Microsoft embarrasses itself outside Apple store

Workers at the Apple Store in Birmingham were surprised today (30th November) to find that Microsoft had set up an edifice outside. Giant, unflattering photographs of unattractive people were on display, each marked with the legend “I’m a PC” and “world without limits” or some other hogwash ripped off from The Matrix (an old film you might remember).

It’s quite astounding how Microsoft and their advertising agency have allowed Apple to choose the battleground and the rules. There has never been a sadder indicator of a software giant with identity crisis and no direction, panicking. Unless you count the fact that the invitations to the public to record their own “I’m a PC” videos appeared to have absolutely no takers.

As for the Apple Store, well, the employees were the very model of tactful evasion, but it was clear they were not shaking in their boots from the publicity onslaught.

This weblog will continue to take the piss out of Apple’s excesses, but really, when you get these little reminders of the computing world beyond… you get a reminder of why some people get a little over-affectionate towards their choice of a mere operating system.

YouTube regresses…

… and becomes the sort of child that seeks attention by asking pointless questions.

Let’s see now, English or English? It’s an important question that does indeed need asking on every page you might visit on YouTube… Thanks for asking!

The problem is probably that the system regards “English” and “English (UK)” as different languages, and does not express that well.

You might see this notice instead. Here we are offered a choice between “English (UK)” and “English (GB)”.

In general, if you don’t know what the hell you are talking about, it’s best to stop and find out before wasting everyone’s time with annoying attention-seeking… Oh, but this is YouTube, after all. Sorry. Carry on.

Stuff that’s too off-topic even for here…

… or which simply leaves us speechless…

… goes to the Earthrid Tumblelog, which can also be accessed via its RSS feed.

The latest nonsense to be added is a link to Upside-Down Dogs. That says it all!

Pizza!

It’s a daily reassurance to receive leaflets advertising pizza delivery services. If all five of the local pizza takeaways should close early, and if the staff of the 24-hour supermarkets should go on strike, the pizza delivery companies are there!

It’s not really food, though, is it?

“Ecology is the stock from which all wealth grows”

George Monbiot urges us to live in the real world and shrug off the fantasies that we are force-fed. And for once, a lot of the comments add further food for thought.

;-)

A bunch of winkers.

Phantom Circuit

If you have a taste for unusual music (and that seems quite likely), you might well enjoy Phantom Circuit, a new programme being played on rotation from Rhubarb Radio.