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Welcome to another issue of the Brave GNU World. Since we are once again at the begin of a new year and this is the time to reorient and take breath for the next year, this issue will only introduce a few projects. Most of it will be dedicated to more fundamental issues.

歡迎來到又一期的《勇敢 GNU 世界》。 因為我們再一次來到新年的開始， 正是重新調整方向並且為了下個年度稍稍喘息一下的時候， 因此這一期將只介紹幾個計畫。 大部份將會致力於較為基本的議題上。 【譯註：為求優譯，中英文並陳將持續到下一期被發表之後； 在此期間，請不吝於提供對於本文翻譯的意見。】

First though, this Brave GNU World will open with one of those little projects which are always in danger of remaining unknown.

雖然如此， 本次《勇敢 GNU 世界》首先， 仍將以一些總是處在不被認識的危險中的小計畫開始。

Ninvaders（空間入侵者的仿製品）

Ninvaders [5] by Dettus -- his "real" name is Thomas Dettbarn, but he asked me to prefer Dettus -- is a clone of the console classic "Space Invaders."

由 Dettus -- 他的「真實」姓名是 Thomas Dettbarn ， 但是他希望我用 Dettus -- 所完成的 Ninvaders ， [5] 是主控台（console）經典「空間入侵者（Space Invaders）」 的仿製品（clone）。

In order to also be playable via ssh and on the console, Ninvaders is based upon the ncurses [6] library, which gives the game a sort of retro-charm that will certainly be appreciated by many people.

為了也能夠經由 ssh 而在主控台上玩， Ninvaders 奠基於 ncurses [6] 函式庫， 因而給了這遊戲一種必然會引起許多人相當欣賞的 「復古魅力（retro-charm）」。

The original version of Ninvaders was written during a sleepless night, using C as the programming language. Thanks to the help of Mike Saarna, not long after that the aliens began to move.

Ninvaders 的原始版本是在一個睡不著覺的晚上寫成的， 使用 C 作為程式語言。 感謝 Mike Saarna 的幫忙， 不久之後〔遊戲中的〕外星人開始會動了。

Since Dettus currently does not have the time to keep developing the game and the project is also still hosted by means of Dynamic DNS without additional safety precautions, help is surely very welcome; especially since it appears that a hard disk crash has already impacted upon the project.

由於 Dettus 目前並沒有時間繼續開發這個遊戲， 而這個計畫也仍然以動態 DNS 的方式進行架設（hosted）， 沒有額外的事前安全警告， 因此幫忙可以肯定是受到歡迎的； 特別是由於似乎硬碟當機已經衝擊過這個計畫〔的情況下〕。

Being under the GNU General Public License (GPL), Ninvaders naturally qualifies as Free Software, so it will hopefully have a long life.

以 GNU General Public License (GPL) 加以發布， Ninvaders 天生就合乎作為自由軟體〔的要求〕， 因此將可以期待它會有個長壽命。

GNOME-Annotate（GNOME - 註釋工具）

Another program of the category "small but smart" in constant danger of remaining unknown is GNOME-Annotate [7] by Andreas Persenius.

另一個可以被分類為「小而聰明」， 並處在不被認識的經常性危險中的程式是， 由 Andreas Persenius 所完成的 GNOME-Annotate [7]。

GNOME-Annotate is available as Free Software under the GNU General Public License (GPL) and allows taking notes while working with the web browser or another program by marking text segments and saving them into a file with a single mouse-click. That way a user creates a simple text file in which important text blocks, URLs and other notes are saved.

GNOME-Annotate 可以 GNU General Public License (GPL) 作為自由軟體而取得， 它允許在當與網路瀏覽器或其他程式一起工作時， 以一擊滑鼠按鍵的方式， 標記文字斷片（marking text segments）並儲存它們到一個檔案中。 以那種方式， 使用者可以製作出一個儲存有重要的文字區塊、 URLs 和 其他筆記 的簡單文字檔。

The idea for this tool came from Olaf Grüttner, but since he could not program, Andreas Persenius implemented it in Python. On Andreas' site you will also find some other useful little programs, by the way.

這工具的想法是來自 Olaf Grüttner， 但是因為他不會寫程式， Andreas Persenius 就將它以 Python 實作。 順道一提， 在 Andreas 的網站， 你也可以找到一些其他的有用小程式。

Among them is a program working its way through a list of web pages in order to automatically notify the user whether any of them changed since it was last run or a small popup for quick google search.

