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Torvalds Dubbed Most Influential Executive of 2004 262

Posted by michael from the penguin-in-chief dept.
quamaretto writes "CRN has named Linus Torvalds the most influential executive of 2004, in the magazine's feature list of the top 25 executives of the year. For perspective, he is followed by Sam Palmisano of IBM and Steve Balmer of Microsoft. The coverage of Torvalds is 5 pages, including pictures, a written article, and a lot of interview material. Topics are business centric, including SCO, OSDL, and Torvald's personality in development and management."
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Torvalds Dubbed Most Influential Executive of 2004 More

Torvalds Dubbed Most Influential Executive of 2004

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  • in what way is he (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Surt ( 22457 ) on Tuesday November 23, 2004 @07:32PM (#10904568) Homepage Journal
    an executive? What company is he in charge of these days?

    • Re:in what way is he (Score:5, Informative)

      by Sweetshark ( 696449 ) on Tuesday November 23, 2004 @07:35PM (#10904602)
      http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=executive [reference.com]
      1. A person or group having administrative or managerial authority in an organization.
      organisation != company.

      • Sure, OK. Whatever... (Score:5, Informative)

        by Saeed al-Sahaf ( 665390 ) on Tuesday November 23, 2004 @07:48PM (#10904715) Homepage
        Yes, sure. Whip out a dictionary and quote away.

        But when most people think about what an "executive" is, running a company, or being high up in the managerial food chain in terms of running a company, that is what most people think of.

        Without question, Mr. Torvalds is some kind of executive, but his duties differ by miles from what most executive like Ballmer / Gates, and all the rest of 'em do.

        Isn't whipping out a dictionary and quoting verbatim a little antagonistic?

        • Re:Sure, OK. Whatever... (Score:5, Funny)

          by JanneM ( 7445 ) on Tuesday November 23, 2004 @07:54PM (#10904769) Homepage
          Isn't whipping out a dictionary and quoting verbatim a little antagonistic?

          antagonistic


          \An*tag`o*nis"tic\, Antagonistical\An*tag`o*nis"tic*al\, a. Opposing in combat, combating; contending or acting against; as, antagonistic forces.


          No.

        • Most people think.... (Score:5, Insightful)

          by oliverthered ( 187439 ) <oliverthered@hotmail. c o m> on Tuesday November 23, 2004 @08:41PM (#10905164) Journal
          What people think is very rarely the truth.
        • Yeah, let's not forget what sort of executive Balmer is:

          http://www.ntk.net/ballmer/mirrors.html

          http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/11/18/ballmer_ li nux_lawsuits/

          I'd say that linus is the JFK of "executives" in comparison.

          h.

        • Re:Sure, OK. Whatever... (Score:5, Insightful)

          by opos ( 681974 ) on Tuesday November 23, 2004 @09:13PM (#10905464) Homepage
          Seems to me that the issue here is not what most people think, but rather what actually is. The quoted dictionary definition is a rather precise definition and the Linux Kernel group of developers surely qualifies as an organization. What is missing from your "most" perspective is that neither Linus nor Linux are "most" in any manner of speaking. Rather, Linus and Linux reflect the leading edge of a paradigm shift in software development - where company boundaries are blurred.

          Within this frame of reference, a company is the residual of the past software development paradigm and the organization is a step in a new software development paradigm.

          That Torvalds duties differ by miles from that of Ballmer and Gates is a sign of genius - Linus can manage an open source development organization without the traditional management hierarchy that is managed by Ballmer/Gates and all the rest of 'em.

        • By the way, this is not an attempt to insult Linus. Really, he walks on water.
      • Hmmm..., I guess that makes more sense than my current theory that executives are a race of vampires feeding on the life force of employees.
      • Ok then, what organization is he the executive of? Last I checked, the thing he is most famous for (Linux) was developed by the community, not an organization.
    • Read the article
      He's neither a chief executive nor a chairman. He holds no executive title. And just last year, he accepted his first paying gig in the Linux industry that he founded. He belongs on the list due to his influence, but due to the nature of his creation he lacks the executive title.

