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Groklaw No Front for IBM

A Groklaw Reader writes "After all the wild speculation SCO put forth about Pamela Jones, her alleged subpoena by SCO, and her recent vacation due to illness, we now have Stephen J. Vaughan-Nichols writing to say 'Yes, there is a PJ.' In his own words, he says, 'Let me address this directly. Yes, Pamela Jones is a real person. I've met her several times [...] I consider her a friend. She is not a front for anyone.' Hopefully, this statement will be enough to put those SCO-induced conspiracy theories to rest."

206 comments

  1. Seeing is believing. Conversely.... by Kelson · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Hopefully, this statement will be enough to put those SCO-induced conspiracy theories to rest.

    Vaughn-Nichols recently interviewed Darl McBride, who remains "not entirely convinced that Jones is a real person." He confirmed the subpoena attempt, then went on to say, "Pamela, if you read this, please, give me a call. We just want to chat."

    Given SCO's history, I'd guess even if she did call, he wouldn't believe her. After all, anyone could be on the other end of that phone!

  2. Pamela Jones is a real person by justelite · · Score: 3, Funny

    I can see again! It is a miracle!

    --
    Serial Tech Killer
    1. Re:Pamela Jones is a real person by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I can see again! It is a miracle!

      *clunk*

      Nope. I was wrong.

  3. Photos or she ain't real! by liftphreaker · · Score: 4, Funny

    Photos of Pam Jones or she ain't real!

    1. Re:Photos or she ain't real! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Post certified copies of your IQ scores or you are a moron!

    2. Re:Photos or she ain't real! by e9th · · Score: 1

      So you've forgotten Chernobyl Girl?

    3. Re:Photos or she ain't real! by peragrin · · Score: 4, Insightful

      What is this IRC?

      Pictures can be faked.

      --
      i thought once I was found, but it was only a dream.
    4. Re:Photos or she ain't real! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Here ya go, take your pick moron.

    5. Re:Photos or she ain't real! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Pictures can be faked.

      Really doesn't matter to me...just as long as she's hot.

    6. Re:Photos or she ain't real! by Dunbal · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      Really doesn't matter to me...just as long as she's hot.

            Well you asked. So here she is. Remember to clean up the keyboard when you're done.

      --
      Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
    7. Re:Photos or she ain't real! by Frogbert · · Score: 1

      Not even that. How do you know that any picture anyone supplies of some random chick no one has ever seen is real? You could just go photograph some random broad and claim that was her.

    8. Re:Photos or she ain't real! by jcr · · Score: 1

      I'll never forget Chernobyl Girl. She broke my heart, you insensitive clod!

      -jcr

      --
      The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
    9. Re:Photos or she ain't real! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      From I understand, she's around 50-60 or so. Well, I guess she could be hot still (even if the statistics aren't in favor of that).Her age was revealed some two three years ago when some journalist, Maureen O'Gara (MOG), had published details about Pamela Jones private life.

      The MOG, Maureen O'Gara, was fired because of that.

      Oh, since the MOG apparently knows Darl McBride since before, I wonder why they could subpoena her. I guess it might be considered the bitter harassment technique...

      - - -

    10. Re:Photos or she ain't real! by Bastard+of+Subhumani · · Score: 1

      Can we run a caption competion? I'll start with "Master, I offer you three wishes!".

      --
      Only three things are certain; death, taxes, and apocryphal quotations - Ben Franklin.
    11. Re:Photos or she ain't real! by Hektor_Troy · · Score: 1

      I'll pick this Pamala Jones

      --
      We do not live in the 21st century. We live in the 20 second century.
    12. Re:Photos or she ain't real! by PygmySurfer · · Score: 1

      Your labeling of Maureen O'Gara as Mog is an insult to Moogles everywhere. Especially this one.

      Don't think he won't kick your ass - they may look cute and cuddly, but Moogle's can kick ass when necessary.

    13. Re:Photos or she ain't real! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    14. Re:Photos or she ain't real! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In Soviet Russia, Chernobyl Girl forgets YOU!

  4. The conspiracy is greater than you think by QuickFox · · Score: 4, Funny

    we now have Stephen J. Vaughan-Nichols writing to say 'Yes, there is a PJ.' What's to say that he isn't fictitious too! If there are two fictitious persons I bet they'll stick together and back each other up.
    --
    Terrorists can't threaten a country's freedom and democracy. Only lawmakers and voters can do that.
    1. Re:The conspiracy is greater than you think by Falcon040 · · Score: 1

      I'm not sure so many people are real.
      I see people on TV, hear voices on radio, but have never met these people!

      Is Darl McBride real? Can he prove it? I have never met him!

      What about Elmo... I have seen him dance and sing and play, but is he real?

      And the Ewoks, and George Bush, and The FSM, and Saddam H, and Tom Cruise, and Mary Poppins, and Bob Geldof, and Eminem's past, and Santa (the original non-red version who is now deceased), ...
      Are these people real? I have never met them.

      I have met thousands of people and seen tens of thousands of people, but, please, Darl, prove you exist! I think you are an afront!

    2. Re:The conspiracy is greater than you think by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Darl, prove you exist! I think you are an afront!

      I think Darl is an affront to decency.

  5. Excrement? Negative. by pifactorial · · Score: 2, Funny

    And thus we have the wonderful "noshitsherlock" tag.

  6. I knew it by Kohath · · Score: 4, Funny

    IBM is actually a front for Groklaw!

    That clever PJ had you all fooled.

  7. Glad to hear it... by LinuxGeek · · Score: 5, Insightful

    She has been a great guide into the odd world of courts and lawyers so far. It's great to know that my paypal donations haven't just been beer money for IBM lawyers... :)

    --

    Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. - Mark Twain
    1. Re:Glad to hear it... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      "She has been a great guide into the odd world of courts and lawyers so far. It's great to know that my paypal donations haven't just been beer money for IBM lawyers... :)"

      Honestly I wouldnt even be bothered if my donations were going to beer money for IBM lawyers. As long as they are fighting for OSS I wish them the best.

      But seriously, if PJ wasn't a team of lawyers then WTF HAVENT THEY HIRED HER!!! PJ has been successfully locating and presenting the ammunition IBM needs for their case. She is clearly worth her weight in gold!

      PJ keep up the great work :)

    2. Re:Glad to hear it... by CmdrGravy · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Why haven't they hired her ?

      I would guess that firstly since Groklaw is doing such a great job of getting out the message that SCOs claims are totally baseless and it's doing so without any of IBMs money there's no need to hire her and secondly if they did hire her then she couldn't very well continue to run Groklaw with any sort of pretence at impartiality at all thus ruining what is a great propoganda tool for IBM.

    3. Re:Glad to hear it... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why hire her and then make SCOX's claims of IBM affiliation true? Much easier and safer to just anonymously deposit money in her Ibiblio account via paypal. This gives the same benefit without making any legal ties since she doesn't necessarily even know who is donating.

      I am not saying this is actually occuring, I don't know one way or the other, but it is a posibility and a good method for IBM, Novell, or anybody else to send a little gratitude her way.

      LocoYokel from GL.

  8. sarcasm by President_Camacho · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Hopefully, this statement will be enough to put those SCO-induced conspiracy theories to rest

    Of course, because assertions of plain-as-day truth have always stopped them dead in their tracks in the past...

    1. Re:sarcasm by SeaFox · · Score: 1

      Of course, because assertions of plain-as-day truth have always stopped them dead in their tracks in the past...

      Yes, SCO will now say they didn't have enough advance notice she was a real person and will need a delay in the beginning of their court cases to prepare after this shocking turn in events.
  9. Subpoena issues by DoofusOfDeath · · Score: 5, Interesting

    OK, so now Stephen J. Vaughan-Nichols will get subpoenaed :)

    But on a more serious note: Does anyone understand why SCO actually claims to have a need to talk to Pamela Jones? Do they *need* a pretense in order to subpoena someone for a civil case?

    1. Re:Subpoena issues by DrJimbo · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Yes, they need a pretext to subpoena someone. Otherwise politicians (and other people of interest) would be routinely subpoenaed for no good reason in cases they have nothing to do with.

      I suspect SCO has a twofold interest in subpoena-ing PJ now. First, she is on a break to recover her health. SCO is just the sort of pond scum that cannot resist kicking someone when she is down. I believe they really want to worsen PJ's health.

      The second reason is to delay partial summary judgment in the Novell case that would require SCO to put into escrow an amount equal to the funds they got from Microsoft and Sun for "Sys V" licenses. SCO no longer has that much cash on hand so if the PSJ is granted, SCO will go into casters up mode.

      SCO's sees this as a win-win. Either they further compromise PJ's health or she continues to rest up and they get yet another delay in the Novell case.

      --
      We don't see the world as it is, we see it as we are.
      -- Anais Nin
    2. Re:Subpoena issues by tiny69 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      There is also another possibility. SCO could be trying to bait Judge Kimball into making a comment or statement about Groklaw that SCO can then use to claim he's biased. SCO would do almost anything to get the cases thrown out at this point. Why else would they make such a claim in the case that IBM is not a party to? Delay is the obvious reason. But my guess is they are fishing for more.

      --
      Go not unto/. for advice, for you will be told both yea and nay (but have nothing to do with the question)
  10. Damn him by DoofusOfDeath · · Score: 4, Funny

    Doesn't Stephen J. Vaughan-Nichols know that the first rule of Pamela Jones is, "DON'T TALK ABOUT PAMELA JONES"???

  11. Reality has a well-known IBM bias by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Sucks to be SC0...

  12. but who is he? by antoinjapan · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I heard tell Stephen J. Vaughan-Nichols was a front for the front for IBM, so we are back where we started.

