Open Wake

James Augustine Aloysius Joyce (Irish Séamus Seoighe; 2 February 1882 – 13 January 1941) was an Irish expatriate writer, widely considered to be one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. He is best known for his landmark novel Ulysses (1922) and its highly controversial successor Finnegans Wake (1939), as well as the short story collection Dubliners (1914) and the semi-autobiographical novel A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1916).

Thanks Wikipedia - James Joyce

Open Generatives - Highly recommended.

I don't know if Kevin Kelly is the first to identify 'Generatives' but I do believe that he has clearly laid out the course of future commerce in Intellectual Property (IP). By focusing on these primal values purveyors will be able to commoditize and capitalize IP. I believe these 8 values will be the foundation of the future.

Eight Generatives Better Than Free

1. Immediacy
2. Personalization
3. Interpretation
4. Authenticity
5. Accessibility
6. Embodiment
7. Patronage
8. Findability

I agree with Seth Godin when he said Kevin Kelly is Highly recommended.

Open Source^2

This is an open request to IBM.

Please Open Source OS/2.

(Sadly I know in my heart of hearts that they will not, cannot comply. In these litigious days not even the mighty IBM can with stand the lawyerly scrutiny that will befall the open source of OS/2. Certainly the hungry M$ mouthpieces will circle salivating like buzzards. Oh well... )

Then let me recommend a truce. Let the behemoths call an Open Source truce. Let Microsoft release early versions of Windows while IBM releases OS/2.

Open Support (1)

This is how America has a chance to heal and grow...

Why I'm Backing Obama

By Susan Eisenhower

Saturday, February 2, 2008; Page A15

Forty-seven years ago, my grandfather Dwight D. Eisenhower bid farewell to a nation he had served for more than five decades. In his televised address, Ike famously coined the term "military-industrial complex," and he offered advice that is still relevant today. "As we peer into society's future," he said, we "must avoid the impulse to live only for today, plundering, for our own ease and convenience, the precious resources of tomorrow. We cannot mortgage the material assets of our grandchildren without risking the loss also of their political and spiritual heritage. We want democracy to survive for all generations to come, not to become the insolvent phantom of tomorrow."

. . .

It is in this great tradition of crossover voters that I support Barack Obama's candidacy for president. If the Democratic Party chooses Obama as its candidate, this lifelong Republican will work to get him elected and encourage him to seek strategic solutions to meet America's greatest challenges. To be successful, our president will need bipartisan help.

Given Obama's support among young people, I believe that he will be most invested in defending the interests of these rising generations and, therefore, the long-term interests of this nation as a whole. Without his leadership, our children and grandchildren are at risk of growing older in a marginalized country that is left to its anger and divisions. Such an outcome would be an unacceptable legacy for any great nation.

Emphasis mine.

Open Art I

From sister Beth (who does not blog, yet)

Open Abstention

Here is a real choice...

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

ab·sten·tion /æbˈstɛnʃən/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ab-sten-shuhn] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation

–noun

1.	an act or instance of abstaining.

2.	withholding of a vote.

I am hearing a frightening undercurrent of opinion expressed about the upcoming Presidential election. From different quarters I am hearing, "I must vote for McCain because he is the lesser of three evils." This is wrong on so many levels...

1. "I must vote..." Since we were small it has been instilled in us that we must cast our vote. It is our right and privilege as members of a free society. It is our patriotic duty. 'If you don't vote you can't complain.' All are compelling reasons why we must vote and if we must vote who wants to vote for the losing side. So we must vote for a winner - not necessarily the best choice.
   
2. "...lesser of three evils." This is the truly frightening undercurrent. I have heard Joe Average whisper, '[I] can't vote for a woman and won't vote for a black so that leaves only that Republican guy. If I got to chose I guess it will be that guy.' Joe Average is stating in no uncertain terms that he is going to throw his vote away by casting it for a candidate that he would not otherwise endorse.

To Joe Average I say, "Do not vote!" Let your abstention eloquently give voice to your personal opinion. Let your abstention speak the truth clearly instead of the lie of voting for the "lesser evil."

Protect your rights and privileges by voting the truth of your heart. If you cannot endorse any of the candidates do not cast a "lying" vote - tell the truth, your truth by abstaining.

Please, do not help to elect the "lesser evil".

Open skepticism

Open Hunger!

Beth (who doesn't blog yet!) e-mailed me a photo essay detailing the "What we eat in a month" world perspective. I did a little poking around and located Rowland Croucher's blog posting of the same essay.

