Compassion

So today, I take a look at "Compassion". With the changing of the guard, so to speak, of this week's Presidential Inauguration and all of the changes taking place in Governmental Office as a result, I think that compassion is a fitting topic of choice.

"Compassion is the basis of morality."
-- Arnold Schopenhauer

"The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government."
-- Thomas Jefferson

"Never apologize for showing feeling. When you do so, you apologize for the truth."
-- Benjamin Disraeli

Free Open Source Software

I am a firm believer that there is a high-quality (maybe even higher-quality), Free Open Source Software (FOSS) alternative for nearly every application that you've ever spent your hard-earned money on. Think back to how many programs you've purchased (or had to pirate) in order to do simple, everyday tasks on your computer such as write a letter, create a spreadsheet, listen to your MP3s, watch a DVD, edit an image or photo, etc. What fun and useful things could you buy if you had all of that money back. All of those $9.99, $19.99, an $29.99 programs that you've downloaded or purchased from your local department store generally have Open Source alternatives that you can download and use for no cost at all.

But can a free (as in beer) software package really match the quality of something that you pay money for?