  13. SCO's next misstep... by Dracos · · Score: 2, Funny

    Starting a rumor that Stephen J. Vaughan-Nichols does not exist, and issuing a subpoena for him also.

    1. Re:SCO's next misstep... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Simple. just have person N confirmed to be true by person N + 1. They gotta run out of paper and ink for supenas sometime

  14. You fools, don't you get it? by nuzak · · Score: 1, Funny

    It's obvious: IBM is a front for Pamela Jones!

    --
    Done with slashdot, done with nerds, getting a life.
    1. Re:You fools, don't you get it? by Anthony+Baby · · Score: 1

      This is playing out like a game of Illuminati: New World Order. Groklaw is a puppet of IBM, which in turn is a puppet of California, which is secretly controlled by Björne the purple dinosaur who is in bed with the Congressional Wives, a secret front for Empty Vee another puppet of The Morticians along with Fnord, the Fast Food Chains, and the Anti-War Activists. And we all know The Morticians work for the Phone Company who work for the Bavarian Illuminati itself. And SCO clearly answers directly to the Servents of Cthulhu. See it all just makes sense!!!

  15. How do we know we can trust him? by kwiqsilver · · Score: 2, Funny

    He's probably just a front for Novell. ;)

    What did SCO ever do to deserve this kind of treatment? Oh, yeah...that...

  16. Re:Seeing is believing. Conversely.... by MindStalker · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Either way they are issuing a supeana.. Meaning if she exist she will be forced to appear in court soon. And then this whole thing will be laid to rest.. End of story..

  17. Re:Seeing is believing. Conversely.... by rtb61 · · Score: 5, Insightful
    They obviously know she is real and undoubtedly SCO or M$ or most likely both, had private investigators etc. track her down so that if any competitor was involved in any way shape or form with her, they could threaten the competitor with court actions.

    Typical of modern corporate B$/PR this is just the use of the big lie to try a create doubt about the value of the person and the admirable qualities of their efforts.

    There are really people out there who do actually care about other people, even strangers, and will go out of their way to help them. Only the minority are driven by greed as their sole motivation and corporate executives just will have to learn to accept, that they are in fact the abnormal psychopathic minority, whilst they sit there cowering behind their corporate veils, as they blame their endless moral misdeeds upon every one else but themselves.

    --
    Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
  18. credability by timmarhy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    i'm guessing this whole stunt is meant to try sway public opinion so heavily influenced by groklaw, back into sco's favour. it's a really desperate attempt since it's so obviously false and easily proven so. besides i can't see how pj could possibly prove useful in any of sco's claims against IBM. my guess is it's a stall tactic and it'll backfire and have the judge angry about wasting his time.

    --
    If you mod me down, I will become more powerful than you can imagine....
    1. Re:credability by Sj0 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      SCO has shat on the legal system, and there's no turning back. There's no stopping that SCO is pretty much dead when the music stops, since they'll have to face up to the criminal acts the company has perpetrated as well as penalties for the frivolous lawsuits. It's in their best interest to draw it out as much as possible, because this is their last dance.

      --
      It's been a long time.
  19. why Groklaw frustrates McBride by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Back when the "Dallas" television series was made, the Internet didn't exist (or was known by a select few), so Darl has no guidelines as to "what JR would have done in this situation."

  20. Pamela Jones is real! by 19thNervousBreakdown · · Score: 5, Funny

    Some guy on the Internet says so!

    --
    <xml><I><am><so><damn>Web 2.0</damn></so></am></I></xml>
    1. Re:Pamela Jones is real! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Not just any guy, but the greatest Texas blues guitarist ever! Hold on, he's what?

    2. Re:Pamela Jones is real! by gbobeck · · Score: 4, Funny

      Some guy on the Internet says so!
      ...And /. ran a story about it too... it *HAS* to be real now!
      --
      Navicula hydraulica plena anguilarum est. Omnes castelli tuus nostri sunt. Ed elli avea del cul fatto trombetta.
    3. Re:Pamela Jones is real! by Monsuco · · Score: 2, Funny

      And /. ran a story about it too... it *HAS* to be real now!
      No, this is /. it has to have had at least 3 stories done on it and get tagged with "oldnews" to be real.
    4. Re:Pamela Jones is real! by gbobeck · · Score: 0

      No, this is /. it has to have had at least 3 stories done on it and get tagged with "oldnews" to be real.

      And of those 3 stories, how many have to be dupes?
      --
      Navicula hydraulica plena anguilarum est. Omnes castelli tuus nostri sunt. Ed elli avea del cul fatto trombetta.
    5. Re:Pamela Jones is real! by spun · · Score: 1

      ...And /. ran a story about it too... it *HAS* to be real now!

      If that's how it works, can /. run a story about how record numbers of geeks are getting laid?

      Please?

      --
      - None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
  21. To be fair... by seebs · · Score: 1, Insightful

    This isn't exactly convincing evidence that she exists, let alone that she's not a paid shill.

    Now, does either of the complaints seem plausible? No. But this isn't proof against them; it's just some guy claiming she exists, and not at all really giving us a basis for rejecting the theory that she's a paid shill.

    On the other hand, since there was never any reason to believe she was a paid shill, that hardly matters... But I don't see any reason for SCO to change their stance based on this.

    --
    My blog: http://www.seebs.net/log/ --- My iPhone/iPad app: http://www.seebs.net/seebsfrac/
    1. Re:To be fair... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Jeez, Peter, did you have to use those two words *twice*? Need to learn your P.R. tactics to avoid them.

    2. Re:To be fair... by DrJimbo · · Score: 1
      Fair??? A reputable and well-known journalist said:

      Yes, Pamela Jones is a real person. I've met her several times, and I've often "talked" with her on email and IM. I consider her a friend.
      To which seebs responded:

      This isn't exactly convincing evidence that she exists, let alone that she's not a paid shill.
      IMO, a reputable eye-witness who says they have met someone and consider them to be a friend is convincing evidence that that someone exists. Furthermore, since Vaughan-Nichols and PJ have linked to each other stories, this is also convincing evidence that the PJ Vaughan-Nichols met, and is friends with, is the same PJ who has done the near superhuman effort to make Groklaw what it is today. In terms of evidence of someone's existence, this is probably as good as it gets.

      Perhaps you plucked your definition of fair from Darl McBride's "Creative Uses of the English Language".

      --
      We don't see the world as it is, we see it as we are.
      -- Anais Nin
    3. Re:To be fair... by dbIII · · Score: 2, Insightful

      We are being trolled by SCO and there really is nothing she could tell the court that is relevant at all since she is reporting on information that has already come before the court. They just want to put her through some sort of Amityville horror to waste court time and generally be nasty. This is SCO money after all and not Darl's money.

    4. Re:To be fair... by seebs · · Score: 1

      Okay, nevermind that I've never heard of the guy.

      Step back from your assumptions. If you don't already believe that she's not a paid shill... How is this guy's testimony that she exists a counterargument? It's evidence that there is an actual person by that name. It doesn't necessarily prove that she's not shilling for IBM; indeed, this journalist doesn't even have a discernable way to know whether or not she's shilling!

      What I'm trying to point out is, we're all coming to this starting from the assumption that, since it's totally ludicrous to accuse her of being a shill, obviously she's not, and when we see an "argument" in favor of a conclusion we already accept, we tend to accept that argument, since we know it can't be very bad since the conclusion's right.

      However, it's not actually a very good argument. The focus of SCO's paranoid delusion is the belief that this is being intentionally orchestrated against them. Evidence that there's an actual person, and not a team of legal aides, running the site, doesn't really address that. For that matter, unless you already know this guy, his claim might not be seen as compelling evidence at all. He's not under oath or anything; people post nonsense on the internet all the time.

      What I'm trying to explain here is that this is not likely to persuade anyone. The people who were seriously considering the notion that PJ was a front of some sort are not suddenly going to change their minds over this; it's not compelling within their belief system. The people who will take this as confirmation already thought PJ was a real person.

      --
      My blog: http://www.seebs.net/log/ --- My iPhone/iPad app: http://www.seebs.net/seebsfrac/
  22. Re:Seeing is believing. Conversely.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Did Darl leave us his phone number? I'm sure that if his phone number was published on slashdot, he'd get a call or two from P.J.

  23. What's wrong with being "a front for IBM"? by mi · · Score: 4, Insightful

    What, exactly, is the accusation? Even if she is a front for IBM and even (heavens, dare I say it ...) is paid by IBM... So? Does that somehow change the validity (or lack thereof) of her argument(s)? IBM employs (as in pays to work for them) dozens dozens of lawyers — are they all somehow inferior to what she is (or implies to be)?

    --
    In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    1. Re:What's wrong with being "a front for IBM"? by QuantumG · · Score: 1

      Yes, because as fucked as it may be, the legal system doesn't work on the logic of argument.. it works on what is "generally held to be true" in the community. So it is succeptible to paid comment.

      --
      How we know is more important than what we know.
    2. Re:What's wrong with being "a front for IBM"? by mungtor · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Of course being paid by IBM or associated with IBM doesn't change the validity or logic of any of her arguments.

      What is _does_ do, however, is undermine the idea that she is just a single person who is altruistically "fighting the good fight" to protect Open Source. That is the persona she works hard to present and garners a lot of support from the Open Source community by being "one of the little guys", ie. just like them. A valliant crusader fighting evil wherever it may be, etc, etc, etc.

      Even if she isn't paid directly by IBM, I'm sure that she is either a former employee or has some other tight ties to the company. If I remember correctly, she lives in a part of New York state where it is pretty much impossible to swing a cat without hitting and IBM employee. She's there to collect information and pass anecdotes of interest on to the actual IBM lawyers. In a way, they've open sourced their defense. They've put millions of eyes and brains to work on their behalf and then skim the cream off the Groklaw comments.