      • Re:in what way is he (Score:3, Interesting)

        by 0racle ( 667029 )
        What influence? He didn't create an Open Source movement. He founded no companies and the official kernel is used only as a guideline for distros. On his own, Linux would not have become the corporate success that it is on its way to becomming, that is thanks to IBM, Suse, Red Hat et al. If someone doesn't like what he does, they create their own patchset. So what influence does Linus have. He's said that binary drivers are wrong, but that hasn't stopped anyone from asking for them and using them, except th

        • Re:in what way is he (Score:5, Insightful)

          by kelnos ( 564113 ) <[bjt23] [at] [cornell.edu]> on Tuesday November 23, 2004 @08:21PM (#10905005) Homepage
          On his own, Linux would not have become the corporate success that it is on its way to becomming, that is thanks to IBM, Suse, Red Hat et al.
          How does that in any way make Torvalds less of an influential executive? IMO, the fact that these companies are willing to invest their livelihood in what started out as Torvalds' pet project speaks volumes about how influential he is.

          It's high time that influence in the tech world is gained not by rhetoric and marketing, but by being a reasonable, credible, respectable person with a boatload of techincal talent.

          Put another way, "influence" doesn't just comprise the things a person actually does, but includes all the indirect effects of a person's actions. He *started* the Linux kernel. Could someone else have done it? Probably. But he's the one that actually went and did it, and he's maintained a vision for it and nominal control over it during the past 13-odd years.

          Did he create the Free Software movement? No. But if he hadn't created Linux, I see OSS more of a fringe thing, composed mainly of fanatical followers of RMS. What good are Free programs if you don't have a Free OS to run them on? (Note that RMS himself has very little influence outside the OSS world, and I'd argue that his influence *inside* the OSS world isn't all that much either.)
          • Like the product or hate it. He has proved to everyone that you can make money without relying on any marketing, product rushing decisions and corporate politics in a capitalist filled-with-bullshit society.

            The concept of "LICENSING" was introduced by Gates as a way of making money. Well, "OPEN SOURCE" is the new road map for making money in the new millenium.

        • What influence? you ask? (Score:4, Insightful)

          by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 23, 2004 @08:37PM (#10905127)
          What influence did Jesus of Nazarath have? He didn't create the Catholic Church. He founded no church. On his own, Christ would not have become the religious success that he is except for the Catholics, the Protestants, etc. If someone doesn't like what he said, they create their own brand of righteousness. So what influence does Jesus have. He's said that sin is wrong, but that hasn't stopped anyone, so where is this influence?

          Don't get me wrong, I have respect for what he's done and that he's been able to do it, its far more then I can ever see myself being able to do and he deserves every praise for that, but most influential? That's really streching it.

        • Re:in what way is he (Score:4, Insightful)

          by timeOday ( 582209 ) on Tuesday November 23, 2004 @10:07PM (#10905892)
          What influence? He didn't create an Open Source movement. He founded no companies and the official kernel is used only as a guideline for distros.
          Founded no companies? Big deal. Most companies have never created something as influential as Linux.

  • Good to hear, but not surprising. (Score:5, Insightful)

    by laughingcoyote ( 762272 ) <barghesthowl.excite@com> on Tuesday November 23, 2004 @07:33PM (#10904579) Journal

    Given Linux's penetration of business-level computing, and its influential role on software development as a whole, this is not really as surprising to hear as some might think. Still, it is excellent to see someone recognize this.

    • when I read the title of the article. My favorite part of the article was how the author succinctly described the impact Linux is having on technology:
      ...Torvalds orchestrates thousands of Linux developers distributed around the globe, synthesizing and arranging the bits into the masterpiece that disrupted the software establishment, crippling Sun, reviving IBM and giving Microsoft a taste of mortality.

      gotta love it!

  • heh (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Killjoy_NL ( 719667 ) <slashdot@@@remco...palli...nl> on Tuesday November 23, 2004 @07:35PM (#10904599)
    I think it's ironic that a normal guy who doesn't have millions in the bank (as far as I know of course, please prove me wrong if neccesary) is seen as more influental than those IBM and MS bigshots.

