It's a sad day that the SEC has succumbed to political pressure from the Bush administration.
The SEC, like all alphabetical soup organizations (IRS, FBI and the forth) were set up to serve NOT the gummint, but rather, to serve IN THE INTERST OF THE PEOPLE.
The principal function of SEC is to make that the corporations don't CHEAT the public, whether through mirky accounting practices or through underhanded manipulation of (stocks, cash, influences, et cetera) and in this case, the SEC has capitulated under pressure from George W. Bush administration.
It is a SAD, SAD day.
We had Enron fiasco, and I thought we had learn some lesson from that, but it looks like well... the only lesson learned is that we have a president like George W. Bush who has no intention to serve the public.
Sad, really sad.
The only consolation is that I did NOT vote for Bush.
You said:
"Which does entail a risk that anyone can learn about the target and maybe grab it for
themselves, but even so the potential benefits (you might get your target, someone else
gets paid too) outweigh the drawbacks (you never get your target, no one gets paid)."
When there's a risk, there's a reward, and methinks the "bounty-hunting" approach may work on a case-by-case basis.
There's a tendency for people to take a "one size fits all" approach in doing things, and methinks that the outcome under this approach almost always ends up in disaster.
And if we want to avoid disasters in the Open Source community, we should be flexible enough to adapt more than one approach, and methinks that the "bounty hunting" approach ought to be considered as just ONE OF the viable approaches to accomplish what we are after.
"You raise a good point, but you neglect the fact that more than just a few open source
developers won't accept money for their work on a project-- because it's a hobby"
"To get paid would make it more than a hobby--like a job, and it's quite likely that they would
loose enthusiasm for their work, and your employment."
Perhaps taking this particular case as an example is a mistake - for we are talking about a GOLD ($$$) MINE and that fella put up $$$ as a reward.
I want to focus on the term "getting paid" because, although it looks like something involving $$$, "getting paid" may NOT be the only option ( or reward ) on this scheme.
Going back to the term "bounty hunting" - there's a target, and first one to get it get paid - we are talking along the line of people offering help to others, and, bounty hunters surely are NOT the only kind of people who help others.
Police officers, fire fighters, volunteers in hospitals, and although many are being paid for what they are doing, some ain't.
And if we look at that, maybe we can adapt what we have today into the Open Source arena... that is, the "bounty hunting" approach may work in some cases, but in other cases, RECOGNITION perhaps work better.
For those who aren't comfortable in the spotlight, a pad on the back may be all they are after... or for some, the satisfaction to know that they have done something good for humanities.
I never believe that there's a ONE SIZE FITS ALL answer to anything, and I believe that the Open Source scene is no exception.
Perhaps, bounty hunting may work in some cases, and in other cases, the good ol' Linux style of oneupsmanship do the trick.
I think the good thing about this case is we can take this bounty hunting approach as yet another viable option for the Open Source community.
I think I read a quote somewhere about stupidity... something about people can prevent illnesses, disappointments, failures, but there's no way to prevent stupidity.
Guess this is another evidence of how people can use high tech to do stupid things.
You said:
"Bounty hunting is a viable model for open source revenue though"
You got a valid point there.
Methinks that the future looks bright for open source, for people can see and check the quality of the product ( source code ) and if they like what they see, and if they have a need for an extension or project with similar goal, those who produce the code can reap in the bounty.
You said:
"Frankly, it's BAD P.R. for him to go around telling LUGs to change their names to "GNU/Linux User Groups", insulting CEOs to their faces by correcting them midsentence when they're asking him questions, etc."
I got your point, but I gotta point out that...
A. RMS is RMS, and he has his right to do whatever he wants, good PR or not.
B. Picking on RMS just because of his "bad PR" thingy is just too much. Live and let live, man. Why don't people just leave that guy alone ?
C. RMS had been fighting the fight, walking the walk, and talking the talk about FREEDOM OF SOFTWARE for DECADES. Not days, not weeks, not months, not years, DECADES.
D. I and many others owe RMS our gratitude because without RMS's staunch devotion towards the OSS path, there won't be any OSS community to speak of.
E. Although RMS is just another human being, with warts and all, the guy is also a visionary. Many of us are NOT, and can never hope to enjoy even a quarter of RMS's "visions". The guy is not only a visionary, he is also one who take charge.
F. Without people like RMS taking charge, where will the OSS community be ?
G. Perhaps his taking charge of, what you call "bad PR" thing, disturb many people, we ought to know that this recent "bad PR" thing is just the latest episode of his LONG, LONG FIGHT for the Software Community.
