I used to write shareware. Some people would just send money with a brief thank-you note. Some people would adopt the attitude that I was beholden to them once I cashed their checks. Since the customer is always right, I was faced with the pressure of customer-directed development. For that and other reasons, I stopped writing shareware.

My next mistake was to release everything as postcardware. I did not immediately realize that this was wrong, and I enjoyed the influx of postcards from various places. Never underestimate the power of a simple 53-byte executable to make random people happy.

In time, I stopped writing postcardware.

Many years later, someone offered me something, with the condition that I do something in Debian that I would have not done otherwise. Another individual was offered the exact same inducement with the exact same condition. We both accepted.

I kept my end of the bargain. The other guy reneged. Sometimes I wonder if he inadvertantly did the right thing.

Since then I have been paid to work on free software, but never directly on Debian.

« For everyone wanting the TN1 visa, here is the secret, » he proclaimed. « When they ask if you have ever been in trouble with the police, just say “No”. »

« Also, if your bags weigh more than fifty pounds, tell the flight attendant she is cute, even if she isn't, » he continued.

« And that she looks strong? » she asked.

« I'm going to read this book, » he said, « because I don't believe in coincidence. »

« I am from Japan, » she confessed.

I smiled and nodded.

« I am here... uh... sightseeing, » she claimed.

I smiled and nodded.

She handed me a pamphlet about reading the Bible. « When you open the window, you let fresh air in, » she continued.

I smiled and nodded.

« When you open your mind, you let in ノリジ, » she concluded.

« Oh, yes, » I said.

« Knowledge, » she said. I smiled and nodded.

« Oh, you don't speak English, huh? » he shrieked. « I bet you ordered that pizza in Chinese. Don't they speak English in China or Korea? »

I got into my E85-loving Chevy Impala, tickled the throttle, and sped down past 8 Mile, past Telegraph Road, past Madonna University, and all the way to Loving Spoonful. I only stopped to vote at a couple of middle schools.

On the way, I didn't sing any Eminem, or Dire Straits, or Madonna, or the Lovin' Spoonful. All I sang was a song by Utah Phillips.

Far too late after #394749 got fixed, ZOMG switched from mpg321 to mpg123.

The reason that this is so exciting is that mpg123 supports output buffering, whereas mpg321 has been sucking ass for over five years.

With these shells as sh, results from the current posh testsuite:

This may reflect more on the unsuitability of the posh testsuite for other shells than the failure of those shells to conform to the expectations set by Debian policy. Patches welcome.

I can still see her smiling, dancing barefoot on the grass. She was young and naïve then. She lived in the sleeplessness and the soul-crushing poison, a refugee from the past that was never there.

Some say that one's character is defined not by one's principles, but by the manner in which one compromises those principles. Others say that it's all about ideals.

She tried to settle, but she failed. Maybe she couldn't let go of her principles, maybe she couldn't let go of mine.

She grasped the wick with her fingers and pinched. That quenched flame drove ripples of confusion through the crowd, and some adapted to the darkness better than others.

Oddly enough, I can't find my candles, and I don't know whom to blame. One day that will matter more than it does now.

« They wouldn't let my husband downgrade to business class, » she complained.

« Um, I'd cheerfully change seats with him, » he cried.

« Oh, why didn't that occur to us, » she lamented. « Now it's too late! »

« Yeah? » he asked. « Similar for you too? »

« Maybe, » I replied.

« Mystery! » she exclaimed. « Intrigue! »

« It's okay, » he said. « I'm an open book. I don't expect everyone else to be. »

« Us Livejournal weirdoes are all open books. » she observed.

« True, true, » he lied.

From here:

25 November 2006, we've got the letter from Michael Jones, the Chief Technologist of Google Earth, Google Maps, and Google Local search, requesting us to cease reverse engineering and improper usage of licensed data that Google Earth use...

Didn't Google have some kind of proscription against being or doing evil?

Sebastian, I see a veiled threat in that letter. Furthermore, I see more promotion of proprietary data and software, and defense of the ideals of intellectual property law.

You may argue that this is good business sense or necessary or what-have-you, but it ain't not-evil.

« Minextel pace Michael bah villes, » I muttered.

« He says with pride, » she scoffed.

« Il bastardo, » he insisted.

The white dog stared, eyes blazing.

David, my employer does not claim to give back to Debian, and, as far as I am aware, no one claims that Debian should strive to cooperate with my employer.

« I was in a line on launch day and I didn't get one, » he said.

« Did you camp out 64 days beforehand? » I asked.

« Do I weigh 400 pounds and survive off grape soda? » he demanded. « No, I didn't camp out. »

This looks like the perfect beginning of a tribute to Kondom des Grauens, starring a killer Nalgene bottle.