Papa says, "I am so affluent that I can be picky about what I eat."

Further poking around uncovered the fact that these pictures are from a series published by Time

What the World Eats, Part I
Hungry Planet: What the World Eats, Part II
Hungry Planet: What the World Eats, Part III

Open for Business

Just flame me now and get it over with...

If you do not want to succeed in business do not go into business!

Duh!!! If you want to go into business would you like to only make half a profit? Only get paid for half of your work? Of course not! When we engage in business we expect full measure for measure. That is what value is based on.

Ok, here comes the rub...

Why then do we demand that the best of the business people accept anything less than their full measure???

Chief Executive Officers started out just like the rest of us ... deciding they wanted to be in business. Evidently they are good at business. It is their business right to expect full measure for measure.

Why then do we grouse and complain that CEOs receive their full fair market value? What is up with that?

Open Impressionist Paynters

Frankly, once again the impressionist Paynter has kicked my ass... so turn about is play fair... she sang the Christmas carols in our house... how lucky is that?

Open Turpitude

FCC: "We've Got Those Bare Buttocks Under Control!"

The FCC just fined ABC $1.43 million over buttocks and "small area of the side of one breast" shots in a more than five-year-old episode of the NYPD Blue television series. The time lag between the airing and this fine may help to explain the Commission's lack of attention to critical Internet issues -- staff has probably been hard at work on the Blue case, giving the matter frame-by-frame attention so that they couldn't be accused of falling down on the job.

I want to know who gets the $1.43 Million??? The FCC?!?!? For a five year old flash of buttocks and "small area of the side of one breast"?!?!?

The very thought of a travesty such as this is ... pornographic! FCC fine yourself!

Open Lexicon: add a new word!

The fellow over at Miscellanea 2.0 queried...

Why would Google hire MRC and Seth McFarlane to do fifty webisodes? And why is this obscure company, backed by major investors, so interested in web content? Could it be that Google is starting its own online TV station with its own original and high-quality content?

Emphasis mine!

Here is a word/concept that we will be hearing a great deal about in the very near future. Original content being made available on the web - as a primary outlet. This effectively resolves the "we-are-losing-money-from-unauthorized-sharing-on-the-Internet" arguments. When the content is 'designed' to be presented on the web _and_ the monetization of such work is not dependent on DRM then everybody is going to come out a winner.

Open [Political] Power

Hillary Clinton: Dr. King's dream began to be realized when President Lyndon Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, when he was able to get through Congress something that President Kennedy was hopeful to do, the president before had not even tried, but it took a president to get it done

Bill Moyers: There was nothing in that quote about race. It was an historical fact, an affirmation of the obvious....

Moyers was and is absolutely correct. There is nothing in that quote about race. It is all about power. Ms Clinton was speaking of the power of the office of President, to which she aspires, not the power, the real power, of a pacifist black pastor.

When Dr. King's achievements are debased by such a callus and uncaring perspective then the character of the speaker is drawn into serious question. This is just another attempt by the Democrat political machine to sway fickle American opinion.

Perhaps Ms Clinton should speak to the viability of a white female's ability to affect change in these United States of America's good-old-boy-person political environment. Obviously this is not a question of gender. This is a question of power.

Open [Free] Phones

TANSTAFL - There ain't no such thing as free lunch. There better be 'Free Phones' ...

When you add GPS to a cellular telephone then the phone "knows" exactly where the owner is. Very quickly the cellular provider will begin to correlate the amount of time that a phone stays in a specific location. Further analysis will show patterns of 'phone behavior' - Jane Average's phone visits Starbucks locations Monday thru Friday at roughly the same time, just before work.

By monitoring (NOT Recording) the visible light and the infrared light via the 'camera' that is built-in the phone will know to alter brightness appropriate to where the owner is. More over this information gives the phone a bit more knowledge about the owners behaviors.

• dark and cool = purse or backpack
• dark and warm = pocket

By monitoring ambient noise (NOT recording, just monitoring environmental noise) the phone can alter the volume of the ring tone to better suit the owners current environment. This same Ambient Noise Level (ANL) can be correlated to the owner's environment. Certainly cars, buses, trains offer baseline ANLs that can be determined. The ANL of a single speakers voice some distance from the phone might tell the phone to vibrate in church instead of RINGING.

