Tim wrote:

Over the years I've sometimes joined in on the jokes about Microsoft and Bill Gates...the jokes about the Borg, assimilation, and the habits of Gates. And I've lately really enjoyed the "Saturday Night Live" skits involving Bill Gates interrupting the Pope to announce that Microsoft has merged with Christmas, and so on.

That last skit was lame ass -- I like the monkey-boy ones.

Anyway, the recent government actions against Microsoft are reprehensible to any person who values liberty. Microsoft is being punished for its success.

No shit. I've been fighting the 'free-thinking' Linux crowd for weeks on this. Just because MSFT sucks is no reason for the gov to start this shit. If MSFT sucks, they should be brought to court on those charges, and not because everyone in the world was stupid enough to use their OS. Further, just becuase MSFT sucks is no reason to give the gov the power to regulate software content. Jesus christ, get out of my pants.

Making jokes about Bill Gates is one thing, just harmless fun. But advocating the Men with Guns (TM) seize control of the products he offers to uncoerced customers is simply wrong.

Yes. This is not a case of "biting the hand that Fed you." It is a case of government power to control a free market. I don't fear Bill Gates, I fear the gov. Who will you fear in 20 years? Linus? Give me a break. --David Miller Windows '95, a dirty, two-bit operating system.