Why does the father of the "copyleft" decide to put "copyright 2000 Richard Stallman" on his written words, but not on his software?
I do believe that most of the software RMS' written is copyrighted by the FSF, which was created by RMS precisely to steward the GNU operating system. As such, it makes little difference.
Should we not be able to use his writing as we see fit?
As a general rule, I don't believe that it is essential for people to have permission to modify all sorts of articles and books. The issues for writings are not necessarily the same as those for software. For example, I don't think you or I are obliged to give permission to modify articles like this one, which describe our actions and our views.
A kernel doesn't "use a C library". A C library is a C interface to the kernel from userland.
This illustrates your lack of knowledge about the Hurd: the Hurd is not a kernel in the classical sense, it is a collection of servers which do most of the work that the kernel does in a classical system. (Hence "hird of unix-replacing demons, btw) For example, most of the process stuff (keeping track of pids etc.) is done by a dedicated server. Programs usually call routines in libc which then in turn communicates with the ps server to do the dirty work.
They only code a kernel can use is stuff already in ROM.
Arguable. For instance, what about kernel modules a la linux? It's certainly possible to put in new things after you've started up.
DOpus 4 is a great product, or so I remember from my Amiga days, but there _is_ a reason why the whole thing was rewritten from scratch for version 5. The whole thing is too spagetti-codish to easily make sense off or port to some other system. I would probably be easier to code a DOpus lookalike from scratch.
Not that it is bad to have more GPLed source available, of course.
Curiously, a quick web search doesn't turn up any hits. Does anyone know of a clone?
Hm, I guess I should point out that both prelude and forward are very good, a sort of return to previous standards. Asimov finished the last of these just before he died, but by "later" I meant later in the timeline.
In any case, I don't believe that it's a good idea to read prelude or forward before you start the main series: they give too much away. Read them afterwards, and preferably after you've read most of the robot series as well.
Although the first Science Fiction I ever read was a collection of short stories intended for adolescents, which may have been entitled "Way Out!", the first actual novel I remember reading was Ray Bradbury's "Martian Chronicles".
>
It's a collection of unrelated and loosely-related short stories and novellas about mankind's initial exploration of, colonization of, and eventual abandonment of Mars.
Not really 8-) MC is very heavyily an allegory. It's about the white man's conquest of America, McCarthyism and a whole slew of other things. It is one of the very best books that I have ever read.
My copy is called 'The Silver Locusts'. I believe this is because the book was renamed for the British market, or at least the old Corgi edition was. Just something that's nice to know if you want to go looking for it...
I also find myself often re-reading E.E. "Doc" Smith's Lensmen series, which is currently available from the Science Fiction Book Club in a two-volume set that I highly recommend.
I think this is a good idea, if only because the Lensman series and Martian Chronicles are very much at opposite ends of the literary spectrum. It's a very good way to show of the range of science fiction.
-- Big Gaute (not to be confused with LG) "There was a time when a guy who died at forty was revered as the toughest and most doggedly ancient son of a bitch in Cow Ass Clearing, Shitoleshire, Engalond, back in the year dot." - Spider Jerusalem, Transmetropolitan #25
For example, the prequel makes it very plain that this is taking place in Earth's distant future. My recollection of the original is that this was never made explicit.
I'm afraid you're mistaken. In 'God Emperor of Dune', Leto talks about various dictators from the past, mentioning Hitler and how many he killed. His majordomo remarks that 'that's not very impressive'.
Also, most of the religions are very clearly base on contemporary ones. In 'Chapter House Dune', a group of jews play a pivotal role.
There were other signs as well, such as the scattered having revived 'ancient military ranks' such a Field Marshall etc. but I don't remember them all.
-- Big Gaute (not to be confused with LG) "There was a time when a guy who died at forty was revered as the toughest and most doggedly ancient son of a bitch in Cow Ass Clearing, Shitoleshire, Engalond, back in the year dot." - Spider Jerusalem, Transmetropolitan #25
Since I'm a more classic SF fan, I recommend Robert Heinlein. I've always enjoyed his imagination (of future scenarios) and his plotlines, although sometimes his characters may be a little lacking.
Agreed! Although I do feel the need to sound a warning here: Do _not_ start with Starship Troopers. It was the first novel by Heinlen that I read, several years ago. I was thoroughly shocked by the book, and decided that I would never read anything by that !@#! fascist again. Several of my friends have expressed the same sentiment. I was, of course, severely mistaken. While I still don't think that ST is his best book--not by a long shot--I have read numerous others, and I am know firmly convinced that he is not a fascist.
Your opinion about ST might differ, of course. Just make sure you have a look at it first.
Asimov is of course very good, and the entire Foundation series is a masterpiece along with all his robot novels.
I don't entirely agree. The first three Foundation novels were _very_ good, but the two latest ones (in the timeline) were not at all that good. They're easy to spot because they are much thicker than the other two. The plot in those two books is simply much more susceptible to Asimov's weakness: cardboard cutout characters.
