Re: The One Thing...

From: Charlie Stross (charlie@antipope.org)
Date: Thu Jan 25 2001 - 06:14:29 MST


On Wed, Jan 24, 2001 at 10:01:51AM -0800, Max More wrote:
>
> Sheesh, give it a break Eugene. The fact that you can't stand to see
> someone say *just one* positive thing about Microsoft makes it look like
> you are incapable of an objective view. The vast gulf in perspective
> between some of the programmers and the actual users (who pay for the
> stuff) astounds me. I'm amazed that all this vitriol is reserved
> exclusively for MS and Gates, while Ellison and that hypocritical McNealy
> (the self-described libertarian who runs to the politicians rather than
> competing) are left alone. What's that all about?

Excuse me, but you missed out that nice Mr Jobs, with his Kool-Aid
stand ("now in six different exclusive flavours!").

And while we're on the subject of the little list (of people who won't be
missed), can I call for a big round of applause for the lawyers who work
for the DVD Copy Control Association (a cartel that sues into the ground
anyone who tries to release a free software DVD player -- because they
charge royalties from anyone who wants to build a player in return for
the specs to their broken encryption format), and the wonderful people
who brought us CPRM? And Jeff Bezos, for patenting something so utterly
obvious that I can only conclude that the examining officer was asleep
or dead, and then using it to sue the shit out of all his business rivals
(instead of competing on the merits of his product).

I think all these folks need a glad hand, along with (UK bias showing,
and getting off the topic of the eevils of the computer industry)
Jack "control freak" Straw, Michael "prince of darkness" Howard, Tony
"toothpaste advert" Blair, William "foetus" Hague, and most other
mainstream politicians.

(Normal service will be resumed as soon as I finish chewing the carpet.)

-- Charlie



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