If the phone knows where the owner is and what the owner is likely doing then the cellular provider can 'target' advertisements for the phone's location. While Jane Average is most likely headed towards her morning coffee fix her phone might try to convince her to try Dunkin' Donuts ... which is just around the next corner, on the right...and here is an instant coupon for a complimentary pastry to go with your coffee.

All this is fair-use information. By fair-use I mean that it could have been gained by alternative legal means. But, the only way that I would cooperate with such a scheme is if the communication service (getting to talk on the phone) was provided free of charge. If I don't like the 'Free Phone' with all its little niggling ads then I am always free to purchase 'private' communication services and devices at the current market value.

Open Misunderstanding

When I first heard this common misunderstanding I assumed that it was a local issue ... a perspective that I attributed to my geographical location... on "good authority" I heard that

Obama [is] a Muslim fundamentalist

I was just flabbergasted! When Barack Obama became a candidate I read his bio at http://barackobama.com

Barack Obama continues to speak out on the issues that will define America in the 21st century. But above all his accomplishments and experiences, he is most proud and grateful for his family. His wife, Michelle, and 2 daughters, Malia, 9, and Sasha, 6, live on Chicago's South Side where they attend Trinity United Church of Christ.

So when I heard Muslim I was _very_ surprised. Surprised until I thought about the possible origins of such misinformation.

Please, put dirty politics in their place... Not in the White House!

(Paid for by the committee to not re-elect the Presidents Clinton.)

Open Rationale

Humor me ... say the following out loud:

"The Presidents Clinton"

I believe from a governmental perspective that is the most frightening thing I have ever heard.

"The Presidents Clinton"

... nuff said!

Open Letter

Saudi Jeans

A Letter to Fouad: What I Know

Wednesday, January 9, 2008 · 17 Comments

Dear Fouad,

It has been a month since you were detained, and I miss you. It has been a rough month for the rest of us here, but it is certainly nothing compared to what you have had to go through and still do. They told us you were detained because you violated non-security regulations. Gibberish, to say the least, but that’s what we were told. I really don’t know what kind of law you violated by merely exercising your God given right of free speech, and I don’t know when calling for freedom, justice, peace and moderation has become a crime.

But here is what I know. I know that all these values you called for are worth fighting for. I know that we believe in a just cause, and that tomorrow belongs to us, not them. I know that no matter how long the darkness lasts, the sun will rise again. I want you to know one thing: I am here for you. I will keep supporting you and I will do my best until you are free again and back to your family and friends. You will not be forgotten.

Yours,
Ahmed

Open Doors

Sometimes you get so far away that you cannot make out the road signs ... so it just doesn't matter which way you go... you just go...

Jen & Eric's Home
吃．喝．玩．樂．生．活．點．滴．喜．怒．哀．樂

京都的葱都給拿來做生招牌，洋葱、九條葱、大葱......

這個牛肉煱係咪好壯觀？別以為放那麼多葱會喧賓奪主，只要......

看，肥相公專注的眼神、溫柔的食法，然後一言不發、一臉滿足、一生何求......睇嚟已經忘記咗眼前還有一個跟他渡緊蜜月的老婆﹗﹗﹗

我們畢竟是踏實的人，高潮過後，我們需要吃一些平實一點的東西，好讓我們亢奮的心情平復下來。這碟野菜天婦羅，當然不是平常吃到的茄子、蕃薯、蘿蔔等配搭，而是葱、葱、葱和葱，啊，幸好還有青椒和南瓜作配。飽嚐牛肉後吃蔬菜，好像中和一下，不那麼肥膩呢﹗

雖 然葱屋平吉以葱為主角，但他們的肉也做得很好，好像這些燒肉串，跟燒肉店相比，有過之而無不及。我有沒有誇張？讓我形容這燒肉串的下場吧﹗它們本來在我眼 尾範圍，明明白白地放在那裏，我又沒踫它們，但當我正眼一看，咦，少了一串嘅？轉頭再看，又少了一串？再看肥相公一眼，他又明明在吃牛肉和天婦羅喎，你地 話這些肉串係咪好食到比人食晒都唔知呢﹗

末了，我們還吃了一碗葱炒飯。這碗炒飯看來平平無奇，但在這個炒飯跟油浸飯無分別的世代，它企身、乾濕適中、毫不油膩，已經很了不起。（情況跟我們看見一個人安份守己、沒有「渣流灘」然後人人把他當作英雄差不多，這是否有點悲哀呢？）

Open Attire

In a previous post I displayed and linked to a parody cartoon depicting Hijabi Fashion on the Syrian Streets. In fairness I thought I would share this link...

