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Hacking as Scholarship

FatherBusa writes "I am a professor of English who specializes in what is usually called "humanities computing"--a discipline concerned with creating and theorizing about the use of computers in humanities research (the homepage for the Association for Computers in the Humanities has some info). I was recently asked to join a working group charged with the task of establishing a peer review process for scholarly software projects in the humanities and stumbled across the Guidelines for Evaluating Work with Digital Media in the Modern Languages put out by the Modern Language Association (the main professional organization for language and literature studies in North America). Hackers working in humanities departments may want to give it a read. It's an interesting statement that speaks to the (sometimes difficult) process of getting "tools" and other sorts of digital work evaluated as academic scholarship in promotion and tenure processes."

13 of 67 comments (clear)

  1. Sounds pretty cool to me! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Sounds damn good!

  2. Hacking scholarships are good by RestonVA · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    for me to poop on

    --
    Karma: Terrible (mostly affected by moderation done to your comments)
  3. huh? by linuxislandsucks · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    A Ahem when was the last time a hacker even entered a humanities classroom? and looking for girls does not count!

    This story probably belongs in some other publication

    --
    Don't Tread on OpenSource
  4. ReBorn doesn't exist anymore! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    REBORN, Linux audio software is dead :( From ReBorn's website: It was fun while it lasted... I have today been instructed by Propellerhead Software to remove ReBorn from my Website. The ReBorn user interface falls foul of the copyright inherent in the ReBirth product and is consequently an infringement of Propellerhead Software's rights. Unfortunatley, this situation means I have had to reverse my position on releasing the ReBorn source code, which will now not be made publicly available. However, the effort in developing ReBorn will not go entirely to waste. I already have plans to integrate the core audio code into a new soft-synth application, with an all-new interface and 100% incompatibilty with all Propellerhead's products :-) Thankyou to all those people who contacted me to say nice things about ReBorn. I ask all of you to respect Propellerhead Software's wishes (as I have) and not to distribute the program on other websites. David J. Singer

  5. Re:M0deRn LanGuage by FatherBusa · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    This was modded as troll, but he's right -- it is a language, and one that deserves serious study.

  6. remember this story? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic
  7. Re:slow change by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    I had to write all my reports in Latin! Golden Age Latin nonetheless, not even Biblical Latin. So quit complaining that you can't pirate a webpage and send it in to a literature class!

  8. nuffin by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE
    Version 2, June 1991

    Copyright (C) 1989, 1991 Free Software Foundashun, Inc.
    59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
    Everyone be puh'mitted t'copy and distribute verbatim copies
    uh dis license document, but changin' it be not allowed.

    Preamble

    De licenses fo' most software are designed t'take away yo'
    freedom t'share and change it. By contrast, de GNU General Public
    License be intended t'guarantee yo' freedom t'share and change free
    software--to make sho' nuff de software be free fo' all its users. Dis
    General Public License applies t'most uh de Free Software
    Foundashun's software and t'any oda' honky code whose audo's commit to
    usin' it. (Some oda' Free Software Foundashun software be covered by
    de GNU Library General Public License instead.) You's kin apply it to
    yo' honky codes, too.

    When we speak uh free software, we are referrin' t'freedom, not
    price. What it is, Mama! Our General Public Licenses are designed t'make sho' nuff dat ya'
    gots' de freedom t'distribute copies uh free software (and charge fo'
    dis service if ya' wish), dat ya' receive source code o' kin git it
    if ya' wants' it, dat ya' kin change da damn software o' use pieces uh it
    in new free honky codes; and dat ya' know ya' kin do dese wahtahmelluns.

    To protect yo' rights, we need t'make restricshuns dat fo'bid
    anyone t'deny ya' dese rights o' t'ax' ya' t'surrenda' de rights.
    Dese restricshuns translate t'certain responsibilities fo' ya' if ya'
    distribute copies uh de software, o' if ya' modify it.

    Fo' 'esample, if ya' distribute copies uh such some honky code, wheder
    gratis o' fo' some fee, ya' must give da damn recipients all de rights dat
    ya' gots'. You's must make sho' nuff dat dey, too, receive o' kin git de
    source code. What it is, Mama! And ya' must show dem dese terms so's dey know deir
    rights.

