Defaults and behaviour of PC Speaker in future Ubuntu *Server* releases

2010-09-11 Thread Yaniv Aknin
Hi,

Today I ran into the subject of causing my home server to beep using
/usr/bin/beep from package beep and using kernel module pcspkr. It took a
bit of work to get things going and I had to read a bit for it, and here's
the summary of what I think is the state of things:
(1) Sometime around Karmic, as per bugs #77010 and #366399, snd_pcsp pcspkr
were blacklisted.
(2) Due to unknown reasons, removing the blacklist is insufficient to return
PC speaker functionality, as can be seen at #398161 and especially #486154.
An ugly workaround exists and works (rmmod & modprobe pcspkr in rc.local).
(3) Some people want the PC speaker to return, as you can see at #512415.
(4) There's (probably just) negative karma against the speaker, as can
easily be seen here:
https://tango.0pointer.de/pipermail/pulseaudio-discuss/2010-January/006411.html

Which leads me to argue:
(1) While I agree PC Speaker is a relic of times long gone on the Desktop,
on the Server (especially home/SMB server) it's still relevant, especially
for things you really want to know about (mdadm failures, for instance), and
don't want to miss because some bonehead in the next room turned off the
speakers because the server was beeping and the email didn't reach you
because of a spam filter.
(2) Regardless of whether the PC speaker is good or bad, it shan't be
*difficult*. If a Desktop user wants the PC Speaker to work, it should be as
simple as removing a line in the blacklist, at worst (could be even easier).

Since this is not about the technical act of fixing the bug but about the
policy act of deciding what to do about it at all, I'm taking this here.

Cheers,
 - Yaniv
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Re: Dump Google?

2010-09-11 Thread Robert Holtzman
On Sat, Sep 11, 2010 at 05:32:31PM -0600, Michael Loftis wrote:
> 
> 
> --On Saturday, September 11, 2010 3:51 PM -0700 Robert Holtzman 
>  wrote:
> 
> > On Sat, Sep 11, 2010 at 04:17:06PM -0600, Michael Loftis wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >> --On Saturday, September 11, 2010 12:06 PM -0700 Robert Holtzman
> >>  wrote:
> >
> >   ..snip..
> >
> >> >
> >> > Google's archiving all searches isn't the only reason to dump it. If
> >> > you are willing to use a search engine that censors web sites at
> >> > China's whim go right ahead. Google puts their profit ahead of their
> >> > stated support of the free flow of information. Only the lazy or those
> >> > who are uninformed or lack principals use Googleand yes, I do use
> >> > another search engine.
> >>
> >> Wow you really don't pay any attention to reality do you?
> >>
> >> Google did it's best NOT to bend to China.  But in order to maintain any
> >> "official" presence at all in China they had to make available a
> >> "Chinese  censorship approved" version of Google search.  They did their
> >> best to  legally maintain the full search view for China.
> >
> > Up until the time the PRC threatened not to renew their license. Then
> > they dropped their pants and bent over.
> 
> Actually, no they didn't.  They said screw it, and left.  The remaining .cn 
> is all in .com.hk, which has different laws.

Running a search on "google + remains + china" turned up some sites (one
dated Thursday July 1, 2010) saying they are still there but pointing
out that the link to the HK site exists. Also, an Inquirer site says

"However, while not quite toeing the red party line, Schmidt continued,
"We continue to follow their laws, we continue to offer censored results
but at a reasonable short time from now we'll be making some changes
there."

He added, "We'd like to do that on somewhat different terms than we have
but we remain quite committed to being there." 

This is dated Fri Jan 22 2010 and I'm well aware that things could have
changed drastically since then.

Like I said, I stand by my statement.

> 
> >
> >> So now there's the
> >> limited Chinese censored site, but a simple click will get you the
> >> unfiltered version still in most cases.
> >
> > That came as a surprise to me. I remember reading that the PRC made them
> > eliminate the HK link.
> 
> They can't make them do much of anything to the .com.hk hosted 
> infrastructure.

No one said that they were forced to do anything to the HK
infrastructure. My understanding was that they were forced to remove the
link. 

