"Being sexy is a dirty job, but somebody's got to do it."
P.A.M.
People Against MicroSoft
by Kevin "Taffy" Davies
There is a disease in our world today, a parasite praying on our
natural instinct to conform to that which is known as the
'STANDARD'. This has been around in the clothing industry for
many years, with some brands being deamed cooler than others, but
now it has entered our domain, the domain of cyberspace. Once
upon a time businesses could use any computer, for whatever it is
businesses use their computers for, from the humble "Speccy" to
those men who are a rule unto their selves, "Apricot".
Then came the PC, don't get me wrong, the PC is a great little
machine with many useful functions (yes, I know sarcasm is the
lowest form of wit), however at this time there were many
different companies that were producing PC software including
those clever little chappies who brought us GEM ("Digital
Research Inc."). But then it came, like a wave of evil engulfing
our little world ... They were "Microsoft". From the demonic
figures at "Microsoft" headed by the devil himself, Bill Gates.
Then came a program, a piece of code designed to strike at the
hearts of all who would try to oppose it. Its name burnt into our
little virtual world and scarring the landscape, that name which
is hated by the little pockets of resistance that still remains,
"Windows".
No longer were we allowed to use any other software as the
demons sent out a stream of "Windows"-only programs to break the
slight resistance that faced them, but we are still here, they
will not break us. You may think I am a little paranoid, but
just take a look at the WWW (World Wide Web); "Microsoft is
everywhere", trying to destroy that last anarchic place where we
can hide. Almost all access to home pages is restricted to the
use of a 'browser', which surprise, surprise, runs through the
big W ("Windows" will know be refered as the big W to avoid
any more blasphemy).
I must mention a little point which I believe proves that the
devil and his minions are trying to control us, that is the
amount of disks the big W (it has just occured to me that the W
could stand for something else <grin>) is shipped in, and more
importantly the size it installs as. A few years ago the evil
ones tried their hand at games, and failed, which isn't
suprising. But now they have found a way to reduce the number of
games we play produced by other companies. One day a minion
hissed "Let us make 'Windows' so large that there is no other
space for the better of games" (screams of torment in the back
ground). And this is what they did, but in doing so they stabbed
themselves in the foot (with a pitch fork), there was no more
space for any other of the larger (and more profitible)
"Microsoft" programs, and thus the ill fated "Double Space" was
created from the fires of hell.
We all know what this program did, but the other companies
recognised the evil within it and struck upon it a deafening
blow, their genius produced a weapon that not even the evil of
"Microsoft" could defend against, it's one weak spot that now
seems to be growing, that weapon is INCOMPATABILITY, and so the
battle continues with "Microsoft" trying to control the way we
think, by controling the way we produce work, while the games
companies continue to fight back, proving again, and again that
computers should be fun to use.
I could rave about the way the Big W <grin> is affecting society
in an evil, not nice kinda way, but I need food, in closing if
you see that evil sign (one large box, split into four with each
section a different colour, with a kinda windowy motief) then
burn it.
Disclaimer
The text of the articles is identical to the originals like they appeared
in old ST NEWS issues. Please take into consideration that the author(s)
was (were) a lot younger and less responsible back then. So bad jokes,
bad English, youthful arrogance, insults, bravura, over-crediting and
tastelessness should be taken with at least a grain of salt. Any contact
and/or payment information, as well as deadlines/release dates of any
kind should be regarded as outdated. Due to the fact that these pages are
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