If you are not familiar with Open Source software, then an excellent place to start is here; a more in-depth examination of Open Source operating systems, software, and the philosophy related to the Open Source movement can be found here; excellent Windows Open Source software can be found at this site, with stuff for Macs here. Open Source in the larger context is explained here, and here.
More below, if you dare.
What's the difference between a national legislative body and a private cartel that tries to legislate in its place? Congress has fewer lawyers, and less police powers behind it.
Even though legislation failed to pass at the start of the 110th congress putting DRM on net radio (and not slated to be passed anytime soon), the cartel known as SoundExchange has decided that they will try an end run around all that and force individual broadcasters agree to lock down net radio so that the analog hole is closed, ensuring that digital or analog copying of streaming net radio (also known as stream-ripping) and then splitting that stream into separate songs would be punishable by law.
Super. Not only are they trying to make consumers pay for every watch and listen of every bit of content, but now you can't even record the radio. Guess those mix tapes I recorded a few years ago from the radio will be have to be turned into the RIAA/MPAA/SoundExchange collection center for immediate disposal.
And since when did the content businesses become powers unto themselves? We lowly consumers know that sharing anything is verboten these days, and we're just not be trusted; the computer makers are installing hardware chips that will prevent us from watching anything but 'approved' content, at this point meaning bought from the companies behind the cartels, Microsoft, and streamed by AT&T; I'm wondering how long it's going to take before those same hardware chips start looking through our emails, our private records, and anything and everything on our hard drives for other 'inappropriate content'? Oh, right. Microsoft is already in the process of patenting that procedure now.
Once you have the ability to screen for licensed content (and Vista has this built in, deciding what you can or cannot do with your hardware), then you certainly have the ability to screen for licensed 'free speech'.
One thing is guaranteed: if they manage to get away with this, then they will use those content (or otherwise) screening powers to the max. It's what they do.
It's all about 'Piracy!!!!", and the tech writers are in overdrive talking about how illegal Linux is, shortly after the CEO of Linspire (formerly Lindows, occupiers of the 'morale high ground') equated Linux with piracy!!!!; not only is Linux a favorite of pirates, but it's just so confusing--there are too many to choose from!!!
While the rest of the world is speeding up its adoption of Linux and other Open Source operating systems, adopting Open Standards and sloughing off the wicked beast in greater numbers, the rotten ones are doing anything to try and block this--packing votes and excluding those who would vote against their own 'open standard'.
It doesn't really matter who you are or what you do; you could be ten years old, a grandma, or even dead--if the big corporations suspect you of trying to go outside their area of control, then you will be labeled a pirate!!!. Just add Open Source users to an ever growing list. Just waiting for them to tie it all in to terrorism--it won't be long now.
Is it any wonder that professional tech pundits are finding it harder and harder to stay employed? These days, anyone with knowledge of virtualization, a reasonable internet connection, and the ability to download a free ISO file can review Open Source operating systems and post the results to a blog, thus spreading the truth of how easy it is to adopt Open Source software and Open Source operating systems. Somebody ought to give me a medal.
If the big monopolies and cartels representing the movie and music industries (not to mention AT&T) are successful in turning all of the copyright, patents and 'intellectual property' laws against the consumers in the US, then you may as well just throw out your computer. And they are going to have to rename all the things that block you from doing what you want to online, whether it's posting on a blog, creating and disseminating content, watching or listening to 'non-approved' content, visiting the websites you wish, and generally being safe from your computer spying on you: meet the Great Firewall of America.
And now to something totally unrelated to Open Source: I'd like to thank everyone who has stuck around and read these diaries; I'm sorry that I have been posting later and later (and closer to everyone's breakfast time--sorry to upset those appetites), but sadly work has interfered. I have learned more during the past 100+ days (and diaries) from the insightful comments folks have posted than I have in trying out all these Open Source operating systems, or nearly so; and I'm especially thankful to those who dropped the odd, single comment protesting these diaries, as it has forced me to connect the Open Source movement to a much larger picture, something which I may or may not have been successful at. If Open Source is some kind of fringe, then transparency, openness, fighting against big monopolies and cartels, offering better opportunities to the poor (and especially children), protecting privacy, offering consumers' choice, stability and security are as well. Oops. That is connected to Open Source, after all. Just can't get away from it. At any rate, thanks again.