Slashdot Mirror
Researching The Open Source Way
A reader writes: "Eugene Eric Kim, who also writes on the webservices channel on DevChannel.org, has posted a research report on open source communities. The two projects/communities studied were Touchgraph and Squirrelmail, examining how they work together." Looking at it, I think the research report was sponsored by The Omidyar Foundation, who are the EBay founders; and the report is also licensed under the Creative Commons license.
This sucks
Semi propeitery works better!
FP and flamebait!
Hi everyone! How the heck are you?
FP!
Let's live in a society where all source is closed, and programmers get paid for their contributions!
(And then fired, and forced to work on opensource projects to keep their skills up while looking for work.)
Oh, wait, we're there already.
So I ran abunch of cat5 through my house and terminated it in the basement at a rack / patch panel. Now I am finishing my basement and an ideal spot for a flourescent light is about 8 inches away from my bundle of cat5 through the floor joists. I know this is a problem, but am wondering if there is any way I can shield that bundle from the lights. I know /. will have some advice, so bring it on!
Thanks!
You Fail It, BEEEOTCH! Chunks Time!
I VOMIT ON FAILURES!
is the continuing copyright-extension fight.
In the future, responsible academics and other researchers will all attach liberal-use licenses (hopefully ones putting the documents into the public domain or similar) to such research documents, so that they're not still under onerous restrictions 80 years (or, say, 99) after the study has been done. Maybe there is some exception (though none spring to mind) where a company / organization believes that it will be able to benefit substantially by withholding such research, but I think there's a far greater possibility for gaining goodwill by acknowledging that for many / most / nearly-all / note-how-much-I'm conceding-here copyrighted materials, the current slouch toward Forever is at best silly and often worse.
timothy
jrnl: http://tinyurl.com/c2l8yr / foes: http://tinyurl.com/ckjno5
isn't this same as doing master's thesis/project with a large number of group member? i dont see the difference.
Consensus is good, but informed dictatorship is better
the open sores way!
dgfashjlödgf aödkhadfökadhf ödfahöqeföihqöeih .dak.adhfökqehfö lqeöqeh öqeheqh2h4 24ih 0240248 2t4oh240 8t4202poh4208 082ht40h842 t42p42ih 24pih24 2h4g0+2g4h+2g4 h+2gh2g+h2g +h2g+sdhflöih svlöihsföih5gpi g208h20g8hgro hoguh 082h 0ng0tgh8 300nbgonbg0 23tg bn09523hb0hbgj ljnbtg08h0 tblj2 028 tgh0hb2gu ob o2ub902ghb 02ubo2ub 258h02t48h2 402 nb2otosgrjbg08h2408240h on2g 4 2g4020 jeebolilla!
Fuck you slashdot! Somebody SHOOT RMS IMMEDIATELY!! he doesn't take baths!
My own...and others!
Not one mention of fetid unwashed masses!
Your mother was drunk when you were conceived...
8==m=D~o ~o I spOONK on Jorr ManGina.
If we don't fight for ourselves no one will.
it's bad enough you post the stories..but now that you're down in the trenches of moderation, we see how the populace really feels about your idiotic, stupid rants.
wow, I really need to get laid.
I thought that was funny.
Hello,
Recently I've been introduced to an operating system known as Linux.
Lured by its low cost, I replaced Windows 98 on my computer with Linux. Unfortunately the more I use it the more I fear that this "Linux" may be an insidious way for the Dark One to gain a stronger foothold here on Earth. I know this may be a shocking claim, but I have evidence to back it up!
To begin with, Linux is based off of an older, obsolete OS called "BSD Unix". The child-indoctrinatingly-cute cartoon mascot of this OS is a devil holding a pitchfork. This OS -- and its Linux offspring -- extensively use what are unsettingly called "daemons" (which is how Pagans write "demon" -- they are notoriously poor spellers: magick, vampyre, etc.) which is a program that hides in the background, doing things without the user's notice. If you are using a computer running Linux then you probably have these "demons" on your computer, hardly something a good Christian would want! Furthermore in order to start or stop these "demons" a user must execute a command called "finger". By "fingering" a "demon" one excercises an unholy power, much the same way that the Lord of Flies controls his black minions.
Linux contains another Satanic holdover from the "BSD Unix" OS mentioned above; to open up certain locked files one has to run a program much like the DOS prompt in Microsoft Windows and type in a secret code: "chmod 666". What other horrors lurk in this thing?
Consider some of these other Linux commands: "sleep", "mount", "unzip", "strip" and "touch". All highly suggestive in a sexual nature. I know that our Lord cannot approve of these, and I urge them to be renamed to something appropriate to the Christian community. Interestingly "CONTROL-G" (the sixth key from the left of the keyboard) does an abort. To write files a "VI" editor is included. All these are to ensnare the unsuspecting christian who could get tempted by typing "VIVIVI" all day long.
Fourth, Linux uses a flavor of DOS known as Bash. Bash is an acronym for "Bourne Again Shell". On the surface this would appear to be supportive of the Lord. However, remember that even Satan can quote the bible for his own purposes! While I believe Linux may be born-again, its obvious by the misspelling of "born" that its not born-again in an Christian church. Will the lies ever cease?
Additionally, one of the main long-haired hippies involved with the GNU Free Software Foundation supports communism, contraception and abortion. He has consistently supported 60's counter-cultural "values", and his web site even advocates government support of contraception. He also wears fake halos, and has quips about his made-up church that relates to his free software. I find such blasphemy to be extremely unsettling.
One must also remember that the creator of Linux, a college student named Linux Torvaldis, comes from Finland. I'm sure all the followers of Christ are aware of the heritical nature of the Finnish: from necrophilia to human sacrifice, Finnish culture is awash in sin. I find little reason to believe anything good and holy could arise from this evil land.
Finally, let us remember that there is an alternative to using the Satan-powered Linux. I think history has shown us that Microsoft is quite holy. I'm told that its founder, William Gates is a strong supporter of our Lord and I encourage my fellow Christians to buy only his products to help keep the Devil at bay.
I wish I had more time to expound upon my findings. Unfortunately a family of Jews has moved in across the street and I must go speak to them of Jesus Christ before they are condemned to eternal hellfire.
Please investigate this as you see fit and I'm sure you'll reach the same conclusions that I have.
The most interesting part of this article is that it is reasonably open, itself. The main reason that companies "own" a lot of Intellectual Property is that they either sponsor it in a University, where all the smart people are, or they buy it from the University later. Or, in some cases, just steal it and hope nobody notices.
If there is now a grassroots movement to start publishing at least some core research under free or free-ish licenses, then this can't happen. However, there's not a lot the companies can do about it.
I'm going to guess that one article isn't going to scare anyone. BUT, if we see more and more free/free-ish papers, especially peer-reviewed, then the situation may change. Universities don't pay their employees much (!!) at present, so selling their souls to private companies is often the only way to eke out a living for researchers and lecturers.
Now, if we take away an entire chunk of that chain, what happens? The researchers still need to eat, but their work is now usable and verifiable by anyone. They're not going to get paid by companies for something that's open, as the company can't patent that. Never mind they can still make money, they won't see it that way. Too blinkered by far.
So where to the academics get their money? From the University, if the University wants to retain any staff. In turn, this means that the Universities will need to get more cash. They can't charge students much more than they do, so that means they'll be forced to demand - yes, demand, not ask - for more money from State and Federal Government. The threat? No cash, no school.
Instead of treating schools as something to be kicked around, and maybe paid a few cents to keep them quiet, you'll (slowly) start to see budgets for education move out of single digit dollars and become closer to being on-par with other sectors.
Ok, this may seem like a massive leap. Where's my proof? The British system, and all the changes it has been through in the past 30-40 years, shows one thing very clearly. Education is bistable. It can EITHER operate through sponsorship from companies, OR through grants from Government.
Universities don't generate revenue, per se, they merely generate the MEANS to generate revenue. As such, they will always cost more than they can directly obtain, but they will ALWAYS be far more profitable to support than to let rot.
If, as I hope, this is the start of a trend to make academia truly open and unencumbered, then companies won't be interested. They can't control the product, they can't even control the institute. AT&T found that out, with the BSD tapes. Berkeley simply re-wrote them.
Here's hoping that one nail in the coffin of the corporate power-block has finally been hammered into place.
It's a small world and it smells funny; I'd buy another if it wasn't for the money; Take back what I paid (SoM)
From the office of Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf (aka Baghdad Bob):
"All infidel coalition software has been seized by the Special Republican Guards! God will roast their stomachs in hell at the hands of Iraqis."
More at 11.
Karma: The shiznight, mostly because I am the Drizzle.
Lucky enough to be born with the initials "EEK".
Unlucky enough to be born with the name "Eugene".
MORTAR COMBAT!
You taco-snotting faggots know it's true!
It has come to my attention that the entire Linux community is a hotbed of so called 'alternative sexuality,' which includes anything from hedonistic orgies to homosexuality to pedophilia.
