Slashback: BitKeeper, Maine, Novell 441
I thought Adam Smith was in favor of free markets and the exchange of ideas. mrjive writes "The plot thickens. In response to yesterday's story, it turns out that the attack on the free software movement was attached to the end of the letter in question by Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash, who happens to have Microsoft as his biggest beneficiary. The original authors of the letter have sent an angry response for essentially twisting its original purpose. Read the full scoop here."
For the even-fuller scoop, see Roblimo's article on NewsForge.
Not bottling it up inside of himself. An anonymous reader writes "Richard M. Stallman has responded to comments made a week ago in response to his own Linux kernel mailing list post about the BitKeeper controversy. 'A technical issue or project sometimes raises ethical issues,' Stallman began. He did not stop there. More on the (newly cached and therefore a little bit Slashdot-immune) Linux and Main . Be gentle."
Free knowledge for sale for free, etc. OverCode@work writes "The complete LaTeX source to Loki Software's game programming book, Programming Linux Games, is now available on the author's site. This book was reviewed here a while back. Mad props to the publisher for letting this happen."
Everybody'sSQL haggar writes "MySQL (commercial license) will be shipped as standard with NetWare according to this announcement. I consider it a follow-up to the Slashdot story about the PostgreSQL port for NetWare. Apparently, the options for NetWare users are widening, thanks to open-source products!"
An iBook in every (lobster)pot! Call Me Black Cloud writes "Some time ago Maine awarded a contract to Apple for laptops for school kids. MacCentral has an interview with Maine governor Angus King where he discusses the success of the program. Despite the Maine state legislature's attempts to kill the program, it continues on. Why? Well, a $1M grant from the Gates Foundation certainly helped. Over the summer Apple delivered 18,000 iBooks and installed 239 wireless networks in 239 schools."
So long as they're not mandatory. Polo writes "I noticed that the Garmin Rino 110 and 120 are shipping. If you don't remember, these are FRS/GMRS Radios with integrated GPS. You can transmit your position to other units so they can hear you and see where you are. Pretty cool. This is a follow-up to an older story"
What the market will bear. His Nastiness writes "Just a follow-up that I ran across that indicates that Steve Ballmer may have just been blowing hot air on not selling the XBox in Austrailia anymore. See the previous thread here."
Huh? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Huh? (Score:2, Insightful)
Maybe the Gates Foundation is run independent from Microsoft? I mean, maybe it seriously has no agenda and could get a better deal on iBooks for the 7th graders than they could get from a large PC maker.
I obviously have no idea. Anyone who does know, please step up and tell us.
Re:Huh? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Huh? (Score:5, Informative)
A quote, "The bids were roughly similar in price, but the iBook had a greater value than the other laptops".
I'm sure Gates will be a bit more careful in the future and add stuff like "Here's a million dollars worth of M$ stuff".
Re:Huh? (Score:4, Insightful)
Gates Foundation != Microsoft (Score:3, Insightful)
Why is the Gates Foundation sponsoring a campaign to buy Apple laptops?
For one thing, the Gates Foundation and Microsoft Corporation are completely separate bodies; GF might have simply chosen what computer would benefit students the most. For another, MS Office and MS IE run on Macintosh computers.
Re:Gates Foundation != Microsoft (Score:2)
Re:Gates Foundation != Microsoft (Score:5, Informative)
Not to stomp on the Gate's foundaton, but they didn't choose this technology. They dontated money for educational computers and Maine decided to go with Apple.
Info on the Gates Foundation (Score:5, Informative)
Here's a few highlights of the year ending 12/31/2001
Financial Position [gatesfoundation.org] highlights
Amounts are in thousands of dollars.
Net assets: $32,751,466
(note: That's BILLIONS)
Grants Paid [gatesfoundation.org]
Global Healthcare: $855,567
Education: $177,944
They are the largest private contributor fighting global health issues (and it is believed to be the largest driving force behind malaria eradication in the world)
Re:Info on the Gates Foundation (Score:4, Informative)
Global Health $855,567
Education $177,944
Libraries $43,176
Pacific Northwest and Other $36,868
Special Projects $33,403
TOTAL: $1,146,958
Re: Info on the Gates Foundation (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Info on the Gates Foundation (Score:2)
Re:Huh? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Huh? (Score:2)
Anyway, here in Washington, money is often provided to the schools from GF with out specifications on what it has to buy with it (aside from computer tech.). Many of the schools go Mac...
