[CLUE-Talk] Re: Re: Federal DOI Computer Systems Shifting to Microsoft
ADS/Exchange
Mike Benavides
tipsrules99 at attbi.com
Sat Sep 14 12:38:37 MDT 2002
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. Request for Help (G. Richard Raab)
> 2. Fwd: BSDCon 2003 - Call for Papers (El Presidente de CLUE)
> 3. Hey, CLUE is on Slashdot! (Sean LeBlanc)
> 4. Federal DOI Computer Systems Shifting to Microsoft ADS/Exchange (Mike Benavides)
> 5. Re: Federal DOI Computer Systems Shifting to Microsoft ADS/Exchange (Matt Gushee)
>
> --__--__--
>
> Message: 1
> From: "G. Richard Raab" <rraab at plusten.com>
> Organization: Plusten, inc.
> To: clue-talk at clue.denver.co.us
> Date: Thu, 12 Sep 2002 23:20:34 -0600
> Subject: [CLUE-Talk] Request for Help
> Reply-To: clue-talk at clue.denver.co.us
>
> Howdy all,
>
> Well, it has been awhile since I have seen a few of you. Hope that you are
> all well. I was wondering if some of you might be willing to help on a
> project. Bear with me as I explain it.
>
> Back in April, I crafted an open letter to Governor Owens and sent it to the
> Op-Ed @ Dener Post in hopes that they would publish it. I did this several
> times and then instead sent it several times to the Post and the News. For a
> fith time, I sent it to the Post, News, and the local Denver rag ( I forget
> the name). Finally, I just sent it to the Governor(governorowens at state.co.us
> ), Marc Holtzman (his IT guy:marc.holtzman at state.co.us ), the
> Post(letters at denverpost.com), and the News(letters at rockymountainnews.com). I
> received a snail mail thinking me for my input and that it was passed on to
> Marc Holtzman ( I consider this indicative of our current state of
> government). Finally, with extreme patience, I received a phone call from the
> procurrement office and talked to somebody who basically told me that the gov
> would NOT endorse Linux. I spent 1-1.5 hours on the phone talking to hime
> convincing him that my letter was not about Linux, but about getting jobs
> into our state and future employment for the USA without wasting our money.
>
> Now, as to what I was requesting of the governor. Simply to create companies
> here rather than sending money out of state. I am proposing to do it in a
> tried and true approach: offer a reward for open source code.
>
> The example that I used was with education ( a significant amount of money
> flows there). The school districts should outline what they are looking for
> and from that a set of specs should be created by a small group of techies
> and teachers. Then the reward is posted based on these specs.
>
> Most importantly, the projects are all to be open sourced. Something along
> the lines of LGPL/GPL, perhaps with a possibility of Mozilla style licensing.
> But still open.
>
> After a predetermined length of time (perhaps a year), one project will be
> selected as a winner. It must meet or, hopefully, exceed all specs. If there
> are multiple groups, then a small predetermined group will pick the best
> project to reward. In addition, that group/company will be offered the first
> support contract for a predetermined amount/time. If a suitable arrangement
> can not be had, then the support contract will be opened.
>
> So what can you do? Letters might help, especially if you are a better writer
> than I am (that should not be hard as I would rather write code). If anybody
> knows the governor, perhaps a letter, or two, or three in support. Anybody
> know if there is intelligence at the Post or the News? You might try them.
> Thanx
> g.r.r.
>
> Original Letter:
> Dear Governor Owens,
>
> During the 1970's, Colorado built a high growth economy based on oil and gas.
> Unfortunately, during that time the state government did nothing to encourage
> any other areas of growth. So Colorado crashed hard during the 1980's.
> Since then, a number of high-tech companies have started here. Recently, we
> encouraged the building of branches by out of state companies. Many of these
> branches are now leaving and causing even harder times.
>
> In California, the government encourages high-tech start-up companies. A big
> part of that is helping companies that are working on new waves of
> technology. In particular, they support micro-computers, bio-tech, and
> Internet-related companies. California businesses were able to expand
> rapidly due to the support from their government. This example shows it is
> better to have a diversified economy that is on the fore-front of technology.
> Colorado's high-tech school was obviously one way of copying their successful
> approach. ABC (Always Buy Colorado) is also another way to encourage local
> development of local businesses, but these should go further.
>
> Many in the high-tech world believe the next big wave will be Open Source
> Software, especially Linux applications. Likewise, many countries are
> switching to Linux/BSD for its high security, low cost and the chance to own
> the next paradigm shift. Many of the high-tech bleeding-edge California
> venture capitalists are investing into this area. Now is the time to start
> the industry here, rather than trying to encourage companies to just build
> branches here. Of course, with the current economy, this is difficult. What
> is needed is leadership and initiative.
>
> When new approaches fail, then it is time to let the past be a guide. Many
> governments, businesses and individuals in the past have offered rewards for
> the accomplishment of a task. We are all familiar with how past rewards have
> succeeded such as flying across the United States or the Atlantic. A current
> reward is designed to encourage cheap flight to space. These rewards help
> encourage groups to work together and give them the media attention they
> need.
>
> I propose that Colorado offer rewards for local groups for developing software
> for our state. The group's headquarters must be here in our state (or will
> be upon the granting of the reward). Rewards should be offered for software
> that are not currently developed here, but which we currently buy from
> businesses out of state or will be doing so in the future. There is a great
> deal of software which is not available in Linux format now, but may, in
> about 2-3 years. Quicken and turbo tax by Intuit are good examples.
>
> Educational software is another area where a reward would be useful. School
> administrators could come up with the requirements and the expected time
> frame in which it must be completed. If several groups meet all the
> requirements, then the administrators (and perhaps the governor) could then
> decide who provides the best software and receives the reward. The winning
> group would be given a reward (amount decided beforehand) and offered a
> chance for the first two years' support contract. If the state and group
> can't come to an agreement over the contract, then it will be put up on bid,
> where the winning bid must be lower than what the original group offered. If
> not, then the group will be awarded the contract. Finally, the software must
> be offered under General Public Licensing (GPL) or something similar (such as
> Mozilla licensing) so that the state may use competitive support bids
> afterwards, and can be assured of reliability, security and low cost. These
> licenses guarantee that source code remain in the open so that no one group
> may control it.
>
> Where does the money come from? From the money currently spent on
> out-of-state software. By switching to a more efficient, high security, and
> free OS like Linux, Colorado can stop sending our money out-of-state. The
> cost of the software replaced with this program would also contribute to this
> software. Colorado currently has three large companies that manufacture both
> hardware and software; Hewlett Packard, IBM, and Sun Microsystems. The common
> software for all three is Linux and Unix. Unix runs on different
> architectures than what the state uses for most of its desktops. By switching
> to Linux, and building new high-tech companies, with less money than
> currently goes out, we can lower our costs and increase our tax revenue
> without raising taxes.
>
> A final thought is that if this is printed in a newspaper/internet, it will
> then be seen by a number of technicians. Some of them will seize upon this
> idea and suggest it to their own state government. At that point, it becomes
> a race in which the leader wins, with the starter given a huge edge. This
> will require a great deal of leadership to think of Colorado's short and long
> term needs.
>
> Sincerly
> G. Richard Raab
> 3905 S. Kirk Way
> Aurora CO, 80013
> 303.617.4096
>
>
> --__--__--
>
> Message: 2
> From: El Presidente de CLUE <president at clue.denver.co.us>
> Organization: Planet Earth (tm)
> Date: Fri, 13 Sep 2002 20:18:58 -0600
> To: clue-talk at clue.denver.co.us
> Subject: [CLUE-Talk] Fwd: BSDCon 2003 - Call for Papers
> Reply-To: clue-talk at clue.denver.co.us
>
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded Message ----------
>
> Subject: BSDCon 2003 - Call for Papers
> Date: Fri, 13 Sep 2002 13:58:03 -0700
> From: Alex Walker <alex at usenix.org>
> To: president at clue.denver.co.us
>
> The BSDCon 2003 Program Committee invites you to contribute original
> and innovative papers on topics related to BSD-derived systems and
> the Open Source world. Topics of interest include but are not limited
> to:
>
> * Embedded BSD application development and deployment
> * Real world experiences using BSD systems
> * Using BSD in a mixed OS environment
> * Comparison with non-BSD operating systems; technical,
> practical, licensing (GPL vs. BSD)
> * Tracking open source development on non-BSD systems
> * BSD on the desktop
> * I/O subsystem and device driver development
> * SMP and kernel threads
> * Kernel enhancements
> * Internet and networking services
> * Security
> * Performance analysis and tuning
> * System administration
> * Future of BSD
>
> For more information about the BSDCon 2003 Call for Papers, visit:
> http://www.usenix.org/events/bsdcon03/cfp/
>
> Submissions in the form of extended abstracts are due by April 1, 2003.
> Be sure to review the extended abstract expectations before submitting.
