Somewhat OT: The JerryLeeCooper Saga

[David Munson]

This should not be read by those who experience blinding rage when
confronted by people who obviously don't know what they're talking
about, those with heart conditions, those with psychological
conditions, women who are pregnant or nursing, or any sane human
being.

This is a little bit (a lot) off topic, but it does relate to Linux,
so I felt I would pass it along. You may already be familiar with Mr
Jerry Lee Cooper and his works through digg.com and similar sites. If
so, you know what follows. If not, and if you wish to bear witness to
a new level of crazy, keep reading. If you haven't see the dozen or
more of his complete works, they are presented below, in chronological
order.

The AUSLUG and PLUG lists have been kind of quiet today, so I figured
I'd kick up some activity if anyone's listening. What follows is not
for the faint of heart, and probably not safe for human consumption.

This guy either has no idea what he's talking about, or he's a troll.
I think he's a troll, but it's up to you to decide for yourself. The
JerryLeeCooper that comes up on some other forums is probably not the
same guy, or evidence that this is in fact a troll. I suspect he's not
the same guy, since the name on the forums shows up some months after
the ZDnet postings.

Each of these entries is either in response to a ZDnet report or
editorial, or a comment posted under one of the reports or editorials.

He seems to have something against Linux, and is under the  impression
that MS is the Lord and Master of All Things Computer. Anyway, I've
collected his comments off of ZDnet here, in chronological order, for
your  enjoyment.

A little Google search for < site:talkback.zdnet.com "jerryleecooper's
comment">, will turn up all his posts in all their glory, but not in
chronological order, if you want  to see the original stories and
comments that prompted each insanity.

I have added commentary above each entry, to better clarify the topic
he's addressing. Each comment of his has a title, and the date it was
posted. Again, these should all be in chronological order, for better
enjoyment of the crazy. Same-day posts are arranged in what I perceive
to be the proper order, but that's just my opinion.

Enjoy, if you dare!



On Vista:

Vista is the Future
Its clearly evident that vista is the future.

One only has to watch TV for a short period of time and see the advertising.

WOW !!

I personally love the part where the young man is taking a stroll in
the delightful snow covered streets, and sees firsthand a young deer
with a gleefull  glint in its eye. It sends a shiver down my spine.
WOW is all I can say.

Vista is clearly the future of enterprise computing.
Posted by: jerryleecooper Posted on: 03/13/07


On hearing about Linux:

that wont work without THEFT of intellectual property
Linux looks very interesting, even if some of the screen colours and
menu options appear to be a little out of the ordinary.

But you are missing a vital point, a point which takes some experience
and depth of knowledge in the field of computers. You see, when a
computer boots up,  it needs to load various drivers and then load
various services. This happens long before the operating system and
other applications are available.

Linux is a marvellous operating system in its own right, and even
comes in several different flavours. However, as good as these
flavours are, they first  need Microsoft Windows to load the services
prior to use.

In Linux, the open office might be the default for editing your
wordfiles, and you might prefer ubuntu brown over the grassy knoll of
the windows desktop,  but mark my words young man - without the
windows drivers sitting below the visible surface, allowing the linus
to talk to the hardware, it is without worth.

And so, by choosing your linux as an alternative to windows on the
desktop, you still need a windows licence to run this operating system
through the windows  drivers to talk to the hardware. Linux is only a
code, it cannot perform the low level function.

My point being, young man, that unless you intend to pirate and steal
the Windows drivers and services, how is using the linux going to save
money ? Well ?  It seems that no linux fan can ever provide a straight
answer to that question !

May as well just stay legal, run the Windows drivers, and run Office
on the desktop instead of the linus.
Posted by: jerryleecooper Posted on: 03/13/07


on being told that Vista might prompt people to choose Linux:

It wont happen
I dont see how this will happen at all.

Vista is far more powerful than windows XP, and runs twice as fast. It
is also much harder to pirate, and this point more than anything else
has the Linux  crowd in a panic.

It wont be long until Windows XP is no longer supported, and when that
happens, what is Linux going to do ?

Linux will have to find a way to work under Vista from here on, since
it wont be able to rely on XP being readily available anymore.

