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Well, I don't want to start a flame-fest, but I think it's very clear that Windows 2000 is obviously superior. Here's a list of reasons why:

• The patented "Reboot-safe"(tm) feature! When you make most changes to Windows 2000, the system will force you to reboot. This ensures the changes won't cause any strange problems while the system is still running. On the other hand, Linux almost never requires a reboot after changes, how stable can it possibly be?
• The friendly "Error-notifier"(tm)! Whenever there is a problem with the system, rather then just crashing, our innovative technology ensures that a friendly blue-coloured error screen is always made available first! (And unknown to many, you can actually customize the colour!) We tested Linux for a year, on the other hand, and didn't once see any friendly error message. Obviously it's not a very user-friendly system.
• State-of-the-art "Intrusion-avoidance"(tm) features! You're always hearing about how other operating systems are broken into and used to attack yet more systems. Not with Windows 2000! Because of our intricate and sophisticated TCP/IP stack, most attacks will simply disable the system, preventing users from gaining access to data or being able to attack others! See www.windows2000test.com for more information. (if it's up!)

Well, there's lots more wonderful features in Windows 2000 that you won't find in Linux, but I think I've made my point.

I thought about logging out before this post, then decided against it. I feel a need for protection, but I don't want to be cowardly about it.

Anyway...

<RANT>
The more that stuff like this is posted on /., the more I think that the world is just full of greedy malcontents who want our money. However, I soon realize that I am the one to blame for what's occuring. I come to these conclusions:

1. I am responsible for my freedom. No one else.
2. By not educating myself, I contribute to this oppression (see: 'Evil triumphs when good men do nothing').
3. Unless I educate and mobilize myself, I cannot contribute to what's going on in a positive way.

For me, as an individual, to effect change in the government (state, local, or world) I have to be responsible for my actions and my thoughts. I choose how I will be treated. It's like the Rush song says, "If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice".

</RANT>

I know. What does this have to do with anything, you ask?

Everything.

The way I see things, we are deluding ourselves by thinking that firing off a letter to our Legally Authorized Representative(tm) will solve the problem. We, as a community, need to do more than that. The problem here is one of focus.

Let's use a programming example. I'll use Java because It's what I (sort of) know.

Let's say that you have one window who is in charge of several other windows. When the controlling window does something, it notifies the other wondows through the observable interface. These other windows are then free to act however they see fit (within the constraints of the program, of course). These windoes then can return focus to the parent window and forget what's going on - IOW, there is a contract between all of the windows to Do The Right Thing. Since that contract is there, one can be reasonably sure that no harm will befall the system (crosses fingers)

Politics is similar. Kind of.

Let's replace the parent window with the Politician of Your Choice(POYC). Replace the child windows with you, the POYC's constituancy. Now, it should hold true that the POYC takes a stance on an issue or drafts a bill or whatever, then notifies you via the media interface. You then take whatever actions are necessary (in this case firing off a letter of signing a petition) and return focus to the POYC. One would hope that the POYC would, with whatever checks and balances are in place(replace contract in the previous example with this) Do The Right Thing. Sadly, this is not the case.

When we put the ball in the POYC's court, the correct thing for him[1] to do would be to act on your behalf; after all that's why he is there in the first place. Problem is, he can choose to act on behalf of whoever has the most money.

This is most assuredly a Bad Thing(tm).

We, as a community, can no longer rely on the POYC, or our own Special Interest Group(SIG) to get the job done. Time and again, they have prooven that they respond to whichever entity has the most hard currency to throw into a debate. Therefore, I say that we should act in a manner consistent with our hackish nature. IOW, ignore the politicos.

Huh? Am i mad? Maybe. Read on.

Why does Slashdot exist? "News for Nerds. Stuff that matters."(tm) We read news, we read about funny things, we read about articles that now fall into the Your Rights Online catagory.

But that's not where the power is.

We read about the NSAkey fiasco. We read about the CDA. We read about UCITA. We get mad, we get fired up, we're gonna Do Something(tm)! We fire of letters, we send mail, we flame.

But that's not where the real power is.

A story is published. Let's say it's the Window's 2000 test site. We check out the link. Thousands of us over the course of a few minutes. Hundreds of thousands of us in a day. The site dies. Repeatedly.

That, ladies and gentlemen, is where the real power of the internet is. That is where our power as a community lay.

If we are going to effect a change in this Brave New World (tired tm), then we have to do just that. Just do it. Forget the POYC, forget the SIGs, forget the government. Just do it. Play by their rules. If they want to take you freedom, then take it back. Start the fscking revolution, already! There will be millions supporting you. I am one of them. I am very afraid of any government, but I also know that the beat way to defeat ones fear is to face it, challenge it head on, and crush it.

Just my $1.50.

This post is rated as 'safe for all ages and mindsets'

Apologies for being so long.

[1]he or she in theory, he in practice