Both parties are controlled (Score:5, Insightful)
No surprise -- Microsoft is a huge contributor to both parties, including the Democrats -- whom some believe are supposed to be our saviors from the "evil, corporate Republicans." They're not -- they're on the inside what Republicans are on the outside.
If you really want a change, don't vote for either party -- vote Libertarian if you're on the right, Green Party if you're on the left, and independant otherwise. Both parties are in the pockets of big business, and that's bad both for those who advocate freedom from the government as well as those who despise deregulation.
The more we have third party, the closer we get to fairer, European-style representation.
Vote Grammar Nazi! (Score:5, Funny)
vote Libertarian if you're on the right, Green Party if you're on the left
What are you supposed to vote in the middle? Libertarian National Socialist Green Party [nazi.org]?
Re:Vote Grammar Nazi! (Score:4, Insightful)
>> Party if you're on the left
> What are you supposed to vote in the middle?
The previous post was wrong - vote Libertarian if you're in the middle. What was that Ross Perot party called again? Are they still around? THAT would be the one to vote for if you're on the 'Right'.
Re:Vote Grammar Nazi! (Score:2)
The Reform Party was never that right-wing. It wasn't much of anything except a platform for certain charismatic, non-party candidates. To the degree it was anything, it was pretty middle-of-the-road -- fiscally conservative (but not radical like Libertarians) and socially liberal (in a hands-off style).
Re:Both parties are controlled (Score:5, Insightful)
Re: (Score:3)
Re:Both parties are controlled (Score:5, Interesting)
The Labour party are currently in power, they're easily the most professional politicians (read that as you will), and they're going to be in power forever, because the opposition is so hopeless. They're also big fans of big business, "streamlining" the justice system and good suits. They're also hopelessly corrupt in a million small, depressing ways that make you wonder how they maintain any self-respect. But hey, they "care", so it's alright.
The reason the Labour party is going to be in power forever is, the Conservative party. They got beaten (demolished) in 1997, and they seem to have become less credible with every passing year. The reason that they got trashed in '97 was their corruption (real honest-to-god cash for favours stuff), unbearable arrogance and sheer incompetance. Since then, they've had two near-identical leaders who've spent most of their time playing right-wing catchup with the government and missing opportunities to
And the
Re:Both parties are controlled (Score:2)
Re:European-style representation (Score:5, Insightful)
Canada has managed quite well with a multi-party system; sure, they get some single-issue parties (like the Bloc Quebecois), and yes, they make trouble, but they also get stable, mostly competent majority governments most of the time.
Re:European-style representation (Score:5, Informative)
No, we get stuck with a middle-of-the-road Liberal party in power becuase the other interests in the country can't get their act together and get them out. And thanks to the lack of term limits and anything resembling the power of the US house/senate, we get essentially a dictatorship that has been in power so long that they are corrupt.
At least you have change in government every now and again, and some way to oppose a decision taken by the president.
Re:European-style representation (Score:3, Insightful)
the savagery of the multiparty system that plagued Europe during the Middle Ages through the 18th century and continues to plague it more today than ever
So what you're saying is that "those savages in Europe" haven't changed their governing methods at all since the Middle Ages? There is no democracy in England or France or Germany, merely a plague of some kind passing for democratic government? What exactly are you saying?
It seems like you're saying that it's a good thing if a sizable percentage of US voters have no direct voice in US government and that any system which offers a voice to the minorities among the populace is a savage and unwise one.
You know, everyone is always accusing Europeans of anti-Americanism. I think that Americans are at least as anti-European.
Re:European-style representation (Score:2, Funny)
I'm not anti-European, but I do like the two party system. I think the United States should colonize Europe and ciliize the savages.
Re:European-style representation (Score:2)
Re:European-style representation (Score:5, Informative)
While I agree that the bicameral (two-house) system is quite efficient and is a good legislative solution, please remember that the Constitution has absolutely nothing to say about political parties.
Re:European-style representation (Score:4, Insightful)
You have a two party system because it's modeled on Westminster.
The current system has virtually no input from the population and is becoming more and more like the royal courts of Europe used to be. A quick example is the number of career politicans and the number of Father/Son teams. Republican = Democrat there is so little difference as to be insulting.
You can stick your head in the sand and trot out the party line about democracy, freedom, liberty etc but please do not try and use examples to back you up that you obiuosly have not researched.
Research how closely related by blood American politicans are to European. Then go on to research where your current politicans were educated? Then see if you can guess why the population of America has virtually no say in their goverment or laws?
