Seems like I'm Out of Date Again ...
After continuing crankiness issues with my laptop, I took it in a few weeks ago to have its software and hardware checked (especially after the microsoft.com website suggested a virus might be in the laptop). Fortunately, all the data was backed up.
What I had not realized is that I have been rather busy of late. The shop decided it could not see any hardware problems, then wiped the disk and replaced the OS. However, I have yet to re-install my favorite programs.
It turned out that the delay was just as well. What I just found out today is that the Open Office suite is being transferred to the Apache developers community and may have been replaced by a new application known as LibreOffice. While I suppose I should have foreseen such an outcome after Oracle bought out Sun in 2009-10, it still was a bit of a surprise. Other squabbles, such as the Oracle lawsuit against Google over use of features that are claimed to be borrowed from Java, also pointed to such an outcome.
It looks as if other programs that I assumed would be available for the next few years may not be and replacements may have to be found. Oh joy.
What do others think? As always, this perched investigator would like to know.