Microsoft Suffers from Geopolitical Ignorance

Apparently, Microsoft has lost business and respect due to blunders of ignorance. But that said, it isn't easy as a multinational to keep abreast of all the political changes and specifics of every country in the world.

Here's a snippet:

"Perhaps the best known, and one of the most expensive, errors was a colour-coded world map showing time zones, which showed the disputed Jammu-Kashmir region as not being in India - an offence under Indian law. The mistake led to the whole of the Windows 95 operating system being banned in the country, losing large sales. For its replacement... Microsoft removed the colour coding and sold 100,000 copies in India."

Ahhh, there are many pitfalls to the path of world domination...

Smokin' in the Chimp Cage

Here's an interesting article about a female chimp in china who took up smoking because of lack of a particular kind of contact...

I guess emotional displacement works for all primates...

epiphany

from the moment i saw you
in the condiment aisle
hand on the mustard
i knew
you were the one
to invite
to my barbeque

27/8/04

Ironing with an Edge

Ummm....

I suppose it's a sport who's time has finally come...

Here is a snippet:

What is extreme ironing?
The sport that is 'extreme ironing' is an outdoor activity that combines the danger and excitement of an 'extreme' sport with the satisfaction of a well pressed shirt. It involves taking an iron and board (if possible) to remote locations and ironing a few items of laundry. This can involve ironing on a mountainside, preferably on a difficult climb, or taking an iron skiing, snowboarding or canoeing.

A Chris Rock Instructional Video

I believe this one might go back a few years, but it's pertinence cannot be underestimated.

Kudos to CR for his philanthropic urgings.

PS - Please don't watch it if you are offended by profanity....

Mother - Grandmother, Uncle - Nephew

I found this interesting tidbit in an NZ paper, but I was only able to find it online in a Pakistani website. Go figure...

I believe synchronised birthing might make an excellent Olympic event....

I Feel Vindicated

This substantial article in The Guardian UK looks at the evils of the Protestant work ethic and the value of indolence.

I, of course, always understood this.

Here are some excerpts:

"Greatness and late rising are natural bedfellows. Late rising is for the independent of mind, the individual who refuses to become a slave to work, money, ambition."

and

"Idleness as a waste of time is a damaging notion put about by its spiritually vacant enemies. Introspection could lead to that terrible thing: a vision of the truth, a clear image of the horror of our fractured, dissonant world."

and even

"God himself set a good example... after working for six days, he rests for all eternity."

This dog was no one's best friend

When in doubt, chuck him out...

How much are you worth?

Here's somewhere where you can find out exactly how much you cost in terms of dollars.

Hopefully it serves as a guideline rather than a figure to put on a ransom note...

Dubya and JEK Rock Web Monkeys' Vote

Just for the sake of interest, I found Dubya's blog right here.

Then I looked about and found JEK's blog here.

Dubya's one has got some Texan flare to it, whereas JEK's is more understated and blue (maybe to draw a connection to his blue blood?).

All I can say is that politics makes me feel ill after a few minutes and then I have to go here to get it out of my system.

Extreme Outsourcing

It was bound to happen...

Fahrenheit 9/11

A few days ago I saw this movie and was very impressed with the way it went about talking about the facts around 9/11. I was expecting demagoguery, but rather I got a documentary (although not unbiased) which was sensitive and ultimately concerned about how the people who benefit from freedom are not the ones who pay for it.

Have a look at Michael Moore's Website to examine the facts stated in the movie...

HRH Jon Kerry?

Is blue blood the judge of the presidency?

You choose...

Let it snow....

It has snowed for three days
And the trees bow down in humility
Monochromatic scenes outside the chilled window
Remind me of ski trips spent in the car
Chains beating the road
Behind the string of taillights
Rows of red eyes staring

The world is colder today
Coated with this shroud
The clouds blend with the ground
And the sound of life is muffled
Like a vow of silence
Stuffed into our gaping mouths.

A repost in honor of Michael Moore

America… Uhhh… merica

Night and day the bombs punctuate
Exclamations of hot expletives
Pock mark walls
Potholes the size of buses
Building trusses shudder blazed with blast marks
Dark streaks like morbid blush
Traffic jams of Bradleys and Abrams blazing dust
Rubble crushed bodies laze beside a saline drip
Maimed children missing legs, arms
Mothers clutching their damaged progeny
Ululating grief
Brief glimpses of calm under the fossil fuel smoke
Soldiers toke the pungent air wearing camouflaged stone
Reporters hone their skills for the ratings war
Civilian casualties soar into the thousands.

We say we came to liberate,
But when they see our rockets red glare
And bombs bursting in air
They will pray for us take the oil and leave.

4 April 2003

The big catchup

Well...

Almost two years has gone without a song -
What have I done to deserve this rest?

Even the best need a break from pace of change.

Some might say I'm not as strong as I once was
But moreso now I feel strange.

I've rearranged my life until it ressembles so little of what went before.
I used to know what was in store - or at least I could predict it well,
But rather than expect hell in a future that was bleak
I broke from the marital bonds that held my breath

And now after love, birth, moving, death and finally severance,
There is a chance that peace is soon to follow.

Tomorrow I will be closer to being apart and finally whole.

is this a plea?
be - and there you are
sitting there slumped
limp like a beaten dog
lumps for eyes and slush for thought
pushed to it's natural conclusion

hush - you might wake the neighbors


i've closed the door on you
i've closed the door again
i've meant to push you out
but your ring is still here
locked in with me
you can't see it
but it is here
it cycles in smaller turns
like a lecture
and i'm through taking notes


speak like a trauma
gutteral vivid unintelligible
language slurred by pain, confusion
a contusion of bruised seeping
weeping down over skin and cloth
ugly, vulgar, something to cover, hide
something to layer until forgotten
until rotten and diseased

won't you be pleased? it looks fine from the outside...

i'm back but i've lost the knack
don't kack on my backwash
you've stacked books against me

i've been vacationing on a fling
twisting on a swing
flung like a doll from side to side
eyes wide like a socket (no dreams)
with some lint in my pocket
and a rocket between my seams

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