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Bruce Perens IRC Q&A Tonight

Posted by Roblimo on from the fine-way-to-spend-a-slow-evening dept.

TheLivng1 writes "Bruce Perens will on the NewNet network (irc.newnet.net) Sunday, January 23rd at 6p Pacific/9p Eastern in #astepcloser." Bruce and I have our differences, but he's a good guy and worth meeting. I've never had a conversation with Bruce that I didn't enjoy. I urge anyone who only knows Bruce from his Slashdot posts or by reputation to "tune in" tonight and get better acquainted with him via IRC.

91 of 220 comments (clear)

  1. Or, use a bit of logic. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    It's not at all hard to remember that the US Eastern time zone is GMT -0500. It's one of the two most commonly-used time zones in the world, so you SHOULD know it.

    Now, as to the other time zones in the US: you should know that the US is four time-zones wide. Basic geography will tell you that Pacific is the westernmost, and common sense tells you that Eastern is the easternmost. A little more geography knowledge, or a glance at a map, will tell you that Mountain is immediately east of Pacific, which leaves Central to be immediately west of Eastern.

    Therefore, east to west:

    Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific.

    You already memorized that Eastern is GMT-0500 (right), therefore you can easily work out the offsets of the rest of them.

    Not a problem!

    1. Re:Or, use a bit of logic. by Trepidity · · Score: 2

      Perhaps, but the majority of the internet's population (or close to it) does in fact live in the US.

      Anyway, the reason time zones are given like this is because GMT sucks. Half the year I'm GMT -0600 and half the year I'm GMT -0500, and i can't remember which is which. If you give me a point of reference that switches daylight savings time along with everybody else, I'll use that. However, the way it is, I'd rather you give me the time in, say, CET (Central European Time) than in GMT - at least I know I'm always -0700 from CET.

      --
      10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10
    2. Re:Or, use a bit of logic. by Trepidity · · Score: 2

      Actually the US and Europe change at approximately the same time (within a week of each other). Sure, some places don't change at all, but they form an extremely small percentage of internet users. Kenya doesn't change, but either does Arizona. Arizona is in the US and we still don't make special accomodations for them, so this isn't some sort of US snobbery thing.

      --
      10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10
    3. Re:Or, use a bit of logic. by Trepidity · · Score: 2

      When the rest of the world think of USA they think Arrogance; the USA think that the world IS the USA; heck they even refer to it as America?

      A lot of other languages refer to the USA as America as well. Greeks, for example, call it "Ameriki," not "Enomenes Polities Ths Amerikis."

      Excuse me but USA is only 1/12 of the worlds pop; please show a little bit of inclusiveness especially when talking on the NET which is a global community.

      You seem to have contradicted yourself there. On the one hand you're talking about the net, and on the other hand you quote total population statistics, which are completely irrelevant. Since we are talking about the internet, the proportion of internet users who are Americans is important, not the proportion of total humans who are Americans. People who don't have internet access obviously do not count in this, since they really don't care what time zones we use in our internet discussions. The US forms a substantially larger proportion than 1/12 of the Internet. I'd be surprised if it was less than 1/2, when you count users.

      --
      10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10
    4. Re:Or, use a bit of logic. by Trepidity · · Score: 2

      Europe and the United States use DST (and the switch is very nearly coordinated). Europe and the United States also form the overwhelming majority of internet users.

      And my "ranting" wasn't moderated up, my posts start by 2 at default since my Karma is over 30 (it's around 70). Go bitch at malda@slashdot.org if you dislike this.

      --
      10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10
    5. Re:Or, use a bit of logic. by Trepidity · · Score: 2

      I agree, I'd rather not have Daylight Savings time to begin with. I'm just saying that since the vast majority of Internet users do have Daylight Savings time, the posting of time on the internet should reflect this.

      --
      10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10
    6. Re:Or, use a bit of logic. by benno · · Score: 1

      Yeah but at least Austrlia is the greatest
      sporting nation in the world.

      World Cup Rugby
      World Cup Cricket
      Hockey World Cup
      Davis Cup
      Netball World Cup
      Baseball World Cup

      Damn we're good

    7. Re:Or, use a bit of logic. by Gonwin · · Score: 3
      Another person who thinks the world is a Hemisphere and not a sphere. Hello in there this may shock you but the world is a globe, a round ball; it has lots of different dates the Day light saving takes effect and lots of places that have no DST.

      One of my major gripes is when someone announces the X will be out in the fall 2000'; as if winter happened the same time all round the globe. how much harder is it to say 2nd Quarter of 2000?

      When the rest of the world think of USA they think Arrogance; the USA think that the world IS the USA; heck they even refer to it as America?

      Excuse me but USA is only 1/12 of the worlds pop; please show a little bit of inclusiveness especially when talking on the NET which is a global community.

      ---

      --

      ---

    8. Re:Or, use a bit of logic. by debrain · · Score: 2

      True. I've never even heard of US Eastern, and I'm in it! (in Canada)

    9. Re:Or, use a bit of logic. by Hobbex · · Score: 1


      Wow, that was not very intelligent. Here's a hint:

      Not everyone changes to daylight savings at the same time.

      Europe does it at a different time then America, for example. Some places don't change at all (the Sun times don't vary much in Kenya). And (by golly!) in the Southern Hemisphere they actually set the clock forward during our winter months!

      It's not to difficult to remember either: the cows need milking earlier in the summer, so you set the watch forward. That makes you one hour closer to GMT (but it makes me one hour further away! OMG!)


      -
      We cannot reason ourselves out of our basic irrationality. All we can do is learn the art of being irrational in a reasonable way.