在它們之中有個小程式努力地經由一份網頁的列表， 以達成自動地通知使用者自最後一次執行後， 列表之中〔的頁面〕是否有任何一個頁面已經改變了， 否則會有一個小蹦現（popup）〔出現〕以進行快速的 google 搜尋。

So a paying a short visit to the software page [7] of Andreas Persenius is encouraged.

因此鼓勵〔大家〕稍微拜訪一下 Andreas Persenius 的軟體頁面 [7] 。

RULE（到處可執行最新 Linux 的計畫）

Because hardware is so cheap in many countries that most people can afford new computers, it is often forgotten that this is not the case everywhere. In fact we have to expect that many people will depend on having to work with computers for a long time that are outdated already today.

因為硬體在許多國家是這樣地便宜， 許多人支付地起新的電腦， 但〔我們也〕時常忘了並不是到處都是如此。 事實上， 我們必須預期許多人將會被迫在今天已經過時了的電腦上工作一段長時間。

In order to allow these people access to recent and up-to-date software, the RULE ("Run Up3Date Linux Everywhere") project [8] was started in February 2002. Its goal is not creating another - potentially specialized - GNU/Linux Distribution.

為了允許這些人可以使用最近以及最新的軟體， RULE （意義為：到處可執行最新 Linux 的計畫 「Run Up3Date Linux Everywhere」） [8] 在二○○二年二月開始。 它的目標不在於創造出另一個，可能會被特殊化的 GNU/Linux 散佈件。

Instead it bases its work on an existing general purpose distribution by selecting those packages that offer the best functionality while having the least intensive hardware requirements.

取而代之的是， 它將它的工作基礎建立在一個現有的一般目的散佈件上， 選擇那些提供最佳的功能， 同時具有最少強硬體需求的套件。

Also the large integrated graphical user environments have been left out on purpose, since X11 and KDE or GNOME often require massive resources. Instead the projects uses TinyX.

- Instead the projects uses TinyX.
+ Instead the project uses TinyX.

為了達成目標， 大型的整合圖形使用者環境被省去， 因為 X11 和 KDE 或 GNOME 通常需要巨大的資源。 這個計畫以 TinyX 來作為替代。

Since the project team - purely out of personal preference - has decided to build upon Red Hat, they also seek to modify the Red Hat installer in a way that it will run with less than 32MB RAM or create a replacement, if necessary.

由於這個計畫團隊 -- 純粹出於個人的偏好 -- 決定了以 Red Hat 來建構， 它們也尋求修改 Red Hat 的安裝器（installer）， 使其在某種程度上可以在少於 32MB RAM 的狀況下執行， 或是在必要的情形下做出一個代替品。

The RULE project coordinatior is Marco Fioretti, whose area of activity is mostly documentation, the web page, lobbying, PR and some scripts. Most of the code so far was written by Michael Fratoni; by now the mailing list of the project has about 100 subscribers, however.

- The RULE project coordinatior
+ The RULE project coordinator

RULE 計畫的協調員是 Marco Fioretti， 他的活動領域大部份是〔製作〕文件、 〔編寫〕網頁、遊說、公共關係和〔撰寫〕命令稿。 到目前為止大部份的〔程式〕碼是由 Michael Fratoni 所撰寫的； 然而現在這個計畫的郵寄清單已經有了約一百名加入者了。

Marco Fioretti, who also filled out the Brave GNU World questionnaire, also sought to emphasize that the decision to base work on Red Hat was due purely to coincidental preference of the project founders. Work done within the RULE project itself is also Free Software under the GNU General Public License and he believes that most of it should be transferrable to all GNU/Linux or *BSD / *NIX distributions.

Marco Fioretti， 這個填來《勇敢 GNU 世界》問卷的人， 強調以 Red Hat 作為基礎進行工作的決定， 純粹只是由於符合計畫創立人的偏好。 在 RULE 計畫中完成的工作， 本身也是在 GNU General Public License 下的自由軟體， 並且他相信它的大部份應該可以被轉移到所有的 GNU/Linux 或 *BSD / *NIX 散佈件。

So even though the team lacks resources to pursue those directions, such intiatives are clearly wanted. The same is true for possible support of non-X86 platforms.