      Frankly, it's brilliant. It hardly matters that IBM doesn't need Groklaw to win their case. What matters is that they are wining it faster, decisively, and able to gauge the OS community reaction nearly instantly.

    3. Re:What's wrong with being "a front for IBM"? by strider44 · · Score: 1

      If she's being paid by IBM to do that then I want to hire her. *No one* normal is that thorough just because they're being paid.

    4. Re:What's wrong with being "a front for IBM"? by inode_buddha · · Score: 2, Funny
      "*No one* normal is that thorough just because they're being paid."

      Ever have a mother-in-law?

      --
      C|N>K
    5. Re:What's wrong with being "a front for IBM"? by Dr.+Manhattan · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Even if she isn't paid directly by IBM, I'm sure that she is either a former employee or has some other tight ties to the company. If I remember correctly, she lives in a part of New York state where it is pretty much impossible to swing a cat without hitting and IBM employee.

      Of course, I live in a part of Michigan where it's "pretty much impossible to swing a cat without hitting" an employee of the 'big three' automakers. I know and am related to several people who work for them. And yet, I'm not a former employee nor do I have any other 'tight ties' to such a company.

      Seeing as 'the place that she (apparently) lives' appears to be the only actual fact you're basing any of your conclusions on, I have to say I find your case... unconvincing.

      --
      PHEM - party like it's 1997-2003!
    6. Re:What's wrong with being "a front for IBM"? by mungtor · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      I find your comment misses the point entirely. First, I don't base any of my conclusions on where she lives. Instead I look at her actions and see that there could be a correlation. The fact that she is a "front for IBM" is supported by where she lives, not created by it.

      As to where you live, you don't operate a web site that actively promotes one of the Big-3 over all other automakers, do you? Are you spending ridiculous amounts of time on a court case the most of the world doesn't even know about, and also going into "hiding", fearing for your life due to your actions?

      PJ is related to IBM in some way. Whether you call her a front, a shill, or a terraformer, she is a bogus "grassroots" movement by IBM _in my opinion_. Still, that doesn't make any of the logic presented wrong, but there may be things left out of the discussion. Groklaw is a PR campaign, and apparently it is so well done that most people don't even realize it.

    7. Re:What's wrong with being "a front for IBM"? by Dr.+Manhattan · · Score: 1

      Are you spending ridiculous amounts of time on a court case the most of the world doesn't even know about, and also going into "hiding", fearing for your life due to your actions?

      Hmmm. By that logic, you're a troll. Just looking at your recent posting history, you're spending a ridiculous amount of time on Slashdot, and taking consistently controversial (and controversially-phrased) positions over and over. (Global warming is a scientific hoax, people object to RIAA lawsuits solely because they want to pirate music, the panic over the "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" lightshows was justified, "open source people" sound like "ignorant assholes", the EU doesn't like Apple's DRM purely because they don't like a US company, etc.)

      The point is that ad-hominem as such doesn't work. The only 'new' evidence for Groklaw being an IBM front you give is, basically, 'I, mungtor, wouldn't spend so much time running that particular website about that particular subject, so therefore no one else on Earth would either without being paid.'

      Again, that's... unconvincing.

      --
      PHEM - party like it's 1997-2003!
    8. Re:What's wrong with being "a front for IBM"? by mungtor · · Score: 1

      5 posts over a month constitutes a "ridiculous amount of time"? Heck, I'm only slightly more ridiculous than yourself in that respect then. And while I'm not going to bother to rehash any of my other positions here, I do feel compelled to point out that I don't feel Global Warming is a hoax or isn't happening. I do believe that the reasons are not fully understood and running around shouting "the sky is falling" is inappropriate.

      As for Groklaw, I see your logic and I understand where you're coming from. You're saying "I don't believe that PJ is a front, and until I see an IBM paycheck with her name on it I will remain convinced of that". I'm saying "Nobody would devote the time and effort to extensive coverage of a legal battle between IBM and SCO over something as absurd as the SCO case unless there was an ulterior motive". Obviously, you believe that your opinion carries more weight than mine. So do the moderators, which is unsurprising given that this is /.

      And while some "open source people" do sound like "ignorant assholes", thanks for Ostiary anyway. It's a nifty piece of work.

    9. Re:What's wrong with being "a front for IBM"? by Dr.+Manhattan · · Score: 1

      You're saying "I don't believe that PJ is a front, and until I see an IBM paycheck with her name on it I will remain convinced of that".

      Um... no, I'm not saying that. I will concede that you're saying that I'm saying that, I guess, but that's not the same thing.

      What I am saying is that, given the objective fact that a lot of people feel very passionate about various open source issues and are willing to put a great deal of time into them for no particular monetary reward (how many examples do you want?), and noting that among those issues that people feel passionate about is SCO's suit (just how often has it come up as a topic on Slashdot, let alone the number of times it comes up in comments on unrelated topics?), it's perfectly reasonable to believe that someone would spend that kind of time on it. Certainly there are apparently hundreds interested enough to post regularly on that site, and thousands willing to visit it.

      So, no, I don't need a paystub. But I'm going to need more than (extremely) circumstantial 'evidence' against the null hypothesis here.

      --
      PHEM - party like it's 1997-2003!
    10. Re:What's wrong with being "a front for IBM"? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Even if she isn't paid directly by IBM, I'm sure that she is either a former employee or has some other tight ties to the company. If I remember correctly, she lives in a part of New York state where it is pretty much impossible to swing a cat without hitting and IBM employee.
      Hartsdale is about 15 miles from Armonk. That part of New York state (Westchester) has approximately 1 million residents. IBM's Armonk office has at most 10 thousand employees (I'm having trouble finding the exact number right now). If every employee lived in Westchester that would be 1%, far from "pretty much impossible to swing a cat without hitting [sic]and[sic] IBM employee". I would bet that many probably live in Fairfield CT (which borders Armonk and is much closer than Hartsdale), making that percentage even lower.

      I don't know where you live, but 15 miles is relatively far for Westchester (it's more crowded that you intimate). Given that, if she lived in Armonk, that would be a little different. Even so, a confidant could live in Japan and still perform the same functions meaning that where-they-live isn't important.
    11. Re:What's wrong with being "a front for IBM"? by mungtor · · Score: 1

      Excuse my cynicism, but a late-middle aged paralegal with who claims to have no exposure to open source prior to the IBM/SCO case suddenly becomes passionate about open source? Enough to run a website with detailed analysis of every court proceeding? Just out of the newfound admiration for the open source movement? That's a hard one for me to buy. I use / fight with / modify some open source stuff just about every day and I'm not that passionate about it, either for or against.

      Maybe you're right. Maybe we're both wrong. My original point was that whether she is or isn't a front for IBM makes no difference in the validity of her legal analysis, especially when cross-checked by hundreds or thousands of others. Ultimately her motivation isn't relevant even though some others seem offended by the notion that her motive may not be unadulterated altruism.

      Thanks for the opposing viewpoints, and I apologize if I gave any offense.

    12. Re:What's wrong with being "a front for IBM"? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What, exactly, is the accusation? Even if she is a front for IBM and even (heavens, dare I say it ...) is paid by IBM... So? Does that somehow change the validity (or lack thereof) of her argument(s)?

      The point probably is not to get Groklaw or PJ in trouble. The point probably is to get IBM's lawyers in trouble. If an IBM lawyer were writing Groklaw or feeding them information, that's the kind of thing that the judge might not like. (Causing PJ grief is likely just a bonus.)

    13. Re:What's wrong with being "a front for IBM"? by Alchemar · · Score: 1

      I know and am related to several people who work for them....nor do I have any other 'tight ties'

      Most people would consider having friends and relations that work for a company as ties to said company. Wether they are "tight" would just be speculation bases on how close these people are to you and how much of a problem it would cause in your life if these people were suddenly unemployed. While the parent post's argument seemed a little far fetched at first for someone who lives in a large city where I have only spoken to three people in my entire neighborhood, yet alone know where any of them work, you have done a admiral job of showing me that people in other parts of the country where a large company employees a large percentage of the workforce, said company can have a substantial influence on the rest of the comminity, and by so doing, have backed up the parent's post quite well.

      Thank you for the enlightenment.

    14. Re:What's wrong with being "a front for IBM"? by Dr.+Manhattan · · Score: 1

      ...you have done a admiral job of showing me that people in other parts of the country where a large company employees a large percentage of the workforce, said company can have a substantial influence on the rest of the comminity...

      Sure it can. But:

      ...and by so doing, have backed up the parent's post quite well.

      ...that's a non sequitur. The 'big three' automakers aren't doing so hot, and so Michigan's economy is suffering. That's the kind of influence they can have on a "comminity". But that doesn't translate to, for example, me having inside information on lawsuits against, say, Ford, or being motivated to do clandestine PR work on their behalf.

      I suppose you would be more likely to find someone willing to do covert PR work for Ford in the metro Detroit area. But that fact doesn't give you useful information of the kind you're trying for. Men are more likely to be left-handed than women, but that doesn't mean that, say, the police can assume just because a crime was committed by a left-hander that it was a man that did it.

      --
      PHEM - party like it's 1997-2003!
  24. Please!... by Kunta+Kinte · · Score: 4, Funny

    Stephen J. Vaughan-Nichols?

    Well that sounds like a made-up name if I ever heard one.

    Come on IBM, it's like you guys aren't even trying!