    10. Re:Or, use a bit of logic. by Hobbex · · Score: 1


      Sorry, but you cannot whine about having a standard time that requires a minute understanding of the way timezones and daylight savings work (do you really want to go through life not understanding something so simple?) and get away with your intellectual dignity.

      If you want to complain about something, complain about why we have Daylight Savings time to begin with. When was last time you needed to milk the cow in the morning? I would sure as hell rather be without it, and I'm on the eightieth parallel.


      -
      We cannot reason ourselves out of our basic irrationality. All we can do is learn the art of being irrational in a reasonable way.

    11. Re:Or, use a bit of logic. by SomeOne2 · · Score: 2
      It's not at all hard to remember that the US Eastern time zone is GMT -0500. It's one of the two most commonly-used time zones in the world, so you SHOULD know it.

      I'm a little bit amused by this. Have you ever considered that the majority of world's population lives outside the US and really doesn't care to learn the names of US timezones?
    12. Re:Or, use a bit of logic. by gargle · · Score: 1

      It's not at all hard to remember that the US Eastern time zone is GMT -0500. It's one of the two most commonly-used time zones in the world, so you SHOULD know it.

      Sure. Then there's the little matter of keeping track of silly things like Daylight saving time, so the rest of the world will have to memorize when the US switches to and from DST (which I have to point out, most americans can't even keep track of).

    13. Re:Or, use a bit of logic. by Eythain · · Score: 1
      It's not at all hard to remember that the US Eastern time zone is GMT -0500. It's one of the two most commonly-used time zones in the world, so you SHOULD know it.

      Actually it is hard, since it's only -0500 half the year, the other half it's -0400. That is unless you're with the crowd that holds that this is EST DST (or EDT) and a wholly different timezone. Trust me, the only two time zones that count are MLT and YLT (respectively, my and your local time.)

    14. Re:Or, use a bit of logic. by slashdotter168 · · Score: 1

      Hispaniola, what the hell are you talking about? It is called Spanish. Have you considered heading back to grade school to get an education?

    15. Re:Or, use a bit of logic. by aliebrah · · Score: 1

      Yes, but has it occured to you that GMT is a worldwide standard on which other timezones are based. It is important to know GMT because all other times are given relative to it, e.g. Hong Kong time is +0800 GMT. The US time zones are NOT standards for anything, and hence we should not be required to know them.

      Disclaimer: I am not English.

    16. Re:Or, use a bit of logic. by OAB · · Score: 1

      If you give me a point of reference that switches daylight savings time along with everybody else, I'll use that.
      Except countries move to daylight saving at different times, and there are two hemispheres, so there could not be such a time zone.

  2. Re:Why newnet? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    uh, thats not by choice. we just dont filter. - windex, ircop @ irc.busprod.com (on newnet, thank you)

  3. Re:addendum by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1


    If some script kiddie determined that Linux sux, it would not make headlines on Slashdot

    I wouldn't be so sure of that anymore. See the 'comprehensive config tool' bit.

  4. Re:Nahhh.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Most Slashdot readers are in the United States.

    Most people like seeing times in a time format they're familiar with.

    Therefore, to make the MOST people happy, Slashdot should post times in United States Eastern. Those not already familiar with their US Eastern offset should LOOK IT UP and LEARN IT, they're going to have trouble in the world otherwise.

  5. Red, not Yellow by Roblimo · · Score: 3
    Well, Bruce, for *literate* hackers, the title "Hole in GNU GPL?" with a question mark at the end (which is how it ran) indicated that it was a question, rather than a statement of fact. But be that as it may. I know that you're human, and like most humans you feel that "responsible reporting" and "unbiased journalism" are phrases that only apply to stories which you totally agree - and that any story that doesn't adhere strictly to the Official Bruce Perens Party Line is wrong, sensationalist, biased, and (no doubt) irresponsible.

    ;-)

    But we all have our flaws; I have mine, you have yours, and since we're both trying to achieve many of the same long-term goals, I have nothing against you and wish you well in every way. Why, I even read TECHNOCRAT.NET at least two or three times every week -- and enjoy it! (Free plug!)

    And so, since I'm a "don't sweat the small stuff" person and know it's scary getting ready to be a father for the first time, I'll overlook your poor fact-checking on the taxi front. A tiny bit of research would have told you that Royal Cab in Baltimore, for which I both drove and dispatched, has red taxis, not yellow ones.

    I hope I have time to drop in on your chat tonight. You're an interesting guy and decent person (with a few tiny flaws) and I think this is going to be a fine and worthy event.

    Take care,

    -- Robin "roblimo" Miller
    Baltimore Cab License #6714
    Maryland Limo Permit #1273

  6. Re:Accessible Technology by Bruce+Perens · · Score: 1
    Are you trying to make a point, or just spam slashdot? As far as I know, Linux handles the completely blind user much better than any Microsoft offering since DOS.

    Thanks

    Bruce

    --
    Bruce Perens.
  7. Re:Uh-oh by Bruce+Perens · · Score: 2

    Nobody else sees the humor in someone reacting to criticism based on the color of their car?

    --
    Bruce Perens.
  8. Re:Uh-oh by Bruce+Perens · · Score: 2

    You sound like a broken record. I have better things to do than play the ascending karma game here. If I wanted karma, I would implement it on technocrat.net .

    --
    Bruce Perens.
  9. Re:Uh-oh by Bruce+Perens · · Score: 2

    But it's an Open Source copycat :-)

    --
    Bruce Perens.
  10. Ouch! by Bruce+Perens · · Score: 2

    Since there were technical problems I dictated my replies to Kevin for part of the interview, and it's clear there was some degree of garble.

