Older blog entries for Judith (starting at number 2)

I think happiness is like mathematics. Everything is in equilibrium, not too much of one thing or too little of the other. Taken at a distance, the entire universe is happy, because it is in equilibrium. We think. Actually, we don't know. We like to imagine that there is a sense of everything somewhere, and we could find it, if we only knew where to look.

Maybe it's not that way at all. Maybe the entire universe is in conflict, factions of atoms and molecules hell-bent on the total annihilation of other atoms and molecules. Maybe we, as in everything there is, have been at war since time began. Maybe conflict and war fuel the entire universe Bah humbug. Think I'll go make some popcorn.

AAAAAARRGGGHHH! I'm trying to write an itty bitty utility document.

The text took two days. The docbook is taking weeks. Why can't I learn this docbook thing?

Is it just me? I'm finding my C assignments about twenty times easier than applying the right tags to the right places. Am finding The docbook guide no help. Wish someone would write an easy-peasy docbook tutorial. If I ever figure this out, guess I'll do it.

Was feeling very conflicted over the whole Free Documentation issue until I read Tim O'Reilly's views.

http://www.oreilly.com/ask_tim/orabooks_os.html

I write copyrighted, non-free books and articles on free software for a living. The paradox bothers me. On the other hand, I also contribute to free documentation. On the other hand, I spend a lot more time on the non-free documentation than I do on the free documentation. Still, I have a son to feed, and so far free documentation doesn't pay for the groceries. (Neither does the non-free stuff, for that matter).

I made a contact with an O'Reilly editor, who assured me that they are willing to publish under the Open Content license. That's a start--now all I need is a proposal. Grrr.

Will go study my C book. I always feel better after I've studied my C book.