The Mainstream Media have been making noise about the strange legal deal in which the federal government agreed to back down utterly and let programmer Dmitry Sklyarov return to his home in Russia.

But what has Linux Journal been doing? Slacking off? No, we're planning a party, along with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, to celebrate Dmitry's release. Meet your favorite EFF personalities, Linux Journal staff and Bay Area freedom lovers.

Here are the details:

Wednesday, December 19th7:00 PM until closing21st Amendment Brewery Cafe563 2nd StreetSan Francisco, California 94107

21st Amendment Brewery Cafe is on 2nd Street, between Bryant and Brannan.

From Caltrain: walk two blocks east on Townsend, turn left (north) onto 2nd.

From MUNI: Take the N train to the San Francisco Giants ballpark stop; walk two blocks north on 2nd.

From BART: Get off at Montgomery St. and walk five blocks south on 2nd, or transfer to the N train and see above.

By car: (get a map). Baseball season is out so there should be plenty of parking spaces to choose from.

Please join us at 7:00 PM for dinner; program begins at 8:00 PM. No admission charge, but you pay for your own food and drink. Vegetarian foods available.

Don Marti is the Technical Editor for Linux Journal.