[Edu-sig] OLPC: $175 and Windows capable

[kirby urner]

> The question 'is Linux in trouble?' is of course entirely rhetorical
> and it's not.  The students I'm working with already have a well
> developed hacker ethic:  if the source is closed, it's "for dummies"
> (meant pejoratively, like in the movie 'Idiocracy').  Geeks of
> tomorrow use what geeks of today use:  intelligent stuff.  But sure,
> let the dumb kids in the USA use their stoopid Microsoft.  We all know
> the USA is at least five years behind when it comes to teaching math
> and science, so why not computers as well?
>
> Kirby

OK, so I cooled off an mollified my position somewhat here:

http://mathforum.org/kb/message.jspa?messageID=5674085&tstart=0

I've been feeling very friendly towards Bill of late, ever since his Foundation
hired away a certain school superindent that's been nothing but trouble for
us here in Portland.  Yay Bill and Melinda, way to go!

When it comes to proprietary/secret stuff, even Shuttleworth'll do that.  It's
simply *not* either/or and never has been in Silicon Forest.

I've sparred with Stallman on precisely this issue:  what if geeks don't see
other geeks worthy of sharing with, in that opponent culture?

Sometimes a counter-culture just reserves for its own, OK?

Like, I probably won't be writing up my Saturday Academy classes in such
detail any more.  That's work I do for a paying client.  If curious,
enroll in a
gnu math course near you, and experience the difference our charming
snake makes.

Kirby