Comments

• twitter

  2011-05-25 05:32:18

  dans les champs de l'observation, le hasard ne favorise que les esprits préparés, In the field of observation, chance only favors the prepared mind.
  
  The Microsoft monopoly depends on public and institutional ignorance. We should put an end to that.
  
  Despite Microsoft's attempts at secrecy, the evidence should be easy enough to collect. Anyone involved in IT frequently sees Microsoft abuse. The propaganda, the name calling, greedy sacrifices of common good for private interst. The bullies pretend it is normal and we should bow down and take it. For every official they buy off, there are dozens needed to implement their corruption.
  
  Of particular value to collect and publish are heavy hitting contracts that force the monopoly onto many innocent people. Memorandums of Understanding, and institutional Licenses are generally covered by non disclosure agreements and bind the public in the dark. These contracts are corruption and should be leaked. If you see something disgusting, copy files, take pictures and send them for publication.
  
  Helios gives us a stark example in Austin. As the school system was busy firing teachers he tells us of his efforts to expose non free software spending five years ago,
  
  

  In 2006, I started a personal campaign to find out what AISD was spending in software. Since I am a Free Software (Open Source) guy, it seemed to me that adopting an Open Source solution could at least help with lowering the overall operating costs.
  
  After badgering enough people, by 2008, I finally got through to someone who was able to give me the answer and she would be happy to give me access to that information. For a $2000.00 administration fee. [He went to board meetings with the support of teachers and parents to no avail.]
  
  The magic sword that protected the disclosure of software expenditure costs turned out to be the vendor agreements AISD signed with Microsoft and other various software companies. ... Filing for this data under the Freedom of Information Act of 1974 was impotent.

  
  
  The secrecy has to stop to protect the public from further waste. When govenment and business spends money on software licenses, they have that much less money for their core functions. Teachers are fired, roads go unrepaired, police and firemen remain ill equiped and out of touch. When you see an agreement that wastes money this way, send it here for publication if you can do so without risk to yourself.