On 12/08/2016 02:15 PM, Andreas K. Huettel wrote:
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Am Donnerstag, 8. Dezember 2016, 15:08:17 schrieb james:
On 12/07/2016 04:39 PM, Robin H. Johnson wrote:
On Wed, Dec 07, 2016 at 04:01:53PM -0500, james wrote:
Can you cross post to gentoo-dev? I'm not subscribed to that list.
Should not a wider community, particularly devs be part of the
discussion?
Please DO subscribe.
Nope. I strongly believe that if your wider dev community had a deeper
understanding of the responsibility chain...
<snip>
Even if I'm repeating myself... Please keep the mailing lists on topic.
Problems caused by gentoo developer behaviors, are "on topic" for this
list. Your position only serves to obfuscate remedies.
While the topics of gentoo-project are widespread, conspiracy theories and US
politics are definitely not on-topic here.
And this sort of analysis is at the heart of why Gentoo is going to be
categorized, as a "Boys Club" or a "tax dodge" or a "Fiefdom in the eyes
of the IRS. The Gentoo Code of Conduct is quintessentially important to
future viability of the distro. The devs all need to hear about these
issues. Read on and you will see an action plan, the reasons for it and
bit more detail, for those that require a bit more anecdotal evidence.
Satisfactory resolution can not be achieved by the Council, nor the
Foundation. It must be embraced by the wider gentoo dev community. In
fact remedies proposed here can be implemented by a hand full of astute
devs, should their convictions diverge from the council or foundation.
Therefore, this is a paramount issue for those with dev status and those
of us that have been participating with gentoo for quite a few years and
have first hand witnessed these dev-induced malfeasant actions.
*please listen* and we can save this distro from the fiefdom of
constrained control, largely made possible by the dev community and the
senior (privileged) devs whom also have a tainted history with Gentoo.
Many senior devs have "clean hands" as we all know. Gentoo is not alone,
there is, Alpine linux, now the fiefdom of Docker, and the linux
kernel project are both viable candidates too, for scrutiny. In fact
there are many charity-tech organizations (particularly 501(c) which
can be portrayed as not being open but merely tax-avoidance schemes;
this effects us all, deeply.
Also, to confirm what robbat2 suggested, Gentoo Foundation organizational
questions including how to deal with the IRS (should that even be discussed on
a publicly archived list?) find their best audience on the nfp list.
This can all be cleaned up. But decisive action needs to occur. Just
read on or lodge your complaints with the Council if you feel the need.
After all, whoever wants to participate can subscribe there, and whoever
doesn't subscribe there probably doesn't *want* to hear about it.
Where are you statistics? Let's hold a vote and ask gentoo-users to
participate, if they like. A move to silence would be very interesting
as a point of argument against your position. Perhaps Mr. Robbins can
weigh on his experiences and perspectives? Other, bitter devs that have
left? Countless others that have been mistreated (at least in their
eyes) during their attempted journey to dev status?
SO::
Only three things need to occur, to fix this mess. The past is not a
problem, if when confronted with the truth the distro leaders take
significant corrective actions. Converting what accounting records are
known to gnucash, is trivial. So here are (3) actionable steps that can
be achieved in short order and some of the reasons from the IRS point of
view as to why they are of timely, actionable significance.
(1) A GLEP that expedites and makes forking gentoo, relative as easy as
possible.
(2) An easy and straightforward method(s) to install gentoo. Stage-4,
CD, ansible, ignition etc etc.
(3) A documented pathway to become a dev on gentoo, with all
requirements, tests and re-testing documented fairly and applied to all,
new devs and existing devs alike.
Why (1):: This allows most anyone be a gentoo dev. Lots of viable forks
can be a home for learning, training and development of a wide diversity
of different levels on technical competence, demonstrated by
successfully being 'a gentoo or gentoo-fork developer'. Technologies
like Java, could easily be supported should they choose to allow
non-sources into the ebuild process, for their gentoo-forked-distro.
Each fork can have their own dev rules. Anyone can fork gentoo and the
master of that fork, manages that gentoo-sub-culture as they deem
reasonable. Migration to dev-proper, can be a more difficult pathway,
but needs to be open and fair. Training is conducted in the forks; one
fork could be just for training for those seeking dev-status in
gentoo-proper. Seriously, being a dev is no big deal. The quintessential
quality or skill, is knowing which ebuilds to monkey with which ebuilds
to leave alone.
