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Library of Congress's $3M Deal With Microsoft
Cory Doctorow sounds the alarm over a Library of Congress deal with Microsoft that will have collections locked up in Silverlight. I'll double the Microsoft deal and offer them $6M in perl scripts and an infinite value of free OS software if they let me (or Google or any other honest company) publish their collections in free formats. "This deal involves the donation of 'technology, services and funding' (e.g., mostly not money) with a purported value of $3M from Microsoft to the Library of Congress. The Library, in turn, agrees to put kiosks running Vista in the library and to use Microsoft Silverlight to 'help power the library's new Web site, www.myloc.gov.'"
Well, we are running a deficit. I guess the government needed the $3 million dollars.
Yeah, I'd be fine with that so long as I can still readily buy Cokes elsewhere, or even if I preferred Pepsi in the first place. What I *wouldn't* be fine with is having to buy a Pepsi-opener in order to view publicly-funded archives of my nation's history (er, to drink the free soda my government is entrusted with preserving for the benefit of all humankind--hey, it was *your* analogy!).
Ok, lets take this a step further:
Lets say Apple purchases Coke. And then they change the bottle so that any nonofficial iBottle opener will ruin the taste of the product.
How would you feel about that?
Dear Library Of Congress,
We are interested in donating $3m USD in technology, services, and funding if you will use kiosks powered by Windows Vista and Silverlight.
If you choose not to accept our offer, we reserve the right to pursue all necessary steps to ensure that the Library Of Congress's patrons are provided with the opportunity to realize the value inherent in our proposal.
We will fuck with you if we have to.
Sincerely,
General Presidente Señor Lanzero de Sillónes Ballmero
La Republica de Bananas de Redmondia
Rich And Stupid is not so bad as Working For Rich And Stupid.
Yeah, but it's Microsoft. All of their products are flawless upon launch. Just look at the perfect launches of XP and Vista, neither had any issues whatsoever.
What's that in LOCs?
Uh, wait...
I have no problem with your religion until you decide it's reason to deprive others of the truth.
How about the General Error Reporting page? It says that it's for reporting technical problems....
Please don't call Hillary a hooker,that is just mean.What did the poor hookers ever do to you?
ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.