Good move, IBM
I just want to take a second to also throw my support behind IBM for their [announcement of involvement in OpenOffice.org](https://www.openoffice.org/press/ibm_press_release.html). OpenOffice.org is extremely important for the free software desktop to succeed, and IBM are making an excellent decision here. I look forward to seeing their contributions.
I would now like to see some improvements go into how their community is run. I think there are some tricks they are missing right now to get more developers involved and further the development rate of OpenOffice.org.
Jokosher hack sessions this week
We have an interesting situation with [Jokosher](https://www.jokosher.org/). We are close. So. Very. Close. Just a little more bug fixing and we can get out a release that everyone can use reliably.
However, we need help. We need people to come and test Jokosher, and to bug-fix where possible. To make this easier to get involved, we will be running a number of *hack sessions*. These are scheduled sessions when the Jokosher team will be in #jokosher on irc.freenode.net. It is an ideal opportunity to come and help.
The plan is simple:
* Take this [big list of bugs](https://bugs.launchpad.net/jokosher/+bugs).
* Find out more about the cause of them.
* Fix them.
Not everyone can fix the bugs, but everyone can help test and find out more information about the cause of the bugs. Think of it as a software version of Murder She Wrote. 🙂
We have two hack sessions scheduled this week – **Wed 12th September and Thurs 13th September, both from 9pm UTC** in #jokosher on irc.freenode.net. They are quite late as that is when many of our hackers seem to be around. There will also be people in the channel before the hack session.
I am also going to try a little experiment and invite people to join a conference VoIP session while we work. This could create a productive atmosphere so we can chat to each other when exploring these bugs. Initially I am going to use Skype to see if this works, with the hope of using a free software VoIP phone in the future. So, if you come to the hack session and want to join the conference call, come armed with a Skype ID.
I hope to see you there!
After dinner speeches
Well, tonight was a first – I delivered my first ever after dinner speech.
It happened at PyCon UK, and I was asked a few months ago to do it. I was a little nervous, having never done one before, but it seemed to go really well and the crowd were very responsive and interactive. I had an absolute blast doing it.
I think I might offer this as something to do at conferences in addition to the usual speaking slots. Great fun. 🙂
The Horsemen Assemble
I am pleased to announce that [Daniel Holbach](https://daniel.holba.ch/blog/), a long time leader in the [MOTU project](https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MOTU) and friend of developers everywhere, has moved to my community team inside Canonical. Daniel will now be working as *Ubuntu Community Developer Liaison*. I am extremely excited to be working with him.
So what will Daniel be getting his claws into? A key focus will be MOTU. Daniel will be spending a lot of time refining, improving and growing MOTU, and getting the world excited about it. MOTU folks, you have been wanting more commitment from Canonical with MOTU, its here, primed and ready to kick arse. Daniel will also be working on improving our technical development processes, making it easier for people to get involved, getting developers excited about Ubuntu and working with the developer community to resolve and straighten out problems and any conflict.
We have raised our game, lets get to work. 🙂
Bring. It. On.
Yes! As has been rumoured for a while, Iron Maiden’s next world tour will see them playing material from their 80s albums Powerslave and Somewhere In Time. I will never forget being a wee child and hearing Somewhere In Time for the first time and pestering my mum to buy the tape for me. It was my first album and I was small, had a bowl haircut and a bodywarmer. Life changed there onwards.
A big list o’ teams
Quick request to all Ubuntu teams. Could each of you head over to [this page](https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Teams) and add your team’s information to it.
This page is designed to be the core source of information about all current teams in the Ubuntu project.
You are all heroes and deserve inordinate riches and fame.
Growing old is compulsory. Growing up is optional.
In a few weeks, specifically, Monday September 17th, I clock up the ripe age of 28. It has been a pretty damn good year, some highs and lows, but all-in-all, a fun, exciting, roller-coaster of a year. Where will the coming twelve months take me? No idea, squire. I have ambitions and dreams, but lets see…
Now, at this point I know that those of you who are naturally intelligent, effortlessly inspiring, wonderfully attractive, and demonstrate a natural ability to achieve will be wanting to know how exactly you can send me something for my birthday. Fret no longer, for you can go ahead and use my [Amazon Wish List](https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/registry/registry.html/026-8674558-0164419?ie=UTF8&type=wishlist&id=14BOKBBNDAFJN). The rest of you clearly needed more cuddles as children…
More on my Dad
Things are odd in the world of my dad. Someone who I am starting to think of as Dad 2.0. Let’s look at the evidence:
* First he uses OpenOffice.org and Firefox on Windows.
* Then [he starts using Ubuntu](https://archivedblog.jonobacon.com/?p=1012).
* Then he gets into Skype and is calling me for free from the US while on holiday with my ma.
…now…he has a blog. Yep, go and read [Speaker’s Corner](https://soapboxcorner.blogspot.com/). Nerds among you can subscribe to his [RSS feed](https://soapboxcorner.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default). He is currently studying to become a journalist and already writing some incredible pieces for local and international press houses and has developed a real finesse for writing with a smooth and flowing, yet deft writing style.
What next? Can I expect him to wear thick glasses, have a nervous twitch and pick a fight with me about Transformers?
My dad has joined the Internet generation, fuelled by Open Source, and I am proud of him. 🙂
Metal Singer Required
My band, [Seraphidian](https://www.myspace.com/seraphidian), are looking for a singer. We have recently had a shift around in roles, and we are looking for a good, reliable, guttural singer. Ideally we are looking for someone with a similar growl to George ‘Corpsegrinder’ Fisher from Cannibal Corpse – deep and rhythmic, but clear and distinguishable. You will need the following:
* Preferably be based in the West Midlands, England (we are based in Wolverhampton) or able to travel there regularly.
* Be available for regular rehearsals and gigging.
* Be reliable and committed.
* Good sense of humor – we are all a bit nuts.
* Have a good ear for rhythm, tonality and diversity.
We are looking to get a singer in the saddle ASAP and be back out touring soon, with the aim of recording our second album early next year.
If you are interested [email me](mailto:jono AT jonobacon DOT org).
Ubuntu Release Parties
Well folks, we are getting closer and closer to the release of Ubuntu 7.10, the Gutsy Gibbon, and it is going to rock like a good ‘un when it comes out. Now, I need to draw your attention to something that is always important when we put out a new release – Release Parties!!
When a new Ubuntu hits the streets, groups from around the world (typically our incredible [LoCo Community](https://wiki.ubuntu.com/LoCoTeams) organise release parties on the day of the release. This gives everyone a chance to get together, have some fun and celebrate another chunk of Ubuntu being born into the world. Well, the next release is **Thu 18th October 2007** and it would be great to have a worldwide blanket of release parties going on.
If you like the sound of this, follow these simple steps:
* Where possible, [find and join your local Ubuntu LoCo team](https://wiki.ubuntu.com/LoCoTeamList). Being part of a LoCo is not a requirement, but it makes it more fun. 🙂
* Read [this handy little guide](https://wiki.ubuntu.com/BuildingCommunity/RunningReleaseParty) that I just wrote to help you get started organising a party.
* Why not join the new [ubuntu-event-planners](https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/Ubuntu-event-planners) mailing list – a list for people who are organising Ubuntu
* Add your party to the [Gutsy Release Parties](https://wiki.ubuntu.com/GutsyReleaseParties) page.
Let’s make it happen. 🙂