Openness...

I've been using Ubuntu for over a year now, and it is my favorite OS by far.

In one way or another, I've been using open-source software for quite sometime. Yet, until last year I made up my mind to use a Linux distro and get rid of Windows for good.

After doing some research, and asking around, I decided to use Ubuntu since it was one of the most user friendly distro out there. So, the first version I used was the 9.10. And since then, I've have no intention what soever to return to using Windows, or to start using the Mac OS.

And now with the Unity UI, I enjoy using Ubuntu even more. For me, I find that I like the way it looks and it works for me. I find it easier to get around, so I can do my work with it. I just enjoy it much.

Most importantly, it's open-source software. Which is important for me, since the philosophy that come with the open-source software community is the same that I have.

I do believe that we all should have the ability to freely exchange ideas and information in order to make things better. So, information should be freely available to everyone in the community to use and share. Whatever comes in the way should be avoided.

Having open and free societies, help the individual grow. And, if the individual grows the society on which he live grows with that individual.

I believe that the society and the individual can grow together. And the best way to foster the growth of both, is by having a society as open and free as possible. The ability to share between individuals should be a priority, so that information and ideas can flow with as little difficulty as possible.

Until we can have access to any information we need, and are able to use it as best we can for our individual interests, we won't be as free as we can be.

Community driven projects...

I feel rather frustrated how many companies, and some individuals, seem to look down to community driven projects.

And, for better or for worse, many people seem to buy into idea that if a company isn't behind a given product or service, it can't be trusted or it couldn't be any good.

Yet, I don't buy into that. Community driven projects can be as good, or better, as those driven by companies. But, most people don't seem to be willing to give community a chance, because they are afraid that there is no support if or, when, they run into problems.

This idea is perpetuated by companies, in order to make weary about moving to community driven project. But, finding support is as easy, and sometimes easier, when compared to company driven projects. It's just a matter of a way to contact the support.

As a matter of fact, contacting support on community driven projects is easy. Most often than not, when you reach for help you'll find someone willing to help that has come with your problem. In some respects, is easier to get help from someone who knows how to fix your problem since most people who work on the project are willing to help others.

Almost all mayor community driven projects have multiple ways to get in touch with them, or someone else who could help you out, for support. And most often than not, the help comes in a more helpful manner; mainly because all who actively work on the project have a sense of ownership over it.

Most importantly, the community driven projects don't depend on a single source to give support to the project. And since many people know how the project works, it's easier to find someone to help you when you need it, since the support base is a lot wider.

Also, on community driven projects your feedback is more likely to be taken. You can become an active participant if you decide to do so. And in many cases, you can contribute money, work, or in other way that helps the project grow.

It's a symbiotic relationship between all that work, or use, the project. Collaboration between it's members is one of the fundamental things on any project that comes from the community.

So, if you come across a community project that meets your needs give it a try. You might be up to a pleasant surprised.

Fair society...

It's important for society at large to understand that telling others how to spend the money they have earned for their work.

After all, we are entitled to spend the money we earn in any way we see fit. The truth is that, since we earn that money with the efforts of our labor its fair that we can use it to reward ourselves.

Yes, there are people have more money than most. Yet, this is just life; and life is not fair. There'll always be people that have more, and people that have less. What we should strive for, is a society in which the powerful where the powerful can't step on the people below them.

The key for a fair society is that everyone earns the same, or has the same of everything, is one where the individuals have the same rights and access to have their basic need meet.

If the individuals living at a society, don't have equal rights it becomes a society that won't be self sustaining. Wealth alone is not enough to make society prosperous, if not all the individuals living it can access a way to make a living in it.

But, is important to keep in mind that there always be inequalities in some way or in another. The important thing, is to make those inequalities be because of the normal differences between individuals, and not because those inequalities are forced to individuals or groups.

We need to make sure that individuals are as free as possible to make a living in any way the individual chooses, without making living in society less practical or desirable. Most importantly, the individual should be able to move to any other geographical place if it's in his interest.

And, each society should have the freedom to self rule as each sees fit.

The exchange of information between individuals, and societies, is fundamental for the growth of humanity at large. If information isn't allowed to be freely exchanged, societies die out. To keep growing, innovation is needed to keep societies healthy.

And to be able to innovate, information needs to be freely available to as many individuals as possible within the society. Not only that, exposure to information from outside makes the process of innovating all that easier.

