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Jon Maddog Hall on Linux, His Life and More
inkslinger77 writes "In a recent interview Jon 'Maddog' Hall speaks with Computerworld Australia about his life, Linux, and the Linux world conference to be held this year in Sydney. He also talks about Linux International's new direction and the future of FOSS."
I mean really, who wants to hear a speech about living your mom's basement?
And it has nothing to do with that mad beard come sideburn combination honest!
Is part of Linux International's new direction to convince Computerworld Australia to use Linux servers?
Because I 'cannot find server.'
He who knows best knows how little he knows. - Thomas Jefferson
Jon Hall confuses 'copy and pastes' and 'hosts people's projects' with 'reporting' and 'developing'
I had an honor of meeting up with him and chatted for a moment back in 2001/2002 Linux Expo at Jacob Javits center.
While I was reading the article (and yes, I read the whole thing), I couldn't help recognizing this quote with a smile on my face.
The word "just" normally sets me off as well, when it is applied to a person, as in "I am just a user, or I am just a teacher." Every human is unique, they are not "just" anything.
During the conversation with Jon at the 2001/2002 Linux Expo, I've said 'Maddog, you are the master, and I'm `just` a user compare to you.' Then he gently smiled (and no, he didn't get "mad" or angry) and told me, 'No. You are not `just` a user. I am a user, you are a user, and we all are users."
How true indeed. The article carries very good impression I had about Jon since then on, the true passion and dedication Jon has for users, not "just" users or specific group of people, but for everyone.
"Don't let fools fool you. They are the clever ones."
Is this like the 'interview' with Woz? ;-)
Exercise caution when modding this message up: the author acts like a jerk when his karma is excellent.
Slashdot Burying Stories About Slashdot Media Owned
'No. You are not `just` a user. I am a user, you are a user, and we all are users
... and then he threw himself into the MCP and we were all saved!
"The dew has clearly fallen with a particularly sickening thud this morning"
"Microsoft's Linux developer Bill Hilf pulled out of the conference. There has been some press suggesting that this may be because Microsoft does not want to let Hilf in front of the media."
/ 28/0037246&tid=185 and the comment on a subseqeunt LUG Radio show was , "Well, we've looked at what MS is doing and it hasn't changed at all"
It could be because he can longer put forth the stuff MS was expecting him to spout without curling up in embarassment and dying.
A few weeks ago he was interviewed on the LUG Radio Podcast http://www.lugradio.org/episodes/ (see Epsiode 3) in which
he was asked about how Open Source people could go and work for Microsoft.
He stated the Microsoft was OK really, had learned from it's mistakes and that we should judge the company on what it was doing now.
A couple of weeks or so later Microsoft helped hound the Massachusetts guy out of office http://politics.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/12
The guy from Gentoo took the honourable way out and resigned. Bill Hilf's mortage is obviously more important to him than his principles. However, being a mortage paying family gut myself can't say that I blame him. It is only software after all.
No but, yeah but, no but...
I knew I remembered seeing this man somewhere before. It was my freshman year of college and he drove myself, Nick Walker, and Anne Wang to get some Indian food. It was some delicious food.
His Wikipedia page says he's currently funded by SGI. I wonder how that's going?
Dear Slashdot: next time you want to mess with the site, add a rich-text editor for comments.
"zealots" indeed. Blow me Maddog.
"Or having a REAL Unix licence plate on their wall, directly off my Jeep Wrangler. There is a long history behind that licence plate, and many, many copies of it were handed out by Digital (and now the Open Group) over the years, but not an ORIGINAL. And finally, a digital clock, made by my hands and signed by Linus Torvalds". Imagine that. Paying $23,000 to have a clock with Linus' signature. Or what would you give to have Mad Dog's license plate hanging on your wall? I hope this money making solution is included in the next round of articles, that cover "How to make money marketing and distributing open source software"
What is it about linux that encourages the growth of erratic facial hair? Look at a random collection of photos of linux developers and what stands out? Hair in all the wrong places. Did someone say Alan Cox?
--I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken.
The clock sold for 750. AUD The book, signed by various people, sold for 10,000 AUD and there was a considerable amount of money simply donated "out of pocket". ALL of that money will be doubled by USENIX, and given to the University of New South Wales to help create a position for a professor who will teach computer science in honor of John Lions.
Make no mistake about the fact that ALL of the money paid for the license plate off my wrangler will be doubled by USENIX and also given for the same cause.
If any other person would like to donate money to this cause, they can do this at:
http://www.cse.unsw.edu.au/JohnLions/
or
http://www.usenix.org/about/lionsfund/index.html
Regards,
maddog
I've had the privilege of meeting Maddog on a few occasions, both at international open source conventions, and on one of the early Linux Cruises (www.geekcruises.com). He's a warm and friendly guy, with nothing but smiles and nice things to say. I hope that when I grow up, I'll be more like him.
Yep, I met him, when COMDEX was still around. I walked into the the area where all the Linux companies were giving away free software. There he was, at a podium, taking questions from phone calls and from the audience. Couldn't believe there were just 2 or 3 people sitting in audience. I ask him a question about if there would ever be a set installation standard for linux; he laughed but I don't remember his answer, he also felt sorry for me because I told him I was working for a pure microsoft shop, instead of UNIX.
Don't forget that a number of linux luminaries also donated their facial hair (or all their hair) to the fundraising cause (plus one guy who committed to growing some), one other guy volunteered to fix KDE bugs of the winner's choice etc etc
Absolutely, I did not mean to slight them:
Greg "groggy" Lehey had his beard and mustache shaven (worn since 1967)
David Miller had his beard shaved
Rusty Russell had his mustache shaven (worn since he was 16)
Jeff Waugh had his head shaved
Aaron J. Seigo volunteered to fix special bugs in KDE (what bugs?)
And there was a promise, I believe, to mention the winner of the book in an upcoming release of software (sorry, can't remember the particulars)
All in all, a community effort, and one that makes me proud to be a part of that community.
md
At the recent Linux Conference Australasia in Dunedin I had the opportunity on several occasions to wander around Dunedin with Maddog. As well as doing the tourist thing, sampling the scenery, and the food with him, it was a mind opening experience for me listening to someone with so much background and knowledge - and quite strong in his views.
Some great thoughts in the head of his, great to be able to tap into some of it.
Did this guy do stuff for Netmax ??? :P)
I'm intrigued. I remember emailing someone called MadDog at Netmax (Linux based)
and please tell me it's not this guy.
(uh responses appreciated
Whoa, we have something in common, I did something like that at the age of 4, the wire handle of a fly swat, I've never been the same again ;p
You never catch me alive
This deserves a +5 Insightful