The Evolution of Linux

Taiko writes: "Kerneltrap.org has posted some of the more interesting messages from a recent kernel mailing list discussion. It started with a post on proper indentation, but turned into something a bit more. There are some posts by Linus and Alan Cox about the nature of design, computer science, Linux development, evolution, and more. Quite interesting and funny."

Comments

science and engineering

[bug1]

Science provides the tools that engineers use to build stuff.

Engineers would be useless without science to provide new raw materials.

Science would be pointless if raw knowledge wasnt moulded into something practical by an engineer.

Godless Arrogance?

[KarmaBlackballed]

Linus wrote[
Like somebody had to keep an eye on our evolution so that you had a chance
to be around?

Who's naive?
]

Linus seems pretty smart and reasonable. I find it disappointing that he so smugly suggests there is no God. Just because he cannot see the hand of God at work, he reasons it is not there. How arrogant is that?

Religious Arrogance?

[nusuth]

I don't think a god exists. How arrogant is that? Why is it arrogant when he suggests (maybe not, maybe he just thinks god left evolution alone knowing in advance it would eventually produce humans)/I claim that there is no god but it is perfectly acceptable you claim that there is a God? If you are offended by people expressing different views about religious matters, maybe you should try to convert Osama to christianity. He would be a perfect ally.

Design and the randon in Afghani cultures

[wytcld]

Even taking the model of accelerated evolution through human breeding of species: you direct two animals together to breed.

Has anyone else been impressed with how good looking many of the Afghani men are? This from a society where marriage is not only arranged, but in its most traditional form arranged by families where the groom's family has never seen the bride's face. If it results in men so handsome and devilish (some truly evil, I have it on our highest authority), perhaps they do have good cause to hide the women ... but I digress.

Fans of Afghani family values would tell the story as above, of designed matches resulting in superior beauty, not to mention performance and endurance on the battlefield. But in truth a great many births in Afghanistan result from widespread practice of rape ... one of the more intensive random breeding programs in the history of human cultures. It's even futher randomized because the rapist traditionally has no good view of the woman before the act. (This has led to something of a preference for boys among many of the brigands ... that and, of course, the Afghani success in producing good looking ones.)

Where is the new Bill Burroughs among the war correspondents?

I'm reminded of the story that when Bill Gates' mother was on her death bed, Bill promised her he'd finally settle down and get married. Soon after, he presented her with portfolios on three candidate wives, from which Mom selected Melinda for him.