The two part system gives the illusion of a democracy when in reality all we do is change dictators.
Re:European-style representation (Score:3, Insightful)
Our system of government is not designed to be the best of all possible systems. It's designed to be just good enough. That's why it's stood unchallenged for over 225 years.
And your little remark about "the illusion of democracy?" The United States of America is not now, and never has been, a democracy. Pure democracy is a system fraught with more flaws than you can shake a pointed stick at. After all, the saying goes that a dictatorship is a country where you have to do what one stupid asshole says, and a democracy is a country where you have to do what one million stupid assholes say.
So the USA is not a democracy. It's a representative republic. Is this the perfect system? I doubt it. But is it the best one we've-- as a species, I mean-- come up with so far? Yes, definitely. Name one government that has worked as long or as well as the United States'.
Re:European-style representation (Score:4, Interesting)
I don't think so. It is not nearly representitive enough. For most people in the US voting is a futile experience because of the winner take all system. If you live in Montana and want to vote democrat you might as well not even bother. Same if you are a republican in NY.
I know lots of people like you are perfectly content and are convinced that the US is the greatest country in the world and all but complacency is a bad thing. We can make our system lots better by utilizing all kinds of methods to achieve a more representitive govt. The first thing we have to do is to get rid of winner take all.
"Name one government that has worked as long or as well as the United States'."
America is only 200 years old ya moron. Most countries are older then the US.
Republicans and Democrats (Score:5, Insightful)
The moderators.
You have a two party system because it's modeled on Westminster.
We do not have a two party system, it is just that currently (and usually) only two of the parties are able to garner enough votes to even be considered.
The current system has virtually no input from the population and is becoming more and more like the royal courts of Europe used to be. A quick example is the number of career politicans and the number of Father/Son teams. Republican = Democrat there is so little difference as to be insulting.
The system has virtually no input because virtually nobody votes. It is rare to even get a 20% turnout. There are major differences between the parties, it is just that they are rarely talked about on political TV ads. Instead, the ads state:
You can stick your head in the sand and trot out the party line about democracy, freedom, liberty etc but please do not try and use examples to back you up that you obiuosly have not researched.
As an example of such un-researched examples:
Research how closely related by blood American politicans are to European. Then go on to research where your current politicans were educated? Then see if you can guess why the population of America has virtually no say in their goverment or laws?
How many people reading this are American citizens of age 18 or over who are not voting? I think that I can guess why they have virtually no say in their government and its laws.
The two part system gives the illusion of a democracy when in reality all we do is change dictators.
The are four main political views in America today. They are Libertarianism, Conservativism, Liberalism, and Socialism. The Libertarians and Conservatives have generally resided in the Republican party, although some conservatives are in the Democratic Party. Liberals and Socialists (the mainstream ones at least) are generally Democrats. The Libertarians and the Socialists have recently been splitting off as there own parties, the Libertarian and the Green parties. Neither of them will ever amount to much on any presidental election (lets hope) since they are to exteme for most people, and too extreme for comprimise.
The problem with the Libertarians is that they fail to realise that we actually do need a government, even a federal government, and we always will. They mainly only side with Conservatives because they aren't Democrats, who generally think that the solution to anything is a large government program.
The problem with the Greens/Socialists is that they want to replace the system of primarily corporate development and activity, which, while it has problem, actually works, with a system that has been demonstrated to not work on several occasions, all for the benefit of spotted tree frogs and the like. They will never get anywhere, because the American public likes their SUV's, McDonald's, non-fair-trade coffee, and cheap sweatshop clothing, and don't want to be told to change, and definitely not that they are evil.
Re:European-style representation (Score:3, Insightful)
Have you ever read Madison 10? The entire document is about the need for factions and the worry that there might not be enough. And what do you mean by forefathers? Last time I checked there weren't provisions for Republican and Democratic parties in the Constitution.
BTW, there were no democracies (at least in their current incarnation) in Europe in the Middle Ages. The only thing that even comes close is the Roman Republic which collapsed several centuries before the time period known as "the Middle Ages." So your first statement makes absolutely no sense.
Re:European-style representation (Score:5, Interesting)
As for the current state of affairs in Europe, parties are either given seats in direct relation to their voter numbers (proportional representation - used in most European democracies) or using the winner-takes-all system (single-member district plurality system, used in the US and Britain).
