Eben Moglen: How I discovered Free Software and met RMS

There is a short talk by Eben Moglen [0] which is only 10 minutes long but jam packed with wisdom. One part which changed the way I think about using computers is how he describes GUI interfaces: as a "point and grunt" or "caveman" interface. Using UNIX, on the other hand, is to use language to communicate with the computer and comes with all the benefits that we have when using it to interact with people. [0] ▶ this video

in “Learn Just a Little Awk (2010)” · View on HN

> He's actively covering up Epstein's crimes. As Andrew_nenakhov said, you can repeat this all you want. Specifically this is the most ridiculous accusation which has been debunked to death. You might want to try going over the actual facts again. > All it does is taint the movement. If the perception of a "taint" is based on lies spread by a bunch of idiots on Twitter and some "journalists", this is not Stallman's fault. As for "the movement" itself, Stallman is a thought leader and an uncompromising idealist who left MIT to pursue it. He is the kind of person people like Eben Moglen [1] considered a giant. Stallman's statement speaks volumes about his character. Unless the damage and the harm inflicted upon him by the mob and the lies is fully repaired, I do not care about whatever actually valid reason someone might have to get him to step down. [1] ▶ this video

in “Free Software Foundation and RMS issue statements on Stallman’s return” · View on HN

> (and by execution I don't just mean invention of a prototype but actual productization and distribution) So, the STEPS project I mentioned above¹ doesn't count? Bret Victor's work wouldn't count? That's incredibly short sighted. You seem to have missed the part where it's really really hard to be successful with unnatural stuff, even when that stuff is unbelievably useful and valuable. Writing is unnatural, and took a long time to spread. It's still not there yet, and with the television and YouTube, we're actually reverting back a little bit. Computing is even less natural, so instead of a Victor-esque interactive wonder, we got the caveman interface, where you point and you grunt². Speaking of badmouthing, my heart breaks every time someone implies that recent Apple devices are cool. They're dystopian demons that seduced people into giving into thinking digital prisons are cool. The Apple ][ was cool. The iPad is crap (it could be cool, with the right OS). [1]: [link] [2]: ▶ this video

in “Alan Kay is still waiting for his dream to come true” · View on HN