As a UK local government councillor
If you are indeed a democratically elected officer of a Local Government body of some sort it is you job to set policy, not to concern yourself in any way with the implementation of that policy.
To do otherwise is to leave youself open to the charge that you have a serious conflict of interest. Don't do it. It's not worth the risk.
From your web page you claim to be a knowledgible sofware engineer.
yet you say this lot:-
When you're buying commercial software you get some or all of
a visit from a salesman
product brochures
a demonstration from an expert in the product
documentation
comprehensive on line help
a road map or new features release plan
clarity as to what you do and don't get in the support contract
and so on.
If you are the engineer you claim to be you simply do not need most of what you claim you need. Might I comment?
> a visit from a salesman
Who is usally a person who is more able to spout expansive claims than the truth of the matter.
> product brochures.
The purpose of a brochure is to impart sufficient information to a putative customer to grab interest while telling as little as possible so that the customer never learns the secrets of the product until the money changes hands. In the Free Software and Open source world these glossy half-truths are simply not required because you get to see the product warts and all from the very beginning.
>a demonstration from an expert in the product
drop the author an e-mail and pay his fare and a fee to come and see you.
>comprehensive on line help
The better FLOSS projects have this by the tank-full. A 24/7 irc channel is fairly normal, and will usually produce the answer to your immediate problem within minutes. Snoop around the channels on irc://freenode.net #gentoo is a good example. Watch people being helped. The raucus and totally public atmosphere is a bit un-nerving for the newboy who is used to getting information about a semi-secret product across a wide desk in private, but there is no need for privacy as there are no product secrets. If you need to keep your identity secret, pop along to an e-cafe and call yourself John_Brown or something.
>a road map or new features release plan
get on the project developers e-mail list and build the "road map" yourself by suggesting the new features you want. Either produce them yourself or hire somebody to do the work for you.
>clarity as to what you do and don't get in the support contract and so on.
All open and free software is very clear about this. Contractually you do not get any guarantee or support whatsoever unless you purchase it. When you do that you can negociate whatever arrangements suit your needs.
... because it only fuels the share price pump up. This means that the innocents of the world will lose even more money when this particular worthless 'House of Cards' inevitably comes tumbling down. In most juristictions of the world this SCO lark is considered illegal. Why does/. want to aid and abet this fraud?
... of the all the top level domains to a supra-national organisation, because the current system is so demonstably open to abuse. Entire domains being effectively stolen from small countries, unused sub-domains being stolen wholus-bolus. This criminal behaviour is totally unacceptable to any fair thinking person.
It's time that the rest of the world took control of the DNS away from the corrupt outfit that has highjacked it and the Government which allowed that to happen.
Perhaps UNESCO should run the DNS? That's the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation.
Wouldn't they have been able to challenge this lawsuit with a great deal of ease by pointing out that the RIAA illegally collected information about the online habits of someone under 13? If I'm correct the Child Online Protection Act prohibits collection of information about online behavior for those under 13 without parental consent.
Of course they would, had they known it.
This is one of the most outstanding examples of Corporate America's anti-social behaviour I have yet to see. They have stood over an essentially defenceless pair of unfortunates and demanded Two Grand out of them. Is extortion a legal activity in the US now? Just what do they think they are doing? It is this kind of behaviour which justifies in so many peoples minds the murderous actions which took place in New York just on two years ago. Note: Both acts are wrong and two wrongs never make a right. I am outraged by this. It's totally over the top. In just two words It's evil.
Could/. have quick whip-round and collect the money to pay off the extortionists? Perhaps not, that will only encourage them.
Re:It's not the size. It's how you use it.
on
Goodbye, Galileo
·
· Score: 1
The "Cosmac 1802" was a wonderful little machine which was very unfairly panned by the technical press of the day. Too difficult to program they said. What rot. They must have been absolutly dumboes. I made a 64 channel 8 bit telemetry system based on it during the late '70's early '80's. It worked well for many years monitoring a local authority's water supply tanks an pipelines. I used 3 of the registers and about 30 or 40 bytes of ROM to implement a FORTH machine inner intrepreter. Only one byte of program code to jump subroutine! The whole kit drew about 20 mA, if that, when in standby. Most of that was used by the EPROM. The project did not warrent the more expensive C-MOS ones. A complete telemetry computer in only 2 kilo-bytes ROM and 256 bytes RAM powered by Solar cells. Try to do that with the fancy chips availalable today.
