Give an Internet Freedom Disk

An anonymous reader, perhaps the blogger himself, writes to tell us about a new blog aimed at getting non-techies excited over the idea of running from a Live CD. The blogger doesn't call it that, preferring instead "Internet Freedom Disk"; Linux is never mentioned. The submitter adds: "This is just a great gift to drop on your non-geek friends and potentially wake up a sleeping giant." Cheap, last-minute, and you can make them yourself. The blogger isn't selling anything; he provides links to Ubuntu and Knoppix Live CDs. Or pick your favorite.

We must all use the internet freedom disk

[LordEd]

If we don't support freedom, the terrorists have already won!

yea...right...

[JazzyMusicMan]

I think you're better off giving them macaroni and cheese drawings. Ever see that mac commercial "i spent all day trying to get my new digital camera to work..."

Bleh, the end of the blog is a party pooper

[Rosco P. Coltrane]

There are a few different IFD's out there. The geeks call them Live-CD's. They don't look to alive to me, but the geeks have a habit of choosing bad names for things, sad but true. You will have to know what an .iso file is and how to burn it. If that just scared you then just buy a large pizza with extra cheese and a six-pack of beer. Then invite your geek friend over to do it for you. This way is much easier and more fun.

So basically, once non-tech folks are excited about live-CDs and have downloaded the iso, they're freed and... need to con a geek into coming to their home to do the job because n00bs can't figure it out. Great, I'm sure countless people needed that advice.

Re:Bleh, the end of the blog is a party pooper

[nurb432]

But it means free food for almost no work.. Sounds good to me.

Getting non-techies excited

[Simon Garlick]

Repeat after me.

Non-techies don't care about this shit.
Non-techies don't care about this shit.
Non-techies don't care about this shit.

Re:You lost me at

[Who235]

I like to use the "pots and pans" cycle even when there are no pots or pans in the load. I think it's more secure aginst streaks, spots, and other malcleaning. It also protects against the trojan spaghetti sauce that tends to stick after a "normal" cycle.

I know the detergent makers usually only support "normal" wash, but I've found that to be typical Cascade FUD - most of the time I can use exactly the same detergent, or in a pinch I can make my own.

I've tried and tried to get my aunts and uncles to switch over to "pots and pans" so they'll stop calling me when food remains stuck to their dishes, but they always forget and just set the dial to "normal" as soon as I leave. I never should have let on that I know anything about dishwashers.

Oh well.

 

This has success written all over it

[MrNonchalant]

"Woohoo! Yay! Uncle Bobby got me an Internet Freedom Disk!"

I can just the happy children smiling now.

Not this again...

[UbuntuDupe]

Please, cut it with the fads. Just call it by its normal name -- an Internet French Disk.

Nothing personal

[Infonaut]

Non-techies don't care about this shit. (x3)

Agreed. But the next time I see the phrase "repeat after me" on Slashdot, I'm going to go down to Fry's and sling giant vats of flaming bat guano all over the aisles until the police drag me away, kicking and screaming, babbling on about trite, overused expressions on Slashdot.

"Freedom"???

[thib_gc]

It's called an Internet *French* Disk, you insensitive clod... oh wait... never mind, it is an Internet Freedom Disk.

jargonizing is fun

[SaidinUnleashed]

Live CD is to "Internet Freedom Disk" as shovel is to "hand-held low-pollution manual excavation utility"

Re:Nothing personal

[p3w-451]

Repeat after me.

Re:Bad Outcome.

[mek2600]

You could save a lot of time by removing that other appendage instead.

Hi, it's me

[Infonaut]

Can you bail me out of jail?

Re:Getting non-techies excited

[TheVelvetFlamebait]

Neither do techies, so it seems.

Uh...

[rindeee]

wait, what? Is it just me, or is this really stupid? I get the idea and all, but I can just picture this guy and his 'friends' sitting in mom's basement donned in their Che Guevara t-shirts and giggling with glee as they talk about how this is going to bring down the capitalists that have taken over 'their' Internet. Of course, none of them know who the hell Che Guevara is nor do they understand the fundamental precepts of capitalism, but 'man this is gonna be cool'! Thank goodness Slashdot's helping get the word out. Viva la revolution! Who ate my Spaghetti-O's!

Re:You lost me at

[Dunbal]

it would probably be cheaper to just eat off of dirty dishes, right, so why bother with the dishwasher at all?

      Isn't that what the dog is for? Here boy...

Re:You lost me at

[AmberBlackCat]

I just want to know if it's going to be compatible with my cups.

Re:Give Bibles

[QuantumG]

Meh. I have relatives that have done this to me. Specifically, they show me the part of the bible that they think is relevant to some recent woe in my life that I shared with them. When it is relevant I thank them for sharing their wisdom with me. When it isn't, I have a nice conversation with them about how they thought it was relevant and how it wasn't. Of course, what I never mention to them is that I'd love to read the bible more often, but it is just such poor writing that my brain won't tolerate it. It would be great if Neal Stephenson or Peter F. Hamilton or some equally great modern writer could rewrite the bible so it isn't so boring, tedious, cryptic, and, well, preachy. Then I could read about the coolest jew who ever lived without having to remember the difference between "shall" and "shant".

One word :

[DrYak]

so why should you force yours on others?

RETALIATION.

Re:You lost me at

[gEvil (beta)]

You should disconnect the fuel line on her car. Just be sure to be around when she discovers it. : D

Re:We must all use the internet freedom disk

[JackieBrown]

Your wrong. RTFM

Re:We must all use the internet freedom disk

[faolan_devyn_aodfin]

Everyone know freedom is so late 18th Century!

Re:Give Bibles

[nacturation]

Plain english is a start but, as I understand it, these are all translations right? They're not rewrites by people with actual literary skill, are they?

I suppose in a way it's like making Shakespeare more accessible by having it rewritten in modern language.

"I think this chick bitches too much."

      --Macbeth, Act III, Scene II
 

Re:We must all use the internet freedom disk

[Anonymous Coward]

>>...but still has the same, unfriendly and impersonal support of RTFM. I swear to God: 7836 (RTFM) is the actual "straight-thru" (always a live answer - never a voicemail) extension to our IT group. I've been told I'm the only one outside of the group that 'gets' the joke (and have been asked to please keep it quiet within the company).

Re:Give Bibles

[Beyond_GoodandEvil]

Do you seriously feel oppressed when a Jehovah's Witness/Mormon/PETA member tries to hand you a pamphlet?
Nope, I think that they want me to throw it away for them.

Re:Keep some Puppy Linux mini CDs in your wallet

[emjoi_gently]

... meet a girl late at night at a bar...
Back at her house she asks, "Have you got some, umm, Protection?"
"Yeah, in my wallet".

The night then proceeds in a manner that is disappointing to all concerned.

Re:Give Bibles

[rk]

Not very interested, really. I generally keep Javascript turned off in my soul.

Re:Give Bibles

[Duds]

My Linux CD includes the bible in PDF!

Re:Give Bibles

[ajs318]

My standard method of dealing with christian propaganda {when crossing the street and scowling from a distance have failed to do the business} is to tear it up slowly in front of their face and give it back to them. I have tried to deconvert them; but if somebody's brain is already damaged enough for them to believe in imaginary friends, it's usually fruitless. And of course the problem you always face when you have an argument with a mental defective is that onlookers might not know which is which.

Re:Give Bibles

[Da_Weasel]

shant? isn't that the past participle of shat?