Both have downsides, neither is ideal. However having just two major parties does lead to a convergence of policies as both try to appeal to a broad "centre ground" spectrum of voters - as seen in both the US (where both candidates were accused of being in the pockets of business/media corporations) and the UK (the current Labour government being seen as following many of the previous Conservative policies). This results in a denial of choice to the voter, with low turnouts being a typical sympton. Another possibility is that of extremists gaining votes simply by virtue of being of only ones to offer something new.
As for dullards, the US has had an undistinguished record recently with Clinton being the only one who seemed to know what he was talking about policy-wise (as long as he kept his trouser zipper shut). Bush Snr and Reagan had their policies pretty much set by unelected advisors, and as for Bush Jnr...well saying he seems an improvement over Dan Quayle is the only compliment I can pay him. Europe's problem has been more with corruption rather than talent(German ex-Chancellor Kohl [wsws.org], French President Chirac [bbc.co.uk] and Italian President Berlusconi [guardian.co.uk] being examples).
Re:European-style representation (Score:3, Funny)
Novell (Score:3, Funny)
And what if RedHat did the same? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:And what if RedHat did the same? (Score:5, Insightful)
Yes. It might have good effects, but that does not make it a Good Thing(TM). Corruption is corruption, no matter to what ends.
Re:And what if RedHat did the same? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:And what if RedHat did the same? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:And what if RedHat did the same? (Score:5, Insightful)
Ewwww (Score:5, Funny)
Hopefully he didn't get very sweaty...
no, really? (Score:3, Insightful)
Hey, Roblimo! (Score:2)
You do have to love the story about the Gates Foundation buying kids iBooks...
Microsoft's Relationship to Rep. Adam Smith (Score:4, Insightful)
ITYM:
Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash, who happens to have Microsoft as his biggest benefactor.
Although Microsoft does indeed stand to gain if Smith's anti-GPL bluster wins over lawmakers in Washington, D.C.
The bad part about bitkeeper (Score:5, Interesting)
The problem with Bitkeeper is not that its license prohibits licensees of the no-cash version from using Bitkeeper to develop revision control software but rather that the license license prohibits licensees of the no-cash version from developing revision control software at all. Even if the developer completely separates Bitkeeper work from work on revision control software, that's not enough. Developers who must work on the Linux® kernel (a Bitkeeper based project) and software such as CVS or Subversion must send changes to Linus in the form of a diff -u package.
Bitmover is under no obligation to give stuff away (Score:3, Informative)
I think that Larry is doing a great job technically, though not necessarily in the public relations department.
I too am somewhat bummed that they restrict the use of their free version, but hey *its free*. The company is *giving away* its software with some relatively minor restrictions on who can use the free version.
Larry's view is that if developers working on free code versioning systems use bitkeeper regularly (kernel hacking, for instance) then there will be features that they become familiar with that don't jump out at you by reading the specs. This will then carry over into the free projects that they work on and will result in an open bitkeeper "workalike", cutting down on demand for bitkeeper. Since he figures it'll be another half dozen years before bitkeeper is basically perfect, he doesn't want this to happen.
Keep in mind that there is nothing stopping people from *purchasing* a copy of bitkeeper for the purpose of duplicating it.
OK, that's gone, but there's another problem (Score:3, Interesting)
BitMover must have deleted the non-competition term from the license since I last saw it. However, I did see another objectionable term:
This term, which also appears in the Plan 9 license [gnu.org], seems to imply that if BitMover infringes your copyright by including your GPL'd code into a future proprietary BitKeeper product, you have no right to sue BitMover over that infringement.
That's not what it says at all. (Score:3, Informative)
It says if you are suing them, you don't have permission to use their product for free.
THAT is fair.
If Only Auto Makers Could Write Such Licenses (Score:3, Insightful)
It says if you are suing them, you don't have permission to use their product for free.
THAT is fair.
Really?
I wonder if you would find it so fair if, say, Ford Motor Company only leased cars (rather than selling them), and had a similiar clause in their contract stating that "if you sue Ford Motor Company for any reason, you are no longer licensed to drive a Ford."
Might have made it a little difficult to get the exploding Pinto off the street.
What is worse, Bitkeeper is, in a very real sense, the gateway to getting code into the Linux kernel, a key component of any GNU/Linux system. Essentially the Bitkeeper license has banned all kernel developers from contributing code to CVS or any other revision control system, or at least put a great burden on anyone who chooses to do so, by cutting the main conduit between said developer and Linus, and forcing them to submit their patches via a 'diff -u' instead.
