[NTLUG:Discuss] New NTLUG Forum??

[MadHat]

On Tue, 2003-02-18 at 15:57, Kenneth Loafman wrote:

> Ahh, but Linux is about more than just the OS or the distribution.  Its 
> about the whole use of Linux in the workplace, alongside, in competition 
> with, or replacing the product from Redmond.  Politics has entered into 
> the picture with DMCA, TIA, and other problem laws.  All of this affects 
> our use of Linux, and should possibly be off topic for discuss, but are 
> on topic for those that look at the social implications of Linux.
> 
> The reason for another forum is simple, to keep it local to the North 
> Texas area, perhaps to help each other out, perhaps to keep the noise 
> down to a dull roar.  USENET groups get too much noise.  By keeping it 
> local, perhaps that noise will be reduced.
> 

This comes up every so often, and usually the consensus is that there
are a couple of people who want to start anew group and not that many
others are really interested.  Feel free to start a new group and
mention it here once to let people know.  

If you would like to start a new group, I would recommend
http://groups.yahoo.com


My job here is to try and keep things from straying to far and in doing
that I have to make judgment calls.  I am not perfect, but I keep
hearing I am doing an ok job, so I will continue.

I know that this is a community.  I know that conversations will have
ebbs and flows and will change subject as the thread continues.  I don't
step in every time we stray from the topic.  I often don't say anything
and sometimes get involved in the off topic discussions, but in this
case, breaking the licensing of an MS product, has nothing to do with
Linux, and there are better forums to discuss this in.  Its just like
asking a Solaris question, there are better places to ask, if someone
knows the answer they pop up and answer but overall the thread doesn't
really need to be on _this_ list.

> As to bypassing MS licensing, we never said we wanted to bypass it, but 
> data is leaving that system, and we have an absolute right to know and 
> control what it is and where it goes.  If you trust Gates, then that's 
> your problem.  I don't.  I've had business dealings with him and he's 
> quite willing to reverse engineer and steal intellectual property. 
> Finding out what info he's gleaning from our systems is important to the 
>   safety and privacy of our networks.  If all it is is licensing for the 
> MS components, then let it go, no harm.  If its anything else, then we 
> need to know about it and find out how to keep it from going out.
> 
> BTW, reverse engineering is legal.  I do it every day and I don't see 
> bars anywhere near me.

Reverse engineering can be illegal depending on how it is done and what
you are doing.  I won't get into it here, but yes it can be hazardous to
your freedom.  As for trying to bypass the MS licensing, not just block
it...  You want to block it, use ipchains or iptables or routing, but
that wasn't the question.  To be completely honest, I would like to know
how to do that, but this is not the right place to figure it out.


-- 
MadHat at Unspecific.com
`But I don't want to go among mad people,' Alice remarked.
`Oh, you can't help that,' said the Cat: `we're all mad here...'
   -- Lewis Carroll - _Alice's_Adventures_in_Wonderland_