因此即使這個團隊缺乏資源致力於那些方面， 這樣的出發點顯然〔表明那些方面〕也是想要〔致力於完成〕的。 〔這〕對於「非-X86」平台的可能支援，〔也〕同樣成立。

Help is also wanted in the form of developers, the identification of suitable applications, providing intelligent (automatic) configuration or a logo - and of course through testing the distribution.

開發員、 確認出合適的應用程式、 提供聰明（自動的）組態（configuration） 或是一個 logo （美術標誌）等幫忙也是需要的 - 當然，還有經由測試這個散佈件〔的幫忙方式〕。

Should the project be successful, Marco also sees potential "collateral use" for other small platforms like coming generations of PDAs and mobile telephones.

這計畫應當可以成功， Marco 也看到了給其他小平台， 像是下一代的 PDAs 和 行動電話 等具有潛力的 「並行使用（collateral use）」。

Maybe the project may become relevant for rich countries quicker than most people realize today.

也許這個計畫與富有國家變得相關的速度， 會比今天大部份人瞭解的還要快些。

So much for technical projects, now I'd like to approach some of the promised "larger" questions.

關於技術性的計畫有這麼多〔可說〕， 現在我想要進行一些〔先前〕所承諾的「較大的」問題。

與資訊時代的戰爭

Regular readers of the Brave GNU World should be aware that there are many fields in which current conflicts will decide the future ofthe information age. Since the situation is quite complex and probably not fully known to all readers, I will try to give an overview over what I usually title "The end of the information age" [9] in presentations.

- ofthe information age.
+ of the information age.

《勇敢 GNU 世界》的老讀者應該可以察覺到， 目前衝突中的許多領域將會決定資訊時代的未來。 因為狀況相當複雜並且大概沒有被所有的讀者完全地瞭解， 我將試著給予一個我通常在簡報中標題為「資訊時代的終結」 [9] 的概觀。

A reasonably well-known aspect is patents on software, which already exist in the United States and Japan and threaten to become legal in Europe. As for instance the very comprehensive collection of information assembled by the FFII [10] shows, there is no scientific or social benefit to be gained from allowing software patents.

一個合理地為眾所皆知的觀點是在軟體上的專利權， 已經在美國和日本存在並且也威脅著在歐洲成為法律問題。 說到例子， 由 FFII [10] 所聚集的相當廣泛的資訊集合顯示， 並沒有科學或社會利益可以經由允許軟體專利權而獲得。

Their only purpose is to prevent competition and innovation by giving established large companies a legal mean to drive innovative concepts or companies out of business by taking them to court. Or as Bill Gates put it: "A future startup with no patents of its own will be forced to pay whatever price the giants choose to impose."

- a legal mean to drive innovative concepts
+ a legal means to drive innovative concepts

他們的唯一目的在於， 經由「建立大公司的一種法律途徑， 將開創性的觀念或公司送到法庭以〔將它們〕排除到商業活動之外」的方式， 來避免競爭和創新。 或者如 Bill Gates 所說： 「一個沒有它自己的專利權的未來新開始〔的公司〕（startup）， 將會被迫支付任何巨人選擇加諸〔於其上〕的任何價格。」

So when recently a study was run [11] in order to prove a positive effect of software patents it did not bring the result desired by those who performed it. For this and other reasons, the German ministries of economics and work (BMWA) and the ministry of inner affairs (BMI) are extremely critical with regard to software patents according to statements by their employees.

所以當最近一項研究為了證明「軟體專利權的正面影響」而進行 [11] ， 卻沒有得出實行它（這項研究）的人所想要的結果。 為了這個以及其他的原因， 德國的經濟與工作部（BMWA）和內政部（BMI）根據他們雇員的證詞， 對於軟體專利權表現出極端的批判態度。

That the majority of small and medium enterprises (SME) are very critical about software patents is also the result of a questionnaire run by the European Union, in which 91% of all replies were against software patents. [12] The study also already implicitly concedes that Free Software and software patents are exclusive concepts.

而且由歐洲聯盟所進行的一項問卷調查的結果也顯示， 中小型企業（SME）的大多數對於軟體專利權都非常批評， 全部回覆中的百分之九十一反對軟體專利權。 [12] 這項研究也已經暗示性地承認『自由軟體』 與軟體專利權是不相容的觀念。

But since the voices of the large companies were more favorable, the conclusion is drawn that an "economic" majority existed. Given that most of the gross economic product comes From the small and medium enterprises in Europe, this conclusion seems pretty far-fetched.