Now, I don't know that 'diff -u' submitted patches are necessarilly 2nd class citizens, and less likely to make it into the kernel than bitkeeper patches, but I think it would be a very interesting statistic to know:
1) what percentage of patches submitted in diff format v. those submitted as bitkeeper patches are accepted into the kernel?
2) how to the average delay times of the two methods compare.
I wouldn't be at all surprised to discover that far more diff -u submitted patches are rejected, percentage-wise, than bitkeeper patches, and that the lead time in getting accepted for those that do make it through is quite a bit longer.
If that does turn out to be the case, then it becomes very clear that the bitkeeper license severely degrades a kernel developer or contributers ability to work with Linus and others if they should also choose to contribute code to CVS or what have you.
That is a profoundly inappropriate constraint, and I am frankly shocked that anyone, even as rabidly apolitical as Linus, would find that kind of constraint, even if it remains mostly theoretical, at all acceptable.
It may improve the convinience of kernel maitenance for Linus and others, but it does seem to degrade and restrict the freedom of the developers to contribute to certain other projects rather dramatically.
Now, what happens if Bitkeeper branches out into other software products, like, say, compilers or office suites, and inserts a similiar anti-compete clause for things like open office and, more importantly, gcc? RMS certainly appears to be the only one that can see the problem with this, or at least the only one willing to speak out.
Paging Judge Kollar-Kotelly... (Score:3, Funny)
(Oh, how I hope she take judicial notice of this....)
Once again Microsoft does a faceplant into the propeller of the plane of public relations.
Once again a Congresscritter shows who's really boss.
Question to Washington state residents: Will you remember this little event in a month's time?
Re:Paging Judge Kollar-Kotelly... (Score:2)
Ah, the Simpsons just came on!
ummm, remember what in a month's time?
-
rms... (Score:3, Insightful)
It is a stretch to conclude anything about the general attitude or character of a person from one action, so I would not say the people who distribute non-free software are "evil people" in a general sense. I will say they have done one thing that is evil: distributing a non-free program.
Evil \E"vil\ ([=e]"v'l) n.
- Anything which impairs the happiness of a being or
deprives a being of any good; anything which causes
suffering of any kind to sentient beings; injury;
mischief; harm; -- opposed to good.
The only one being impaired of happiness. or suffering is Richard Stallman. Methinks someone is a little too big for his britches.Bitkeeper license breaks separation of jobs (Score:5, Insightful)
The only one being impaired of happiness. or suffering is Richard Stallman.
Or anybody who wants to work on both the Linux kernel and revision control software. Even if working on Linux and working on Subversion are separate jobs, the restrictions of the Bitkeeper license apply to the person and thus cross from one job to the other, as I mentioned in my other comment [slashdot.org].
Ignore parent comment (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Bitkeeper license breaks separation of jobs (Score:3, Informative)
From my reading, it applied to the person or organisation the developer is working for; Larry and IBM negotiated a special exemption, for example.
So, by being a Subversion developer, it's possible for you to stop hundreds (or even thousands) of your fellow employees from being able to use the free version of Bitkeeper to work with the Linux kernel, even in their own private time at home. (And of course one cannot be a developer of a competing system and use the free version of Bitkeeper as a trivial case of this restriction.)
Re:Bitkeeper license breaks separation of jobs (Score:2)
Is the use of software now subject to a license? As far as I'm concerned you are not bound by a license for just use of the software. If I want to use Bitkeeper code then his license applies to me.
Re:Bitkeeper license breaks separation of jobs (Score:2)
It is you who does not understand. Yes the use of software is bound by a license. It's called the END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT which in the case of BitKeeper prevents any DEVELOPER from using BitKeeper if they work on a competator of BitKeeper.
Your opinion means nothing as you have no grasp of the legal system in place.
-- iCEBaLM
Re:rms... (Score:4, Insightful)
Seems about right to me. "Fatally incompatible" sums it up pretty well.
Maine is Smart (Score:5, Interesting)
I was back to visit for the Pop!Tech conference this past weekend; at Governor King's suggestion (he spoke briefly), I took a look at the Camden middle school, and it was incredible. The students were thoroughly engaged, and the teacher had the liberty to roam the isles and show them how to do things on their individual computers.
Yeah, I wish the program had used a linux distro, but anything is better than nothing. It's a really special thing.