Linux may seem like a good alternative to Office, but all that is
happening in linux is that the windows interface is cleverly hidden
away. It still needs  the drivers and software services in order to
run, and in most cases - that happens WITHOUT a valid windows licence.

This is just plain piracy.

Vista will finally put an end to this blatant abuse of intellectual
property, and linux should decline, taking the pirates with it.

Anyone that supports the continuation of Windows XP in place of Vista
surely has a hidden agenda .. and you will surely be caught out.
Posted by: jerryleecooper Posted on: 03/13/07


on being told that Linux is a true operating system, and doesn't need Windows:

You are kidding arent you ?
Are you saying that this linux can run on a computer without windows
underneath it, at all ? As in, without a boot disk, without any
drivers, and without any  services ?

That sounds preposterous to me.

If it were true (and I doubt it), then companies would be selling
computers without a windows. This clearly is not happening, so there
must be some error in  your calculations. I hope you realise that
windows is more than just Office ? Its a whole system that runs the
computer from start to finish, and that is a  very difficult thing to
acheive. A lot of people dont realise this.

Microsoft just spent $9 billion and many years to create Vista, so it
does not sound reasonable that some new alternative could just snap
into existence  overnight like that. It would take billions of dollars
and a massive effort to achieve. IBM tried, and spent a huge amount of
money developing OS/2 but could  never keep up with Windows. Apple
tried to create their own system for years, but finally gave up
recently and moved to Intel and Microsoft.

Its just not possible that a freeware like the Linux could be extended
to the point where it runs the entire computer fron start to finish,
without using  some of the more critical parts of windows. Not
possible.

I think you need to re-examine your assumptions.
Posted by: jerryleecooper Posted on: 03/14/07


on MS vs Unix, and MS marketing tactics:

Scalability is the key
Much of this analysis consists of splitting hairs over the finer
details of decisions that were made at the very dawn of the computer
IT industry.

So Microsoft leveraged their success with DOS off of mainframe systems
such as the CP/M ? Clunky old machines with green screens and
keyboards so big and  heavy that they are physically impossible to
type on. I remember them well.

That was then - lets fast forward now to 2007. Computers are so much
faster, graphics cards are 3D capable, the keyboards are easier to
use, and the mouse  makes life a breeze.

And we have the internet - 99% of which runs on Internet Explorer.

How can you be so blind as to say that Microsoft has not given us any
innovation ? I find that comment simply astounding !! You cant
honestly suggest that we  would be better off using the CPM machines
on a mainframe ?

On the surface there are many obvious innovations .. such as a
graphical system with a mouse, the Office, not to mention the internet
that is basically a  totally Microsoft platform these days .. (need I
go on ?)

But if you care to look below the obvious surface, you will find the
true innovation that Microsoft has bought us. Let me spell it out for
you :

SCALABILITY

The ability to extend performance above and beyond the ordinary. Thats
the true innovation that Microsoft has bought to the world, and they
have done it by  redefining software engineering, and backing it with
billions of dollars.

Who else has been able to do this ? Nobody that I can see.
Posted by: jerryleecooper Posted on: 03/22/07


on security in OSX:

The extra chip in the Mac OSX
Very interesting. You mention that the Mac OSX machine includes an
extra chip that handles the security ?

Well Ill have you know that Microsoft Vista includes a BitLocker in
the system which takes this a step further. The BitLocker is software
based, and so protects the data flow within the computer above and
beyond what happens over the serial line.

In addition to this fact, the Microsoft SQLServer wraps the data in a
form that can be made accessible on a user by user basis. The Mac OSX
chip is hardware, and so cannot distinguish activities at the user
level.

This dual existence of both BitLocker and SQLServer is what is termed
'Double Data Protection', which I am sure you will admit is a more
secure methodology than the single chip that the Mac OSX appears to be
using.

This gets very exciting when one imagines what might happen when the
operating system and the SQLServer are integrated as one unit.
Microsoft will be leading the way in computer security when this very
vision is realized with the release of the Win FS as part of Vista II.
You mark my words, it will make the Mac OSX obsolete.

But there is more ....