但是由於大公司的聲音較被重視， 得出的結論是存在一個「經濟的」大多數。 由於在歐洲， 大部分的經濟生產毛額是來自於中小型企業， 結論看起來非常沒有抓到重點。

So pushed by the large corporations, patent lawyers and patent offices, software patents shall now be introduced in Europe. Supported also by the German government, by the way, as its "official" position is defined by the ministry of justice (BMJ).

因此由大公司、專利律師 和 專利局 所推動， 軟體專利現在將會被導入歐洲。 順道一提， 這也是由德國政府所支持， 因為它的官方立場是由司法部（BMJ）所定義。

The other interest group fighting the information age are large media companies.

另外一個與資訊時代戰爭的利益團體是大型的媒體公司。

Facing economic and structural problems, which some people blame mostly on the digital revolution and the internet, grossly neglecting other factors, DRM has become a magic word. A fitting expansion for this acronym is "Digital Restriction Management" and refers to ultimate control of every piece of digital content.

- every piece of digital content
+ every piece of digital contents

面臨到經濟與〔社會〕結構問題， 一些人將大部份〔原因〕怪罪到數位革命以及網際網路， 並且相當地忽略其他的因素， DRM 已經變成了一種神奇的字。 這個首字母縮寫語的一個合適的擴展是 「數位限制管理（Digital Restriction Management）」； 並且談論到要對數位內容的每一個小片斷進行極端的控制。

Of course this is only possible if every computer, every PDA and every mobile phone becomes an obedient servant of the media industry, controlling all digital content regardless of its author or source. Establishing total control over all intellectual and commercial activity around hard- and software is the prerequisite to enforce this.

- around hard
+ around is hard

當然這只有在當每一台電腦、每一部 PDA 和每一支行動電話， 都變成了「控制了所有數位內容，而不論其作者或來源的」 媒體工業的奴僕時才有可能。 建立包含圍繞著的所有知識與商業活動的全體控制是艱難的 - 而軟體是實施這〔行為〕的必要條件。

The best possible outcome is an ultimate oligopoly of US companies, the worst case scenario is one monopolistic media-hardware-software giant.

最好的可能結果是美國公司的一種極端的 〔（少數公司）對市場的〕控制， 而最壞的情節則是〔出現〕一間〔涵蓋〕 「媒體-硬體-軟體」的壟斷巨人。

Of course these visions cannot become reality based upon technology alone. Therefore laws are being pushed forward that seek to prevent working around this mechanism and creation of alternative approaches.

當然這些〔預先的〕設想不可能光由技術本身而成為現實。 因此法律已經被推著向前， 尋求防止步入此一機制並且創造出可供選擇的〔替代〕作法。

The first major step is the "Digital Millennium Copyright Act" (DMCA), which became sadly famous through the imprisoning of Dmitry Sklyarov.

跨出的第一個主要的步伐是 「數位千禧年版權法案（Digital Millennium Copyright Act，縮寫為 DMCA）」， 它很遺憾地是經由將 Dmitry Sklyarov 關進牢中而變得有名。

The law says that also intellectually touching things that the industry considers to be technical protection measures becomes punishable. Or put differently: It is not only punishable to do something illegal, it is also punishable to do something that a third person might theoretically use to do something illegal.

- be technical protection measures
+ be protected by technical protection measures

這法律說， 〔只是〕知識性地接觸被工業認為受到技術保護措施所保護的事物， 也變成是可處罰的。 或是換個方式說： 並不只是去做某件違法的事才是可處罰的， 去做某件「第三者理論上可能用來去做某件違法的事」的事， 也是違法的。 【譯註：舉例來說，一間雜貨店的老板可能在不知情的狀況下， 販賣了一把罪犯用來行兇的水果刀而被捕。 理由是他竟然販賣顯然「可能」用來行兇的水果刀， 卻不考慮雜貨店的老板是基於正當的用途（切水果）而販賣它。 按此邏輯， 酒醉車禍的受害者也可以控告汽車製造商， 理由是它販賣了「可能」造成酒醉駕駛人肇事的「汽車」， 即使發生車禍的原因是「酒醉」而非「汽車」。】

Dmity Sklyarov was co-author of a program to convert text between two formats, one of which claimed to posess "technical protection measures." Fear of repression has already led some developers like Alan Cox to boycott computer conferences in the United States, because he fears his work on file system drivers for the Linux kernel could be considered sufficient legal grounds for similar oppression.