Muslim woman: Energetic, happy and faithful

But Islam as the latest divine religion and vanguard of all the philosophical and theological schools in the world looks at the issue of women dressing and Hijab with an open mind and liberal viewpoint.

The slight limitations and restrictions are also booked in order to protect women’s personality, ethics and respect.
In Islamic countries such as Iran, women are not forbidden to take part in social and communal activities, sports, cinema, TV, arts and even politics and freely do anything they desire regarding to their beloved religion sent by the majesty God and translated to us by Muhammad (PBUH), the prophet of peace and love.
Today in my country, Persia the land of honor, female athletes are increasingly participating in national and international sport tournaments and winning several medals and prizes from Olympics, World Cups and competitions.

The Muslim woman is progressive, energetic, free, harbinger and happy. She covers her body to keep the tainted eyes and looks away from herself and not become an advertising tool by physical attractions for capricious men.

You can watch the pictures and simply discover the conditions of women in Iran. Free to participate in sports, with modest happy and colorful dressings, covered bodies and respecting to their religion teachings.

Openings

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

opening

noun
12. a recognized sequence of moves at the beginning of a game of chess; "he memorized all the important chess openings"

Maybe there will be an opportunity now to remember him for what he achieved, less so than for what he became.

- East Ethnia

Mujo, Mile and Štefica in the Jaws of Transition.

Open dubbing

Worthy of Engrish

Open McLuhan

At least once a political season some one makes the observation that our political system is being driven by the media. In this instance it is Erica Jong...

Erica Jong

...our media turning every presidential election into a high school popularity contest. And we let them get away with it. And we don't stop Rupert Murdoch, Clear Channel, Disney, GE, Sumner Redstone and a few others from owning all the media all the time.

Our magazines and newspapers are so dumbed down that they never discuss issues, only stereotype or attack or puff up candidates -- and all for the most idiotic things -- like their marriages, which in truth we know nothing about -- or their weight or their clothes or their hair. They don't discuss brains, intelligence, psychological maturity, but only who's up or down in the polls, cuter in photos, who misted up, cried or didn't cry, said "my friends" like Reagan or mimicked Bill Clinton's style or JFK's or whomever's. Our press is a disgrace.

And she is absolutely right, "Our press is a disgrace."

I titled this entry for the noted communication authority, Marshal McLuhan. His oft quoted '...the medium is the message...' observation is most apt in this circumstance. It is not the Press that is driving our political system. In the realm of American politics the Press is echoing the tastes and choices of the general public. What Ms Jong should be railing against are the values of that 'general public'. Sadly I suspect those are values that Ms Jong knows little about.

Lets look at one 'ferinstance' ... Hillary Clinton was an effete political ice queen who couldn't possibly know the trials and tribulations of Joe&Jane Average. That is until she showed her more fragile feeling side. Then all of a sudden Hilly is one of the good ol' boys girls, just a down-home friend of the working ... er, person.

Ok, now Joe&Jane, this is a test. Has Hillary Clinton changed? Not one iota! Does Hilly know anything more about Joe&Jane Average and their real world concerns? Not likely. Has any part of this changed Ms Clinton's political agenda? Ha!

The Press, in presenting Ms Clinton's "moment", didn't change any part of the political environment. They were just pandering to the taste, the true taste of middle america. The Press as a medium is the message and the message is us.

Walt Kelly's Pogo put it so succinctly, "We have met the enemy and he is us."

Open Spare.change.mister?

Open Constitution

We, some of the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union...

...of some of the people, by some of the people and for some of the people...

"I have opponents in this race who do not want to change the Constitution," Huckabee told a Michigan audience on Monday. "But I believe it's a lot easier to change the Constitution than it would be to change the word of the living god. And that's what we need to do -- to amend the Constitution so it's in God's standards rather than try to change God's standards so it lines up with some contemporary view."

A tip of the hat to EG who got it from LGM who got it from TRS

Open Actions

Thanks to Virtual China

• 

Open Programming Flexibility

I wish I had said this...

O’Flaherty ^blog

The moral of this story is that “flexibility” is rarely desired in programming! The less a program will accept/the less a program will do/the less options and preferences it has, the more usable it is/the more understandable it is/the more stable it is.

From: DreamHost - Bill you, laugh about it, blame someone else.

