"No thanks, I got Linux." October 26th

merelyjim · 2012-10-21 07:55:36

On October 26th, Windows 8 hits the store shelves.

I've said before that compared to Vista, Windows 8 "doesn't completely suck." I stand by that. Am I going to spend $79.99 (US) for a copy? No. Not me, thanks. See, I got Linux...

It's hard to express what Linux has done for me. I've learned more with Linux than I ever did with Windows. I've been part of dynamic communities that have engaged in passionate arguments, clever discussions, and crazy flame wars. Like family, you take the crazy (um... that would be me) with the funny. Instead of just allowing me to 'try and make things work' on my own, there were those who tried to nudge me along the right path, even when I didn't want to see it. I have undying gratitude for those who were willing to share their time and experience with me, even though I never knew them in real life.

So, on October 26th, 2012, instead of giving Microsoft $79.99 for Windows 8 upgrade, I'm going to donate the same amount to the Linux-distro I use the most.

I invite you to join me in doing this.

I don't really care which distro; we're all family. If you'd prefer, donate to a specific Open Source project, instead. As long as you give something that lets Paypal, Amazon, of Flattr know that something's going on that day. If you can't give monetarily, at least spread the word.

I want the Linux community to show Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Oracle that we matter, we care for each other, and there are a lot more of us than they think. If you contribute, I hope you'll e-mail or tweet whomever manufactured your machines so they'll know you use their hardware running a Linux kernel.

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and thanks for your support.

-merelyjim

P.S. - Moderators; redirect this to the donations thread, but please only after Oct26th. Wanna get some eyes on this...

nightcap · 2012-10-21 09:57:15

Heartily endorse your sentiments, Jim. Already donated to #! and other bona-fide, creative, intelligent Linux distros over several years. If my instincts serve me well, soon our community won't be discussing Redmond excrement as though Linux is the underdog. A triumphant open source march has well and truly started!

dura · 2012-10-21 12:04:37

Nice. I also donate occasionally to software I use and like a lot, like geany.

I'm more interested in supporting gnu/linux than opensource though- opensource does not indicate free nor freedom...

Last edited by dura (2012-10-21 12:04:56)

VastOne · 2012-10-21 16:28:17

Very nice Jim....

Time to get out the check book again...

merelyjim · 2012-10-21 16:56:14

@VastOne;

You and the other moderators also pay with your time and knowledge.
Please don't think it's undervalued just because it's freely given.

chameleon · 2012-10-21 17:04:03

@merelyjim
+1
And out of all the distros at this moment in time Crunchbang stands out.
A donation is top of my hit list...

dura · 2012-10-21 17:54:38

Best of all you get a lovely email from corenominal saying how much he loves you for it! smile

lcafiero · 2012-10-21 17:55:08

Outstanding idea, merelyjim -- I'm sharpening my blogging pencil and getting to work to promote this idea, giving you full credit.

pvsage · 2012-10-21 17:59:12

dura wrote:

opensource does not indicate free nor freedom...

Actually, it kinda does..."open source"..."open" meaning you can look at it, modify it..."exactly what it says on the tin". wink

VastOne · 2012-10-21 19:10:58

Kudos to lcafiero... AKA Larry The CrunchBang Guy... taking merelyjim's excellent post to another level!

'No thanks. I got Linux'

Outstanding work from the both of you!

lcafiero · 2012-10-21 19:17:21

I can't take credit for this -- merelyjim wrote it for me, for the most part big_smile

Thanks again, merelyjim.

dura · 2012-10-21 19:20:46

dura wrote:
opensource does not indicate free nor freedom...
Actually, it kinda does..."open source"..."open" meaning you can look at it, modify it..."exactly what it says on the tin". wink

Stallman:

Where we differ from the proponents of open source is in what those goals are. The open source viewpoint cites only practical-convenience goals, such as making software powerful and reliable. Our primary goals are freedom and community. We appreciate convenience too, of course, but we do not put that above freedom.

http://www.forbes.com/2006/03/21/gnu-gp … lman2.html

I'm not arguing for either, but I think its an interesting point.

Last edited by dura (2012-10-21 19:26:26)

merelyjim · 2012-10-21 19:39:12

lcafiero wrote:

Outstanding idea, merelyjim -- I'm sharpening my blogging pencil and getting to work to promote this idea, giving you full credit.

Thanks! I've seen your blog and you write better than me. smile

Last edited by merelyjim (2012-10-21 21:00:19)

vicshrike · 2012-10-21 21:13:24

yeah people, throw in a donkey or two, it feels good! great idea merelyjim!

merelyjim · 2012-10-21 21:23:49

Throwing donkeys?
Just got a flash of the scene from Monty Python where the French knights are catapulting cows at Arthur...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9V7zbWNznbs lol

lcafiero · 2012-10-21 21:52:10

Heh! "Run away!"

