The comments attached to Bill's BBC article gave me a good laugh.

I *assume* that the Ts & Cs the Beeb agreed to for this article stipulated that only sycophantic comments were to be published.

They've obviously got some kind of space-warping / wormhole device that they're keeping secret to use for commercial advantage.

The evidence that there's a revolving door somewhere in the BBC offices that you can walk through to Redmond is getting too strong to ignore.

@ All talk by Giles Jones... so true m8

Windows -- Nope - I used to load BASIC by tape cassette, >ld bas [return]

Word -- Nope, I had to translate from WordPerfect when word came out

Zune -- na - still use winamp... always will

XBox -- still hanker after true consoles - spectrum, amiga... etc

SQL Server -- I started out as a cobol programmer and advanced to using dBase3

Bill has overlooked the two most significant things to evolve from the great M$ push... adverts for breast augmentations and penis extensions.

I chose the IT? icon because... well - M$ isn't exactly "technological" is it?

Good grief! He even has his own *column* now. The MSBBC has obviously given up even *pretending* that they're impartial; they might as well make the "MSBBC" name official.

As for Pearly's "illuminating" little speech, I found Mr. T's version rather less condescending by comparison. Pearly has a real talent for stating the obvious, and taking far to long to say absolutely nothing.

Executive summary:

. Almost everyone works with computers

. Almost everyone works with computers (rephrased)

. Gives examples of who "everyone" is

. You need computer skills to succeed

. You need computer skills to succeed (rephrased)

. Oh, and maths and science ("and"? ... maths *is* a science)

. The most interesting things come from science

. There are many job opportunities in software

. Software engineering is not a solitary endeavour

. To write software you need specifications

. To learn, you should read lots of books

. But getting information from the Internet is easier

. Having curiosity helps you succeed

So the executive executive summary is:

Almost everyone (e.g. store clerks) works with computers, therefore you need science skills to succeed. Science produces interesting things and many jobs, including software engineers who need to work in a team, and acquire specifications to do their jobs properly. If you have curiosity to learn these skills by reading books and browsing the Web, then maybe you will succeed. Nobody expects success. Your chief weapons to succeed are science skills and curiosity ... and fear. You have *three* weapons to succeed - science skills, curiosity, fear and surprise. Amongst your weaponry are such diverse elements as: science skills, curiosity, fear, surprise, ruthless efficiency, an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope and a nice red uniform.

Executive executive executive summary:

. You need science skills and curiosity to succeed.

He forgot some important ones, like:

. Water is wet

. The Pope is Catholic

. Never stick your fingers into a live electrical socket

. The capitol of Nebraska is Lincoln [*]

[*] Couldn't resist the old "Kentucky Fried Movie" quip.

"Your chief weapons to succeed are science skills and curiosity ... and fear. You have *three* weapons to succeed - science skills, curiosity, fear and surprise. Amongst your weaponry are such diverse elements as: science skills, curiosity, fear, surprise, ruthless efficiency, an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope and a nice red uniform."

I just wet myself at that. Really wasn't expecting it. Now then, where shall I hang this nice red coat?

Just hang it over the back of that "comfy chair" ;)