At the end, the most fair society it's not the one where everyone in it has the same of everything. Rather, is the one where the individual is able to choose and do as he sees fit, without stepping on the rights of his fellow men.

A Thought on FOSS...

After using GNOME 3 for three days, I just couldn't take it any more and came back to using Unity as my user interface on Ubuntu 11.10.

Even though I do like GNOME 3 in general terms, I do feel that Unity is better suited to the way I interact with the user interface. I don't only like Unity looks, but also the way it works.

When I started using Unity with the release of Ubuntu 11.04, I did come across several bugs. But, at the end there weren't that important and for the most part those bugs have been ironed out. So, I expect that with the release of Ubuntu 12.04 Unity will be fully mature.

But, this rises something that I really like about Linux in particular, and the FOSS movement in general. What I like is that there is always a choice. If there is something doesn't work for you, or you just don't like it, you can always choose another distro or app that suits you.

Of course one can has the right what one likes or not, yet I don't see the point of calling names for the sake of defending the particular distro, or any other thing you use, if someone points out where that particular person believes things aren't being done the way he things they should be done.

Neither is doing the opposite, just because people don't do what you think is right or most be done.

There must be a healthy discussion of the merits of the actions being taken, yet actions are to be taken in order to move forward. And not everyone has to agree with what is to be done.

Is a matter of balance, and to have the will to move forward to the direction that seems more appropriate according to the goals that have been set for the project.

At the end, that people can exchange and implement new ideas on how things should work it's what makes the FOSS movement a place where innovation is big part of the game.

Beware of Absolutes...

One should always avoid dealing in absolutes. Most things in life are not black or white, but rather a shade of gray.

But often than not, is better to judge things relative to the context on which those things occur. What is appropriate on one situation in one place, might not apply to the same situation in another place.

There are many factor that makes anything that is done acceptable or not. There is only a really few things that are almost universally accepted. Yet, the vast majority of our actions fall in a gray area. Most often or not, there will be someone that finds what you do objectionable and other that agrees with the way you view it.

Instead of lashing out when someone tells you that what you so is not the thing to do, instead of attacking back try to understand where they come from. In many cases, the person who disagrees with your position doesn't have the whole context, or information, on why you act the way you do.

Once they understand why you do, or act, a certain way most people understand and leave you be. The same applies when you see doing something that you might not agree or approve of.

It is important to see the other point of view before passing any judgment. Is also important to bare in mind that no one has to agree with you, and you don't have to agree with what other people believe in.

What we are obliged to do if we want others to respect and tolerate our positions and beliefs, is to do the same to them. 

One of the most important things to live in peace, is to respect what other believe in. And to understand that no one thing is absolute, all is relative to the context we are in at each passing moment.

The things that are most important today, may stop being so tomorrow. What is important for me, might not be so for the person next to me.

So, listen to what others have to say before judging.

Open Source...

Open source is something that I really hold close to my ethics system. The core values of sharing knowledge, ways to do things and builds things, in a free and open way is a way to innovate faster and in an easier way.

If all can see how something is done, it makes it easier to people actually knowing how to actually do something from the blueprints themselves.

This has the added benefit that people can modify according to the needs of the people who are going to use it. Or, people can make modifications that actually make it better and being open they can share those modifications back to the community so that the benefits as a whole.

But, since there are more people actually seeing and using the blueprints there is a greater chance that if there are any defects, those can be addressed a lot earlier than they would if it was Closed sourced.

Open source gives all the people who actively participate on each project a sense of ownership. This is a good things, since it gives every contributor the responsibility to make sure his, or her, contribution works the way it's suppose to do. And also makes it important to call on those who contribute bad components to the project.

The responsibility of policing the projects is up to both the individuals doing their best, and contributing those elements back when they make modifications to them. And the community at large by keeping others up to what they said they promised they were going to be up to.

It's important to understand that even though you are entitled to freely used and modify the blueprints for your needs, all the work to actually make build, or make it work, is entirely up to the individual who wants to make use of it. But, one is not obliged to contribute back if you don't modify anything.

But, one can contribute back to the community in various ways. One is contributing money to the project in order to help to keep it going. A important note to keep in mind, is that there is no minimum on how much money you can contribute to the project. You can give as much money as you can, as many times as you can.

Other way to help your project, is to spread the word. Tell all people that could use the project about it. Show them how you have used the project, and what can they can gain by using it.

Don't forget, by helping out the project you are making sure that it remains available to you.

