[Linux-pe] OT: Opportunity knocks

[Charles M Howe]

List,

This SHOULD BE on linux-pe exclusively, but as a practical matter I am
going to cross-post to the novalug list until I have proof that a
reasonable number of people are following this thread on linux-pe. Hint:
I expect it to go on forever. But I may change the name of the thread
occasionally. And I will be happy to let someone else be the moderator.
(Or maybe it is automatic that that is Alan's role. (Which is it, Alan?)

On to what this is all about.

*************************************************************************

To many, including to this poster, the inauguration is like dawn. "Now
is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer!"

The opportunity is not only to sell the idea of Linux and FOSS but also
to promote good practices, all the while making sure that Windows users
especially but also Mac Users (OS X, isn't it?) aren't alienated. I
don't want to alienate Windows users. If there is to be a steering
committee, I volunteer to serve, but I don't want to be the chairman.

Some possible goals:

(1) Require -- mandate by passing a law -- companies, corporations,
charities, etc, make a genuine attempt to foil attempts to make their
servers zombies. The inspiration for this is either Keith Casey or Jay
Hart. One of you did sysadmin stuff for a company that forbade you to
even attempt to do so.

(2) Promote Linux and FOSS by whatever means are available.

(a) Point out that Wine exists, so that there will be no need to learn a
new sw package.

(b) Point out that your children may not HAVE to steal programs. It is
entirely possible that they can run all but Microsoft programs using
Wine.

(3) Make sure that the Feds but also state and municipal government
people know the capabilities of Linux. I am correct, aren't I, that the
OO Word Processor has a better chance of recovering ancient Windows
documents than Windows does.

(4) Publisize what the Business Software Alliance (BSA). (I think I have
the name right.) The BSA can swoop down on a business (or school system)
and either make it exhibit a license for every utility it has installed
anywhere. For example, iirc, a county government or school system in the
Hampton Roads area, Suffolk (sp?), had to pay well over 100K USD because
it couldn't find all the licenses of some of the software installed
somewhere. AND THE GOVERNMENT CAN'T SEEM TO STOP BSA INSPECTORS FROM
DOING WHAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE CONSIDERED BREAKING AND ENTERING. It can
happen to private businesses, too.

Maybe I am overstating what actually happens, but I do recall being
outraged several years ago at what the BSA did.

It's 1:30 am, so I am not going to go on.

Any takers?

Charlie