FOSS Force Mostly Open Tech News Quiz – April 4, 2025

Did you have time to keep up with the news this week? Here’s your chance to brag… or not. This week there are 11 questions. Good luck!

Results

No April fooling you; you’re too smart for that. Congrats on the good grade!

Too bad. Pro tip: follow Christine Hall on Mastodon and you’ll do better next time. @BrideOfLinux@mastodon.opencloud.lu

#1. Many tech sites have lately been writing about EU OS. Which of the following is true about the project?

Select all that apply:

None of these answers.

It's a planned Linux distribution that will offer the option to add different layers, depending on the use case.

All of the these answers.

It's a planned Linux distribution that will rely entirely on Snap or Flatpak for software installation.

It's a rewrite of Windows to keep the EU and other European governments from having to pay a "Microsoft Tax."

It's a not yet fully functional proof-of-concept Linux distribution being submitted for consideration to the European Union.

#2. After testing an AI system that uses audio from body cameras to write narrative police reports, why did the Anchorage Police Department decide against adopting the technology?

Because the AI system hallucinated frequently enough to render the technology unreliable.

Because the technology was prohibitively expensive.

Because it often reported on things officers did that violated suspects' constitutional rights.

Because it made writing and filing reports take measurably longer than with hand-written reports.

#3. What new features were included in the latest version of openSUSE’s Zypper Package Manager which was released this week?

Select all that apply:

A new media backend that reduces overhead by skipping metalink fetching and optimizing connections for metadata retrieval.

A search feature for finding apps that aren't available in openSUSE's repositories.

The ability to port a Windows application to run on openSUSE on-the-fly.

A package preloading capability allows parallel downloads.

#4. The Trump administration unveiled plans Thursday to use Energy Department land and resources for what purposes?

Build data centers for AI.

Test new fracking technology.

Drill, baby, drill.

Test portable nuclear power reactors to determine their environmental impact.

#5. This week open-source developer Ondrej Zary announced a new firmware loader so that what obsolete hardware can be used in Linux?

Samsung video cameras that were designed so that users of their smart TV's could make Skype calls.

Wang Computers external hard drives from the 1990's.

The 3.5" floppy disk hardware included in IBM XT computers from the 1980s.

VHF TV tuners for Kaypro computers.

#6. When Tails — or “The Amnesic Incognito Live System” — released version 6.14.1 it said there would not be a version 6.14.1. What was the reason for this?

They discovered an issue while testing 6.14 and had to start the release process again to fix it.

A decision was made last year to start all "major point" releases with ".1."

One developer, an occultist, presented evidence that using the number 6.14 at this time would bring an end to the project.

They had a collective memory lapse, and forgot that version 6.14 hadn't been released yet.

#7. The Free Software Foundation this week published an article stating that this should be able to be done using free software and open standards.

File income tax returns.

Connect with any function on an employer's online portal.

Charge an automobile.

Vote online.

#8. EFF says that more than a decade after Congress failed to pass SOPA and PIPA, House members from both parties are supporting a bill to do what?

Take down websites merely accused of hosting material that infringes a copyright.

Not allow ISPs to offer low priced internet service to people who live below the poverty line.

Send a child 11 years old or older to school without a laptop.

Make it illegal to use AI for government sponsored research.

#9. In a Monday news story, it was reported that ChatGPT’s new image generator is really good at what?

Creating believable fake receipts.

Creating passable counterfeits of US currency.

Making Snow White look like Goofy.

Making deep fakes of people that can fool even the best experts as well as computer forensics.

#10. On Tuesday we learned that FUSE File-Systems for Linux 6.15 have been changed to accommodate what?

File name extensions composed entirely of emojis.

File name with up to 4095 characters.

Files time-stamped as BCE.

Files that are empty until opened.

#11. On Monday, we learned that Hillary Clinton had done what?

All of these.

Hired a forensic expert to keep tabs on Bill Clinton's online activities.

Returned to hosting her own email accounts.

Opened an account on Bluesky.

Finish

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