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Maddog's New Hampshire "Unix" Plate Turns 20

An anonymous reader writes "Local newspaper talks to Linux International's Jon 'maddog' Hall, who lives in New Hampshire, and who since 1989 has had a 'Live Free or Die' UNIX license plate — a real one, not a conference hand-out — on his Jeep. From the story: 'The day he installed the UNIX plates, he went early to work at DEC's office on Spit Brook Road in Nashua, to be sure to get the parking space right next to the door used by all the Unix engineers. He watched them come in and, one after another, do a double take at seeing the real-world version of the famous fake plate. "People would race in and yell, 'Who is it? Whose plate is it?!?'" Hall said. It was his then and it is his now. After 20 years, one suspects you will have to pry it from his cold, dead fingers.'"

30 of 212 comments (clear)

  1. Let's see how long he can keep it. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    It's little known in the nerd community that "unix" has also negative conotations for example in certain ghettos in california an unix is a one-legged chinese hooker.
    I wonder how long it takes until someone is offended.

    1. Re:Let's see how long he can keep it. by JerkBoB · · Score: 5, Funny

      a one-legged chinese hooker.

      ... named Irene?

      --
      A host is a host from coast to coast...
      Unless it's down, or slow, or fails to POST!
    2. Re:Let's see how long he can keep it. by Idiomatick · · Score: 4, Funny

      Eunuchs?

    3. Re:Let's see how long he can keep it. by vyruss000 · · Score: 2, Funny

      a one-legged chinese hooker.

      ... named Irene?

      No... named Eileen!

  2. I've seen a LINUX plate in Danbury, CT by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I saw a chick driving a car with a Connecticut LINUX plate in Danbury. I just about divorced my wife right then and there. :)

    1. Re:I've seen a LINUX plate in Danbury, CT by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

      Yeah that happened to me too! But before you could do that your mom woke you up, right? ;)

    2. Re:I've seen a LINUX plate in Danbury, CT by DoofusOfDeath · · Score: 2, Funny

      You almost left your wife for a hard-core cleaning lady???

      Damn, dude, time for some marital counseling.

  3. Exactly how many are there...? by macraig · · Score: 3, Funny

    From TOFA:

    "The combination of "Live Free or Die" and "UNIX" on his Jeep Wrangler is the most celebrated New Hampshire license plate in the entire world!"

    Exactly how many are there?

    1. Re:Exactly how many are there...? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      We here in Sweden celebrate New Hampshire license plates all the time. And this one is certainly the most celebrated here, without a doubt. I mean.. Why wouldn't we celebrate a license plate from New Hampshire? It would be silly not to really.

    2. Re:Exactly how many are there...? by nebaz · · Score: 4, Funny

      Live, Freeze, and Die.

      --
      Rhymes that keep their secrets will unfold behind the clouds.There upon the rainbow is the answer to a neverending story
    3. Re:Exactly how many are there...? by Linker3000 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Ah yes, the famous Swedish Hampplattrsdag! I understand you even have a crispbread shaped like the plate.

      Here in the UK we named a county 'Hampshire' in honour. I have the misfortune to live 'next door' in West Sussex, but I am considering moving.

      --
      AT&ROFLMAO
    4. Re:Exactly how many are there...? by Bysshe · · Score: 5, Funny

      That was the windows version.

      --
      Read what I mean, not what I wrote.
    5. Re:Exactly how many are there...? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Wi nøt trei a høliday in Sweden this yer?

      See the løveli lakes

      The wonderful telephøne system

      And mani interesting furry animals

  4. BeOS on Quebec Plate by srussia · · Score: 4, Funny

    " Je me souviens."

    --
    Set your phasers on "funky"!
    1. Re:BeOS on Quebec Plate by Nerdfest · · Score: 4, Funny

      I am soup?

    2. Re:BeOS on Quebec Plate by srussia · · Score: 4, Funny

      Pas de soupe pour vous!

      --
      Set your phasers on "funky"!
    3. Re:BeOS on Quebec Plate by jonaskoelker · · Score: 2, Funny

      Pass the soup, poor voice?

  5. Re:Very cool... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    What about their sister Ulva Daphne?

  6. Re:Cool Plate -- Had Mine Sometime Before That by Paracelcus · · Score: 2, Funny

    I can never remember my license plate numbers, so I have UNIX and Linux bumper stickers right next to them.

    --
    I killed da wabbit -Elmer Fudd
  7. Re:Very cool... by dotgain · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yeah, I don't remember quite having the same connection with her.

  8. "Live Free or Die" by FlyingSquidStudios · · Score: 2, Funny

    I don't believe the latter is optional.

  9. Re:Very cool... by TinBromide · · Score: 4, Funny

    All give, no take?

    --
    Is it sad that I am more likely to recognize you and your posts by your sig than your name or UID?
  10. What a wuss! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    MY license plate says: /dev/car

    Which makes me the device driver!

  11. Mød parent døwn by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    And mani interesting furry animals

    Not funny. A møøse one bit my sister :(

  12. Went to work early? by MrDelSarto · · Score: 5, Funny

    To beat a bunch of UNIX engineers? I guess he got in at about 10.30am

  13. Re:staple? by ciderVisor · · Score: 4, Funny

    I don't think that author understands the meaning of staple.

    Excuse me, I believe you have my stapler...

    --
    Squirrel!
  14. Re:Very cool... by Nethead · · Score: 5, Funny

    Unreliable.

    --
    -- I have a private email server in my basement.
  15. Re:Very cool... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Maybe, but I heard she's fast.

  16. That explains Steve Ballmer's NH license plate by commodoresloat · · Score: 4, Funny

    MICRO~1

  17. Another NH plate celbrated in Sweden by commodoresloat · · Score: 2, Funny

    the one that says BORK