> 
> If they are so completely self serving then why have there been something 
> like 700 published research papers from Google (Yahoo! Research also has a 
> similar number) -- why has Google sponsored the summer of code for the last 
> six years?  Why has google open sourced so many different technologies? 
> Some of Google's papers and research are what helped to start the latest 
> evolution in computing (they call it the cloud).

You're thinking in absolutes. Just because they are self serving in one
area doesn't mean they are in all others.

 ..snip..

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 check the price of the beer"


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Re: Dump Google?

2010-09-11 Thread Robert Holtzman
On Sat, Sep 11, 2010 at 05:34:25PM -0600, Michael Loftis wrote:
> 
> 
> --On Saturday, September 11, 2010 3:33 PM -0700 Robert Holtzman 
>  wrote:
> 
> > On Sat, Sep 11, 2010 at 03:21:51PM -0400, Simon Ponder wrote:
> >> What other engine do you use, if you do not mind me asking?
> >
> >..snip..
> >
> > Icerocket, although it's been getting flaky on me as of late.
> 
> Uhm, news flash.  Icerocket's web search IS GOOGLE.  I think it's blog 
> search is also google based, I'd have to dig, but, looks a bit like the 
> Google news or groups search.

I did a little digging. Running a search on "icerocket + google" turned
up several sites that contrasted icerocket and google. If there was
anything linking the two, I missed it. Can you supply a URL for your
conclusion?

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 check the price of the beer"


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Re: Dump Google?

2010-09-11 Thread Michael Loftis


--On Friday, September 10, 2010 7:58 PM -0700 Jordan  
wrote:

> Dear Ubuntu Developers,
>
> I'm not sure if I'm the first person to suggest this, but lately
> Google's reputation has diminished, especially with talk of them being
> Big Brother (yes, I know what server my email's on).  Why not drop
> Google and go for a more private search engine?
>
> I know of a few underdogs such as Startpage and Yauba (I know of one
> more whose name I forgot...they have plans for an email system).
> Probably they would be happy to form an alliance with Ubuntu.
>
> I'm thinking large-picture here.  Ubuntu's main attraction is it's
> security and privacy (not requiring users to register, for instance).
> With the technology news on Google and large search engines, I think we
> should jump on the band wagon to avoid Google. What do you say?
>

I don't know that Ubuntu (or any particular Linux distro) main attraction 
is either of those.  But it certainly is choice.  Ubuntu could provide more 
choice out of the box.  Whatever choice Ubuntu makes it would also have to 
be endorsed by it's users.  The results would have to be good and timely, 
just picking a different search engine to "jump on the band wagon" is 
probably a bad idea.  The new engine, whatever chosen, would have to be 
fairly robust as well since Ubuntu represents a non-trivial share of users, 
and, Ubuntu users I'm sure also expect things to work well.  In fact I'd 
say choice, and working well, as well as having the latest updates are the 
three highest expectations of Ubuntu users as a whole.  Security and 
privacy also figure in the top five reasons as well I'm sure, and different 
users will have different priorities.

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Re: Dump Google?

2010-09-11 Thread Harry Strongburg
On Sat, Sep 11, 2010 at 12:06:36PM -0700, Robert Holtzman wrote:
> If you are willing to use a search engine that censors web sites at 
> China's whim go right ahead. Google puts their profit ahead of their 
> stated support of the free flow of information. Only the lazy or those 
> who are uninformed or lack principals use Googleand yes, I do use 
> another search engine.

Yeah, chosing to not use a search engine because they were legally 
forced by the government to change something... pretty inane in my 
opinion. I'd like to see you run a search engine that the Chinese 
government dislikes some results on it, and then go to them "nah Chinese 
government, it's okay, we aren't going to remove the results that offend 
you". Google redirects www.google.cn to www.google.com.hk, and results 
are uncensored there.

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Re: Dump Google?

2010-09-11 Thread Michael Loftis


--On Saturday, September 11, 2010 3:33 PM -0700 Robert Holtzman 
 wrote:

> On Sat, Sep 11, 2010 at 03:21:51PM -0400, Simon Ponder wrote:
>> What other engine do you use, if you do not mind me asking?
>
>..snip..
>
> Icerocket, although it's been getting flaky on me as of late.

