Another one prepared for a different venue, but I realized it's relevant 
here. This newsgroup is such a fine place for sloppy seconds and thirds, eh? 
The original context was actually a bloggish discussion of Microsoft's 
latest "innovative" marketing strategy. Sorry, but I'm not currently 
motivated to customize it properly, so please excuse the non-topical 
aspects. (Yes, I know that non-topicality is another "tradition" of this 
newsgroup, and I'm on record as opposing it. Laziness is no excuse. "I love 
hard work! I can watch it all day.")

I believe everything I read on the Web. Really.

This tactical idea of rumor-based marketing by getting some bloggers to 
testify to Longhorn's wonderfulness makes perfect sense in that context.

Whoops, I suppose I better clarify my statement. I really do believe 
everything I read on the Web. What I believe is that someone wrote it. 
(Actually even that belief is subject to some epistemological 
qualifications, such as that my computer and eyes are working properly, 
etc.) However, I do *NOT* believe it in the sense of believing that it is 
true, or even that it has meaning. I believe someone wrote it, and there is 
a context in which there were reasons why it was written. But true? Just for 
beginners, the author might be mistaken, though in this case the more 
obvious concern is that the author might be externally motivated by 
Microsoft. True? Sorry, I'm not going to believe it is actually true just 
because some blogger says so.

I just had a BSOD a few minutes ago. That's one of Microsoft's Blue Screens 
of Death, just in case you're some kind of n00b. That's on Microsoft's 
current "latest and greatest" OS, Windows XP Professional.

I keep thinking about what has been reported as the marketing slogan for 
Longhorn: "It just works." If so, that would be the first time in the 
history of Microsoft. I really doubt it. Yes, I appreciate that Microsoft is 
sincerely trying to make better software, but they continue to make their 
software more and more complex, and I'd certainly wager that Longhorn will 
have bugs. (Actually, I've already won that bet--Microsoft has already begun 
patching Longhorn's bugs.) There will be lots of times when it will *NOT* 
just work. They are building their entire marketing campaign on a bald lie.

Sadly, Microsoft is very much in touch with our times--just like Jeff 
Gannon/Jim Guckert is in touch with modern "reality". Truth is becoming a 
meaningless notion. Creating "proper" images and making money are apparently 
the only things that count.

Sad to watch, though from a historical perspective I don't care that much. 
However, that's just my faith in truth and democracy. I think they are 
*truly* good, and therefore will ultimately prevail--but the current 
evidence is that the places where they prevail will be elsewhere than my 
beloved homeland.