Richard Stallman speaking on an MIT mailing list (public archive here), responding to the implicit characterization of GNU/Linux as an alternative to Windows.

Calling GNU/Linux an “alternative” to Windows
is like calling democracy an “alternative” to dictatorship.
It’s not wrong, but it’s a drastic understatement. (*)

This paragraph is nicely phrased. It does not state that GNU/Linux equals democracy and that Windows equals dictatorship (although the rhetorical implications are there). It does suggest that there is probably more to this “alternative” than the choice between, say, different breakfast cereals, or hair products. Democracy is an alternative to dictatorship, but it posits a completely different set of “rules of the game.” Alternative products on the marketplace are not usually different in that sense. Different types of shampoo will not radically change how you live or work. Democracy did, and so does GNU/Linux.

(*) small grammar fix made, see original text.

I don’t usually post about politics. But who the heck is this man? And where did the current vice-president hide his body?

The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart likes to make fun of Cheney’s gruff, no-nonsense manner. But what exactly is he saying?

Hrr grr! Grr ARRR wrhr wrhr. Rrr ARRR? Grr hrr ARRR? ARRR rrr. Grr grr grr grr wrhr. Rrr ARRR! Rrr ARRR hrr ARRR ARRR ARRR rrr? Grr grr hrr. ARRR ARRR. Rrr wrhr grr grr rrr wrhr! Grr grr ARRR grr grr ARRR grr wrhr wrhr ARRR grr rrr. Wrhr ARRR. Grr rrr wrhr! ARRR.

Use the Code Quacker to interpret it.

The paraphrase of a Mitt Romney speech posted by Andrew Sullivan doesn’t seem to mean anything. However, this does:

America God. America God. God fabulous. Family fabulous America family great. America America! Family America. Fabulous great faith faith faith fabulous gosh God America family America. America faith gosh? Faith faith. Strong America? Gosh gosh faith faith? America faith? Fabulous great faith God family. Faith God! Fabulous family America? Great faith. Family gosh faith! Family strong! Fabulous God fabulous fabulous!

Use the Code Quacker to interpret it.