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Sun's McNealy Leads Non-Profit Open-Source Drive

Finally, Scott McNealy is heading in a positive direction! I've detested this guy for years. No doubt he's smart but he squandered an amazing opportunity (with Sun) in fighting (and clearly losing to) Microsoft instead of innovating and creating value. Sun maintains a storied history of innovation and greatness. However, just like HP, Sun hasn't innovated or provided shareholder value for 15 years. They've been riding customer maintenance fees and hanging on by a thread.

Perhaps it's too soon to call but McNealy stepping down and giving Schwartz the lead will allow the otherwise highly intelligent McNealy to stop the negative banter and bring about positive change. He makes several insightful and BS-clearing statements in a recent article regarding his new pet project the Global Education and Learning Community (GELC).

I've often wondered why someone doesn't publish textbooks online. This disruption to the elementary and college publisher gravy train is long, long overdue. I sometimes worry of a homogeneous learning experience but school boards have long complained of lack of up-to-date and inexpensive materials. What better solution than online published or even open source learning materials?

Let's give our kids the best opportunity possible. Lack of up-to-date, relevant materials should no longer be an excuse for inadequately preparing our future leaders.

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