The new MAX tunnel in Portland, OR contains pi digits that are rumored to be incorrect. We're going to look for those, eat pie, and see if we can find a copy of the proposed Indiana legislation to make pi=3 (yes, just 3, like in the Bible).
-- As long as each individual is facing the TV tube alone, formal freedom poses no threat to privilege.
Are they going to put it on shelves? Please say they are going to put it on shelves. It would suck if it were a downloadable add-on or special order item.
svgalib or X?
-- As long as each individual is facing the TV tube alone, formal freedom poses no threat to privilege.
Celebrity certainly is fleeting. Ironically, this ESR "backlash" seems to be exactly what ESR himself predicts in his essays.
Several months ago, ESR was cranking aout the essays. They were and are outstanding essays, and what I would call a "good gift", and we all revered him for it. Then ESR annotated and released the Halloween Documents. Also good gifts.
Today however, Linus continues to give gifts, De Icaza gives gifts, Malda gives gifts, and Rasterman gives gifts. They are still in high esteem.
ESR seems to have stopped giving good gifts and started just saying stuff, and some people have started to get upset.
I would say the same of RMS, but IMO RMS has given the ultimate gift. Granddaddy RMS will stay off my list as a professional courtesy.:-)
-- As long as each individual is facing the TV tube alone, formal freedom poses no threat to privilege.
Remember the issue of Forbes with flowerchild Linus on the cover? It had a keen and very clueful story about IBM's negotiations with the Apache group; and how it was not money, but IBM's offer of privilaged access to the Win32 API that closed the "deal".
This indicates to me that IBM really does seem to "get it". I couldn't venture to explain why. Maybe they still have some 60's-era hackers on staff waxing nostalgic.
I'm kind of looking forward to the IBM distro, too. I hope they contribute, and not just assemble.
-- As long as each individual is facing the TV tube alone, formal freedom poses no threat to privilege.
Me too. Eric's essays (especially Homesteading the Noosphere) make me make the same eureka neuron connection[*].
In a world of supposed plenty, there is no reason why a kalahari-style gift economy could not take root. All this advertising-to-create-demand-that-doesn't-exist is really backward. In fact, chapters 3-5 of Capital seem more relevant today than in 1840 when it was written.
Boy that's off-topic.
[*] if ESR is reading, i think this should be inducted into the Jargon File.
-- As long as each individual is facing the TV tube alone, formal freedom poses no threat to privilege.
Let me clue you in on some harsh realities of microsoft's continued success.
MS does not have much in the way of assets, just office space and vested pseudo-geeks. It may suprise you, but most MS employees don't make all that much money compared to other software firms. People stay and work there because they can get rich quick cashing in their stock options after a year or two.
So to keep their geeks in line, MS has to break it's own earnings records every quarter. So far it has done so, but its getting harder and harder. This is why they have to overcharge for Win98, why they changed the licensing for Office, and why they will be cripling some (of now 5) versions of Windows 2000 in order to charge more for the high-end versions. There have also been allegations that MS has been cooking their books.
In a nutshell, MS need only have a couple quarters of expected or below-expected earnings to take a hit in their stock value and completely fall apart. I anticipate this may be the year.
-- As long as each individual is facing the TV tube alone, formal freedom poses no threat to privilege.
I think Scott might not ever be as neurotic as Bill, but he could end up more evil.
I heard an anecdote about how Scott found some Compaq monitors in one of his buildings, went ballistic and demand that they be removed IMMEDIATELY. (Scott's veins bulge out when he gets mad, too).
Someone had to calmly remind him later that his company did make Solaris for the x86:-)
So, no, I don't think he can stand competition any more than Bill can. Which is why I'm a happy Linus supporter.
-- As long as each individual is facing the TV tube alone, formal freedom poses no threat to privilege.
"Cast your bread upon the water" as my dad likes to say.