VastOne · 2012-10-21 21:55:38

^ I fart in your general direction.... wink

lcafiero · 2012-10-21 22:01:06

merelyjim -- I'm going to take the liberty of revealing that you posted the original post as your own blog item here:

http://jims2011.blogspot.com/2012/10/no … -26th.html

I fixed that part in both my blogs (Larry the Free Software Guy / Larry the CrunchBang Guy) to point this out.

Secondly, and more importantly, you have some outstanding stuff on your blog and I think you need to get on the CrunchBang Planet so it shows up there. The info for that is here:

http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/topic … ang-linux/

While I'm taking liberties, I thought I'd add your blog to my blogroll on both the Free Software Guy and CrunchBang Guy sites. You're welcome to add me to yours as well.

Great work, again.

pvsage · 2012-10-21 22:05:50

Off-topic sidebar:

@dura: In that Forbes article...RMS puts open source in the DRM camp? Sorry, but he's totally in left field there - when you start talking about DRM, you've already left open source and are mired in closed-source blobs and copyrights. This is specifically why Debian has separate non-free repositories - to keep the packages dependent on closed source separate from those that are truly open source.

Also, if RMS were so big on freedom/libre, then his insistence on the use of the phrase GNU/Linux would be antithetical to his overall position. Users should have the freedom to call it whatever they want.

VastOne · 2012-10-21 22:22:47

lcafiero wrote:

Secondly, and more importantly, you have some outstanding stuff on your blog and I think you need to get on the CrunchBang Planet so it shows up there. The info for that is here:
http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/topic … ang-linux/

This... Please do merelyjim...

dura · 2012-10-21 23:04:04

@pvsage:

Extended sidebar: I was drawing attention to a nightcap's use of language, and the complexities in the distinction between gnu/linux and open source. I am interested in this distinction (I research alternative forms of organization), rather than arguing for the views of RMS, as may be perceived. My point being that the use of opensource as analogue to gnu/linux in general is misleading and confusing (...even more so when most distros are amalgams). I quite like his 6 year old polemic though smile

jens · 2012-10-22 00:23:07

@ merelyjim: you have been cited here...

http://larrythefreesoftwareguy.wordpres … got-linux/

VastOne · 2012-10-22 00:27:46

^ The double barrels of Larry/lcafiero... smile

merelyjim · 2012-10-22 00:31:00

VastOne wrote:

lcafiero wrote:
Secondly, and more importantly, you have some outstanding stuff on your blog and I think you need to get on the CrunchBang Planet so it shows up there. The info for that is here:
http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/topic … ang-linux/
This... Please do merelyjim...

Um... but there's stuff on the blog that doesn't always relate to #!
Thought it had to be about tech-all-the-time for Planet Crunchbang.

lcafiero · 2012-10-22 00:32:18

Larry the Free Software Guy -- what a clown big_smile

[Jens, I wrote that blog]

CrunchBang Linux

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#1 2012-10-21 07:55:36

"No thanks, I got Linux." October 26th

#2 2012-10-21 09:57:15

Re: "No thanks, I got Linux." October 26th

#3 2012-10-21 12:04:37

Re: "No thanks, I got Linux." October 26th

#4 2012-10-21 16:28:17

Re: "No thanks, I got Linux." October 26th

#5 2012-10-21 16:56:14

Re: "No thanks, I got Linux." October 26th

#6 2012-10-21 17:04:03

Re: "No thanks, I got Linux." October 26th

#7 2012-10-21 17:54:38

Re: "No thanks, I got Linux." October 26th

#8 2012-10-21 17:55:08

Re: "No thanks, I got Linux." October 26th

#9 2012-10-21 17:59:12

Re: "No thanks, I got Linux." October 26th

#10 2012-10-21 19:10:58

Re: "No thanks, I got Linux." October 26th

#11 2012-10-21 19:17:21

Re: "No thanks, I got Linux." October 26th

#12 2012-10-21 19:20:46

Re: "No thanks, I got Linux." October 26th

#13 2012-10-21 19:39:12

Re: "No thanks, I got Linux." October 26th

#14 2012-10-21 21:13:24

Re: "No thanks, I got Linux." October 26th

#15 2012-10-21 21:23:49

Re: "No thanks, I got Linux." October 26th

#16 2012-10-21 21:52:10

Re: "No thanks, I got Linux." October 26th

#17 2012-10-21 21:55:38

Re: "No thanks, I got Linux." October 26th

#18 2012-10-21 22:01:06

Re: "No thanks, I got Linux." October 26th

#19 2012-10-21 22:05:50

Re: "No thanks, I got Linux." October 26th

#20 2012-10-21 22:22:47

Re: "No thanks, I got Linux." October 26th

#21 2012-10-21 23:04:04

Re: "No thanks, I got Linux." October 26th

#22 2012-10-22 00:23:07

Re: "No thanks, I got Linux." October 26th

#23 2012-10-22 00:27:46

Re: "No thanks, I got Linux." October 26th

#24 2012-10-22 00:31:00

Re: "No thanks, I got Linux." October 26th

#25 2012-10-22 00:32:18

Re: "No thanks, I got Linux." October 26th

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