This enables (by active promotion) any individual, corporation or
business to benefit from a deployment of gentoo or a customized version
of gentoo, just like a privileged few corporations have benefited
(google, CoreOS etc). Without many companies at least testing and some
using gentoo, Gentoo is mostly a fiefdom of certain companies. This is
evidenced by the history of devs that work at these companies and have
been or currently are gentoo devs. It's back-channel control, evidenced
by irc and other venues where only certain folks can listen. Since we
can assume the IRS and various other governmental agencies, and some
private companies like google, pretty much have every bit and byte of
gentoo's history logged; let's not pretend that the past is some big
unknown. It is hidden and camouflaged from the public, particularly the
older issues and evidence streams, but that's really not a problem, once
lawyers get involved. Much is publically available too. It's just how
things occurred.
Forking Gentoo just opens up and encourages all to benefit from 100%
source builds, gentoo style.
Why (2):: When the IRS looks at gentoo, the most common tool and metric
they'll use is "What do the other charities in this category do?"
Statistically, linux distros have 'an automated or semi-automated'
installation. Since gentoo has had many, including stage-4, CD and usb
and such, it can be viewed as a vindictive policy that only serves to
block others while creating a control mechanism to the point of
exclusion. The current artificial barriers to installation, aka "follow
the handbook" will be viewed by discerning eyes as a significant
and unnecessary obstruction to wider public use. Any dev can make
arguments as the virtues of a painful, manual install, but economically
it is an unnecessary blocker or a recalcitrant hindrance to progress and
that is one of easy pathways to justify re-classification of gentoo, as
a fiefdom. A lack of easy installation semantics, is intentional,
destructive, and economically disadvantages small companies and most
individuals from the wonderful benefits of Gentoo. In the eyes of the
IRS, a fiefdom is often more serious than a known "criminal enterprise".
If you do not believe me, find a retired IRS agent and ask them in their
experiences, what the IRS does to a fiefdom, masquerading as a charity?
WHY (3):: Update the exam every (2) years and require all devs take the
exam to re-qualify. Publish the old exams and correct answers, once the
exams are updated. It's about ensuring a basic knowledge base and should
be allowed to be re-taken, without restriction until correct. IRC is
vindictive and there are numerous cases where than can easily be
established by the legal community as corrosive, at best, to those that
are the victims. That's why everybody else has written exams, once they
have been sued (in the corporate world). Linux distros live in a
different world and no doubt many enjoying the benefits of 501(c)
status, and have many of the same types of problems as Gentoo.
The dev community is constrained and undocumented as to how to become a
dev., historically. Immediately create a written exam that is all one
has to pass be a gentoo dev and combine that with other reasonable
requirements and a few ebuilds created from scratch. Require all devs to
take the written exam, on a bi-annual basis. As many retries as
necessary to pass should the exam should be generously available. New
EAPI skills are just one temporal development that should be the target
of the dev exams. Dev status should be about a fair and open assessment
of skills and historical accomplishments (your body of ebuild works).
The current irc-oral-nighmare examination is merely a prejudicial
blocker (ask an attorney) that can be and has been applied subjectively.
There is nothing wrong with posting the questions and answers to
previous exams; in fact that should be routine. Being a gentoo dev, to
be legally fair, should be about obtaining a certification, much like
RHEL or Cisco or other relevant technical standards. Right now, it a
boys club, that can easily be viewed as a significant and unnecessary
'cost barrier to entry' to an extraordinarily valuable fiefdom.
CoreOS is little more than binary gentoo, with a few slick management
tools, although I guessing they'd beg to differ. It's easy to install
and easier to manage, with our without a formal business relationship. I
like CoreOS, I think it's great. But my point is they have automated
installation, and share those codes. So Gentoo's position on making it
so dam convoluted to install and refusing to offer any form of simple,
CD based install, is extremely prejudicial to new folks interested in
the power of gentoo. That is the essence of a fiefdom. We have
assimilated a wide variety of CoreOS ebuilds into gentoo, to lower their
cost of ebuild management, one could argue. But the complete set of
CoreOS ebuilds required to bring gentoo up to commercial viability has
intentionally been not supported. Just go read about CoreOS's "ignition"
or "bare-metal" it's a robust method to install from bare metal, before
systemd or other init system commitments have to be instantiated.
Simply brilliant and totally awesome!
One could argue that systemd is being promoted as an additional false
blocker on gentoo and the wider linux distros. This "favoring of
systemd" when the rank and file users of gentoo favor anything but
systemd, only furthers the arguments of collusion between distro and
linux kernel blockers to competition. Before you argue, show me the
cluster codes and the wiki pages within gentoo, and detail how to build
a Gentoo cluster, that does not rely on Systemd. I do not wish to argue
systemd at the gentoo level, but do wish to include systemd policy at
the linux-kernel-level as a blocker to free and open competition from
traditional Open source /linux/uinx. In the entire history of linux
there has never been such an orchestrated and contrive and required
piece of linux kernel code, that violates so many historical semantics
of both linux and open source as systemd. CHOICE, the mantra of FOSS
and linux is being severely and artificially constrained by the
commercial interests behind systemd. The uptake of systemd is the
smoking gun of evidence that many tech projects, proclaiming to be
charities are, in deed, a ruse for constrained, monopolistic behavior,
orchestrated by the few that have beneficial relationships with specific
corporations. It's not speculation it is the basis of valid economic
arguments that can be use by the IRS, in the name of taxation, Homeland
security, and in the name of a national security threat. Any number of
hungry lawyers that just need a payday can participate. So this tainted
behavior by the linux kernel folks now infects most linux distros and it
is anti-competive at best and most likely monopolistic and vindictive,
were it to be litigated fully. Luckily, I'm not sure the new
administration has the talent to litigate or resolve this sort of
monopolistic behavior. The fact that such actions can bring in billions
of dollars to the federal treasury, well, I'm not so sure that's not of
extreme interest to the new leaders of the IRS.
