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Linus Sighted At LCA2004

leonbrooks writes "Yes! Third year in a row! The penguinmeister has entered the building! Posting from lecture theatre LG28 at the University of Adelaide, we have confirmed that Linus Torvalds has once more blessed us with his presence. Solid proof that Australia truly is The Lucky Country. (-:" And an anonymous reader adds: "Linus will be here for a week at linux.conf.au but not presenting anything. If you want to see him, maybe you guys should come down to South Australia and register for linux.conf.au 2004."

224 comments

  1. Awesome! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Linus is at location X!

    This is news folks, make no doubt about it.

    1. Re:Awesome! by ardiri · · Score: 1

      > I can go to Australia, meet Linus at a bar, and outdrink a peron of worldwide importance, in the nude! Schweet.

      you know Linus is swedish/finnish dont you? you might have a hard time out drinking him :) ever since i moved to sweden from australia - my alcohol absorbtion abilities has increased ten fold.. i blame it on my buddies.

    2. Re:Awesome! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Linus is at location X!

      Holy crap, and he's got an Ogg Vorbis player in his pack! Hurry, everyone get ready to knobgobble him!

      You people need some fresh frickin' air.

    3. Re:Awesome! by mausmalone · · Score: 1

      Is it odd that the same people who move to Linux because Microsoft wants to track their online activity are simultaneously tracking every movement of Linus Torvaldis?

      And why report a "sighting" anyway? He's not Elvis. Even if he is that popular, being alive and all, it's not so odd that someone might see him around every once in a while.

      And don't flame me, it's just sarcasm.

      --
      -=-=-=-=-=
      I'd rather be flamed than ignored.
    4. Re:Awesome! by Large+Green+Mallard · · Score: 1

      Just don't try out-drinking Hemos. The man can hold his drink against the best of us.

      H. Peter Anvin (SYSLINUX) on the other hand.. ended up in hospital after LCA2003. Heh!

    5. Re:Awesome! by Hemos · · Score: 1

      23 bottles of wine on the wall...23 bottles of wine...

      --
      Yeah, I'm that guy.
    6. Re:Awesome! by Zork+the+Almighty · · Score: 1

      I know it's funny and all, but this sort of celebrity crap engenders unhealthy attitudes for all involved. We should probably discourage it.

      --

      In Soviet America the banks rob you!
    7. Re:Awesome! by MasterSLATE · · Score: 1

      Just incase you were unaware - its Torvalds, not Torvaldis.

      --

      [sig]www.masterslate.org[/sig]
  2. Linus by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    He's not the messiah. He's a very naughty boy..

    1. Re:Linus by Jacco+de+Leeuw · · Score: 2, Informative

      The person who moderated this as offtopic does not understand humour or should go out more :-)

      --
      -------
      Warning: Slashdot may contain traces of nuts.
    2. Re:Linus by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      that's the first time I've heard Monty Python fandom equated with going out more.

      I have however heard the two used in one sentence.

      as in:

      Stop watching that Monty Python and get some fresh air.

    3. Re:Linus by JaredOfEuropa · · Score: 4, Insightful
      He's not the messiah. He's a very naughty boy..
      Modded as Funny, but it's simple truth (the first part anyway). What's the big deal with Linus visiting this or that town or university, if he's not there to hold a lecture or speak at some event? Sure, it might be interesting if you'd be able to sit down at the bar with him and chat... but would you want half the geek population to come running after you if you were Linus? *sigh*

      Now if it was Bill Gates, I would want to know. I'd drive over to the location of his last sighting, and pick up a nice pie on the way ;-)
      --
      If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
    4. Re:Linus by shachart · · Score: 1

      Why, is the other half comatose?

      --
      Those who can, do. Those who can't, consult.
    5. Re:Linus by d_i_r_t_y · · Score: 1

      Australia's mascot, the little teddy bear guy, seems to be clinging to that tree for all he's worth!


      that's because he's completely stoned on eucalyptus leaves.

    6. Re:Linus by xanadu-xtroot.com · · Score: 1

      Modded as Funny, but it's simple truth (the first part anyway). [...] would you want half the geek population to come running after you if you were Linus?

      I couldn't help get the notion that leonbrooks was Jane Goodall's kin or something.

      Linus is walking towards the door.

      Linus opened the door.

      He looks to his left, then to his right.

      He procedes to continue walking straight as he does this.

      Interesting! He's chewing gum at the same time!


      I mean geesh! Can't this guy just be another geek like the rest of us?

      --
      I'm not a prophet or a stone-age man,
      I'm just a mortal with potential of a super man.
    7. Re:Linus by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Now if it was Bill Gates, I would want to know. I'd drive over to the location of his last sighting, and pick up a nice pie on the way ;-)

      What's the average speed of a flying cream pie?

    8. Re:Linus by MadChicken · · Score: 1

      Linus is in a maze of twisty passages, all alike.

      There is a Troll here.

      >Linus, kill Troll with hole puncher

      You don't have a hole puncher.

      (I'd better stop now)

      --
      SYS 64738 NO CARRIER
    9. Re:Linus by HungWeiLo · · Score: 1

      I ran into him one time at the Cascade Outlet Mall in Burlington, WA some years ago. He was trying to shove his new and shiny beer fridge into his Lexus.

      --
      There are a huge number of yeast infections in this county. Probably because we're downriver from the bread factory.
  3. Havoc Pennington will do the keynote by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Havoc of Red Hat/Gnome/freedesktop/ex-Debian fame will be there too delivering the keynote AFAIK. He has some interesting things to say, so people listen up. :)

    1. Re:Havoc Pennington will do the keynote by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ummm yeah... we're really going to listen to that guy. What interesting things does he have to say? Will he be talking about the new file selector coming up for GNOME/GTK? Or will he be talking about how Linux needs to become more friendly for end users? Wow, I can't wait for these and other exciting revelations.

