Universal Rule

Book Reviews

Friday, February 28, 2003

First target was India, and now Microsoft takes China -- Comment()
Slashdot discusses the Microsoft assault on China: "Microsoft has signed an agreement which would allow the Chinese government access to Windows source code. This is part of an effort to curb the shift toward Linux in China due to that country's concerns regarding the security of closed source software." ... "However, government users will not be allowed to make modifications to the code or compile the source code into Windows programs themselves, according to Microsoft."

By investing about 750 million dollars in three years to China, Microsoft can fight the Linux-based development there, and get access to the huge development resources available. An example of this is provided by Microsoft partners Beijing to develop software industry: "Microsoft has committed to help train 600 software architects and 600 project managers to meet the demand of software professionals by the software industry."

This is, once again, brilliant strategy.

-- Comment()
Music appreciation vs soft porn: "I've been predicting for several years now that pop artists will soon merge complete nudity and (soft) pornography into their "performance" - witness the video clips of Kylie Minogue, Britney Spears, assorted "boys bands" as well as hip-hop groups; contrast with clips from 10 and 20 years ago. One may argue that a certain lack of musical quality explains the attempt to exploit other esthetic attributes." [Jinn of Quality and Risk]

-- Comment()
America is from Mars, France is from Venus: 'America and France are at odds over issues of war and diplomacy. Ever since the U.S. referred to "UN Weapons Inspector Clouseau" and the French retaliated with an inferior vin rouge, things have pretty much gone off the rails with Ameri-Franco relations. The French lobbed a bioweapon: the truffle. The Americans shot back by supersizing it. Now, the French are eschewing reruns of "Les Amis," in a pique of sanctimony. For their part, the Americans are boycotting cheese and champagne, in a self-flagellating binge of -- what else -- sanctions.' [t e c h n o c u l t u r e]

-- Comment()
Keynote Update 1.0.1: "Keynote Update 1.0.1 is a world wide release with support for: Japanese, French, German, Dutch, Italian, and Spanish." The file size is 9 MB. [Mac OS X Downloads > Sample the Web]

-- Comment()
Private Ink writes: "I've been thinking about generalists and specialists lately. It confuses me to think that knowing only one thing extremely well is enough to make it through life. Most of the people who have made significant strides in technology, science and other types of learning were and are generalists at heart. They may have a field in which they love to play in more than any others but they still seriously dabble in others as well."