    --
    Bruce Perens.
  11. Re:Log by Bruce+Perens · · Score: 2
    I hope I get to edit that log, because one or two answers are really garbled. Thinks like "years" becoming "users" and "anarchic" becoming "old-fashioned". For that answer I sound like a recent stroke victim, no kidding. That's because we had technical trouble and I ended up dictating the answer over the phone and Kevin just typed it as fast as he could.

    Thanks

    Bruce

    --
    Bruce Perens.
  12. Log, in edited form. by Bruce+Perens · · Score: 2
    A version of the log with the garble edited out is here. Some people were ping-flooding my system so I ended up having to dictate the answers over the phone, and Kevin, who was also moderating the questions at the same time, typed them in to IRC. Some garble resulted.

    Bruce

    --
    Bruce Perens.
  13. Re:addendum by Bruce+Perens · · Score: 3
    It's not that he ran the story, but how. If some script kiddie determined that Linux sux, it would not make headlines on Slashdot. This was sort of the same thing. The posting was based on someone who was quite clueless about licensing, with nobody else to balance him. If you read the headline, and if, like most hackers, you didn't know much about licensing, you might have thought there was a real problem. I didn't feel it was responsible reporting.

    Thanks

    Bruce

    --
    Bruce Perens.
  14. Re:Log by Bruce+Perens · · Score: 3
    A corrected log is here. The original is garbled because I was dictating answers over the phone.

    Thanks

    Bruce

    --
    Bruce Perens.
  15. Re:Why newnet? by Bruce+Perens · · Score: 4
    I didn't choose it. I chose to grant the interview. I left the technical details up to the interviewer. I am afraid I am quite ignorant of IRC - I don't generally have time to make much use of it.

    Thanks

    Bruce

    --
    Bruce Perens.
  16. Uh-oh by Bruce+Perens · · Score: 5
    Robin says we have our differences. I think his feelings are still hurt over the GPL loophole story - after which I threw him about the worst insult you can throw a limo driver. I said his car was yellow :-) . Gosh, I'm such a hothead sometimes.

    Bruce

    --
    Bruce Perens.
    1. Re:Uh-oh by Darchmare · · Score: 2

      I am. :>

      - Jeff A. Campbell
      - VelociNews (http://www.velocinews.com)

      --

      - Jeff
    2. Re:Uh-oh by BJH · · Score: 1


      Try spraying some more gasoline on the fire, Bruce - I don't think it's hot enough yet ;)

    3. Re:Uh-oh by cheese63 · · Score: 1

      I said his car was yellow :-)

      What's wrong with a yellow car? I'm gettin my car painted orange though, with the dukes of hazard number on the side, except it will be "01" instead of "00". It's gonna be awsome. I mean, sure, my '86 camaro still will run like shit, but it will be one good looking peice of shit. Why am I responding to this?

    4. Re:Uh-oh by cheese63 · · Score: 1

      i mean it will be "00" instead of "01". whoops. aw man, there goes my 0 karma.

    5. Re:Uh-oh by zantispam · · Score: 1

      "What's wrong with a yellow car?"

      Two words...

      Taxi cab.

      Here's my copy of DeCSS. Where's yours?

      --

      censorship is a form of noise, which actively seeks to drown out content with silence - Crash Culligan
  17. Re:They can dish it out but they can't take it. by Mawbid · · Score: 1
    Heh, you think eating sheep intestines is anything to write home about? Try a nice dish of ram's scrotum (complete with balls) :-)

    Or sheep's face.
    --

    --
    Fuck the system? Nah, you might catch something.
  18. Re:Nahhh.... by Mawbid · · Score: 1
    To complete the "offtopicness" of this thread, let's bring up Microsoft:

    Most computer users use Microsoft Word.

    People like receiving documents in a format they're familiar with.

    Therefore, to make the MOST people happy...

    UTC is the baseline. Those not already familiar with their UTC offset should LOOK IP UP and LEARN IT; they're going to have trouble in the world otherwise.

    I'm still rooting for the portable time tag though.
    --

    --
    Fuck the system? Nah, you might catch something.
  19. [OT] Time zones by Mawbid · · Score: 3
    Instead of putting raw text into articles to indicate time, how about offering article (and comment) writers a time tag that gets translated to the reader's selected time zone?

    Or at least put the UTC time in there so that people will only have to know their own time zone.
    --

    --
    Fuck the system? Nah, you might catch something.
    1. Re:[OT] Time zones by Eythain · · Score: 1
      Actually, I have less problems with EST than with GMT, since GMT doesn't change with Daylight's Saving's Time. That means I have to figure out which of the Winter and Summer time's is the standard GMT of propper UK time (which is -1 from where I live, easy as pie), which is something I never will (to prove my point: Eythain, is UK on GMT in winter or in summer? Eythain: I have no idea.)

      In UK time, 6pm EST is 11pm, here in country time forgot (AKA Norway), it's midnight sharp.

      -- Eythain

  20. Logs? by Uruk · · Score: 2

    I'm unfortunately not going to be able to jump on IRC at that time to ask him some questions, but I'm sure it's going to generate some interesting info.

    This is almost like an extended slashdot interview chance in my mind, with more judicious moderation since there will probably be several "Green Beret" IRC ops there to kick/ban anybody who goes off on some damn grits/natalie portman tangent.

    Are we going to see an IRC log of this tomorrow? (Please say yes)

    --
    -- Truth goes out the door when rumor comes innuendo. -- Groucho Marx
  21. Is the X-Files new today? by FleaPlus · · Score: 1

    If it is, that'd probably create a bit of a scheduling conflict for those on EST. Ack!

  22. Re:Nahhh.... by benno · · Score: 1

    Better still lets create MST (Microsoft Standard Time) which can run striaght throught the center of Redmond.