    2. Re:Havoc Pennington will do the keynote by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful
      And what's wrong with a standardized configuration editor and GUI?

      Having gazillion different widget kits and configurations is a cancer within Linux.

    3. Re:Havoc Pennington will do the keynote by ez76 · · Score: 0

      I did not realize tumors could get tumors.

    4. Re:Havoc Pennington will do the keynote by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Guess OP is a left hander...

    5. Re:Havoc Pennington will do the keynote by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Less pejoratively, breadth at the expense of depth.

    6. Re:Havoc Pennington will do the keynote by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      why do you guys chase Linus around like a bunch of pre-teen girls after the latest boy band?

    7. Re:Havoc Pennington will do the keynote by AKnightCowboy · · Score: 1
      Havoc of Red Hat/Gnome/freedesktop/ex-Debian fame will be there too delivering the keynote AFAIK.

      Is that the guy's real name or just some pseudonym he adopted? He sounds like he should be a Batman villain.

  4. Apparently by Xel'Naga · · Score: 5, Funny

    Even the smilies are upside down in Australia

  5. In other news... by turgid · · Score: 5, Funny

    A decayed and rotten Elvis was seen attempting to enter the same conference without a pass. When questioned by security staff, the King was reportedy upset that such a "square" could become such a celebrity. "What is the world ocming to? Where are my fans?" He reportedly sobbed and he was led away by Australian police officers.

    1. Re:In other news... by sharkey · · Score: 2, Funny
      Where are my fans?

      You misspelled "donuts". This is Elvis, after all.

      --

      --
      "Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
  6. I'm in LG28 too by anonymous+coword · · Score: 4, Informative

    Yes, i seen him too. He is running SuSE linux 9.0 on a Sony VAIO laptop. Me too. He is working on some patches for Kerenel 2.4.25 when I seen him. There are a lot of people here, with all sorts of computers and laptops. Some running Windows, Some running BSD, some even running Mac OS 9, but I didn't see OSX.

    This place is great. I will update you with more details over the next few days here at LCA2004.

  7. Re:SAVE SAVE SAVE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Nope - "5 cent 'coins'"

  8. Tux by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Where do you think http://www.linux.org.au/org/penguin.phtml

  9. This is all very well and good but... by secondvertigo · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Will the man himself be making any announcements? Any expo keynotes? Will Russel Crowe challenge him to 12 rounds on Lin-Doom III Chortle, there goes my frigging Karma

  10. Just the guys? by agwis · · Score: 5, Funny

    "If you want to see him, maybe you guys should come down to South Australia and register for linux.conf.au 2004."


    What about the gals? Surely linux.conf.au 2004 is a chick magnet, ain't it?


    1. Re:Just the guys? by p00ya · · Score: 1

      Well, if the one in Perth was anything to go by, I count.. well. four?

    2. Re:Just the guys? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      four? I counted about 37 ;)

    3. Re:Just the guys? by ardiri · · Score: 1

      > Well, if the one in Perth was anything to go by, I count.. well. four?

      http://www.linux.org.au/conf/2003/media/Speakers -t ogether-800-501.jpg

      i could only recognise two that looked vaugly as women. #1 = front row, center, really bad dress sense. #2 = front row. photo looks like taken at university of western australia - damn, been such a long time since i have been there; well over 10 years now *g* if there was four chicks there, i must be going blind.. hell, sweden is EVIL - look what it is doing to my chick-radar.

    4. Re:Just the guys? by Gleng · · Score: 4, Funny

      Just tell them you've got 2.6 up and running. Their knickers fall off.

      --
      "Proudly Posting Without Reading The Article"
    5. Re:Just the guys? by Gleng · · Score: 1

      Why do I suddenly have the Revenge of the Nerds theme song stuck in my head after seeing that photo?

      --
      "Proudly Posting Without Reading The Article"
    6. Re:Just the guys? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      This has been discussed on LKML and is scheduled to be fixed in the next release.

    7. Re:Just the guys? by Hieronymus+Howard · · Score: 2, Informative

      i could only recognise two that looked vaugly as women. #1 = front row, center, really bad dress sense

      Who is married to guy in middle row, center with Red Hat and really bad beard sense! Some of you might recognise him.

      HH
      --

    8. Re:Just the guys? by G-funk · · Score: 1

      So you've never been to south australia, right? Adelaide is about as interesting as Mt Isa if it had a beach. It's about as remote as Perth, without all the perks of being in Perth (cute chick capital of the universe).

      --
      Send lawyers, guns, and money!
    9. Re:Just the guys? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Toolchain hackers get the babes.

    10. Re:Just the guys? by mysticwhiskey · · Score: 1

      Look at it this way, there's two options:
      1.It's a bug (ie you're either a prude, or a homosexual)
      2.It's an undocumented feature (ie you're a straight guy)

      --

      Stuck down a hole! In the middle of the night! With an owl!

    11. Re:Just the guys? by sik0fewl · · Score: 1

      You're right. It's already fixed in 2.6.1, I tried it and it does nothing, just a blank stare. To be honest though I never tried it in 2.6.0.

      --
      I remember when legal used to mean lawful, now it means some kind of loophole. - Leo Kessler
  11. Lucky country?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Solid proof that Australia truly is The Lucky Country.

    I thought it's because of all the topless sheila's on the beaches :)

    1. Re:Lucky country?? by SlightOverdose · · Score: 1

      Thats a common myth. There arn't any topless sheila's on the beaches- they are all in my bedroom. of course they are all fat, but hey, a vagina is a vagina.