... for GPL transgression?
I have downloaded a fairly large commercial package which used to on GNU/Linux (I upgraded my Linux kernel & it segfaults now:-). This program is distributed as a compiled binary which has been linked statically. The question to which I would like an answer is simply this:-
"Can I test this binary file so we can tell if it has transgressed the (L)GPL?" If so how?
The only way I see this working out in a fair and moral way for everybody concerned is for the Snapsters of the world to both record and host the content. Then they will be in the position of being able to licence the recordings to the CD production factories. I love the idea of play on demand sound libraries, with the artists being paid on a fee per play basis, and the XXXX outfits which currently hold the market to ransom being on the other side of the monopoly fence.
and give yourself a suitable daily ration, I set up 15 views. Then when the adverts start appearing you know it's time to get on with what you're supposed to be doing -- like filtering porn spam out of your e-mail, now that's a never ending task so you actually never have to do what you are supposed to be doing. Wonderful isn't it?:-)
Here is the plea from the author of a FSF-GNU free Source Code Control System literally begging for money:-
Desperate plea for money: While being horribly unemployed for a very long time, and not getting any support from IBM, RedHat, Suse, Mandrake, or Sun to work on arch, and living in the San Francisco Bay Area (where unemployment is through the roof), I've gone horribly, horribly into debt, just to keep alive. In spite of the stress of that: hey, look, here's arch. For roughly the past six months I've scraped by on individual contributions to my effort, mostly sent via Paypal or moneybookers. I don't think this is how free software R&D should really be funded -- but realistically, that's how it _is_ funded for now. So, if you'd like to see more software from me, I hope you'll consider tossing a few bucks my way. Thank you very much to all of those who have already done so.
The fact that some poor soul, living in the richest country in the world, who is prepared to 'do the right thing' by his fellow men is reduced to this in a 'civilised society' is just beyond my understanding of what I have thought civilisation to be.
On the other hand an author of a different SCCS who prefers to 'do the right thing' by his family has to write thus:-
Instead of trying to copy our work in violation of our license, you'd be
far better served by doing some new work. If you like SCM then either
work here, work on some other SCM unrelated to BK, or expect a costly
discussion with a lawyer. I realize this is an unpopular position but
that's tough, it's our code and our license and you obey the rules
or suffer the consequences. The license is a contract and it's an
enforceable contract, we have gone up against a company who spends more
on lawyers in a week than our annual gross revenues and successfully
enforced it.
Neither author is wrong, but the situations into which both of them have been forced are both very wrong . What to do about it? Could the FSF be slightly less free in its licencing policy so that use of the GNU system required a tiny contribution to a fund to support the folks who produce the free goodies which we all use and enjoy so much?
I'm on a pretty small pension, but don't mind paying a small fee for what I use and like -- see the * beside my name above. Neither should anybody else.
Just remember that next time you go to the doctor and he burbles on using words ending with the syllable...otomy, what he means is that he's coming after you with a very sharp knife to hack off some appendage or other. Run away as fast as your little legs will carry you!
Communication is of the essence for the prevention of the spread of diease. When is somebody going to set up an irc server here?
irc://irc.who.int
Could somebody near the centre of the action tell Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, or
her Dr Jong-wook Lee, her replacement, about irc. A Slashcode server would not be a bad idea either.
So it's illegal for me to write a little story about little Peter levitating on his grotty potty?
That's a total abuse of International Copyright laws.
J. K. Rowling and Bloomsbury Publishing, by their very sucess, now have zero incentive to write and publish another word, becuse they now have more money than they can possibly spend in dozens of lifetimes. Essentially I'm sure this is what cause the huge delay in bringing out the latest book. Naturally enough other authors and publishers grabbed the opportunity created by the delay. In this purportedly free world, that's fair.
Slashdot Mirror
... fail to answer the most important question which is:-
Will it run Linux supporting the modem and video?
