11/1/2000 -- O.K., so this isn't really certification news, but it's interesting anyway: On Halloween, Linux.com published a " leaked e-mail" purportedly from Bill Gates to all Microsoft employees in which he discusses his thoughts on Linux. While the article is clearly labeled satire, it reportedly did fool some readers as it has every year since this tradition started in 1998.

Written by Ryan C. Gordon, this spirited fake does bring up some very interesting issues: How seriously does Microsoft take Linux? How will infighting within the Linux community hurt the operating system (or will it even matter down the road)? Does an open source operating system really have a chance to succeed long term? If you were Bill Gates and sending out this e-mail (were it real), what would you say?

If you get a chance, take a look and post your comments below. And a Happy (Belated!) Halloween from all of us at CertCities. -B.N.

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