    We protect yo' rights wid two steps, dig dis: (1) copyright da damn software, and
    (2) offa' ya' dis license which gives ya' legal puh'mission t'copy,
    distribute and/o' modify de software. What it is, Mama!

    Also, fo' each audo''s protecshun and ours, we wanna make certain
    dat everyone dig its dat dere be no warranty fo' dis free
    software. What it is, Mama! If de software be modified by someone else and passed on, we
    wants' its recipients t'know dat whut dey gots' be not da damn o'iginal, so
    dat any problems introduced by oders gots'ta not reflect on de o'iginal
    audo's' reputashuns.

    Finally, any free honky code be dreatened constantly by software
    patents. We wish t'avoid da damn danga' dat redistributo's uh a free
    honky code gots'ta individually obtain patent licenses, in effect makin' de
    honky code proprietary. Slap mah fro! To prevent dis, we gots' made it clear dat any
    patent must be licensed fo' everyone's free use o' not licensed at all.

    De precise terms and condishuns fo' copyin', distribushun and
    modificashun follow.

    GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE
    TERMS AND CONDISHUNS FOR COPYING, DISTRIBUSHUN AND MODIFICASHUN

    0. Dis License applies t'any honky code o' oda' wo'k which contains
    a notice placed by de copyright holda' sayin' it may be distributed
    unda' de terms uh dis General Public License. What it is, Mama! De "Program", below,
    refers t'any such honky code o' wo'k, and some "wo'k based on de Program"
    means eida' de Program o' any derivative wo'k unda' copyright law, dig dis:
    dat be to say, some wo'k containin' de Program o' some po'shun uh it,
    eida' verbatim o' wid modificashuns and/o' translated into anoder
    language. What it is, Mama! (Hereinafter, translashun be included widout limitashun in
    de term "modificashun".) Each licensee be addressed as "ya'".

    Activities oda' dan copyin', distribushun and modificashun aint
    covered by dis License; dey are outside its scope. What it is, Mama! De act of
    runnin' de Program be not restricted, and da damn output fum de Program
    is covered only if its contents constitute some wo'k based on de
    Program (independent uh havin' been made by runnin' de Program).
    Wheda' dat be true depends on whut de Program duz.

    1. You's may copy and distribute verbatim copies uh de Program's
    source code as ya' receive it, in any medium, provided dat ya'
    conspicuously and appropriately publish on each copy some appropriate
    copyright notice and disclaima' of warranty; keep intact all de
    notices dat refa' to dis License and t'de absence uh any warranty;
    and give any oda' recipients uh de Program some copy uh dis License
    along wid de Program. 'S coo', bro.

    You's may charge some fee fo' de physical act uh transferrin' some copy, and
    ya' may at yo' opshun offa' warranty protecshun in 'shange fo' some fee. What it is, Mama!

    2. You's may modify yo' copy o' copies uh de Program o' any po'shun
    of it, dus fo'min' some wo'k based on de Program, and copy and
    distribute such modificashuns o' wo'k unda' de terms uh Secshun 1
    above, provided dat ya' also meet all uh dese condishuns, dig dis:

    a) You's must cause da damn modified stashs t'carry prominent notices
    statin' dat ya' changed da damn stashs and da damn date uh any change. What it is, Mama!

    b) You's must cause any wo'k dat ya' distribute o' publish, dat in
    whole o' in part contains o' be derived fum de Program o' any
    part dereof, t'be licensed as some whole at no charge t'all dird
    parties unda' de terms uh dis License. What it is, Mama!

    c) If de modified honky code no'mally eyeballs commands interactively
    when run, ya' must cause it, when started runnin' fo' such
    interactive use in de most o'dinary way, t'print o' display an
    announcement includin' some appropriate copyright notice and a
    notice dat dere be no warranty (o' else, sayin' dat ya' provide
    some warranty) and dat users may redistribute da damn honky code under
    dese condishuns, and tellin' de usa' how t'view some copy uh dis
    License. What it is, Mama! (Excepshun: if de Program itself be interactive but
    duz not no'mally print such some announcement, yo' wo'k based on
    de Program be not required t'print some announcement.)