H. Again, I am not saying that RMS is right all the time. He's just another human being, just like you and me. He can make mistakes, just like you and me, but lest we forget, without RMS, many of us would not be here, and there wouldn't even be a "HERE" ( aka slashdot ), in the first place.
I can see that my use of "Judge not, lest thou be judged" has brought up unwanted confusion.
For this, I apologize.
I never meant to convey the meaning that judging is bad. Rather, I was saying to the folks who picked on RMS is that the more they judge RMS, the more other people employing the same judging process of them.
I ain't a mind reader. I just dunno what the heck is in his or her mind.
The question is posted, and I answered.
If they still want to label others with "pinko" or "commie", let them. Aren't we, those who chose to support the OSS movement, being called "commies" by M$ Corp already ?
Personally, I do think that the "GNU/Linux" thing is silly, but I still recognize RMS's right on pursuing his GNU/Linux thingy.
And one more point...
You said:
"I also think that Freedom in Software is more
important than recognition for the GNU Project"
While on the whole, you are of course entitled to your opinion, but please pardon me for pointing out that WITHOUT the GNU Project, that wouldn't be "Freedom in Software".
I am not saying that the whole "Freedom in Software" thing rest on GNU, no. But the fact is STILL that the GNU Project got the "FREEDOM" notion in software going in the first place.
Perhaps, if RMS did not start that GNU Project, somebody else would have done similar thing. But however we want to conjure the possibilities, this particular universe that we live in, RMS is STILL the guy who started the GNU Project, which got the concept of "Freedom of Software" rolling.
Do you ever use Linux before, or are you just one of those "parrots" that utter whatever others have said ?
Ever heard of Debian ?
Do you know that the Debian distribution calls their Linux "GNU/Linux" ?
It only goes to show how pathetic some of you can really be. None of you have done as much as RMS, and still you pick on that guy just because of the "GNU/Linux" thing.
Tell you something, sonny, nobody is perfect. Not RMS, nor Ghandi or George Washington.
Remember the famous quote:
"Judge not, lest thou be judged"
The way you ( and others like you ) judge RMS is EXACTLY the way others are judging you. The majority of the OSS people may disagree with RMS's stand on "GNU/Linux", but we DO respect what he has done, and we WILL NOT pick on that guy just for the fun of it.
If you are really somebody, show us your stuffs, and let the rest of us judge your worth.
Believe it or not, the legendary Pong was never in the country I am currently staying. Never was, never is, and (who knows ?) never will be ?
Many third world countries were late to the electronic games, and during the "Pong haydays", many of these countries' count of nationwide telephone lines in the 4 figures. Some were even less than 1000 !
Consequently, the "Game On" exhibition will NEVER hit these countries, and I can bet my bottom money that it will never come here.
Actually, Open Source Programs work at a distinct DISADVANTAGE !
You see, anything that's classified, theoretically can be UN-classified by the FOI act.
CLOSED SOURCED programs work the same way as the classified information - whatever the government doesn't want you to know, they will black them out.
But with OPEN SOURCE PROGRAMS, no matter how the large the portion of the source the government has blacken out, we can still find the rest of the source - provided the thing complies with the spirit of GPL - on the Net somewhere.
That of course doesn't count those programs that are copyrighted under BSD or all those non-GPL licenses.
And there's no guarantee that the government will honor the GPL spirit either.
There have been many mention of "future computers" involving "DNA" or "Molecular Structures" and so on.
Well...
Aren't we made up of "molecules" ?
Don't we have "DNA" ?
Methinks the REAL future computer be the DRASTICALLY ALTERED HUMAN BEINGS (if they can still be called "humans") with their molecular structures perfectly alligned to carry out not only bodily functions but also for computational needs, their DNAs become ultra-computational devices... PLUS, QUANTUM COMPUTER TECHNIQUES operational inside their domain (body).
Yep, that may be scifi like, but who knows ?
Instead of the computer being out of body (wearable, or whatever), the future computers will be THE BODY WE HAVE - don't need to wear anything or carry any batteries.
I can't fanthom why in this age people still hang around that "Box Office" thing ?
I mean, 40 years ago, it didn't cost an arm and a leg to purchase a movie ticket, ahhh... those are the drive-ins day.
Today, how much does it cost for a ticket to a first-run movie ? $10 ? $ 25 ? $ 40 ?????
Who knows ?