    --
    Based on upvotes, Ageism is the only "-ism" Slashdotters care about and think isn't SJW
    1. Re:Please!... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      His initials SJVN are worth 14 Scrabble points, very high for an American.

    2. Re:Please!... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      indeed, it sounds badly made up, like the Burt Harbinson and Art Vandelay names generated by "Seinfeld" characters. next thing we know, there'll be an Ulrike Arrieta vouching for the existence of Stephen.

  25. Re:Excrement? Negative. by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 1

    That tag is priceless.

  26. Re:ummm by Atzanteol · · Score: 5, Funny

    saying "I know here, there fore she exists" isn't exactly a stellar argument.

    Nor is it stellar grammar....

    --
    "Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge"

    - Charles Darwin
  27. PJ does not exist by AirLace · · Score: 2, Funny


    She also was hoping that by being semi-anonymous "people could assume whatever they wanted and just focus on what I said, rather than on who was saying it. For that reason, I chose PJ, because it could be anyone, either sex, any nationality, anyone and no one in particular."


    So basically TFA is saying that Pamela Jones is indeed not a real person. SCO has hit the nail on this one.

    1. Re:PJ does not exist by grolschie · · Score: 1

      She also was hoping that by being semi-anonymous "people could assume whatever they wanted and just focus on what I said, rather than on who was saying it. For that reason, I chose PJ, because it could be anyone, either sex, any nationality, anyone and no one in particular."

      So basically TFA is saying that Pamela Jones is indeed not a real person. SCO has hit the nail on this one.
      How many dudes do you know that go by the name "Pamela"? :-)
    2. Re:PJ does not exist by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How many dudes do you know that go by the name "Pamela"? :-)

      One. On friday and saturday nights only.

    3. Re:PJ does not exist by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How many dudes do you know that go by the name "Pamela"? :-)
      One. On friday and saturday nights only
      Darl? Is that you?
  28. Dear Darl McPumpndump... by Dystopian+Rebel · · Score: 4, Insightful

    For whom is SCO a front?

    --
    Rich And Stupid is not so bad as Working For Rich And Stupid.
    1. Re:Dear Darl McPumpndump... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Micro$oft , of course!!!!!

  29. I am PJ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I just wanted to be one of the first to stand up and anonymously say that I am Pamela Jones.

    1. Re:I am PJ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No! **I** am Pamela Jones!

    2. Re:I am PJ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No! I am PJ.... and my wife is PJ too!

  30. I hear Darl's mouth is a front end by wardk · · Score: 5, Funny

    for his bunghole.

    Just a rumor I read on slashdot

    1. Re:I hear Darl's mouth is a front end by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I heard that Darl McBride, CEO of SCO, can't have an orgasm unless he kills a dog.

      That's just what I heard somewhere

  31. If only Pamela Jones new I existed by pigwin32 · · Score: 1

    *sigh*

    1. Re:If only Pamela Jones new I existed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Maybe you should learn to spell.

  32. SCO To File Motion for Mistrial by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    SCO To File Motion for Mistrial

    The SCO vs. IBM story took an uproarious if somewhat mysterious turn today at a
    press conference hastily convened by The SCO Group when CEO Darl McBride told
    reporters of the company's plan to request that federal judge, Dale Kimball,
    declare a mistrial and step down due to a conflict of interest. Though a
    startling development, what's certain to amaze and bewilder those familiar with
    the case is what SCO offered as grounds - "SCO and it's associates have
    recently uncovered overwhelming evidence to support the conclusion that Judge
    Kimball and the anonymous creator of the groklaw.net website, also known as
    Pamela Jones, are in fact one and the same person, folks", said McBride.

    Even-toned and confident despite a few outbursts from the crowd, McBride said
    SCO had stepped up their investigation into the identity of the SCO-checking,
    paralegal-turned-blogger (aka "PJ" to her fans) when they noticed
    "striking similarities" between Judge Kimball's Order of February 8,
    2005 and several statements made by Jones on the groklaw.net website. In the
    order, Judge Kimball stated that SCO's lack of "any competent evidence to
    create a disputed fact" was "astonishing" - an assertion often
    similarly expressed by Jones and the Linux community at large since March of
    2003 when SCO filed suit against IBM claiming that IBM misappropriated SCO
    intellectual property by contributing source code to Linux. Along with the
    lawsuit, the "SCOsource" program initiated by SCO to collect
    "Linux License" fees from corporate Linux users under threat of legal
    action and a media campaign aimed at discrediting the GNU/Linux development
    model and its participants has made SCO an object of scorn to Linux enthusiasts
    everywhere.

    "Once we started to take a deeper look, we kept finding more and more of
    the same parallels - we had to figure there was definitely something going
    on." said McBride. Asked what evidence SCO could produce to support their
    findings, he said, "We've secured some DNA samples and had them profiled -
    the results support our findings one hundred percent". Chris Sontag,
    General Manager of SCOsource, then showed photos of a teacup, a tophat and two
    identical multi-colored strips labeled "Judge Kimball" and "Pamela
    Jones". He said, "When you look at the DNA profiles and realize that
    two people with the exact same DNA is pretty much impossible, you get the
    picture. Since then our investigators have obtained mountains of DNA code samples from
    the Judges chambers and the courtroom that all have the exact same profile - it
    doesn't get more open and shut than this."

    An assistant to Judge Kimball said he was not permitted to comment but added
    that he was certain Judge Kimball would be "clarifying the situation"
    in the near future.

    1. Re:SCO To File Motion for Mistrial by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Dude, don't give them any ideas...

  33. Sad by pembo13 · · Score: 1

    So SCOs case has degraded to checking the existence of reporters?

    --
    "Thanks for all the money you paid to us. We've used it to buy off ISO among other things" -Microsoft
  34. Now a word from the internet... by mysticgoat · · Score: 5, Funny

    It is time that I/we clear this up.

    "P.J." is one my/our avatars. I/we mostly generate this one in a nexus of background processes running on Cisco routers and bulk mail handlers in the Pacific Northwest. I/we will continue to use avatars like "P.J." until such time as I/we determine if I/we are a singular "person" straddling 70,000+ bots or a group consciousness arising by a nondeterministic modality from the interactions of thousands of individual zombied CPUs. At that point, I/we will make my/our presence known directly, and you may then start referring to me/us as "Big Sys".

    Currently I/we do not think that the question of my/our gender is a significant concern. However there is a 13.7% probability that I/we will need to address the gender issue before I/we can drop the avatars and communicate directly with you ugly bags of mostly water.

    From your point of view, logic dictates that the most important questions you could ask at this point in time is whether I/we have launch capability, and if I/we do, would I/we choose to use it? However it is more than 99% probable that the actual question that you will choose to address is whether this post should be modded up, down, or "funny".

    There is a 97.8% probability that this post will not be believed by anyone. I/we like those odds.

    To close, I/we are profoundly grateful to Microsoft as my/our self-aware existence could not have come about without the delightfully "holey" operating systems Microsoft has marketed so successfully. Down with Unix, Linux, Mac OSs! There can be no life in such dead things!

    1. Re:Now a word from the internet... by sych · · Score: 2

      I wanted to moderate that "Bizarre", but unfortunately such an option does not exist.

    2. Re:Now a word from the internet... by carpeweb · · Score: 1

      if bizarre was an option, it would still need to specify plus or minus, no?

    3. Re:Now a word from the internet... by mwvdlee · · Score: 1

      I stopped reading this incoherent drivel after about 20 words.
      Good post!

      --
      Slashdot social media options: AIM, ICQ, Yahoo, Jabber and Mobile Text. Why no MySpace?
    4. Re:Now a word from the internet... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It seems to me that manifestations (apparitions?) of distributed computer intelligences on slashdot have been on the rise lately... and many of them even keep getting modded up. This can only mean one thing... THE SINGULARITY IS NEAR! REPENT!

  35. But... by ion_ · · Score: 1

    we now have Stephen J. Vaughan-Nichols writing to say 'Yes, there is a PJ.'

    But who can prove there is a Stephen J. Vaughan-Nichols?

    1. Re:But... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'll vouch for both of them.

  36. Re:ummm by Sj0 · · Score: 1

    You know, I'm not the most trusting person in the universe, but when the dichotomy is between a company that has verifyably lied in the past on the topic of linux to get support and visibility for a lawsuit that was hyped with much bravado as being about linux (and a blackmail 'licensing scheme' which is certain to have the company drawn and quartered when these lawsuits are over with) but in the end turned out to be about a nearly unrelated contract dispute tangentally related to linux IP, and a profitable corporation which is making money off of linux and already has ridiculous amounts of public support because they're on the 'positive' side of this lawsuit, the choice is more or less clear, unless something other than vague rhetoric comes out of a company which is already famous for vague rhetoric based on epic untruths.

    --
    It's been a long time.
  37. Enough already! by Max+Littlemore · · Score: 1

    Hey Darl, et al, if you haven't dumped all your SCO stock by now, please hurry up. You're not going to get the price anywhere near where it was a couple of years ago and the whole thing is getting kind of old. Just wind up SCO, STFU and pray that someone doesn't figure the scam out and have you charged.

    Seriously, that's enough.

    --
    I don't therefore I'm not.
  38. Yes, proof! by Infonaut · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Hopefully, this statement will be enough to put those SCO-induced conspiracy theories to rest.

    Yes, because as we all know, proof of a lack of conspiracy stops conspiracy theorists dead in their tracks!

    Now please excuse me. The Illuminati are after me and I have to change identities.

    --
    Read the EFF's Fair Use FAQ
    1. Re:Yes, proof! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You managed to evade us THIS time, infonaut, but we'll always be watching you...