    2. Re:Lucky country?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Solid proof that Australia truly is The Lucky Country.

      hmmm, too many poisonous creepy crawlies to count, and Christmas day in the summer? And every statement is a question? (raise intonation at end of each sentence) Yeah, sounds really lucky?

  12. This means... by Dilbert_ · · Score: 0, Funny

    That right now the entire planet is between me and Linus, as I am in Belgium...

    --
    superblog.org: all your favourite blogs on o
  13. Linus spotting? by illuminata · · Score: 4, Funny

    Charles Schultz is dead dammit! Unless you caught a reprint, there's no way you could've seen Linus!

    And what the fuck does this have to do with penguins?

    --


    Until Slashdot fixes the funny modifier, use insightful or interesting. The poster knows your intentions.
    1. Re:Linus spotting? by 3lb4rt0 · · Score: 1, Funny

      Time to re-print the Waldo books with Linus instead.

      Sell'em to geeks and make a fortune :-)

    2. Re:Linus spotting? by Maxhrk · · Score: 0

      Time to re-print the Waldo books with Linus instead.


      GOLD

    3. Re:Linus spotting? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      JFC, that's so not funny, it's pathetic.

      Your only saving grace is that the mods are bigger losers than you are, and thus modded it up.

  14. Re:I'm in LG28 too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    as trolls go, that one is pretty funny

  15. To Oz? by CoolVibe · · Score: 0, Funny
    If you want to see him, maybe you guys should come down to South Australia

    Sure, and plane tickets from europe to australia cost virtually nothing, and the plane trip is short. :)

  16. Hero worship must be bad enough... by Realistic_Dragon · · Score: 2, Funny

    But now to be the target of a worldwide real life 'Wheres Waldo' like geek game must be a little too much!

    --
    Beep beep.
  17. Awesome! by teledyne · · Score: 0, Funny

    I can go to Australia, meet Linus at a bar, and outdrink a peron of worldwide importance, in the nude! Schweet.

  18. That would be... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...room LG28 of the Napier building at Adelaide Uni then, I take it? Right next door to LG29 where I had those evil COBOL lectures last year. Bleh.

    Now how the hell am I supposed to (pretend to) study for my upcoming physics exam knowing Linus himself is possibly on campus? Thanks for potentially stuffing up my grades, Slashdot. ;-)

  19. ya know by Illserve · · Score: 4, Insightful

    When people poke fun at /. they make up stories just like this.

    1. Re:ya know by Rat's_ass_donor · · Score: 0

      Precisely. This could well be a computer-generated Slashdot simulation. The typical output of such generators tends to be either Microsoft=evil or "cult of personality" type articles regarding Mr. Torvalds.

    2. Re:ya know by Rogerborg · · Score: 1
      > > When people poke fun at /. they make up stories just like this.

      Bullshit. Not once in this story does it claim that Linus walked on water, nor did he heal the sick and lame.

      --
      If you were blocking sigs, you wouldn't have to read this.
  20. OMG by Nightreaver · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...we have confirmed that Linus Torvalds has once more blessed us with his presence.

    Anybody touched him yet? No, of course... nobody could be THAT lucky.

    1. Re:OMG by vigilology · · Score: 0

      Pervert.

    2. Re:OMG by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      However, it is reported that he deinstalled WinXP from a notebook by touching it!

    3. Re:OMG by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      "Anybody touched him yet? No, of course... nobody could be THAT lucky."

      Yes, some Windows users touched him, and they were HEALED!

  21. In other related news... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...I can be sighted at LCA2004 :)

    1. Re:In other related news... by Patrik_AKA_RedX · · Score: 1, Funny

      hmm, I wonder how a AC looks in real life? Would (s)he/it wear a scramble suit (A Scanner Darkly)?

    2. Re:In other related news... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Like this on a bad day, and sometimes like this.

    3. Re:In other related news... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Like this on a bad day, and sometimes like this.

      Is Alan doing OK? I mean, is he making a decent enough wage to afford a modest flat (or whatever you Brits call an apartment)? He reminds me of a the homeless guys I pass on the way to work that huddle in doorways or over steam pipes for warmth. I hope he's not hurting for cash because maybe we could setup a paypal fund for him.

  22. Chick magnet? Well, probably 20 or 30 shielas by leonbrooks · · Score: 2, Informative

    OTOH, that's only Day One.

    First photos (no, not just of the chix, settle down!) and a walkthrough going up on the site in the next 12 hours or so.

    The Audio Miniconf has been a hoot, and ain't over yet. Also, educationaLinux has (sometimes) had the audience riveted, and even sessions as specialised as IPv6 are drawing an attentive crowd. Turn up to educationaLinux tomorrow and you not only get to see lil' ol' me present, but also Lindsay Holmwood's security talk has been pushed back into Tuesday.

    --
    Got time? Spend some of it coding or testing
  23. Temperatures steady in the '20s (Celcius)... by leonbrooks · · Score: 1

    ...free icecreams and the beaches someone mentioned above. Could be worth it in the Northern Hemisphere's midwinter. (-:

    --
    Got time? Spend some of it coding or testing
    1. Re:Temperatures steady in the '20s (Celcius)... by bluGill · · Score: 0

      You want me to leave my beatiful snow covered paradise for someplace that hot? No thank you, I happen to enjoy winter.

    2. Re:Temperatures steady in the '20s (Celcius)... by leonbrooks · · Score: 1
      You want me to leave my beatiful snow covered paradise

      No, we have enough whiners already, thank you.

      BTW, you worship your paradise? Or is beatification different for inanimate objects?

