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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.

26 of 739 comments (clear)

  1. Hey! by B3ryllium · · Score: 5, Funny

    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.

    1. Re:Hey! by code_echelon · · Score: 3, Funny

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

    2. Re:Hey! by IM6100 · · Score: 3, Funny

      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.

      --
      A Good Intro to NetBS
    3. Re:Hey! by nolife · · Score: 3, Funny

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

      --
      Bad boys rape our young girls but Violet gives willingly.
  2. Talk bad about Bill (or George) and get fired! by HanzoSan · · Score: 1, Funny

    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.

    --
    If you use Linux, please help development of Autopac
  3. this just in... by itallushrt · · Score: 2, Funny

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

  4. Conspiracy theories? by paroneayea · · Score: 5, Funny

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

    *Time Terrorists also responisble for the destruction of the Titanic, the Hindenburg, and the creation of SCO.
    --
    http://mediagoblin.org/
  5. Time for a stupid joke... by eu_neke · · Score: 5, Funny

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

    (waits for groans)

  6. Yeah... by fsterman · · Score: 3, Funny

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

    --
    Is there anything better than clicking through Microsoft ads on Slashdot?
  7. My head hurts... by Otter · · Score: 4, Funny
    @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...

    1. Re:My head hurts... by Otter · · Score: 4, Funny
      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!"?

  8. The other half by mcrbids · · Score: 4, Funny

    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. ".

    --
    I have no problem with your religion until you decide it's reason to deprive others of the truth.
  9. Terry Gilliam would be proud... by Cyclopedian · · Score: 2, Funny
    ...of the work of his fellow bandits.

    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

  10. Oh, "Critical"? by Karpe · · Score: 4, Funny

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

  11. I Guess... by WJenness · · Score: 2, Funny

    Someone just learned the value of a pseudonym.

  12. Re:Can they do that? by E_elven · · Score: 2, Funny

    >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'?

    --
    Marxist evolution is just N generations away!
  13. Re:This is why ... by dachshund · · Score: 2, Funny
    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.

  14. Re:I'm sure he'll find a new job by inertia187 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Lock-in also plays a big role.

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

    --
    A programmer is a machine for converting coffee into code.
  15. in other news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    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*

    Live Meeting, formerly PlaceWare Conference Center, is a new service in the Microsoft Office System that enables you to collaborate online with employees, clients, and customers in real time with groups of 2 or more than 2,000. With just a phone and a computer with an Internet connection, you can free yourself from the cost and hassle of business travel. Download a trial today!

  16. Re:I'm sure he'll find a new job by Pathetic+Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Did he have to train his Indian replacement?

  17. And Paint can finally save as PNG! by leonbrooks · · Score: 2, Funny

    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?

    --
    Got time? Spend some of it coding or testing
  18. Damn good Report -- proves its point! by Linus+Sixpack · · Score: 2, Funny

    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.

  19. His job? by tconnors · · Score: 2, Funny

    So, it looks like his job was @stake?

    Sigh.

  20. Re:Aah! My paper! by Wolfrider · · Score: 5, Funny

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

    (Mod -1 Horrible)

    --
    .
    == WolfriderV6 == I'm willing to admit that *I just might* be wrong... Are you??
  21. Re:He wrote it as if it was on @Stake's behalf (NO by kfg · · Score: 3, Funny

    "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

  22. The Billy Club by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Join, or Taste It!