Slashback: Documentary, Directory, FUD

Slashback tonight brings some updates and clarifications to previous stories, including news of the successful production of both a BBS documentary and an open-source directory. Read on for more!

I goof, therefore I am sorry. Many readers submitted rebuttals to the claim I repeated that an Israeli web portal was the first to give users 1GB email accounts; Protein Shake, for one, writes that Spymac has them beat. "Forget Google, forget Israel's web portal... 1 GB e-mail is already out there. At least a few weeks ago. From their site '1 GB e-mail account, 350 MB combined storage, personal blog, forum, gallery, auctions and more...'"

"And this was back when phone lines were just strings painted to resemble copper ..." Jason Scott writes "The BBS Documentary, announced on Slashdot nearly three years ago, has wrapped up filming. With over TWO HUNDRED interviews in the can, I've been spending a lot of my spare time (and not-so-spare time) editing, but I decided to put out the first of what will likely be a few trailers for it. Stop by and check out how I've spent the last few years. The Documentary will be released as a 3-DVD set later this year."

It's like Who's Who, only different. Another gargantuan effort completed on a different front: Tony Stanco writes with word that "The 910-page Open Source Reference Book is available for download."

The project was announced just over a year ago; considering the contents that's not a bad turnaround.

It's nearly enough to make one cynical. Alex Wolfe writes "In a move worthy of the Luddites, the New York City Council is quietly trying to ban the Segway . The Council has proposed a law that's technically a ban on motorized scooters, but Harris Siliver, founder of Citystreets, an urban improvement organization, says the NYC Department of Transportation is specifically targeting the electric, non-polluting Segway. Silver is joined in his opposition to the bill by Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak."

Get out much? If you just can't get enough random flamebait, here's a small fix to follow the anti-Linux FUD spread earlier this month by Green Hills CEO Dan O'Dowd. InfoSec writes "This morning's Security Focus page had an article about Consumer Grade *nix. The writer of the article slams Linux for not having free automated updates, enabling services in default installations, and not warning users when they are using 'root'. Uhmm, I could be wrong, but hasn't Mandrake been doing that for quite some time?"

apt-get update seems to count as free updates to me (though those folks do take donations), and root-use warnings may not be perfectly applied, but they are found in various forms (depending on distro) at OS, WM, and application levels, including notices that certain tasks can only be run as root or other superuser. (I think it's Xchat that calls me "an idiot" when I've tried to run it as root.)

Comments

Funny.

[Neil Blender]

I read that headline and thought: Michael Moore.

Re:Funny.

[6Yankee]

Funny. (Score:4, Funny)

Ah, this is the secret. I really must stop using Flamebait, Overrated and Troll as subjects!

Re:Funny.

[Neil Blender]

Ah, this is the secret. I really must stop using Flamebait...Troll as subjects!

No, those are best used in the first sentence your post. As in, "This will probably get modded flamebait, but..." or "I'm not trying to troll here but..."

Trailers in wma and quicktime??

[deathguppie]

so the trailers for The open source documentary are in a closed format???

Talking Penguin

[Anonymous Coward]

Maybe linux should come with a talking penguin that pops up and offers suggestions:

"It looks like you're trying to delete a file. Would you like to free up more disk space?"

"You are running as root. Running as root can be bad for your computer. Would you like to change users?"

Re:Talking Penguin

[Anonymous Coward]

"You are running an operating system that is developed and maintained by lazy, smelly hippies and 15-year old l33t dudes. Would you like to delete your Linux partition and install a real OS?"

Re:Talking Penguin

[ThomaMelas]

Can we keep the BSD promotions to a minamum please? ;)

Re:Talking Penguin

[Carlos Silva]

Real ? They make OS's?!?!
Poor fella..

Re:Talking Penguin

[Mostly a lurker]

#/etc: ls -l

This directory contains files that are essential to system operation (your p0rn should be stored elsewhere).

Select Show Files or Cancel

Sidewalk Utilization Quotas

[persaud]

No need to single out Segway. Limit the square footage of sidewalk that can be used by single humans during rush hour.

This will allow use when the sidewalk is empty (which can yield a registration fee that goes towards sidewalk maintenance).

For rush hour, a square footage quota will incent R&D for the scooter-pooling version of Segway.

Re:Sidewalk Utilization Quotas

[PornMaster]

Will this be a fat person tax, too? Hmm?

Shells would be so much better

[Neil Blender]

not warning users when they are using 'root'.

admin@local host #su
Password:

WARNING YOU ARE NOW ROOT!

#adduser fred

WARNING YOU ARE ROOT, ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO DO THIS? (Y/N) Y

#passwd fred

WARNING YOU ARE ROOT, ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO DO THIS? (Y/N) Y

Changing password for user fred.
New password:

Re:Shells would be so much better

[petabyte]

Honestly, I've always seen the octothorpe as plenty of warning that you could be breaking everything you're touching. Thats why I don't play tic-tack-toe.

Re:Shells would be so much better

[AndroidCat]

Yeah, they should have very obvious warnings when you are root/administrator just like Windows does. Er, how does Windows do that exactly?

Re:Shells would be so much better

[RollingThunder]

Simple - you're logged in. ;)

I do agree that some warning is a good idea for novices, which is why I like the standard Mandrake root setup - log in via GUI and you have a glaring red background.

Turing Test

[timotten]

...it's Xchat that calls me "an idiot" when I've tried to run it as root...

It's nice to see that we finally have chatbots which pass the Turing test.

Re:Turing Test

[Alsee]

You should see the foul language it spews when you try to run it under Windows.

-

Torrent Please!

[Anonymous Coward]

Just because I wanted to relive some of the good old BBS days, doesn't mean I want to download the 14MB trailer at 9600 baud ;)

Re:If you speak Russian

[agrippa_cash]

Sure that's true now, but I heard in Soviet Russia unlimited email attaches you. I'm sorry, I'm so very, very sorry.

Donald Duck using open source?

[farnerup]

On page 179 of the open source directory is the Swedish company "Kalle Anka AB" of Ankeborg. Or in English: Donald Duck Inc. of Duckburg.

Seems like a reliable source of information ...

Re:WOW!

[telstar]

"This is such an awe-inspiring effort. Logging 200 hours of footage over 3 years...I can imagine the amount of dedication, effort, logistics & scheduling that went into making this possible.
Hats off to you!"

• Actually, the whole thing is just footage of a series of ANSI pictures and MUD sessions being downloaded over a 2400 baud modem while some 13 year old's mom periodically picks up the phone in the other room interrupting the feed.

Score;5, Funny)_________

[evilviper]

You know something, that's an awful good idea!

Mandrake

[Lars T.]

The writer of the article slams Linux for not having free automated updates, enabling services in default installations, and not warning users when they are using 'root'. Uhmm, I could be wrong, but hasn't Mandrake been doing that for quite some time?

You forgot the "must not be French" clause ;-)