      Serious thanks for not posting as an AC, you're automatically in the top 20% just for that. (-:

      --
      Got time? Spend some of it coding or testing
  24. damn...need...car... by phoinixuser · · Score: 0

    come to sydney linux!!

  25. Part of the miracle of Linus is... by leonbrooks · · Score: 2, Insightful
    ...that he takes it all in his stride. Today, he made a suggestion about Saturday's events and a specific large software company which clearly shows that:
    • He's not taking himself too seriously (no swelled head)
    • He's managing the excessive attention itself well (certainly several orders of mangitude better than I would)
    --
    Got time? Spend some of it coding or testing
  26. Ask D'ohl^H^HUtah Bob^H^HDennis for evidence... by leonbrooks · · Score: 1

    ...that he has any rights to those images.

    With specificity. (-:

    --
    Got time? Spend some of it coding or testing
  27. Spooky by laa · · Score: 4, Funny

    This starts to sound like the Elvis sightings... Linus has published a book already, but when will we see the first album?

    --
    Why does the kernel go through stable and then unstable forks? Can't it always be a stable build, like with Windows?
    1. Re:Spooky by acidtripp101 · · Score: 1

      No, that honor is given explicitly to OpenBSD.

      "Nah don't give 'em dick
      Just pick up a stick
      and keep beating for freedom"

      --
      Not Free(as in beer). Free(as in "I'm free to beat you over the head for being a dumbass")
    2. Re:Spooky by adrianbaugh · · Score: 1

      Good point. I know there's been a techno remix of RMS' "Free Software Song", but what about a trance remix of "I pronounce Linux lee'nux"?

      --
      "'I pass the test,' she said. 'I will diminish, and go into the West, and remain Galadriel.'"
      - JRR Tolkien.
    3. Re:Spooky by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Elvis and BSD are both dead, see todays article about BSD if you doubt me ;)

    4. Re:Spooky by TeknoHog · · Score: 1

      I'm afraid I have no choice but to link to my previous post.

      --
      Escher was the first MC and Giger invented the HR department.
  28. Big Boost For Adelaide by POds · · Score: 3, Funny

    The shock occurance of linus at Adelaide has made it's popularity amoung other Australians soar through the roof. Its believed all the skits and parody's of Adelaide being Australia's most borring city will stop right here

    --


    Giving IE users a taste of their own medicine since 2005 - http://pods.-is-a-geek.net/
    1. Re:Big Boost For Adelaide by krumms · · Score: 1

      Its believed all the skits and parody's of Adelaide being Australia's most borring city will stop right here

      Yeah I can see it now ...

      "Adelaide - We Got Nerds!"

      Yesiree, if that doesn't change the stripes of the Adelaide-bashers, I don't know what will.

    2. Re:Big Boost For Adelaide by Joel+Carr · · Score: 1

      Ah, you must be Victorian! Or some equally vile person! :-D

      [insert bloody vics stealing our F1 Grand Prix or some other appropriate/inappropriate comment here] :)

      ---

      --
      Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves. -- AE
    3. Re:Big Boost For Adelaide by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Most Australians go to Adelaide to die. There the transition from life to death is barely noticeable. (Boom, Boom)

    4. Re:Big Boost For Adelaide by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So you won't be going to any Festival or Fringe events then? Or WOMADelaide?

      Adelaide is generally pretty boring... except for one month every two years. :)

    5. Re:Big Boost For Adelaide by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      F1 Grand Prix?? That was sooooooo last century. Get over it already.

      (Though why they let you guys into the VFL I will never understand.) ;-)

    6. Re:Big Boost For Adelaide by Joel+Carr · · Score: 1

      (Though why they let you guys into the VFL I will never understand.) ;-)

      I assume that was so the Crows could become back to back premiers and teach the Victorians how to play footy! :-D

      ---

      --
      Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves. -- AE
  29. Aww, c'mon! by NemesisStar · · Score: 2, Funny

    I know you're posting from the land downunder, but there's still no excuse for the backwards smilie!

  30. Why stop there? by leonbrooks · · Score: 4, Informative

    B'dale Garbee is here too, and Rusty, and Tridge, and Conrad Parker, Russell Coker, Chris Yeoh, Jon Oxer, Maddog, Job Corbet, Nick Bannon, James Henstridge, Malcolm Tredinnick, Sylvia Pfeiffer, Con Zymaris, Glen Turner, Ananth Mavinakayanahalli, Hugh Blemings, Janis Johnson, Jeremy Allison, Groggy Lehey, Jeff "jdub" Waugh, Rasmus Lerdorf, Trent "Lathiat" Lloyd, Jeremy Malcolm, Mark Tearle, Bernard Blackham, it's turning into a regular who's who.

    And here's a postcard of Tux climbing the "Heroin Needle/Crashed Spaceship" communications tower Godzilla-style, telling us that Canberra have the 2005 conf. And they certainly have the balls for it: big concrete ones along the edges of some of their roads.

    --
    Got time? Spend some of it coding or testing
    1. Re:Why stop there? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      What the hell sort of list is that? You put Trent Lloyd and Jeremy Malcolm amongst that list? All they are is the who's who of Perth nerds yet to hit puberty.

    2. Re:Why stop there? by Large+Green+Mallard · · Score: 0

      3 years ago when that was posted, Trent was 13. How were you with Unix permissions when you were 13?

      He's a speaker due to his knowledge of ipv6, which is to say the least, extensive.

    3. Re:Why stop there? by mlambie · · Score: 1

      Ah crap, that means I shouldn't have been having (supplying) beers with him on Sunday night ;)

    4. Re:Why stop there? by Large+Green+Mallard · · Score: 1

      I once had some beers with some FBI and DOD agents while I was underaged in the US (I was 19 though).

