Re: libreplanet-discuss Digest, Vol 42, Issue 9

> Is SELinux built into the linux-libre kernel as well?
>
> On Jun 14, 2013, at 15:54, Darren
Breidigan<the.bald.headed.yeti@...>  wrote:
>
>> >Concerns lately, about the NSA and  SELinux , which is now hard coded into
>> >the Linux kernel, lead me to this proposal;
>> >
>> >an online petition to have Linus Torvalds remove the SELinux coding from the
>> >Linux kernel or provide a kernel, free from NSA codes and policies.
>> >
>> >Any ideas would be appreciated.
I can't answer for the libre-linux team but, my understanding that it is
hard coded into the kernel  sometime in 2.6, where before it was
modularized.

It can be turned "off' in the conf file, but is ever present.

In FreeBSD it is called 'Trusted BSD'

Even though SELinux is free to Linux so was the Horse at the gates of Troy.

It is also in the news

http://news.softpedia.com/news/NSA-Has-Legitimate-Code-Running-in-Linux-Kernel-and-Android-361289.shtml

SELinux

Concerns lately, about the NSA and  SELinux , which is now hard coded into
the Linux kernel, lead me to this proposal;

an online petition to have Linus Torvalds remove the SELinux coding from 
the
Linux kernel or provide a kernel, free from NSA codes and policies.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Re: Libre Mobile [OT]

I am so sorry if 50 nearly identical mails just got sent to the list
on my behalf -- I first tried to send this mail with a new
installation of Claws Mail. I clicked "Send" just once, but after a
few minutes the send failed, with this in the network log:

* Connecting to SMTP server: smtp.gmail.com ...
[12:05:53] SMTP< 220 mx.google.com ESMTP d5sm21172068qel.4 - gsmtp
[12:05:53] ESMTP> EHLO marielle.home
[12:05:53] ESMTP< 250-mx.google.com at your service, [74.108.39.74]
[12:05:53] ESMTP< 250-SIZE 35882577
[12:05:53] ESMTP< 250-8BITMIME
[12:05:53] ESMTP< 250-AUTH LOGIN PLAIN XOAUTH XOAUTH2
[12:05:53] ESMTP< 250 ENHANCEDSTATUSCODES
[12:05:53] ESMTP> AUTH LOGIN
[12:05:54] ESMTP< 334 VXNlcm5hbWU6
[12:05:54] ESMTP> [USERID]
[12:05:54] ESMTP< 334 UGFzc3dvcmQ6
[12:05:54] ESMTP> [PASSWORD]
[12:06:23] ESMTP< 235 2.7.0 Accepted
[12:06:23] ESMTP> MAIL FROM:<habstinat@...> SIZE=2788
[12:06:23] SMTP< 250 2.1.0 OK d5sm21172068qel.4 - gsmtp
[12:06:23] SMTP> RCPT TO:<libreplanet-discuss@...>
[12:06:23] SMTP< 250 2.1.5 OK d5sm21172068qel.4 - gsmtp
[12:06:23] SMTP> DATA
[12:06:24] SMTP< 354  Go ahead d5sm21172068qel.4 - gsmtp
[12:06:24] SMTP> . (EOM)
*** Session timed out. You may be able to recover by increasing the
timeout value in Preferences/Other/Miscellaneous.
[12:07:24] IMAP4> 18 NOOP
[12:07:24] IMAP4< 18 OK Success

Libre Mobile

As I looked over the Replicant project, I noticed that
all of the candidate devices mentioned had some kind of
limitations due to the hardware involved. None of them
could become totally Libre.

Would it be possible to construct, from component parts,
a 100% Libre phone that could work reliably over our
existing networks? I'm not talking about an Android
variation, but something that would use a truly Libre
OS--maybe a custom-built GNU/Linux distro.

The project could start with *the* most basic function,
simple voice communication. Once that was going smoothly,
other Libre apps could be added and debugged. I think
the most important point would be to construct things
slowly and carefully to maintain a reliable foundation
for succeeding apps; we don't want to try to compete with
everything from Apple and Android too quickly. Also, of
course, the price of the service would have to be
competitive with existing systems. If protection from
PRISM and the like could be included, that would naturally
be an extra bonus.

I don't have the technical knowledge to help much with the
actual construction, but I might be in a position to do
some beta testing as it goes along.

Is this remotely feasible, or have the Property Tyrants
already locked things up so firmly that the whole idea is
illegal &/or physically impossible?

Troll the NSA

FYI..

http://trollthensa.com/

--
Y

Libre Mobile

This may sort of connect to the PRISM issues....

What sites are good sources of info on Libre
OSes for mobile phones/platforms? I've taken
a look at Replicant, but I'd like to know
what else is being worked on.

Joel

PRISM action center

Hi folks,

I just started <http://libreplanet.org/wiki/Group:PRISM> as a place to
gather information about the relevance of free software to the PRISM
revelations, and as a place to plan the FSF response to this news.

-john

--

-- 
John Sullivan | Executive Director, Free Software Foundation
GPG Key: 61A0963B | http://status.fsf.org/johns | http://fsf.org/blogs/RSS

Do you use free software? Donate to join the FSF and support freedom at
<http://www.fsf.org/register_form?referrer=8096>.