Another author that I believe bears mentioning is Joe Haldemann. 'Forever War' and 'Forever War' are both masterpieces. Philip Jose Farmer's Riverworld series is also very good. In fact 'To your scattered bodies go' is the first book that I read in English, way back when I was about the age of your niece. 8-)
-- Big Gaute (not to be confused with LG) "There was a time when a guy who died at forty was revered as the toughest and most doggedly ancient son of a bitch in Cow Ass Clearing, Shitoleshire, Engalond, back in the year dot." - Spider Jerusalem, Transmetropolitan #25
Slashdot Mirror
I do believe that most of the software RMS' written is copyrighted by the FSF, which was created by RMS precisely to steward the GNU operating system. As such, it makes little difference.
Why? This page explains fairly clearly why not:
As a general rule, I don't believe that it is essential for people to have permission to modify all sorts of articles and books. The issues for writings are not necessarily the same as those for software. For example, I don't think you or I are obliged to give permission to modify articles like this one, which describe our actions and our views.
This illustrates your lack of knowledge about the Hurd: the Hurd is not a kernel in the classical sense, it is a collection of servers which do most of the work that the kernel does in a classical system. (Hence "hird of unix-replacing demons, btw) For example, most of the process stuff (keeping track of pids etc.) is done by a dedicated server. Programs usually call routines in libc which then in turn communicates with the ps server to do the dirty work.
Arguable. For instance, what about kernel modules a la linux? It's certainly possible to put in new things after you've started up.
there _is_ a reason why the whole thing was rewritten from scratch for
version 5. The whole thing is too spagetti-codish to easily make
sense off or port to some other system. I would probably be easier to
code a DOpus lookalike from scratch.
Not that it is bad to have more GPLed source available, of
course.
Curiously, a quick web search doesn't turn up any hits. Does
anyone know of a clone?
In any case, I don't believe that it's a good idea to read prelude or forward before you start the main series: they give too much away. Read them afterwards, and preferably after you've read most of the robot series as well.
Not really 8-) MC is very heavyily an allegory. It's about the white man's conquest of America, McCarthyism and a whole slew of other things. It is one of the very best books that I have ever read.
My copy is called 'The Silver Locusts'. I believe this is because the book was renamed for the British market, or at least the old Corgi edition was. Just something that's nice to know if you want to go looking for it...
I think this is a good idea, if only because the Lensman series and Martian Chronicles are very much at opposite ends of the literary spectrum. It's a very good way to show of the range of science fiction.
--
Big Gaute (not to be confused with LG)
"There was a time when a guy who died at forty was revered as the toughest
and most doggedly ancient son of a bitch in Cow Ass Clearing, Shitoleshire,
Engalond, back in the year dot." - Spider Jerusalem, Transmetropolitan #25
I'm afraid you're mistaken. In 'God Emperor of Dune', Leto talks about various dictators from the past, mentioning Hitler and how many he killed. His majordomo remarks that 'that's not very impressive'.
Also, most of the religions are very clearly base on contemporary ones. In 'Chapter House Dune', a group of jews play a pivotal role.
There were other signs as well, such as the scattered having revived 'ancient military ranks' such a Field Marshall etc. but I don't remember them all.
--
Big Gaute (not to be confused with LG)
"There was a time when a guy who died at forty was revered as the toughest
and most doggedly ancient son of a bitch in Cow Ass Clearing, Shitoleshire,
Engalond, back in the year dot." - Spider Jerusalem, Transmetropolitan #25
Agreed! Although I do feel the need to sound a warning here: Do _not_ start with Starship Troopers. It was the first novel by Heinlen that I read, several years ago. I was thoroughly shocked by the book, and decided that I would never read anything by that !@#! fascist again. Several of my friends have expressed the same sentiment. I was, of course, severely mistaken. While I still don't think that ST is his best book--not by a long shot--I have read numerous others, and I am know firmly convinced that he is not a fascist.
Your opinion about ST might differ, of course. Just make sure you have a look at it first.
I don't entirely agree. The first three Foundation novels were _very_ good, but the two latest ones (in the timeline) were not at all that good. They're easy to spot because they are much thicker than the other two. The plot in those two books is simply much more susceptible to Asimov's weakness: cardboard cutout characters.
Another author that I believe bears mentioning is Joe Haldemann. 'Forever War' and 'Forever War' are both masterpieces. Philip Jose Farmer's Riverworld series is also very good. In fact 'To your scattered bodies go' is the first book that I read in English, way back when I was about the age of your niece. 8-)
--
Big Gaute (not to be confused with LG)
"There was a time when a guy who died at forty was revered as the toughest
and most doggedly ancient son of a bitch in Cow Ass Clearing, Shitoleshire,
Engalond, back in the year dot." - Spider Jerusalem, Transmetropolitan #25