    Funny :)

  • #exec Linus\ Torvalds (Score:5, Funny)

    by Shut the fuck up! ( 572058 ) on Tuesday November 23, 2004 @07:35PM (#10904603)
    bash: exec: Linus Torvalds: not found

  • No Jobs? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Dixie_Flatline ( 5077 ) * <<moc.liamg> <ta> <hog.naj.tnecniv>> on Tuesday November 23, 2004 @07:36PM (#10904608) Homepage
    It seems rather odd that Steve Jobs isn't on that list, considering how much the stock price of Apple has gone up this year. The iPod is big news, and the company seems to be coming back into relevance in the Scientific, educational and home desktop markets. Instead, Michael Dell is on there, and all he's done is put a lot of machines together and put out a copy-cat MP3 player. (He's done a good job at it and made a lot of money, don't get me wrong. He's no innovator, though.)
    • He and his money making company kept Austin, Texas as a viable technological force throughout and past the 90s crash. This is important for economy, jobs, innovation (from other austin based companies like TI, 3M, and smaller indie companies). His investments and capital have dramatically influenced the executive world. It IS about making money (with love overhead hopefully) afterall, isn't it??

    • Re:No Jobs? (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Software ( 179033 ) on Tuesday November 23, 2004 @08:12PM (#10904921) Journal
      Jobs isn't on the list because CRN is targeted towards business computing ("Vital Information for VARs and Technology Integrators"), not home computing. Dell does both, while the iPod and most other recent Apple inventions are targeted towards the home.

      • Re:No Jobs? (Score:4, Insightful)

        by paxcirca ( 694737 ) <pertristis @ g mail.com> on Tuesday November 23, 2004 @08:35PM (#10905118)
        Xserve, Xserve RAID, OS X Server, Logic Pro, Final Cut Pro, et cetera, are aimed towards home use? As much as I want an Xserve cluster in my closet, these products aren't aimed towards the consumer market.

  • Love the interview (Score:5, Funny)

    by Dynastar454 ( 174232 ) * on Tuesday November 23, 2004 @07:36PM (#10904611) Homepage Journal
    Interviewer: What do you think of _____?

    Linus: Oh I don't know. Doesn't really matter. I just like to code.

    Copy-paste as needed. :-)

    • On the other hand (Score:5, Funny)

      by RealProgrammer ( 723725 ) on Tuesday November 23, 2004 @08:18PM (#10904980) Homepage Journal
      From TFI:
      • I don't think [being chief software architect of Windows] is something to be particularly proud of, and I don't think it is necessarily true. But if [Gates] wants the job description, hell, I don't think anybody would try to wrangle it away from him. I don't think Gates can lay claim to [lead programmer].

      This is almost as good as saying Darl is on crack. Linus, as the accomplished veteran [google.com] of alt.fan.warlords, apparently still knows phony hubris when he sees it.

      [Linus toadie mode: off]
    • And that's how you get to be influential: by being REALLY good and REALLY persistent at something. Linus is both.

      "I just like to code."

      I'm surprised he didn't mention anything about the plans for world domination. Did that get put on the back burner?

      • I'm surprised he didn't mention anything about the plans for world domination. Did that get put on the back burner?

        Having three kids soaks up a lot of your time. World domination will probably have to wait until they graduate college.

    • Interviewer: What do you think of "your wife"?

      Linus: "Oh I don't know. Doesn't really matter. I just like to code."

      Hmm... he's got a kid so something doesn't add up there =P
    • I've got to say, this is about the best Linus quote ever:
      My personal goal in life is to have as little to do with paperwork as possible.

  • Influencial? (Score:4, Insightful)

    by myrdred ( 597891 ) on Tuesday November 23, 2004 @07:38PM (#10904633)
    He may be a great person, a great kernel programmer, a great executive, but influencial??? He influences what gets into the Linux Kernel and what doesn't. He doesn't set trends. He doesn't guide where the industry is going.

    Applications do that, not the kernel. Firefox has an influence. Sure Firefox is Open Source, but Linux has nothing to do with that. Features in desktop environments such as KDE and Gnome can be influencial, an Operating System as a whole can be influencial - but Linux - who deals only with the Kernel. I just don't see it.

    Maybe I'm missing something, but how is Linus Torvalds influencing the industry? What executive decisions has he made that made that changed everything?

    • Re:Influencial? (Score:5, Insightful)

      by kaiser423 ( 828989 ) on Tuesday November 23, 2004 @07:45PM (#10904697)
      Maybe he's influential in that he provides a steady hand, and transparency for (nearly) all processes. You don't have to be some dynamite guy doing crazy things. Keeping a big ship steady is a big job, and commands respect. When he talks, people listen. He's not going to bullshit anyone. I guess he's influential, because he doesn't overly use his influence, gaining him more respect, and more influence. Mutually reinforcing cycles.