I happen to have extensive experience at the very heights of the
corporate enterprise IT, and this includes exclusive contacts deep
within the heirachy of a certain company in Redmond.

I can assure you that there are moves afoot to include a very similar
chip that is in the Mac OSX in the next version of Vista.

Whilst not being privy to exact details of discussions at the highest
level of the corporate IT, I can extrapolate my experience to present
a scenario which is entirely realistic :

1 - Microsoft worked alongside the Apple to develop the next
generation of security measures, using a 'Triple Data Protection'
scheme involving BitLocker, SQLServer, and an as yet untested security
chip.

2 - After providing Apple with its best virus protection algorithms
(an algorithm is an advanced computer code), Microsoft discovers that
Apple has no equivalent offering to add to the partnership.

3 - The partnership dissolves, but Apple pirates the Microsoft
algorithm, which is designed around the Pentium super chip, and then
proceeds to convert their machines across to the Intel.

4 - Apple adds this 'security chip' that you mention, (which more than
likely contains the Microsoft anti virus algorithm), giving it a
highly secure offering to bring to the market. An unfair advantage in
anyone's eyes you would have to admit.

Well, the simple fact that the Mac OSX already has over 700 malwares,
despite the existence of the security chip AND Microsoft's dearly
guarded anti-virus algorithm, indicates that Apple does not have the
expertise to engineer an IT miracle on this scale.

That will all change soon when Microsoft completes the engineering on
their next generation of Vista.

Hold onto your seats gentlemen, its going to be a blast !!
Posted by: jerryleecooper Posted on: 03/22/07


on why someone on ZDnet is having problems running Linux:

The linux cannot reliably be employed on modern hardware
Yes, well, I did receive quite a few pointed 'pointers' about linux
not requiring windows, but I am yet to be convinced on that score.

I did witness first hand just the other day, a demonstration of a
machine loading up the linux, and several points piqued my interest
for sure.

Firstly, the machine loaded into the Microsoft boot sequence prior to
loading the linux. This is the segment of the operating system which
counts down the memory, and configures the A:, C: and D: drives prior
to loading the Microsoft windows. Although the machine did not display
the familiar windows animation, it was obvious that the linux was
freeloading off the back of this prior installation/boot sequence. The
aforementioned demonstrator, upon further questioning, even admitted
that 'Oh, That part is not the linux', and then went on to confuse the
issue with technical jargon. However, one cannot mask a simple act of
piracy with excessive verbosity. A fool and his lamb are worth 2 in
the bush.

Now - I will admit after some further research, that the linux is not
in fact a complete copy of Microsoft Windows. My research indicates
that it is in fact a copy of Unix. I bet you didnt know that young man
? Yes, its a straight copy of Unix, even down to copying verbatim
codefiles straight from the source of Unix. I believe there is a court
case in progress regarding this latest discovery. The magnitude of the
theft is now becoming apparent.

However, this remarkable fact may well uncover the answer to Ed Bott's
mystery linux installation failure. You see, the Unix was designed to
run within the VHF to UHF spectra (much like a radio), which is all
well and good until you consider that modern computers run in the
microwave range, at which regular radio reception starts to have
serious issues. If one were to use a UHF receiver to tune in to a
quad-phased broadcast in the Microwave spectra, one would fail
miserably.

I would wager a bet that Ed Bott's computing apparatus was a more
contemporary design utilizing a 3GHz central processor unit (or CPU).
Under such frequencies, the linux would literally tear itself apart,
its code lacking the internal cohesion to sustain this extreme
environment. The Microsoft by comparison, is streamlined and
engineered to withstand this Microwave environment, thanks no doubt to
the forethought of its designers.

And of this there is ample evidence, which one can easily do an
msn-search for and witness first hand. All of this evidence is on the
public record, and cannot be denied.
Posted by: jerryleecooper Posted on: 03/29/07


on Blue-Ray:

blue ray is impractical for the linux
It comes as no surprise that the linux does not yet find itself
deployed on the blue ray HD DVD, for a number of reasons.

I think you will find after some investigation that the blue ray HD
DVD is a patented invention that requires special decryption codes to
be utilised.