Uhm, news flash.  Icerocket's web search IS GOOGLE.  I think it's blog 
search is also google based, I'd have to dig, but, looks a bit like the 
Google news or groups search.

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Re: Dump Google?

2010-09-11 Thread Michael Loftis


--On Saturday, September 11, 2010 3:51 PM -0700 Robert Holtzman 
 wrote:

> On Sat, Sep 11, 2010 at 04:17:06PM -0600, Michael Loftis wrote:
>>
>>
>> --On Saturday, September 11, 2010 12:06 PM -0700 Robert Holtzman
>>  wrote:
>
>   ..snip..
>
>> >
>> > Google's archiving all searches isn't the only reason to dump it. If
>> > you are willing to use a search engine that censors web sites at
>> > China's whim go right ahead. Google puts their profit ahead of their
>> > stated support of the free flow of information. Only the lazy or those
>> > who are uninformed or lack principals use Googleand yes, I do use
>> > another search engine.
>>
>> Wow you really don't pay any attention to reality do you?
>>
>> Google did it's best NOT to bend to China.  But in order to maintain any
>> "official" presence at all in China they had to make available a
>> "Chinese  censorship approved" version of Google search.  They did their
>> best to  legally maintain the full search view for China.
>
> Up until the time the PRC threatened not to renew their license. Then
> they dropped their pants and bent over.

Actually, no they didn't.  They said screw it, and left.  The remaining .cn 
is all in .com.hk, which has different laws.

>
>> So now there's the
>> limited Chinese censored site, but a simple click will get you the
>> unfiltered version still in most cases.
>
> That came as a surprise to me. I remember reading that the PRC made them
> eliminate the HK link.

They can't make them do much of anything to the .com.hk hosted 
infrastructure.  To the best of my knowledge they've basically left China 
over the PRC's censorship requirements.  They tried to make the PRC happy 
for a while, but when it became too onerous to do that, they said screw it 
and left.  Quite the opposite of whatever impression you've gotten.  They 
were, and still are, one of the loudest voices for freedom of 
(search/speech).

>
>> In the cases that it doesn't there
>> are well documented work arounds using proxies.
>>
>> Quit criminalizing/blaming/whatever Google for the *CHINESE GOVERNMENTS*
>> shortcomings and requirements.
>
> I didn't criminalize them but my statement stands. They are just as
> unprincipled as any other avaricious corporation, their self serving
> protestations not withstanding.

If they are so completely self serving then why have there been something 
like 700 published research papers from Google (Yahoo! Research also has a 
similar number) -- why has Google sponsored the summer of code for the last 
six years?  Why has google open sourced so many different technologies? 
Some of Google's papers and research are what helped to start the latest 
evolution in computing (they call it the cloud).

IBM has a LOT more publishing, but they've had decades more to work at it, 
and are a larger organization.  Universities have a lot more as well.  But 
amongst the bigger corporations, in so far as technology research and 
publishing (that is making findings publicly available), and helping MANY 
other open source projects along, Google is pretty generous.

Yes Google uses some of the information as part of recruiting (they're VERY 
clear about that) -- but the code is public domain, it could do that just 
as well without funding any of these projects.

Go take a look at the Google Summer of Code (SoC) information.  Ubuntu has 
benefitted from atleast this years SoC.  I'm not sure about prior years. 
For SoC 2010 Google awards $5500 per approved student/coder.  $500 goes to 
the sponsoring organization, and $5000 goes to the student.  For 2010 they 
funded about 1000 Student Developers.  That's $5M USD (up to, payment 
disbursement depends on a passing evaluation - done by the mentoring 
organization) -- The mentoring organizations basically submit a ranked list 
of possible projects/candidates.  Google awards N% of the total possible 
awards to each org based on the number of applicants (more applicants more 
projects and students get funded).  They did $5M last year too.  So Google 
gave *YOU* $5M in software development, because ALL of the code is open 
source.  Google doesn't even really decide who gets the money, they just 
put a framework in place for well known (open source) community 
organizations to say "we want to have some deserving Open Source projects 
receive some time and funding, and here's our list"

Like it or not, Google does a lot of non self serving (or atleast not 
entirely self serving) good out there.

