TechBytes Episode 86: Debian GNU/Linux and Firmware

Dr. Roy Schestowitz

2013-07-24 10:06:40 UTC
Modified: 2013-07-24 10:07:30 UTC

Richard Stallman in nature
Direct download as Ogg (00:06:42, 3.5 MB)

Summary: Richard Stallman's suggestion for people who want to compromise on the issue of firmware

THE latest Debian GNU/Linux, like the previous version (6.x), comes without notorious firmware by default, which causes inconvenience to some, yours truly included. I discussed this with Stallman and here are his views on the matter. ⬆

As embedded (HTML5):

Keywords: gnu fsf richardstallman

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Links 04/11/2026: Slop Helps Break Laws and Scam Altman Pretends Chatbots Are Persons: Links for the day
Intercontinental Brigading - Part XXXVII - Tasteless, Tactless Time for "Virtue-Signalling" (When Your Actions Are Much Like the GOP's): Violence by cops isn't a "leftist" thing
United Arab Emirates: GNU/Linux at Over 8%: According to statCounter
As XBox Goes Out of Business Helen Chiang Adds Insult to Injury: XBox sales are worst in 25 years
Intercontinental Brigading - Part XXXIV - Women as Hostages, Even Spouses: First he put his own spouse behind bars by accusing the spouse of what he himself seems guilty of
A Geminispace Tally: That's not the Web, it is an alternative to it
Intercontinental Brigading - Part XXXIII - Shooting the Messenger is a Presidential Tactic: why our ministers are looking for ways to fix the law.
Intercontinental Brigading - Part XXXVIII - Telling the Police About the Defamatory Blog Where Posts Targeted My Wife and I (From Across the Atlantic Ocean): Two years ago we spoke to cops a lot
The Register MS is Losing Money Again, Based on The Register MS: Selling out didn't pay off for very long
There Are No "Layoffs" Anymore, Layoffs Got Rebranded: We're entering bizarre times when layoffs are said to be "down" (according to the regime that suffered a 'bloodbath' in the election) because companies quit using the term "layoffs"
Gemini Links 05/11/2026: Rivers of London, Soul Cakes, STMicroelectronics, and Slop: Links for the day
The Register MS Has Just Published Fake Article With "AI" 84 Times in the Page Because It Was Paid to Do This!: Astounding number of mentions of "AI" (84 in total)
Over at Tux Machines...: GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Wednesday, November 04, 2026: IRC logs for Wednesday, November 04, 2026
Gemini Links 04/11/2026: Abacus and Spare IT Equipment: Links for the day
Viet Nam and Thailand at High Adoption Levels of GNU/Linux, Other Nations Nearby Are No Exception: Helen Chiang and her colleagues say it's a "clown show" at Microsoft
Richard Stallman on What It's Like to be Threatened by Strangers With Software Patents: We hope that some EPO insiders will take time to listen to this talk
Stealth Layoffs at IBM (PIPs and Bailouts): string of reports or unverified hearsay
Steven Vaughan-Nichols is Slop: Just look at this
The Register MS is "Hosting a Dinner" for Sponsors: Remember that The Register MS keeps publishing spam about "AI"
Intercontinental Brigading - Part XXXVI - A Potent Microsoft Threat to Administration of Justice Globally (Not Just Fair Elections): Breaking into machines to cover up one's own crimes
Intercontinental Brigading - Part XXXV - When One Does Not Understand Security (Nor Ever Pursues Security): One might therefore conclude that Garrett is a proponent of American back doors
Links 04/11/2026: "Democratic Establishment" Wins Big and "Pentagon Sued Over Hegseth’s New “Future of Warfare” Committee Led by Musk": Links for the day
Andy's Latest Writings About Proton CEO Andy Yen, "JavaScript Required", and Slavery in Technology: Andy (of The Cyber Show) has some new material
Intercontinental Brigading - Part XXXII - Malfunctions Reported in Windows Voting Machines (as Usual): "There are always problems," Ryan told us
Gemini Links 04/11/2026: GoAccess, Adopting Gopher, and Twisty Passages: Links for the day
Over at Tux Machines...: GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Tuesday, November 03, 2026: IRC logs for Tuesday, November 03, 2026
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Intercontinental Brigading - Part XXXI - Microsoft and Promoters of "Secure Boot" Are to Blame: the important thing is that the dictator and Microsoft can remotely control all computers
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Intercontinental Brigading - Part XXX - Breaking This Year’s Election Process With Bug Doors in Restricted Boot: Thankfully here in the UK we typically still vote with paper and pencil
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Links 03/11/2026: Slop-Tied Debt is Becoming a Crisis (Lenders Panic), "Ukrainian Journalists Urge Global Media Not to Look Away From Russian Aggression": Links for the day
Malaysia Seems to be Exploring Digital Independence With GNU/Linux and More: not too bad
Microsoft Windows is Crashing in Republic of South Korea: Like in Japan, they seem to be shutting the lid on decades of Microsoft-isms
Think Less, Aim for Less (When It Comes to Hardware): An abundance of hardware being wasted on a pyramid scheme will become a cautionary tale one day
Gemini Links 03/11/2026: Stargazing, Linux-Powered Prism "Ambient Computer", and Abandoning Streaming Disservices: Links for the day
GNU/Linux Made Big Strides in Portugal This Year: Microsoft had many layoffs in Portugal in recent years
GNU/Linux in Argentina Now Measured at 8% "Market Share": Argentina is known for exporting skilled footballers, not advanced technology, but it has a large population, which we can hope will dump Windows
Microsoft is Borrowing Loads of Money While Telling 60,000 Workers to Take the "Offer" and Leave, Microsoft Wants Bailouts From the Dictator: Vote in elections and also vote with your wallet
Microsoft and Spoilt Food: Some whistleblowers may be needed here
Intercontinental Brigading - Part XXIX - Undermining US Election While Engaging in Lawfare in England (BBC) Against Publishers That Cover Anti-Election Violence: The elephant in the room is back doors in voting machines
Over at Tux Machines...: GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Monday, November 02, 2026: IRC logs for Monday, November 02, 2026

TechBytes Episode 86: Debian GNU/Linux and Firmware

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