The Maryland voter is protesting political corruption, but selling a vote may be illegal, CNN reports. The voter identified as “apragmatic’ writes: “You may specify whom I vote for in the presidential and all other elections in my district, by name or by party. Why should the American citizen be left out? Congressmen and senators regularly sell their votes to the highest bidder. Democracy for sale!”

Linus Torvalds, developer of Linux, asked if Microsoft will compete with Linux by making Windows Open Source, answers: “It’s not going to happen. But if it does, I’m all for it.” He’s interviewed by Inter@ctive Week.

From a CNet story: “Linuxcare, Dell Computer and OpenSales have created a partnership to sell OpenSales’ e-commerce software on Dell computers. Dell will sell a server loaded with OpenSales’ e-commerce software, which lets people create and run shopping Web sites, bundled with support from Linuxcare. The product will be unveiled in the fourth quarter and will be called E-Shop-in-a-box.”

CNet has VA’s Larry Augustin on video. (Full disclosure: VA Linux owns NewsForge.)

Guardian Digital Introduces The Linux Lockbox Secure E-Business Solution
Guardian Digital, an Open Source security solutions company, announced the availability of the Linux Lockbox, a secure turnkey e-business server. With the release of the Linux Lockbox, Guardian Digital has become the first company to market a complete open-source alternative to proprietary security solutions for e-business, according to a press release on Business Wire.

Global Linux Network of Seoul has signed a letter of intent with Sair Linux to become a master distributor of Sair Linux and GNU Certification training and testing materials for the Korean market, notes PRNewsWire.

The appointment of Malcolm Yates as UK Strategic Alliance Manager for SuSE Linux is helping to secure relationships with IBM and other leading hardware and software companies, according to a press release on LinuxPR.

Several media outlets are covering the support of the Gnome Foundation from several technology companies. From BBC Online: The Gnome Foundation will “put a common, friendlier face on all the varieties of the Linux and Unix operating systems.”
From InfoWorld: “(Gnome) unifies the existing Unix world,” said Marco Boerries, general manager for desktops at Sun Microsystems. “It’s great for developers and end users, and we need a user environment that’s easy to use, competitive, and gives us the foundation for more than just another desktop environment.”
More coverage from Inter@active Week.

The tour, sponsored by Vagrant Records and Napster, kicks off Aug. 23 in San Diego, according to Business Wire.

Wondering what happens at the Geek Bowl? The San Jose Mercury News features the LinuxWorld event.