Opinion

I've been checking out the new Windows 7 beta from Microsoft this week and am I disappointed! Windows 7's slogan is 'Faster and Easier'...these guys (and gals) really need to take a leaf out of Apple or Ubuntu's book if they're going to make a claim like that.

Windows 7 beta has some GUI alterations, the most noticeable of these is the 'new' taskbar.  This isn't 'new' or innovative at all.  All that it really allows the user to do is arrange taskbar shortcut icons.  Guess what Microsoft's hype on this one is? 'you can set the order in which the icons appear and they'll stay put', You'd damn well want them to stay put wouldn't you?  This is nothing on Apple's dock, or the vast array of options under *nix (AWN, Compiz, etc.).  For such a huge corporation isn't it embarrassing to be so far behind?

This letter of attorneys and academics appeared in the Times of London on Sunday.  It has been suggested that all bloggers who agree with it just reprint it so that it is everywhere in the blogosphere.  It is a succinct and cogent refutation of the reigning right-Zionist talking points that have dominated American (and Australian - [Simon]) media reporting on this atrocity.

"January 11, 2009
Israel’s bombardment of Gaza is not self-defence – it’s a war crime

ISRAEL has sought to justify its military attacks on Gaza by stating that it amounts to an act of “self-defence” as recognised by Article 51, United Nations Charter. We categorically reject this contention.