I can't say how many more benefits you could get by using open source projects. So, look for one that meets your needs.

And more importantly, don't keep them to yourself and spread the word.

My Problem With Apple...

Let's keep something clear, I do agree that Apple produces great hardware and software.

Most of the products that Apple releases are great in design, and technology. Their products are innovative, and bring new things to the table. Or at least they are a flesh implementation of a technology that's already out there.

My problem with Apple is their philosophy. I don't mind that their software is proprietary, though I rather see in being open. And, I don't agree how they managed the hacking of the iPhone. Once I buy a product, I expect to be able to do whatever I want with it, and I don't appreciate a company telling me what I should do with my phone.

And I just had to roll my eyes, when many of the features that came from hacking the iOS where later integrated into it. I didn't expect Apple to thank, or acknowledge, those came first from the coders that hacked it. But, why fight so hard to avoid having people to hack your product, just to end up adding the features they did in the first place.

One of the things that irk me most about Jobs, was the way he reacted to Android. He claimed that Google stole his ideas to make Android what it is, and he was planing to go nuclear to get Android out of the market because of it.

But, let's go back a few years. Didn't Jobs quoted Picasso saying that good artist copy, and great one stole? Basically stating that if the had to steal great ideas from others he would if it meant that Apple could produce great products?

May be he said that Apple could steal from others, but other can't do the same from Apple.

Even though I don't condone stealing ideas from anyone, credit should be given where credit is due, I'm an advocate that ideas should be shared and used by anyone that needs to. The more people see the idea, and use it where and implemented in the best way possible, should be the norm.

By making it so, the field would be more fertile for innovation. The more people working on a project, the better the odd that someone would come out with a novel way of doing same thing. Or making it in a better way.

There should be some limits on how, and how much, any person can use from any idea. But, by having a easy and workable way for people to collaborate makes it easier, and faster, to come out with new ideas and ways to solve problems. By promoting openness, the discussion on how to move forward would be far more productive.

Imagine if each car manufacturer needed to come up with the engine or tires every time they introduced a new model.

The basic core of things should be there to be used by everyone that wants to work with it. What ever isn't at the core of the issue, can be put apart as modules for the use for the people who actually use it. But, even those should be available to those who might be interested in the capabilities that those modules bring.

Is up to the creators of those modules, if they give it back free or they charge for it.

I do believe that an open ecosystem is healthier, and is better in fostering and bringing innovation faster than the closed ecosystems are.

Net Neutrality and SOPA...

I've been reading about the SOPA act, which aim is to protect the copyright holders from piracy.

I agree on the principle that everyone has the right to receive payment for any work that they do, after all it takes time and effort to do so. But, I've a problem with how the SOPA act intends to protect the copyright holders from piracy.

The idea that just by accusing someone of piracy brings about the kind of actions SOPA proposes are, for me, disturbing.

I believe that the Internet should be an open and even field for the exchange of information and ideas. I do agree on the proponents of Net Neutrality, there shouldn't anyone that can stop the exchange.

Having access to information, and being able to exchange your ideas with other people is a fundamental right.

And is specially important to bring forth innovation. Sharing ideas, and comparing notes freely, can lead to new ideas. The more people contribute and share ideas, the easier it is to solve problems. The Internet is a tool that makes such exchange easier, and mainly allows people to connect with other than in other ways wouldn't be possible.

In many ways, I agree that the copyright laws that exist now inhibit innovation by making it easy for established companies attack smaller, or new, companies that threaten their leader position. Instead of making their own innovations, they sue in order to preserve the status quo.

If you put the copyright laws and SOPA together, I find it that rather that it would make more damage than good. If you want to really to stamp out piracy, make the Internet a really neutral place, where ideas and information can be easily shared.

Instead, focus on fixing the copyright law so it actually motivates competition by innovation. Not by suing or threating the smaller players.

Behaviors matter...

It can be really depressing how many people actually expect that someone else to come to solve their problems, and it that doesn't happen they just moan on how bad things are for them.

If more people came to realize that the key to solve most of the problems, if not all, is in their own hands the world would be a different place.

Most of the changes needed to solve the problems each person have is within. Of course some problems are harder to solve that other, but there is no problem that can't be solved in one way or another. The only thing that it's needed to fix whatever we want, is the will to find the way to do so.

The key to arrive to a solution, resides in being able to pay attention on what is what behaviors are the ones that take us to the outcome that we want to change. All is in what actions are the ones that make things happen the way they do, not the outcomes.