- which claimed to posess
+ which claimed to possess

Dmity Sklyarov 〔先前〕 是某支在兩種格式間轉換文字的程式的共同作者， 其中一種〔格式〕宣稱擁有「技術保護措施」； 〔受到〕壓制的恐懼已經導致某些開發員， 像是 Alan Cox ，抵制在美國的電腦會議， 因為他害怕他在 Linux 核心的檔案系統驅動程式的工作， 可能會被認為具有「給予類似壓制的足夠法律根據」。

The Norwegian teenager Jon Johansen also got to enjoy the effect of the DMCA when the US government pushed the Norwegian government into imprisoning him. His mistake was to write a program to play his legally bought DVDs on his own GNU/Linux PC since there was no software available to do this already. This is in clear violation of the DMCA.

當美國政府督促著挪威政府將他送入監牢時， 挪威的青少年 Jon Johansen 也開始享受到了 DMCA 的效應。 他的錯誤在於撰寫了一支程式， 以在他自己的 GNU/Linux 個人電腦上， 播放他合法購買的 DVDs， 因為沒有已經可以用來做這件事的軟體可以取得。 這很清楚的是對 DMCA 規定的違反。 【譯註： Jon Johansen 已經獲判無罪。】

But Europeans can no longer feel as safe as they could, because Europe now has its own version of the DMCA, the "European Copyright Directive" (EUCD) which has to be put into national law before the year 2002 runs out.

但歐洲人再也無法如他們所能的那樣安全， 因為歐洲現在有了它自己的 DMCA 版本， 「歐洲版權命令（European Copyright Directive ，縮寫為 EUCD）」 在二○○二年結束前將會成為國家法律。

Both DRM and DMCA are obviously incompatible with the principles of Free Software, which aims at equal chances, freely available markets, informational self-determination and prevention of dependencies and monopolies.

DRM 和 DMCA 這兩者顯然都與追求平等機會、 〔可供〕自由地取得的市場、 資訊的自我決定 以及 防止〔成為〕附庸和壟斷 的『自由軟體』原則不相容。

But this is not the end. The next step comes under the name of "Palladium" or "Trusted Computing" (TC), although a more honest expansion of the TC acronym would be "Treacherous Computing."

但這還沒結束。 下一步將會以「確保安全（Palladium）」這個名稱登場； 或是「可信賴的計算（Trusted Computing）」， 雖然 TC 這個首字母縮寫語的一個較為誠實的擴展應該是 「奸詐的計算（Treacherous Computing）」。

Its idea is to have all processors used within all devices from mobile telephone up to mainframes only execute centrally authorized and controlled software. Other, potentially self-written, software will not be executed by such processors.

它的想法是要讓「從行動電話到大型主機的所有設備中使用的所有處理器」 都只能夠執行中心式地授權和控制的軟體。 其他的， 可能是由自己寫成的， 軟體將無法被這樣的處理器所執行。

This would be the ultimate unfreedom and the end of all informational self-determination.

這將會成為極度的非自由， 也將是所有的資訊自我決定的終結。

But since such platforms would certainly be avoided by many people with enough background knowledge, this initiative also has its adequate legal counterpart, which comes under the name "Consumer Broadband and Digital Television Promotion Act" (CBDTPA).

但是因為這樣子的平台將肯定會被具有足夠背景知識的許多人所避開， 這項倡議也有它合適的法律上的相當物， 名稱為「多頻消費性商品以及數位電視促進法案 （Consumer Broadband and Digital Television Promotion Act ， 縮寫為 CBDTPA）」。

This law is currently being discussed in the United States and it will outlaw all hardware without such controlling capabilities.

這項法律目前正在美國討論， 而它將會宣布所有沒有這樣子控制能力的硬體是非法的。

Whether and in which form this law would then make its way over to Europe will very much depend on how strong the pressure on the European Union will be. If DMCA and EUCD were examples, it can only be a few years.