    Then all will be good with the world.

    Benno

  23. Re:They can dish it out but they can't take it. by kuro5hin · · Score: 1
    Somebody is bitter.

    ;-)

    "Moderation is good, in theory."
    -Larry Wall

    --
    There is no K5 cabal.
    I am not the real rusty.
  24. Re:What to do about Slashdot? by kuro5hin · · Score: 1
    Ok, I'll start with the easy solution. I just excluded roblimo in my preferences. Maybe my perception that the quality of slashdot has gone down is just all the noise that keeps showing up on the front page with his name on it. We shall see.

    Note that this is a really harsh solution, from me. this post pretty well explains what I usually think of self-censorship. JonKatz makes me angry sometimes, and irritated others, and occasionally even amused. So I don't want to just screen him out. Roblimo... I just don't really care to see anymore. Apathy is the worst punishment (even Katz knows that! ;-)).

    As for finding or creating something better, well, I'm trying to help others create by writing free software for them to use. Scoop is a from-scratch slash clone which is already licensed under the GPL. It's not my real job, so development is in my spare time, but it's coming along. Maybe with weblog software that's usable, others will be able to create more interesting communities.

    "Moderation is good, in theory."
    -Larry Wall

    --
    There is no K5 cabal.
    I am not the real rusty.
  25. Re:What to do about Slashdot? by kuro5hin · · Score: 1
    You might be interested in PHPSlash, which is another attempt at creating a Slashdot-like system under the GPL.

    I've looked at PHPslash, and I wish them the best of luck. I do have a preference for perl, mainly because I write perl all day for work, and the cost of switching back and forth between perl and PHP is oddly high. They're very similar, but not quite similar enough, so whenever I write in PHP for a while, my perl gets all screwed up. :-) Plus there's a lot of code I can swipe from work projects that helps move Scoop along. As you say, competition is a good thing.

    I'm trying to make it easier for people to contribute to Scoop. Yesterday I wrote new install instructions that should make it alot easier for people, and the next thing I'm going to be doing is revising what I've written so far, commenting, organizing, and writing developer docs. There's several things that need to be done before I really expect anyone to help (like, um, posting stories for example!), but thanks for the encouragement. Check back soon.

    "Moderation is good, in theory."
    -Larry Wall

    --
    There is no K5 cabal.
    I am not the real rusty.
  26. Easy! Oh, wait... by kuro5hin · · Score: 2
    Hey, that'll be easy! I'll just fire up my editor here and grab the latest slash code...

    Oh, damn. I knew there was something wrong with that plan. Well, I guess you'll just have to wait until Rob applies Service Pack 6 for Slash2000, and you know, he's been so busy counting his money lately and everything... well, it might be a while.

    "Moderation is good, in theory."
    -Larry Wall

    --
    There is no K5 cabal.
    I am not the real rusty.
  27. Win98 0wNz j00r L4M3R Azz? (Not a Troll) by kuro5hin · · Score: 3
    Well, Bruce, for *literate* hackers, the title "Win98 0wNz j00r L4M3R Azz" with a question mark at the end (which is how it ran) indicated that it was a question, rather than a statement of fact. But be that as it may. I know that you're human, and like most humans you feel that "0wNz" and "L4M3R Azz" are phrases that only apply to 'l337 H4x0Rz with whom you totally agree - and that any 'l337 H4x0R that doesn't adhere strictly to the Official Bruce Perens Party Line is wrong, sensationalist, biased, and (no doubt) an irresponsible l4M3r.

    I posted this piece because I felt "l33td00d@aol.com" raised some subtle but interesting technical points about r00ting L4m3Rz that were worth discussion and clarification. I honestly did not expect to get flamed over my decision to post his submission.

    I believe that l33t H4x0r tricks and h4X, like l33t h4x0rz themselves, should be discussed as openly and publicly as possible so that everyone knows who is 0wN3d by whom. However, words (especially l33t H4x0r words) are far more slippery than code. With words the question, "R j00 4 L4m3R?" is often far harder to answer than it is in software.

    Please accept my humble apology. I was wrong. I will try not to make the mistake of posting anything on Slashdot ever again.

    -----------------------------

    Ok, the last bit was only wishful thinking. But before you dismiss this as a menaingless troll, read it carefully. How different is posting the legal opinions of someone who has no legal knowledge from posting the technical opinions of somone who has no technical knowledge? Robin would have been run out of town on a rail if he had actually posted "Win98 0wNz j00r L4M3R Azz?" but since it was "arcane legal matters," he was perfectly justified? Hackers tend to have very finely tuned bullshit detectors, and mine goes to full alert whenever Robin-the-Taxi-Guy starts defending himself.

    Slashdot is dying. I started reading here for the articles. I hardly ever even read the comments. Whatever I may say about CmdrTaco, he has a good nose for interesting content. As soon as he pretty much stopped being the editorial manager, and turned it over to this joker, the content went to hell. But there's still the community, which is often a rich source of information and new ideas. So now I read the comments more than I even pay attention to the stories.

    But how long can a site maintain an interesting community if it no longer has the content to draw interesting people. Sooner or later (sooner, I think) the smart people here will get sick of all the crap and move somewhere else (like technocrat.net, where the S/N is still blissfully high).

    The life of slashdot is like a microcosm of the life of Silicon Valley. First there were the geeks, geeking out and doing cool stuff. Then they made some money, and the businesspeople moved in. Now you can't swing a patch cable without hitting twelve lawyers and eighteen CEO's. But where are all the geeks? They're moving on.

    Farewell /. It was fun while it lasted.

