From the BBC:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5359130.stm

The line I like is: Microsoft said it looked forward to constructive talks with the Commission.
Basically, MS is saying "We are looking forward to the EU rolling over and leaving us alone."

There is also an IDC report [sponsored by MS] pointing out the benefits of everyone in Europe upgrading to Vista. It is analyzed here: http://www.linuxjournal.com/node/1000097
What it fails to mention is that most of the money spent on Vista leaves the EU economy, rather than circulating in it.

Say I started a company [eg, lapwing.org ] that supported and rolled out FOSS systems to companies, schools, local government etc.
lapwing.org maintains, upgrades and builds new systems, either stock or bespoke; OK, you can get that with MS-supported applications.
However, lapwing.org would then release the systems upgrades under the GPL, another company in Germany picks it up and improves it in a way lapwing.org didn't think to, you have in effect two companies supporting you, for the cost of hiring a local company.

This system upgrade gets a speed boost by another company in Italy, and you have three companies supporting you for the cost of hiring a local company.

A few bedroom programmers find the upgrade, spot some bugs and ways to improve, fixes them and releases it; you have four groups of programmers supporting you for the cost of hiring a local company.

Multiply this a few hundred times across Europe and you get all those programmers supporting you for the cost of hiring a local company.

Multiply this a few thousand [even tens of thousands] to include all the FOSS activity in Asia, America, Africa ... you get a complete, enterprise grade OS for the cost of hiring a local company.

And the best thing about this FOSS industry is that if you don't like lapwing.org's support, you can hire another company, or the company in Germany, Italy, Japan or whereever, and still get the enterprise grade OS for the cost of hiring a local [ish] company.

Try that with MS.

As mathematicians would say at the end of a derivation, QED.

Update: This is assuming that no one blows the world up first

I want Linux. And I'm stuck in a room full of WinXP machines, and I can't get access to the Linux cluster. Please, let me at the Linux cluster, I'm going bloody mental using XtraPiss-take

Although, I've found python on here. It only helps ever so slightly.

Wow.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/09/11/canal_dreams/

Rebuild the canals, reduce heavy haulage of non perishable goods, increase the water supply to the south east, and generate power.

Wow. I have to say, this is an excellent idea. And one that won't see the light of day, because it makes sense. Rebuilding the canals [and, whilst we're at it, lets stick a railway above em as well; perishables and freight, all to the same station?] would be very, very expensive, because the necessary skills and improvements in canal construction/operation aren't around and a lot of the removed canal infrastructure [like the railways] has been sold off to business/housing/road schemes that are dependant on the car.

To take an example, Birmingham. Huge canal network, mostly intact. Try getting to Broad Street from Spaghetti Junction during rush hour. It takes ages. Yet, at both locations, theres a canal.
It would be impractical to use the canals for passenger transport, but stick a depot in/around Spaghetti Junction next to the canal and transfer the goods to a barge, send the barge off to Broad Street, et voila, you've removed some heavy goods vehicles trying to navigate through the city. Put another receiving depot at Five Ways, Minworth, Saltley, Perry Barr, Washwood Heath [next to the rail terminal] ... instead of just expanding the infrastructure we use already, lets look at the infrastructure in place which we don't use.

I get too worked up about good ideas.

Good news, I'm in the 2nd year at Uni. Finally.

Good news, I've got a [sort of] working prototype for a rail management system [think big computer screens at New Street Station ... like http://homepage.ntlworld.com/leon.stringer/BSOD/ but without the Error Box ]

Good news, the above app is based on GPL'ed code so the Uni can go screw itself

Bad news, I'm completely out of money [I mean, totally] and work is not forthcoming [my name, number, address etc adorns a lot of application forms, probably all sat in the bin]

Bad news, the stuff I've put up on ebay ain't shifting [yet] although I am hopeful.

Bad news, my computer is freezing randomly [I can only assume it's the MOBO, I have a replacement but no AMD2800+ chip for it ... damn] but thankfully not loosing any work [as yet].

That's about it, methinks. Stay tuned for the next exciting episode

I have sorted the SLC [another form to be sent off ... paperwork; we'd save the forests if we stopped producing paperwork], have to phone the removals bloke back tomorrow for the job, so I think I'll get home this weekend to phone round and so on [<£3 on my phone ... eek]

Or I might play with ReactOS [http://www.reactos.org], which is an OSS Windows-clone.
Or learn python+GTK2.

I [re]set up a standing order to go out on the first of every month for rent. I did this last week before the bank holiday and greater than the 3 days they needed to clear it. Yet, they haven't [yet] sent out the money. Checking the balance today, when they do take it out, I will have £5. Eek again.
I'm guessing it should go out at 00:01 of the day [ie one minute past midnight]? If not, I have to go back and complain. Again.

What is it with me and money?