... if we had seriously tried to limit petroleum consumption and develop alternatives since 1979, we might not have to embrace either risky proposition.

That is the title of an excellent BBC series from 2004, that addresses this topic. The contention is that fear has replaced promises of a better tomorrow as the leverage point politicians exploit to persuade the masses. It is available on Netflix, here: http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/The-Power-of-Nightmares/70035190?strkid=2097735933_4_0&strackid=4c753cb9c81ba8d_4_srl&trkid=222336

From Shuttleworth on down the line, Canonical is suffering a meltdown from the frustration of failure and loss.

Once the golden boy of the Linux revolution, Shuttleworth himself has devolved in the public eye to a petulant bully. Of course, he has only himself to thank for that, but such is frequently the trajectory of a highly driven personality, when denied the victories, fanfare and spoils they see themselves as deserving.

The Ubuntu project was founded on a "build it and they will come" approach to business. While that may work in the movies, it is a poor business model. In reality, "build it, package it, promote it and support it" are the pillars of success in the commercial world. Having failed to recognize the enormity of that task, Shuttleworth and company led themselves down a garden path, in regard to desktop Linux.

More recently, Canonical has sought to establish a vein of exclusivity in its offerings, at the expense of true Open Source principles. In so doing they have tried to make an end run approach to what Red Hat has done more openly, though recent times have seen suggestions that RH is, now, also taking more liberties with the spirit of "free and open".

Of course, Red Hat took its fair share of abuse when first it abandoned the desktop. Canonical seems headed down the same path, but in a slow, drawn out fashion, guaranteed to prolong the ordeal.

... another day, another story.

Do not compromise the integrity of your submissions to pursue the filthy lucre of "success". This is just a ploy to stifle your creative spontaneity by actually suggesting you think first. Clearly, if that were applied to all the content here, this would just be another, run-of-the-mill, tech news site. Yawn. (Really, I think the editors just want less work to do.)

True, it is a delicate balance that is required. Nonetheless, I don't think it hurts to remind practitioners and prospective practitioners that there is more in Heaven and Earth than they can wrap their heads around.

... I can attest that anything that keeps them humble is not a bad thing. Yes, my dear MD, you are human, too.

Simple fix: clue 'em to Slashdot.

... enjoyed by Blu-ray over DVD presages the inevitable success of 4K. Oh, wait ...

We should behead Zuckerberg and see if they carry that.