Open Confusion

Israel: Ms. Magazine Shuns Ad Promoting Leadership of Israeli Women

Wednesday, January 16th, 2008 @ 00:13 UTC

by Maya Norton

In a surprising move last week, Ms. Magazine refused to accept an advertisement that highlighted the leadership of Israeli women in public service. The full page advertisement sponsored by the American Jewish Congress featured three high profile Israeli women with the statement, “This is Israel,” in large, bold letters. The female political figures featured were Tzipi Livni, vice prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, Dorit Beinisch, president of the Supreme Court of Israel, and Dalia Itzik, speaker of the Knesset.

Photo	Leader	Role
	Tzipi Livni	Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
(No photo available)	Dorit Beinisch	President of the Supreme Court
	Dalia Itzik	Speaker of the Knesset

Magazine representative Susie Gilligan reportedly told the American Jewish Congress, “[We] would love to have an ad from you on women's empowerment, or reproductive freedom, but not on this.”

Open sapiosexuality

Nicole Simon stumbled upon it... so eloquently...

One who finds intelligence the most sexually attractive feature.

"I want an incisive, inquisitive, insightful, irreverent mind. I want someone for whom philosophical discussion is foreplay. I want someone who sometimes makes me go ouch due to their wit and evil sense of humor. I want someone that I can reach out and touch randomly. I want someone I can cuddle with.

I decided all that means that I am sapiosexual."

by Mr M. Ister May 26, 2004

Open Medicine

Laughter is the best...

Monday, January 14, 2008

Hijabi Fashion on the Syrian Streets

By Maytha

Having spent a summer in Damascus this past year, I would have to say blogger/cartoonist Puppeteer at the brilliantly titled Journal...of an Axis of Evil Citizen has hit the nail on the head with her rendition of Syrian (more like Damascene) Hijabi street wear

[click on image to enlarge]

The only recommendation I would have is to expand the trendy/sexy hijab categories, as there are so many different varieties of these species-like Designer Hijab, Hip Hop Headwrap Hijab, or my favorite: “accidental” front-hair-showing hijab.

Open Alliance

Just one word...

Stunning!

(Click the link.)

---

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

stun·ning /ˈstʌnɪŋ/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[stuhn-ing] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation

–adjective

1.	causing, capable of causing, or liable to cause astonishment, bewilderment, or a loss of consciousness or strength: a stunning blow.

2.	of striking beauty or excellence: What a stunning dress you're wearing!

Open Sculpture

Snow sculptures <= Click here...

پیکره‌یی از میرزاکوچک خان جنگلی، مرد ستبر تاریخ ایران‌زمین و گیلان دوست‌داشتنی، سرداری که در جنگلهای سرد و یخ‌زده‌ی گیلان، نوای آزادی و آبادی ایران را سر می‌

Open List

...Borrowed from

Mahmood’s Den

An Arab man’s attempt at bridging the cultural gap

[Bonus Link: Since I "borrowed" the image from Mahmood's Den I should give credit to t-shirthumor.com ]

Open Pickling

Friday last SmittenKitchen offered...

Seeing that it is a whole eleven days into aught-eight, I’m going to stagger a guess that you’re sick of carrot sticks by now. But I don’t want you to feel bad about it. We all hit that wall between our ambition and the reality that being good all of the time is no fun from time to time.

Truer words were never spoken... carrots sticks get a little ... passe. So my interest was piqued by the prospect of ... pickled carrot sticks.

Whoa! Stop the presses, rewrite the headlines... pickled carrot sticks?!? Sheeeeesh, Papa, get a life or something.

Ok, now that everyone is done laughing and guffawing... the simple recipe included with this post was just the key I needed to unlock a part of the culinary mystique that has alluded me for years. The simple pickled vegetable. They don't need to be 'Grandma's Extra Special Secret Recipe' or politically correct Kosher pickles. No, they just need to be crisp, bright, piquant pickled veggies.

Be warned, however, the brine is so good it’s going to get you thinking “what can I pickle next?” Alex has been on the pickle prowl for a couple days now and I see him eying the leeks in the fridge, the beans in the pantry.

Truer words were never spoken, again... after I sliced up my carrot sticks I spied the head of cauliflower - it just cried out, begged to be pickled. Mmmmmm, little white cauliflower florets in contrast to the bright orange carrots sticks.