    "Moderation is good, in theory."
    -Larry Wall

    --
    There is no K5 cabal.
    I am not the real rusty.
  28. OT: the minus one club by doom · · Score: 1
    Okay, so I just took a trip down into minus one-ville, and I have to admit that despite myself I thought some of the crap was pretty funny.

    But yea gods, what a sewer! I know a bunch of folks who refuse to read slashdot "discussions", and is it any wonder why? You know, if you just want to goof around, there are all sorts of places on the net you can do it... irc channels, usenet newsgroups (like alt.flame, alt.kibo...) and I'm sure there's plenty of AOL crap I'm unfamiliar with. Why are you guys picking this particular sandbox to piss in?

    Okay, so you like to mess with people's heads a bit, but isn't this kind of lame way of doing it? There are some real battles going on out there in the world that you could be a part of, but instead your just seeing how fast you can make it to minus one.

    Come on already, wake up! It's time to play for real stakes with the big boys.

    1. Re:OT: the minus one club by auntfloyd · · Score: 1


      I don't think you realize the Troll mentality. A lot of these people just like getting response out of people. So when you post serious answers to trolls, they all gather and laugh at you.

      A lot of it is just trash or spam, plain and simple. But as someone who reads (and posts) at -1, there's almost always something that makes it worthwhile, although recently many of the more well-known trolls have gone into retirement and/or changed ther focus (eg, N+P guy, hot grits, MEEPT). Enjoy it while you can. Every day, there is more and more anti-troll agitation, so look forward to perhaps tighter regulation.

      ~~~~~~~~~
      auntfloyd

  29. technocrat.net for slashdot criticism by doom · · Score: 3
    It's been brought up a few times already, but I wanted to give one more plug to Bruce Perens' site (technocrat.net). Lately there have been a number of threads there discussing slashdot itself (like, "where's the code?").

    You don't get to read stuff like this on slashdot itself, except in little bursts that are quickly labeled "off-topic".

    I recommend reading: A proposal to Slashdot

  30. Re:The United States ITSELF is a standard. by auntfloyd · · Score: 1

    Hey, that wasn't very nice

    You're new to this whole 'flame war' thing, aren't you?

    ~~~~~~~~~
    auntfloyd

  31. What to do about Slashdot? by the+way · · Score: 1
    Farewell /. It was fun while it lasted

    Don't give up, kuro5hin. Many have predicted the death of Slashdot, but it's still here.

    It is sick though.

    As Robin's user info explains, he came along to help out with management. But then he started posting... then he starting writing... now he's started thinking he can patronise net luminaries. The new crowd is moving in, and things just ain't the same around here.

    Don't forget though, Rob M and Jeff still have editorial control (their contract demands it). It was Rob's 'good nose for stories' that made /. the success it is, and I'm sure he's as disappointed as anyone to see what's happening to his baby. Jeff has also added a lot with his crisp intros and insightful (and often amusing) comments, and he too no doubt doesn't want /. to lose it's spunk.

    So what to do? I'm not sure, but we should be discussing this rather than giving up. Here's a few random thoughts:
    • How can we start a more direct communication with Rob and Jeff to give honest feedback and discuss the problems?
    • How can we encourage Robin to do what he's good at (management) without making him defensive about his editorial and writing skills?
    • Is there a need for 'new blood' to keep thinks interesting? Why? What qualifications should such a person bring?
    • Where can this be discussed? It seems a bit weird doing it on Slashdot (I find it uncomfortable discussing the actions of people who run the sight, besides which discussions get locked after a while).

    I'm surprised I care about this. /. is only a website after all. But, it's given me pleasure over the years, and I'd certainly be disappointed if it were no more. To those that are thinking of just moving on, I ask that you first consider how Slashdot's slide can be halted, or if you find or create something better, please let me know!
    1. Re:What to do about Slashdot? by the+way · · Score: 1

      Thanks for the info--Scoop looks like it could be a wonderful thing! I've created an accout and I'll keep an eye on it. Please make it easy for us to help you! I'm no Perl guru, but I'm learning, and I'd love to help out on something like Scoop. If you added some detailed info on how to contribute and how the code is structured, and put it on the front page, I'm sure you'd get more volunteers.

      You might be interested in PHPSlash, which is another attempt at creating a Slashdot-like system under the GPL. You may have a preference for Perl over PHP, and there's nothing wrong with a bit of healthy competition! On the other hand, there's a few volunteers working on PHPSlash already, and because it comes from the developers of PHPLib you'd expect the quality to be high.

  32. Re:Red, not Yellow (Getting very OT) by the+way · · Score: 2

    (For those wondering what this is all about, see this story.)

    I'm astonished that you're still not apologising about this, Robin.

    I'd point you to the original story to show why Bruce had every right to criticise, but of course I can't. Why not? Because you changed the story header after the criticism, rather than adding an 'Update' after the story without editing the original (as has been customary at Slashdot for a long time).

    The original story was certainly sensationalist, and Bruce is exactly right that since the 'discover' of this 'hole' was not a noted license reviewer, and since his 'discovery' was not supported by anyone, it was not news.

    I've got no strong interest here, so you can't fob off my criticism like you fobbed off Bruce's. I had the same reaction to your story as Bruce (before reading any comments), even although I don't hold the GPL in such high regard as he does (although I do find it an intruiging document worthy of discussion).

    And let me remind you again that this kind of behaviour from you is doing Slashdot a disservice.

  33. Re:Transcript? by toastyman · · Score: 2

    A transcript of this chat, (and all the other's we've done) will be up at www.astepcloser.com within an hour or two of completion.