Even if Google is self serving and unprincipled, they're certainly the 
amongst least so of any of their peers (Bing anyone?)

Also, I think that Google likely makes the VAST majority of its money from 
Adwords and Adwords related services, not from the data it collects (and 
uses in aggregate) for search.

I tried finding similar examples of philanthropy for Yahoo! and actually 
came up blank (using both Google and Yahoo! search honestly)

Microsoft has a pretty well known history of p

Re: Dump Google?

2010-09-11 Thread Martin Albisetti
On Sat, Sep 11, 2010 at 4:19 PM, Jordan  wrote:
> Again, only a suggestion...I'm trying to make Ubuntu better as much as
> the next guy.  Sorry if I made anyone angry.


Sorry my reply was so dry. I shouldn't reply to email on Friday evenings  :)
I appreciate spirit of your idea, and great things happen when
everything is questioned. I think that the main point is that as well
as freedom and privacy, we want to offer the best possible experience
to users. Sometimes that means we need to make trade-offs (like
providing closed-source drivers).
As it stands right now, Google is the best option for search and many
other services, they are very open source friendly and vastly more
open than other of the popular search engines.
If we found another search engine that could match Google's quality,
and it was more open, I'm sure we'd jump to it in a heartbeat.

The main message I wanted to convey is that we should be just as
mindful of people's experience as of privacy issues, which many many
people don't care (or know) about. It's easy to assume everyone else
cares about the things we do, but we're a small and funny group of
people, we shouldn't forget that!


cheers,

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Re: Dump Google?

2010-09-11 Thread Manish Sinha
On Sunday 12 September 2010 12:49 AM, Jordan wrote:
> Google does store user's information, such as I.P. addresses and the 
> searches (yes, the I.P. address goes away after 8 months) and they 
> transmit a crazy amount information back to the server (autocomplete for 
> instance).

Well IP address logging isn't something new. All websites do it. Even
blogs! If you get a hosting with cPanel, the IP address logger is
installed by default. You wont be even knowing that your hosting is
logging the IP of people who are coming to your domain

Secondly, Google makes money by collecting information. They dont charge
us. I would be really keen to know how they would make money without
collecting information and also giving away for free.

BTW I would surely object if google collects some private information.
IP address is not a private information nor is User-agent string


> Or one thing we could do is still provide Google, but add a more private 
> search engine to give the user's that option (I mentioned Startpage 
> above).  I'm sure they would love to help improve open source.

One option should be there. Google for day-to-day people who care more
about their search results and dont care about google's collection of
data. One private engine for purists. And a few more for more
flexibility. Everyone should have something for them in the list of
search engines/


> Again, only a suggestion...I'm trying to make Ubuntu better as much as 
> the next guy.  Sorry if I made anyone angry.

No. It didnt. Everyone is voicing their opinion. I don't think there is
something to get angry.

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Re: Dump Google?

2010-09-11 Thread Robert Holtzman
On Sat, Sep 11, 2010 at 04:17:06PM -0600, Michael Loftis wrote:
> 
> 
> --On Saturday, September 11, 2010 12:06 PM -0700 Robert Holtzman 
>  wrote:

  ..snip..

> >
> > Google's archiving all searches isn't the only reason to dump it. If you
> > are willing to use a search engine that censors web sites at China's
> > whim go right ahead. Google puts their profit ahead of their stated
> > support of the free flow of information. Only the lazy or those who are
> > uninformed or lack principals use Googleand yes, I do use another
> > search engine.
> 
> Wow you really don't pay any attention to reality do you?
> 
> Google did it's best NOT to bend to China.  But in order to maintain any 
> "official" presence at all in China they had to make available a "Chinese 
> censorship approved" version of Google search.  They did their best to 
> legally maintain the full search view for China.

Up until the time the PRC threatened not to renew their license. Then
they dropped their pants and bent over.

> So now there's the 
> limited Chinese censored site, but a simple click will get you the 
> unfiltered version still in most cases.