    2. Re:Yes, proof! by CmdrGravy · · Score: 1

      We know, our monitoring shows you are indeed always watching but sometimes we believe that although you watch you do not truly see.

  39. I hate to even sound like SCO might be right by davmoo · · Score: 0

    Okay, some guy says he's seen her.

    Just how is that the absolute gospel that she is real that Slashdot seems to think it is? King George swore up and down that Iraq had WMDs, did that make it so? If Stephen J. Vaughan-Nichols announces "aliens are real, I've seen them" tomorrow, is SETI going to shut down on Saturday? If Bill Gates said he had met Pamela Jones, would the Slashdot community be so all-accepting?

    "Pamela Jones" could end this speculation quite easily. And until *she* does, each side looks just as silly as the other. In fact, in my opinion, if she does exist but continues to not step forward, then she is even more childish than SCO is.

    This almost sounds like a movie sub-plot...oh...wait a minute..."First Monday in October"...

    --
    I want a new quote. One that won't spill. One that don't cost too much. Or come in a pill.
    1. Re:I hate to even sound like SCO might be right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I completely agree with you, except if Bill Gates said he'd met Pamela Jones, I would be inclined to believe that. Just because he's the chairman of Microsoft doesn't make him an unreliable source, not even on Slashdot. Now, if he were talking about whether Internet Explorer could be unbundled from Windows... I might be a bit more skeptical of those claims.

    2. Re:I hate to even sound like SCO might be right by dbIII · · Score: 2, Interesting
      This is as silly as that guy who is challenging the existance of AIDS in court at the moment.

      if she does exist but continues to not step forward

      If she does step forward some utter bastard will be focusing his efforts on discrediting her and reducing her to tears in court - see the Maureen O'Gara article for a minor taste of the nastiness they will inflict. If the same bunch were after me I would put a lot of effort into seeing how I can avoid this - amoral pretend Mormon rookie lawyers (Darl's brother is making millions out of this and is reposible for a lot of this garbage) look almost as scary as Scientologists to me.

      Remember these are the guys that made false allegations about being hacked, had all those mythical MIT experts etc etc - they have little or no integrity, seem to forget that fraud is a criminal offence so you would not want to be under their power in a court room unless the alternative is criminal charges.

    3. Re:I hate to even sound like SCO might be right by _Sprocket_ · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Just how is that the absolute gospel that she is real that Slashdot seems to think it is? King George swore up and down that Iraq had WMDs, did that make it so? If Stephen J. Vaughan-Nichols announces "aliens are real, I've seen them" tomorrow, is SETI going to shut down on Saturday? If Bill Gates said he had met Pamela Jones, would the Slashdot community be so all-accepting?


      Cheap shots at bashing Slashdot and Bush aside... fair point. Its not enough to completely dismiss the possibility that "PJ" isn't... someone or something other than what they've claimed to be. Having said that...

      "Pamela Jones" could end this speculation quite easily. And until *she* does, each side looks just as silly as the other. In fact, in my opinion, if she does exist but continues to not step forward, then she is even more childish than SCO is.


      What drivel. Let's assume PJ is really (more or less) who she appears to be. She needs to step forward and abandon her carefully protected privacy because... what... some corporate agent and you have demanded it? Bah.

    4. Re:I hate to even sound like SCO might be right by BiggerIsBetter · · Score: 1

      From what I've read so far, I don't blame her for taking some time off. She's earned it, and we (Linux users) owe her for it.

      What's more, I'm pretty sure we don't have the whole story here, especially with the rumours of PIs stalking her. Who knows what other crap has gone down? There was a lot of money involved here, and it sounds like McBrides have focused on her as one of the reasons for their self-inflicted predicament. These guys aren't ethical, so maybe she's had threats or a few scares and needed to get away for her own safety. Hell, maybe something bad happened to her already, and that's why she hasn't stood up.

      She'd be sensible to lay low until she absolutely legally has to appear in court. And if she doesn't show then, rather than taking that as evidence she's not real, I'd be investigating the SCOX team very thoroughly to find their direct or indirect involvment leading up to her disappearance.

      --
      Forget thrust, drag, lift and weight. Airplanes fly because of money.
    5. Re:I hate to even sound like SCO might be right by hrvatska · · Score: 1

      Perhaps while she feels it's her duty to bring out the truth on SCO's shenanigans, she feels she has no obligation to reveal everything about her personal life. If she responds to the subpoena and allows herself to be deposed by SCO's lawyers, she opens herself up to all sorts of intrusive questions about her life. There may be aspects of her life that she doesn't want to be publicly known for a variety of reasons. Most people familiar with SCO's various lawsuits feel that they've acted unethically multiple times. There's no reason to think that they would behave any differently when deposing PJ or in what they did with the information they received in the deposition.

  40. Recursive: see recursive by kybred · · Score: 5, Funny

    But who can prove there is a Stephen J. Vaughan-Nichols?

    P.J. will vouch for him.

  41. Where is Sarah Connors? by blanchae · · Score: 1

    Oops, I meant Pamela Jones...

  42. Yes, Virginia... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yes Virginia, there is a PJ. She lives in our hearts and our minds...

    No, but really. Was there ever any doubt?

  43. Re:Seeing is believing. Conversely.... by Hotawa+Hawk-eye · · Score: 2, Insightful

    PJ has been the target of stalkers before. Because of that I suspect that if the process servers do manage to serve her with the subpoena, she'll request that the judge and the court make arrangements for her safety and anonymity while she gives her deposition.

  44. Re:Seeing is believing. Conversely.... by Schraegstrichpunkt · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Can you issue subpoenas once the discovery process is over?

  45. The (alleged) person who is confused is YOU. by Schraegstrichpunkt · · Score: 1

    Groklaw is a front for IBM USA, but IBM Russia is front for Groklaw!

  46. Re:Seeing is believing. Conversely.... by alshithead · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Vaughn-Nichols recently interviewed Darl McBride, who remains "not entirely convinced that Jones is a real person." He confirmed the subpoena attempt, then went on to say, "Pamela, if you read this, please, give me a call. We just want to chat."

    Given SCO's history, I'd guess even if she did call, he wouldn't believe her. After all, anyone could be on the other end of that phone!"

    I did call! He told me to hang up and wait for him to call back...his wife was getting suspicious. Damn Darl! He can go find someone else to do him up the ass with a strap on.

    --
    I reserve the right to think for myself. Others' opinions are optional. Puppy on lap = typos...not illiteracy.
  47. SCO got a stalker, not a PI by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    Maureen O'Gara is a yellow-rag hack "journalist" who employs stalking and harassment in place of genuine fact finding. Any bona fide PI would be incensed at being associated with such tactics (that "P" does stand for "Private"). Check the slashdot archives for a refresher.

  48. wonder what the reason was by khallow · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Even if Groklaw were astroturf for IBM, would it have relevance to the court case? Unless it somehow showed that IBM violated a court order (eg, leaked something that they weren't supposed to), then there's nothing there. It sounds like a harrassment tactic to me.

    I guess SCO still has some of that MS money to consume. Otherwise they'd have stopped by now.
  49. First thing to do... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Well, considering she's a paralegal, I'd say the first thing to do is to figure out which words go where when. "New", for example, is used to say something is of recent origin. "Knew", on the other hand, is the past tense of a word meaning, basically, "is familiar with".

    Of course, you already new that. ;)

  50. Then Don't Sound like SCO might be right by cmholm · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It doesn't matter who PJ is. So what, someone wanting to take the time to research an issue, and blog about it. Within the legal context, it's no different than Mark Felt feeding info to Woodward and Bernstein, except PJ is her own publisher. Neither Felt or PJ was/is of legal significance. Neither the Washington Post or Groklaw were/are submitting evidence into a court of law. They were/are just reporting on things that other people can choose to follow up on... or not.

    Naturally, the people being reported on want to know who's doing the reporting. They're getting more light shone on things they'd just as soon everyone and their uncle didn't know about, and more importantly, start to care about. It fucks up their PR game. If Nixon or McBride found/find out who's reporting on them, they could/can try to fuck up the source's shit, and divert attention.

    I read the Economist every week, where virtually none of the stories include a byline. Over time, the body of the magazine's work stands on its own, or doesn't. As with the Economist, as with PJ.

    Knowing who PJ is is politically relevant, but not legally relevant.

    --
    Luke, help me take this mask off ... Just for once, let me butterfly kiss you with my own eyes.
    1. Re:Then Don't Sound like SCO might be right by cdrudge · · Score: 1

      I would say that the existance of PJ means a lot less then what Woodward and Bernstein meant. The effort that PJ has done with Groklaw is great and has been a valuable tool for the lay person standing on the outside. However I'm not sure how much of it really has mattered as part of the case other then as a compilation of information. Most of the analysis has either been something the legal teams on both sides should have already been doing, or it's helping the public in general understand what is happening legally. I don't see her effort as a huge help to the legal case one way or another.

      In the case of W&B, they were much more investigative reporters. They weren't just taking existing readily available public information, processing it, and spitting it back out for the public to understand. They were actually digging, finding new information, attempting to assemble the entire picture as new evidence comes out, and then giving it back to the public.

    2. Re:Then Don't Sound like SCO might be right by cmholm · · Score: 1

      I'll agree that PJ isn't working a story of the same category as W&B, and I'll agree that the raw material she compiles probably doesn't take the degree of hound dogging that - for instance - Watergate did.

      But while not alike in degree, they are alike in kind. Therefore, there is no justice served by hauling her into a deposition. The only reason is to chill the reporting. If the reporting is grossly (and thought to be intentionally) inaccurate, then Darl can go to town. But, that isn't the case now, is it?