      Ahh where did my misspent youth go.

    5. Re:Why stop there? by sik0fewl · · Score: 1

      'dale Garbee is here too, and Rusty, and Tridge, and Conrad Parker, Russell Coker, Chris Yeoh, Jon Oxer, Maddog, Job Corbet, Nick Bannon, James Henstridge, Malcolm Tredinnick, Sylvia Pfeiffer, Con Zymaris, Glen Turner, Ananth Mavinakayanahalli, Hugh Blemings, Janis Johnson, Jeremy Allison, Groggy Lehey, Jeff "jdub" Waugh, Rasmus Lerdorf, Trent "Lathiat" Lloyd, Jeremy Malcolm, Mark Tearle, Bernard Blackham, it's turning into a regular who's who.

      What are you doing?!? Each one of those persons should get there own front page post on slashdot. You're ruining future "stories".

      --
      I remember when legal used to mean lawful, now it means some kind of loophole. - Leo Kessler
  31. That's my uni! by Joel+Carr · · Score: 2, Funny

    Cool, I'm only 15 minutes away from there!! I'm starting to regret my decision not to attend the conference... WHAT WAS I THINKING!!! Still, it's not too late, just I think it costs more now.

    On a side note, I hope he doesn't happen to wander into our CS department that would be enough to destroy any computer lover's soul...

    ---

    --
    Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves. -- AE
    1. Re:That's my uni! by shenki · · Score: 1

      "...I hope he doesn't happen to wander into our CS department..."

      chances are he wouldnt have had to...everyone here is using wifi. But they have opened up the cs labs for everyone to use the sun terminals...so your nightmares have come true :)

      joel
      Adelaide Uni Student @ linux.conf.ua

      --
      It's not an optical illusion, it just looks like one!
    2. Re:That's my uni! by Anthony · · Score: 1

      When I left CS there, they had two VAX11/780s. Has it changed ;-)

      --
      Slashdot: Where nerds gather to pool their ignorance
  32. He announced going to Australia.. by tsager · · Score: 5, Informative

    Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2004 22:49:01 -0800 (PST)
    From: Linus Torvalds [email blocked]
    To: Kernel Mailing List [email blocked]
    Subject: Linux-2.6.1

    Ok, the diffs from -rc3 are minimal, most noticeably the (very _very_ hard
    to trigger, but nasty if you ever did) fork() race that Ingo found.

    I'm going to be in Australia (and on airplanes) for the week, but we're
    all in the capable hands of Andrew, so why worry? The fact that I'm
    fleeing the country should in no way be construed as anything sinister at
    all, no siree. Nope. I'm innocent, and nobody saw me do it.

    The full changelog is getting uploaded right now along with the release,
    and the BK trees have already been pushed.

    Up up and away,

    Linus

    1. Re:He announced going to Australia.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      The fact that I'm fleeing the country

      I wonder if Linus has already had to give his fingerprints to the Homeland Security Staff (Homeland SS).

    2. Re:He announced going to Australia.. by sanity_slipping · · Score: 1

      I'm innocent, and nobody saw me do it.

      Aha! That's the reason for all the excitement!

      Someone saw him do it!
      --

      --
      I can feel my sanity, beyond my reach and slipping...
  33. But doesn't he live... by Zakabog · · Score: 1

    ...somewhere in Cali? So wouldn't that make the US a lucky country? And wouldn't it be waaaaaaaaay cheaper to get a flight to the US than to australia (unless you're fortunate enough to live near Australia)?

    1. Re:But doesn't he live... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      And wouldn't it be waaaaaaaaay cheaper to get a flight to the US than to australia

      Some people value their right not to be treated like a criminal and fingerprinted more important than a couple of hundred dollars.

  34. Errata: by Gleng · · Score: 1
    Prime Mister


    Just correcting my spelling before some other Nazi does.

    MENTAL NOTE: Use Preview button.
    --
    "Proudly Posting Without Reading The Article"
    1. Re:Errata: by Joel+Carr · · Score: 1

      Just correcting my spelling before some other Nazi does.

      Only thing is you didn't. Unless I'm missing something... :)

      ---

      --
      Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves. -- AE
    2. Re:Errata: by Gleng · · Score: 1

      Gah! Foiled again!

      OK, OK, "Just pointing out my spelling mistake (and not actually bothering to correct it, because hopefully it's obvious) before some other Nazi does."

      Better? ;)

      --
      "Proudly Posting Without Reading The Article"
    3. Re:Errata: by Joel+Carr · · Score: 0

      "...before some other Nazi does."

      You calling me a Nazi!?!? :-D

      OK, OK, I'll stop being an idiot now... ;)

      ---

      --
      Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves. -- AE
    4. Re:Errata: by Gleng · · Score: 1
      OK, OK, I'll stop being an idiot now... ;)

      That's OK, it's what /.'s all about! ;)

      --
      "Proudly Posting Without Reading The Article"
  35. Yeah, wow. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  36. Linux Bangalore/2003 by hackrobat · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Speaking of geek stars turning up for conferences, I was at LB/2003 where Miguel de Icaza and Nat Friedman did presentations on Mono. Excerpt from my blog:
    LB/2003 apparently was a world record. 96 hours of talks in 3 days! It was on Slashdot yesterday.