The whole point of the GPL is that other people can't take your code and use it to shaft you. If you make a program, GPL it, and company X modifies the code, thank them for their contribution. You as the inventor still hold the trademark on the name.
I think Sendmail is the perfect example of this model. Sure, I can download and install it myself, but then I know how to do that. Most folks wouldn't want to try, and I don't think that will change. Will companies still pay a hefty sum to have the personal attention and support of the inventor? You bet they will! My company would pay for support contracts on ballpoint pens if they were available.
That, and if it's good code you will be revered as a wise and holy man by your adoptors. Then you can write essays and books and sit on panels at expo's.
-- As long as each individual is facing the TV tube alone, formal freedom poses no threat to privilege.
We have a compliment of 15-20 Sun Enterprise servers for imaging and insurance apps we purchased. The cost of the proprietary software is almost neglegible compared to the total cost of the project (this is the argument MS likes to make against Linux). What we spend most for is (a) people on staff to maintain the code (to the tune of $70-$80K per year), and (b) a hefty annual support contract in case our maintainers get stumped. That's 3 lucrative full-time jobs made by just our division of the company.
About a year ago, I proposed we ditch HP OpenView for our network monitoring, and go with a free solution (Sean MacLawran's BigBrother + Sendpage). I used old desktops, a spare modem, an extra outside analog line, and 1 copy of Caldera OpenLinux.
Total hardware cost: $0 Total software cost: $49.00
Everybody got shafted and nobody got paid, right? Not really. Because of business requirements:
Annual support contract from Caldera: $1200.00
And because everybody wants constant changes to the system (ie, why does this keep paging me, how can you make the system do X), we needed a Perl programmer (me) to make the configurations and maintain the system.
1 Linux admin/programmer: $65,000/year
If the product were not Open Source, this position would never exist, because no one can make changes to a closed system. Multiply me by the number of companies that might adopt the product. If anything, we need more programmers, not fewer.
just my $0.02
-- As long as each individual is facing the TV tube alone, formal freedom poses no threat to privilege.
You work for Microsoft, and have one of those "f*ck you, I'm fully vested" lapel buttons, huh.
Some of us believe in quality over profits, and don't want programming decisions dictated to us by the marketing department. Our kind will grind your kind under the heels of our boots.
-- As long as each individual is facing the TV tube alone, formal freedom poses no threat to privilege.
Slashdot Mirror
I was quite seriously on my way out the door to see WC when I decided to check slashdot again.
--
As long as each individual is facing the TV tube alone, formal freedom poses no threat to privilege.
I'm thinking of the part in the bible where it says some altar was 1 cubit across and three cubits around or something, making pi=3.
Indiana tried to make pi legally 3 simply because the bible says so.
--
As long as each individual is facing the TV tube alone, formal freedom poses no threat to privilege.
Light rail tunnel. The New E W one.
The engineers wrote pi to some couple thousand places on the tunnel wall. Maybe as a reference, can't say.
--
As long as each individual is facing the TV tube alone, formal freedom poses no threat to privilege.
A disease-based theme...
What a fantastic idea!
I'll start on it now!
--
As long as each individual is facing the TV tube alone, formal freedom poses no threat to privilege.
This version won't work with Imlib 1.9.4, it wants '1.8.2 or higher.'
WTF???
--
As long as each individual is facing the TV tube alone, formal freedom poses no threat to privilege.
sakura.aracnet.com/enlightenment-0.15.0.tar.gz
Be gentle.
--
As long as each individual is facing the TV tube alone, formal freedom poses no threat to privilege.
The new MAX tunnel in Portland, OR contains pi digits that are rumored to be incorrect. We're going to look for those, eat pie, and see if we can find a copy of the proposed Indiana legislation to make pi=3 (yes, just 3, like in the Bible).
--
As long as each individual is facing the TV tube alone, formal freedom poses no threat to privilege.
I agree with the CDE, KDE, and StarOffice indictment, but I don't see how Applix is bloated.
--
As long as each individual is facing the TV tube alone, formal freedom poses no threat to privilege.
