Open Learning I - OpenCourseWare

Let's say you ended up with the wrong degree in college, got the wrong job and want to learn something new that would exercise your coconut.

Well, the premier educational institution of learning offers something that could change not only your life - but also the world.

MIT's OpenCourseWare aims to

to put all of the educational materials from MIT's undergraduate- and graduate-level courses online, free and openly available to anyone, anywhere in the world...

- Wikipedia

Yes, that's the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and not the Mapua Institute of Technology.

Their contribution to mankind is so overwhelming that I have not found the right words to express what I feel.

Go on. Check it out.

Applied Hacking I - Blogger: The Tabs of Hoctro

If you like the blue navigation tabs to the right, you could head over to Hoctro's blog which provide instructions on how to do so. He's really a helpful fellow and responds to every single comment on his comments page.

To top that you could choose from a wide variety of styles, horizontal, vertical, green, blue, black, and lots!

Without further ado, the link.

Anything FOSS II - Understanding Open Source in the Philippine Setting

For those of you who want to understand the role of Open Source in the Philippine Setting, this one is a must read.

The blog post zooms us to the 21st century Philippine Islands, the History of OSS, and the integration of the two in legislation.

From Big Mango: Understanding Open Source in the Philippine Setting.

Have a good read.

FOSS Tip I - Viewing Google Calendar Offline Using Mozilla Firefox

We have all seen Google Calendar's features: shared calendars, intuitive interface, accessibility and more. But one thing I've noticed is that you can't view it if you are not connected to the Internet. Furthermore, it is not possible to make changes to it if you are offline.

I may have found a solution for the first concern, which means that you may be able to view your Google Calendar using Firefox with the information that you last left in it when you were online. You can view your Google Calendar Offline by doing the following:

Note: I am not in anyway responsible directly or indirectly for any loss or damage that may occur in whatever aspect that is pertinent to the steps you will perform. You are doing this tutorial for experimental purposes and would therefore not hold me, the writer, liable for any such described loss. Doing the procedure below, is an explicit agreement to the terms above.

1. Make sure you have a Google account.
   
   
2. Log on to Google Calendar.
   
   
3. Download Firefox or Firefox Portable (Recommended).
   
   
4. Install whichever version of Firefox that you prefer.
   
   
5. Download Calendar.xpi which is the extension for Firefox, or Portable Firefox Calendar.xpi which is the same extension but specially made for Firefox Portable.
   
   
6. Install the appropriate xpi or extension for your type of browser.
   
   
7. Restart Firefox by closing then opening it.
   
   
8. Browse over to Google Calendar, then click on Manage Calendars.
   
   
   
   
9. Click on your calendar like so:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
10. Click on the ICal link like so:
    
    
    
    
    
    
11. Copy the link that appears on the bubble then paste it on Notepad:
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
12. Okay, so you have that link. Do not give it to anybody unless you want other people to know where you are. Keep that link handy.
    
    
    
13. Now on your Firefox Browser, click on the "Tools" Menu at the top of your screen.
    
    
    
14. On the drop down menu, click on "Calendar". Another window would then appear. It's your calendar!
    
    
    
15. On your Calendar window, click on the "File" menu. Then click on "Subscribe to Remote Calendar".
    
    
    
16. Put a "Calendar Name" which you prefer on the empty box.
    
    
    
17. Remember the link that we pasted on notepad? Copy then paste it on the Remote Server URL field.
    
    
18. Click Ok
    
    
19. Viola! You can now view your Google Calendar offline. Wanna test it? Well, close your programs including your calendar, then disconnect from the Internet.
    
    
20. Open your Firefox browser while you are offline. Then click on "Tools", then click on "Calendar".

You will be able to see your Google Calendar in offline mode. It isn't a magical formula which could get your information even if you are absolutely offline. It gets the information from your last session.

Anything FOSS I- Another Virtual World

I met Mr. H while playing a game called FreeCivilization. At the time, we were waiting for more players to join in the online game. I chatted with H and I found out that H was in fact a secondary school computer teacher based in Spain. He made an offer I simply couldn't refuse: to translate a diagram of the Conceptual Framework of Open Source Software.

It was while trying to translate this document that I became born again. I awoke from my technological slumber and found that there is another virtual world that exists apart from my world of Windows.

I realized that I didn't have to buy pirated Microsoft software. I didn't have to scrounge for cracks, serials and hacks to run my pirated Adobe Photoshop.

I realized that I had a choice.

-~ oOo ~-

In the end, I was able to translate the document using Open Office 2.0.

Collaboration had a new meaning. I can say to myself that I contributed to something at last. An idea that could change the world for the better.

Introduction

Are you a computer enthusiast who uses Microsoft Windows?

If so, may I ask how much money you spent to get it and how much money you spent to buy other software to install over it?

If you are like me, and you live in a third world country, you probably wouldn't want to spend more money on similar software that you could have for free. Times are difficult and we just couldn't afford expensive software.

Though piracy is rampant and easily accessible, the damage that pirated software could inflict on our computer systems is just too great a risk: litigation from legitimate copyright owners, compromised confidential information, hackers, worms, viruses and even identity theft.

Fortunately, Linux and Open Source Software offers a fresh and FREE alternative to Windows and other proprietary software.

-~ oOo ~-

Read about Open Source Software

Read about Linux.

This blog was created to explore the inspiration that is Linux. For me it is not only a simple Operating System that makes your PC run. It is also the centerpiece of a technological movement for the betterment of our world.