Re: [Gnu-arch-users] [OT] Debian should move all GPL sw to non-free

[James Blackwell]

>     > Though its not my place to dictate where and how you spend your effort
>     > (at least in this lifetime. :), 
> 
> Now, wait a minute.   I'm a little confused about the metaphysics
> there.
> 
> Are you saying that you expect there to be some other lifetimes (or
> reporting about past lifetimes) in which it _is_ your place to dictate
> where and how I spend my effort?

I'm just keeping my options open. Some of the more quacky quantum
physisists claim that there are an infinite number of universes. Wouldn't
it suck if that were indeed true, and I abdicated my rule in the one 
version of the universe in which I rule supreme?

[taken out of order]
> It really is quite a sound little analysis.  If GFDL is not
> Debian-free then neither is GPL.  Debian's position on GFDL is
> hypocritical.

With the endorsement, I'll read it. I suppose its more constructive then
trying to sneak through a wormhole into my its-good-to-be-king universe.


> Always on the lookout for ways to double the utility of things I do, I
> extracted the little GPL-is-not-Debian-free argument from those to
> share with others.  Consider yourself lucky.  I could have turned the
> 30 pages of notes into 60 pages of subtle analysis of just about ever
> aspect of GFDL as it relates to software freedoms.  I was mostly
> interested (in my notes) in constructing (or disproving the existence
> of) a _positive_ theory of why the GFDL is right[*].   The nugget I
> posted is just a tasty little incidental example of refuting the
> Debian consensus view.

Ahhh. Then I'll count my blessings and get reading before inflation hits.

> But, lest you worry, I'm plenty busy on the next round of arch
> goodness.  I'm paying pretty close attention to the list.   I'm
> crafting some wicked plans and performing some experiments.
> 
> And, presuming asuffield wraps up his BugGoo milestones soon (and
> working around that if he doesn't) -- the merge/hack/release rate for
> tla itself will spring back emphatically fairly soon.
> 
> Meanwhile, a bunch of what I'm working on is a bit below most radars.
> 
> But thanks for asking.
> 
> 
>     > > * The GFDL is not Debian-free
> 
>     > [ long argument that I didn't read ]
>     > >   Clearly, to be consistent, Debian should now move all GPL'ed
>     > >   software to non-free and remove the mention of GPL from the DFSG.
> 
> And don't you forget it.

Sir!Ye.... well, let me read it first..

> [*] "I was mostly interested (in my notes) in constructing (or
>      disproving the existence of) a _positive_ theory of why the GFDL is
>      right"
> 
>   I wound up concluding that GFDL is nearly exactly right _but_:
> 
>   1) it has a few minor bugs (which aren't even on Debian's map)
> 
>   2) the eye-on-the-prize perspective is to figure out how to make
>      a future GPL version and GFDL version which are compatible.
>      Conceptually trivial but, hey, _I'm_ not the one who gets to 
>      consult with Mr. Moglen on writing it in such a way that it
>      sticks. 

[snipped myself here to save it for the thirty_one_ page rebuttal]


-- 
James Blackwell          Please do not send me carbon copies of mailing
Smile more!              list posts. Such mail is unsolicited. Thank you!

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