Robert Pogson

The call for comment contains this:
“MITA is establishing a framework through which the industry is made aware of Government’s preferred technologies. MITA is committed to publish a Technology Outlook and Roadmap on a regular basis. The Agency’s posture of embracing the application of open standards and technologies as a matter of policy as well as a generic guideline for all technology-related decisions, making proprietary technologies an exception, is important. This is coupled with the smart consideration for open source applications and systems which will widen the Agency’s scope towards harnessing benefits for largescale public implementations”

The document is rife with references to things I like in IT like re-use and efficiency. Lock-in to monopoly is not associated with either of thse things. The result will be better IT for the money with all the good benefits of FLOSS: interoperability, openness, performance and freedom to use IT the best way possible. Having restrictions placed by EULA or lack of interoperability is going the way of the dinosaur. It’s about time. More governments should adopt such policies.

This is about what I proposed to the Canadian Government a while back (2009)-
“After the normal “Does it work?” kinds of criteria that should be applied to all information technology systems and software, all software used or considered for use by the government should be categorized into FREE and NON-Free Software and preference given to Free Software because of the unique benefits to the government. In particular, widely used Free Software should be considered suitable for a fast-track in acquisitions because millions of installations may already be tested and performing well. Examples of Free Software that should be considered a commodity like sheets of paper or pens:

All governments and businesses and organizations should have such policies to make the world a better place.

see Malta Information Technology – Information Systems Framework.

There is so much garbage in politics today that it’s a huge waste of energy for most of us to pay any attention. However occasionally there comes an event where we just cannot avert our eyes or plug our ears. This is one of them:

Whatever you think of politics, parties, or candidates, that has to be the most stupid utterance by any candidate trying to win votes. I predict it will be the first neutron triggering a dramatic chain reaction of events in Romney’s fall from grace. There is no doubt it was the first or second neutron with the crap about Obama siding with the enemy in the Middle East vying for first or second place. This neutron has the advantage in the election that he clearly shows disdain for the voters. Giving Obama a solid base while Romney’s erodes is suicidal or crazy.

Several smart people have stated that if you want people to think highly of you keep your mouth shut. Romney should heed that advice. Will any thoughtful person vote in November thinking Romney is a wise and thoughtful man?

Questions remain:

• Will the GOP recall their candidate before the election?
• Will their VP candidate become the presidential candidate?
• Will USA become a one-party state?

Sure, some of those questions are flippant but, really, is there any party remaining in the race except the Democrats?

Whether you’re a student, a blogger, an employee or an owner of a small business or just need something for the occasional letter, LibreOffice is a great tool for you and it costs $0, the price of a download. Not only is it free, it’s Free Software. When you get it, there’s no end-user licence agreement. The authours give you the legal right to run, examine, modify and copy/distribute as much as you like. That’s priceless.

Or, you can opt for an alternative at much greater cost and less freedom: Microsoft Declares Office 2013 And Office 365 Pricing.