Stallman will stay off my list of heros-turned-lusers out of this incredible respect I have for the man.
:-P
Didn't I just say that?
--
As long as each individual is facing the TV tube alone, formal freedom poses no threat to privilege.
Are they going to put it on shelves?
Please say they are going to put it on shelves. It would suck if it were a downloadable add-on or special order item.
svgalib or X?
--
As long as each individual is facing the TV tube alone, formal freedom poses no threat to privilege.
and Linux can't. Stamp out all remaining office competitors, then yank office away and let Linux flap in the wind.
--
As long as each individual is facing the TV tube alone, formal freedom poses no threat to privilege.
Neener neener neener!
Nonny nonny boo boo!
Deedle deedle deedle!
Anyway, they said only 2000 people signed up.
That's pathetic, folks. Next time they need a good slashdotting.
--
As long as each individual is facing the TV tube alone, formal freedom poses no threat to privilege.
Celebrity certainly is fleeting. Ironically, this ESR "backlash" seems to be exactly what ESR himself predicts in his essays.
:-)
Several months ago, ESR was cranking aout the essays. They were and are outstanding essays, and what I would call a "good gift", and we all revered him for it. Then ESR annotated and released the Halloween Documents. Also good gifts.
Today however, Linus continues to give gifts, De Icaza gives gifts, Malda gives gifts, and Rasterman gives gifts. They are still in high esteem.
ESR seems to have stopped giving good gifts and started just saying stuff, and some people have started to get upset.
I would say the same of RMS, but IMO RMS has given the ultimate gift. Granddaddy RMS will stay off my list as a professional courtesy.
--
As long as each individual is facing the TV tube alone, formal freedom poses no threat to privilege.
Remember the issue of Forbes with flowerchild Linus on the cover? It had a keen and very clueful story about IBM's negotiations with the Apache group; and how it was not money, but IBM's offer of privilaged access to the Win32 API that closed the "deal".
This indicates to me that IBM really does seem to "get it". I couldn't venture to explain why. Maybe they still have some 60's-era hackers on staff waxing nostalgic.
I'm kind of looking forward to the IBM distro, too. I hope they contribute, and not just assemble.
--
As long as each individual is facing the TV tube alone, formal freedom poses no threat to privilege.
Me too. Eric's essays (especially Homesteading the Noosphere) make me make the same eureka neuron connection[*].
In a world of supposed plenty, there is no reason why a kalahari-style gift economy could not take root. All this advertising-to-create-demand-that-doesn't-exist is really backward. In fact, chapters 3-5 of Capital seem more relevant today than in 1840 when it was written.
Boy that's off-topic.
[*] if ESR is reading, i think this should be inducted into the Jargon File.
--
As long as each individual is facing the TV tube alone, formal freedom poses no threat to privilege.
I don't want to hear about how /. promoted your book! Post something substantive or go advertise somewhere else!
Yeesh!
--
As long as each individual is facing the TV tube alone, formal freedom poses no threat to privilege.
'Nuff said.
:-)
Or higaisha-ishiki.
Guilty!
--
As long as each individual is facing the TV tube alone, formal freedom poses no threat to privilege.
Let me clue you in on some harsh realities of microsoft's continued success.
MS does not have much in the way of assets, just office space and vested pseudo-geeks.
It may suprise you, but most MS employees don't make all that much money compared to other software firms. People stay and work there because they can get rich quick cashing in their stock options after a year or two.
So to keep their geeks in line, MS has to break it's own earnings records every quarter. So far it has done so, but its getting harder and harder. This is why they have to overcharge for Win98, why they changed the licensing for Office, and why they will be cripling some (of now 5) versions of Windows 2000 in order to charge more for the high-end versions.
There have also been allegations that MS has been cooking their books.
In a nutshell, MS need only have a couple quarters of expected or below-expected earnings to take a hit in their stock value and completely fall apart. I anticipate this may be the year.