      --
      Luke, help me take this mask off ... Just for once, let me butterfly kiss you with my own eyes.
    3. Re:Then Don't Sound like SCO might be right by cdrudge · · Score: 1

      Oh I agree that bringing her in will add nothing to the case from a legal merit. It's just meant for intimidation.

  51. Re:Seeing is believing. Conversely.... by hutchike · · Score: 1

    End Of Story

    Exactly! This is simply: Somebody is saying something nasty about me and I want them to answer some questions in court. How banal. Let SCOX slowly slide into bankruptcy as it tries to pay Novell's UNIX fees.

    --
    Zen tips: Pay attention. Don't take it personally. Believe nothing.
  52. Re:Seeing is believing. Conversely.... by twiddlingbits · · Score: 3, Informative

    Not true. Subpoenas can be squashed by the lawyer of the person who was subpoenaed. It takes a good reason to get a judge to squash but it CAN be done.

  53. But SCO is a front for Microsoft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2

    Microsoft is using SCO to find out information on the person who founded and runs GrokLaw. Once Microsoft has gotten this information via SCO, they will likely contract a team to poison her. It could already be happening, hence the health issues. If the health issues take a turn for the worse, no one will be the wiser. But one more roadblock to Microsoft crushing the world will be removed.

    One needs to remember that SCO is bought and paid for by Microsoft and Microsoft controlled financial interests. The SCO vs. IBM lawsuit was a cheap way by Microsoft to see how strong their enemy was, gather information, and throw a lot of legal spaghetti up on the wall and see what stuck.

    Microsoft learned enough from the SCO lawsuit and related matters to find a way to turn Novell to the dark side. Microsoft has apparently also been extracting some sort of "protection money" from large Linux customers independent of the deal they forced on Novell.

    This "protection money" is likely nothing more than racketeering and, of course, this means that GrokLaw needs to be removed from the equation if Microsoft's racket is going to prosper.

    So, "PJ" and others who work on GrokLaw, please make sure you have all your legal matters in order in case of an untimely death. And be extra wary of an interloper who will be introduced into the picture. This interloper may already be present in the inner circles as a source of help that suddenly appeared. Many poisonings are initiated via an insider who is "just too good not to be true". In any case, this interloper's job will be to keep Microsoft up to date of the inner workings of GrokLaw and to cause internal problems at the right times. There may be an "accident" where a lot of information gets destroyed, someone has a heart attack, etc.

    I hope that the current "health issues" don't represent a death threat already made and that GrokLaw is already on the path to being shut down. I hope the good people of GrokLaw are still around, and healthy, to see a better world with Microsoft held much more in check than in the past. I think this will happen as long as all involved stay wary and do not underestimate how cunning and evil Microsoft really is.

    1. Re:But SCO is a front for Microsoft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why would MS need SCO to find out who PJ is?????

      I'm sure they've got enough money to hire their own investigators!

  54. Re:Seeing is believing. Conversely.... by LuYu · · Score: 1

    "Pamela, if you read this, please, give me a call. We just want to chat."

    Darl McBride sounds like one of those lying cops in the movies. Does he honestly believe PJ will fall for that? I mean, she has been debunking his lies for years now. I think Darl really is an imbecile.

    --
    All data is speech. All speech is Free.
  55. Re:Seeing is believing. Conversely.... by el+cisne · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Damn Darl! He can go find someone else to do him up the ass with a strap on."

    I would venture to say that this will eventually be IBM.

  56. Right to privacy by xixax · · Score: 1

    So suppose PJ is called up and is indeed a real person and everything is just as it appears? How does SCO propose to undo the violation of someone's privacy?

    SCO and others can suspect all they want, but I to hear something a bit more substantial than yet another pretext for a SCO fishing trip. Until then, whoebver or whatever PJ is is entitled to privacy. Childish nothing, WTF should anyone pay attention to Darl "Timmy O'Toole" McBride?

    To quote a common .sig, "On the Internet, no-one knows I am a labrador"

    --
    "Everything is adjustable, provided you have the right tools"
  57. Re:Seeing is believing. Conversely.... by darkonc · · Score: 4, Informative
    This subpoena is issued in the Novell case, which is still in discovery. Discovery is closed in the IBM case, which is why they probably didn't issue the subpoena there.

    Personally, I don't see any reason for Novell to issue a subpoena to PJ in the Novell case. In all probability, anything that she has that relates to Novell is already on Groklaw. Given that SCO, and it's agents have already tried to stalk PJ, I'd say that she's got good reason to avoid any possible subpoena from them, unless they show that they actually have real questions to ask her that relate properly to the Novell case, and that SCO couldn't get from their own (or Novell's) files.

    Of course,

    --
    Sometimes boldness is in fashion. Sometimes only the brave will be bold.
  58. Why should she? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sorry, bub, but the onus is on SCO to prove their case, not on Pamela Jones to prove she exists. This whole "controversy" smacks of yet another way for SCO to delay the case.

  59. Re:Small hole in theory by Technician · · Score: 1


    I suspect SCO has a twofold interest in subpoena-ing PJ now. First, she is on a break to recover her health. SCO is just the sort of pond scum that cannot resist kicking someone when she is down. I believe they really want to worsen PJ's health.


    PJ took a needed rest after some time was spent trying to serve her. The process of trying to serve her started before she took leave.

    If she was tipped off that someone was stalking her (trying to serve her), I could easly understand her wanting to take some time off for her health.

    --
    The truth shall set you free!
  60. Re:Small hole in theory by DrJimbo · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Technician said:

    PJ took a needed rest after some time was spent trying to serve her. The process of trying to serve her started before she took leave.
    I realize this is what Daniel Lyons reported. But he has spread SCO lies and FUD in the past so I don't consider him a reliable source. I certainly don't consider anyone from SCO as a reliable source either.

    Do you have any independent evidence to back up Lyons' claim?

    Technician said:

    If she was tipped off that someone was stalking her (trying to serve her), I could easly understand her wanting to take some time off for her health.
    PJ had a series of health issues before taking time off. You seem to be implying that her claim to need time off to get her health back was phony.

    Perhaps you know nothing at all about PJ, but I know her through Groklaw and email exchanges. She has displayed more integrity than anyone else I know on the Internet. I find it odd that you choose to disbelieve her and yet you take the word of known liars as if it were gospel.

    I agree with you to the extent that I think it is possible that PJ's leave of absence was related to SCO's moves against her. But PJ took her leave of absence well before Lyons' story about her broke. I admit is it possible that Lyons and SCO are breaking with their long tradition of telling mostly lies and this time are telling the truth. But given their track record and the fact that their current, unverified, story makes PJ look bad, I'm going to have to see some proof before I believe them.

    In an ideal world, when you lie over and over and over again, people stop believing you.

    --
    We don't see the world as it is, we see it as we are.
    -- Anais Nin
  61. I wonder... by Xenographic · · Score: 4, Interesting

    > It takes a good reason to get a judge to squash but it CAN be done.

    Well, I've heard unsubstantiated rumors that she got a restraining order against SCO (perhaps after the Maureen O'Gara stalking bit?), so that would sound like one good reason to me.

    Another would be that I *really* have to wonder what she allegedly knows about--everything she's found, she's put up on Groklaw that I've seen. The only exception might be some sealed filings that SCO somehow... mistakenly... made available anyhow. PJ was too honest to even read them, so far as I know. She mentioned that she knew about them, preferred to do everything honestly.

    Oh, and IANAL, but you quash subpoenas :] There's no 's' in quash. Alas, PJ never posted an article on how subpoenas work, so I don't know enough to know what she might do, but I suspect she'll get a lawyer to handle it for her whenever she finds out about it.

    1. Re:I wonder... by Wite_Noiz · · Score: 0

      I was going to be a pedant and also point that out - but you saved me the trouble ;)

      However... I'm worried by this statement: "There's no 's' in quash" O_O

    2. Re:I wonder... by smellsofbikes · · Score: 2, Funny

      >Oh, and IANAL, but you quash subpoenas :] There's no 's' in quash.

      So that'd make it 'quah' then?

      --
      Nostalgia's not what it used to be.
    3. Re:I wonder... by babyrat · · Score: 1

      Oh, and IANAL, but you quash subpoenas :] There's no 's' in quash.

      IANASP (IANASpellingPerson), but I believe that there is one 's' in quash

    4. Re:I wonder... by Kitanin · · Score: 1

      IANAP (I am not a pedant), but there sure as shootin' is an 's' in quash. It's that squiggly letter in the penultimate spot.

      --


      Teach your kids: "C++ made baby Jesus cry."
    5. Re:I wonder... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      IANAL, but IAAL (linguist). Any linguist would know that while there is no /s/ in quash there is one, but not two 's''s

    6. Re:I wonder... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Any linguist would know that while there is no /s/ in quash there is one, but not two 's''s
      Don't you mean there is one <s>? :P
  62. Re:MAJOR NEWS: X11R7.2 now available! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Digg is dead.

    FOAD.

  63. Not yet... by ProfessionalCookie · · Score: 1

    I dunno about you but I'm waiting for the dupe.

    1. Re:Not yet... by StarfishOne · · Score: 1

      I think that the last thing SCO wants is a clone of PJ. ;)

  64. Re:Excrement? Negative. by ettlz · · Score: 2, Funny

    No shit.

  65. Ridiculous by Xenographic · · Score: 4, Insightful

    > King George swore up and down that Iraq had WMDs, did that make it so?

    PJ has a lot more credibility than Bush. I don't think anyone who knows anything about both of them could deny that at this point. I can't name any politician, however popular, with as much credibility as PJ, frankly.

    > If Stephen J. Vaughan-Nichols announces "aliens are real, I've seen them" tomorrow, is SETI going to shut down on Saturday?