不論〔是否作成〕，也不論以何種型式〔作成〕， 在歐洲這項法律是否成功， 將會視歐洲聯盟所承受的壓力有多大而定。 如果以 DMCA 和 EUCD 作為例子來看， 可能只是幾年的時間而已。

This would be bad enough in itself, but it still ignored the long-term effects. Freely quoting Newton who wrote in 1676 "If I have seen further it is by standing on ye shoulders of Giants," it has to be understood that knowledge of one generation provides the intellectual grounds for the next.

這在它本身就已經夠糟糕的了， 但是它仍然忽視了長期〔所造成的〕結果。 『自由地』引用牛頓在一六七六年所寫下的話， 「如果我有看得更遠，那是因為站在巨人的肩膀上。」 必須瞭解到的是一個世代的知識， 是提供作為下一個〔世代〕的知識基礎。

Only a solid foundation of free knowledge can secure the education and intellectual progress of the next generation. The described actions to uphold power at all cost are effectively depleting the intellectual foundation of future generations; as such they constitute a form of robber economy.

只有一個自由知識的堅實基礎， 才能夠使下個世代的教育和知識進步獲得安全〔保障〕。 描述中的「不計任何代價高舉著權力的行為」 有效地減少了未來世代的知識基礎； 他們也依此， 構成了一種型式的強盜經濟。

Also it cements the division into poor and rich, since all these mechanisms favor concentration of power, money and knowledge in a single point. And already today it is a prerequisite for countries to acknowledge the rules pushed forward by the media industry in order to be eligible for credits by the world bank.

它也深化了貧富的分離， 因為所有的這些機制都喜歡將權利、金錢和知識集中到一個點上。 而且今天它對於國家也已經是必須的了， 承認由媒體工業所推進的規則， 以獲得世界銀行的信用資格。

All these developments proceed mostly without being realized by the media and public. Only rarely can good articles be found about the subject; like the one published by Richard Sietmann in the c't 24/2002 under the title "Wissen ist Geld" ("Knowledge is money"), which describes the situation pretty well.

- Only rarely can good articles be found
+ Only rarely good articles can be found

所有這些進行中的發展， 大部份都沒有被媒體和大眾所認識。 關於這個主題只有很少的好文章可以被找到； 像是一篇由 Richard Sietmann 在 c't 24/2002 ， 以標題「《知識就是金錢》（Wissen ist Geld）」所出版的文章， [13] 它幾乎〔完整地〕描述了〔目前的〕處境。

Since that article puts different foci and also is more elaborate in some aspects, the article can only be recommended to readers capable of reading German.

因為這篇文章帶入了〔一些〕不同的焦點， 同時在某些觀點上較為詳盡， 因此這篇文章只被推薦給能夠閱讀德文的讀者。

現在該做些什麼？

So much for the problems. Natural results of understanding the situation are outrage and shock.

對於這些問題有這麼多〔可說的〕。 瞭解這狀況的自然結果是憤怒和震驚。

Unfortunately this often leads to frustration, which favors stagnation rather than change, which would be no good start for 2003.

不幸的是這通常導致挫折感， 而這〔感覺〕喜愛「停滯」勝於「〔作出〕改變」， 這對於二○○三年並不是個好的開始。

發揮你的影響力！

Of course there are limits to the individual and direct influence as well as the individual power. Deducing that therefore nothing can be done is the wrong conclusion, however.

當然， 不但個別以及直接的影響有其侷限， 個別的力量也是如此。 然而〔據此〕推論出因此沒有任何事可以被作成， 則是個錯誤的結論。

There are many ways of taking influence. As the boycott of South African products showed a couple of years ago, making a conscious decision of where to spend your money is felt.

有許多方式可以發揮影響。 如同數年前抵制南非產品所顯示〔的一樣〕， 感覺到〔自己〕作出〔應該〕在哪裡花你的錢的有意識的決定。

This means that a conscious decision to buy Free Software or hardware from producers who support Free Software and/or offer drivers as Free Software themselves can create a new balance.

這表示， 有意識地購買『自由軟體』或是從支持『自由軟體』 以及／或他們自己提供作為『自由軟體』的驅動程式的製造商處購買硬體， 可以創造出一種新的平衡。

Also insisting on content that is available for Free Software is a small but, in combination, clearly noteable part.

- clearly noteable part.
+ clearly notable part.

