babbage's Journal: Dr Strangescove

Darl McBride's "surprise" at RedHat's suit is almost like a scene out of Dr Strangelove...

[The President calls the RedHat Premier.]

President Darl McBride: [to RedHat] Hello? ... Ah ... I can't hear too well. Do you suppose you could turn the music down just a little? ... Oh-ho, that's much better. ... yeah ... huh ... yes ... Fine, I can hear you now, Dmitri. ... Clear and plain and coming through fine. ... I'm coming through fine, too, eh? ... Good, then ... well, then, as you say, we're both coming through fine. ... Good. ... Well, it's good that you're fine and ... and I'm fine. ... I agree with you, it's great to be fine. ... a-ha-ha-ha-ha ... Now then, Dmitri, you know how we've always talked about the possibility of something going wrong with the Suit. ... The Suit, Dmitri. ... The legal suit! ... Well now, what happened is ... ah ... one of our legal staff, he had a sort of ... well, he went a little funny in the head ... you know ... just a little ... funny. And, ah ... he went and did a silly thing. ... Well, I'll tell you what he did. He ordered his staff ... to attack your industry... Ah... Well, let me finish, Dmitri. ... Let me finish, Dmitri. ... Well listen, how do you think I feel about it?! ... Can you imagine how I feel about it, Dmitri? ... Why do you think I'm calling you? Just to say hello? ... Of course I like to speak to you! ... Of course I like to say hello! ... Not now, but anytime, Dmitri. I'm just calling up to tell you something terrible has happened... It's a friendly call. Of course it's a friendly call. ... Listen, if it wasn't friendly ... you probably wouldn't have even got it. ... They will not reach their courts for at least another year. ... I am ... I am positive, Dmitri. ... Listen, I've been all over this with your legal representative. It is not a trick. ... Well, I'll tell you. We'd like to give your legal staff a complete run-down on the complaints, the allegations, and the insinuations in the lawsuits. ... Yes! I mean i-i-i-if we're unable to recall the suits, then ... I'd say that, ah ... well, ah ... we're just gonna have to help you destroy them, Dmitri. ... I know they're our boys. ... All right, well listen now. Who should we call? ... Who should we call, Dmitri? The ... wha-whe, the People... you, sorry, you faded away there. ... The People's Free Software Foundation. ... Where is that, Dmitri? ... In Boston. ... Right. ... Yes. ... Oh, you'll call them first, will you? ... Uh-huh ... Listen, do you happen to have the phone number on you, Dmitri? ... Whe-ah, what? I see, just ask for Boston information. ... Ah-ah-eh-uhm-hm ... I'm surprised, too, Dmitri. ... I'm very surprised. ... All right, you're more surprised than I am, but I am as surprised as well. ... I am as surprised as you are, Dmitri! Don't say that you're more surprised than I am, because I'm capable of being just as surprised as you are. ... So we're both surprised, all right?! ... All right.