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Penguin Car Earns Indy500 Spot
strredwolf writes "Despite generating over $12K in funds, well short of the $250K goal, the Tux 500 Project was able to secure a spot in the Indy 500 with driver Roberto Moreno piloting the Linux #77 Indy car. He's back in the pack in 31st place (only 5.5 MPH separates 31st place from 1st) but was able to secure it by re-qualifying with an average speed of 220.299 MPH. Will Moreno be able to pilot the penguin-tipped Indy car to victory next week at the 91st Indianapolis 500?"
First of all, how does this story claim "the rights after the fact"? It just reports what happened. Not that the tone of the story ("over 12k", "only 5.5MPH"!) helps, if this is the style the previous stories were submitted in, I'm not too sorry they weren't accepted. And did Taco really say that about this story? I recall it being their policy not to comment on why stories are/aren't accepted.
Personally, I'm not too interested in shelling out money for a tiny, barely visible picture of a fat penguin to be placed on a car nobody would be paying any attention anyway. But then, I don't particularly care for Linux. Still, having a blimp with a huge Linux logo hover over the track would do much more good IMO.
Anyway, I find something funny in the fact that they chose to associate Linux with driving in circles over and over. Next lap will be the lap of Linux on deskto^W^W^W where we get to the point scoring position!
I gotta love this place, any excuse to get out of doing something, let alone giving money to a worthwhile purpose. Kind of like that comment about this sites leadership who didn't care for the story and hence it wasn't made known to the community. One of the real reasons I find Digg so much more informing is that you don't have the site leadership slant you get here.
Look, there aren't asking for large sums from individuals. Throw them twenty bucks. At least it will be productive support instead of posts on random boards across the net proclaiming how much your type loves linux but "Project X" or "Project Y" isn't worthy of your support because of "pick a reason from the hat please"
Hell, do you associate with businesses that don't run Linux? Do you use products that don't use Linux? If so, whats your excuse? I mean, after all, if you won't support the mass advertisement this gains linux just because the car doesn't use it then you just don't get it. Linux isn't for EVERYTHING, but it damn well ain't going to be for much with people who hold others to requirements you never meet yourself.
* Winners compare their achievements to their goals, losers compare theirs to that of others.
Energize the community? To me it sounds like an unbelievably pointless waste of money. The failure to raise 250k probably reflects the community thinking much the same thing. Even assuming 250k were raised, I can think of dozens far more worthwhile open source projects that it could go towards.
Exactly, or something in the same vein but a bit more enlightened than burning an obscene amount of fuel just to go round in circles, for example a solar plane/car race or some kind of sailing sponsorship (much bigger penguins possible there).