Living With Microsoft
<p>In today&#8217;s episode of the Microsoft follies, we learned that<br />
<a href="http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104-957704.html">Media Player 9<br />
is un-uninstallable</a>.  Deliberately.</p>
<p>A A Microsoft spokesthing confirmed that Media Player 9 is so deeply<br />
integrated into the operating system that it cannot be removed without<br />
doing a `system restore&#8217;.  Which, incidentally, will wipe out your<br />
Office installation.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s at times like this that, contemplating Microsoft users, one<br />
feels as though one is wandering among people lashing themselves with<br />
stinging nettles until blood runs off them in rivulets.  One wants to<br />
know why they don&#8217;t just stop.  One is told &#8220;But it&#8217;s the<br />
<em>standard</em>!&#8221;</p>
<p>One shakes one&#8217;s head bemusedly.</p>
<p>They pay heavily for the privilege of lashing themselves, too.<br />
Except for those blessed, blissful occasions on which they pay still<br />
more, grease themselves, bend over, and prepare to be buggered by a<br />
chainsaw.  That&#8217;s called a &#8220;System Upgrade&#8221;.</p>
<p>One contemplates the uptime figures on one&#8217;s Linux box and<br />
feels &mdash; admit it! &mdash; a bit smug.</p>
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