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Re: [News] Nigeria Orders Linux Laptops for Education

[H]omer wrote:

> Verily I say unto thee, that skydweller spake thusly:
> 
> [snip sarcasm]
> 
> So because, as you admit, every aspect of life has elements of
> corruption, then in your opinion the solution is to give up, never speak
> out against that corruption, shrug your shoulders, and say "that's just
> the way it is"?
> 
> It's a good thing that your ancestors didn't think the way you do,
> because by now the flag flying outside city hall would probably be a
> swastika instead of the Stars and Stripes.
> 
> I don't mean to troll you, since you are obviously a Linux advocate,
> albeit a rather naive one, but apathy is IMHO just as condemnable as
> malevolence. Or IOW, if you're not part of the solution, you're part of
> the problem.
> 

We seem to agree that there are many problems which could use rectification,
corruption being one of them; I'd venture to guess that we even agree on
most of the problems.  I took specific issue with the characterization of
Intel in your post - not that they aren't sleazebags (they are), but that
it is a distraction to focus on that in the context of a discussion of the
merits of competing educational platforms.  And, by the way, I stand by
what I said (though I will apologize for the tone):  there is in many
(most) cases no alternative than to hold one's nose and go forward.  When
there's a better alternative, I'm all over it.

Speaking of aroma, the Nigeria/Microsoft deal stinks to high heaven.  It
would be a treat if some major media outlet picked up on this.  Just a
straight reporting of the facts and timeline would suffice; let the public
draw its own conclusions.  I expect to be ice fishing in hell before I see
that.

I am far from apathetic; I focus on areas where I am able to make an impact. 
Two local churches (mine, and my wife's employer) are now running open
source software (churchdb, LAMP stack) to manage various aspects of their
congregations and ministries.  The apps live on my personal web hosting
account (and, no, I won't post the URL in this cesspool), and now that
they're set up they pretty much run themselves.  Cleansing the initial data
was fun ...  I'm also involved in various other volunteer work
(non-computer related).  War is fought on many battlefields, and no one can
fight on all of them.

As for my ancestors - let's just say that I have three uncles who are
younger than I; Grandpa caught on to "free love" in the 1950's :)

Have a nice day.


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