Wild Webmink

• The ASF Resigns From the JCP Executive Committee
  The Apache Software Foundation quits Java’s governing body claiming that

  “[the] JCP is not an open specification process … Java specifications are proprietary technology that must be licensed directly from the spec lead under whatever terms the spec lead chooses”

• Oracle Response to Apache Departure from JCP
  Oracle’s response to Apache quitting the JCP, which pointedly ignores their actual reasons for doing so and instead pretends they are in some way anti-Java or anti-progress.
• The JCP Is Dead
  Apache’s President lays in to Oracle as Apache quits both the EC and the JCP, not least over their statement that “Oracle provides TCK licenses under fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory terms consistent with its obligations under the JSP.”

Also:

Filed under: Links | 1 Comment »

• Defend WikiLeaks or lose free speech
  Dan Gillmor on leaks and journalism:

  “By [Washington Post journalist] Krauthammer’s sick standards, the death squads should be converging soon on his own offices, as well as those of the Times and London’s Guardian and more.”

• The lawless Wild West attacks WikiLeaks
  Glenn Greenwald forcefully argues that the reaction against Wikileaks from the US establishment is lawless and unforgiveable.
• Julian Assange and the Computer Conspiracy
  Fascinating overview of Julian Assange’s motivations and philosophies which has led to some people describing him as a peaceful peer of the Unabomber…
• About Those 882 Novell Patents: This is Where OIN Comes In
  Groklaw says licensees of OIN’s patents have a perpetual licence to those Novell patents – which Microft just paid hale a billion dollars for – as long as they join the scheme before the Deal closes in January. Glad we joined ForgeRock to OIN.

Filed under: Links | Comments Off on ☞ Meta-Wikileaks

• ICANN had no role in seizing torrent domains
  It was done directly by Verisign, over the registrars’ heads: “VeriSign received sealed court orders directing certain actions to be taken with respect to specific domain names, and took appropriate actions. Because the orders are sealed, further questions should be directed to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.”
• Hudson’s Secret: Kohsuke
  It’s said that “code talks”, and if that’s true then there’s an angelic chorus singing praises about KK somewhere – the data Eduardo has gathered here clearly shows he has the right to an opinion about Hudson.

Filed under: Links | Comments Off on ☞ Secrets

• Shopping-enabled Wikipedia Page on Amazon
  While the creative commons license that covers Wikipedia allows it, this attempt to divert traffic away from Wikipedia without adding any significant value to either the pages or the community looks like it’s in very poor taste.
• Wikileaks is not part of Wikipedia
  This may seem obvious to lots of people, but the way WikiMedia Foundation uses “wiki-” as a prefix for all its products makes it a reasonable assumption that Wikileaks is part of the Wikipedia empire. It’s not, and it’s not even a wiki.
• United States diplomatic cables leak
  If you’ve been wondering what all this Wikileaks stuff is all about, the Wikipedia page provides an excellent and detailed overview. So detailed, in fact, that I’d expect it to come under the same sort of political pressure to remove it as Amazon and Paypal caved to.

Filed under: Links | Comments Off on ☞ Wiki-this-and-that

• Full Body Scanners: What’s Next?
  Definitive explanation from Bruce Schneier why the nude scanners at airports are a waste of money, and why the will always be accmpanied by unreasonably invasive personal searches.
• ZFS imported into GRUB
  Excellent decision here. They could have done this at absolutely any time, but I’m pleased they’ve done it now.

Filed under: Links | Comments Off on ☞ Decisions