Now any senior Gentoo dev and the council may classify this next part as
"conspiracy theory" but it's not. It's reality and it does effect all of
the gentoo linux community, the wider linux user folks and 501(c)
organizations that use or are integral to the linux community::
The new administration is going to need billions/trillions of dollars to
finance the rebuilding of American industry (fact). The IRS is their
chief agent to "bring in the revenues" (fact). The IRS can reclassify
the linux kernel project, as a tax dodge, a fiefdom and a threat to
national security, for a large array of previous "sins". (needs to be
proven, but the way the IRS works, they "squeeze" but one company, the
word get's and the deal cutting commences in a fury-rush to settle) (so
FACT). This "squeeze" automatically makes any number of Large
Corporations, around the world, tax liable (fact) and motivated to
appease the new leadership team (we shall see).
Many global corps will sell out to cut a quick deal, and pay all sorts
of fees, penalties and back taxes to cover the value of what the linux
kernel has done for their product sales. I.E. they pay the linux kernel
taxes on behave of their interest and gains for using a tax-dodge like
the linux-kernel. There will be a rush to move industry back to the US.
Trump has to do very little, other than grant audiences and take victory
laps, as he chooses. Naturally, Trump, being a deal maker will bring
back millions of jobs and thousands of manufacturing facilities to US
controlled soil. This return is strategic to national defense, so even
what's left of the establishment-corrupted-republicans are going to have
to get on-board (speculation), they'll be allowed to funnel some
proceeds to the DoD, as is always the goal of establishment republicans.
Democrats will be glad and supportive as jobs for their constituents
will also be in the mix of benefits.
Likewise Brexit, Italy, china and others will smartly-rush to complete
their industrial bases and local markets so all the world will prosper.
Those H1B visas folks here in the US, dude, international VCs and
Globalist organizations are all going to start a rigorous recruitment of
that talent, so as to build up their home nations. India reigns supreme
here, but all will look to incentivize those H1B folks to return home
and enjoy commercial prosperity and be part of their own, national
resurgence. Trump will champion the prosperity rights of those H1B visa
folks that return home asap and their homeland governments will join in
to, welcoming home those H1B visa folks, many which have been abused by
global corporations while here in the US.
The world shall proper, without limit, and 'Trump the Chump' ( propular
Democratic chant) then becomes hailed as 'Trump the Champ' of human
rights and prosperity for all peoples around the world. Yes the global
elites will pay some new taxes (to their designation home country) but
they'll financially heal up, just fine, and peace will flourish around
the globe. Can you imagine how Pakistan and Iran and others will prosper
when most of their smartest citizens return home to start new
businesses? America will prosper mightily too, probably the most, as
deep patriotism rebound and economic prosperity is had, but all.
There is more than sufficient talent and new talent available, despite
the BS that TECH purpots, right here now in American. Numerous experts
have kept tabs on the numbers of STEM college kids, who are US citizens,
that are routinely discriminated against for jobs. Fully one half of
them never get stem jobs. California has class about lawsuit against
quite a few TECH giants for discrimination against older (particularly
white-male) workers. Stupid hyperbole like "goolyness" is the defense.
A Tsunami is coming in that direction, once it is branded a "national
defense" issue. TECHs intentional efforts to marginalize millions of
American Citizens, is not going to play well with the new leaders of the
IRS. (fact and already a deep promise). And yes a forkable gentoo, can
and should lead the charge of global tech prosperity. In fact, Gentoo is
uniquely positioned to be in a position of leadership. Do you have any
idea of the millions and millions of dollars in government program
grants that are going to be available to those 'charities' that assist
the new administration ? Prosperity and nationalism for all nations,
despite what academics and globalist say, is going to very, very good
for middle class folks and wise, fleet-footed business leaders.
The history of the linux kernel project is littered with dead companies,
many because they could not get their devices to be supported by the
linux kernel project. Regardless of reason, all of those technical
arguments will not hold up in a court of law, because
most of the kernel is optional; just don't compile in those sources
you do not like. Do no harm. Dirt simple, economically. Blockers,
regardless of good intentions, standards, or whatever, have
disadvantaged companies to the tune of billions and billions of dollars.
