Voter registration in many large states is by party. I have never liked this method. It seems so un-democratic. It seems rigid beyond need. Yet it is the way of our Republic. Register for the party of your choice and be true to your school. Once a Brand, always a Brand. This makes it difficult to vote for people, instead, putting the emphasis on party. Of course this means that the party is able to exercise power they wouldn’t otherwise have. To solve the personal matter of easy crossing of party line, I have for years registered for the “other” party. I call this being an “outrigger.” If you would like to participate in both sides of an election, and you feel confident that one party will present an acceptable candidate without your primary vote, then register in the other party. By becoming an outrigger, you can stabilize your preference because you have made an improved primary choice. Others may use this tactic as a spoiler, but I doubt they will. Most people aren’t motivated enough to change TV channels, that’s why the remote took control. The parties have long ago taken over democracy, the outriggers are just putting themselves into the power socket.
Category: webionaire
the old webionaire posts. also, new ones that would have been home there
Microsoft Focus
I’ve been speaking to people about their Microsoft factor. Their fear of MS carving out a chunk of their business. Of course deep pockets can hold weapons. But they don’t guarantee the most important weapon. Usually deep pockets hold only more of the same, not a variety.
An example; I overheard a lead at Microsoft talking about support issues and the question arose about a tool for developers. Specifically Office Developers. Those folks who build corporate solutions using Microsoft Office Tools, i.e., VBA Coders, aka scripters. Low on the scale of the Software priesthood. But these are the people that were courted by Gates himself in the early days when he promised ‘VB in every box.’
Anyway, the guru recalled that MS did have a tool for that task, and he recalled it from XP. And thought that perhaps it was around even before then, but he couldn’t recall.
He was right. It was put out originally in the Office 2000 Developer Tools (ODE). And that was only 5 years ago.
And here comes the moral, the lesson, the tip. Those at Microsoft will forget what the market knows. They are driven by the young’s need to build their own sandbox. Like bad fashion designers never certain if satin or cotton is better this year.
Oh, the real caution of this tale. Don’t fear Microsoft, fear your lack of contact with your market. Fear you own ignorance, not Microsoft’s pocketbook.
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