What is Free Geek? It’s a non-profit computer re-use & recycling centre.

Our volunteer programs do not require any previous experience. Our workplace is safe, fair, and most importantly, fun!

VOLUNTEERING
Adoption Program: Volunteer for 24 hours and receive a free computer, plus a class on how to use it.
Build Program: Learn how to build 5 computers. The 6th one you build is yours to keep.
Other Volunteering: Anyone is welcome to come and help out at Free Geek, even if they don’t need a computer!
What do volunteers do? They help evaluate incoming computer donations, dismantle them, and refurbish them, among other things.

HARDWARE FOUNDATION
Non-profits can apply to our Hardware Foundation to receive free computer equipment. If we have it, we give it to them.

THRIFT STORE
People who need computer parts or who don’t have time to volunteer can buy a computer at our thrift store.

ETHICAL RECYCLING
We consider re-use to be the top form of recycling, as it reduces energy expended in extracting virgin materials and consumption of brand new computers.
Where re-use is not possible, we practise environmentally responsible disposal.
There are a lot of toxins in computers.
We are transparent (mailing lists, meetings). We demand transparency from our materials handlers as well, since there is a history in the recycling industry of environmental abuse.
We strive to keep our recycling local, and we do not ship waste to non-OECD countries.
We adhere to the Basel Convention, and we consult with e-waste watchdogs like the Basel Action Network when in doubt.

FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE
(Free as in speech, not as in beer.)
We use Ubuntu, a distribution of Linux
Ubuntu came out of South Africa, very user friendly
We use it because it is user-friendly, stable, free from viruses, lends itself to other languages. Skills transfer easily to other envronments.

HOW DO WE SURVIVE?
largely self-funded
grants and donations
sell reclaimed materials like aluminum, steel, copper

HOW CAN SOMEONE START A FREE GEEK?
An organization that would be affiliated with Free Geek must:
- Have a mission that is similar to and does not contradict the Free Geek Mission Statement. “FREE GEEK is a 501©(3) not for profit community organization that recycles used technology to provide computers, education, internet access and job skills training to those in need in exchange for community service.”
- Dispose of equipment in an ethical and environmentally responsible manner.
- Use Free/Open Source Software wherever possible and must promote the Free Software philosophy in other ways, such as transparent collaboration with others.
- Provide low- and no-cost computer technology and training to their community.

An organization that would use the Free Geek name must additionally:

- Be democratically run in a non-hierarchical way that is open and transparent to all participants in its programs.
- Be a non-profit business (as legally defined in their location) and must follow honest business practices and have the stated goal of advancing the common good.

RELATED WEBSITE LINKS

http://freegeekvancouver.org [Free Geek Vancouver’s main website]

[The Mothership Free Geek, in Portland] http://freegeek.org

-Free Geek wiki
particularly http://wiki.freegeek.org/index.php/Free_Geek_Startups

-Free Geek startup mailing list
http://lists.freegeek.org/listinfo/startup

-Free Geek startup mailing list archives
http://lists.freegeek.org/pipermail/startup/

LTSP Lab http://ltsp.org

Toxins in Computers
http://freegeekvancouver.org/en/computer_toxic_waste

Free Geek Hardware Foundation Grant Application
http://freegeekvancouver.org/en/hardware_grant_form

Ubuntu
http://www.ubuntu.com/

Basel Action Network
http://www.ban.org/

When I talk about the propagation of Free Geek and how anyone can start one:
Chicago http://freegeekchicago.org/
Columbus OH http://freegeekcolumbus.org/
Fayetteville AR http://freegeekarkansas.org/
Keokuk IA http://www.tristatesfreegeek.org/
Michegan/Indiana http://www.freegeekmichiana.org/
Murfreesboro TN http://bornagaintechnologies.org/

PRODUCTS SHOWN

Free Geek brand Freek Box (includes monitor, keyboard, mouse)
Pentium III, 600–800 mhz or better
Comes fully loaded with Ubuntu
includes one class on how to use it & tech support
Price in US $: 24 hours of time!

www.havebabywilltravel.ca

The Lab with Leo:
www.labwithleo.com/shownotes/episode43/notes

W3 Schools:
www.w3schools.com/css/

CSS Zen Garden:
www.csszengarden.com/

www.webcreme.com/

1. I will explain what a Histogram displays in ACR and Photoshop.
a. Show image and histogram side by side.
b. Explain the correlation between areas of the image and the histogram display.
2. The best images are made when the dynamic range of the scene matches the maximum dynamic range of the print or image.
3. I will explain how to adjust the image using a histogram to make the dynamic range match the dynamic range of the print.
4. I will also explain how to change the gamma or mid-tones in the image.
5. I will show some examples of images before and after adjustment.