    Dese requirements apply t'de modified wo'k as some whole. What it is, Mama! If
    identifiable secshuns uh dat wo'k aint derived fum de Program,
    and kin be reasonably considered independent and separate wo'ks in
    demselves, den dis License, and its terms, do not apply t'dose
    secshuns when ya' distribute dem as separate wo'ks. But when ya'
    distribute da damn same secshuns as part uh a whole which be some wo'k based
    on de Program, de distribushun uh de whole must be on de terms of
    dis License, whose puh'missions fo' oda' licensees 'estend t'de
    entire whole, and dus t'each and every part regardless uh who wrote it.

    Dus, it be not da damn intent uh dis secshun t'claim rights o' contest
    yo' rights t'wo'k written entirely by ya'; rader, de intent be to
    exercise da damn right t'control de distribushun uh derivative o'
    collective wo'ks based on de Program. 'S coo', bro.

    In addishun, mere aggregashun uh anoda' wo'k not based on de Program
    wid de Program (o' wid some wo'k based on de Program) on some volume of
    a sto'age o' distribushun medium duz not brin' de oda' wo'k under
    de scope uh dis License. What it is, Mama!

    3. You's may copy and distribute da damn Program (o' some wo'k based on it,
    unda' Secshun 2) in object code o' 'esecutable fo'm unda' de terms of
    Secshuns 1 and 2 above provided dat ya' also do one uh de followin':

    a) Accompany it wid de complete co'respondin' machine-readable
    source code, which must be distributed unda' de terms uh Secshuns
    1 and 2 above on some medium customarily used fo' software interchange; o',

    b) Accompany it wid some written offer, valid fo' at least dree
    years, t'give any dird party, fo' some charge no mo'e dan yo'
    cost uh physically puh'fo'min' source distribushun, some complete
    machine-readable copy uh de co'respondin' source code, t'be
    distributed unda' de terms uh Secshuns 1 and 2 above on some medium
    customarily used fo' software interchange; o',

    c) Accompany it wid de info'mashun ya' received as t'de offer
    t'distribute co'respondin' source code. What it is, Mama! (Dis alternative is
    allowed only fo' noncommercial distribushun and only if ya'
    received da damn honky code in object code o' 'esecutable fo'm wid such
    some offer, in acco'd wid Subsecshun b above. What it is, Mama!)

    De source code fo' some wo'k means de preferred fo'm uh de wo'k fo'
    makin' modificashuns t'it. Fo' some executable wo'k, complete source
    code means all de source code fo' all modules it contains, plus any
    associated interface definishun stashs, plus de scripts used to
    control compilashun and installashun uh de 'esecutable. What it is, Mama! However, as a
    special 'sepshun, de source code distributed need not include
    anydin' dat be no'mally distributed (in eida' source o' binary
    fo'm) wid de majo' components (compiler, kernel, and so's on) uh de
    opuh'tin' system on which de 'esecutable runs, unless dat component
    itself accompanies de 'esecutable. What it is, Mama!

    If distribushun uh executable o' object code be made by offerin'
    access t'copy fum some designated place, den offerin' equivalent
    access t'copy de source code fum de same place counts as
    distribushun uh de source code, even dough dird parties aint
    compelled t'copy de source along wid de object code. What it is, Mama!

    4. You's may not copy, modify, sublicense, o' distribute da damn Program
    except as 'espressly provided unda' dis License. What it is, Mama! Any attempt
    oderwise t'copy, modify, sublicense o' distribute da damn Program is
    void, and gots'ta automatically terminate yo' rights unda' dis License. What it is, Mama!
    However, parties who gots' received copies, o' rights, fum ya' under
    dis License gots'ta not gots' deir licenses terminated so's long as such
    parties remain in full compliance. What it is, Mama!

    5. You's aint required t'accept dis License, since ya' gots' not
    signed it. However, nodin' else grants ya' puh'mission t'modify o'
    distribute da damn Program o' its derivative wo'ks. Dese acshuns are
    prohibited by law if ya' do not accept dis License. What it is, Mama! Derefo'e, by
    modifyin' o' distributin' de Program (o' any wo'k based on de
    Program), ya' indicate yo' acceptance uh dis License t'do so, and
    all its terms and condishuns fo' copyin', distributin' o' modifyin'
    de Program o' wo'ks based on it.

