On Thursday 17 July 2003 01:49 pm, Alan Dayley wrote:
> This is the best explaination that I can find.  The bottom line is that it
> is what Linus wanted.
>
> http://www.linux.org/info/penguin.html

Of course there is the now mythical story of Linus being attacked by a 
"ferocious" penguin :-)

Here is a (IMO) better description of the story behind the penguin:

http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,42209,00.html