That came as a surprise to me. I remember reading that the PRC made them
eliminate the HK link.

> In the cases that it doesn't there 
> are well documented work arounds using proxies.
> 
> Quit criminalizing/blaming/whatever Google for the *CHINESE GOVERNMENTS* 
> shortcomings and requirements.

I didn't criminalize them but my statement stands. They are just as
unprincipled as any other avaricious corporation, their self serving
protestations not withstanding. 

-- 
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Key ID: 8D549279
"If you think you're getting free lunch,
 check the price of the beer"


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Re: Dump Google?

2010-09-11 Thread Robert Holtzman
On Sat, Sep 11, 2010 at 12:23:51PM -0700, Brian Vaughan wrote:
> On 09/11/2010 12:06 PM, Robert Holtzman wrote:
> > Google's archiving all searches isn't the only reason to dump it. If you
> > are willing to use a search engine that censors web sites at China's
> > whim go right ahead. Google puts their profit ahead of their stated
> > support of the free flow of information. Only the lazy or those who are
> > uninformed or lack principals use Googleand yes, I do use another
> > search engine.
> 
> That's a gross oversimplification of the PRC vs. Google issue. Take a
> look at www.google.cn, and notice the redirect to www.google.com.hk,
> just for starters. Try doing a few searches on political subjects, and
> see what happens.

Looks like you're right except that I read some time ago that the PRC
made them stop allowing the redirect.

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 check the price of the beer"


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Re: The new installer.

2010-09-11 Thread Colin Watson
On Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 06:22:44PM +0530, Owais Lone wrote:
> I wonder what will the new installer install if I check the
> "install proprietary software.". Media codecs? Drivers?
> A lot of my friends have the broadcom wifi in their laptops, the driver is
> shipped with the Ubuntu CD. bcmwl-kernel-source.
> Would be great to have it installed automatically if the hardware is
> detected.

The effect of this option at the moment is to run 'jockey-text -a'
(which should indeed enable the Broadcom driver if necessary and
possible, I believe - though test this!), and to install
ubuntu-restricted-addons if you're using the GTK installer frontend or
kubuntu-restricted-extras if you're using the KDE installer frontend.

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Re: Dump Google?

2010-09-11 Thread Robert Holtzman
On Sat, Sep 11, 2010 at 03:21:51PM -0400, Simon Ponder wrote:
> What other engine do you use, if you do not mind me asking?

   ..snip..

Icerocket, although it's been getting flaky on me as of late.

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 check the price of the beer"


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Re: Overriding binaries in Debian Source 3 (quilt)

2010-09-11 Thread Colin Watson
On Fri, Sep 10, 2010 at 10:57:05AM +0100, Dave Walker wrote:
> I assumed that leaving it a day or so, would mean that the buildd
> environment updating to that dpkg version would mean that this issue is
> resolved for Maverick.
> 
> However, this seems not to be the case.  When uploading to Maverick i'm
> getting:
[...]
> This is the same issue I was getting before dpkg was fixed in Maverick
> (rejection before going near Maverick buildd).  This issue, i would
> imagine, is going to become more frequent as deb src 3 becomes more
> popular.  Normally, i wouldn't propose the fix for SRU to lucid - but it
> seems that if Launchpad is running Lucid it may be a requirement - but
> would this be enough to solve the issue?

There are two possible routes:

  * File an RT request with the patch to have it backported directly
onto the Launchpad servers;

  * Get it into lucid-proposed, and file an RT request to have this
installed (would be easier once it's in lucid-updates, but this can
be leapfrogged if need be).

I think I'd recommend the latter so that we don't have too much stuff
sloshing around only in internal archives.  I'm happy to sign it off if
need be.

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Re: Dump Google?