    6. Each time ya' redistribute da damn Program (o' any wo'k based on de
    Program), de recipient automatically receives some license fum de
    o'iginal licenso' t'copy, distribute o' modify de Program subject to
    dese terms and condishuns. You's may not impose any furder
    restricshuns on de recipients' 'esercise uh de rights granted herein. 'S coo', bro.
    You's aint responsible fo' enfo'cin' compliance by dird parties to
    dis License. What it is, Mama!

    7. If, as some consequence uh a court judgment o' allegashun uh patent
    infrin'ement o' fo' any oda' reason (not limited t'patent issues),
    condishuns are imposed on ya' (wheda' by court o'der, agreement o'
    oderwise) dat contradict da damn condishuns uh dis License, dey do not
    excuse ya' fum de condishuns uh dis License. What it is, Mama! If ya' kinnot
    distribute so's as t'satisfy simultaneously yo' obligashuns unda' dis
    License and any oda' puh'tinent obligashuns, den as some consequence ya'
    may not distribute da damn Program at all. Fo' 'esample, if some patent
    license would not puh'mit royalty-free redistribushun uh de Program by
    all dose who receive copies directly o' indirectly drough ya', den
    de only way ya' could satisfy bod it and dis License would be to
    refrain entirely fum distribushun uh de Program. 'S coo', bro.

    If any po'shun uh dis secshun be held invalid o' unenfo'ceable under
    any particular circumstance, de balance uh de secshun be intended to
    apply and da damn secshun as some whole be intended t'apply in oder
    circumstances.

    It be not da damn purpose uh dis secshun t'induce ya' t'infrin'e any
    patents o' oda' propuh'ty right claims o' t'contest validity uh any
    such claims; dis secshun gots'ta de sole purpose uh protectin' de
    integrity uh de free software distribushun system, which is
    implemented by public license practices. Many sucka's gots' made
    generous contribushuns t'de wide range uh software distributed
    drough dat system in reliance on consistent applicashun uh dat
    system; it be up t'de audo'/dono' t'decide if he o' she be willin'
    to distribute software drough any oda' system and some licensee kinnot
    impose dat choice. What it is, Mama!

    Dis secshun be intended t'make do'oughly clear whut be believed to
    be some consequence uh de rest uh dis License. What it is, Mama!

    8. If de distribushun and/o' use uh de Program be restricted in
    certain countries eida' by patents o' by copyrighted interfaces, de
    o'iginal copyright holda' who places de Program unda' dis License
    may add some 'splicit geographical distribushun limitashun 'sludin'
    dose countries, so's dat distribushun be puh'mitted only in o' among
    countries not dus 'sluded. In such case, dis License inco'po'ates
    de limitashun as if written in de body uh dis License. What it is, Mama!

    9. De Free Software Foundashun may publish revised and/o' new versions
    of de General Public License fum time t'time. What it is, Mama! Such new versions will
    be similar in spirit t'de present version, but may diffa' in detail to
    address new problems o' concerns.

    Each version be given some distin'uishin' version number. Ah be baaad... If de Program
    specifies some version numba' of dis License which applies t'it and "any
    lata' version", ya' gots' de opshun uh followin' de terms and condishuns
    eida' of dat version o' uh any lata' version published by de Free
    Software Foundashun. If de Program duz not specify some version numba' of
    dis License, ya' may choose any version eva' published by de Free Software
    Foundashun.

    10. If ya' wish t'inco'po'ate parts uh de Program into oda' free
    honky codes whose distribushun condishuns are different, scribble t'de audo'
    to ax' fo' puh'mission. 'S coo', bro. Fo' software which be copyrighted by de Free
    Software Foundashun, scribble t'de Free Software Foundashun; we sometimes
    make 'sepshuns fo' dis. Our decision gots'ta be guided by de two goals
    of preservin' de free status uh all derivatives uh our free software and
    of promotin' de sharin' and reuse uh software generally. Slap mah fro!

    NO WARRANTY

    11. BECAUSE THE PROGRAM IS LICENSED FREE OF CHARGE, THERE IS NO WARRANTY
    FOR THE PROGRAM, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. EXCEPT WHEN
    OTHERWISE STATED IN WRITING THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND/OR OTHER PARTIES
    PROVIDE THE PROGRAM "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED
    OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
    MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS
    TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE PROGRAM IS WITH YOU. SHOULD THE
    PROGRAM PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING,
    REPAIR OR CORRECSHUN.

