06.24.21
Gemini version available ♊︎Politicians Need to Crack Down on Microsoft’s Monopoly Abuse Amid Yet More Attacks on Linux (Even From the Inside)
Summary: The most abusive ‘tech’ company (akin to a cult disguised as “software company” since the 1970s) is distracting lawmakers and attacking Linux from the inside; thankfully, those insipid plans of theirs face major backlash from longtime kernel developers and GNU/Linux users
THERE is a longstanding problem associated with Microsoft lobbying and entryism. It is simply like a cult that poisons everything and bribes everyone, even its enemies (to get them to defect, to effectively switch sides).
“Don’t be misled by smiles and shallow gestures. Cults are good at those things.”The profound issues associated with Microsoft’s history have been covered here for many years. Repeating old information shouldn’t be necessary. We try to focus on new attacks, new threats, or the latest developments.
At the moment, Microsoft is attacking Linux. Of course it says that it “loves Linux”, but that’s just a deliberate smokescreen. Microsoft’s Jim Allchin, a Microsoft VP at one time, said “I feel we are much too smug in dealing with Novell” and on a separate occasion he said: “We need to slaughter Novell before they get stronger….If you’re going to kill someone, there isn’t much reason to get all worked up about it and angry. You just pull the trigger. Any discussions beforehand are a waste of time. We need to smile at Novell while we pull the trigger.”
Don’t be misled by smiles and shallow gestures. Cults are good at those things. If they weren’t, they would not spread far and eventually they would simply perish.
The video above introduces folks to this new article; someone from Microsoft sent us this article. This explains a lot regarding the very recent (albeit pattern of a longstanding pattern) and very biased coverage with slanted political focus. Another new report, from a more left-leaning publisher, says/quotes: ““I’m trying to figure out why one of the biggest offenders, of Big Tech, has mysteriously avoided the scrutiny of this committee and this broad swath of bills that seek to radically rewrite our antitrust law,” Massie said, waving a draft of the bill that he said was shared with Microsoft before it was public. “I’m talking about Microsoft.””
Microsoft is inciting politicians in Europe and the US against “GAFA” (everyone but Microsoft!) to distract from its very own and vastly worse takeover and monopolisation, including abduction of Free software. They are trying to take over Linux, not just the so-called ‘Linux’ Foundation. In fact, we covered this about half a dozen time almost a year ago when the plot first surfaced and many kernel hackers rightly complained about it; it started with Microsoft operatives inside the Linux Foundation and it didn’t take long before they tried to pocket Linux inside GitHub (whose COO is in the Board of the so-called ‘Linux’ Foundation, in effect bossing Linus Torvalds).
We don’t want to repeat many of the counterarguments from last year, so instead we’ll just remind readers that this isn’t about ease of use but about control. Microsoft is trying to control Linux. A barrier to entry (learning curve) is not always a bad thing, as the University of Minnesota proved just months ago. People who cannot cope with something like patch via E-mail likely don’t know much about the kernel, let alone know how to program so well (their code might do more harm than good). This has nothing to do with race or gender; it’s all about experience and having a track record (for chain of trust and accountability)
That a bunch of Microsoft operatives suddenly want to portray Linux as a failure (not “success story”) because of something like “diversity” overlooks the simple fact that kernels are highly technical programs that, regardless of the tools used for version control, would repel people who aren’t highly specialised.
Regarding the whole slant of Microsoft, trying to distract us with nonsense and misdirect hate/anger, an associate of ours wrote this morning that “they’re trying to turn it into a partisan thing. However, maybe the expose resulting from the whistleblower’s actions can make action bipartisan.”
“Either way, to be sure, Microsoft will start to make lots of noise and make as many distractions as they can. Much of it will center around Vista 11 today or tomorrow.
“What would really help the world more than any whistleblowing on Microsoft would be for the courts to neutralize non-disparagement clauses and certain non-disclosure ‘agreements’ attached to ending employment. A lot of ‘ex’ microsofters could then talk freely. It’s a cult so many won’t but some probably want to talk but are afraid of the papers they signed on the way out.”
For those who wish to know more about the latest Microsoft attack on Linux (no paywall for this link), watch the comments in LWN. Or watch the video above.
Linux already has easy-to-use and widely accessible (even to blind people) Git repositories. It doesn’t need any proprietary Microsoft bloat and “apps”. █
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