    I got a chance to meet Miguel de Icaza and Nat Friedman, both of Ximian and Mono fame. I also met Naba Kumar, author of the Anjuta IDE for Linux, and a few other veterans of the Linux community in India. I didn't get the time and opportunity to meet Rasmus Lerdorf (author of PHP) and Jeremy Zawodny (Yahoo's MySQL guru) though.
    I'm posing (red shirt) with Miguel de Icaza :-D

    Let me tell you, it's great to have guys like Miguel and Nat at conferences. They're natural crowd-pullers, and unlike most geeks who like to avoid contact with humans as much as possible, these guys are very crowd-friendly, willing to take extra time out to answer people's questions, etc. People who were at the conference can tell you how these two monkeys sold Mono to the crowd--effortlessly and in style ;-) Amazing!
    1. Re:Linux Bangalore/2003 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Lots of shifty eyed job stealers in that picture.

    2. Re:Linux Bangalore/2003 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      hmm.. you should see how Nat treated his last gf.. he's a total scum bag

  37. Linus sighting??!! by kiwioddBall · · Score: 5, Funny

    Linus sighted?

    This puts Linus right up there with the Yeti, UFO's and Elvis.

    I saw Linus buying hair shampoo at the local 7/11!!!

  38. Get Linus Shitzenfaced! by shplorb · · Score: 4, Interesting

    All you Linux geeks, don't forget that on Friday and Saturday is the annual Schutzenfest! Head west along the River Torrens to Bonython Park (or alternatively, along North Terrace and Port Road... you'll know you're on the right track as the concentration of drunk people increases =]

    For those of you who don't know, schutzenfest is german for "shooting festival". The one held in Adelaide each summer is the largest in the southern hemisphere. Though of course, being aussies, we've turned it into a mostly piss drinking festival, hence why a lot of people (like me) say they're going to get 'shitzenfaced'. Either way, it's a bloody great time... plenty of german culture and food and beer for all!

    Hopefully it'll be stinking hot again - you can get smashed really quickly because you'll be sweating so much and you gotta drink that huge stein of beer before it warms up!

    I was going to volunteer at the conference on Saturday, but then I remembered Schutzenfest was on. Beer and babes: 1 Linux: 0. Though of course, if I happen to see Linus I'll shout him a round, as I'd expect everyone else would.

    =D

    1. Re:Get Linus Shitzenfaced! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      just fyi: "schuetzenfest" actually means "marksman festival". A Schuetze is a person that shoots. "shooting festival" would translate to something like "Schiessfest". (you may also note that i am using "ue" as the u-umlaut, since slashdot does not any non-american letters.)

    2. Re:Get Linus Shitzenfaced! by shplorb · · Score: 1

      Well, it seems to be the prevailing translation/understanding here, but I for one stand corrected!

    3. Re:Get Linus Shitzenfaced! by Wun+Hung+Lo · · Score: 0, Funny

      Shitzenfaced?

      Is that fake German or is Snoop Dogg posting on /.?
      I will know we're in trouble if we start seeing kernizzle updates...

    4. Re:Get Linus Shitzenfaced! by gangien · · Score: 1

      we've turned it into a mostly piss drinking festival

      I know what you mean by piss, but reading this made me crack up.

  39. Is it just me... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...or is Linus looking more and more like a ferret
    every year.

    I mean, I like the man, but he's gotta get a
    personal stylist or something.

  40. Adelaide Alive by HSpirit · · Score: 3, Funny

    (Private Adelaide joke) Wow, as an Adelaidian I can confidently say this Slashdot article is the most exposure our little town has had since Melbourne stole our Grand Prix.

    1. Re:Adelaide Alive by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But at least you have that serovar of Salm. going for you...

    2. Re:Adelaide Alive by Large+Green+Mallard · · Score: 1

      .. 10 years ago? :)

    3. Re:Adelaide Alive by Anthony · · Score: 1

      As an ex-Adelaidian, 10 years is like yesterday. The thing about the Adelaide-Melbourne love-hate relationship is that Adelaide fails to see its true enemy: Sydney. At least Melbourne acknowleges Adelaide's existence. Anyway, congrats on hosting LCA2004 and hope it goes swimmingly. I would be there but for this Maths Bridging course.

      --
      Slashdot: Where nerds gather to pool their ignorance
  41. OB Monty Python by laejoh · · Score: 0

    Would he mind if they called him 'Bruce' just to keep it clear?"

    'This here's the wattle, the emblem of our land. You can stick it in a bottle; you can hold it in your hand.'

  42. Hot blooded Linus by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    When I first read this on the Ars-Technica web
    page, I read: "Linus expected to see small, young,
    hotter and bluer chicks."

    Boy was I bummed when I realised they were talkin
    about astronomy!

    Linus, I hope you don't catch something from
    those crabby sheilas down under! Watch where
    you stick it, okay, baby.

    - Moomin

    From Ars-Technica:

    Nothing beats starting a new week with a fresh edition of Science Sunday. In this week's edition, we bring you up to date on the Mars exploration while taking a look beyond the reaches of the Solar System:

    A survey using the Gemini Observatory in Hawaii has shown that large mature galaxies formed quite early. When astronomers looked at a period 3 billion to 6 billion years after the big bang, they found a lot of massive old galaxies where they expected to see small, young, hotter and bluer galaxies. A press release from the National Science Foundation points out that this and other recent discoveries may challenge the theory of cold dark matter. One thing is for sure, astronomers and physicists have a lot of new data to chew on.


  43. Darl too! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    McBride will be there to collect too!

  44. real wwworld economic/communications/commerce by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    forums being held DOWn under? whilst the corepirate nazis/walking dead attemp to fauxcuss yOUR attention on some softwar gangster execrable ?pr firm? hypenosys FUDgeFest in mexico?

    other rumours include: the illegal aliens may refuse to fly on the moon/mars/bars shot with the won-eyed girl, until she provides certain health related documentation? they're also contesting the differences in the pay offered to them, compared to the won-eyed girl, &/or even real astronuts?

    turnbowtax co. has announced the re-lease of the formerly pateNTdead illegal alien edition of their 'product'.

