From the 2002 SCO e-mail:

"The project was a result of SCO's executive management refusing to believe that it was possible for Linux and much of the GNU software to have come into existence without someone somewhere having copied pieces of proprietary UNIX source code."
"The hope was that we would find a 'smoking gun' somwhere (sic) in code that was being used by Red Hat and/or the other Linux companies that would give us some leverage."

Which illustrates how lawsuits today are sometimes based on hopes or assumptions, before facts. But I digress.

"An outside consultant was brought in because I had already voiced the opinion (based on very detailed knowledge of our own source code and reasonably broad exposure to Linux and other open-source projects) that it was a waste of time and we were not going to find anything,"

That's what the project finally concluded. Sort of:

LinuxInsider.com:

Swartz discovered there was some code that was identical to Unix and other code. He also noted that the code appeared to be rewritten in a possible attempt to disguise the plagiarism. Swartz described the identical code as "fragments" rather than an entire program.

And yet the e-mail from Davidson states:

"At the end, we had found absolutely nothing: no evidence of any copyright infringement whatsoever,"

No evidence, but enough suspicious code to let them keep justifying it all:

SCO:

"Even more importantly, this memo shows that there are problems with Linux. It also notes that additional investigation is required to locate all of the problems, which SCO has been continuing in discovery in the IBM and Autozone cases."

Is it all confusing? You bet.

Oh well. Even if it doesn't mean much in the legal battle, it illustrates better how little they really have to fight with, else it would not have lasted this long. And it'll keep lasting until every last penny has been spent to keep it going. Lawyers must love SCO.

--Leif

Or less content, in some cases. For the most part though, this is a cosmetic upgrade. Some content is yet to come, and some new art has been added with the upgrade today.

--Leif

Don't blow yourselves up.

--Leif

That's right. Every internet deal hunter waits for today the entire year, until it finally springs upon them. A week later, it's all over, and they begin the waiting for the next one.

I'm of course referring to the huge DeepDiscountDVD 20% off sale. It should be a crime, but it's not. Want the codes? Try DVD Talk and DVD Price Search.

--Leif

I feel funny posting about this, since I have not yet seen the film, but it's such an important landmark in not just science fiction movies, but film in general. Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith has hit theaters, as anyone who is remotely cognizant is well aware of.

Now, George Lucas has likely redeemed himself from his previous sins and errs regarding all five previous films. (Whether it be the lackluster scripts of Episodes I and II, or the continued modification and editing of three all-time classics.) He claims that this will be the last Star Wars movie. That the previously planned Episodes VII - IX will only appear in book form. People seem to believe this, and they're probably correct, but money talks, and there's always the possibility that Mr. Lucas either:
a. Lied to boost Episode III ticket sales.
b. Will change his mind, again.

Even so, it's likely this will be the last Star Wars film ever produced. The question we must ask is which is worse: Not having another Star Wars film, or having to watch a potentially dreadful television series.

heh heh, just kidding.

--Leif

My headliners went a bit off the wall with that one, but this news does regard Extensions; Mozilla Firefox Extensions!

That's right, it's finally here! Not that anyone was expecting it, but it's here nonetheless. Introducing: Katatano Firefox Extensions. Now mentally delete that pluralizing 's'.

The page is stand-alone. Not really any crosslinking, but it is still the domain. I'll add a link up top once it grows past its initial limited appeal.

My first extension was certainly not a trivial task. It's less extension and more integrated application. It might look simple at first, but note that the aspect I spent the longest on, and that's certainly the most complex, has been removed from the public version.
What's going to the public has only been in development for a of couple months.

I like the Icon I made for it too. Uh huh, that's real nifty.

--Leif

Wow, I haven't had an entry for over a month. That's embarrassing. Almost as much as my neglect of the unfinished reaches of this dear website.

--Leif

I've ranted about Fox broadcasting decisions before, but I'm yet again faced with the possibility of another blunder from the always at odds executives over there.
According to David Cross on Jimmy Kimmel last night, the Emmy winning comedy 'Arrested Development' has had its production suspended.

Now the logic behind doing this halfway through the show's second season is suspect, but Fox has a history of these sort of decisions, including the replacement of the sci-fi drama 'Tru Calling' after renewing it for a second season with the dismally teenage 'Point Pleasent'.

It repeatedly feels like Fox execs are either stupid, or fighting with one another over what to do with their timeslots. Well, I wish they'd get it over with and finish with a bloody climax so someone with better taste in television could take the reigns.

--Leif

Yes, groundhogs, everywhere. We have arrived at the most important holiday in the world! For groundhogs at least. Not many know that this day marks the first time a groundhog was given land ownership rights, and almost 50 years to that date the first groundhog voted in the elections of a certain small third world country.

Common knowledge is the yearly appearence of that groundhog that won that election, but not many know about the rich history surrounding Groundhog Day. So go hug your nearest groundhog, let them know you love them.

--Leif

Amidst the delays and frusteration surrounding Studio Ghibli and Miyazaki's older work coming to Region 1, we are treated with some nice news regarding their latest masterpiece:

Yahoo! Japan:

The newest release from director Hayao Miyazaki (64), "Howl's Moving Castle," has set yet another record in Japan. 44 days since its release on 11/20, the movie attracted 10 million people, surpassing the 47 day feat accomplished by the summer hit "Odoru Daisousasen THE MOVIE 2: Block the Rainbow Bridge!"

The movie was released worldwide in 448 theaters, and the number of viewers only keeps increasing. As was the case with "Spirited Away" (2001), a year-run in theaters is being expected of "Howl's."

The movie has already reached number one status in Korea, where it was released on 12/23 of last year. "Spirited Away" attracted 2.4 million viewers there, and "Howl's..." is expected to draw 5 million cinemagoers. The movie is scheduled to be released in 50 foreign countries.

Disney will of course release this quite hastily I think, despite Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi's box office performance. Disney would like another Oscar contender for 2005.

What's interesting is that it's expected to run in theaters for the year. Something quite unheard of here in America, excluding cheap rerun joints. Many movies aren't given much of a chance for an extended run. Even big successes usually make most of their gross in a month and a half.

Titanic ran for months and months, but I suppose studio heads are a bit more impatient these days for the next big blockbuster.

--Leif