Monthly Archives: August 2004

MARC: msg ‘Re: Linux GPL and binary module exception clause?’

This (Linux) dveloper mailing list thread is cool (to mee;D).What is a derived work and what not. How about loadable modules, how about userspace programs. Linus Trvals himself is involved and…, I had never thought about this, he states that the GPL itself is a copyrighted work, so you are not allowed to use extended or modified versions of the GPL as a license for your programs. Ohh, RMS, my RMS, one might love or loath you, but the GPL is one of the cleverest hacks you ever did. And its seems to be even a lawer-safe hack, which is not easy in this world.
I know, you’d rather be famous for your code (emacs & GNU & hurd), but the GPL is really where you will leave your footprints on earth…

Dynamic vs. static linking. What is a derivative?

For the article we are currently writing we need to state something about what is a derivative work and what not. This is a grey area and a hot topic. Here is one article: Are non-GPL loadable Linux drivers really not a problem?. Some more opionions are on the GNU FAQ (Stallman’s view). And I remember a Moglen paper on that issue. Need to look these up. Thanks for letting me know any other pointers to important opinions…

Online Machine Shop

Did you ever wanted some special designer stuff in your appartment? Own an oldtimer and spare parts aren’t available anymore?
The the incredibly cool concept of eMachineshop will help you. Download a free CAD-program. Draw and design the part yuio want (various plastic or metal materials available). Upload your drawing, the software will tell you whether its possible to manufacture your part and it will be sent to you in the desired quanitity. Way to go, mmh what could I order now… 😀

The only catch: The software runs on Windows only.

UK’s Newham chooses Windows(tm)

The Register reports that: “Microsoft and the Newham Council have signed a ten year agreement – worth at least £5m – making Microsoft the council’s software provider of choice.”; after Newham seemed to be interested in replacing some of there applications with open source software.

Helping in this decision was an IT audit from the ~`independent’~ consulting firm CapGemini, which concluded that Windows would just be cheaper and more secure to use. Interestingly enough, the register states that the study was in fact initiated and paid for by Microsoft.

The article reports that the tech journalists burst out in laughter when they were told the decision and the reasoning in the press conference (the author later confirmed the loud laughing later). Nice to see that tech journalists aren’t buying the usual FUD anymore. But the report from an independent consulting found that out, right?

Let’s have a look at the independence of the company by looking at a CapGemini press release from July (additional emphasis mine, press release can be found here: http://www.capgemini.com/news/2004/0719Microsoft.shtml; unfortunately CapGemini’s Terms of Use dissallows direct links to their website):

Capgemini and Microsoft Expand Global Alliance

REDMOND, Wash., and PARIS â

A bachelor weekend

I enjoyed a bachelor weekend, with my girl friend being away at a familiy event. So what did I do beside smoking my pipe, watching lots of tv, and eating pasta right out of the pot?
I discovered a new game which I can play on my old Linux laptop :): MUDS!

A MUD is a text based role play game for which one only needs a simple telnet client (which is installed by default on most linux boxes). A tried two or three of them, ending with Mozart mud.
Being only used to real life role playing games, I found this intriguing and spend quite some hours. Darn, I should better stop before I become addicted to it ;-).

Ladykillers

Boy, I’ve only left the cinema during a movie twice now, one of the cases being the new “Ladykillers” which is a remake of the 1955 original. (For the curious: The second occasion was a sneak preview which turned out to be some brother slaughtering horror flick.)

I usually rather like the Coen brothers and also Tom Hanks. But this was just boring XX(. Just like in the original, hardly anything seems to happen during the film. But while the original still has charme and is somehow cute, the Coen brothers fancied simple, rude, and crude humor as a stylistic means. This totally destroys anything which could be charming or cute in the movie. A film doesn’t become funny just by repeating “You brought your fucking pussy to this meeting?” about 7 times in a row.

Also the professor (Tom Hanks) is a rather pseudo-intellectual blathering idiot, which comes neither across as a real charming smart guy, nor as a mean mischievous criminal. Just talking in a stilted, overblown way and citing Edgar Allen Poe doesn’t make him a convincing character.

One of the more humorous moments was when a Chinese stuck two fingers up the nose of a shop robber who says, “he’s got his fingers behind my eyes.” But all in all, this is neither an exiting movie, nor is it a really funny comedy, nor is it charming because the characters are.

Eventually, we left the movies during the inter-film break, which is a (unfortunately) common thing here in Switzerland and spend the time watering the flowers at home, which was much more entertaining.