. Let us try not to use electricity for one hour.”

I will definitely lead my family and ask our neighbors to turn off their lights on March 28 for an hour starting at 8:30 PM. Blogger or not, one should participate in this noble undertaking by first visiting the site http://www.earthhour.org.

Besides, an hour without lights means extra savings from our electric bill. Use it also as an opportunity for family bonding and collective prayers. Never mind the hot weather. An hour of sacrifice is worth generations of life in this battered earth.

It’s a date. Participate.