I have tried to get Les Butler at USF to introduce a Linux class in the
Outreach center at USF.
I am right now working on this to make it happen. Hopefully soon we will
know what the outcome will be.
Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: "Todd Robinson" <mtrob@penguix.com>
To: <slug-politics@nks.net>
Sent: Saturday, November 01, 2003 11:23 AM
Subject: [SLUG-POL] Re: [SLUG] Fwd: [governmentforge] Shocking news about
Microsoft's ability to kill Open Source
> I ran into this at USF, trying to sell them a particular solution to a
> Linux education problem. I had what I thougt was a pretty good 'in',
> with backing from several professors, and introductions... But, after
> getting down to the meat of the situation, I got the news that the
> Business School was not interested in teaching anything about Linux.
> First because it wasn't used in any business situation... Second,
> because they were able, through a special M$ program, able to buy the
> entire suite of _all_ M$ products for the staff for $750, so that it
> would be easy for them to teach it... It was reasonably clear that this
> was what influenced the first statment. We chatted a while longer, but
> never got past that.
>
> Todd
>
> On Thu, 2003-10-30 at 15:35, Eric Jahn wrote:
> > not shocking to me, but still sucky. please respond make any reposnses
to
> > slug-politics
> >
> > ---------- Forwarded Message ----------
> >
> > Subject: [governmentforge] Shocking news about Microsoft's ability to
kill
> > Open Source
> > Date: Thursday 30 October 2003 03:10 pm
> > From: Tom Adelstein <adelste@netscape.net>
> > To: Gov open source <gov-list@ssc.com>,
schoolforge-discuss@schoolforge.net,
> > governmentforge@yahoogroups.com, Ossi@oss-institute.org
> >
> > Hello,
> >
> > I'm scheduled to speak at the Desktop Linux Consortium on November 10th
> > at Boston University. My subject relates to Linux in State and Local
> > Government, a subject about which I have some knowledge.
> >
> > This morning I discovered from a reliable source that we will not be
> > invited back because Microsoft offered BU a Gold Partnership agreement
> > and marketing money to never "do this again".
> >
> > Jsut slightly infuriated, I inquired anonymously about the situation. I
> > contacted the Department of Justice and spoke to an attorney. Imagine my
> > surprise to discover Microsoft didn't do anything wrong. What they did
> > doesn't violate the law. I couldn't believe it.
> >
> > Imagine, all the time spent trying to stop them from restraining trade
> > and it means nothing. They can pay companies to "not sell" Linux. They
> > can provide "marketing money" to make sure their products are put ahead
> > of others, make sure certain products don't get shelf space, advertise
> > on every page featuring Linux or Open Source Software and they don't
> > break the law. Basically, they're not considered criminals as far as I
> > can tell.
> >
> > Now, if they threaten you with bodily harm, that's different. But what
> > does one get other than maybe a settlement if they do? That's something
> > else I found out.
> >
> > I've followed Microsoft's antics for years now and seen some amazing
> > things. Some of those include what I thought were "kickbacks". But in
> > reality, they must not be kickbacks. I guess if they won a contract and
> > paid the procurement officer, that would be a kickback. But, no one has
> > accused them of that - at least not in any way about which I know. Price
> > cutting, sure they do that. Lobbying, they do that too. Whining, I hear
> > they whine and spin. Evidenttly, nothing is wrong with that either.
> >
> > So, all I can conclude is that we shouldn't call them crooks. We might
> > wind up the subject of a defamation suit.
> >
> > I wonder if we could suggest a boycott?
> >
> > Would doing that be a violation of law?
> >
> > Tom
> >
> >
> >
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> --
> Todd Robinson <mtrob@penguix.com>
>
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