2010-09-11 Thread Michael Loftis


--On Saturday, September 11, 2010 12:06 PM -0700 Robert Holtzman 
 wrote:

> On Sat, Sep 11, 2010 at 05:50:05AM +, Harry Strongburg wrote:
>> On Fri, Sep 10, 2010 at 07:58:29PM -0700, Jordan wrote:
>> > Why not drop Google and go for a more private search engine?
>>
>> Yes, let's suggest for Ubuntu users use an obscure search engine,
>> because they are worried someone at Google Inc may be knowing what kind
>> of searches they do. Anyone who is concerned about Google would already
>> use a different search engine. Ubuntu does not force you to use Google.
>>
>> I highly doubt Google or "Big Brother" would care what you search. If
>> "Big Brother" cared enough about you, they could just sniff all your
>> traffic ISP-side. If you are searching for something illegal or
>> incriminating, you're probably going to get in trouble, no matter if you
>> use Google, or $some_random_foreign_search_engine. I am not implying
>> that you are searching anything illegal, but it's pretty crazy to care
>> about where your search queries go (especially when they are being sent
>> in plaintext across the Internet).
>
> Google's archiving all searches isn't the only reason to dump it. If you
> are willing to use a search engine that censors web sites at China's
> whim go right ahead. Google puts their profit ahead of their stated
> support of the free flow of information. Only the lazy or those who are
> uninformed or lack principals use Googleand yes, I do use another
> search engine.

Wow you really don't pay any attention to reality do you?

Google did it's best NOT to bend to China.  But in order to maintain any 
"official" presence at all in China they had to make available a "Chinese 
censorship approved" version of Google search.  They did their best to 
legally maintain the full search view for China.  So now there's the 
limited Chinese censored site, but a simple click will get you the 
unfiltered version still in most cases.  In the cases that it doesn't there 
are well documented work arounds using proxies.

Quit criminalizing/blaming/whatever Google for the *CHINESE GOVERNMENTS* 
shortcomings and requirements.



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Re: Dump Google?

2010-09-11 Thread Jordan
On 09/10/2010 08:14 PM, Martin Albisetti wrote:
> On Fri, Sep 10, 2010 at 11:58 PM, Jordan  wrote:
>
>> Dear Ubuntu Developers,
>>
>> I'm not sure if I'm the first person to suggest this, but lately
>> Google's reputation has diminished, especially with talk of them being
>> Big Brother (yes, I know what server my email's on).  Why not drop
>> Google and go for a more private search engine?
>>
>> I know of a few underdogs such as Startpage and Yauba (I know of one
>> more whose name I forgot...they have plans for an email system).
>> Probably they would be happy to form an alliance with Ubuntu.
>>
>> I'm thinking large-picture here.  Ubuntu's main attraction is it's
>> security and privacy (not requiring users to register, for instance).
>> With the technology news on Google and large search engines, I think we
>> should jump on the band wagon to avoid Google. What do you say?
>>  
> I don't think Ubuntu's main attraction is security and privacy.
> It's important to many of us on this list, but hardly the reason we've
> got millions of users.
>
>
>
Yikes, I didn't know there would be such a volatile reaction...it was 
just a suggestion.  True, it does seem like Google does the best they 
can and they haven't broken any laws (as far as we know).  However, 
Google does store user's information, such as I.P. addresses and the 
searches (yes, the I.P. address goes away after 8 months) and they 
transmit a crazy amount information back to the server (autocomplete for 
instance).

Now, as far as I know, the Ubuntu platform does not record or store your 
I.P. address except for services like Ubuntu One.  A search engine like 
Google, to me, doesn't fall in line with a privatized search engine like 
Google.

Or one thing we could do is still provide Google, but add a more private 
search engine to give the user's that option (I mentioned Startpage 
above).  I'm sure they would love to help improve open source.

Again, only a suggestion...I'm trying to make Ubuntu better as much as 
the next guy.  Sorry if I made anyone angry.

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Re: Dump Google?

2010-09-11 Thread Brian Vaughan
On 09/11/2010 12:06 PM, Robert Holtzman wrote:
> Google's archiving all searches isn't the only reason to dump it. If you
> are willing to use a search engine that censors web sites at China's
> whim go right ahead. Google puts their profit ahead of their stated
> support of the free flow of information. Only the lazy or those who are
> uninformed or lack principals use Googleand yes, I do use another
> search engine.

That's a gross oversimplification of the PRC vs. Google issue. Take a
look at www.google.cn, and notice the redirect to www.google.com.hk,
just for starters. Try doing a few searches on political subjects, and
see what happens.

