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Microsoft Plans IE Changes Due to Plugin Patent
aWalrus writes "Microsoft has outlined some of the strategies they may pursue for modifying the way Internet Explorer handles plugins (annoying the user may circumvent the patent) if they lose their legal battle against Eolas Technologies (which claims they invented the seamless procedure for running plugins). There has already been a previous ruling against MS which they continue to appeal. This is likely to have repercussions in the Open Source Community too. If MS is found to be infringing the patent, that ruling could be extended to other browsers like Opera and Mozilla. Usability expert Jeffrey Zeldman provides an in-depth commentary on this issue and its implications."
1st post
Still #1 -- Lonely Gay Geek
In honor of the late Stephen King. FP beaaatches!
I just heard some sad news on talk radio - Actor John Ritter was found dead in his LA home this morning. Apparently, he was in the garage and fell off a ladder trying to get out his old Jack Tripper outfits to reinact the Three's Company scene where his balls fell out of his shorts. I'm sure everyone in the Slashdot community will miss him - even if you didn't enjoy his work, there's no denying his contributions to popular culture. Truly an American icon.
In the great tradition of farce, Three's Company is the comedy that pushed the envelope by matching two attractive young women and one handsome, but clumsy, willing and able young male chef living under one roof. Jack, Janet, Chrissy, Cindy, and Terri all resided in apartment 201. And their presence made American audiences gladly want to knock on their door each week. Copyright 2000 ABC,Inc. The laughs began when American producer Donald L. Taffner saw the success in adapting and "Americanizing " British television comedies for the U.S. Acquiring the Changed Format Rights for the Thames Television hit Britcom, Man About The House, Taffner partnered with former TV DuMont television executive Ted Bergmann and they flew to Los Angeles to pitch the networks CBS, NBC, and ABC with the idea. In the fall of 1975, all three networks balked at the risque premise of two single women living with one single man. Three's Company was a novel and shocking first-timer for an American sitcom. Copyright 2000 ABC,Inc. While each of the big three networks originally passed on the idea, newly appointed ABC Programming Chief Fred Silverman (a fan of the concept from his days at CBS) surprised everyone and contacted Taffner and Bergmann. Dennis Doty, Bridget Potter, and Tom Werner had been developing the program at ABC when Silverman gave them the green light to produce a pilot. Larry Gelbart, who penned the first four years of MASH and his stepson, Gary Markowitz, who coined the show's title, "Three's Company", were the first writers hired. At this point, no one involved knew that it would take three pilots and one year until the show would go to air. At the time, John Ritter was best known for his role as Rev. Matthew Fordwick on The Waltons. Although his role on the popular drama The Waltons was a completely different character type, Fred Silverman saw something in Ritter and convinced the actor to audition for the role of David Bell (the name was later changed to Jack Tripper) in January 1976. Everyone including Larry Gelbart knew he was right for the part. One down, two more to go. More than 250 female actresses auditioned for the roles of the roommates. Valerie Curtin won the role of Jenny (the name was later changed to Janet) and Suzanne Zenor was cast as Samantha (which later became the role of Chrissy). Michael Eisner, then an ABC Programming Executive, inspired the casting of Norman Fell and Audra Lindley as the nosy landlords, Mr. and Mrs. Roper. The casting was complete, but unfortunately, ABC executives didn't feel this first pilot was strong enough to air. Back to the drawing board ... ABC enlisted the help of the Emmy-winning writers and producers of All in the Family and The Jeffersons, Don Nicholl, Michael Ross, and Bernie West.
Michael Eisner stepped in again and suggested that two new actresses be found to play the female roommates. Nicholl, Ross and West knew Joyce DeWitt was perfect for the smart, wise-cracking roommate known as Janet, but they were still short a blonde. Susan Lanier, who was then famous for her role as Bambi on Welcome Back Kotter, was given a shot.
The second pilot was taped, yet producers still felt something was missing. They needed to find another Chrissy. Fred Silverman remembered Suzanne Somers from her guest appearances on The Tonight Show and knew she was just what they wanted. The clock was ticking and a third pilot had to be created that would convince the network the show was good enough to air. Somers read for the part early January 1977 and the producers made their decision -- Somers was the Chrissy they had been looking for. The third and final pilot was filmed Friday, January 28, 1977 and soon after the first five episodes followed.
Three's Company first appeared on television Tuesday, March 15th at 9:30 p.m. and was ranked 28th in the Nielsen ratings on its premiere night. The remaining five episodes of the first season aired Thursday nights at 9:30 p.m.-never falling out of the Nielsen's Top Ten. The show was a hit with audiences though the critics
Funny how Slashdot, a supposedly Linux-centric site has focused almost all of its attention of Microsoft.
Anything that might make Microsoft look bad no matter how insignificant or trivial to the "Linux nerd" gets posted on the front page to drive the pagehits and create flamewars.
Slashdot has really gone to the shitter. They've sacrificed their original mission to take cheapshots and noise.
There are only two great tragedies in life; One is getting what you want, the other is not getting what want.
--Oscar Wilde
I wanted to be first post.
I would think BBS's would be prior art.
This guy, is a West Point grad, Rhodes Scholar in economics, politics and philosophy. He is also a Vietnam Vet, 4-star general and former NATO commander.
It would be stupid not to get him in.
http://www.draftclark2004.com/biography.asp