> Selection will be based on the quality of the written submission and
> whether the work is of interest to the community. For detailed author
> guidelines, including sample extended abstracts and final papers
> visit:
>
> http://www.usenix.org/events/bsdcon03/cfp/guidelines.html
>
> We look forward to receiving your submissions!
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Gregory Neil Shapiro
> BSDCon 2003 Program Chair
>
> ----------------------------------------------------
>
> BSDCon 2003
> September 8-12, 2003
> San Mateo, California
> http://www.usenix.org/events/bsdcon03/
>
> BSDCon 2003 brings together the BSD community to explore the use of BSD
> as part of your enterprise-grade solutions. Two days of tutorials will
> precede two and a half days of technical sessions. The combination of
> technical tracks, invited talks, tutorials, Birds-of-a-Feather
> sessions, and Work-in-Progress reports provides an opportunity for
> people of all experience levels to learn from the BSD experts,
> professionals with real world experience, and industry leaders.
>
> ----------------------------------------------------
> BSDCon 2003 is sponsored by USENIX, the Advanced Computing Systems
> Association. Visit us at: http://www.usenix.org/
>
> -------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> --__--__--
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Sat, 14 Sep 2002 09:08:45 -0600
> From: Sean LeBlanc <seanleblanc at americanisp.net>
> To: clue-talk at clue.denver.co.us
> Subject: [CLUE-Talk] Hey, CLUE is on Slashdot!
> Reply-To: clue-talk at clue.denver.co.us
>
> Did the CLUE page get slashdotted?
>
> http://ask.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=02/09/13/1650227&mode=thread&tid=106
>
> --
> Sean LeBlanc:seanleblanc at americanisp.net
> http://users.americanisp.net/~seanleblanc/
> Get MLAC at: http://sourceforge.net/projects/mlac/
> The wise man doesn't give the right answers, he poses the right questions.
> -Claude Levi-Strauss
>
> --__--__--
>
> Message: 4
> From: Mike Benavides <tipsrules99 at attbi.com>
> To: clue-talk at clue.denver.co.us
> Date: 14 Sep 2002 11:25:52 -0600
> Subject: [CLUE-Talk] Federal DOI Computer Systems Shifting to Microsoft ADS/Exchange
> Reply-To: clue-talk at clue.denver.co.us
>
> Gentleman:
>
> It disturbs me to tell you that the "new" CIO at Department of the
> Interior Hord Tipton is using 9/11 and security to standardize the U.S.
> Department of the Interior on Microsoft server, desktop, database, web
> platforms and email. This will cost you "joe" taxpayer around $17
> million dollars. How do I know this I work In the U.S. Office of Surface
> Mining Department of Interior as a Computer Information Specialist
> fighting for "Open Source" and responsible IT spending. We are the test
> case for the Microsoft ADS/Exchange scenario were Carol Sampson our
> Budget person and Microsoft only advocate received $900,000 from Hord
> Tipton to hire Microsoft consultants and buy "new" hardware to spend all
> this money. If we used Lotus Notes on Linux or other options in a "true
> cost benefit analysis I could blow them out of the water. So if you
> could write your congressman try to find Hord Tipton's email and I will
> work the best I can from my end.
>
> Thanks
>
> Mike Benavides
> Installfest Coordinator
> Computer Information Specialist
> U.S. Department of Interior
> Office of Surface Mining
>
>
> --__--__--
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Sat, 14 Sep 2002 11:35:25 -0600
> From: Matt Gushee <mgushee at havenrock.com>
> To: clue-talk at clue.denver.co.us
> Subject: Re: [CLUE-Talk] Federal DOI Computer Systems Shifting to Microsoft ADS/Exchange
> Reply-To: clue-talk at clue.denver.co.us
>
> On Sat, Sep 14, 2002 at 11:25:52AM -0600, Mike Benavides wrote:
>
> > cost benefit analysis I could blow them out of the water. So if you
> > could write your congressman try to find Hord Tipton's email and I will
> > work the best I can from my end.
>
> Pardon my ignorance, but is Hord Tipton a person or a company? And what
> does he/she/they/it do?
>
> --
> Matt Gushee
> Englewood, Colorado, USA
> mgushee at havenrock.com
> http://www.havenrock.com/
>
>
Matt
Hord Tipton is The CIO of The Department of the Interior. He is bringing
his Microsoft bias into the position without giving proper bidding
procedures in this quite large procurements. Microsoft should like
anyone else should have to play fair and compete against Red Hat, IBM,
Oracle et al. for the contracts. It is your tax money.... Microsoft
solutions are not the best technology available. Right now it has come
down to politics. I am alone in fighting this battle.
Mike
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