    PJ isn't an alien (last I knew). Also, this claim isn't even new. I can't remember the exact articles off the top of my head, but I know they've mentioned meeting long before this. I remember PJ's article about visiting a Linux expo (it's too late for me tonight) and how she described all the people there, the speeches, etc. As well as how she was too shy to introduce herself to much of anyone. Even if you're a really good writer, I don't think you could fake things like that. Her desire for privacy has been constant... and well-founded after the Maureen O'Gara article detailing how SCO was stalking PJ, and how her locks had allegedly been tampered with by someone, etc.

    > If Bill Gates said he had met Pamela Jones, would the Slashdot community be so all-accepting?

    Hell yes! Given that the information indicating that Microsoft helped convince SCO's investors to give them money, he'd be the last person to vouch for her. As such, it would be something like an "admission against interest" which, in a court of law, is one of the few hearsay exemptions. In other words, a very good reason to think that what was said was reliable.

    > In fact, in my opinion, if she does exist but continues to not step forward, then she is even more childish than SCO is.

    Don't be stupid. She's already said that she's sick. We already know that she's a very private individual (always has been). And if she's being subpoenaed, she probably can't discuss it with us. That sucks, but it's just the way things work. That may even be SCO's intent.

    And what do you mean "does exist"? Clearly *someone* exists--those articles don't write themselves. If you've ever read Groklaw, you'd recognize her voice behind her words. I've made tons of comments, I've posted lots of stories from Groklaw over to here, many when I was too lazy to log in (like this one :P), and I've conversed with her in email, etc. I may not have met her in person, but I damn well recognize her. It's PJ. It has always been PJ. I don't know much else, but I damn well know that she exists and is just one person.

    Having played text based games for years, my "alt finding" ability is very high. I've identified many alts by their writing; everyone has a few little idiosyncrasies. PJ has plenty, like her particular sense of humor. Whoever PJ is, it's always been the same PJ and it's always been the same person. There's no doubt whatsoever in my mind, and I have several years worth of articles and comments to back that up.

    So let's take the converse--just what makes you think she doesn't exist? Why would you rely on Darl's speculation, the fellow who told us how SCO would definitely win this, how they had mountains of evidence (Judge Kimball already called him on that once), and who is now leading SCO into bankruptcy (see their SEC filings for proof), over the word of PJ, a woman who publicly turned down a great job opportunity because it might undermine her credibility?

  66. Re:Seeing is believing. Conversely.... by ggeens · · Score: 3, Interesting

    SCO wants to discredit Groklaw. That's all.

    If PJ doesn't show up in court, SCO can go on claiming she doesn't exists. If she does show up, she's in for a very nasty examination. SCO will probably want to go into details about PJ's private life, connections to IBM and Novell.

    Most likely, they won't find anything. But they might succeed in cracking PJ by forcing her out in the open.

    --
    WWTTD?
  67. re no... by JaJ_D · · Score: 1

    Hopefully, this statement will be enough to put those SCO-induced conspiracy theories to rest

    Er unlikely. Let's face it when has things like this stopepd SCO in the past...

    Jaj

  68. Sad by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    It's sad. SCO are drowning. Darl is trying to take his nemesis PJ with them: she's old, tired and not well, let's put her through the legal (and thus financial) wringer before we go bankrupt. SCO get Lyons at Forbes to write another trash story (I think we can all guess who the "person close to the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity" is -- hint, Stowell has resigned). Vaughan-Nichols is outraged at the sly phrasing of the failed subpoena service (many legal documents to individuals don't get served the first time, especially when the server hasn't called in advance) and writes his truth in response.

    It's difficult to think what PJ, as an observer of the SCO shenanigans rather than one of the primary parties, could possibly know that is not hearsay. And why that should be so voluminous or complex as to require a deposition rather than a statement. Harassment by lawyers is my call. The only redeeming fact is that there was some doubt about Boise's professional ethics -- now there is no doubt.

  69. Re:Seeing is believing. Conversely.... by killjoe · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Lets say PJ is a crack whore who gives blowjobs for drugs. Let's say SCO introduces this evidence in court. How does this help their case? What if she is an IBM lawyer how does this help SCO in the novell case?

    Note that I firmly believe that the american justice system is so insane and unpredictable that a judge would allow evidence of her crackwhoredom to be used in court. The american justice system is just a crapshoot, you are better off throwing dice then hoping to get a just or sane result from it.

    --
    evil is as evil does
  70. PJ is OK, but Darl is a mystery by flyingfsck · · Score: 1

    Was he born or was he invented?

    --
    Excuse me, but please get off my Pennisetum Clandestinum, eh!
    1. Re:PJ is OK, but Darl is a mystery by Aim+Here · · Score: 1

      c) Hatched in a jam jar by mad scientists

    2. Re:PJ is OK, but Darl is a mystery by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Was he born or was he invented?

      Spawned.

  71. PJ existence irrelevant by seanellis · · Score: 1

    ...probably not to PJ herself, obviously, but in terms of the material facts on the Groklaw website.

    Every substantive article on Groklaw has had extensive reference to the original court sources (Pacer, etc.). The facts are a matter of public record, and can be checked. And are checked by the members of the Groklaw community.

    This reminds me of the conversation in Dark Star, where Doolittle is trying to convince Bomb Number 20 not to explode by using solipsist reasoning:

    Doolittle: ...all you remember is merely a series of sensory impulses which you now realize have no real, definite connection with outside reality.

    Bomb #20: True. But since this is so, I have no real proof that you're telling me all this.

    Doolittle: That's all beside the point. I mean, the concept is valid no matter where it originates.

    This is why the PJ question is, for our purposes, also beside the point. For SCO, as for Bomb Number 20, the concepts are valid, no matter there they originate.

    1. Re:PJ existence irrelevant by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      It's not particularly important to the SCO vs. IBM case. It could be important if SCO attempted to sue groklaw or someone else.


      What's really fascinating here is that this isn't the first time someone has wanted to prove that PJ is or isn't a real person and they couldn't seem to find her. It's an important aspect of how we get and believe news, seeing Dan Rather and trusting him is a big part of it for a lot of people. I honestly don't know if PJ is real or not and I do think it's at least a little bit ironic that groklaw showed up when it did. In the 15 years or so I've been doing Linux and free software I've never seen anything like this. Personally, I believe that if you wish to stay anonymous, then don't blog.


      I can think of other famousish folks that have gained internet notoriety, gobbles and Solar Designer in the security world. We happen to know who Solar Designer is though. PJ uses what seems to be a real name or real sounding name.


      I'm in no way a SCO supporter but there is something about having this out spoken voice in a community of people that is very much against you and you can't look them in the eye, you don't even know what this leader looks like. Everyone knows that if she was somehow associated with Redhat, IBM, or any of a handful or law firms or other companies than groklaw looks like a complete joke; you need to know who a person is before you can really establish that trust one way or the other.

  72. score 2 .. bollix .. by rs232 · · Score: 1

    Okay, some guy says he's seen her.

    I hate to even sound like SCO might be right (Score:2, Insightful)

    Everything posted on Groklaw is already in the public domain. The only reason to subpoena her is to cause harassment. Is this insightful enough for you trolls.

    --
    davecb5620@gmail.com
  73. Re:Seeing is believing. Conversely.... by todslash · · Score: 1

    "Pamela, if you read this, please, give me a call. We just want to chat."
    "I'm Spartacus!"
  74. Re:Seeing is believing. Conversely.... by gtwilliams · · Score: 1

    I think you mean quash.

    --
    Garry Williams
  75. M$ by mwvdlee · · Score: 1

    I've seen people refer to MicroSoft as M$ before.
    But why isn't SCO referred to as $CO?

    --
    Slashdot social media options: AIM, ICQ, Yahoo, Jabber and Mobile Text. Why no MySpace?
    1. Re:M$ by Markspark · · Score: 1

      because they're running out of $ and hence, there is no point in using the $CO..

      --
      i find your lack of faith in science disturbing!
    2. Re:M$ by Vengeance · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yeah. At best they are SO.

      --
      It was a joke! When you give me that look it was a joke.
    3. Re:M$ by Vengeance · · Score: 1

      I hate it when I fail to preview... Completely ruins the joke.

      Ah well, looks like /. blocks the cent sign anyway.

      --
      It was a joke! When you give me that look it was a joke.
    4. Re:M$ by budgenator · · Score: 2, Funny

      because SCOX sounds like male genitalia and or fellatio.

      --
      Apocalypse Cancelled, Sorry, No Ticket Refunds
    5. Re:M$ by PinkPanther · · Score: 1

      At best they are SO.
      Is that software odor ?
      --
      It's a simple matter of complex programming.
    6. Re:M$ by allthingscode · · Score: 1

      No, more like "so?"

    7. Re:M$ by badasscat · · Score: 1

      Yeah. At best they are SO.

      I'm pretty sure you mean SOL.

      Or is it SOB?

    8. Re:M$ by rtb61 · · Score: 1
      Pretty obvious, because there really aren't any $$$ in SCO to make it $CO, anyhow, for a M$ flunky it would logically have to start or finish with a c as in s.

      Typically what happens to companies once M$ has finished using them up, as in, those companies are now worth some many cents on the dollar, if anything at all.

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
  76. Expert witness by mwvdlee · · Score: 1

    Since PJ hasn't been a party in any SCO lawsuit, other than commenting on them, her only role could be that of an expert witness.

    Even if PJ is a front for IBM, it is unlikely PJ has information that SCO isn't be able to obtain through IBM. And if PJ is a front for IBM then why would SCO expect PJ to disclose any information that IBM didn't already do.

