While I wouldn't agree that Microsoft provides excellent documentation (trying to figure out how to accomplish task x through the Win32 API the first time can be hellish), I do agree that most open-source projects, at least the ones that I've encountered, have little documentation, no documentation, or very poor documentation for use by either future developers or end-users.
I feel that a lack of coherent man pages or other help files designed with the end-user in mind is one of the reasons that Linux is commonly viewed as "too hard". When one wants to accomplish a relatively simple task, one shouldn't have to consult 4 wikis, 2 IRC channels and countless HOWTOS to get the answer because the help file sucks. One incident that comes to mind was the Help system in Ubuntu 5.04 "Hoary Hedgehog", where several topics consisted of "Fill this in later".
The problem with an individual running as an Independent in Canada is twofold:
1) Independent members of Parliament have very little effect on votes in the House; they're just one face among 308..3% does not count for much in a vote.
2) More importantly, it costs in the neighbourhood of $50,000 (iirc) to appear on the ballot. If you get a certain percentage of the national popular vote, you obtain Official Party Status. Obviously, an Independent will not attain Official Party Status, so will have to pony up $50,000 for each election. I don't know about you, but I can't see myself finding that kind of spare cash every 1-5 years. Also, in larger provinces like Ontario, it's not that hard for an independent to win 1 riding out of 20-odd, but in smaller areas, such as the 3 Territories, the entire area is 1 riding. That means that some Independent has to come from nowhere and gain 50% of the entire territory's vote. Not happening.
Instead of running as irate Independents, how about we remember that it isn't a two-party system?
"Liberal" = Centrist political party. The name is a holdover from when it was pretty much a 2-party system, i.e. Conservatives vs. Liberals. Referred to as "The Liberal Party" or "Big-L liberals".
"liberal" = The standard definition of a political Liberal. Generally represented by the NDP, although smaller niche parties such as the Green Party, the Canadian Communist Party, the Canadian Marxist-Leninist Party and others exist to cater to varying leftist sensibilities and political ideals. Referred to as "small-L liberals".
Of course, if the U.S hadn't backed the coup overthrowing Prime Minister Mossadegh in 1953, the Ayatollah probably wouldn't have become politically active; would not have been exiled; and would not have led the Islamic Revolution in '79. The Iran-Iraq war would not have happened, Hussein would not have been supported, as there was no theocracy to fight, and there would have been no reason for the U.S to be currently involved in Iraq, and thus there would be no issue of Shi'a theocracies.
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While I wouldn't agree that Microsoft provides excellent documentation (trying to figure out how to accomplish task x through the Win32 API the first time can be hellish), I do agree that most open-source projects, at least the ones that I've encountered, have little documentation, no documentation, or very poor documentation for use by either future developers or end-users.
I feel that a lack of coherent man pages or other help files designed with the end-user in mind is one of the reasons that Linux is commonly viewed as "too hard". When one wants to accomplish a relatively simple task, one shouldn't have to consult 4 wikis, 2 IRC channels and countless HOWTOS to get the answer because the help file sucks. One incident that comes to mind was the Help system in Ubuntu 5.04 "Hoary Hedgehog", where several topics consisted of "Fill this in later".
The problem with an individual running as an Independent in Canada is twofold: 1) Independent members of Parliament have very little effect on votes in the House; they're just one face among 308. .3% does not count for much in a vote.
2) More importantly, it costs in the neighbourhood of $50,000 (iirc) to appear on the ballot. If you get a certain percentage of the national popular vote, you obtain Official Party Status. Obviously, an Independent will not attain Official Party Status, so will have to pony up $50,000 for each election. I don't know about you, but I can't see myself finding that kind of spare cash every 1-5 years. Also, in larger provinces like Ontario, it's not that hard for an independent to win 1 riding out of 20-odd, but in smaller areas, such as the 3 Territories, the entire area is 1 riding. That means that some Independent has to come from nowhere and gain 50% of the entire territory's vote. Not happening.
Instead of running as irate Independents, how about we remember that it isn't a two-party system?
In Canada:
:-)
"Liberal" = Centrist political party. The name is a holdover from when it was pretty much a 2-party system, i.e. Conservatives vs. Liberals. Referred to as "The Liberal Party" or "Big-L liberals".
"liberal" = The standard definition of a political Liberal. Generally represented by the NDP, although smaller niche parties such as the Green Party, the Canadian Communist Party, the Canadian Marxist-Leninist Party and others exist to cater to varying leftist sensibilities and political ideals. Referred to as "small-L liberals".
Hope that helped.
Of course, if the U.S hadn't backed the coup overthrowing Prime Minister Mossadegh in 1953, the Ayatollah probably wouldn't have become politically active; would not have been exiled; and would not have led the Islamic Revolution in '79. The Iran-Iraq war would not have happened, Hussein would not have been supported, as there was no theocracy to fight, and there would have been no reason for the U.S to be currently involved in Iraq, and thus there would be no issue of Shi'a theocracies.