On Mon, 25 Oct 2004 11:01:25 -0500, Jonathan Berry <berryja@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > Sorry to extend this thread, but however off topic, this needs dealing > with. Name calling and making general and unfounded (or at least > unsupported) accusations is hardly the way to argue a point. If you > have specific evidence that supports your claim, please present it. I > am particularly puzzled as to how you came to this conclusion. Linux > is alive and well, and gaining popularity every day, from what I can > tell. How you suppose the current administration to eradicate Free > software in the US in another term is beyond me. > Jonathan > > > > On Sun, 24 Oct 2004 21:37:28 -0700, Z <zleite@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > Not to mention that the situation is really serious now. The damage the > > Shrub "administration" did is already bad enough. > > Another term might bring the end of Free software, including Linux, as > > we know it, in the US. It is very relevant to this list, in that regard. > > > > Z > > -- > fedora-list mailing list > fedora-list@xxxxxxxxxx > To unsubscribe: http://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/fedora-list > I couldn't have said it any more eloquently myself. I was wondering the same thing. And though this topic might've started in flames, let's actually redirect the caloric expenditure and point it to something relevant, shall we? Is there any truth to the suppossition that W is ssh'ing into people's servers and taking them down? :) ha ha Seriously, if you look at the software patent issues in Europe, I think it is a really BIG deal- and one that is very relevant to this list by the way. I don't know the latest news for the U.S. I also assume that everything is great here -- Linux seems to be growing by leaps and bounds. [If someone needs to onlist/offlist correct me on my naivete', I am all ears...] [As an aside, I recently found an interesting site for IT stats by the way: http://www.itfacts.biz/index.php?id=P1818 Not sure how validated/verified though] Back to the ranch. I just went to a conference here at UCF in Orlando (where I am trying to revive a dead LUG). It was basically about how to get your invention/innovation to find startup capital, etc. They had the local looyah for trademark/patents/copyright talking about how 'you can use a copyright to prevent competition' etc. IOW, screw the competition, the marketplace, and especially the consumer -- just deploy your proprietary product no matter _how_ bad it really is. The most important thing is that you hoarde your cruddy little app and keep others at bay, no matter how dumb you are, and no matter how smart the competition is. Actually, what it really says is, 'you don't have to be smart to be successful, just devious'... and here's how to do it.... And with all the talk of a 'High Tech Corridor' between Orlando and Tampa, the local 'Business Technology Incubator' is trying to recruit 'innovative startups' etc. In their fine print they only want to deal with the type of tech company that has 'strategic advantage' over competition. In other words, you need the software version of a Trade Secret -- like the formula for Coca Cola for example --- or else they don't want to talk to you. But they are OH, SO INNOVATIVE! Just ASK THEM! :) Hoo-eee! LOok out Edison.....maybe they even have a database or something...or maybe even a website that only looks good under IE.... What I DO find relevant, is how much under attack the linux world seems to be sometimes. Although we are a strong (and strong willed) bunch, the guys in the white starched shirts with the cellphones on their hips, seem to be making alliances everywhere. Sometimes it seems as if Linux is like the Man Who Knew Too Much. Much of the world doesn't necessarily WANT better software -- they would rather squelch competition. The path of least resistance. Who wants better code, anyway? :) I looked around at this event and I saw these old geezers asking the looyah questions like' how can I block competition if I have to publish the code as part of the copyright process' and stuff like that. The young guys were looking at each other as if to say, 'what is this lawyer doing not talking about the GPL? ' or 'what about linux' etc etc. It was very depressing to hear so much talk about basically how to set up a greedy and non-customer driven organization. [Then I walked out of the room and immediately saw a construction worker wearing a redhat (company) hat. I said, 'hey do you do software or linux? and he looked at me like I have two heads...no its just a hat.....it was a weird day to say the least.] :) I take solace in the fact that a better product will win in the marketplace. I just can't stand unfair marketplace rules. But that is the world we live in. Thanks for listening. Cheers Marc