I mean, the "Box Office" figure should have been retired many years ago, since it really DOES NOT REFLECT HOW MANY PEOPLE GO TO SEE THE MOVIE !
Let's say...
If the Box Office figure for Episode II is 5 times the amount for Jaws (back in the '70s), do you think Episode II attracts FIVE TIME MORE PEOPLE to see it, than Jaws back in the '70s ?
I really hope that one day we will see the figure for "Box Office" in terms of HOW MANY PEOPLE PURCHASING THE TICKETS, instead of HOW MUCH $$$$.
US's attempts in blocking China
on
China Plans Moonbase
·
· Score: 3, Informative
It's a surprise that nobody here mention the many attempts by the United States in blocking China to get into space.
The thing started way back in the '50s, and throughout the Cold War, and even AFTER the Cold War has (supposingly) ended.
Take the International Space Station (ISS) for example - why countries like Brazil and Japan are allowed to take part, while China isn't even part of it?
The thing is that the US will NOT let China in taking part in ANY space program, not even those which are supposed to be PEACEFUL.
Wonder why the article concern so much about China's plan for moonbase ? Of course, the only concern for the author is that China must NOT be allowed to go into space.
All these while the Japs are encouraged to take part in space programs.
Slashdot Mirror
In contrary to popular believe, Taiwan is NOT a country. Instead, it is just a province of China.
Thank you very much !
It's a sad day that the SEC has succumbed to political pressure from the Bush administration.
The SEC, like all alphabetical soup organizations (IRS, FBI and the forth) were set up to serve NOT the gummint, but rather, to serve IN THE INTERST OF THE PEOPLE.
The principal function of SEC is to make that the corporations don't CHEAT the public, whether through mirky accounting practices or through underhanded manipulation of (stocks, cash, influences, et cetera) and in this case, the SEC has capitulated under pressure from George W. Bush administration.
It is a SAD, SAD day.
We had Enron fiasco, and I thought we had learn some lesson from that, but it looks like well
Sad, really sad.
The only consolation is that I did NOT vote for Bush.
You said:
"Which does entail a risk that anyone can learn about the target and maybe grab it for
themselves, but even so the potential benefits (you might get your target, someone else
gets paid too) outweigh the drawbacks (you never get your target, no one gets paid)."
When there's a risk, there's a reward, and methinks the "bounty-hunting" approach may work on a case-by-case basis.
There's a tendency for people to take a "one size fits all" approach in doing things, and methinks that the outcome under this approach almost always ends up in disaster.
And if we want to avoid disasters in the Open Source community, we should be flexible enough to adapt more than one approach, and methinks that the "bounty hunting" approach ought to be considered as just ONE OF the viable approaches to accomplish what we are after.
Thanks for your comment !
You said:
"You raise a good point, but you neglect the fact that more than just a few open source
developers won't accept money for their work on a project-- because it's a hobby"
"To get paid would make it more than a hobby--like a job, and it's quite likely that they would
loose enthusiasm for their work, and your employment."
Perhaps taking this particular case as an example is a mistake - for we are talking about a GOLD ($$$) MINE and that fella put up $$$ as a reward.
I want to focus on the term "getting paid" because, although it looks like something involving $$$, "getting paid" may NOT be the only option ( or reward ) on this scheme.
Going back to the term "bounty hunting" - there's a target, and first one to get it get paid - we are talking along the line of people offering help to others, and, bounty hunters surely are NOT the only kind of people who help others.
Police officers, fire fighters, volunteers in hospitals, and although many are being paid for what they are doing, some ain't.
And if we look at that, maybe we can adapt what we have today into the Open Source arena
For those who aren't comfortable in the spotlight, a pad on the back may be all they are after
I never believe that there's a ONE SIZE FITS ALL answer to anything, and I believe that the Open Source scene is no exception.
Perhaps, bounty hunting may work in some cases, and in other cases, the good ol' Linux style of oneupsmanship do the trick.
I think the good thing about this case is we can take this bounty hunting approach as yet another viable option for the Open Source community.
Thank you for your insightful comment.
I think I read a quote somewhere about stupidity
Guess this is another evidence of how people can use high tech to do stupid things.
You said:
"Bounty hunting is a viable model for open source revenue though"
You got a valid point there.
Methinks that the future looks bright for open source, for people can see and check the quality of the product ( source code ) and if they like what they see, and if they have a need for an extension or project with similar goal, those who produce the code can reap in the bounty.
Thanks for the reply.