--
As long as each individual is facing the TV tube alone, formal freedom poses no threat to privilege.
It's likely that Judge Jackson will find against Microsoft, but the sentencing is what I'm most concerned with.
It is quite possible that MS may only get fined.
IMO, MS could probably shrug off just about any fine the court could impose.
--
As long as each individual is facing the TV tube alone, formal freedom poses no threat to privilege.
I've heard this theory before too. I guess if you fsck your own defense up enough you can get the case thrown out.
--
As long as each individual is facing the TV tube alone, formal freedom poses no threat to privilege.
I think Scott might not ever be as neurotic as Bill, but he could end up more evil.
:-)
I heard an anecdote about how Scott found some Compaq monitors in one of his buildings, went ballistic and demand that they be removed IMMEDIATELY. (Scott's veins bulge out when he gets mad, too).
Someone had to calmly remind him later that his company did make Solaris for the x86
So, no, I don't think he can stand competition any more than Bill can. Which is why I'm a happy Linus supporter.
--
As long as each individual is facing the TV tube alone, formal freedom poses no threat to privilege.
Red$at? A killer communist sattelite?
I don't get it. RedHat thrives at the whim and pleasure of its users. I can concieve of no threat from them.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing gnome/E in a distro. (and maybe my theme too? (please please please...)
Leeb nowe. Lat helpee us nub.
--
As long as each individual is facing the TV tube alone, formal freedom poses no threat to privilege.
"Cast your bread upon the water" as my dad likes to say.
The whole point of the GPL is that other people can't take your code and use it to shaft you. If you make a program, GPL it, and company X modifies the code, thank them for their contribution.
You as the inventor still hold the trademark on the name.
I think Sendmail is the perfect example of this model. Sure, I can download and install it myself, but then I know how to do that. Most folks wouldn't want to try, and I don't think that will change. Will companies still pay a hefty sum to have the personal attention and support of the inventor? You bet they will! My company would pay for support contracts on ballpoint pens if they were available.
That, and if it's good code you will be revered as a wise and holy man by your adoptors. Then you can write essays and books and sit on panels at expo's.
--
As long as each individual is facing the TV tube alone, formal freedom poses no threat to privilege.
I don't think RMS framed his "argument" well.
Allow me to tell you how my company works.
We have a compliment of 15-20 Sun Enterprise servers for imaging and insurance apps we purchased. The cost of the proprietary software is almost neglegible compared to the total cost of the project (this is the argument MS likes to make against Linux). What we spend most for is (a) people on staff to maintain the code (to the tune of $70-$80K per year), and (b) a hefty annual support contract in case our maintainers get stumped. That's 3 lucrative full-time jobs made by just our division of the company.
About a year ago, I proposed we ditch HP OpenView for our network monitoring, and go with a free solution (Sean MacLawran's BigBrother + Sendpage).
I used old desktops, a spare modem, an extra outside analog line, and 1 copy of Caldera OpenLinux.
Total hardware cost: $0
Total software cost: $49.00
Everybody got shafted and nobody got paid, right? Not really. Because of business requirements:
Annual support contract from Caldera: $1200.00
And because everybody wants constant changes to the system (ie, why does this keep paging me, how can you make the system do X), we needed a Perl programmer (me) to make the configurations and maintain the system.
1 Linux admin/programmer: $65,000/year
If the product were not Open Source, this position would never exist, because no one can make changes to a closed system. Multiply me by the number of companies that might adopt the product. If anything, we need more programmers, not fewer.
just my $0.02
--
As long as each individual is facing the TV tube alone, formal freedom poses no threat to privilege.
You work for Microsoft, and have one of those "f*ck you, I'm fully vested" lapel buttons, huh.
Some of us believe in quality over profits, and don't want programming decisions dictated to us by the marketing department. Our kind will grind your kind under the heels of our boots.
--
As long as each individual is facing the TV tube alone, formal freedom poses no threat to privilege.