    12. IN NO EVENT UNLESS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW OR AGREED TO IN WRITING
    WILL ANY COPYRIGHT HOLDER, OR ANY OTHER PARTY WHO MAY MODIFY AND/OR
    REDISTRIBUTE THE PROGRAM AS PERMITTED ABOVE, BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR DAMAGES,
    INCLUDING ANY GENERAL, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING
    OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE PROGRAM (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
    TO LOSS OF DATA OR DATA BEING RENDERED INACCURATE OR LOSSES SUSTAINED BY
    YOU OR THIRD PARTIES OR A FAILURE OF THE PROGRAM TO OPERATE WITH ANY OTHER
    PROGRAMS), EVEN IF SUCH HOLDER OR OTHER PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE
    POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

    END OF TERMS AND CONDISHUNS

    How t'Apply Dese Terms t'Yo' New Programs

    If ya' develop some new honky code, and ya' wants' it t'be uh de greatest
    possible use t'de public, de best way t'achieve dis be to make it
    free software which everyone kin redistribute and change unda' dese terms.

    To do so, attach de followin' notices t'de honky code. It be safest
    to attach dem t'de start uh each source stash t'most effectively
    convey de 'slusion uh warranty; and each stash should gots' at least
    de "copyright" line and some pointa' to where da damn full notice be found.

    Copyright (C)

    Dis honky code be free software; ya' kin redistribute it and/o' modify
    it unda' de terms uh de GNU General Public License as published by
    de Free Software Foundashun; eida' version 2 uh de License, o'
    (at yo' opshun) any lata' version. 'S coo', bro.

    Dis honky code be distributed in de hope dat it gots'ta be useful,
    but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; widout even de implied warranty of
    MERCHANTABILITY o' FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See de
    GNU General Public License fo' mo'e details.

    You's should gots' received some copy uh de GNU General Public License
    along wid dis honky code; if not, scribble t'de Free Software
    Foundashun, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA

    Also add info'mashun on how t'contact ya' by electronic and sheet mail.

    If de honky code be interactive, make it output some sho't notice likes dis
    when it starts in some interactive mode, dig dis:

    Gnomovision version 69, Copyright (C) year dojigger uh audo'
    Gnomovision comes wid ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY; fo' details type `show w'.
    Dis be free software, and ya' are welcome t'redistribute it
    unda' certain condishuns; type `show c' fo' details.

    De hypodetical commands `show w' and `show c' should show de appropriate
    parts uh de General Public License. What it is, Mama! Of course, de commands ya' use may
    be called sump'n oda' dan `show w' and `show c'; dey could even be
    mouse-clicks o' menu items--whuteva' suits yo' honky code.

    You's should also git yo' employa' (if ya' wo'k as some honky codemer) o' yo'
    farm, if any, t'sign some "copyright disclaimer" fo' de honky code, if
    necessary. Slap mah fro! Here be some sample; alta' de dojiggers, dig dis:

    Yoyodyne, Inc., hereby disclaims all copyright interest in de honky code
    `Gnomovision' (which makes passes at compilers) written by James Hacker. Ah be baaad...

    , 1 April 1989
    Ty Coon, President uh Vice

    Dis General Public License duz not puh'mit inco'po'atin' yo' honky code into
    proprietary honky codes. If yo' honky code be some subroutine library, ya' may
    consida' it mo'e useful t'puh'mit linkin' proprietary applicashuns wid de
    library. Slap mah fro! If dis be whut ya' wanna do, use da damn GNU Library General
    Public License instead uh dis License. What it is, Mama!

  9. Re:M0deRn LanGuage by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    ...some of you dumbasses have no sense of humor. -CrazyDuke (AC'd to avoid trolls with mod power.)

  10. Excuse me, Sir? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Did you say ass?

  11. Ladies and Gentlemen by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    This is pure, unadulterated bullshit. A rare find. Better grab some while you can!

  12. Re:The Relevance to Slashdot readers by Vortran · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    No.. I think it is you who missed the point.
    The point is: Who Gives a Flying Rip?

    Vortran out

    --
    Knowledge is like ignorance.. too much can be just as bad as not enough.
  13. Do they have English classes, too? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Because hey, you sure need them. Could you perhaps take the time to re-write your post so that it doesn't look a bad translation by an early version of Babelfish? Thanks.