Venezuela Goes Open Source

Odinson sent in this news blurb from LinuxToday, reporting that Venezuela has adopted a policy for the use of Open Source software in government wherever possible. Apparently they have practical rather than philosophical motivations: keeping cash in the country and promoting local software development.

Comments

Do you think that MS will fund the next coup?

[Jeremiah Cornelius]

Hugo Chavez thought he had a tenacious enemy when he crossed Big Oil (tm) :-)

Re:Do you think that MS will fund the next coup?

[MAXOMENOS]

30 Aug 2002: Venezuela switches to open source.

31 Aug 2002: Venezuela explodes in utter chaos as Microsoft (and Microsoft's lackey, Apple) shuts down every computer running Windows or MacOS, remotely.

1 Sept 2002: Bloodless CIA-backed coup overthrows Venezuelan government, establishes military dictatorship. Computers "myseriously" work again.

2 Sept 2002: Open source advocates in Venezuela government "disappear." Pro-Microsoft death squads hunt down and execute their first Linux users. Penguinistas counter with violent reprisals, distribute Linux boxes to peasants, natives.

Hey, it would fit the historical pattern.

In other news..

[JPriest]

I have installed Linux on 3 computers in my LAN.

In other news...

[Rude Turnip]

MSNBC is reporting that Venezuela's true motives are to save up their money to fund TERRORISM!!! Microsoft has urged the Depts. of Defense and Justice to have a word with the Venezuelan government to strongly suggest that they keep their tax dollars rolling into Redmond, where it will be safe from EVIL-DOERS.

If Peru also goes open source...

[Prof. Pi]

...then we'll only need Argentina and Brazil, and
then we'll have a continent!

HOLY SHIT! VENEZUELA ADDED TO THE AXIS OF EVIL!!!

[Lonath]

From the Associated Press wire:

August 29, 2002:

In a stunning move with far-reaching global implications, the Bush Administration added the South American nation of Venezuela to the Axis of Evil. When asked why the sudden change was made, Ari Fleischer responded "As President Bush said, "You're either with us, or you're against us.", and Venezuela has sided with the pirates and terrorists of the world by allowing Weapons of Mass IP Destruction into its governmental computing systems.

Reports from inside sources are confirming that the decision was made after careful consultation with key members of the IP industry who explained that Venezuela released an IP-destroying Pac-Man virus into its governmental IT infrastructure and now any IP that gets sent to Venezuela is being sucked into a giant vortex of piracy and thievery!

When asked whether or not the US would invade Venezuela, Fleischer responded "We _were_ concerned about Iraq, and we were going to invade, but Iraq has to be put on the back burner for a while. Iraq's physical weapons like nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons are dangerous and a threat to world security, but they can ONLY destroy all life as we know it! An IP-destroying Pac-Man virus could destroy all of CAPITALISM as we know it! Now what's worse: being dead or having to be a long-haired hippy who has to WORK for a living doing something that's directly beneficial to society. So, to answer your question: Venezuela will be pockmarked with giant glowing craters within the next 72 hours."

Reports are coming in from Norfolk and Guantanamo Naval Air Station that the ships of the Atlantic fleet are preparing to leave, and three nuclear submarines have passed through the Panama Canal within the last 12 hours, leaving little doubt that a serious military buildup is occuring.