If you are indeed a democratically elected officer of a Local Government body of some sort it is you job to set policy, not to concern yourself in any way with the implementation of that policy. To do otherwise is to leave youself open to the charge that you have a serious conflict of interest. Don't do it. It's not worth the risk.
From your web page you claim to be a knowledgible sofware engineer. yet you say this lot:- When you're buying commercial software you get some or all of
- a visit from a salesman
- product brochures
- a demonstration from an expert in the product
- documentation
- comprehensive on line help
- a road map or new features release plan
- clarity as to what you do and don't get in the support contract
and so on.
If you are the engineer you claim to be you simply do not need most of what you claim you need. Might I comment?> a visit from a salesman
Who is usally a person who is more able to spout expansive claims than the truth of the matter.
> product brochures.
The purpose of a brochure is to impart sufficient information to a putative customer to grab interest while telling as little as possible so that the customer never learns the secrets of the product until the money changes hands. In the Free Software and Open source world these glossy half-truths are simply not required because you get to see the product warts and all from the very beginning.
>a demonstration from an expert in the product
drop the author an e-mail and pay his fare and a fee to come and see you.
>comprehensive on line help
The better FLOSS projects have this by the tank-full. A 24/7 irc channel is fairly normal, and will usually produce the answer to your immediate problem within minutes. Snoop around the channels on irc://freenode.net #gentoo is a good example. Watch people being helped. The raucus and totally public atmosphere is a bit un-nerving for the newboy who is used to getting information about a semi-secret product across a wide desk in private, but there is no need for privacy as there are no product secrets. If you need to keep your identity secret, pop along to an e-cafe and call yourself John_Brown or something.
>a road map or new features release plan
get on the project developers e-mail list and build the "road map" yourself by suggesting the new features you want. Either produce them yourself or hire somebody to do the work for you.
>clarity as to what you do and don't get in the support contract and so on.
All open and free software is very clear about this. Contractually you do not get any guarantee or support whatsoever unless you purchase it. When you do that you can negociate whatever arrangements suit your needs.
Welcome to the GNU world.
stuffed your spelling for sure.
s/affect/effect/
... because it only fuels the share price pump up. /. want to aid and abet this fraud?
This means that the innocents of the world will lose even more money when this particular worthless 'House of Cards' inevitably comes tumbling down. In most juristictions of the world this SCO lark is considered illegal. Why does
... been a Quill. Truely.
Ah, but can you buy a naked Mac without the cost of Darwin and O/S X?
It's time that the rest of the world took control of the DNS away from the corrupt outfit that has highjacked it and the Government which allowed that to happen.
Perhaps UNESCO should run the DNS?
That's the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation.
... 22Megs, because I've been saving it to train Spamoricle.
Post your e-mail address here and I'll send the spam.tar.bz2 file to it.
There, what could be more helpful?
Does this prove that the ideograph languages are better at getting the message across?
And the next time you call yourself an "artist",
don't forget to put the prefix "con" in front of what you call your calling.
Of course they would, had they known it.
This is one of the most outstanding examples of Corporate America's anti-social behaviour I have yet to see. They have stood over an essentially defenceless pair of unfortunates and demanded Two Grand out of them. Is extortion a legal activity in the US now? Just what do they think they are doing? It is this kind of behaviour which justifies in so many peoples minds the murderous actions which took place in New York just on two years ago. Note: Both acts are wrong and two wrongs never make a right. I am outraged by this. It's totally over the top. In just two words It's evil.
Could /. have quick whip-round and collect the money to pay off the extortionists? Perhaps not, that will only encourage them.
The "Cosmac 1802" was a wonderful little machine which was very unfairly panned by the technical press of the day. Too difficult to program they said. What rot. They must have been absolutly dumboes. I made a 64 channel 8 bit telemetry system based on it during the late '70's early '80's. It worked well for many years monitoring a local authority's water supply tanks an pipelines. I used 3 of the registers and about 30 or 40 bytes of ROM to implement a FORTH machine inner intrepreter. Only one byte of program code to jump subroutine! The whole kit drew about 20 mA, if that, when in standby. Most of that was used by the EPROM. The project did not warrent the more expensive C-MOS ones. A complete telemetry computer in only 2 kilo-bytes ROM and 256 bytes RAM powered by Solar cells. Try to do that with the fancy chips availalable today.