堅持內容也必須可以為『自由軟體』所取得是一小步， 但結合起來， 很確實的是值得一提的一大步。

Democracies also provide the means of voting in order to have direct influence. This instrument is admittedly not very fine-tuned as all power is transferred for the whole legislative period to a single person or party, which usually stands for many different things that can only be "bought in a bundle."

民主也提供了投票的方式以作出直接的影響。 這種手段一般公認並不是非常好調整的〔一種〕， 因為所有的權力在一整個立法會期中， 都被轉移到一個個別的人或政黨， 而這個人或政黨通常代表著許多不同的， 只可以被「捆在一起地買」的事物。

If you think this was pretty much everything people can do, you are forgetting one of the most powerful means: Personal engagement.

如果你想這大概是人們所能夠做的所有事了， 你已經忘了其中一個最有力的方式： 個人涉及關係（Personal engagement）。 【譯註：即，「與你有關，你就有發言權。」】

A crucial strength of democracy is that people can influence decisions directly and immediately involved through personal and public "convincing work."

民主的一個重要力量是， 人們可以經由個人以及大眾「所信服的事」， 直接而且立即地影響牽涉到〔他本身〕的決策。

This is usually used most effectively and frequently by large companies and interest groups. That is not necessarily the case, however.

- This is usually used most effectively
+ This is usually mostly used effectively

這大部份通常被大公司和利益團體有效且經常地使用。 然而那並不必要是如此。

Of course getting organized is an initial effort that needs to be performed. But not everyone has to create or be a new organization, people have always worked together in order to reach their goals.

當然組織起來是第一個需要進行的初期努力。 但是並不是每一個人都必須要創造或成為一個新的組織， 人們總是在一起工作以達成他們的目標。

So if you don't feel like accepting the developments described above, you can search for other, likeminded people and get active.

所以如果你並不覺得自己可以接受上述的發展， 你可以尋求其他的志趣相投的人們， 並且採取行動。

You can do this by creating a new organization or by working as a volunteer with one of the organizations that already exist - like the FSF Europe. [14]

你可以創立一個新的組織， 或是以作為一個已經存在的其中一個組織 - 像是 FSF 歐洲 - 的自願者來做這事。 [14]

I know that most people only have limited time to spend on such activities, even though they would like to do more.

我知道大部份的人只有有限的時間可以花在這樣的活動上， 儘管他想要做得更多。

Here are some basic ideas that might give you a new perspective.

這裡有一些可以給你一個新觀點的基本想法。

The problem of shared labor is very old, it has accompanied mankind for thousands of years. The most successful means of sharing labor has been accepted by most people so much that it often isn't even recognized as such by the majority: Money.

分擔勞務是個很老的問題， 它伴隨著人類已經有幾千年〔的歷史〕。 已經被大多數人所接受的最成功的分擔勞務的方式就是金錢 -- 它使用地如此普遍以致大部份人甚至沒有察覺到。

In fact the monetary system is based upon the need of finding a way to share labor since it is more efficient if not everyone tries to be and do everything. By concentrating on certain tasks, these can be done better and more efficiently with a minimum of effort.

事實上， 貨幣系統是奠基於尋找一種分擔勞務的需要， 因為在不是每個人都試著要成為或者做任何事的情形下它最有效率。 經由專注於特定的任務， 這些事情可以最少的努力更好且更有效率地完成。

The role of money is that it allows two people to exchange labor even if they don't know each other personally.

金錢的角色在於， 它允許兩個人在即使私下互不認識彼此的狀況下， 〔仍然可以〕交換勞務。

The financial system clearly has its weaknesses and flaws - so maybe it will be replaced by something better one day. But the crucial point right now is that money can not only be percieved as an abstract number but rather as "frozen labor."

- can not only be percieved
+ can not only be perceived

金融體系清楚地有它的弱點和缺陷 - 所以也許有一天它會被某種較好的東西給替換掉。 但是目前的重點在於， 金錢不可以只被認為是一種抽象的數字， 而〔應該視為〕是一種「被凍結的勞務」。

So when we gain a certain amount of "frozenlabor" through our work, it becomes our decision to decide where and when that labor will be unfrozen again.

- amount of "frozenlabor"
+ amount of "frozen labor"

所以當我們經由我們的工作獲得某些量的「凍結勞務」時， 決定在哪以及何時將勞務再次解凍就成了我們的事。

Put in context this means that if we don't have time to do something ourselves but we wish to see it done, we can make sure that someone else takes the time to do it by giving them a certain amount of our time in form of "frozen labor."