From the story I've just read, I get the feeling that the "opening up of the data" does not sounds like "open source".
Rather, I get the feeling that it sounds more like BOUNTY HUNTING.
Like bounty hunters, there is a target. All you need to do is to get the target and you get your bounty. That's just what the company does.
So what if only 1% of MS Windows XP is based on BSD code ?
As long as there's a LINE OF BSD CODE amongst the millions of Windows XP code base, the XP will STILL be partly based on BSD.
You said:
"Frankly, it's BAD P.R. for him to go around telling LUGs to change their names to "GNU/Linux User Groups", insulting CEOs to their faces by correcting them midsentence when they're asking him questions, etc."
I got your point, but I gotta point out that
A. RMS is RMS, and he has his right to do whatever he wants, good PR or not.
B. Picking on RMS just because of his "bad PR" thingy is just too much. Live and let live, man. Why don't people just leave that guy alone ?
C. RMS had been fighting the fight, walking the walk, and talking the talk about FREEDOM OF SOFTWARE for DECADES. Not days, not weeks, not months, not years, DECADES.
D. I and many others owe RMS our gratitude because without RMS's staunch devotion towards the OSS path, there won't be any OSS community to speak of.
E. Although RMS is just another human being, with warts and all, the guy is also a visionary. Many of us are NOT, and can never hope to enjoy even a quarter of RMS's "visions". The guy is not only a visionary, he is also one who take charge.
F. Without people like RMS taking charge, where will the OSS community be ?
G. Perhaps his taking charge of, what you call "bad PR" thing, disturb many people, we ought to know that this recent "bad PR" thing is just the latest episode of his LONG, LONG FIGHT for the Software Community.
H. Again, I am not saying that RMS is right all the time. He's just another human being, just like you and me. He can make mistakes, just like you and me, but lest we forget, without RMS, many of us would not be here, and there wouldn't even be a "HERE" ( aka slashdot ), in the first place.
That is all I want to say. Good day !
Hello.
I can see that my use of "Judge not, lest thou be judged" has brought up unwanted confusion.
For this, I apologize.
I never meant to convey the meaning that judging is bad. Rather, I was saying to the folks who picked on RMS is that the more they judge RMS, the more other people employing the same judging process of them.
I thank you for your very thoughtful post.
If BSD is dying, then XP and Mac OS X, both of which are either using parts, or mostly based on the BSD technology.
I can see Mr. Gates and Mr. Jobs quitely sobbing already.
I ain't a mind reader. I just dunno what the heck is in his or her mind.
The question is posted, and I answered.
If they still want to label others with "pinko" or "commie", let them. Aren't we, those who chose to support the OSS movement, being called "commies" by M$ Corp already ?
Other than the anarchist cookbook, I found that "mit lock-picking guide" from the BBS too.
I wonder if there's any "updated version" of these things ?
Teaching kids how to make anthrax or nerve gas, perhaps ?
Thank you for your thoughtful comment.
Personally, I do think that the "GNU/Linux" thing is silly, but I still recognize RMS's right on pursuing his GNU/Linux thingy.
And one more point
You said:
"I also think that Freedom in Software is more
important than recognition for the GNU Project"
While on the whole, you are of course entitled to your opinion, but please pardon me for pointing out that WITHOUT the GNU Project, that wouldn't be "Freedom in Software".
I am not saying that the whole "Freedom in Software" thing rest on GNU, no. But the fact is STILL that the GNU Project got the "FREEDOM" notion in software going in the first place.
Perhaps, if RMS did not start that GNU Project, somebody else would have done similar thing. But however we want to conjure the possibilities, this particular universe that we live in, RMS is STILL the guy who started the GNU Project, which got the concept of "Freedom of Software" rolling.
Thank you for your attention !
You said:
"What's your standing on the Right to Bear Arms
Not only I'm a NRA card carrying member, I'm also an ACLU card carrying member.
Hope that'll clear your suspicion.
You said:
"nobody likes the title GNU/Linux, nor uses it"
Wait a minute here.
Do you ever use Linux before, or are you just one of those "parrots" that utter whatever others have said ?
Ever heard of Debian ?
Do you know that the Debian distribution calls their Linux "GNU/Linux" ?
It only goes to show how pathetic some of you can really be. None of you have done as much as RMS, and still you pick on that guy just because of the "GNU/Linux" thing.
Tell you something, sonny, nobody is perfect. Not RMS, nor Ghandi or George Washington.