  45. It was a simple meal by Dante_J · · Score: 2

    Indeed Linus is here, as well as Bdale and others. We got together for a meal at one of Adelaide's fine resturants. Lots of great conversations were had, the ususal stuff. Discussions of dumb vendors, brilliant past innovations and at other end of the table invisible Rabbits were mentioned. See the usual stuff... An image for you gratification... The really interesting thing is that this is being posted from a pub on Rundle street via free wifi! Ahhh yes, this Linux.conf will be good. Oh and it's the Second year in a row that Linus has attended, not the third... But where is Hemos ???

  46. Re:MOD PARENT UP by Chess_the_cat · · Score: 0

    I'll second that and I won't even post anonymously. This is the gayest non-story ever posted. What kind of thread did the submitter think this was going to generate? Linus was seen somewhere. Discuss.

    --
    Support the First Amendment. Read at -1
  47. Waldo?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Don't you mean 'Wheres Wally'? I'm not sure about the rest of the world but in Australia this "Waldo"you speak of is known as Wally.

  48. Re:Please stop by leonbrooks · · Score: 1
    It's -7 deg C here, snowing and 4 hours of "daylight".

    Getting ready to stop now boss. Sunrise is circa 6:30, beautiful and clear, and sunset circa 19:30. As I go about my daily business, I shall treasure the comfort of knowing that I'm not living where you are. (-:
    --
    Got time? Spend some of it coding or testing
  49. Post under a real login for a real reply by leonbrooks · · Score: 1

    Suffice to say, Trent has indeed hit puberty good and hard, and Jeremy is way north of that. There are other names in there you should have complained about and didn't.

    --
    Got time? Spend some of it coding or testing
  50. What line of expertise? by leonbrooks · · Score: 1

    Perhaps we can get you a spot in Perth, where summer never really ends. If you really do like hot and dry, we'll see if we can get you a research posting in Pannawonica or Paraburdoo or Marble Bar. (-:

    --
    Got time? Spend some of it coding or testing
    1. Re:What line of expertise? by maroberts · · Score: 1

      There's just this minor thing called skin cancer......

      --

      Donte Alistair Anderson Roberts - hi son!
      Karma: Chameleon

  51. WTF? by rafael_es_son · · Score: 1

    "...we have confirmed that Linus Torvalds has once more blessed us with his presence."

    PRAISE THE LORD. What the fuck is wrong with you? He's, only, human.

    --
    HAD
  52. Is it just me .... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Or are the linux fanbois getting as annoying ast the Mac types????

    Way to get that OS into the limelight....worship Linus like they worship Steve Jobs!!!!

    BTW....I but Linus pooped sometime there too...got any picts??

    fanks

  53. linus deported? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    that would solve a few of the felonious corepirate nazis' growing # of problems, temporarily?

    they could use the little-known clause in the illegal alien tax-structure setup that excludes finnished aliens who have ever earned more than minimum wage?

    so long linus?

  54. Re:*Old Joke Alert* by Anonymous+Shepard · · Score: 1

    1. The Queen is HM, not a lowly HRH. 2. Isn't Australia a kingdom already? After all, why would it else have a queen. (I suppose it could be a queendom, but I don't think that word exists, and, in any case, if there is such a word as "queendom", it sounds more like some kind of sexual preference.)

    --
    I have a life. I really do. I've just chosen to ignore it.
  55. Linus Sighted At LCA2004??? by DA-MAN · · Score: 1

    So what, we know he exists.

    Come on people, he's not fucking BigFoot or anything. How in the hell is this News For Nerds?

    What's next, Linus sighted at public rest room...it has been confirmed that his shit does NOT stink....

    --
    Can I get an eye poke?
    Dog House Forum
  56. what's the big deal with Linus? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    what's the big deal with Linus? I think Denis Ritchie and Ken Thompson deserve more fame then Linus does.

  57. Dermal carcinomas? No worries, UWA is big on that by leonbrooks · · Score: 1

    Seriously, is it such a big threat compared to frostbite, freezing to death if your car breaks down, roads covered in snow, slush, salt and sometimes ice, or driving on the French side of the road? (-:

    Don't spend your life sunbaking, do eat fresh food and exercise a bit and your odds against skin cancer are good. In short, be sensible. It's nothing like the ad in the leaders before Terminator 2. (-:

    Also, if you like cold, perhaps we could find you a job at Mawson Station?

    --
    Got time? Spend some of it coding or testing
  58. Breaking News by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This just in:

    Bill Gates seen at Internet expo.

    Film at 11.

  59. Shatner's new singing partner... by cblguy · · Score: 0

    Hey, maybe this would be a way to increase Bill's musical following amongst the nerd crowd. ;) "Bill and Linus" singing "Little bit Country, Little bit Rock-n-Roll"...

  60. Forget pies by Felinoid · · Score: 2, Interesting

    If I knew Bill Gates were "slumming it" with the regulare techie folks I'd contact the local pro-Microsoft media outlet so hords of Microsofties would bug him all the time.
    Really want to hurt someone throw fanatics at them. Pies clean off with a towl and a good sense of hummor.

    --
    I don't actually exist.
    1. Re:Forget pies by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Does anyone know any pie recipe with superglue?

  61. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  62. Whats the big deal? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    u guys are suckers

  63. Re:*Old Joke Alert* by hsoom · · Score: 1

    That's an old joke? I can't believe I haven't heard that one before because it's a bloody good one! Gonna pass this one on for sure.

