To say a programming language is copyrightable is, to me, the very same as saying a spoken language is copyrightable. Imagine if you were to be exacted a fee for every english word you speak. Wouldn't that be ridiculous? Now, I can see a greedy company tolerably being able to require licensing for their specific interpreter or compiler (though this idea seems a bit ridiculous to me personally), but it makes no sense that the syntax should be allowed to be under such requirements. If this were allowed to pass through the legal system and continue on the same course, it could perhaps lend to the possibility of a day in the future where the very way you word your sentence could fall under copyright, and thus incur legal penalties or fees.

There are hundreds of distros of linux, each with its own niche feat. Linux in these days has become far more user-friendly than ever before. However, as I see it, there are a few things that prevent it from becoming a majority in the world of operating systems. First, theres a lack in aggressive marketing. With windows and mac, there are huge, wealthy organizations backing them and aggressively marketing them. Linux largely depends on smaller organizations and person-to-person advertising, which just isn't getting it into the worlds eye like it needs to be. Next, windows comes pre-installed on many computers and laptops. It seems that the average person is more inclined just to stick with what they already have installed than to switch, even if there is a better option. Lastly, the world in general is just too uninformed when it comes to technology. We have a lot of older people that are just starting to learn what a computer is and are, in all likelihood getting trained to use windows. We see a similar trend in the school-system. Most schools still train students on windows machines, leaving them out of the loop on what other options are available. If a person actually knows the pros and cons of each OS option or is familiar enough with technology in general, it would seem to me they would be more open and inclined toward something that is free, powerful, opensource, and all-around better, such as linux. Just my two cents (or maybe three).

I would be happy to overlook this if they forwarded just a low 0.01% of that 2.4 billion to me!

I can't speak for any other church or church-like organization, but my church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometime called the mormon church), strongly encourages learning and analysis. Over all my years as a member, my deep-thought and study has only fortified my faith. Additionally, I have learned for myself that this is the one true church of God on earth. That is a key point. We teach that everyone can find for themselves personally, from revelation given by God, that this is the true church. We absolutely do not abide by the principle of blind-obedience, but we are encouraged to find out for ourselves if some principle or precept is from God (intelligent obedience). I am here to testify that we do have a living God that loves each of us. Aside from the many personal witnesses given to me from God, through the Holy Ghost, I have also been privileged to witness miracles of the caliber expressed in God's holy writ. There is far more sound reason and logic in the true principles given by God, which I know and personally testify of, than the worldly and sectarian views that are so strongly peddled by those who think that they know more than our all-knowing Creator. Additionally, in reply to some of the denunciations expressed toward christian philosophy in comments posted here, I must say, we have a far more loving understanding of God. We do not believe that those who never had an opportunity to learn the truth are implicitly condemned to some endless pit of fire and brimstone. We believe that God, to be entirely just, will give everyone an equal opportunity. We also believe that the way has been provided that all those who transgress the laws of God and truly repent are made clean and are partakers of the fullest of His blessings. The Atonement brings great hope to all who will heed its incessant call to be perfected by it. Now, I can't adequately portray all the truth I have come to know as truth from God here in these comments, but I do invite any who desire to gain this same knowledge from God to seek it out by study (via authoritative sources like http://www.mormon.org/) and honest prayer. If you do so with sincerity and real intent to follow whatever answer you are given from God, I know and promise you will find the same answer I have found from Him.

Thats an AWESOME philosophy.