By fixing on the outcomes, we don't see the complete picture of what is going on to make those outcomes happen. The most important question us why things happen as they do, if we don't attack those root causes the solution to our problems will elude us.

So, if you want to have lasting solutions to your problems attack the root causes. If you don't do so, you are setting yourself for failure.

#Occupy movement...

I've been following the several #Occupy movements that have sprung up on several cities around the world. It has make me wondered if such a movement could occur in any of the mayor cities of Mexico, to call for peace and to prompt politicians to take actions in the matters that most interest Mexican society.

Yet, I've some doubts that there will be any such movements at any city in Mexico.

Most of the people here are not that politically active. There is a view that any one that is politically active is not to be trusted. And, after 70 years in which most people came to expect that no mater what they did or said nothing come happened because our voices just wouldn't be heard. Things have slowly beginning to change, but most of the time when we rally we don't stay at it for long.

More are more people are becoming aware that they can do something to change how the system works, but we haven't gotten a critical mass as of yet. We need more people pressuring for change, and doing from several different points. Most importantly, there is a need for more people speaking up on what needs to be changed. The people at power wont do much if they don't see the need, if they don't feel the pressure to make the changes we want and need to move forward as a nation.

Also we need to understand that quicker these changes come, the quicker we are going to see the effects. If stall on them, or do nothing at all, those changes wont give the results we want and need.

Having a just and fair country is a shared responsibility between society and government. Neither can do it by itself. In a sense big changes come from small actions, but we all need to act together in order our small actions to sum up to be able to make the big change.

If you want change, do something. And if those actions don't bring the change you wanted, do things in a different way.

There is always a way out, we just need to figure out how to get there.

Hacking...

As much as hacking is being depicted as something bad, and that should be avoided at all times, I can't find a reason why people shouldn't be able to hack their own software and hardware.

Granted, rules should be put in place to punish those who hack into places, or things, they are not wanted.

But, if anyone wants to hack their own computer, mobile phone or software to work in a way they deem they need; they should be able to do it legally. And, if they want to share it with other people they also should be able to do so if they choose to do so.

Face it, hacking is not bad in itself.

It also brings benefits to the larger community of users. Hacking fosters innovation, and makes good motivator for companies to do things better.

Most of the hackers are curious people, who just want to know how something works or who wants to make whatever product they use do something they believe it should be able to do. In some cases, they modify the behaviour, or look, in order to make it work in a way they believe it would be more useful.

Instead of trying to ban or discourage hacking, we should be directing the effort of the various hackers into positive avenues of work. Give hacker incentives to work legally, and enable them to share their work not only with other hackers, but with the public at large.

If you treat hacking as a problem, and something to be eradicated, it will be a problem.

So, treat it as the tool that foster innovation. Then, and only then, hacking can bring the full benefits it can give us.

My Ubuntu 11.10 experience so far...

I've been using Ubuntu 11.10 since yesterday that it became available for download, and I'm very pleased with it.

The user interface is a lot cleaner, and easier to use. I really like the look of it, in my opinion is a big step forward for Ubuntu and it has cemented it as my favorite Linux distro. I've been using Ubuntu on regular basis since the 10.04 LTS version, though I used for a while the 8.04 LTS before, I've found it to be easy to use and very stable.

And since the 10.04 LTS version, I've like the look and feel of the user interface a lot better than the one in Windows and I like it as much as the Mac OS X one. But, with the current Unity shell, I like it even more. I find the design to be clean, and easier to use than the previous ones. You could say that Unity has won me over, and I plan to stick with it.

I can't recommend Ubuntu enough if you want to make the jump to Linux, specially if you are new to the world of open source software.

There are still a few rough edges, but as with the two previous versions I've used these will be fixed rather quickly. Besides, these aren't that big and are on par with any new release of an OS and knowing me I most likely found them because I like to go deep when I personalize my OS to my taste.

So, if you are an average user you are unlikely to find them.

At the end, if you want to make the jump to Linux Ubuntu 11.10 is a great distro to start from.

Do what's right for you...

It's sad to see how many people don't question themselves why they believe what they do, or if those believes are a valid platform to stand on.

Many just accept what is told to them, without really analyzing what's is told to them. Some won't see the contradictions on the information given to them, because they don't bother to actually pay attention. It seems that they don't want to take the responsibility and face the consequences of their own actions.

Some seem to have the need to be told what to believe, and how to act.

