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Technology news and Jobs 
The Linux distillery Linux, the language of love
The Linux distillery Linux, the language of love | Linux, the language of love |
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| by David M Williams | |
| Thursday, 14 February 2008 | |
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Page 3 of 3 No wonder this secret admirer loved Linux and wanted it to be his Valentine. In fact, maybe there’s an evangelistic tool in that. You can have philosophical debates until you are blue in the face about how open source software reduces the possibility of fraud in a far-off electronic election or about whether unpaid developers will ever be as motivated or creative as their proprietary kinfolk – but what really may sway people’s hearts and minds is to just hear the unbridled affection Linux users have for their OS of choice.You just can’t stay away from Tux; he’s too cute. Here’s a great image of a rather round Tux sporting roses and chocolates. E-mail this creative commons licensed image to that special Linuxophile in your life. Or, better yet, opt for a real live stuffed Tux plush toy. The ever-impressive ThinkGeek sells both a 6” and a 12” version. Creeping towards a metre, someone else has made 36” versions but these are harder to find. Either way, put a Tux doll in the post – the snail-mail post, that is. Your recipient will be very grateful and before long your processes will fork. If you’re a dab hand with a needle, save yourself the dough and make an even more special gift. Believe it or not, the Linux community also embraces open source sewing patterns – so here’s how to make your own plush stuffed Linux Tux penguin. Alternatively, if the object of your affection has a sweet tooth, there’s always these peach-flavoured gummi Linux Tux penguin candy. Yum yum. Did I mention yet that Tux is irresistible? Can any other OS really compete here? Would a plush Clippy really cut it? Or a giant apple sans a single bite? Don’t just take my word for it; the ever-prescient site Slashdot says “Women are strongly drawn to Tux, they love Tux ... That’s why Linux developers are always smiling.” #7 – tell an old UNIX joke Software developers and those compiling software from source code know well the command “make.” This single-handedly fires off compilers and linkers and other tasks, producing a workable executable program. make has also been the subject of at least two witticisms, one deliberate, the other fortunate. Decades ago, typing “make love” into the DEC PDP-10 would result in the response “not war?” Modern day versions of make react differently; the same command now results in the sad answer Make: Don’t know how to make love. Stop. No matter how corny, share an old UNIX joke with your flame for an entertaining ice breaker. So there you are; seven great ways Linux can enhance your Valentine’s Day. It truly is the most romantic operating system in the world. If these tips don’t work for you then it can’t be me; it has to be you! To paraphrase Roy, “Did you try turning her off and on again?”
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