Microsoft's vision of empowering

[Gene Gaines <gene.gaines@ibm.net>]

  ---[Announce/USgov/Wash 143.22.07]--------------------------------------
  "Microsoft innovation is now bringing new uniformity to your computers, 
  your phones, your banks, your universities, your political institutions.
  Microsoft has achieved its goal of freedom to innovate.  This means that 
  freedom itself is defined by Microsoft, and we are beginning the process 
  of innovating a new freedom to bring more uniformity to the people.  

  Step 18 in this process is hereby launched.  Microsoft IdentiX identity
  cards are now available to all persons who are residents of or visitors
  to North America.  The roll out schedule for IdentiX upgrades will 
  obsolete existing outmoded operator licenses, credit cards and passports
  within the coming 24 months.  This positions our country for Step 19, 
  the MSN upgrade system, with Microsoft enhancements automatically down-
  loaded to computers, telephones, household appliances, autos, aircraft, 
  etc. and charged to your MS Money account without any bother on the part
  of the user.  This benefits the consumer by further reducing the time-
  consuming and inefficient task of product selection, which thanks to
  Microsoft innovation will soon be a thing of the past.    

  These are important steps in achieving MWORLD \ THE FINAL SOLUTION as 
  set down in the Red Book of our late Chairman Gates."

  ---[Announce/USgov/Wash 143.22.08]-------------------------------------
  Termination notice - credit and cash cards, 12 months DTN.
  Termination notice - state operator licenses, 18 months DTN.
  Termination notice - Department of State passports, 24 months DTN.

  ---[Ann/Washington/USgov 143.22.09]------------------------------------
  Interference with MS surveillance personnel and equipment will not be
  tolerated, hereby on-spot fine is increased to MS funds confiscation,
  loss of SS/pension, 240-month confinement.

  ---[Ann/Washington/USgov 143.22.10 SECRET]-----------------------------
  To Microsoft current and past employees, contractors.  Reminder.  Your
  agreements have been amended to be binding in perpetuity.  Disclosure 
  of any Red Book contents will result in immediate elimination of the 
  person making such disclosure.  Your use of any word or term on the 
  Red Book proscribed list in any communication will be interpreted as 
  disclosure.  Disclosure or discussion of this announcement is forbidden 
  under [Ann/Washington/USgov 121.01.18].

  ---[Ann/Washington/USgov 143.22.14 SECRET]-----------------------------
  To Microsoft charity recipients.  Reminder.  Under terms of the license
  signed by you or the sponsoring organization, all charity benefits
  provided by Microsoft as moneys, software, know-how in other forms are 
  to be repaid to Microsoft within ten years of their receipt, at the
  commercial list price of the product or service.  In the event such
  repayment is not made, the estate of the charity recipient is liable 
  for repayment, such debt constituting an extraordinary lien to be paid 
  before any other private or government claims including taxes.

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  Daily Announcements from the U.S. Capitol, Redmond, Washington, this 
  publication in SLATE at www.slate.gov being required daily reading 
  by all persons and having the force of law.  2003.Jan.01


Is the above where we are going?

What is the subject of this email list?

Complaints of blue screens?  
Software bundling?
Restraint of trade?
Illegal monopolist actions?
Harming the software industry?

I believe there is more at stake here.

As one example to where the future seems to be headed, see the
CNET story below.  Note the two paragraphs I have marked ">>>".
What paradigm is being pursued by MS today?  
Perhaps it is not profits.  Perhaps it is control.

The full story can be found at:
   http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1004-200-1488609.html

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 Microsoft alliances need more than cash to thrive 
      By Ben Heskett
      Staff Writer, CNET News.com
      December 8, 1999, 12:35 p.m. PT 

 News analysis --  Microsoft has had decidedly mixed results in its many 
 attempts to become a player in the rapidly evolving communications market.

>>>
 The company has used its vast cash stores to gain access to the tele-
 communications world, spreading large investments across cable ventures 
 like AT&T and Comcast, digital subscriber line (DSL) upstarts like Rhythms 
 NetConnections and NorthPoint Communications, and high-speed long-distance 
 carriers like Qwest Communications International. Today, it announced a 
 deal with wireless giant Ericsson to develop technologies for mobile 
 communications devices. 

 The move falls in line with Microsoft's overall effort to expand as the 
 high-tech industry turns from the personal computer to a variety of 
 Net-based devices for communications. But the Redmond, Wash.-based 
 software behemoth hasn't been the most successful in creating and 
 sustaining alliances. 

 "Microsoft is a necessary evil," said Maribel Lopez, an industry analyst 
 with Forrester Research. "In many cases, it's not a true partnership. 
 Each side just wants to know what the other side is doing." 

 Such deals may be tailored more to garner favor on Wall Street than to 
 foster technology innovation, according to some. "Partnering with 
 Microsoft is good for several points on your stock," said Craig Johnson, 
 principal with market watcher Pita Group. "Reality has nothing to do
 with anything." 

 The Ericsson deal bears a striking resemblance to an alliance launched 
 just over a year ago between Microsoft and Qualcomm, a joint venture 
 called Wireless Knowledge. 

 The venture has yet to move beyond the trial phase with any of its major 
 telecommunications carrier customers. Additionally, the company has
 already changed chief executives, installing a Redmond veteran in place 
 of a former Qualcomm executive. 

 And Microsoft executives today did little to dispel the notion that 
 Wireless Knowledge is not exactly a vital cog in the software firm's
 ever-expanding communications strategy. 
>>>
 "Mobile Internet access and services are crucial for realizing 
 Microsoft's vision of empowering knowledge workers and consumers
 through software any time, anywhere and on any device," Microsoft 
 president Steve Ballmer said in a statement. "As the world leader in 
 mobility and mobile communications, Ericsson is an ideal partner to 
 help deliver this vision." 

 Wireless Knowledge executives could not immediately be reached for 
 comment. 

 In other areas of the networking industry, Microsoft has also fallen 
 short. An ambitious alliance with Cisco Systems announced in 1997 
 centered around the delivery of an operating system now called Windows 
 2000 that has run into one huge problem: Microsoft hasn't delivered 
 the software. 

 That software was going to provide the basis for a series of Cisco 
 products that tied into Windows 2000 technology, like the system's 
 directory service. 

 Cisco executives admitted to the misstep at the company's recent 
 analyst conference. "That strategy cost us two years," said Don 
 Listwin, executive vice president at Cisco.   ..."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Am I wrong?  Or do we stand by and watch "Freedom to innovate" become
"Freedom to control commerce" and then "Freedom to control freedom."

The world is changing.  I believe the DOJ and the good members of this
discussion list are setting their sights too low.

Step back.  Look up.  There are those in the United States who are 
intent on following a path which leads in the direction of enslaving 
you.  I do not think the rest of the world will permit this, but it 
may set back our country so badly that we will be left with only
burgers and insurance to sell to each other.


Gene Gaines
gene.gaines@ibm.net