Linux Beer Hike Goes to Ireland

Jim Gleason sent us a notice of the upcoming Linux Beer Hike 2002: ""Linuxbierwanderung," a.k.a. The Linux Beer Hike or LBW for short, is an annual summer event in which Linux users from around the world meet in a region with a high density of brew pubs. The objectives are valorous - hike to the pub, drink beer and exchange ideas until closing time, then hack Linux through until it's morning again. Upwards of 100 people plan to rendez-vous on the west coast of Ireland to enjoy the fast bandwidth and attend one of the ad hoc technical seminars. Pints of local ale and traditional Irish music should only help foster a nourishing environment for a week's worth of serious Linux use. Funded by a small voluntary donation from each attendee, it is unclear if one can obtain a receipt. This sounds like a tax-deductible business trip to me."

The Linux Beer Hike Hits Ireland

Doolin, Ireland -- 23 July 2002 -- "Linuxbierwanderung," (also known as The Linux Beer Hike - LBW for short) will take place this year in the village of Doolin, August 24-31, 2002, on the west coast of Ireland. Now in its fourth year, LBW has travelled to Bavaria in Germany, the Lake District in England and the Ardennes in Belgium.

Upwards of 100 people have attended LBWs in the past, and even with above average rainfall in Ireland this year, no one is disheartened. The Russell Community Centre located near the Cliffs of Moher, has been confirmed as the base of operations for the event and where the weather is lacking, the fast connectivity and interplay of technological ideas (not to mention the "special recipe" brew being cooked up to commemorate the occasion) should more than compensate.

Funded by a small voluntary donation from each hiker, The Linux Beer Hike is a week-long, international summer event in which Linux users from around the world get together, exchange ideas, hack Linux, drink beer, take in a little local scenery and have a lot of fun. It is a great way for Linux users who correspond all year long via e-mail, to meet one another face-to-face. It is also a chance to work on Linux far into the night, compute with abandon, and conceive of the utterly cool. "It's the ultimate Linux users holiday" says Willem Konynenberg, a former organiser.

Planned events:
* technical seminars
* caving, golf, touring local castles and other sights
* having a pint in the local pub and listening to traditional Irish music

There is an active mailing list and information on how to join The Linux Beer Hike can be found on the main web page: http://www.lbw2002.draiocht.net.

Comments

LBW pictures (Re: Cool idea!)

[umm qasr]

Pictures from all previous (and the next, when it is completed) are here.

Fast bandwidth?

[anticypher]

the west coast of Ireland to enjoy the fast bandwidth

Huh? The community centre has a single basic rate ISDN line, so max they'll have a 128kbps connection to the outside world. DSL? Not anytime soon. The LBW isn't about bandwidth, its about the beer, the exercise, and Linux.

But assuming they install some 10/100 hubs in the centre, then locally they'll have a nice little LAN party.

the AC

Pints of local ale?

[aurelian]

Pints of local ale and traditional Irish music

No such thing as pints of 'local ale' in Ireland - a) because people don't drink ale there, mainly stout, and b) because there are pretty much no small breweries or 'brew pubs'. With very few exceptions, all the beer you'll find is brewed in Dublin or Cork.

Pints of local ale are drunk in England.

Re:L eg B efore W icket?

[corian]

from the Guardian (UK) newspaper style guide:

World Series
(baseball) got its name from the New York World, the newspaper that originally sponsored it; so to use it as an example of American arrogance is as inaccurate as it is tedious

http://www.guardian.co.uk/styleguide/page/0,5817 ,1 84822,00.html

Ireland - the Internet dirt track of Europe

[DrXym]

It's sad to say, but Ireland has absolutely the worst internet service you're likely to find anywhere in Europe. ADSL is practically non-existent, wireless is non-existent and most "power-users" are still stuck using ISDN or 56k modems still. Some third world countries offer a better service!

Anyone coming the beer hike better realise this. The only saving grace as far as visitors are concerned is there are several "free" ISPs, i.e. no subscription, you just pay for the phone call.