In my view, AMD is two-faced. They want to fight predatory business practices, but will not help us fight Microsoft's monopoly, or see to it that Phoenix Technologies' BIOSes are obsoleted and replaced with free ones, like LinuxBIOS.

Microsoft has a monopoly because they have exclusive access to hardware documentation, not because they "innovate" or have programmers of superior ability, or any other reason.

The US government had to be seen to be doing something, but just rolled over and took it up their arse. Not a single mention of how nobody CAN compete with Microsoft because hardware is not documented (for them, anyway!)

What a joke.

AMD, please help put pressure on VIA to document their chipsets. Please help put pressure on motherboard manufacturers to shun BIOSes from Phoenix Technologies and their ilk in favour of free BIOSes.

Release us from a future of Intel chips with Trecherous Computing BIOSes from Phoenix.

NB. I suspect Apple is switching to Intel processors in part because of Trecherous Computing. Maybe the RIAA and others are pressuring them because OpenFirmware won't support Trecherous Computing.

I suggested to ESR that he write a FAQ on compiler construction. He wrote back and said it was an interesting idea, and asked if I would like to collaborate. Sounds like fun, and perhaps I could finally get FreeCC released.

I was thinking of a site for programmers to meet potential business partners and post ideas for businesses.

Kind of like an all-in blog for making cash out of software, so we can ditch our day jobs for something we like.

It's almost like a match the investor to the geek idea I was mulling over, but I think this community oriented site is a better concept.

Paul Graham has some great thoughts on starting a startup at http://www.paulgraham.com. Read in particular "Beating the Averages" and "The Other Road Ahead."