• Requiring Microsoft to disclose its full set of application program interfaces to other software developers.
  NOTE: This could help OS/2 users wanting Win32 support a la Project Odin.

• Enabling PC makers to alter the Windows interface, and requiring that Microsoft provide versions of Windows without its own middleware.

• Restricting the company's ability to threaten PC makers with higher Windows pricing or restricted access to technical information.

• Banning Microsoft's ability to tie its Web browser or other middleware to Windows.

The business ethics of this industry stinks, and at least to me, Gates & Company is an icon of all that is wrong with this country. It use to be if you wanted to improve market share, you built a better mousetrap, but MS has taught us differently; in order to monopolize, you simply take an inferior product and sell, bully, browbeat, cajole, threaten, berate, spread lies and misinformation, infiltrate and control the press, etc. until your competitors are run off the street. Their approach to marketing is reminiscent of Sherman's march to the sea: burn everything in your path until you reach your objective. This may be fine for warfare, but do we really need it in business? As a Freemason, this disturbs me greatly.

Something a lot of people have overlooked, Jackson's determination ultimately means that Microsoft's products are inferior! If they were superior, the products would sell themselves and the company wouldn't be in the legal mess it is today.

As I mentioned in my December editorial, Microsoft will fight the breakup decision to the bitter end. In the short term, they're waiting to see if the Republicans can recapture the White House this Fall, hoping they will get a more sympathetic ear to listen to their plight. I would remind them that Judge Jackson was a Reagan appointee.

Gates' spin doctors are still working overtime to portray him as a loveable character/family man, the victim of an unreasonable justice system. Hogwash! By the way, aren't you getting tired of seeing him on NBC, with whom he has a business relation? Who do they think they are kidding?

At least some people have a sense of humor about this situation. I'll close with...

10. Infect his computerized house with a virus that makes garage door open and close constantly.

9. When the Domino's pizza guy doesn't have change for a billion.

8. Remind him ankle-length pants on women are fashionable, on men just dorky.

7. Pretend to be a bank manager -- say he's down to measly gazillion dollars.

6. Change his America Online greeting to "You got screwed".

5. Publish photos of him in high school back when he was a geek.

4. Phone him during "Dawson's Creek".

3. Point out he and Janet Reno are looking more and more alike.

2. Kid him about being married for nine years and never getting to first base.

1. Accuse him of being both micro and soft.

(aired June 8, 2000)

Keep the Faith!