    • Re:Influencial? (Score:5, Insightful)

      by quamaretto ( 666270 ) on Tuesday November 23, 2004 @07:49PM (#10904718) Homepage
      Maybe I'm missing something, but how is Linus Torvalds influencing the industry? What executive decisions has he made that made that changed everything?

      Linux is the kernel driving the most common Unix implementations right now. The Linux kernel project in high use on inexpensive hardware is what has largely fueled the Unix culture for the last 5-8 years, and has caused Microsoft (Via it's campaign of FUD) and Apple (By adoption of Unix as an underlying OS, disputable but possible), as well as Unix vendors, to sweat and improve to compete with a technology that is highly useful and completely free. And surely there are other important people behind this movement; but the most prominent one is Linus.

    • Maybe I'm missing something
      You're missing the fact that he is a person and every other "influence" in your comment, Firefox, KDE, Gnome, are entities.
      And such articles writers don't understand that the community driving a project is more important than its leader(s), and as such tries to find the person that embodies all of them. And fail of course.
      And this is true to the rest of the persons they cite.
      What is really important tho' is that Mr Torvalds has shown every time he could that he perfectly knew tha

    • Re:Influencial? (Score:5, Interesting)

      by Jameth ( 664111 ) on Tuesday November 23, 2004 @08:09PM (#10904895)
      The point is that, as a single individual, he has astounding control over that one thing: Linux. And that one thing, Linux, has an astounding amount of influence in the world right now.

      Linux is essential to IBM's current marketing strategy. That means Linus has influence on IBM's marketing and marketshare. Linux is MicroSoft's top threat. That mean's Linus is influential in the competing with one of the top companies in the world.

      Cities and countries are talking about switching over to Linux (and I don't mean just open-source software in general). That mean's Linus is influential with many governments.

      Novell has a lot riding on Linux. That mean's Linus is influential with the future of Novell. RedHat, Apache, MySQL, KDE, Mandrake, and many other organizations and communities have their intrests tightly tied with Linux's results. That means Linus is influential with those organizations.

      Groups like Debian base some of their decisions on what does and does not go into Linus's kernel tree, which means Linus is influential with everyone who is a part of those groups.

      Although his influence in any one place is small, Linus has a very large influence overall.
    • Linux definitely has an impact and Linus definitely influences Linux. Just because he doesn't use nasty methods to influence (eg. ballmer/Gates style) does not make him less influential. Indeed Linus' influence is fairly hidden from view, making it all the more effective.
    • You do admit opensource software in generial is influential. Its slowly replacing AIX, Solaris, and eventually Windows. Certainly more influential than Microsoft itself.

      So whats common in all Opensource software beside being opensource? Most of it is developed and run on Linux. FreeBSD's development, a few will argue, is pushed by Linux's success, not to mention the array of software that was developed for Linux and is then compiled on BSD and friends.

      Linux itself as the most popular OS in two parts, the

    • Re:Influencial? (Score:4, Insightful)

      by CAIMLAS ( 41445 ) on Tuesday November 23, 2004 @09:30PM (#10905610)


      Maybe I'm missing something, but how is Linus Torvalds influencing the industry? What executive decisions has he made that made that changed everything?

      Well, for one, he's benevolent. Granted, he doesn't have money dealings, but he is incredibly good at dealing with the feelings and emotions of the people involved. He doesn't anger people (overtly), and he manages to walk away with more friends than enemies.

      If more corporate executives were to do this, the whole of business ecology would be much better, we'd have more employment, less offshoring, better wages, and less hours we'd need to work.
    • What about his letter to the European Union [slashdot.org] about patents?

      If that's not influencial, then I wonder what influencial means.

    • Influence by example (Score:4, Insightful)

      by Per Abrahamsen ( 1397 ) on Wednesday November 24, 2004 @05:42AM (#10907726) Homepage
      He has, by the example of his competent leadership, demonstrated that important business software can be developed under a free software license.

      This has influenced the industry so that 1) it is much more likely to rely on free software (Linux and other), and 2) it is much more likely comtribute to, and to release software of its own under a free software license.

  • Is he, really? (Score:4, Insightful)

    by northcat ( 827059 ) on Tuesday November 23, 2004 @07:44PM (#10904684) Journal
    Is he really the most influential executive? It is not a list of the 'best' executives or the most popular executives. It is a list of the most influential executives.