Therefore it would not only be illegal for linux to use the blue ray
(not that minor questions of legality have ever stopped the Linux in
the past), but more  so that linux does not yet contain the decrypter
codes required for this operation.

And so for now, the linux finds itself constrained to the somewhat
prehistoric CD-ROM format.
Posted by: jerryleecooper Posted on: 05/27/07


on Novell dumping a load of documents to public access:

Leaderships wins the day
Lets us not waste our energies on pointless arguments over exactly how
many ways the linux has infringed on other people's intellectual
property.

The facts have already been proven, and numerous people have made
declarations in public about the level of corruption that is systemic
and prevalent in that  particular 'development community'.

Prominent and respected businessmen, such as Steve Ballmer CEO. of
Microsoft, have already been generous enough to state that the
evidence exists, and even  enumerate the magnitude of this vile
misdeed.

But nobody is threatening to sue anyone .. or argue over the who is to
blame, there is no childish 'Witch Hunt' in progress here.

When one stands on the edge of a smoking crater, the scene of a
horrific passenger aeroplane accident, a Leader will not run about
cursing all and sundry for  their part in this tragedy - NAY - A
Leader stands up and admits that a dark day has fallen upon us, but is
discrete about the details. The bodies of the  fallen are covered, and
discussions with next of Kin are kept private. It is enough to know
that '235 brave souls have lost their lives on this day', and  that is
enough for us to know.

And so it is that Steve Ballmer has shown both Leadership and
Discretion of the highest order in this situation. The proven
magintude of the crime has been  made public, however the details are
kept respectfully at arms length. In so doing, Microsoft is performing
a huge service for the linux developers, in not  shining the lamp of
the accuser too brightly upon their guilty brows ... in effect, giving
them a second chance to direct some of their energies towards a  more
productive future path.

It is an act of the highest nobility that is rarely seen in this day and age.

No, the real issue at hand here is - NOW that it is well known that
things have gone wrong, HOW can we restructure relationships in this
industry such that  their is a way forward to a productive future ? We
can also look to Novell it seems as bastion of noble intention and
Leadership in this industry.

The Novell-Microsoft pact is a template for all future relationships
in the IT industry, with all players in the industry purchasing
prepaid IP royalty  credits from Microsoft. This makes the entire
question of IP manageable at last, and streamlines all future IT
business in a way that truly benefits  everyone.
Posted by: jerryleecooper Posted on: 05/28/07


on buildng a FREE resource for Dell owners using Ubuntu:

A foolhardy investment
An interesting concept perhaps, but one ultimately doomed to failure.

I would hazard to suggest that such a venture would be like fissling
good seed onto barren ground, when one considers the target market for
this ambitious  venture.

Firstly, let us consider the target market. Those who would purchase a
Dell computer with the linux installed, typically do so with one
factor predominant in  their mind's eye. That is - they choose the
linux in order to save money. Any venture that invested resources in
providing training services to this market  is at a disadvantage from
the first day, since that market has already classified itself as a
penny pinching mob, collectively bereft of financial resources.

Secondly, one must consider the technical depth of this target market.
The linux lacks the shine and technical sophistication of modern
operating systems,  such as Vista. There is only so much that can be
taught to customers about the linux before one has exhausted it's
technical abilities, let alone the shallow  pockets of it's users.
Selling training for advanced topics such as - Virus Protection, Disk
Defragmentation Utilities, Job Scheduling, Windows Scripting,  and
Windows Clustering, Sequel Server .. all great topics that make a firm
foundation for a lucrative training program .. but these opportnities
are solely  lacking in the linux world.

And Thirdly, let us consider the professional development of this
target market. When one enters an University level course in advanced
computing with a view  to a productive future in the IT industry, what
exactly do you think they teach students there ? They would hardly be
teaching the linux, the unix, or the  mainframe in this day and age.
Nay - Its primarily Windows and Vista that form the foundation of a
professional career these days. One would only be doing a  half
hearted disservice to users if you limited the training program to the
linux.

