Slashdot Mirror
EC Dumps Open Source Conference
jaruz writes "MERIT is no longer organising the conference on the topic of Open Standards and Libre Software in Government at UNESCO Paris, November 24-26, 2003. Until now, MERIT was responsible for the logistics and through the FLOSSPOLS project, EC funding for the conference. This is now wholly withdrawn. They 'have taken this decision in consultation with the European Commission, whose support for this conference was earlier being provided through the proposed FLOSSPOLS project at MERIT.'"
The FLOSSPULLERS recently withdrew their BRIKNIT from this year's HoseCon. The resulting void has opened a gaping rip in the Plesk market.
Inconceivable!
What is the future of Open Source and Free Software? I asked myself that very question because Open Source and Free Software is the most revolutionary movement today. It is changing everything.
To answer this question I went to slashdot.org, this website, since slashdot is known across the internet when it comes to Open Source and Free Software. I read the stories and the comments. I read the comments at the -1 threshold because I wanted to read real people's opinions and knowledge on Open Source and Free Software, not the sanitized version that gets modded up. What I found was very interesting.
So, what is the future of Open Source and Free Software? Wideness. That's right. Wideness. This concept of wideness is so powerful that it is invading domains beyond computer software. Take HDTV for instance. It is widescreen compared to normal tvs. TV is becoming wider.
The best examples of wideness are from slashdot of course. First, page widening posts. Slashdot pages weren't wide enough so they have to be widened manually. In the future slashdot pages will be wider.
I also found links to the goatse.cx website. Again, another example of wideness, namely a wide open anus. People who use Open Source and Free Software aren't boring heterosexuals. They are homosexuals, bisexuals, etc. As the goatse.cx website shows wideness is being added to the sexuality of Open Source and Free Software users.
Like me, you are probably excited about this wide future. The following email shows the future is closer than you think.
From: "Larry Augustin"
To: "Company - all"
Subject: Acquisition of latest OSDN holding
As you may be aware, our stock certificates are now unfit to even wipe our own asses in the restrooms. However, soon this will all change with our latest opensource acquisition. This is such a revolutionary paradigm shift that we have decided to coin a new term for it: "WideOpensource". The following letter was recently sent to the management of our prospect:
From: "Larry Augustin"
To: contrib@goatse.cx
Subject: Open source business opportunity
Dear Sir,
We at OSDN are continually looking to expand our growing network of opensource-related web real estate. Through intense analysis of comment traffic on our premier site, SlashDot.org, we have determined that your site holds considerable value to the community at large. As recent IDC surveys have shown, your site is one of the 10 most popular on the Internet. That, combined with its decidedly opensource bent, makes it a prime target for OSDN banner ads, our flagship product. We would like to acquire your site and employ you as a member of our OSDN team. Please consider this carefully, you aren't likely to see an opportunity like this every day!
Love,
Larry
I've already rerun lilo and my foil hat is on just right. The question is, have you patched your system, reapplied your service packs, and rebooted the system? Good. That buys you a few more weeks worth of peace of mind. Isn't Microsoft grand?