    • Yes, he is influential. (Score:3, Interesting)

      by Kjella ( 173770 )
      Linux is influential, with ramifications through-out the whole computer software industry and probably beyond. I don't think anyone is questioning that, so we move to the second part, Linus' personal influence over Linux.

      While Linus may not have control the way MS and Apple does over their software, from an external point of view Linus stands completely unchallenged. Linux is, like it or not, in most peoples' mind personified by Linus. Whatever he says or does with the kernel is considered an influential d

  • Awesome quote (Score:5, Insightful)

    by ghideon ( 720955 ) on Tuesday November 23, 2004 @07:45PM (#10904686)
    On most days, he toils before a glowing terminal, playing his keyboard like a baby grand, not much different from his early days conceiving the kernel in Helsinki back in 1991. But now Torvalds orchestrates thousands of Linux developers distributed around the globe, synthesizing and arranging the bits into the masterpiece that disrupted the software establishment, crippling Sun, reviving IBM and giving Microsoft a taste of mortality.


    Certianly a great number of supporting applications helped, but I wonder where the OSS movement would be today with the Linux kernel.

    • Re:Awesome quote (Score:4, Insightful)

      by Fallen Andy ( 795676 ) on Tuesday November 23, 2004 @08:08PM (#10904892)
      Probably nowhere if RMS hadn't tilted at windmills.
      (To be honest, that leap of courage still scares me
      even today, although I like him believe in the right of a programmer to have source (responsibly)). Don't ask how much UCSD p-system
      source I once had lying around (probably more than
      Softech or Pecan... (grins)).

      We all thought RMS was stark staring mad. But what a beautiful madness. I hope I get struck by the same disease one day when I'm mildly less uncomfortable...

      Sadly, back to the .NET grind.

      But, seriously Linus the Executive. Now penguins might look like they wear suits, but I imagine Linus hates the idea of justifying something to a banker... (cue oblig John Cleese).

      In any case the BSD movement was there and would have happened (see DDJ onwards). But possibly not
      quite the same way.

      I hope Linus writes a thoroughly beautiful "no I don't want an OBE" speech and posts it to them.

      Given Linus's literary skills that will be a fun read...

    • Re:Awesome quote (Score:3, Funny)

      by mnmn ( 145599 )
      Certianly a great number of supporting applications helped, but I wonder where the OSS movement would be today with the Linux kernel.

      The OSS movement would be exactly where it is now, since the Linux kernel exists.

      Hmm I wonder what would be happening now if the pope was alive.

    • Re:Awesome quote (Score:4, Insightful)

      by Jeff DeMaagd ( 2015 ) on Tuesday November 23, 2004 @08:38PM (#10905134) Homepage Journal
      I wonder where the OSS movement would be today with the Linux kernel.

      You mean without the Linux kernel?

      Um, wouldn't we be using BSD?

      • Re:Awesome quote (Score:3, Insightful)

        by twitter ( 104583 )
        You mean without the Linux kernel? Um, wouldn't we be using BSD?

        We'd probably all be hurding [gnu.org] and it would be the most advanced kernel on the planet.

        In free software it does not matter, does it? What gets implemented one place is free to move around.

    • Certianly a great number of supporting applications helped, but I wonder where the OSS movement would be today with the Linux kernel.

      Using the BSD kernel? Or onto another operating system under the open source banner. Don't get me wrong the Linux kernel is a great piece of work but don't fool yourself the time was right and give or take 5 years it was going to happen.

      No one's work is irreplaceable. Even scientific discoveries and inventions often end up being made by more than one person at around the sa

  • The John Stewart of Software (Score:5, Funny)

    by Chagatai ( 524580 ) on Tuesday November 23, 2004 @07:50PM (#10904732) Homepage
    I like how passive and below-the-radar Linus is in these types of interviews. The interviewers try to get him rialed up by mentioning topics in an almost antagonistic manner, and he just brushes them off. It reminds me of John Stewart on Crossfire:

    So what do you think of the Bill Gates vibrator story?
    "I don't"

    So you give away this software totally for free? Yecch! I'd hate to have dinner at your house!
    "I know, and you won't."

  • They forgot one! (Score:5, Funny)

    by LeiGong ( 621856 ) on Tuesday November 23, 2004 @07:54PM (#10904766) Homepage
    Where's Darl McBride in this?? How can they put in that hack Torvalds and leave out the man that's responsible for creating Linux?!? OUTRAGEOUS! Who's with me on writing a letter-to-the-editor???