Re: Ethical Legitimacy of Attribution. Was: GFDL with Invariant Sections or other unmodifiable parts. Was: Final Thesis: H-node

"Michał 'rysiek' Woźniak" <rysiek@...> writes:

>> Finally, under the light of the previous standpoints, I believe that
>> mandatory attribution is ethically illegitimate.  People should only
>> attribute a derivative work if they feel they should do so.  Thus,
>> CC-*-BY, for instance, should not exist.
>
> Up to this point I would agree. I do however believe that proper attribution 
> does not infringe on any freedoms.

In fact it does infringe the freedom to not acknowledge other people
when you judge it is not technically necessary.  But the real problem is
the educational consequences about the motivation a work should have in
a free and cooperative society.  Enforcing credit is just selfishness
that affects the whole world perpetuating the egoism ideal and
supporting the oligarchy of original authors.

> If a work is a derivative of some other work, it is ethically proper
> to give credit where credit's due.

Your statement is based on the assumption that when one makes a
derivative work he is in debt with the original author or the author own
his work to some extent.  Well, if someone feels in debt with the
original author, he is free to make proper acknowledgements as he sees
fit, and to buy a beer and to send a postal card.  But, stating that
everyone else is in debt and must pay giving credits is to stand for one
of the following viewpoints:

1. I believe in the existence of the so called "Intellectual Property"
   as a natural right.  The author own his work or he is in a privileged

Software idea patents on "This American Life" again; ask them why only MP3?

Two years ago the radio show "This American Life" talked about software 
idea patents:

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/441/when-patents-attack

The show asked a number of unresolved questions about the details 
involved in why people sue and threaten to sue others over implementing 
ideas patent holders claim are covered by their patents.

The May 31, 2013 show follows up on the two-year-old show with multiple 
examples of things computer users do every day (using Wi-Fi in a coffee 
shop, scanning and sending documents, etc.):

http://feeds.thisamericanlife.org/~r/talpodcast/~5/1nys4Wh8ptA/496.mp3

or

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/podcast.thisamericanlife.org/podcast/496.mp3

which, as you'll note from the URL, is (ironically) in MP3 format -- a 
patent-covered format one cannot play with free software in many 
countries without doing something covered by software idea patents.  As 
far as I know there are no alternative formats available; no Ogg Vorbis 
RSS feed.

Thus the show's publishers are, perhaps unknowingly, encouraging some 
people to engage in patent infringement (such as free software users 
without an MP3 player).  Or perhaps encouraging free software users to 
think that their system is broken if it won't play MP3s (probably 
because the OS distributor can't legally distribute an MP3 player) when 

HTML5 DRM protest blackout?

Trying to build a 100% free desktop computer / home server to the BIOS level; help needed

I've built one computer for a friend before, but this time I'd like to
build one for me. I'm basically trying to build the most powerful
personal computer possible (within reason) that's compatible with 100%
free software.

Here's the breakdown on the parts I've chosen (generated by PCPartPicker):

> PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/10fMD
> Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/10fMD/by_merchant/
> Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/10fMD/benchmarks/
>
> CPU: AMD A10-5800K 3.8GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($119.99  <at>  NCIX US)
> Motherboard: Asus F2A85-M/CSM Micro ATX  FM2 Motherboard  ($94.20  <at>  Amazon)
> Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($72.99  <at>  Newegg)
> Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk  ($219.99  <at>  NCIX US)
> Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB Video Card  ($289.99  <at>  Newegg)
> Case: Silverstone TJ08B-E MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($99.99  <at>  Amazon)
> Power Supply: Rosewill Hive 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply  ($55.99  <at>  Amazon)
> Keyboard: Filco Majestouch-2 Wired Standard Keyboard  ($149.00  <at>  Amazon)
> Total: $1102.14
> (Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
> (Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-26 19:17 EDT-0400)

I've already had this gone over by the PC-building enthusiasts at
/r/buildapc for technical compatibility, but now I'd like to have some
freedom enthusiasts check it over for free driver support / other
tips.

Some notes:

- I know that the CPU has an AGPU in it, and I'd be kind of wasting
that power by using a dedicated graphics card, but it's kind of my
only option given that I have to stick with the F2A85-M motherboard
for coreboot support.
- I already have my own mouse and monitor, which is why they're not on
the parts list.
- The Asus F2A85-M motherboard was chosen because, as far as I can
tell, it's the only relatively recent motherboard that's still sold
that supports coreboot (the free BIOS replacement); see
<http://www.coreboot.org/Supported_Motherboards> and
<http://www.coreboot.org/ASUS_F2A85-M>.
- The GTX 660 Ti GPU was chosen because, as far as I can tell, both 2D
and 3D graphics acceleration is supported with the free nouveau
driver; see <http://h-node.org/videocards/view/en/1001/> and
<http://nouveau.freedesktop.org/wiki/HardwareStatus/>.

And my questions for you guys:

- Does the AGPU on the AMD CPU pose a freedom issue? Are binary
drivers or firmware required for it to work?
- Is the 3D / 2D acceleration using the nouveau driver for the GTX 660
Ti GPU too unstable to be usable?
- From this page: <http://nouveau.freedesktop.org/wiki/FeatureMatrix/>
It seems that video decoding using my graphics card would require
binary firmware? Is my assumption true? How important *is* video
decoding?
- Are there any parts in this build that pose a freedom issue? Would
Richard Stallman use this computer?

You may want to look at my reddit threads for this; there's a lot of
information and discussion there.

<http://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/1f43bb/>
<http://www.reddit.com/r/gnu/comments/1f432f/>

Thanks a lot ahead of time for any responses.

--

-- 
Harry Prevor