Re:Maine is Smart (Score:2, Interesting)
Yes, the laptop program is a nice idea. But from what parts I have encountered, it is a great demo in search of application. Jobs has been pushing it as way to push his digital video focus, which is not necessarily the most important thing for our children here. I'm glad you enjoyed the conference; just remember that there was a considerable amount of smoke and mirrors involved in the demos.
Oh no...... (Score:5, Funny)
*grabs a fire extinguisher*
at least John warned me that the box was gonna be slashdotted......
(if you don't believe me, look up my IP address and then overcode.net's IP address, or email me nullset onthesite overcode.net)
--buddy
Re:Oh no...... (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Oh no...... (Score:3, Interesting)
Apache server status page [overcode.net]
Note that Webalyzer updates at 6am, so today's stats aren't yet posted.
This isn't a front page slashdotting; I've had that happen before, with a CGI script no less, and it brought my box to an absolute crawl.
-John
Re:Oh no...... (Score:4, Funny)
-John
Comments not related to Xbox??? wtf??! (Score:5, Interesting)
A Microsoft spokeswoman said that Ballmer's remarks were not specifically related to the Xbox, and that the company was committed to selling the console in Australia. http://www.gamemarketwatch.com/news/item.asp?nid=
versus
Microsoft would be forced to reconsider selling the Xbox video game system in Australia, or seek changes to the law, following the acquittal in July of a Sydney man alleged to have sold chips that modify a Sony PlayStation 2 to play imported games, Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer said yesterday. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/10/18/1034561
Gates Foundation and iBooks (Score:2, Informative)
I thought Microsoft had a large interest in Apple, interest as in stocks? Didn't they basically save Apple's ass a couple of years ago?
Then it doesn't matter what they buy, does it? Now, if they had tried to buy Walmart PC's with Lindows, I bet the foundation would have cried Foul Play!
Re:Gates Foundation and iBooks (Score:2, Insightful)
General Mills pumps a ton of charity dollars into various anti-hunger orginizations. But they don't force the charities to spend it on Lucky Charms.
So save the moronic MSFT-centric conspiracy theories until MSFT hands out iBooks to its employees.
Re:Gates Foundation and iBooks (Score:2, Informative)
It was really a gesture of support. If they "saved Apple's ass", it was purely in a symbolic way.
MSoft didn't save apple (common misconception). (Score:3, Informative)
Microsoft's supposed bail-out was an investment of $150 million dollars into a company that had over 4 billion in reserves at the time. Apple still has over 4 billion in "liquid" like investments.
Re:MSoft didn't save apple (common misconception). (Score:2)
Re:MSoft didn't save apple (common misconception). (Score:2)
Re:Gates Foundation and iBooks (Score:2, Informative)
No. They had a large interest in Apple (see below), but they've sold the shares
No. They bought a swack of stock ($150 million I think) to settle a lawsuit out of court. Apple had sued them for breaking a contract & "borrowing" some of their technology
RMS is trolling! (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:RMS is trolling! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:RMS is trolling! (Score:2)
More on the Gates Foundation (Score:5, Informative)
Here's [gatesfoundation.org] more about the grant to Maine.
Re:More on the Gates Foundation (Score:2)
And I've been quite impressed with what I've heard about the Gates Foundation. Not just because it's big and gives away lots of money, but it does things that seem constructive and oriented at real change. There's a lot of charities that are totally cheesy and popular with the rich. Charities that deal with Rich Problems, like breast cancer and park beautification. Or ones that just don't change anything, and just enable the social problems. A lot of tutoring and education programs unfortunately fall in this category. I'm sure the Gates Foundation gives to those too, but it gives to a lot of things that are meant to make a real difference.
how to debate Richard Stallman (Score:5, Funny)
2. describe your feelings about his definition of "freedom"
3. claim that the GPL "forces" you to do things
4. be sure to never address the issue he raises
5. ???
6. profit!
how easy!
Re:how to debate Richard Stallman (Score:5, Insightful)
Or so says Larry McVoy.
The freedom to take someone else's freedom away does not equate to "more freedom". When one individual gains a priviledge, while many others lose priviledges, the world is not "more free".
Poor Larry's plaintiff wail in defense of true freedom rings hollow the minute you realize the only freedoms he really cares about are his own.
Yes, Larry, in defense of freedom, the GPL places restrictions on what you can do with code. That's the way it works. The GPL restricts you from taking away other people's freedoms.
The Gates Foundation in South America (Score:5, Insightful)
I have a close friend who works for a medical research institution here in Chile. They research contraceptives and provide free reproductive health care for extremely poor people. They are supported, to a large extent, by grants from the Gates Foundation. Think what you may about Microsoft, I think Mr. Gates has done some really good things through the Foundation.