So whilst I find the idea of offering training to Dell's linux
customers gregarious and even charitable, I think it is a venture
doomed to failure, and  surely one which most investors would be
loathe to back with the resources required.
Posted by: jerryleecooper Posted on: 05/28/07


on building a decent computer for under $500:

No need for Piracy or IP Theft here !
It is saddening to see articles like this that talk about building
computing systems, and leave out the necessary costs involved with
properly licensing the  operating software. There is an unwritten
suggestion within the article that the user could somehow bypass these
costs ? or worse - choose a system (Ubuntu),  which will lead the user
into the dark and uncharted world of freeware - a world where the true
costs are frighteningly hidden in the details.

I would suggest that in building any computing aparatus, one first
selects the software required, and then builds the rest of system
around that.

At the center of this choice would be the Windows Vista of course -
preferably in the Business edition, at a low price of $299.

That leaves $200 left, and for that money one could purchase a quality
case for about $50, a Microsoft keyboard and Mouse combo .. another
$50, and a  Motherboard for $100.

Now - anyone with experience in the computing IT industry would know
that prices for CPU's, RAM memory, and Hard Disk memory always drop
significantly over  time.

A top of the line processor, RAM memory and Hard Disk memory may cost
$1000 at today's prices - however, in a short time frame, these will
cost only $200.  And so, the wise buyer, by strategically delaying
their purchase order, will save $800.

A good quality 19" monitor - another $200.

Microsoft Office - add $400

Now lets do the figures :
$499 for the purchase of the initial equipment.
+ $200 for the upgrades later on.
- $800 savings by delaying the CPU / RAM / Disk purchase
+ $200 for a monitor
+ $400 for Microsoft Officce
=
$499 total

There you have it - a perfectly 'decent' computing machine with a
legal and licenced copy of operating software (and $1 in change) vs
$500 for a somewhat  hobbled Ubuntu machine that leaves its user with
undeclared balance sheet liablity for patent infringements.

Like so many other independent studies have found before .. A properly
licensed Microsoft solution is not only the safer option, but also the
lower cost  option as well.
Posted by: jerryleecooper Posted on: 05/30/07


on his lack of mathematical ability:

Yes ME again
I see that the freeware evangelists are running scared now that their
days are numbered. In an unbiased comparison, I have independently
concluded that a legally licensed Windows machine, with a faster CPU
processor and RAM memory, a bigger screen and a bigger Hard Disk
memory is cheaper than the ubuntu machine, because of a sound
investment strategy based on felicitous risk management and foresight.

You said : "You better go back to school because your math is
definitely not sound. You failed to factor in your $299 (your quote)
for Vista"

Not so - lets add it up again.
$299 for the Vista
$50 for the case
$50 for the genuine Microsoft keyboard and mouse
$100 for the motherboard
Total = $499

What is there not to understand ? The deductivistic summation of such
figures adds up to $499.
Posted by: jerryleecooper Posted on: 05/30/07


on Google's announcment that a lot of IIS servers are serving malware:

Interesting
Its a very interesting statistic indeed, and one that bears repeating
in many an IT department.

Google is a company with extensive internet experience - probably
second only to Microsoft itself, and one can bet that Google looks at
all platform options  very closely.

I wonder what exactly can be concluded from this statistic though ?
Given that Google runs it's internets using Microsoft IIS at the very
core, they dont  sound too worried about this situation.

Read between the lines of the article though, and the truth is
revealed in the final paragraph - That these compromised servers are
running PIRATED versions  of Microsoft IIS, many of which are probably
also running Linux, another malware of dubious legality.

It would be informative to learn how many of these pirated domains are
running Microsoft IIS under Vista vs how many are running Microsoft
IIS under linux ?  As always, the truth is in the details.
Posted by: jerryleecooper Posted on: 06/06/07


on MS using FUD to force FOSS groups to partner with them:

Does the linux have a choice ?
If one makes the presumption that the modern IT is all about the
internets, then you have to ask yourself 'Does the Linux even have a
choice in this matter  ?'

A modern computing system is not one that is run from the DOS command
line - it is a system that is tied in with the internet instead. Just
have a look at  Vista with Aero for an example of this done right.

You need the outlook to connect in with the mass of email flowing
around us every day. And then there is document collaboration - the
sharing of Wordfiles  and Excels between users across state boundries
! Voice over IP, internet enabled 'surface' computing, and voice
command interfaces - all tied together with  .NET and the Aero
interface.