It's important to understand that what's good for some doesn't make it so for others. The idea that something will work for us, just because it works for someone we know is not true. Yes, we should consider several paths before one is chosen. But, at the end each of us needs to choose what is best for us as an individual.

More often than not, it's hard to be completely certain if what was chosen will work out the way it was intended to do. If it does, that's great. If it doesn't, don't blame others.

Learn from what happened, and move on. The blaming game is not really useful, since most of the time it doesn't help anyone to move on with life.

As humans, we are fallible. We make mistakes, but we can overcome them to make things right.

At the end, do what's right for you to the best of your abilities. Remember that you are the one you must answer to at the end of each day. You're the one who must feel comfortable on your own skin, and live your life the way you believe is the best way to do so.

Give yourself more credit.

End of an era...

When I read the news that Steve Jobs had died yesterday afternoon, at first I couldn't bring myself around it.

I mean, even if I disagree with how things are done in Apple, the man was a visionary. He did make great products, easy to use and with exquisite design. Products that just work, and perform in many cases better than advertised.

Is easy to see why people want Apple products, and why Apple has such a large and loyal group of base users.

Personally, I don't use Apple's products because of philosophical reasons. I do like the design of both of the software and hardware, they are pleasing to the eye and easy to use. Mac OS X is stable as OS's come, and it's really user friendly.

But, at the end Steve Job is someone that I admire, and respect. He was a visionary, that showed us that technology can be sexy and easy to use. His innovations managed to keep putting the bar higher and higher.

I remember being pleased when he putted Apple's might behind open web standards.

In my opinion, to pay tribute to Steve Jobs, the best way to do it is keep improving and making better things. Keep innovating. Never to stand still, and always bring forth new ideas.

I do believe that's what he would want.

FOSS...

If I remember correctly, it has been a year since I started using Ubuntu, or Mint, as my main operating system. I have found that I really enjoy using Ubuntu much more than using Windows.

So much more so, that I've no plans to go back to using Windows.

All the programs that I use, or need, are available in some way or another on Ubuntu or Linux in general. My favorite web browser, Firefox, is available. Also,my favorite office suite, LibreOffice is.

I've found Ubuntu to be more stable than Windows. In the year I've been using it, Ubuntu has only crashed once, an it was an early beta version of the 11.04 version. So, it was to be expected, since most of the bugs weren't ironed out. But, once I installed the stable version I haven't had no problem what so ever.

At this moment, I'm running the 11.04 version. I admit that initially I had my doubts about the Unity user interface, but I've found that I do like the look and feel it has. And I've been enjoying working with it, though I've run into some minor bugs that have been taken care off with the regular updates.

I do expect to up-date to the 11.10 version when it comes later this month.

Ever since I started investing, and learning, what free and open source software(FOSS) is, about 10 years ago, I've been trying to use as much as possible.

The principals and code of ethics that comes with FOSS are similar to those I've and believe in. So, I've become an advocate of FOSS and spread the word about it's benefits.  I find that FOSS are beneficial to innovation, that it actually can propel and foster it.

If more people can see, and modify, the source code to any piece of software to better suit their needs means that there will be better solutions to that given problem.

Allowing people to freely tinker with not just software, but hardware as well should not be discouraged. I agree there should be some rules to give credit to those who deserve it, but that doesn't mean that other people shouldn't be allow to work on, and improve on, the software and hardware they use.

And also to share with the community at large the work that they have done.

There more people works to improve the systems we use, the better. Protection sure be in place to protect the ideas to be stolen, but not in a way to impede the improvement of it by third parties.

In the end, it's a balancing act. But its outcome should be decided by the people who actually use the product, not by any government or any other group.

Change now..

What is most frustrating for me, is the fact that if things don't change things would only tend to get worse.

As things are at the moment, things seem to have no solution anytime soon. Structural changes are needed as soon as possible, if these these don't arrive things are seriously never to get better.

Yes, a wider segment of society as pushing for changes. In hand with that, some of the politicians are actually doing something. But, when you look at the changes made, or proposed, the realization that most of changes are merely cosmetic are self-evident.

The time for cosmetic changes has long since passed, and now what Mexico needs are deep and structural changes that help the country to face the future.

If we want to keep our position in the world, we need to make and apply changes that gives us the ability to better adapt to new circumstances. Other countries like China, Brazil, and India have already started to make these changes, and the results on their economies is outstanding.