    </sarcasm>

    • Ironically, McBride probably should be on that list for being influential - negatively influential, that is. He's the poster child for IP-based companies, which are an increasingly large part of 'corporate computing' business. He's drastically influenced corporate business culture, for the negative. Steve Balmer even jumped on his bandwagon, threatening to sue anyone that uses Linux.

  • Oh, I get it.... maybe you will too... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by 3seas ( 184403 ) on Tuesday November 23, 2004 @07:55PM (#10904774) Homepage Journal
    its about making linux (a kernal) enterprise ready and as a side effect causing real competition to happen again in the market place.

    Or in other words, causing the others on the list to alter their ways..... hence most influencial...

    and the other side of that coin..

    Do the others on the list influence Linus and what he does?

    probably not or very little...

  • The Right Kind of Hero (Score:2, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward
    A few pages later, CRN explains their choice in naming Linus Torvalds the Big Kahuna of 2004:

    "But ultimately, it was clear that the actions of the Linux technology community have had a ripple effect across the entire industry in the past year like no other. And no other single person represented the controversy over Linux and the open-source approach to software licensing than Linux Torvalds --- who took on his first commercial post last year on behalf of the Linux community.

    In my eyes, what makes To

  • Ballmer (Score:4, Insightful)

    by mnmn ( 145599 ) on Tuesday November 23, 2004 @08:16PM (#10904955) Homepage
    The author goes to pains to find the good in Ballmer. Keywords are man of 'action' and 'energy', and these two words are repeated, with the failure of discovery of another virtue.

    Key point is Ballmer's interest in 'innovation'. Goes in line with Microsoft's PR, sounds like there was no research on this man, just interview someone at Microsoft about its CEO.. they'll just repeat the company bottom line.

    When I hear 'energy', for some reason reminds me of 'developers, developers, developers'. Makes me proud of Linus' laziness.
  • Finally, you can be called an executive without actually being part of a corporation.

    M
    Executive Vice Presidentisimo

  • "Me. Manager of the year.

    Them's fight'n words!"

  • Article... (Score:3, Funny)

    by Anonymous Writer ( 746272 ) on Tuesday November 23, 2004 @09:10PM (#10905433)

    The coverage of Torvalds is 5 pages, including pictures, a written article, and a lot of interview material.

    Is there a centrefold? :P

  • I don't see the names "Schmidt", "Brin" or "Page" in that list. What gives?

  • Number 1 Quote (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Mad Hughagi ( 193374 ) on Tuesday November 23, 2004 @09:50PM (#10905757) Homepage Journal
    "I guess you could call the belief in sharing of knowledge a 'philosophy,' but I just think it's a fact. It's what differentiates science from alchemy or witchcraft." --Linus Torvalds (2004)

  • Memo to Ballmer (Score:3, Funny)

    by xgamer04 ( 248962 ) <xgamer04@NosPam.yahoo.com> on Tuesday November 23, 2004 @10:39PM (#10906086)
    Pwned. Better luck next time, ass.

  • Good call (Score:3)

    by ewe2 ( 47163 ) <ewetoo@gmail . c om> on Wednesday November 24, 2004 @12:12AM (#10906635) Homepage Journal

    Of course he's an influential executive. Executive in being the final arbiter of the most massive community-resourced code effort the planet has ever seen. Influential in that his role cannot be ignored just because he isn't paid obscene amounts or makes cute statements aimed at brokers. It's like something out of Lao-Tze, he has become the still point in an endlessly churning industry.

    My God, the entire culture should take a leaf out of his book. Ownership does nothing. Sharing is what makes things happen. It is a practical philosophy.

  • Sabina (Score:5, Insightful)

    by obdulio ( 410122 ) on Wednesday November 24, 2004 @01:00AM (#10906863) Homepage
    Paraphrasing (?) an spanish poet called Joaquin Sabina:

    Bill Gates is so poor that the only thing he has is money....

    Linus may not be a rich man, but what he has (the respect, love and admiration of the computer world) is of much more importance than the billions that Gates has and the trillions he may have in the future....

  • That should be GNU/Executive (Score:3, Funny)

    by ClosedSource ( 238333 ) on Wednesday November 24, 2004 @03:35AM (#10907420)
    according to RMS.

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