The driving force behind this internet is the Microsoft Sharepoint
Server - a central peice of systems software which connects all these
end points together,  in a synergistic kaleidoscope that achieves both
balance and symmetry.

The smart Vendors know that in order to get ahead in the future IT,
that means integrating with the internet.

And so, we will see more and vendors of the Linux remit their legal
obligations to Microsoft, and then benefit by getting onboard the .NET
revolution.
Posted by: jerryleecooper Posted on: 06/06/07


on random rewrites as a secure method of wiping hard drives:

Secure erase not so secure
When writing finite bits to the disk sector, there is a finite
probability that the resultant string of randomised bits MAY in fact
generate something  incriminating.

For example: (regardless of how unlikely this may seem), any string of
random characters may well create a brand new wordfile on the computer
by pure chance  .. which contains legible words, which string together
to form sentences which may in turn connect the previous owner of the
hard disk with Al-Qaida, the  Mafia, insider trading, un-patriotic
activites, Linux 'development', or any manner of unsavory activities.

The larger the hard disk being randomly 'wiped' in this fashion, the
greater the probability that some new and undesirable content would be
created by  chance.

I for one would NOT place my trust in such a tool, risking a lifetime
of torment in Guantanimo Bay in exchange for the 'security' of having
my hard disk  cleaned prior to resale.

The solution ? One should purchase a new copy of the Vista for the
said hard disk, and install this on the disk. This would effectively
wipe clean the disk  of any previous content. The disk could then be
disposed of cleanly, with a note that the new owner must purchase
another legal copy of the Vista before  installing the disk.

In this situation - everyone wins.
Posted by: jerryleecooper Posted on: 06/17/07


on MS partnering with Linux vendors:

Why is Microsoft doing this ?
The one crucial question that must be framed is : Why is Microsoft
paying hard currency for these deals ?

Why would they do that unless there was some other agenda ? I think
the answer is clear.

Figures from the BSA and RIAA prove beyond all doubt that piracy and
intellectual property theft is growing at an alarming rate. A recent
article published  by the US internet crime complaint center
demonstrates how receipt of its 1 Millionth complaint shows that
internet based fraud is both rampant and expanding  beyond all reason.

In this environment of lawless anarchy, it is no surprise to find that
the Linux is right at home, and growing - in the same way that a wurm
grows fat and  gluttonous when placed in a dark and damp environment
full of refuse and the despondent cast off's of a wealthy society.

I am not alone in my beliefs that even in this dreadful situation, the
Linux represents a growing market for the softwares. Microsoft has
tried for years to  offer their superior office suites and internet
products to markets outside of the Vista, with little success.

And yet, this is a difficult exersize. Linux represents the old
school, with its mainframe like interface, and arcane secret
programming languages. Porting  the softwares to this platform
involves hiring the hippies who understand this obtuse environment.
These people are typically unreliable, and have difficulty  living wth
the regular 9-5 work ethic. They believe in intellectual property
theft, free love, substance abuse, and marxism.

Microsoft has solved these issues in one brilliant sweep by paying
cash for access to these Linux secrets, by making these cross patent
deals with the linux  'Vendors'. This will allow for the
interoperability that the corporations so dearly wish for - the
ability to run the Microsoft Office, and the IE7, as well  as the
Vista on top of this growing but amorphous mass known as 'The Linux'.

In a short time we will all soon see the benefits of these cross
licencing deals, and the softwares will expand out their user bases
and be seen everywhere.  Even the most die hard linux afficionado with
matted hair and a red armband will salivate at the prospect of being
able to run the IE7 on his precious linux.
Posted by: jerryleecooper Posted on: 06/18/07


on some $150 laptop project possibly being a scam:

MK Electronics
I have spoken to MK Electronics - a real and established electronics
firm in Sweden - and also the Medison 'partner' who is handling
distribution for this  laptop, and according to them, its all real.

This is just bizarre.

Im sure if it was possible to sell a $150 laptop in quantity, then
Microsoft would already be offering such a product.
Posted by: jerryleecooper Posted on: 08/08/07