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Michael Stutz wrote in to plug his Linux Bumper Stickers. Normally I wouldn't post it, but, well, they're Linux95 stickers, the demand is fading, so he's offering them 25 for $10 to interested Slashdot readers, so what the heck. Now no more product plugs for a few days people *grin*.

Last night I left my shallow world of poof chairs, laptops and beer to go view not one, but two movies. I watched The X-Files, as well as Mulan (those who know me, realize the significance of a new Disney Movie in my life *grin*). If there is demand, I'll post a review of Mulan (the short review, is it greatly exceeded my expectations. Very fun). In the meantime, Hit the link below to read my X-Files review. We've been waiting a long time for this movie. We've been following Mulder and Sculley from one dark, flashlit basement to another. We slowly watched secrets unravel, to reveal more secrets. We've watched informants die, and theories rise and fall. And now, after 5 seasons, Chris Carter has given us a movie to reckon with.

The X-Files is an excellent film. The FX are mostly quite stunning. Seamless. Perfectly designed for their roles. The story is exciting, and will keep you on the edge of your seat for 2 hours. The downside, is that this story is really a big 2 hour episode, with better fx, cinamatography, some dirtier language, and a lot of answers.

You won't find the answers to all the mysteries, but you will find yourself excited to learn the truths that we've been guessing at for so many seasons.

The acting is excellent. Duchovney and Anderson fall into their roles as perfectly as ever. With Mulder's deadpan lines perfectly delivered, and his usual self deprecating humor sprinkled throughout, it's a joy to watch. Anderson seems much more like Season 3 and 4 than season 5 (obviously considering when the movie was filmed). She has funnier lines than usual. She looks wonderful. But, I'm completely in love with Gillian Anderson, so I'm amazingly biased.

The movie isn't perfect. Skinner is almost a Cameo, and The Lone Gunman only briefly appear. Each could have been expanded more, but it's not important- the real focus of the film is Mulder and Sculley.

Anyway, if you're a fan of the show, you probably have already seen the movie. If you like good movies, you definately should go see it. If you don't like the show, stay away, but if you're untainted, the movie will serve dual purpose: 2 hours of great entertainment, and it will definately prime your pump for season 6.

Recently I've had at least a dozen people comment about case design and modern computers. SGIs look cool, and the NetWinders, MicroServers, and even yesterday's Rock thing are interesting case design. Now I realize that a lot of people don't give two shakes what their case looks like (as long as it is big *grin*) but a lot of other folks seem to desire exotic and strange new case designs. Do people know where we could get cases? Is there a demand? Could the prices be reasonable? I realize that this is a really strange topic, but I've had an amazing amount of mail related to it lately so I figured I'd let you guys have at it.

John Lazzaro sent us a link to This Techweb Article about reverse engineering future Intel CPUs. Brian Dial sent us a link to a A Security Site that some of you might like. Anthony David sent us A piece he wrote discussing software development and the like. René Fichter wants to know if there is any demand for an Open Source Graphical MUD. He's been working on one called Daenor that he's considerring opening the source to. Henrik Abelsson sent us a link to Denounce, a hilarious site that runs fake Press Releases. Very cool. An anonymous read submitted Realaroma. Its moderately entertaining. Finally Darren Ginter sent us an article about Signing Bonus's and the computer industry for those of us who thought that only Sports stars get such things.

Jim Dennis has written an open letter to Dell, and cc'd over here so Slashdot readers can see what he has to say, and comment on it. It's an article about the recent ZDNet article where Dell Computer is quoted as saying that they have no demand for Linux.

The following is a letter sent by Jim Dennis to Dell Computer. It is reproduced here so that Slashdot readers can comment on it, and perhaps assist in proving to Dell that Linux is a valid platform to support.

To: Mr. Michael Dell, CEO, Dell Computers
cc: T.R. Reid
Re: Linux on Dell Hardware

Dear Mr. Dell,

Please forward this to members of your marketing staff.

It is with great disappointment that I read comments by one of your representatives, a Mr. T. R. Reid to the effect that "none of Dell's customers" use Linux (*).