Yes, there still plenty of inequality still to be seen on those countries. But, the are good signs that more people are coming out of poverty. It will take years, possibly decades, to eradicate poverty. And maybe, poverty will be eradicated, but something has to be done.

But, society at large should pressure more our politicians to make them aware that there to serve us. If left to their own devices, we have seen time and time again how they start acting as if society is here to serve them. Actions need to be taken to make sure that politicians understand that they are suppose to do OUR bidding. If would be naive to believe the current status quo will be in a matter of a few years. It will take some time, but it won't change all by itself.

The system is just as good as we make it.

Sense of community...

I find it rather sad that it's hard to really become involved in the community where you live in, because most of the services you need are to be found outside the community.

There are a lot of people are against having shops, banks and other of the kind of business that people use on regular basis arguing that it would disturb the peace and quiet of the community. Which, they shouldn't since and should make life more practical having things like banks and small shops that carter to the needs of the necessities of each particular community.

By letting businesses that carter to these needs to operate at each community, many problems would be solve. Transportation would be easier, since people wouldn't need to move as far. Thus saving time and money, and freeing people to actually do more.

Security would be improved, since people living there would have a greater sense of ownership over the community. Also would foster better relationships of the people living there, since using the services that are offered on the shops that operate at the community would bring individuals with the same interests together. And since people would naturally gather on these centers, people would have reasons to get to know other and share common interests rather that going somewhere else to do so.

Of course there should be limits to what kind of businesses, and their size, should be allowed to establish within each community. These should be based on what they offered, and the size of the community in question.

But, saying that commerce shouldn't be allowed in residential areas is detrimental to them. We are social by nature, and having plazas and parks where people can gather, are essential to the health and wellbeing of the community at large. These places become integral parts of the community, since it gives the people living in them a place to come together to talk, exchange ideas, and simply feel that they belong to the community where they live.

If the people are given the chance to get to know the people living at the community where they live, they become closer to the community and have the sense of belonging and ownership. This has the effect of making people to take care of the community they live in.

Most of the crime we see, comes from the social disintegration that comes of not having the sense of belonging to a group that makes us want to be better. Or, not wanting to take place of where we live.

Let's give people the chance of being proud of the community where they live. This is a big step forward to solving many of the problems we have.

Architect and builder...

Even though there are still people that don't do much other than just say how bad things are, and how things will never change, it's uplifting to see there are people who are acting to make things better.

What's best, the number of those who take action are increasing with time. The awareness that we can do something to make things work, and that we can actually do something to make our world a better place. That we don't have to wait, or depend, on our politicians to do something about the issues that concern us.

At the end, if we don't do what it takes to make things work no one else will.

We are the ones who are responsible of our life and our communities. The ones who can make it better are ourselves, and we must be aware that is up to us to make our life better. As much as we would like, no one else has the obligation to do anything for us. What we do for ourselves, and others, is up to each of us.

Is important to understand that each of us is the master of our own destiny. We make our way to the destiny we want to, with each step we take toward it. Each one of our actions brings with it consequences, with are the rewards or punishments we see as the end result.

We all have free will, but it takes courage to use it and face the consequences that come with the use of our free will. What we do comes from the choices we do through our life, and most of our choices that we must take are done so with no real knowledge of where those choices will take us. We must be constantly be adjusting to the new circumstances that arise with time and place.

There are no single formulas to face life. What works for some, doesn't work for others.

We like it or not, all comes down to what we choose to do. Even inaction is a personal choice, for which we must face the consequences of. What we choose not to do, may be the thing that someone else will choose to do whether we like it or not.

We'll make mistakes, but that shouldn't stop us for making things happen. Mistakes can be corrected, and we can learn from them.

At the end, we can choose what we make out of our life. But, it also takes the will to make things happen in order to get where we want to be. The most important thing in order to get where we want to be, is ourselves. No one else can get us where we want to be. Opportunities are only fruitful only to those who are willing to take them, and do something with them.

Each one of us, is the architect and builder of our destiny.

Power of the people...

As far I can see, many politicians still don't understand they are facing a more active and educated society. They still want to manage thing the way they did in the past, yet it's not possible to do so.

People have become more aware of their power they have on the government. And more importantly, people has become to see that the power of the government comes from the people. At the end, the government is there to serve us, not the other way around.

There is more of an understanding that the government has to surrender to the will of the people, since the government is just an expression of such will. The people who decide to work at the government need to realize that they just serve to make sure that the will of people comes to be realized.