If you were me, you would not be able to keep your tongs out of the jar. I had one of those “oh, let me try one and see how they came out” moments before I went to work Thursday morning. Then I tried another one. And another. Um, I had pickled carrot sticks for breakfast–I am gross. But these are not.

My pleasant surprise came early Sunday morning. Nervously I slipped one skinny carrot stick out of the bowl of brine and ... Yes! Light, bright and slightly tangy. I think I will have another.

Open and Free Radicals

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
disenfranchise

"deprive of civil or electoral privileges," 1644, from dis- + enfranchise. Earlier form was disfranchise (1467).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper

When duly elected officials engage in politically expedient knee-jerk reactions like the endorsement of The Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act then I have already been disenfranchised.

I believe this legislation has made the American Revolution illegal. This legislation has overturned the rights and privileges guaranteed by the framers of the Constitution. This legislation makes a mockery of the lives sacrificed by the women and men who fought and died to keep this nation free. This kind of politicized flip-flop-flappery only serves to debase this great nation further in the ethical and moral court of world opinion.

What is worse, much worse, is that by succumbing to such social paranoia in drafting this sort of legislation we have lost faith in the very democratic process that we hold so dear. When dissenting voices are suppressed either by the rule of "Law" or by violent means then we have become no better that the most petty despot.

History, and full prisons, have clearly shown that we can not legislate morality. It is laughable that our current political leadership somehow believes that they can legislate "faith" in this manner.

Save Democracy
REPEAL
The Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act

Open Coercion

This is a great analysis of the M$ vs. OLPC situation ...

• Why Microsoft Must Control One Laptop Per Child

• Bruce Perens

  Thu, 10 Jan 2008 09:53:16 PST

  Open Source Software

It's a threat Microsoft can't let stand: the entire third world learning Linux as children, and growing up to use it. And Microsoft is going to get its way.

It comes after a sudden wave of SCO-like problems for the OLPC project. A specious patent lawsuit over keyboards. Board-member Intel thrown out of the project for attempting to convince national governments to drop OLPC purchases and go with its own (Windows) product. First, OLPC is shown what its problems will be if it doesn't cooperate with Microsoft. Then, Microsoft approaches with money and technical help - you just have to run Windows to get it.

The move is presented as enabling choice. It starts out with a dual-boot capability, provided by Microsoft engineers. Not that any work by Microsoft was really needed, Open Source firmware that boots Microsoft operating systems has existed for ten years. Microsoft says they will issue guidelines, and start field trials this month. Dual-boot sounds harmless, but Microsoft's version of choice is better stated as we'll give you choice and then make you choose Microsoft. I'm sure there will be pressure on national governments to select Windows-only loads for their OLPC purchases, or to specify texts protected with Windows DRM for classroom use.

Nobody can pretend that the world has ever been absent any choice to run Microsoft software, or that Microsoft must work with OLPC to increase choice. Microsoft operating systems are the only option offered with the vast majority of desktop and server computers. By refusing to tolerate hardware that runs another OS by default, Microsoft is working to reduce choice.

Consider how good it might have been for the third world to have a computer infrasturcture they could support on their own, without any capital and technological drain to the United States. That's what they'll be losing. But that was never the goal of the OLPC project. It's meant to bring free e-Books to students, at a lower cost than their national governments could sustain. With OLPC based on all Free Software, it was likely that those books would have themselves been under similar licensing like Creative Content. Now, it is likely that third world students will be running DRM-locked textbooks that are only acessable under Windows.

Nicholas Negroponte has always been willing to go where the wind blows: the original OLPC prototypes ran Debian, notable because it's produced by a public-benefit non-profit. Once Red Hat offered money and resources, Debian disappeared from the system. Now it's Red Hat's turn to disappear.

The folks I have the most sympathy for are those students who might have been offered a way to take control of their own destiny, and make their nation self-sufficient for the IT infrastructure they need to participate in worldwide trade. Now, they'll get less. But I also feel sympathy for the many Open Source developers who participated in OLPC, and will now see their work discarded or perverted to support Microsoft.

Bruce Perens

Open Bourdain

An excellent interview with Anthony Bourdain

316

Anthony Bourdain

The well-traveled chef reflects on a life of eating and other excessive behavior.
by Sean O'Neal

Open and Shut ... Again!

In my previous post RANT ( Open and Shut ... Picasa no es mi casa! ) I stirred up at least one hornet from the nest ... and the comment dialog with Dan Kegel isn't over yet.

Then I found this ...