- by giving them
+ by giving she or he

由文章脈絡的進行可以表示出， 如果我們沒有時間自己去做某些事情， 但我們希望看到它被完成， 我們可以給予某個其他人以「被凍結的勞務」形式〔表達〕 的我們的時間的特定數量， 以確定他或她付出時間來做它。

This is normally referred to as a donation.

這正常來說被稱為捐贈。

And opposed to voting at an election, you have the control over how much of your power is transferred to whom for what period of time.

- you have the control over how much
+ you have to control over how much

與在一次選舉中投票相比， 在選舉中， 你必須控制你的權力有多少被轉移給誰， 以及在什麼時期。

The amount as well as the receiver(s) are chosen freely by the donor, who has fine-grained control over the country or region this donation should be used in. Normally this will be the country the donor lives in, but this is not mandatory.

數量以及受領人是由捐贈人自由地選擇， 他對於捐贈應該使用在什麼國家或地區具有細微的控制。 正常來說， 將會是捐贈人居住的國家， 但這並非強制。

不做任何事的人，也改變不了任何事！

So I would like to encourage all readers not to resign and not put your hands in your laps waiting for the end to come.

因此我想要鼓勵所有的讀者不要放棄， 也不要把你的手放在膝上， 等著末日的到來。

Please look for an organization that addresses these issues and that you feel comfortable supporting and get active.

請尋找一間提及這些問題並且讓你感到放心的機構， 然後採取行動。

Should you decide to support the work of the Free Software Foundation Europe, I would of course be very happy. General information about supporting our work can be found online [15] as well as information about how to make donations (tax-deductable in some parts of Europe). [16]

如果你決定支持歐洲自由軟體基金會的工作， 我當然會很高興。 關於如何支持我們工作的一般資訊可以在線上找到， [15] 同時也有關於如何作出捐贈的資訊 （在歐洲某些地區可以減免稅金）。 [16]

送到《勇敢 GNU 世界》的各項計畫

Suggestions for projects in the Brave GNU World are mostly submitted by readers or by the authors themselves, although many authors often consider their project to be not interesting enough for the Brave GNU World. This makes it important that readers of the Brave GNU World address the authors directly.

在《勇敢 GNU 世界》中， 針對計畫的建議大部份是由讀者或是作者他們本人所送來， 雖然許多作者通常認為他們的計畫對於《勇敢 GNU 世界》並沒那麼有趣。 這使得《勇敢 GNU 世界》的讀者直接告訴作者變得重要。

In order to simplify it for authors to communicate the essential information and in order to allow readers addressing interesting, weird or funny projects directly, the "Brave GNU World standard questions" have been created, which are also available on the Brave GNU World web site. [17]

為了簡化給作者傳達必要資訊， 以及為了允許讀者直接傳達有趣、怪誕或好玩的計畫， 「《勇敢 GNU 世界》標準問題」因此被製作出， 它也可以在《勇敢 GNU 世界》的網站上取得。 [17]

So the next time you come across a project where you think that other people might also appreciate knowing about it, just send the standard questions to the author and ask him or her to fill them out. Maybe you will then discover the projects along with some interesting bits you didn't know about in one of the next issues of the Brave GNU World, which is open to all projects of Free Software.

因此下次你偶然見著了一個其他人可能也會喜歡知道它的計畫， 就把標準問題寄給作者， 並且請求他或她把它們填滿。 也許你接著會發現這些計畫以及一些你先前並不知道的小片斷， 會出現在《勇敢 GNU 世界》接下來的其中一期中， 並且這對於所有的『自由軟體』計畫都開放。

下回見

So far for the Brave GNU World in 2002, for the upcoming year I wish all readers only the best and of course I'm asking for lots of feedback, ideas, questions, comments and project submissions by email. [1]

這就是二○○二年到目前為止的《勇敢 GNU 世界》， 在即將來到的〔下一〕年度， 我祝所有的讀者都好， 當然， 我請求各位以電子郵件〔送來〕許多反饋、想法、問題、意見和計畫提交。 [1] 【譯註：請以英文或德文撰寫郵件，其他的語言無法被瞭解； 或以中文送到本文翻譯。】