Ohlho

"The Open Source Network"

I found this today while poking through some open source projects relevant to my independent study. It seems like a great idea! I just signed up - I'm nathanielksmith - and I'm pretty impressed with it. Check it out! http://www.ohloh.net/

I like the idea of specialized social networks (see http://bridge-builders.ning.com/ ); networks geared towards one particular purpose. Facebook works as a gossip / catching up / picture sharing platform fine, but when I want to connect about open source software (to people I don't know in real life) I want to go somewhere else; similarly when I want to brainstorm about religious pluralism.

The Power of Thin Clients

Mark Stosberg recently posted a great letter to the Richmond, IN community schools system about leveraging linux-based thin-client labs to cut costs and bring quality software to students. I couldn't be more enthusiastic!

I used to think the best thing to do with aging hardware was to build your own cluster, run BCCD on it, and climb the ranks of folding at home. But fixing them up as thin client machines for donating to schools and other community labs is a more immediately useful solution.

Now I wonder if this same architecture could be used on Earlham's campus?

Earlham Bike Cooperative

The Earlham Bike Cooperative, a pro-bono student run bike "shop" on the campus of Earlham College, has a new web presence. Check them out at:

http://socrates.cs.earlham.edu/ebc

The Antonio Pizzigati Prize for Software in the Public Interest

Another good finding while doing thesis research. From their front page:

Good deeds do get rewarded! If you know someone who’s been toiling in the open source vineyards, developing software that’s helping nonprofits succeed, check out the Tides Foundation Pizzigati Prize, a $10,000 annual award for outstanding contributions to software in the public interest.

Very nice and realistic. I hope there are more prizes like this out there!

fundable - online fundraising

I came across Fundable while doing research on a potential senior thesis projects. I think it's pretty clever and simple - very useful for one-off community events or organizations (as opposed to larger, national groups).

http://www.fundable.com/

Official Google Blog: India Internet Bus Project rolls in

Google is driving through part of India in an "attempt educate people about what the Internet is, and how it may be beneficial to their lives, by taking the Internet experience to them through a customised Internet-enabled bus." Neato.

Official Google Blog: India Internet Bus Project rolls in

KRUU - 100% Open Source Radio Station

I work for Richmond's public radio, WECI ( http://www.weciradio.org ), and was poking around for some open solutions to our technology needs. I found out about KRUU, a radio station in Fairfield, Iowa that runs completely open source. I'm hoping to use them as a model for how to plan some initiatives at WECI. Check out http://kruufm.com/ . Here's a wonderful write up on it on Open and Shut: http://poynder.blogspot.com/2007/01/open-radio.html .

NTEN

Amber Hacker, leadership associate at the Interfaith Youth Core, a non-profit based in Chicago, suggested I attend the conference for NTEN - The Nonprofit Technology Network.

NTEN is a "membership organization of nonprofit professionals who put technology to use for their causes. NTEN is a community of peers who share technology solutions across the sector and support each other’s work."

It is very beautiful and open - their community values are especially compelling.