... Real Digital Currency.
This is shocking, and makes me wonder how should I backup my data, photo and music collection.
On 9 track tape. The very idea might be funny to some but 9 track tape was superbly secure.
"Can I test this binary file so we can tell if it has transgressed the (L)GPL?"
If so how?
which might interest you is:
Mathematics for the Million by Lancelot Hogben.
A down to earth treatise for the ordinary person.
The only way I see this working out in a fair and moral way for everybody concerned is for the Snapsters of the world to both record and host the content. Then they will be in the position of being able to licence the recordings to the CD production factories. I love the idea of play on demand sound libraries, with the artists being paid on a fee per play basis, and the XXXX outfits which currently hold the market to ransom being on the other side of the monopoly fence.
and give yourself a suitable daily ration, I set up 15 views. Then when the adverts start appearing you know it's time to get on with what you're supposed to be doing -- like filtering porn spam out of your e-mail, now that's a never ending task so you actually never have to do what you are supposed to be doing. Wonderful isn't it? :-)
Desperate plea for money: While being horribly unemployed for a very long time, and not getting any support from IBM, RedHat, Suse, Mandrake, or Sun to work on arch, and living in the San Francisco Bay Area (where unemployment is through the roof), I've gone horribly, horribly into debt, just to keep alive. In spite of the stress of that: hey, look, here's arch. For roughly the past six months I've scraped by on individual contributions to my effort, mostly sent via Paypal or moneybookers. I don't think this is how free software R&D should really be funded -- but realistically, that's how it _is_ funded for now. So, if you'd like to see more software from me, I hope you'll consider tossing a few bucks my way. Thank you very much to all of those who have already done so.
The fact that some poor soul, living in the richest country in the world, who is prepared to 'do the right thing' by his fellow men is reduced to this in a 'civilised society' is just beyond my understanding of what I have thought civilisation to be.
On the other hand an author of a different SCCS who prefers to 'do the right thing' by his family has to write thus:-
Instead of trying to copy our work in violation of our license, you'd be far better served by doing some new work. If you like SCM then either work here, work on some other SCM unrelated to BK, or expect a costly discussion with a lawyer. I realize this is an unpopular position but that's tough, it's our code and our license and you obey the rules or suffer the consequences. The license is a contract and it's an enforceable contract, we have gone up against a company who spends more on lawyers in a week than our annual gross revenues and successfully enforced it.
Neither author is wrong, but the situations into which both of them have been forced are both very wrong . What to do about it? Could the FSF be slightly less free in its licencing policy so that use of the GNU system required a tiny contribution to a fund to support the folks who produce the free goodies which we all use and enjoy so much? I'm on a pretty small pension, but don't mind paying a small fee for what I use and like -- see the * beside my name above. Neither should anybody else.
The site www.undp.org.af is running Microsoft-IIS/5.0 behind a computer running Solaris 8.
What a pity!
It's not interesting, it's funny.
Interesting application of Ghostscript
The Medical profession is even worse.
...otomy, what he means is that he's coming after you with a very sharp knife to hack off some appendage or other.
Just remember that next time you go to the doctor and he burbles on using words ending with the syllable
Run away as fast as your little legs will carry you!
When is somebody going to set up an irc server here?
irc://irc.who.int
Could somebody near the centre of the action tell Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, or her Dr Jong-wook Lee, her replacement, about irc. A Slashcode server would not be a bad idea either.
It might save quite a few lives one day.
So it's illegal for me to write a little story about little Peter levitating on his grotty potty?
That's a total abuse of International Copyright laws.
J. K. Rowling and Bloomsbury Publishing, by their very sucess, now have zero incentive to write and publish another word, becuse they now have more money than they can possibly spend in dozens of lifetimes. Essentially I'm sure this is what cause the huge delay in bringing out the latest book. Naturally enough other authors and publishers grabbed the opportunity created by the delay. In this purportedly free world, that's fair.
Copyright, or Copywrong? The latter, surely!