Microsoft hottie to fill computer science classrooms
When all else fails, hire a cute girl. Before you write to Insider accusing him of promoting sexism in the workplace, it was Microsoft’s idea, not mine. OK, to pin this entirely on Microsoft is like saying Bill Gates invented underhanded business practices, but this particular scheme was hatched by the marketing jokers at MS.
Apparently, computer science has become so unpopular as a university major in Australia that the local MS office has put Miss Australia in charge. OK, that’s a slight exaggeration, but they have hired the comely Erin McNaught to put a, let’s say, more visually appealing spin on the otherwise painfully dorky world of hammering out lines of code. Insider isn’t 100 per cent sure what the young lady is supposed to do to jazz up CS – Lean over keyboards? Giggle coquettishly after mangling an instruction? – but I suppose it can’t hurt. (Aside from driving women away from the profession and encouraging even nerdier folks to sign up for computer school, I mean.)
Update! Microsoft says she’s not the next great mind to enter the exciting world of computer science, but she is hosting a TV program called Cyber Shack, which I can only assume involves floppy disks and baby oil.
Microsoft not perfect
In a complete turnaround from my last entry, Microsoft is being sued for being too sexy. OK, that’s not true. Microsoft is being sued by a porno company for allegedly publishing its contents illegally. The company, Perfect 10, has also set its sights on Google and other search engines that are able to serve up images free of charge by caching sites that would otherwise charge for them. Due to the fact that I can’t surf for porn at work, I can’t confirm whether it’s possible to find Perfect 10 images via Microsoft MSN, but please write in to let me know if you’re able to find anything out there. If you do it at work and get caught, tell them Insider sent ya.
Inedible crap OK with U.S. panel
Remember when you used to stuff your face with PlayDough as a child? Insider does. If it says non-toxic on the can, feel free to snack away. That’s much the same conclusion that an American panel came to when it was asked to investigate the health hazards associated with ingesting plastic. Naturally, some nay-sayers are saying the federally-appointed panel is just siding with industry types in the food business – those that, for example, coat the inside of pop cans with a plastic substance – but until there’s more evidence, Insider says, snack happy!