< forwards removed >
Recently one of my friends, a computer wizard, paid me a visit. As we
were
talking I mentioned that I had recently installed Windows NT 4.0 on my
PC, I
told him how happy I was with this operating system and showed him the
Windows NT 4.0 CD. To my surprise he threw it into my microwave oven
and
turned on the oven. Instantly I got very upset, because the CD had
become
precious to me, but he said: 'Do not worry, it is unharmed.' After a
few
minutes he took the CD out, gave it to me and said: 'Take a close look
at
it.' To my surprise the CD was quite cold to hold and it seemed to be
heavier than before. At first I could not see anything, but on the
inner
edge of the central hole I saw an inscription, an inscription finer than
anything I have ever seen before. The inscription shone piercingly
bright,
and yet remote, as if out of a great depth:
12413AEB2ED4FA5E6F7D78E78BEDE8209450920F923A40EE10E510CC98D
'I cannot understand the fiery letters,' I said.
'No, but I can,' he said. 'The letters are Hex, of an ancient mode, but
the language is that of Microsoft, which I shall not utter here. But in
common English this is what it says:'
One OS to rule them all,
One OS to find them,
One OS to bring them all,
and in the darkness bind them
in the land of Redmond where the shadows are.
- Joe
Joseph S. Barrera III (joebar@microsoft.com)
http://research.microsoft.com/~joebar
Phone, Office: (415) 778-8227; Cellular: (415) 601-3719; Home: (415)
588-4801
The opinions expressed in this message are my own personal views and do
not reflect the official views of Microsoft Corporation (like, duh).