Give Wine apps the look and feel of GNOME or KDE

By Andrew Min on January 10, 2008 (4:00:00 PM)
Wine allows users to run Windows programs natively under Linux without paying a dime. However, there's a tiny problem: programs running in Wine don't look so great. They don't even try to fit into your native GNOME or KDE color scheme or use your preferred fonts. You could use a Windows theme, but themes make Wine run extremely slowly. Luckily, with a little configuration editing, it's easy to make Wine applications look at lot more like the rest of the apps on your desktop.
...

My comment at Linux.com, reposted here sums up my feelings....

NO NO NO ...This is WRONG! Port applications to Linux. Do not foster the illusion that it is in any way appropriate to _make do_ with Microsoft apps in a Linux environment.

...and PLEASE, don't ever call them "Wine apps" again... What an insult to Wine!

Open Contradictions

Nicholas Negroponte is skating on very thin ice. Even suggesting that OLPC should get into bed with Microsoft will have far reaching (detrimental) effects in the world of Open Source development.

Linux.com reported ...

Reactions to the story this morning on the OLPC developers channel on irc.freenode.net ranged from shock to anger, with one developer saying that it is "utter crap, and is exactly the opposite of why I support this project."

Notice the very carefully chosen words, "...why I support this project." My bet is that they were spoken by an individual who has donated his/her time to the OLPC project. Negroponte is risking future projects by debasing the value of donated time.

Personal experience tells me that many people will make personal sacrifices (donations) that no amount of money can buy. The value to the giver of such a donation is in contributing to a project that has social value and has integrity. If the giver believes that the integrity of a project is compromised then their personal sacrifice or donation is compromised.

Watch out for the old maxim: "Burn me once, shame on you. Burn me twice, shame on me!"

If Negroponte burns the contributions for this project who will step up for the next one?

Open Countdown

The Time is Now: Countdown Begins on 12.12.07

SIGN THE MANDATE DONATE TO SUPPORT OV VISIT OUR BLOG OV ON FACEBOOK THE TIME IS NOW. Today, December 12, 2007, to mark the start of official negotiations between the Israeli and Palestinian negotiation teams, OneVoice is starting the countdown for 365 days of civic action toward a two state solution - one year of holding ourselves – the international community and our elected representatives – accountable. Last month in Annapolis, Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas agreed "to engage in vigorous, ongoing and continuous negotiations ... [and] make every effort to conclude an agreement before the end of 2008." And OneVoice was there too in support of the leadership. OneVoice supports the serious steps that Abbas and Olmert are taking to negotiate a mutually-acceptable two state solution, guaranteeing a viable independent Palestinian state at peace with Israel. And we are pledging to put our support behind them as they start this difficult process. To remind all citizens of their duty to support the process, on December 12, 2007 OneVoice launched 11 digital screens – 5 in Ramallah and 6 in Tel Aviv – displaying countdown clocks set for a one year: one year to achieve a comprehensive two state agreement, one year to end the violence and end the conflict ... one year for citizens to take a stand in support of the process. OneVoice is simultaneously launching countdown clocks online, as a representation within the international community that we are holding ourselves, and our leaders who took part in the Annapolis conference, accountable to playing our part in this process. We all too often speak about the failures of leadership. But we too have a responsibility to do our part. We are launching a countdown clock to remind ourselves that over the next year – until December 12 , 2008 – we must consider: What are WE willing to do to help end the conflict? Countdown with us – ways you can be involved: Sign the Mandate Forward this email to 5 friends Countdown to a Two State agreement on your website or blog Donate to support OneVoice Join us in counting down & taking action on Facebook The OneVoice Teams You are subscribed to PeaceWorks Foundation's OneVoice Movement Update List. For removal requests click here or e-mail: MailListAdmin@onevoicemovement.org and specify Unsubscribe in the subject line.

Open Grammar

Seems that proper grammar may not always be your friend...

From Barbados gallimaufry.ws offers ...

A co-worker pointed out this paragraph from the Nation’s election coverage today.

There is a claim that a third of our water supply is stool-contaminated and it comes from Patricia Inniss, the Democratic Labour Party’s candidate for St. Michael North East.

Open Home

A New Home for the Elephant God

Near Imbi market we're alerted to an auspicious Indian occasion by the presence of hanging decorations made from coconut leaves. A new shrine to Ganesha, the Hindu elephant god, remover of all obstacles, is being conscecrated by a priest (in black) and his assistant.