This is patently untrue. I have personally administered a number of Linux servers that were running on Dell Dimension desktops. I have also often recommended them to my clients, despite the fact that your company offers no option to unbundle software from the system (software which is utterly useless for my applications).

bviously my advice was misguided. I clearly have failed in my duty, as a consumer, to provide you with proper feedback --- and this as resulted in a gross display of ignorance regarding the needs and preferences of your customers (at least the ones I represent).

Forthwith I'm retracting all recommendation of your products from all Starshine's customers where the intent is to use the system under Linux. I maintain a list of smaller hardware companies which do provide Linux, FreeBSD, and other alternatives to meet the needs of their customers.

I'll be recommending VAResearch, PromoX, Telenet, SWT, Apache Systems, Microway, and many others until you offer your customers a choice in the software that's bundled with your systems. I personally consider it a pity since your hardware has never required any special tweaks or considerations to run with any distribution of Linux or FreeBSD that I've ever installed on it.

This will be posted to a few Linux and FreeBSD venues as an open letter so that you can be provided with *honest* feedback from real customers. Hopefully with the co-operation from other interested parties we can overcome this regrettable failure in communication. You're comments have underscored the need for consumers every where to make their requirements and preferences known --- and we must no longer simply accept the "extra" and unwanted components that our vendors foist on us.

It is time to just say "No!" to software that we'll simply be replacing.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. My apologies for not providing this feedback sooner.

(*) The precise quote was: "I haven't been able to find any examples of customers requesting Linux" ... and it can be read at: http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/content/inwo/0427/310649.html

Steve Rojem sent us a Sm@rt Reseller article where you can read about Netscape and Linux. The main point of the article is that other companies haven't joined in. Well, Corel seems to be making a step with their VNC, but Oracle and Informix are holding back. The negative comments are typical: Accountability (unfair because RedHat and Caldera will support Linux systems) Demand (Considering there are as many as 10 million Linux Boxes, I question this) and Lack of Central Marketing Push (a valid pointy haired reason, but certainly not a real reason). Mike Saranga, Informix's senior VP, says they do 16 ports right now, but won't do another unless it makes sense. Considering Linux is the fastest growing Unix, and soon will be the largest *nix, I wonder if it will "Make Sense" in time to give Informix a chance against Mysql, mSQL and PostgreSQL. Is it to late for the normal Commercial Databases on Linux? I know you guys use databases... what do you think?

Hey guys. It's a good day, exams are over, and I have a few silly/cool/fun stuff to for ya'll. First Christopher Gutteridge sent us a link to a Stupid Perl Trick that randomly generates Obscure Industrial Bands.

Next, Steve Ferris sent us a quite silly page about about Douglas' Adams Nose. Lastly, Kurt Gray sent us a link to an official poll researching market demand for a Monty Python Reunion. This is seriously cool. Definately go vote.

An anonymous reader scored this one. Read this story about another round of bad PR for MS. This time, Caldera CEO Bryan Sparks claims that MS is preventing box makers from shipping other OSs. Dell spokesman says that there is a lack of demand for Linux. I have a Dell, and I will demand Linux next time I buy a machine. If Dell won't do it, I can think of several companies that will.

Mike Martin writes "The NYTimes is running this story on the new Merced processor in which they question whether it has the potential to live up to its hype and whether the market demand will be there to support it. They compare its future to both the i432, a predecessor to the 8086 chip which flopped miserably, and the 8086, and give a brief history of the origins of the Merced design. "

Jamie Zawinksi wrote in to tell me to tell everyone to lay off Mozilla.org and try one of the many mirrors- the huge demand has crippled the machine. Hit the link below to get a decent list of com and edu mirrors. Update:Couple of neato things, A screenshot of NS5 was sent in by Christopher Blizzard, and an insider who requested anonymity sent us a picture from this mornings big event, wrote "The main three people in this picture are Jim Barksdale, Jamie, and Tara Hernandez. Tara is manager of the build team. Just to the left of JimB is Jim Roskind, who led the Java-ectomy." Thanks guys.