Brian

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Re: Dump Google?

2010-09-11 Thread Simon Ponder
What other engine do you use, if you do not mind me asking?

Simon Ponder
> On Sat, Sep 11, 2010 at 05:50:05AM +, Harry Strongburg wrote:
>> On Fri, Sep 10, 2010 at 07:58:29PM -0700, Jordan wrote:
>> > Why not drop Google and go for a more private search engine?
>>
>> Yes, let's suggest for Ubuntu users use an obscure search engine,
>> because they are worried someone at Google Inc may be knowing what kind
>> of searches they do. Anyone who is concerned about Google would already
>> use a different search engine. Ubuntu does not force you to use Google.
>>
>> I highly doubt Google or "Big Brother" would care what you search. If
>> "Big Brother" cared enough about you, they could just sniff all your
>> traffic ISP-side. If you are searching for something illegal or
>> incriminating, you're probably going to get in trouble, no matter if you
>> use Google, or $some_random_foreign_search_engine. I am not implying
>> that you are searching anything illegal, but it's pretty crazy to care
>> about where your search queries go (especially when they are being sent
>> in plaintext across the Internet).
>
> Google's archiving all searches isn't the only reason to dump it. If you
> are willing to use a search engine that censors web sites at China's
> whim go right ahead. Google puts their profit ahead of their stated
> support of the free flow of information. Only the lazy or those who are
> uninformed or lack principals use Googleand yes, I do use another
> search engine.
>
> --
> Bob Holtzman
> Key ID: 8D549279
> "If you think you're getting free lunch,
> check the price of the beer"
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Re: Dump Google?

2010-09-11 Thread Brian Vaughan
On 09/11/2010 07:49 AM, Florian Rehnisch wrote:
> Well, I'm not much of an Ubuntu user.
> 
> But I've been hanging around on the internet since there wasn't no Google
> at all.  Today, the average user expects to find a Google search
> pane in their Firefox, Chromium, Konqueror -- so why dump it?
> 
> Is there a sensible alternative?
> 
>  flori
> 
Google's not beyond criticism, but it's a good service, and one users
expect to have available.

It's trivially easy to change the default search engine in Firefox, and
not much more difficult to add additional search engines to the list.
Adding a few under-appreciated open source search engines to the list
seems like a reasonable proposal. Removing Google from the list does not.

Brian

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Re: Dump Google?

2010-09-11 Thread Robert Holtzman
On Sat, Sep 11, 2010 at 05:50:05AM +, Harry Strongburg wrote:
> On Fri, Sep 10, 2010 at 07:58:29PM -0700, Jordan wrote:
> > Why not drop Google and go for a more private search engine?
> 
> Yes, let's suggest for Ubuntu users use an obscure search engine, 
> because they are worried someone at Google Inc may be knowing what kind 
> of searches they do. Anyone who is concerned about Google would already 
> use a different search engine. Ubuntu does not force you to use Google.
> 
> I highly doubt Google or "Big Brother" would care what you search. If 
> "Big Brother" cared enough about you, they could just sniff all your 
> traffic ISP-side. If you are searching for something illegal or 
> incriminating, you're probably going to get in trouble, no matter if you 
> use Google, or $some_random_foreign_search_engine. I am not implying 
> that you are searching anything illegal, but it's pretty crazy to care 
> about where your search queries go (especially when they are being sent 
> in plaintext across the Internet).

Google's archiving all searches isn't the only reason to dump it. If you
are willing to use a search engine that censors web sites at China's
whim go right ahead. Google puts their profit ahead of their stated
support of the free flow of information. Only the lazy or those who are
uninformed or lack principals use Googleand yes, I do use another
search engine.

-- 
Bob Holtzman
Key ID: 8D549279
"If you think you're getting free lunch,
 check the price of the beer"


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Re: Dump Google?

2010-09-11 Thread Florian Rehnisch
Well, I'm not much of an Ubuntu user.

But I've been hanging around on the internet since there wasn't no Google
at all.  Today, the average user expects to find a Google search
pane in their Firefox, Chromium, Konqueror -- so why dump it?

Is there a sensible alternative?

 flori

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