Void's Forums

Hi All,

I happened to read (parts of) the following article:

http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?stor ... 4191231351

It looks like for the good of software and government we're all going to have to stop using open source software and return to good, solid, economically reasonable alternatives like Microsoft. I mean, I always considered myself to be a good, patriotic, hard working American citizen.

Darn it, and I was really liking this Linux stuff.

Then again, .... maybe I'm a no good anti-government, anti-free enterprise, SOB, 'cause I guess I'll quit using Linux about the time they put me six feet under for my permanent dirt nap.

Jim Dishaw

Groklaw is the best thing that has happened to Linux in a long time, and it has nothing to do with coding! Long live Groklaw! :)

didn't you know that only pinko terrorists use linux, jim?

But Calum, does that mean that I'll have to start using my guns to shoot innocent civilians or perhaps police officers? Use the couple of pounds of FFFg black powder and cannon fuse I have to blow up government buildings? That's not me. All I really want to do is enjoy using my computer. I even got the Office of Court Administration to permit me to use Linux for maintaining my Court dockets using Linux and Open Office.

This is a bear! I didn't want to bring about the fall of Western Civilization and I thought that I wasn't one of those bad guys.... but I guess I am now.

Jeeze, this is a bummer. I am sooo bad, but I just refuse to give up using Linux. And I won't give up my guns either. I must be a really bad person. Damn me.

Jim Dishaw

well the beauty of it all is that you don't need to do any of that stuff to be a democracy hating, commie terrorist. soon enjoying the use of your computer in the privacy of your home/office will allow you to be a plane crashing shoebombing extremist without you even having to get out of your chair!

sit back and watch the legislation settle!

And now there's this!!!!

Darl McBride is going to save Western Civilization from this threat though Congress:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/35042.html

Jim Dishaw

Oh drat. Are you telling my I can't be patriotic unless I use inferior software. I thought this country was built on always trying to improve. Damn I got it all wrong. I should shut up, never question anything and use inferior grade software in order to compete against companies who are using cutting edge, cheaper, faster, better, more secure software. Well out goes linux in comes the viruses, expense, and crashes for no known reason.

the question is, when it becomes set in law that you must not use linux or you will be being unpatriotic, which way will you swing? or will certain citizens ensure that such silly legislation never gets a foothold?

It won't be set in law. If anything it will be set in law that the government must use open source code, however I doubt that will happen any time soon. Just because some deranged knucklehead by the name of Darl McBride sends a letter to every member of congress doesn't mean any one of them will take him seriously. Nothing SCO has done in the last year has been rational, not one single thing. I don't know a single person that knows anything about SCO in the last year who believes anything they say.

perhaps letters won't convince them but i think congressmen might start taking notice if McBride or anyone else (not mentioning any Seattle based software corporations) start sending cheques.

Well, in many cases I think you have concern to worry but I really don't think you have anything to worry about in this case. Do any of you read www.groklaw.net? That is the best source for the "real" story out there. PJ does an excellent job at digging up all the dirt and making sense of it all. If you haven't been over there and are interested in SCO vs the world then I highly recommend it.

You see, SCO's problem is that they talk too much. It is their talking that will be their undoing. They talk too much because talking too much is actually good if you have some dark alterior motive (pump and dump) because the stock market doesn't need the truth to be effected and to rise or fall because of it. On the other hand, in court the truth is what matters. PJ is great at digging up documentation where you can easily see for yourself what is truth and what is fiction. For instance, here she describes two SEC filings, one when they were known as Caldera and the latest one under SCO. The two filings are mutually exclusive which means that one of them must be a lie, and lying on SEC filings will land you in jail. Read on as it's somewhat relevant to this thread:

http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?stor ... 4062443733