AFAIK, the Gates Foundation is also responsible for vaccines for millions of African kids, in places where the government can't or won't do it.
Maine Laptop (Score:5, Informative)
The laptop program is quite an interesting idea, however many people are looking at killing it to find more money. The state even asked Apple if they could pull from the deal (they were politely reminded about reniging on a contract tends to be fiscally bad also...) It will be interesting to see if the program continues after this election.
There was a debate back in September about education and this was brought up. If you live in Maine, check http://www.mainepbs.org/election2002/9-23%20Guber
My Boss is against it for various reasons. A few reasons revolve around better ways to spend the money:
-technology centers in schools, in other words more up-to date hardware that EVERY child in the school can us, not just one or two grades.
-Computer failure. I don't mean to degrade 12-14 year olds, but how well will the computers get treated at home? Mostly well, and there are some computer back-ups, but just tough to keep a good eye on them. Remember all those #2 pencils you need to give back? Costs can go up mighty quick.
-My boss is an ex-teacher, we need more teachers, and those that are here, need better pay, health insurance, etc.
But I'm quite biased, feel free to check out all their stances. Search Google for the Dem (John Baldacci), Rep (Peter Cianchette), Green (Jonathan Carter), and the Ind (John Michael), though I don't believe he has a website.
The Maine papers... Portland Press Herald and Bangor Daily News will help ya too... Enjoy! -Carter Staffer
Did Garmin ever get the FCC Waiver they needed? (Score:3, Informative)
Does anyone know if Garmin got the FCC approval they required to transmit data on the FMRS/GPRS bands? At last check, they were still operating under a waiver pending final approval. The latest information I can find is that they are still under the waiver only (text [fcc.gov] and PDF [fcc.gov]). This was back in August 2002 though, so things may have changed.
Bitkeeper License (Score:5, Insightful)
It is sorta neat-o (Score:2, Interesting)
I have been doing it since 1997. [aprs.net]
WELCOME (Score:5, Funny)
Dictator #1: GENERAL BSD
General BSD is a benevolent dictator, despite his devlish appearance. Here are his rules for living in the BSD Housing Project:
INSIDE THE HOUSE: You can do whatever you like.
OUTSIDE THE HOUSE: You can do whatever you like.
Note: Someone might move into your house when you're gone, move all the furniture around, and change the locks. They will replace your favorite beer with wine coolers (yuck).
Dictator #2: GENERAL STALLMAN
Stallman is a loud and obnoxious dictator. If you live in a Stallman House, you must follow these rules:
INSIDE THE HOUSE: You can do whatever you like.
OUTSIDE THE HOUSE: If you ever leave the house, you will be escorted by a Stallmanist agent, who will whine to you about freedom, and also how to pronounce certain words.
Note: People may enter the house while you're gone, but they're not allowed to touch anything. And they won't be allowed to drink any of your beer (yay). Did I mention the whining?
Dictator #3: GENERAL MCVOY
General McVoy is a bit of an asshole himself. He whines all the time about how he needs to pay his army, and how nice it is of him to let you live in HIS house temporarily, and when are you going to get a job so you can pay for the house.
INSIDE THE HOUSE: You are monitored 24 hours a day. Remember, it's McVoy's house, you freeloader! And you better drink McVoy's favorite beer or he'll take your house away!!
OUTSIDE THE HOUSE: You are not allowed to leave the house. Sorry.
laptops (Score:4, Informative)
Re:laptops (Score:3, Insightful)
The question is not on HOW MUCH is spent on education, it's HOW money is spent on education.
Would the money spent to get a computer for every student have been better spent on buying updated textbooks, ergonomic desks, art supplies, or on repairing instruments for the school band? Given the price tags on each of those items, my guess would be that the tools of traditional education would end up of more value to the students.
Rhino irrelevant.... use mobile phone/GPS (Score:3, Interesting)
In Europe we already have combined GPS/GSM unit like the Benefon Esc! NT2002 [benefon.com]. The principle is so basic that they are even giving them to hunting dogs [benefon.com] (who have a tendancy to get lost in the Finnish woods). True a glorified walkie-talkie requires no infrastructure and is cheaper to operate, but an infrastructure plus a pay per call means that the GPS solution will work in more places (try using a walkie-talkie around a mountain).
