13/02/2016
Why Penguins?
Just in case you haven't already heard enough, here is Linus' explanation for why he's fond of Penguins:
From: Linus Torvalds
Ok, short version:
I've always liked penguins, and when I was in Canberra a few years
ago we went to the local zoo with Andrew Tridgell (of samba fame). There
they had a ferocious penguin that bit me and infected me with a little
known disease called penguinitis. Penguinitis makes you stay awake at
nights just thinking about penguins and feeling great love towards them.
So when Linux needed a mascot, the first thing that came into my mind
was this picture of the majestic penguin, and the rest is history.
Slightly more accurate version:
Yes, I was bitten by a penguin, but it wasn't actually very
ferocious. It was really just a pigmy penguin about 6 inches tall or
something, and it was more of a timid nibble ("is this finger a see
before me a small fish, or what?"). Even so, I like penguins a lot.
More down-to-earth version:
All the other logos were too boring - I wasn't looking for the
"Linux Corporate Image", I was looking for something _fun_ and
sympathetic to associate with Linux. A slightly fat penguin that sits
down after having had a great meal fits the bill perfectly.
Final comment:
Don't take the penguin too seriously. It's supposed to be kind of
goofy and fun, that's the whole point. Linux is supposed to be goofy
and fun (it's also the best operating system out there, but it's goofy
and fun at the same time!).