Remember the famous quote
"Judge not, lest thou be judged"
The way you ( and others like you ) judge RMS is EXACTLY the way others are judging you. The majority of the OSS people may disagree with RMS's stand on "GNU/Linux", but we DO respect what he has done, and we WILL NOT pick on that guy just for the fun of it.
If you are really somebody, show us your stuffs, and let the rest of us judge your worth.
Please stop picking on RMS.
Thank you !
Where were you when RMS started his GNU operation back in MA ?
Where were you when Linux and all the open source community were / are threatened by MS ?
Critters like you always pick on RMS, but none of you ever done even 1% of the stuffs RMS has done for the community.
Shame on you !
First there was that 4-bit microprocessor, then it went to 8-bit, then 16-bit, 32-bit, and 64-bit.
When Transmeta announced it's 256-bit microprocessor, I'm not surprise.
However, I do have a question
Is there a theoretical limit on the maximum
bit-path for microprocessors ?
Or in other words, will we see microprocessors with giga-bit (or even exa-bit) path ?
Believe it or not, the legendary Pong was never in the country I am currently staying. Never was, never is, and (who knows ?) never will be ?
Many third world countries were late to the electronic games, and during the "Pong haydays", many of these countries' count of nationwide telephone lines in the 4 figures. Some were even less than 1000 !
Consequently, the "Game On" exhibition will NEVER hit these countries, and I can bet my bottom money that it will never come here.
And how about "memory dump" ?
:)
Think about "sanitation engineers" suddenly acquiring "memory dump specialists" ?!
Actually, Open Source Programs work at a distinct DISADVANTAGE !
You see, anything that's classified, theoretically can be UN-classified by the FOI act.
CLOSED SOURCED programs work the same way as the classified information - whatever the government doesn't want you to know, they will black them out.
But with OPEN SOURCE PROGRAMS, no matter how the large the portion of the source the government has blacken out, we can still find the rest of the source - provided the thing complies with the spirit of GPL - on the Net somewhere.
That of course doesn't count those programs that are copyrighted under BSD or all those non-GPL licenses.
And there's no guarantee that the government will honor the GPL spirit either.
There have been many mention of "future computers" involving "DNA" or "Molecular Structures" and so on.
Well
Aren't we made up of "molecules" ?
Don't we have "DNA" ?
Methinks the REAL future computer be the DRASTICALLY ALTERED HUMAN BEINGS (if they can still be called "humans") with their molecular structures perfectly alligned to carry out not only bodily functions but also for computational needs, their DNAs become ultra-computational devices
Yep, that may be scifi like, but who knows ?
Instead of the computer being out of body (wearable, or whatever), the future computers will be THE BODY WE HAVE - don't need to wear anything or carry any batteries.
I may be a buyers' market right now in North America or Europe, but in other places, the supply and demand is more balanced.
Take places like China or Singapore or Brazil, there are still great demand for skilled techies.
If you think your skill is not appreciated in the States, try China, Singapore or even South Africa.
I can't fanthom why in this age people still hang around that "Box Office" thing ?
I mean, 40 years ago, it didn't cost an arm and a leg to purchase a movie ticket, ahhh... those are the drive-ins day.
Today, how much does it cost for a ticket to a first-run movie ? $10 ? $ 25 ? $ 40 ?????
Who knows ?
I mean, the "Box Office" figure should have been retired many years ago, since it really DOES NOT REFLECT HOW MANY PEOPLE GO TO SEE THE MOVIE !
Let's say
If the Box Office figure for Episode II is 5 times the amount for Jaws (back in the '70s), do you think Episode II attracts FIVE TIME MORE PEOPLE to see it, than Jaws back in the '70s ?
I really hope that one day we will see the figure for "Box Office" in terms of HOW MANY PEOPLE PURCHASING THE TICKETS, instead of HOW MUCH $$$$.
It's a surprise that nobody here mention the many attempts by the United States in blocking China to get into space.
The thing started way back in the '50s, and throughout the Cold War, and even AFTER the Cold War has (supposingly) ended.
Take the International Space Station (ISS) for example - why countries like Brazil and Japan are allowed to take part, while China isn't even part of it?
The thing is that the US will NOT let China in taking part in ANY space program, not even those which are supposed to be PEACEFUL.
Wonder why the article concern so much about China's plan for moonbase ? Of course, the only concern for the author is that China must NOT be allowed to go into space.
All these while the Japs are encouraged to take part in space programs.
Don't you think it's kinda double standards ?