    -- Kevin

  34. Re:The aftermath. :) by toastyman · · Score: 2

    Ack, that should be 'subscribe astepcloser' in the body. :)

  35. Re:Bad scheduling by toastyman · · Score: 3

    Hey, In my defense, they didn't announce the new show until after Bruce and I scheduled this. :) It was originally going to be a week later. :)

    Although, I did get to meet most of the X-files cast last week. Perhaps I can talk a few into doing a chat like this.


    Kevin

  36. Re:Why newnet? by toastyman · · Score: 3

    As an administrator for a couple of servers on NewNet, as well as a software developer, I can assure you that this kind of association with NewNet isn't desirable.

    I'm actively working to bring interesting things to NewNet that aren't warez/porn/whatever related. Things like this help.

    -- Kevin

  37. The aftermath. :) by toastyman · · Score: 3

    Ok... First of all, a offical transcript is here:

    http://www.a stepcloser.com/Zope/astepcloser/forum/948687822/in dex_html

    Secondly, we learned quite a bit. :)

    1) Even if your guest says they have a DSL line and can handle script kiddies, insist on a proxy of some sort before hand. :)

    2) Plan for many more people than you expect. I honestly expected a lesser crowd than the ones I've had before for events like this, since I couldn't promote it well.

    3) Implement the hacks I've got to ircd to allow for a forum like this. (Hide joins/parts from non-opers, disallow nick changes, etc).


    But, a lot of really good questions got asked, and Bruce did a wonderful job of answering them. We'll be doing more of these, so please subscribe to the mailing list, if you want to be informed of them... (majordomo@dragondata.com - put 'subscribe irc' in the body).

    Also, we're holding a contest to see who can bring the most interesting person for a future chat.... Go here for details... Win a t-shirt from Think Geek, or a $20 gift certificate from B&N.

    Thanks to everyone who came. :)

    Kevin

  38. Wow, this is a bit much. :) by toastyman · · Score: 5

    Hi, I'm Kevin Day, the guy who's kinda running this interview tonight.

    I really had no idea this was actually going to make it up on here, so this will definately be a learning experience as how to handle larger crowds. Right now it's 7 hours before the chat starts, and there are already more people here than there were for some tv/movie stars that I've done this with.

    I'm gonna post a 'how this is gonna work' to www.astepcloser.com in a few minutes, but briefly:

    The channel is moderated during the Q&A. This means nobody can talk who isn't running the show, or Bruce. With hundreds of people here, there's no sensible way of doing this.

    To have a question asked, you'll send it to me, or one of the people helping out. (They'll have @'s next to their name).

    We'll pick the interesting looking questions, and post them in the channel. Bruce will answer.

    The realtime nature of this will allow followup questions to his responses, as well as the hint of unpredictability. (I hope!) :)

    You're welcome to hang out before and after the event. We've got one other interview scheduled two weeks from now, with more on their way.

    (And yes, please don't flame me that www.astepcloser.com looks a whole awful lot like www.slashdot.org. That's the default SquishDot look that I haven't had the chance to change much yet) :)


    We'll definately be exploring the slashdot effect on irc servers tonight. :)

    -- Kevin


    1. Re:Wow, this is a bit much. :) by toastyman · · Score: 5

      Ok, I know how poor taste it is to follow up your own post, but... :)

      The channel is #astepcloser. If that's full, please use #astepcloser-mirror. (Exact same content, just mirrored to another channel).

      Also, irc.newnet.net is a dns roundrobin pointing to all of the servers. In case it picks one that is down or full, and it's not giving you a new one, here's a list:

      irc.dragondata.com
      |-irc.away.net
      |-services2.newnet.net
      |-security.dragondata.com
      `-hub.dragondata.com
      |-irc.rma.edu
      |-hub.stinger.org
      | |-irc.chelmsford.com
      | |-irc.bootsector.org
      | |-irc.Neticus.COM
      | |-irc.busprod.com
      | `-matrix.tlh.fdt.net
      | |-irc.kbnet.org
      | |-irc.aye.net
      | |-irc.qpalzm.com
      | |-irc.uplink.net.nz
      | |-irc.gravestone.net
      | |-irc.cybertrails.com
      | |-hub.aohell.org
      | | |-irc.keytech.com
      | | |-renegade.midv.net
      | | |-irc.gry.DE
      | | | `-irc.oasis-net.net
      | | |-irc.freshworld.de
      | | |-irc.aohell.org
      | | `-irc.jaxn.com
      | `-irc.fsn.net
      |-newnet.telia.NO
      | |-newnet.grolier.fr
      | |-newnet.online.be
      | `-irc.kvalito.no
      `-hub.eskimo.com
      |-services.newnet.net
      `-irc.eskimo.com

      I promise that if I had known this was going to happen, I would have prepared better. :)

  39. The thinking is too US-centric by barzok · · Score: 3
    The US isn't the only country that has a timezone labeled "Eastern" - there's an EST in Australia as well.

    Use UTC. It's a common reference point that everyone *should* be able to convert to their local time. Otherwise, you have to say "well, I'm 11 hours ahead of UTC, USEST is 5 hours behind" and go through more crap.

  40. Re:Bad scheduling by tlhIngan · · Score: 1

    Well, 6pm PST is also the time most people have dinner, no? And since it *IS* Sunday, I doubt many people do spend time at the computer typing and eating (well, I don't know about /.ers... so this probably isn't true).

    I guess central and mountain time people have it made >G

  41. Re:Who? by myers · · Score: 2

    "Bruce is well known in the Open Source software circles as for being the
    leader of the Debian Linux distribution for several years, being co-founder
    of the Open Source Initiative, and a vocal protector of free software. Bruce
    has also worked as the Sr. Systems Programmer at Pixar (makers of Toy Story
    and A Bug's Life) for twelve years."

