re: your "designed in reverse" observation. Right on. And not only that, but many organizations still use those metrics of cpu cycles and I/O to bill internal clients for running reports. Which explains why people here in my current office are afraid to request reports.
In a meeting with your boos tell hom/her that one of your responsibilities as the IT guy is to ensure license compliance and that you would like to document all of your software. Ask for access to invoices to see what's been purchased. Inventory all software installed and prepare a report showing where there might be an issue. Offer a solution or solutions to dealing with the issue: buying licenses, researching alternative programs, etc.
Don't be confrontational, don't be a dick, don't make threats or demands. Do tell them about the BSA and what can happen if they are to get audited. Turn your concerns into a positive for the company. That's why they hired you.
with all due respect to a fellow slashdot poster, if you are asking a court to give you money for "loss of enjoyment of life" then your life is now fair game for examination. relying solely on the plaintiffs statements would not make for a just proceeding.
I'm not a kernel developer, but every mailing list to which I once subscribed moved to web based forums, which I find much, much more convenient to use. I think mailing lists are a relic which some are reluctant to give up, and I'm sure there may be good reasons for that. I just don't know what they are.
If a "solution" to spam were to exist or be developed, and mailing lists suffered collateral damage, there are other ways for the participants to communicate and discuss.
much of that problem is a holdover from pre-OS X days. many Mac users got so used to using little hacks from garage developers that they keep using them with OS X rather than finding a better way to do it. I've been a productive Mac users since 10.0 and haven't seen the need for "haxies" or other Rube Goldberg type programs.
My Levi 501's never change in style, and last a hell of a long time. I am ntt a slave to fashion. Black Friday makes me sad.
Say "twenty-three-skiddoo" to logout.