What better way of demonstrating this than by looking at the hidden messages contained within the names of some of Linux's most outspoken advocates:
I'm sure that Eric S. Raymond, composer of the satanic homosexual propaganda diatribe The Cathedral and the Bizarre, is probably an anagram of something queer, but we don't need to look that far as we know he's always shoving a gun up some poor little boy's rectum. Update: Eric S. Raymond is actually an anagram for secondary rim and cord in my arse. It just goes to show you that he is indeed queer.
Update the Second: It is also documented that Evil Sicko Gaymond is responsible for a nauseating piece of code called Fetchmail, which is obviously sinister sodomite slang for 'Felch Male' -- a disgusting practise. For those not in the know, 'felching' is the act performed by two perverts wherein one sucks their own post-coital ejaculate out of the other's rectum. In fact, it appears that the dirty Linux faggots set out to undermine the good Republican institution of e-mail, turning it into 'e-male.'
As far as Richard 'Master' Stallman goes, that filthy fudge-packer was actually quoted on leftist commie propaganda site Salon.com as saying the following: 'I've been resistant to the pressure to conform in any circumstance,' he says. 'It's about being able to question conventional wisdom,' he asserts. 'I believe in love, but not monogamy,' he says plainly.
And this isn't a made up troll bullshit either! He actually stated this tripe, which makes it obvious that he is trying to politely say that he's a flaming homo slut!
Speaking about 'flaming,' who better to point out as a filthy chutney ferret than Slashdot's very own self-confessed pederast Jon Katz. Although an obvious deviant anagram cannot be found from his name, he has already confessed, nay boasted of the homosexual perversion of corrupting the innocence of young children. To quote from the article linked:
'I've got a rare kidney disease,' I told her. 'I have to go to the bathroom a lot. You can come with me if you want, but it takes a while. Is that okay with you? Do you want a note from my doctor?'
Is this why you were touching your penis in the cinema, Jon? And letting the other boys touch it too?
We should also point out that Jon Katz refers to himself as 'Slashdot's resident Gasbag.' Is there any more doubt? For those fortunate few who aren't aware of the list of homosexual terminology found inside the Linux 'Sauce Code,' a 'Gasbag' is a pervert who gains sexual gratification from having a thin straw inserted into his urethra (or to use the common parlance, 'piss-pipe'), then his homosexual lover blows firmly down the straw to inflate his scrotum. This is, of course, when he's not busy violating the dignity and copyright of po
The masses deserve free hentai porn. Remember, tentacle rape pr0n wants to be free.
Have you hear the word of OpenSource today?
Most people I know are getting sick to the back teeth of what has become known as the greed machine. If the little people are ever going to stand in the face of this monster then we have to learn to stand together, it seems that the IT world being one of the youngest, brightest and most flexible communities is leading the way. One can only hope that the same models can be as effective in food production, environmental recovery etc.
"Researching The Open Source Way" == "Conducting research that examines open source projects"
It does not mean "Conducting research in a model based on open source development"
Or even "Publishing your research under an open source licence"
(although this research was published under an open source licence, that was not the point of the paper)
I am concerned about any program, any piece of hardware, any treaty, any law that treats me as a consumer, not a citizen
We may not agree with everything RMS has to say, but is it fair to use the "GNU is Not Unix" logo/category on an article with a headline about "Open Source" rather than "Free Software"? That's bound to antagonise some people who could probably do without it.
Company X patents something in the US that happens (in say India) but isn't patentable.
They then get the WIPO to enforce the patent in India forcing the Indian company to pay royalties for something stolen by a US company.
thank God the internet isn't a human right.
This actually seemed like an interesting article, until he had to bring up the SUVs... Right there, I lost all respect for this article, and didn't even finish it. Guess that's what happens when you can take a good idea, and screw around with it by planting political agendas inside of it. Damn you liberals, damn you all. (There, that is my insertion of a political agenda. Luckily I am not trying to write an unbiased article.)
The Omidyar Foundation was brought to you by The Omigod Consortium. Hmm... the names are kind of.. strange..
The Wknd Sessions - Malaysian and South East Asia independent music
Even tho what's all ready been said is true, the difference is even greater. Most colleges (certainly here in the U.K.) have intelectual property clauses in their small print which give the college / university as an organisation all I.P. rights over student's work.
This could cause problems for example when a research project goes under at one establishment; I.P. rights must be acquired before the project can be continued using the original research at other research centres or private companies.