I am taken with the importance of food in the dedication of a shrine.

Eat when you are hungry
sleep when you are tired
...
chop wood
carry water

Open and Shut - Picasa no es mi casa!

There is only one reason in my mind for making Wine* a pre-requisite for a Linux application - the Picasa program is not written for Linux! This approach to application development for Linux is up-side-down and backwards. In my simple view it is kowtowing to Windows while paying lip service to Linux.

Note to Google: Either support Linux or don't but do not insult us.


* Wine is not the villan or the problem here. Wine in an exceptional program suite designed to meet a very specific need - access and integration into a Windows networking environment.

Ok, now Papa you have really stepped in a pile of doo-doo this time... What about all the real Linux users that just want to use a Microsoft application (without having to have a complete Windows system)???

THIS IS MY POINT EXACTLY!!! Instead of properly developing programs and applications for Linux we are relegated to second-class citizen status - stuffed inside a Microsoft box.

Let my software go!

[Follow-up - Added 01/10/08 in response to comments.]

About Picasa for Linux

So, how does it work? Picasa for Linux runs the current Windows version of Picasa using a carefully tested version of Wine, an open-source implementation of the Windows application-programming interface (API). Wine runs on top of the X Window System and Linux or Unix. But it’s not a Windows emulator; instead, it provides a Windows API middleware layer that enables Windows programs to run on Linux without the slowing effects of OS emulation or a virtual machine.

Open Thank You

The Gratitude Campaign




Hat tip and a Salute to Douglas Karr

Open to serious review

I used to take politics, seriously...

...then my mom made me put them back.

Open Mouth, insert foot

I owe Doug Alder an apology. Doug left a perfectly correct comment on my Papa Predictions for 2008 posting. In it he observed, "I think you must have missed MS' decision to not charge any licensing fees for server 2008..." He is absolutely right. I missed that bit of news. (More on that elsewhere.)

Doug also mentioned that "Your comment form does not appear to give me a place to put my url when signing in using my gmail account - it is             "

Now this is a really serious matter. Apparently the comment form strips out e-mail addresses as well(?). This is not boding well for Google.

All that aside, Doug Alder has been and continues to be a long-standing member of the blogging community. I am sorry for suggesting anything to the contrary.

Open Notation

Length: 38:20 - Longish but worth it.
This is something akin to landing on the moon. Its potential is huge but I won't be using it in my kitchen anytime soon. Still it represents a noteworthy paradigm shift in thinking about programming.

Actual video removed - click here to view it. Subtext

(It was taking too long to load the entire video each time you visit this page.)

Open Snow

This reminds me so much of Battle Creek Michigan...



Click on the picture to go on an adventure.

Click here for a clue to the location ( Iran:Frozen Tehran in Photos )

Open Popularity

I read the following quote and was unsettled...

Kenya: Deep lessons for South Africa

6 January 2008, 10:23 GMT + 2

THE events of the last two weeks in Kenya have exposed just how fragile democracy is when it does not enjoy the protection of a country’s political leadership.

I am unsettled because I believe the onus of responsibility lays not on the political leadership but on the people. I contend that we are the keepers of our democracy, not our leaders. If we as a people do not agree with our leaders then it is our democratic responsibility to 'vote the bums out of office.' If, through a democratic process, we do not then the conclusion must be drawn that we accept a given leader.

If a leader assumes power through a means other than the democratic process then it is our, the people's, responsibility to address the matter. Social unrest, as seen in Kenya, is an indicator that the democratic process is still just that, in process.

I believe that the author and publication above are confusing democracy with economic stability. I believe a more apt observation might be, "THE events of the last two weeks in Kenya have exposed just how fragile an economy is when it does not enjoy the protection of a country’s political leadership."

Open Polarity

In a bi-polar paradigm...

Ya'll are on one side or the other...

pro or con
republican or democrat
left or right
south or north
east coast or west coast

right or wrong

... you is either fer us or agin us...
so make up yer mind!
C'mon mister ya'll gotta choose 'r it don' mean nothin'.

Which bi-polar side are you on?

Open Celebration

Mass in church marks Armenian Christmas

January 5th, 2008 by anush

On the evening of 5 January each year a special mass is conducted in Armenian churches to mark Christmas.

Lots of visitors are here on this day. Most of them come not to hear the mass but to light a candle and take it home, which is the tradition.

The real meaning of taking a light home, which is having it in your heart and taking it home, comes true after staying here for a couple of hours.