Author of Paper Critical of Microsoft is Fired

chongo writes "Daniel E. Geer Jr., one of the primary authors of a report Reliance On MS A Danger To National Security, was fired from @stake Thursday morning. @stake said that 'The values an opinions of the report are not in line with @stake's views' and that Geer's participation was 'not sanctioned.' Microsoft, who has worked closely with @stake in the past, denied that it was involved in @stake's decision to fire Dan." There might not be anything fishy going on at all, but that's no reason to stop making perfectly good conspiracy theories.

Hey!

[B3ryllium]

Can I have his job? I can write well, and I can be non-critical of Microsoft software.

For instance, they have made great strides in improving Calculator and Notepad in recent versions of Windows.

Talk bad about Bill (or George) and get fired!

[HanzoSan]

As you see the corporate world is just as powerful as government so watch what you say! Bill's still your boss! Oh and George Bush is your master if you arent wealthy.

this just in...

[itallushrt]

Human being opposed to Micro$oft gestapo forced to leave the United States.

Conspiracy theories?

[paroneayea]

I bet it was... the Time Terrorists*!

*Time Terrorists also responisble for the destruction of the Titanic, the Hindenburg, and the creation of SCO.

Time for a stupid joke...

[eu_neke]

Looks like there was more "@stake" than he expected =p

(waits for groans)

Yeah...

[fsterman]

"Linux would be just as insecure, we swear!"- @stake.

My head hurts...

[Otter]

@stake said that 'The values an opinions of the report are not in line with @stake's views' and that Geer's participation was 'not sanctioned.' Microsoft, who has worked closely with @stake in the past, denied that it was involved in @stake's decision to fire Dan.

OK, if you need to mention a company's gimmicky, non-alphabetical name once, so be it. But all those @s are giving me a headache in a brain region I haven't had to use since we had that run of :CueCat stories.

The scary thing is that you could use 4tst4k3 repeatedly and I wouldn't blink at it. 47s74k3 would require some effort...

The other half

[mcrbids]

And, in other news, in an SEC filing, Microsoft has disclosed a cash "gift" to a company called @stake.

Said Microsoft spokesman: "It's a voluntary contribution, with much at stake. ".

Terry Gilliam would be proud...

[Cyclopedian]

...of the work of his fellow bandits [imdb.com].

Seriously though, that movie is full of great quotes...who remembers the Supreme Being saying "I am the supreme being, I am not entirely dim"? And Evil talking about God:

Evil: God is not interested in technology... He knows nothing of the potential of the micro-chip or the silicon revolution. He's obsessed with making the grass grow and getting rainbows right... Look at what he spends his time on. 43 species of parrot! Nipples for men!

/me goes out to buy on DVD...
-Cyc

Oh, "Critical"?

[Karpe]

I read that as "Author of Paper Clip of Microsoft is Fired". It sounded much more exciting.

I Guess...

[WJenness]

Someone just learned the value of a pseudonym.

Re:Can they do that?

[E_elven]

>Think about it this way - if I worked for Fox News and I wrote a scathing book about GWB on my own my own time then I shouldn't be surprised if I was fired the next day.

What, you mean the 'free press', the 'watchdog of the government'?

Re:My head hurts...

[Otter]

I posted that last comment, got on my bike and started home and got stuck at a red light across the street from the freaking @stake office!

And then I come home to this. Which part of what I wrote sounded like "Post some complete non-sequitur and write @stake three more times!"?

Re:This is why ...

[dachshund]

replace "MS" with "Sun" or "Oracle" or any other company you like, and I bet his higher-ups still wouldn't be happy about it. You may not like who you work for, but it's not a good idea to bite the hand that feeds you.

Well, I imagine it's a particularly bad idea if that company has a tendency towards paranoia and retribution.

Re:Hey!

[code_echelon]

The only shortcut you need to know when using a Microsoft product is alt F4.

Re:I'm sure he'll find a new job

[inertia187]

Lock-in also plays a big role.

People in Soviet Russia, however, appear to be afflicted with amusing juxtapositions of the aforementioned situation.

in other news

[Anonymous Coward]

Microsoft corporation would like to publically state that we had absolutely nothing to do with the termination of Mr. Geer. This action was entirely the choice and responsibility of @stake.

We would also like to take this opportunity to point out the sack of goat's blood splashed across the front door of Mr. Black was a random act of vandalism, and we know nothing about it. Except that it was a random act of vandalism, nothing more. The note in his mailbox threatening his life if he worked on any more papers with similar topics.. that had nothing to do with us either.

And, for the record, we have no knowledge of how or why someone used a laser engraver to etch a Windows Server ad into the side of Mr. Quarterman's car. We also did not kick his puppy in the ribs, breaking three of them because the little bastard got in our way. I mean, in the way of the perpetrator, whoever he may be.

Also, although we sympathize with Mr. Shchneier over his wife's recent permanent paralysis, we -- hold on, that one hasn't happened yet. I mean, uh, that one is, uh... WOW LOOK AT THAT MONKEY!

*ahem*

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Re:Hey!

[IM6100]

I used to love good old alt-F4. You walk up to the computer of someone who's severely dependent on their mouse to get around in Windows. Hit alt-F4 a few times and everything they had open is closed. *biff* *boom* *biff*

Often they go into a panic, gripping their mouse for dear life.

Re:I'm sure he'll find a new job

[Pathetic Coward]

Did he have to train his Indian replacement?

And Paint can finally save as PNG!

[leonbrooks]

One day, I'm sure IE will get around to displaying them correctly.

Yes, but... other than roads, sanitation, better medicine and the streets bein' safe at night, what have the Romans ever done for us?

Damn good Report -- proves its point!

[Linus Sixpack]

Wow, Write that Microsoft dominance hurts the country. Get fired for insulting Microsoft with company name.

Headline should have read:

Writer gets burnt @Stake.

This looks seriously bad for everyone concerned.

His job?

[tconnors]

So, it looks like his job was @stake?

Sigh.

Re:Aah! My paper!

[Wolfrider]

...I guess he really didn't realize his job was @Stake...

(Mod -1 Horrible)

Re:He wrote it as if it was on @Stake's behalf (NO

[kfg]

"Then "not being an idiot" was against the social norm, and *poof* they lost the initiative.

Let's not repeat that debacle in our age, shall we?"

Too late.

KFG

The Billy Club

[Anonymous Coward]

Join, or Taste It!

Re:Hey!

[nolife]

Use "You have" as your nick, type "new mail, press ALT-F4 to continue."
and watch the all the mIrc users leave the room.