    That should help somewhat. I hope to see some of the /. crowd here tonight.

    myers
    NewNet Admin
    irc.neticus.com

  42. Why newnet? by QuoteMstr · · Score: 2

    Newnet has long been known for its large number of warez, vcd, mp3, etc. channels. If you /list them all, you'll find that the majority of the channels are warez channels, and all of the channels with >=25 people. I wonder why Bruce chose this network when he could have chosen Efnet, irc.slashdot.org, or many of the other networks in existance that don't have a warez connotation. Is it symbolic in some way?

    1. Re:Why newnet? by Issue9mm · · Score: 3

      Cause that's where Bruce gets all his MP3s. When there aren't any questions pending, he'll be in #Cablemp3z sucking up Fserves and the like.

      Also, I heard he's gonna have an onopen invite bot running to sucker you into #technocrat, which will be housing his devious plans for opening Slash code.

      No doubt, he's an evil mastermind, and we should all bow down before him. (CmdrTaco, I am your father...)

      PS. Just kidding.

    2. Re:Why newnet? by tidepool · · Score: 2

      As an IRC addict^h^h^h^h^h regular, I could understand why one would prefer to reside on a smaller network.

      Although I have never been on the so-called "Newnet", I think it's safe to assume that it does not have as many netsplits as say, Undernet or Efnet. Although 'Newnet' may have many warez channels, Both Undernet and Efnet have their fair share.

      Another thing to be concerned about on Efnet, is the over-abundance of packet monkies that reside on the network. These are packet monkies with 'skill' (skill in the denial of service field, hardly resume material), who could easily take large servers and/or individual connections down.

      Just my Cent's worth.


      Ben Brewer
      brewer@nullified.org

    3. Re:Why newnet? by r3nt0n · · Score: 1

      have you used the newnet ircd? i have. ive been using it for a while, i even setup a machine with 200 odd ip addresses and installed 100 odd newnet ircd's and hadn't had a problem, i got em all linked in a network situation, with hubs and client servers. i have had no problems with them crashing or playing up at all. ive also used other ircds' and i find them a pain in the pass to setup, some are fussy with time diffrences in machines, host names, ip address, long time to do dns and so on. I like the NewNet ircd, i also have a server on NewNet and the machine has never had and problems from the newnet ircd at all Regards, Alan Lee

  43. Log Part 1, be archived forever ! by hernick · · Score: 2

    I would like to know Bruce's opinion on linux standards, with regaurds in particular to a standard desktop, and package manager. because as a software developer i feel it is tough to support so many distributions with many different directory layouts and different package formats.

    That's a pretty big question, and I think we should talk about GUI's since there's more than one of them. And I should talk about distros, with regard to standards. The Linux standard base, is working on issues like filesystem layouts, names of libraries, what's in the libraries, and in general the nuts and bolts of how things works. However, they're not standardizing on a GUI. So, it looks like for the forseeable future, we're going to have KDE and Gnome both. I think they address different markets.


    As AT&T awaits for the aproval of the merger with the 3rd largest cable company in the US, MediaOne, and as AOL may change it's tune of open acess cable for the internet if it's merger with TimeWarner, the 2nd largest cable operator, goes through, what do you envision the Future holds for the freedom to acess the Internet, for the freedom _of_ the Internet, and for grassroots sites such as yours, Technocrat?

    Well, several users ago, I commented to the FCC on the creation of a personal digital radio service. And my intent at that time was that the service be used to establish a fidonet or usenet sort of relay system, that would allow people to do internet like things. Without the wired internet. So far, we don't have good radios to do this, except for maybe for some radios that AT&T is manufacturing. I've worked on this problem for as L0pht, and I'd like to see more radio and software develeopment, for a disconnected internet. A totally old-fashioned thing, which takes a lot of money. I actually tried to fund this, about a year ago, and did not succeed. It's possible I'll have better success now, once Linux Capital Group has funded some linux projects.


    What is your opinion of the Wine project? Do you think a functional/reliable Windows emulator is important for Linux's success on the desktop, and do you believe it is possible for Wine to achieve a high level of compatibility with Windows?

    Wine is one of the most difficult products in Linux. They're chasing a moving target, and a poorly documented one at that. Look at the commercial ones, like Wabi, which suddenly disappeared one day. I would like to see Wine succeed, I'd certainly help them any way I could. But, I think in the end, we need Linux applications for linux systems.


    I'm wondering what your thoughts on the recent DVD DeCSS brouhaha are?

    I was in the courtroom, for the first hearing. Unfortunately I missed the second one, where the prelim injunction was granted. I think that Linux folks just want to play DVD discs, and you should be able to play them with open source software. I think that US law is going too far, as far as intellectual propertly protection, when that kind of protection puts constraints in our hardware. And I think that the DVD folks, who are the movie studios, have nothing to lose, because DeCSS is not enabling the wholesale bootleggers. They have professional equipment. So, I'd hope that they could eventually be persuaded to drop the issue, but they've shown a history of being shortsighted. When the first Video Tape Recorders (betamax) came into homes, the movie studios did the same sort of lawsuit. They lost, and boy are they glad they did. They now make more from videotape sales, then they do from theatrical presentation. And the videotapes have only the lamest copy protection.


    With the recent success of Loki distributing and porting games to linux, and the recent anouncement of more ports do you think application developers will start to hop on and port the killer apps over?

    Well, I don't think of games as the killer aps for Linux, but maybe I'm prejudiced :-) I am actually trying to run a porting operation in Linux Capital Group. However, there are ethical problems. By porting commercial windows apps to Linux, and keeping them proprietary, do I make it more difficult for an open source solution to happen? And is the open source solution where I should be putting my company's efforts ? I figure I have to decide this on a item-by-item basis. If TurboTax wants a port, they will get it. If some FTP program wants a port, I'd just explain what the competition is like.