At the end, the government that doesn't come to terms to this fact is not going to last for long.

We need to keep the government on check. People needs to realize that there is the constant need to keep tabs on government. Casting a vote of punishment at the end of each term is not enough to prevent, or control, what the government does. Or how it works.

It's up to the people, not to the government itself, to make sure it works as it should. As the saying goes, each society has the government it deserves.

Freedom...

I've been interested and supportive of open source software for a while now, since the collaborative nature and philosophy of it resonates with my core beliefs.

If we worked like this in more aspects of our daily lives, the world would be a far better place to live in. In many ways, the interest of the community at large overlap with those of the individual. So, the individuals should be involved with the community as much as possible.

True, the interests of the community are not always the same of those of the individual. There for, I also believe that the individual should be free to engage and work on those projects that are most beneficial for him with as few restrictions as possible.

I mean, no one should be allowed to do things that damage the community at large.

But, at the end each individual should have the freedom to work on what interest and benefits him the most. It's equally important that individuals to be allowed to associate as they see fit. There shouldn't be restrictions to with who, and what for, we associate.

Freedom is central to a healthy community. There should be as much freedom as possible to move, trade, and associate as possible. And the rules that limit freedom, should be as few as possible.

Bring change...

It's sad to see how many people complain about things don't worry, or how their needs are not being attended to, and when given the chance to do something about it they choose to stay and do things the same way.

They ask for change, but when change comes to their doorstep they choose not to take it.

I've been seeing it happing a lot more often than I'd like. People demanding some sort of change, and when an opportunity comes to make that change happen they just freak out and don't capitalize that opportunity. Most of the time it happens because many expect to change come in a certain way, and at certain time.

When it comes in some other way, some times they don't see it. But, it's sad when the opportunity is seen and not taken because it didn't come as they wanted it to come. Instead of taking the chance to change and making it work their way, they just let it go without realizing that the missed opportunity might not come again in a long time.

Most of the time, change won't happen the way we expect it to happen. The change presents itself in many ways, and we must be ready to cease it. It's up to us to make it happen, in the best possible manner. No one else has the responsibility to give us the change we look for, or to make it work our way.

And, in order to bring change, we have to give something in exchange. No thing in life comes for free, and at the end we have to pay for our actions.

News outlets...

Listening to the news and reading the papers can be really a depressing or annoying thing, depending on the report o news that are being given.

Most of the newspapers and radio stations don't seem to understand that even though they are entitled to give their own perspective to the information that they are giving, it doesn't mean that they have to always be in opposition or agreement with everything.

I'm tired that the left leaning are always being overly critical of the right, without questing their own position and the right leaning ones doing the same.

There are good and bad things being done on both sides, at the end we all make mistakes so often. The news outlet job is to find what is happening, and why. Yes, they have the right to criticize or praise when they say fit, but they have to see that just not all that is done by people they support is a good thing, or that what is being done by people they oppose is done wrong.

One of their main goals should be getting to the bottom of the issues before they actually get to a conclusion. By doing this, the news outlets actually help the people to get a better sense of what and why the things are.

If they can't do this, they aren't doing their job they way they should.

Private sector...

Many people seems to have trouble with the private sector, since every time they hear that a private company is to be involved in anything they have something against it.

In many cases I find it to be both sad and irksome, since the ones opposing the private sector involvement are themselves part of the private sector. There is a need to understand what the private sector really is, and how it works.

The private sector in itself isn't evil, and can truly be an important engine for the development of the society at large. Any healthy society needs a private sector that is vital, since it can generate and foster innovation faster than the public sector ever could. Private companies, and individuals, have more motivation to actually do things better and in a more efficient manner.

For me, the private sector should be more involved in doing things and working in the way it seems fit. The free market is a far better way to screen which companies and individuals have the better ideas and products to fulfill the needs of the one who use them.

Individuals should have more freedom to choose how and for who they will work for. There shouldn't be any artificial barriers to do so, since this doesn't help the individuals to grow and work on things that bring the most benefits to society at large. Rules should be set up so that in innovation is given top priority, and people feel confident to invest on it in the long run.

Both, individuals and organizations, need to be certain that they can interact among themselves with few restrictions. The regulations should be as few as possible, and only made to make the field of play as leveled as possible.

Everybody should be free to interact with whom they want, in any way they see fit to do so.

The big picture...

