I just want to lament the fact that Bill Moyers doesn’t get more widely distributed. It seems that not having a profit-driven agenda (like CNN, FOX, and MSNBC) means your message is less important. Disinterested examinations of a topic have little validity in the mainstream media: when in fact, the opposite should be true. I just watched Bill Moyer’s report and interview with Jermiah Wright, Barack Obama’s former pastor, and it was as evenhanded as possible. He had a civil discussion with Wright, and wanted to understand him and his views. If this had happened on one of the cable news stations or major networks, they would have been focused solely on “gotcha” questions and not delved into any substance. Our news media is in a sad state.
This also leads me (well, actually it doesn’t) to a short review of the lastest version of Ubuntu Linux Hardy Heron (apparently Ubuntu likes to give thier operating system versions animal names). Ubuntu is one of many flavors of Linux, an open source, free operating system. The problem with Linux in general is that it’s hard to use: only hardcore geeks need apply. The latest version of Ubuntu has lowered the bar significantly in terms of ease of use. To use isntall it and use the preloaded programs (like Firefox, OpenOffice, etc), you just need to be comfortable using a computer, but if you want to install new programs, there might still be some snags. One might need to delve into the command line, fix some permissions, or search for hard to find drivers. But, overall, it’s a solid, stable platform that made a nice leap forward in ease of use!