ftp://odin.appliedtheory.com/pub/mirrors/mozilla/

http://www.gbnet.net/public/mozilla/

ftp://ftp.landfield.com/mozilla/

ftp://ftp.epix.net/pub/mozilla/

ftp://netscape.primehost.com/pub/ftp.mozilla.org/

ftp://wuarchive.wustl.edu/packages/www/mozilla/

ftp://ftp.muc.muohio.edu/pub/mozilla/

ftp://ftp.bogalusa.com/mozilla/

ftp://sod.off.net:211/pub/mozilla/

ftp://mirrors.javanet.net/pub/mirrors/mozilla/

ftp://ftp.tux.org/pub/net/mozilla/

ftp://ftp.cache-world.com/mirror/mozilla.org/

ftp://ftp.dqc.org/pub/

ftp://powermike.com/powermike.com/pub/ftp.mozilla.org

ftp://ftp.tos.net/pub/ftp.mozilla.org/

ftp://pfaffben.user.msu.edu/mozilla/

ftp://ftp.shuttle.org/mozilla/

ftp://mirror.neosoft.com/pub/mozilla/

http://www.us.inside.net/mozilla/

ftp://ftp.cise.ufl.edu/pub/mozilla/

http://sunsite.utk.edu/ftp/netscape-source/

ftp://mirror.tummy.com/pub/mozilla/

ftp://ftp.one.net/pub/mozilla/

ftp://ftp.mindwell.com/pub/mirrors/mozilla/

ftp://ftp.ntr.net/pub/mozilla/

ftp://ftp-netscape.connectnet.com/pub/netscape/source/

ftp://mozilla.meer.net/mozilla/

ftp://ftp.inetdev.org/mirrors/mozilla/

ftp://ftp.yggdrasil.com/mirrors/site/ftp.mozilla.org/pub/

ftp://mozilla.savages.com/

ftp://mirrors.xmission.com/mozilla/

ftp://ftp.dsnet.net/pub/

Well this is a bit off topic for typical Slashdot news, but I think it's interesting. this story tells us that 4 of the main voices on the Simpsons have demanded raises, including Dan Castellaneta (Homer) and Hank Azaria (who actually has a career outside the show).

Ted Stein writes "Although GIMP advocates will likely attach the freeware image manipulation program to it, Adobe has not disclosed what it believes to be the cause of its first quarter losses (other than weak demand). Their revenues dropped from $226.5 million to $197.8 million." Read more at this wired article. Update:Relax People. The gimp thing was meant to be funny. And watch the language.

Arctangent wrote in to pass on a rumor that Blizzard (creators of Diable and WarCraft II, a pair of the greatest games ever) is Willing to port StarCraft to Linux if enough demand is shown. Update: Erik contacted me and said this was just a rumor. Bummer. Blizzard is probably making a mistake here especially since they could get volunteer coders to help do it if they were willing to GPL the older games. Guess that means I won't get to play StarCraft. At least WC2 runs under Dosemu...

Wielding perhaps the largest stick of them all, Microsoft has demanded that an IDG publication "PC Welt", published in Germany, recall its March issue. Microsoft claims the magazine "incites its readers to commit software piracy". I'm no expert on German laws, but I wonder what sort of image Microsoft has overseas, and their chances of winning the lawsuit they are filing...

Yoz writes " Need To Know Now is described as "the weekly high-tech sarcastic update for the UK" but it's of relevance to all slashdot readers as it mostly covers worldwide news, it's written by geeks for geeks and it's very funny. Plus, it's linked to slashdot.org a couple of times recently, so there's obviously good taste at work here. You can subscribe to the mailshot or read all the issues at the website." I frequent the website myself actually. They misquoted me in their current issue though- I never "demanded" that Motif get set free. Why would I need a free motif when GTK is so cool and the source to Netscape will be here soon?

RSA Data Security Corp. announced that they have contracted with the cable industry. Surprise, surprise, they will be helping to develop greater encryption for the cable industry. As cable moves out from simply being content providers into being an active part of the online community, they are demanding greater security. Yep, and 2+2=4.