Re: [Linux-aus] LA ctte meeting summary 2005/02/13

[Bret Busby <bret@busby.net>]

On Tue, 22 Feb 2005, Michael Still wrote:

> Bret Busby wrote:
>
> > 2. Reagarding the item regarding possible future Linux User Conferences, 
> > and, with the reference in that item, to the annual Linux Conference, it is 
> > my understanding that the current annual Linux Conference, superseded what 
> > was previously an annual Linux Users Conference, previously known as the 
> > CALU - the Conference of Australian Linux Users. Could this please be 
> > clarified? It appears to me, that what is being suggested, previously 
> > existed, and was replaced, as it appears that those responsible, adopted 
> > the Monty Python slogan - "And now for something completely different" - 
> > ending the annual Linux Users Conference in Australia, and replacing it 
> > with the Linux Conference (I do not call it Linux Conference Australia, as 
> > it is apparently going offshore in future).
>
> Your implication is that change is always bad. Does that mean we should stay 
> in Windows-centric world?
>
> Mikal

Like some of these twits here have been saying about a half-hearted 
referendum this coming weekend - No and No.

I have not inferred that change is alwways bad. My point was that what 
is suggested, already existed, and was done away with. There appears to 
be a difference in understanding what had existed. I had understood that 
the CALU had been run a number of times - someone has said that it had 
only been run once.

Perhaps the CALU was just not as good a name for the event, as it could 
have been.

Hence, my reference to the four possible streams (if not at the same 
conference, then at separate conferences). I believe that we already 
have two of the four streams, as separate conferences. I have seen 
promotional material for an end-user conference - something to do with 
desktops, including comparing the benefits of Linux desktops from four 
manufacturers, and, I believe that I have seen promotional material 
for an open-source developers conference, both in Australia (I say that 
here, not in any reference to the holding of the Linux conference in 
NZ, but, because I think, from memory, those two events are being 
organised and held in Australia, although, not by Linux Australia).

We are required to stay in a windows-centric world, whether we like it 
or not. That does not mean that we have to use Windows. I prefer Doors, 
but Jim Morrison is dead, and the acid has gone.

And, to leave this windows-centric world, I would be very wary. After 
all, as has been stated, it is easy to mix up miles and kilometres, and 
the loss of a 400 million USD space mission, travelling into unknown, 
deep space, is an acceptable loss. So, we may be better hanging on to 
the rocks, in this windows-centric world.

--
Bret Busby
Armadale
West Australia
..............

"So once you do know what the question actually is,
 you'll know what the answer means."
- Deep Thought,
  Chapter 28 of
  "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy:
  A Trilogy In Four Parts",
  written by Douglas Adams,
  published by Pan Books, 1992 
....................................................