September 28, 2003

Dysflation

The Economist suggests a new term for the combination of institutional dysfunction and economic deflation that has robbed the Japanese population of around $650 billion over the last decade: dysflation.

Posted by timo at 08:35 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Windows as the potato of the Internet age

Sean Gallagher has a nice follow-on from the recent Microsoft security monoculture paper that explains why Windows is like the potato.

(Via Phil Windley.)

Posted by timo at 08:28 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

September 26, 2003

Microsoft security

Microsoft security.

Just doing my tiny, tiny bit for anyone searching for this term on Google.

Update: I see that Dan Gillmor is asking his readers to do what I've done above. No doubt this will have a much larger effect.

Posted by timo at 08:57 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

September 24, 2003

This one's for the children (err, not)

MSN closes down it's chat rooms because "free, unmoderated chat isn't safe".

Also coming soon:

  • GM stops making cars so that rabbits don't get run over
  • Auntie Anne's stop making pretzels so that old and clueless types don't choke on them
  • Microsoft withdraw Windows to solve the plague of unstable, insecure personal computers

Yeah right, this has everything to do with the safety of our kids (who will presumably move on to even less trustworthy discussion forums) and nothing at all to do with the safety of Microsoft's bottom line (free chat just happens not to make any money).

It's OK to close down a service that doesn't make business sense, but why lie about your reasons for doing so? Can you gain the respect of your customers by treating them with contempt?

Posted by timo at 08:43 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Life of Pi

I recently finished Life of Pi by Yann Martel. You should read it. I don't want to ruin anything by saying more.

Posted by timo at 08:19 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Vertical football

What happens when you mix soccer with bungee jumping? Vertical football.

Posted by timo at 07:37 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack