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These Aren't the Benevolent Dictators You're Looking For: Fake Linus Torvalds

The Linux Foundation's executive director, Jim Zemlin, re-examined and updated the notion that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. He writes that now it seems more like ubiquity and recognition naturally produce knock offs. This is very true. I get lots of spam for genuine designer watches, medication for body parts I don't even have, and I don't really think that Willie Nelson, P. Diddy (or any variation thereof), or God are truly following me on Twitter. Further evidence to support this theory is that my identity hasn't yet been stolen (nor apparently am I able to give it away).

So it only stands to reason there'd be a Fake Linus Torvalds -- or four. Who are FLT1-4? Are they simply fragments of Real Linus Torvalds -- his id, his evil absorbed twin, his possessed coding hand? Is there anyone out there who can verify there isn't a provocative photo of Mark Shuttleworth over Torvalds' desk? The Linux Foundation says all will be revealed at LinuxCon.

In the spirit of what seems to be FLT1, you might ask what's in this for you, aside from the comic relief. Two weeks prior to LinuxCon, you can vote for your favorite Fake Linus, and perhaps score free admission to the event. There, after the Real Linus (or so they say) speaks at the Kernel Roundtable, the Fake Linuses will be exposed. The Fake Linus with the most votes wins the Silver Penguin award -- which I picture as a euphemism for "his/her life is spared" in the ensuing mayhem.

Until voting begins -- and the Linuspocalypse comes -- the FLT commentary is featured on The Linux Foundation's Twitter and identi.ca streams. Or, if you're needing a further pick me up (and a song stuck in your head all day), check out the parody video "Will the Real Linus Torvalds Please Stand Up?"

• open source
• Linux Foundation
• LinuxCon
• Linus Torvalds
• Fake Linus Torvalds

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