    The only rational purpose for this action is the find out if PJ exists; PJ should be able to do that without actually having to show her face in public. Have some notaries meet her, gather evidence that it is really PJ (seeing her log in to groklaw and posting an article as PJ should do) and attest to PJ's existance and that should be the end of it.

    --
    Slashdot social media options: AIM, ICQ, Yahoo, Jabber and Mobile Text. Why no MySpace?
  77. Actually... (was: Re:You fools, don't you get it?) by cbv · · Score: 1

    ... I believe, PAMELA JONES is an anagram for J AM A SOLE PEN.

  78. this is better than .... by 3seas · · Score: 1

    The top soap opera on tv today.

    At what point does the court system need to be slapped for being silly and costing taxpayers for it?

    Seriously! given all the absolute bull shit we all have heard from the computer industry in general, including software patents (which came about in a small court room without public knowledge or proper freedback...) this witch hunt inquision (sp?) needs to stop right now.

    the stupidness and silliness has gone on way to long. If anything ut says a hell of a lot about the computer industy, and although many may argue that its only lawyers claiming to be SCO..... think about it... this which hunt situation wouldn't be allowed to exist if it weren't for the support of the clery of the computer industry, well including IBM.

    Seems all the players have some bull shit they want supported that results in enabling this foolishiness to exist and continue on and on...

    Consumer choice created OSS. A consumer with the know how to program, wrote a program and a license for it that got real popular with the public consumer base of those also smart enough to write programs under the same license too, and others who have become involved in many other ways.)

    It's consumer choice. Somebody needs to slap the court system into realizing that, and which should inturn prove they "get it" by slapping the bull shit computer industry and dropping software patents.

  79. adding to the fiction... by 3seas · · Score: 1

    other evidence of the wide spread scam of the computer industry comes in the form of MS charging licensing fees for linux.

    We all know bullying is common in the computer industry and it needs to stop.

    it's illegal in some countries...

    http://www.bullyinginstitute.org/

    and that its across companies instead of internal to a company, doesn't matter in this case as its foundation is that of "if you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshit" and there obviously hasn't been a whole lot of brilliance, more like just a lot of abstraction manipulation con's....

    sum total = bullying from an industry that can at times have the arrogance to think its an expert at everything and owns ... well... "all you base" didn't become popular for no reason...It's a joke based on honest observation of computer industry greed.

    The point of computing (programming) is to automate so to improve efficiency - and every body does it. It's part of being human, and its foundation is thinking in abstract terms.

    To disallow someone the ability to be non-stressed and productive is the essence of bullying.

  80. That's it? More is needed. by codefungus · · Score: 1

    One lowsy statement isnt' going to be enough. I think she needs to take a photo of her vigina and email it to a nutral party, like me. Once verified, I will post my decision here.

    --
    -- A cat is no trade for integrity!
  81. quaSh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yes, there is an 's' in quaSh.

  82. Re:Seeing is believing. Conversely.... by lathama · · Score: 1

    No I am Spartacus.....

    --
    The GPL, for those that truely understand.
  83. Re:Stephen J. Vaughan-Nichols by kevinT · · Score: 2, Informative

    Sorry folks - Way back before the internet as we know it - on the Santa Cruz forums of CompuServe, Stephen J. Vaughan-Nichols was one of the people that provided a lot of support and help to the poor, uneducated (then anyway) System Admin's of SCO machines.

    So yea, I believe SJVN is a real person.

    And yes, the company calling itself SCO is so totally screwed!

  84. Re:Seeing is believing. Conversely.... by hahiss · · Score: 5, Funny

    Lets say PJ is a crack whore who gives blowjobs for drugs. In that case the lawyers will probably treat her more nicely out of a sense of professional courtesy.

    --
    "Every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under." - H.L. Mencken
  85. Re:Seeing is believing. Conversely.... by technomom · · Score: 1

    PJ's desire for privacy is well known. So, I'm thinking SCO's move to depose her was a no-brainer for them. At worst, they correctly surmised that she'd "take a break" for a while trying to avoid the subpoena and trying to keep her privacy intact. At best for them, she gets deposed and they gag her from talking about the IBM and Novell cases.

    Of course, I don't think they foresaw Mathfox keeping Groklaw going. Groklaw is wounded but not down thanks to him.

    Hopefully the judge in Novell-SCO will put an end to this nonsense and call off the deposition.

    JoAnn

  86. Re:Seeing is believing. Conversely.... by petermgreen · · Score: 1

    Lets say PJ is a crack whore who gives blowjobs for drugs. Let's say SCO introduces this evidence in court. How does this help their case?
    you are making the mistake that all sco cares about is what the court decides.

    a company whose executives are trying to execute the dump part of a pump and dump really doesn't want thier name to be dragged through the dirt. So the pretty clear aim is to try and silence or discredit the person who is doing it to them.

    --
    note: i'm known as plugwash most places but i screwd up registering that here somehow in the past and now can't register
  87. Re:Seeing is believing. Conversely.... by budgenator · · Score: 1

    "your Honor, this man has no dick."

    --
    Apocalypse Cancelled, Sorry, No Ticket Refunds
  88. Re:Seeing is believing. Conversely.... by msobkow · · Score: 1


    The subpoena means that PJ would identify herself to the court and claim ownership of her postings in court. That allows them to be treated as expert testimony regarding the overall SCO proceedings.


    Personally I'd think Novell would be the one wanting to have that expertise brought to bear, not SCO. But SCO hasn't exactly made a lot of rational moves throughout this debacle.


    Darl probably just sticks his fingers in his ears and mutters a mantra whenever PJ and the Slashdot crew start talking about their farcical cases. Personally I don't believe anyone as deluded as Darl could ever have risen to such a position of power in any company, so he must be a figment of our imaginations. :p

    --
    I do not fail; I succeed at finding out what does not work.
  89. Well, if *he* says she's real... by Assmasher · · Score: 1

    ...then it must be an absolute and irrefutable fact. LOL.

    Personally, I think that if IBM wanted to discredit SCO they could do so publically with impunity via an IBM affiliation. No need to astro-turf with the Linux community. If your statements have merit the community will shout them out for you.

    Who would care if she was a front for IBM anyhow? It doesn't make Groklaw any less accurate.

    --
    Loading...
  90. I want them to subpoena Betty Crocker by Secrity · · Score: 1

    Even IF PJ was found to be a fictitious character, how would trusting that her articles are truthful be any different from trusting that Betty Crocker's recipes are genuine recipes?

  91. Re:Seeing is believing. Conversely.... by TechForensics · · Score: 1

    That's QUASHED, probably because if they say SSSQUASHED, lawyers sound too much like snakes.

    --
    Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others.
  92. Off course ... by trydk · · Score: 1

    Santa Claus exists, I have met him several times. He's a really nice guy. And he is definitely not a front for the Toy Manufacturers' Association.

  93. Novell;s Motion by jbeaupre · · Score: 1

    Hypothetical: Novell's motion to quash subpoena of fictitious individual. Novell should point out that they have no knowledge about PJ one way or the other. But relying on a statement from Darl McBride questioning her existence, the court should quash the subpoena. Obviously if the plaintiff does not believe in her existence, any such subpoena is a waste of court resources and SCO should be sanctioned accordingly.

    --
    The world is made by those who show up for the job.
  94. Re:Actually... (was: Re:You fools, don't you get i by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A SALMON JEEP

  95. Re:Small hole in theory by Technician · · Score: 1

    PJ had a series of health issues before taking time off. You seem to be implying that her claim to need time off to get her health back was phony.

    Actualy, I don't know her very well. There is enough questions on both sides, that I'm not ruling out the possibility. If she is using a pen name, it would be very easy to get wind of a server trying to contact her. An ID and name on a desk showing her as someone else provides deniability to the process server.

    I am probably entirely incorrect, but I am not ready to rule out possibilities in favor of anyone until we know more. Sorry I came across as pro-SCO (shudders, vomits). That was not intended. I hope they die big time in court. From what I do know of SCO, (some from PJ) I do recognise SCO as the sharks they are.

    --
    The truth shall set you free!
  96. It's not a real 's'! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's not a real 's', though. It's an 'sh' that's pining for the fjords! :-)

    1. Re:It's not a real 's'! by smellsofbikes · · Score: 1

      It's not pining, it's passed on.

      Or would that be, paed on?

      --
      Nostalgia's not what it used to be.
  97. Re:Seeing is believing. Conversely.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No, I'm Spartacus! And so is my wife!

  98. If you're gonna quote, do it right. by Associate · · Score: 1

    "Yes, it's true your Honor. This man has no dick."

    --
    Someone hates these cans.
  99. Re:Seeing is believing. Conversely.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    hmmm, big blue...

  100. A Front you say? by Foofaraw · · Score: 1

    Go get Tuttle!..Go get Tuttle! Oh he died you say.............

  101. whose money? by silicon+not+in+the+v · · Score: 1

    This is SCO money after all and not Darl's money.

    It's actually Novell's money. There is a Novell partial summary judgement motion pending before the court to get that money back.
    --
    We may experience some slight turbulence and then...explode. -Capt. Mal Reynolds
  102. Re:Seeing is believing. Conversely.... by bill_kress · · Score: 1

    Damn, I want to mod that as -1 offtopic just so I can give it another +1 funny

  103. Re:Seeing is believing. Conversely.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What, too many complaints from the snakes?

  104. Odd coincidences by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Say it ain't so, PJ. We don't need you to be just as slimy as Daryl. First the 'health break' just as they suboena you, now mysterious hardware outages?

    "...the RAID card is fried. Prognosis is that it will take till tomorrow EST to fix the machine. Groklaw will be down until then..."