How's this one- -> Editor <- Concerned citizens It has come to our attention that state and city governments of this state are not acting in the best interest  of it's citizens. The state and city governments have no money yet they contiune to give  hundreds of thousands of dollars (if not then millions) to a company that is in the state of Washington known as Microsoft. They continue to do this by leasing licenses for their operating system (OS) Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows 2003 even though their are viable alternatives to the Windows OS called RedHat Linux or SUSE Linux or even Mepis Linux among many. Further, with each new upgrade of their operating system most of the old hardware becomes obsolete requiring additional monies to make it so their OS will function. This is not so with Linux. At our last install-fest we put a modern functioning Linux OS on a 1991 laptop. Linux is part of a movement called open source in which the source code (inner workings of the program) is available for everyone to inspect and to improve upon. While some say this leads to a less secure OS, that is not true.  The individuals who write computer virii are are usually young and inexperienced individuals who think they are smarter than they really are (this is why they ALWAYS get caught). And while they are looking at the code with malicious overtones the wiser, more experienced generation is inspecting the same code fixing any security flaws they find in the OS. Because the code is open for all to see it is also open for all to compile (make operational). This means that it is also free to compile and use as your OS. But it goes deeper than just the operating system, all of the applications included with most distributions of the Linux OS are also open source. This means that for nothing you can have an operating that is superior to Microsoft's operating system with similar application programs. Sincerely: Michael Havens ---         note:  I think we should send the  letter promoting  one  of  the         distributions. Although I prefer  Debian I think we should go with one         of the comecialized distributions]         [My name on the letter is optional] So what do you all think? -- <:-)Mike(-:> This message has been scanned for viruses by the VEI Internet Automatic Email Spam and Virus Scanner, and is believed to be free of spam or viruses. Please report spam to spamtrap@vei.net. If you would like 98.9 % spam blocked from your E-mail then go to VEI Internet for details. Anti-spam/Anti-virus is FREE with every account. http://www.vei.net/ mailtospamtrap@vei.net --------------------------------------------------- PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change you mail settings: http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss