If you’re still using Windows in 2009, at home or at work, while there is FreeBSD, and this variety of GNU/Linux distributions, like Debian, Ubuntu, Gentoo, Knoppix …, please don’t speak to anyone anymore about freedom of choice, that’s a freedom you’re not using, so chances are you’re not really grasping the concept.

I switched this year from Windows XP to Debian (I tried various Linux distributions since 1997, but I’m picky in terms of user interface and tunability) and this time around I was surprised that everything I was used to under Windows, and more, was in place and functional: the easy and intuitive installation of the operating system (tried Debian and Ubuntu, and I like them both, but prefer Debian as a matter of taste, Ubuntu is more for hurried user), the smooth installation/deinstallation of applications, the graphical interface(s), the documentation, the sheer number of applications available in the Linux world, the elegant updating mechanisms, convinced me that the Linux world is already a much larger, interesting and useful world than Windows can ever hope to be. Don’t waste your time, switch now and donate half of your Windows license money to these contemporary heroes, and drink the rest with your friends sharing your experience, you won’t regret a dime.

Note: I don’t work in anything related to GNU, Linux or FreeBSD and I’m not part of any promotion campaign, I’m just using them (Debian, the universal operating system, on my desktop and laptop, and FreeBSD on my home-server machine) and this is an authentic message from a picky previous user of Windows confirming the quality and the maturity of the software which finally allows you to use your freedom of choice with no strings, or pains, attached.

Here’s the spam I got today, needless to say, I was not a candidate for a job with this company:

Dear Candidate,

We have a job offer available for you in response to your initial request
in the job search directory. Grey Textiles Limited needs finance
co-ordinators in Europe and America in order to improve services to our
numerous clients. No experience is necessary.

This is an employment opportunity for you to work online and earn good
money. We are a company based in the United Kingdom manufacturing and
exporting British, Asian, African, and assorted textile-fabrics. We have
been receiving orders from the all over Europe and America which we have
not been able to process completely since we do not have a payment
receiving personnel in these areas. We have decided to recruit payment
officers online hence we need a representative to process our payments in
these areas due to delays in processing payments from these areas in the
United Kingdom.

JOB DESCRIPTION: - PAYMENT REPRESENTATIVE.
As a payment representative you would be in charge of collecting payments
from our clients. Our clients make payment for supplies every week in
forms of bank-draft, money order or cashiers cheque and you will be
collecting these payments and cashing them at your bank. In addition to
your main responsibility, you will ensure that all cheques and money
orders have cleared before forwarding any payments to us. We offer a
flexible program: 3-4hrs daily/weekly at your choice, day/evening time,
working at home/office: checking emails and going to the bank. Other
Highlights: No selling involved, No travelling, No kit to buy, and we wont
charge you for anything.

HOW MUCH WILL YOU EARN?
Our company currently offers a commission of 10% of any amount you receive
from our clients. You have the possibility of earning €500 - €1000 every
week to a total of €4000 per month. For instance: on receipt of €5000 on
our behalf, you will cash the payment at your bank and keep 10% (€500) for
yourself, before remitting the balance to us.

Example: If you receive a cheque of €1000 your net income is €100 and our
company covers all fees. You will process at least 2-3 orders per day and
you will earn more than €200 cash in hand each day. The more money
orders/cheques you process at a faster rate, the higher you stand to earn
weekly.

You do not have to leave your current work in order to take up this job.
What we ask: 3 - 4 hours daily/weekly excluding weekends, internet access
for sending and receiving emails, available means of cashing money orders
/ cheques at your bank using your existing bank account. You will never be
asked for anything more than that, No bank names, No account number, No
credit card, No passwords # etc.

We require only a person who is trustworthy, reliable, motivated and is
prepared to achieve set targets. If you would like to work for Grey
Textiles Ltd, do kindly send us an E-mail indicating your interest and
include the following details for employment approval.

1. Full Names.
2. Full contact Address (street, city, postcode and country).
3. Phone number(s).
4. Age.
5. Details of past work experiences.

The above information should be sent to this Email Address-:
greytexlimited@msn.com

All correspondence and reply should be strictly directed to Jessica Grey
(greytexlimited@msn.com) for employment approval.

Thank you,
Michael Grey - Managing Director / CEO.
Jessica Grey - Director of Finance.

Head Office:
Grey Textiles Ltd
197, Kensington High St,
London, W8 6SH
United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 778 860 1744.
Email: greytexlimited@msn.com
Contact Person: Michael Grey / Jessica Grey.

Spammers, the job profile rather fits somebody with a degree in leadership but I declined receiving that so please do kindly fuck-off.

Quite a capitalist opportunity.

Votu’ obligatoriu e parte organică a democrației. Argumentele pt. asta le’am adus la o altă ocazie. A făcut un pui de bine d’na Săftoiu cu propunerea votului obligatoriu și dl. Pleșu s’a încumetat la un act intelectual: să explice cum și de ce are rost obligativitatea votului. Parlamentarii de azi se codesc, semn care confirmă c’ar fi o măsură efectivă.

Mai încolo, din Gândul:
Dreptate are (se adaugă la argumentu’ pro) și Radu Cosașu: “cu o condiţie: existenţa pe buletin a casetei pentru vot alb”. E o condiție necesară, să nu intrăm la “vrei nu vrei, asta se dă”.

Dl. Cărtărescu vine cu “O astfel de obligativitate este şi nedemocratică şi neconstituţională”, o copilărie care’i scuzabilă pt. că recunoaște că nu s’a gândit prea tare la asta, deh, piața’i piață. “Ar trebui să facem închisoare, să plătim amenzi?!” se’ntreabă candid Mircea, de unde și ideea bună: cine participă la vot (cu opțiunea “nici unu”) îi descresc taxele pe venit cu x%.

Dl.Mihăieș e la furat, vine cu două perle 1.“Şi dacă am vota 1000 la sută, rezultatul ar fi acelaşi” (d’aci reiese holografic că’i suficient să trimiți doar un român la vot ș’ai rezolvat’o de tot). 2.”Eu nu cred că un astfel de vot ar duce la rezultate convenabile.” Convenabile nene? dacă mai zici și cui ai avea o frază completă, kit că stupidă.

Dl.Manolescu, cu “Absenteismul este un efect şi nu o cauză”, e la plimbare cu bicicleta, așa’i, și? Efectu’ poate fi corectat, la fel ca și cauza. “Şi asta este o formă de vot, se cheamă vot prin omisiune”, nu e o formă de vot, așa cum a nu’ți lua salariu’ nu’i o formă de a’l lua. Pe care l’am votat cândva de președinte , mai bine că nu s’a ales.

Alții zic că de ce să te duci dacă n’ai pe cine alege? Păi să te duci atunci să zici “nici unu”, să știe lumea care’i treaba clar. Altfel, dacă ești așa pretențios, de ce le mai plătești salariile prin taxe oricui se alege?

Te și miri câți alintați prin Românica, uite cui trebe mai mult de 20 ani să priceapă în ce lume a intrat.