Some filtering might be justifiable, but a large amount of what has
occurred, was baseless and destructive to competition. Other
corporations did the exact same thing and it was blessed and included
in the sources. The linux kernel project is ripe for labeling as any
number of disruptive, noncompetitive or national security threats.
The IRS, and any number of agencies can pierce this 'holy vial' of
economic hippocracy, with trivial effort, because legally all you have
to do is find one example, historically, where one company did something
and others were not allow the same opportunity and the entire hoax is
legally exposed. Corporate American and many international companies
have been "doodling the linux kernel" for a long time to their
competitive advantage over other competing companies. It continues on
today:: here is a prime example where it can be argued that Intel and
Nvidia are the economic beneficiaries of blocking AMD [1] as a
competitor, via verbiage and hubris that others have been allow to
orchestrate. If I were AMD, I'd go public, go legal and to Home Land
Security and start pleading their case. This clearly shows deception as
blatant economic discrimination by the linux-kernel-folks. Just make
it modular, for now, and AMD can use profits from the sale of equipment,
to hire folks to do things as 'the brain trust' at the linux kernel so
demand. As a blocker, AMD will be burdened and unnecessarily delayed, so
Intel and Nvidia continue to prosper in an unfair and unreasonably
contrived deception.
The linux kernel project is the 'one stop shop' Where Trump/Pence have
most of the tech industry, "by the balls". And it is known in keen
circles as such. That's why "TECH" is already the "bitch" of the ICEMAN.
Unknown is the size and methods of relief that shall be extracted. If
Trumps fails the citizens on fixing jobs and manufacturing and the
nation, then he'll be a one-term president. Trump needs revenue and
squeezing TECH is his best most fair alternative. After all, TECH, under
Obama have paid a tiny fraction, of what they should have paid in taxes,
while many other industries where heavily tax and regulated into oblivion.
Trump/Pense are the GoodCop/ICEMAN team and they are looking to clean
things up a bit and bring in revenue to fund a more equitably and
distributed industrial base in American. TECH, has run afoul. TECH,
particularly the purveyors of the Internet, went to ridiculous extremes
to defeat Trump/Pense in the election and they lost. There is a
house-cleaning coming, including the civil rights violations of many
American by TECH. The new government is going to get cart-blanche
permission to violate citizen's privacy, for national-security reasons
only, but TECH's days are numbered. All of this will either be embraced
by TECH (the wise ones that read the tea-leafs) or by the IRS and
Homeland Security, as part of a cleaning up of the IoT industries that
have become a national security threat and a haven for nefarious
activists. Home much of the illegal and nefarious activities of the IoT
Bots has ended up in the databases of TECH? Somebody has to pay, and
TECH has deep pockets, that mostly support democrats and are due to pay
some taxes.
GENTOO can be cleaned up, quite easily, and become the wonderful readily
available linux distro to fork or install, as it once was when
installation was a snap. In can and should be used, globally and thus
should play a key role in re-repatriating H1B folks into their own
homeland, in a most prosperous position. If Gentoo's leadership becomes
wise, we can save this distro and make it shine like no other linux
distro can, and the readers of this list know what I am saying is truth
and empowering to all people and to small to mid-sized businesses. A
small team of devs could pull off (1-3) if they decide to clean up
gentoo, without Council/Foundation approval. Let's remove the blockers
and make gentoo readily accessible to the masses, as all charities
should do. Perform task (1-3), rapidly and I'll personally put together
a team that handles the corrupted (jaded?) past problems of Gentoo and
that also launches gentoo into outstanding status at the IRS and a
pristine charity of good and moral conduct, quite worthy of donations
and research grants and philanthropic gifts. Guaranteed!
Right now, Gentoo is at best a boys club; probably a fiefdom, if the IRS
wants to use it as a stepping stone to those with deeper pockets in
TECH. God know we have lots of unemployed STEM folks that can
economically benefit, should the ICEMAN decided TECH needs to be audited
both the history and source codes in use by those TECH companies. Think
about it, TECH starts to pony up taxes and fines and all sorts of
revenue, to the ICEMAN and his teams, and millions of underemployed US
citizens get employed to audit these TECH companies, line by line. Why
TECH could create paychecks for millions of jobs here in the US and the
benefits would be widely distributed to other companies and places
around the US.
Regardless *THE ICEMAN COMMETH*. and how do we prepare?
[1]
https://lists.freedesktop.org/archives/dri-devel/2016-December/126516.html
Andreas K. Huettel
Gentoo Linux developer
dilfri...@gentoo.org
http://www.akhuettel.de/
James Horton,
Optimist