    Being a Java developer, I'm interested in how you see the future of the language considering Sun's current licencing position. Also, what advice would you have for Sun, keeping in mind the fact that they are trying hard to stop third parties (like MS) from polluting the language?

    Sun is in big trouble. They are painting themselves into smaller and smaller corners. This is because nobody has to listen to Sun unless they are using Sun's own software. Surely Transvirtual can sell Microsoft any version of Kaffe they wish. And now sun is going to release Solaris under SCSL. That will be a big boost to Linux. Linux programmers will copy what they like, but not close enough to violate copyright. Solaris will still have a dumb license and will gain market share more slowly than Linux, if it gains it at all. So, I am of mixed minds. I would prefer that sun use a good Open Source license. But at the same time I don't think this will hurt linux, it will help it if sun uses a bad license.


    Do you think the recent relaxation of the restrictions on crypto by the US DoC is really a step forward, or just a straw-move to placate crypto-activists?

    Regarding the crypto question, I have not had time to read the new law. So, I can only make a general answer. Open Source needs good crypto to work. If we can not tell where our programs come from, we will not know if they have trojan horses. So, we need digital signature very badly. So I'd like to see crypto laws support free import and export of open source crypto.

  44. Chat Log Here! by absolute · · Score: 1

    Here it is, the complete unedited, uncensored text of the irc session with Bruce Perens.

    http://www.squadron.org/perensirc.txt

    It's about ~78kb, but it's text, so it'll download fast.

  45. Transcript? by Alik · · Score: 1

    For those of us who can't make it, can a transcript of the discussion (with obvious trolls edited out) be posted to Slashdot? Bruce is clearly popular with at least part of the community, so I'd say this is at least as relevant as a regular interview article.

    Alik

  46. Re:As an American... by MattXVI · · Score: 1

    What about those Spicey Girls, or whatever.

    --
    When I'm singing a ballad and a pair of underwear lands on my head, I hate that. It really kills the mood.
    -Tom Jones
  47. Re:Hmm, you said you were American, isn't it ? by MattXVI · · Score: 1

    He was joking. It's a well-known joke (to people in America, anyway).

    --
    When I'm singing a ballad and a pair of underwear lands on my head, I hate that. It really kills the mood.
    -Tom Jones
  48. Re:By what definition is this a "troll"? by frederik · · Score: 1

    Sorry, I didn't read/I didn't have your 2nd posting before writing this

  49. Re:Who? by Issue9mm · · Score: 3

    Well, to learn more about Bruce, you can check out his "competition to /." page at Technocrat.net, or his personal site at Perens.com. His BIO can be found here.

    All in all, Bruce is an okay guy. I haven't really interacted with him much, but he at least appears to make sense most of the time. (Really, all you can ask out of anyone, IMHO)

  50. Should be a cool time. by Count+Spatula · · Score: 1

    Too bad I don't have time to actually be at this chat. Then again, since this is on /., I expect a netsplit to occur. Illiad barely got away with 120+ simultaneous visits during the 2 year anniversary.

    /me will look for the transcript.

    --
    -- Count Spatula: The Culinary Vampire "...because my cooking sucks."
  51. Re:Nahhh.... by Rakarra · · Score: 1
    I knew it! Somehow... I just knew Microsoft was going to needlessly appear in this thread. I was planning on posting a similar analogy if it didn't. };>

    Maybe we can add an addendum to Godwin's law to include MS references...

  52. Re:The way to remember by Eythain · · Score: 1
    The +1 time is called British Summer Time, remember that and you cannot go too far wrong. So I'm in British Summer Time (+0100) ? Boy, your summers sure must stink!

    --Eythain

  53. Re:They can dish it out but they can't take it. by slashdotter168 · · Score: 1

    Kamikazes were Japanese, there is a difference between the Vietnamese and Japanese. Any good history book will give you a clue, maybe..

  54. Log by Townshend · · Score: 5

    There will be a log of the whole convorsation at http://people.ce.mediaone.net/t0w nshend/index.htm.

  55. Who? by aliebrah · · Score: 1

    I've heard this guy's name before... something to do with Debian? Can someone explain to everyone (and me) who this guy is?

  56. The way to remember by OAB · · Score: 1

    The +1 time is called British Summer Time, remember that and you cannot go too far wrong.

    1. Re:The way to remember by OAB · · Score: 1

      Boy, your summers sure must stink!
      Yep

  57. Re:They can dish it out but they can't take it. by SlickJim · · Score: 1
    Well I suppose in jungle warfare, it is appropriate to use "gorilla" [sic] tactics.

    What would these be? Loud screams, beating of the chest, throwing bananas?

    SlickJim

  58. Bad scheduling by pestie · · Score: 1

    While I'm sure IRC chatting with Bruce Perens is a very worthwhile way to spend one's evening, I feel obliged to point out that 9:00pm Eastern is when the X-Files airs. To say that more than a few of us geeks will be torn would be putting it mildly.

  59. Bruce Perens by Bumratty · · Score: 1

    It's good to see the editors of Slashdot announcing chats with people who don't see eye-to-eye with them. Bruce thinks for himself, and thinks well. He's also an incredible Francophone.

  60. Re:They can dish it out but they can't take it. by Bumratty · · Score: 1

    You can do better than that. Don't you have any smart friends?

  61. Re:They can dish it out but they can't take it. by Bumratty · · Score: 1

    I'm not him, Mr. ASSumer.

  62. Re:They can dish it out but they can't take it. by Bumratty · · Score: 1

    Yeah right. What country do you think would stand a chance? None I can think of.