For all it's worth, is disheartening to see how people focus to much at particular parts of whats going on. This makes it harder for them to see how that particular situation actually plays out at the bigger.

There is an urgent need to see things as if they stand by themselves, and not as part of the bigger picture. If we keep fixing things as if they don't have interactions with other parts of the system, those solutions won't really be the solutions needed.

In order to bring solutions that actually work, the whole picture needs to be taken into account. There is to be understood, that sometimes the problem in one particular subject, can be traced to something somewhere else. And if you tackle and solve that issue, it would actually solve both problems. But for that, you have to take into account the whole system, and not only the parts that make the system.

There are problems that affect each part of the system without affecting other parts, and others that affect the system as a whole. That's why is important to really see what problems are systematic, and which ones aren't. If  not, the solutions that are applied won't be effective, and would not be the ones needed to actually do the job that's needed.

At the end, we need to understand that everything is interrelated.

Trying to solve everything as a free standing problem is a waste of time and resources. Why attack a single problem from different fronts, when it can be solved from a single one when all that is need to do so is taking the time to figure out what is the problem.

Yes, we should bring each problem to it's most basic parts. But we shouldn't lose the sight of the big picture.

Community...

I've been thinking about what would like to have close by where I live, and I've come to the conclusion that mainly I'd like to have places like parks and more plazas.

Places that would let the community where I live to come together, and have a greater sense of belonging. I think that is people feel that they are an important part of the community they live in, it would bring an improvement to the quality of life of the people who live in it.

At the end, when people feel like close to the place they live they actually do things to take care of it.

But, if there aren't places that bring the community together, it becomes difficult to bring people to care about their community and the people living there.

Is important to build the sense of belonging to the community on which we live in.

Change...

While there are many who view change with fear, it is something that can give us the room to grow and make ourselves better.

In a way, change is part of what keeps individuals and societies healthy. They both need to adapt to new set of circumstances, and it means that changes are needed to face the circumstances as they show up. Everything around us is constantly changing, and if we don't change and adapt accordingly we'll not survive for long.

Even tough most of the time we can't control how things change, we can control how we adapt to those changes. And, we even can make those changes work for us.

At the end, the choice is adapt or die.

Change can not be avoided, it will happen we like it or not. But, we can choose to become better and stronger with it, or be simply be overwhelmed and destroyed by it. History is full with examples that the winners are the ones who better adapt to change, and use it to their advantage.

It's not easy to do so, and the success is not something that can be taken for sure, but it beats the alternative of dieing the slow death of doing nothing to adapt to the new circumstances around us.

Change is not good or bad by itself, all depends what me make out of it.

Labor unions...

It's sad to see how some of the labor unions are not doing what they should do, protecting the rights of the workers that form them.

Some have become a platform on which the leaders use to get money, or power.

The structure of those unions has been corrupted to serve the interest of a few, and the power that they have amassed make it difficult to fight them. Even the workers within those unions have a hard time getting their voice heard.

Unions that truly defend the interest the needs of the workers are needed. They serve both the workers and the employer interests, if the union really conducts negations in a pro positive and constructive manner. They balance the power, and generate a healthy relationship between workers and bosses.

The truth is that if unions do their work as they should, their are beneficial to society at large. They generate a balance, and enable a better working environment for everyone.

Yet, some have been corrupted and no longer serve the original purpose they were created for. So far, some of the key unions have become the instrument used for personal gains of their leaders or the way to control the people by the government.

If we want a better society, we need unions who truly represent the interests of the workers.

Be a part of the solution...

It feels odd that many people seem to take criticism as an insult.

Apparently, if you say something about what isn't being wrong or how things could be done better you are against them. It's even worse if you point out things that are actually being done wrong.

It needs to be understood that criticism is needed to keep things in check. It's also useful in order to correct things that are not being done correctly, and to make things work better if needed.

Criticism is useful, specially if it comes alongside possible ways to do things in a better way.

As a society, we need to understand that we should accept or dismiss things on face value. We need to dig deeper into the how and why of things, and praise or critique accordingly. Not everything that is done is good or bad, all depends on the context.

We need to pay attention to why each action is to be undertaken, and how it'll be undertaken. In order to gain a better quality of life, we shouldn't just accept whatever is given to us, or dismiss things just because they haven't been done before.

All changes in time, so we need to adapt to the changes. And make sure we make sure we do it in the best possible way. There are no perfect solution, or one that applies every where, every time.

Is up to us to find what works in our particular context.