It's Simple (Score:3, Informative)
I don't know why people have trouble with this. This isn't about the GPL, or Stallman per se. It's about the fact that you can't develop for both the Linux kernel and a source code control system (e.g., CVS) at the same time without paying for BitKeeper.
Obviously RMS has set himself up for flaming. People on any mailing list people tend to be very touchy about what they consider topical. :-) On the other hand, if you are a kernel developer using BitKeeper, then you can't work on CVS without paying money to BitKeeper.
Our old pal Rep. Adam Smith (Score:3, Interesting)
Some time back, Slashdot noted that MS had a congressional spam-o-matic page about the DoJ lawsuit, placed in a section where they knew only MS religionists would be bothering to read. Slashdot responded by posting up an article saying "Use this MS page to write your Congressman. Give our side of the story, politely." So I did, politely.
By way of reply, Rep. Smith placed me on his spam list, with monthly doses of more or less the same marketing horseshit as in the above McNugget, with no means of removal. Emails to the congressional sysadmin went unanswered, naturally, so I had to phone up Smith's office, and explain to some hapless young secretary at length how to remove my name from the mailing list.
It's worth noting that Rep. Smith [house.gov] and Agent Smith [republicofnewhome.org] have never been seen together in the same photo. They are almost certainly the same person.
Re:gps radio (Score:3, Informative)
Re:gps radio (Score:3, Interesting)
I don't know if these rino units will really catch on. The range of these things is only about a half a mile with buildings and stuff around. At that range, you can almost always see a common landmark, if you can't see each other. Still, if you're going to use both a GPS and a radio, it's better than lugging both around. And they look pretty cool, besides. A better application might be on cell phones. Then the first sentence of every conversation wouldn't be "where you at?" Aren't they doing something like this for 911 reasons anyway?
Re:Replacing Solaris with .NET !! (Score:2, Funny)
Yes, that happens a lot, seing servers shutdown makes everybody think of MS and
Re:Gates Foundation? (Score:3, Troll)
Re:Gates Foundation? (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Gates Foundation? (Score:3, Insightful)
That's right, Microsoft actually has less cash on hand than would be necessary to buy all of Bill Gates' shares, which, as of Oct 21 2002, are worth 59 billion dollars. Microsoft only has $40 billion in cash on hand, so the $2 billion/year interest figure is actually a conservative estimate.
Keep in mind, Microsoft also hasn't paid dividends to its shareholders in over ten years, and given that Bill Gates is a 12% shareholder, that amounts to a hefty amount of taxes that he's not paying. By not paying dividends, he avoids paying the top marginal tax rate of 39.6 percent that would apply to income distributed as dividends. By taking earnings entirely through stock sales, he lowers his tax rate to the maximum 20 percent that applies to capital gains. According to the most recent SEC reports on insider trades, Mr Gates sold more than $2.9 billion in Microsoft stock in 2001, benefiting enormously from the lower tax rate that applies to stock sales.
So, as I was saying... If Gates really was such a great individual, he would have donated more, and wouldn't be dodging federal tax laws (while simultaneously screwing smaller Microsoft shareholders).
RE: -1: egocentric troll (Score:4, Interesting)
So then, you have no idea at all what the NRA is really about, do you? They do more than any other group to educate children about gun saftey with their "Eddie Eagle" program. They work hard to make sure that the laws of our country are actually applied, as opposed to simply used as PR for political campaigns. They help to organize and promote a wide array of shooting sports. And, of course, they work their asses off to ensure that we don't lose our right to bear arms.
I think the poster you're replying to has a very interesting and sensable giving program. ACLU to protect most of our Constitutional rights (they read more into the 1st Amendment than I think is warranted and ignore the 2nd, but that's for another rant), NRA to cover the 2nd (in addition to all the other good they do), and the EFF because the "mainstream" groups don't really get how technology changes the challanges to our liberty. Very nice.
What you, dear troll, seem to be saying (in your delightfully ignorant way) is: "I don't like the NRA, so they shouldn't get any special status." Very enlightened of you. Guess what? Millions of people disagree with you. They are off all races and creeds, both men and women, young and old. They span the political spectrum from way off the Right edge to just shy of falling off the left edge. What they have in common is an abiding belief in our basic right to defend ourself and those we love against those who would rob us of our property, or liberty or our life.
The Melinda Gates Foundation (Score:5, Interesting)
Until then, I wil stand by my conclusion that Bill Gates has been a tightwad, of previously un-imaginable proportion.
what's the point of hexadecimal? (Score:2, Funny)