  64. Re:*Old Joke Alert* by hsoom · · Score: 1

    2. Isn't Australia a kingdom already? After all, why would it else have a queen.

    Australia is a Constitutional Monarchy and our queen is the English Queen Elizabeth II. However she is nothing more than a figurehead and exercises no political power at all. In fact most Australians don't recognise her as our queen, I feel dirty just saying "our queen". I'm not really sure how the referendum for us to become a republic didn't pass.

  65. Did Linus bring his bikie friends with him ? by anti-NAT · · Score: 1

    Bikie warning at nightclubs

    The warning follows several incidents in the city after midnight on Friday night when a busload of up to 50 Finks motorcycle club members bombarded venues, assaulting staff and refusing to pay for drinks.

    Boring ? Just got to know where to go.

    An eyewitness, who refused to be named, told the Sunday Mail the Finks first went to Heaven nightclub on West Tce, then to Cargo in Hindley St, Traffic in North Tce, and The Garage, in Waymouth St - where a violent brawl involving the Finks occurred in October.

    The bar manager who suffered serious facial and head injuries in that incident was again punched in the face early yesterday, resulting in stitches to his mouth.

    Was introduced to this guy a week ago, and he bought me a drink. He is a good guy. Hope he gets better soon.

    --
    The Internet's nature is peer to peer - 20050301_cs_profs.pdf
  66. I spotted Linus once by bkocik · · Score: 4, Funny

    Spotted him at a gas station in Santa Clara when we both worked in that town. Was pulling away when I saw him. My thought process was as follows:

    "That guy looks familiar."
    "Hey, that's Linus!"
    (about 1.3 seconds of staring in disbelief later)
    "Hey, I'm about to run over a gas pump!"
    (heavy braking, Linus glances at me quizzically)

    So yeah, Linus, if you see this, that was me in the white Grand Am that day.

    =)

  67. LGPSTH by La_Maudite · · Score: 1

    Where is the Linus GPS Tracker Homepage again?

  68. Bigfoot.cx by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I really hope you're right that he isn't up to hanky panky with Bigfoot. It'd be terrible to have that image come to mind whenever someone mentions Linux.

  69. Take your pick by sharkey · · Score: 1
    What's the big deal with Linus visiting this or that town or university, if he's not there to hold a lecture or speak at some event?

    A Slashdot story about this, or a third Slashdot story about Speak Freely.

    --

    --
    "Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
  70. DAMN! by tarsi210 · · Score: 1

    Just left Australia on Friday the 9th and I was there for 3.5 weeks in Adelaide and Whyalla both! DOH! Missed my chance. :(

    1. Re:DAMN! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Missed your chance to do what? c.c

    2. Re:DAMN! by tarsi210 · · Score: 1

      To see Linus and Linux Conf. Oh well. So I picked the wrong weeks to be in Oz. Nah...I had a great holiday, first time in Oz, wonderful country. Plus, I got to ask my Aussie gf to marry me. Whee!

  71. Some Conference Photos by boomerang2003 · · Score: 0

    Can be seen here http://www.netmonkey.biz/gallery/linux2004 No photo descriptions yet - too buggered. Spot the photos of Andrew Tridgewell.

  72. BFD by t0ny · · Score: 1

    Elvis has left the building...

    --

    Manipulate the moderator system! Mod someone as "overrated" today.

  73. Re:MOD PARENT UP by Black+Perl · · Score: 1

    Seeing Linus Torvalds: Australian for "geek"

    --
    bp
  74. conniving bitch by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This woman is a conniving bitch.

  75. Re:*Old Joke Alert* by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    >I'm not really sure how the referendum for us to become a republic didn't pass.

    'Cause most people couldn't give a fuck. The current system works well. The poms look after her, and we borrow her every now and again for very important occassions.

  76. The Aussies beat us again by Jyms · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Someone sees Linus in Australia and it makes a /. story. We make many attempts to anounce Idlelo, the first OSS conference ever held in Africa and attracting no less than Richard Stallman, but fail to make the cut. For those of you who care, it is currently running at the University of the Western Cape in Cape Town/Bellville, South Africa (http://idlelo.uwc.ac.za). And those of you that watch proper sport will know what the heading means.

  77. BTW, this list is a long way from exhaustive... by leonbrooks · · Score: 1

    ...I forgot the infamous Davyd "pr0xy" Madeley, bane of secure networks, and our unofficial harmonic balancer, Anne Busby, amongst others.

    --
    Got time? Spend some of it coding or testing
  78. Re:I'm in LG28 too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You were in LG28 and in the audio miniconf.. Then I was providing you with a wireless - wired bridge.. with my ibook.. running Mac OS X.. which was sitting front and centre...

  79. Re:*Old Joke Alert* by bendude · · Score: 1

    I'm not really sure how the referendum for us to become a republic didn't pass

    It's the constitution, stupid.

    Did you ever read the proposed new constitution?

    All references to the queen were to be replaced by "the government".

    As useless as she is now, the queen is one of our checks and balances.

    To summarise the current Australian constitution: All our base are belong to politicians (that's right no rights - it's up to the government to protect us) - but the politicians belong to the queen.

    To summarise the proposed new constitution: All our base are belong to the government - the government belongs to the government & politicians are spared the need to obey any laws they were involved in passing.

    Jeezus - get a clue! If it's not already too late, it will be soon.

    --


    Get the Hell off my planet, you slimy mobster Bush!
  80. Stardom by Gery · · Score: 1
    Poor Linus. I understand that Robby Williams is followed by hundreds of reporters every time he leaves his house - but he earns millions.

    I hope Linus earns millions as well for loosing his privacy...

    --
    The answer is yes, me.