robert_cringely
Columnist

Readers Write (Bite) Back

analysis
May 11, 20073 mins

Should candidates have their own MySpace page, a la Obama? Cringesters who've emailed me respond with a resounding “No.” But reader W. O. offers up a capital idea: I don't know about MySpace, but it would be nice for all the candidates to have an Internet presence. To tell what they care about. To tell us why they are competent. To tell us what they think is important, and how they plan to make it happen. And it

Should candidates have their own MySpace page, a la Obama? Cringesters who’ve emailed me respond with a resounding “No.” But reader W. O. offers up a capital idea:

I don’t know about MySpace, but it would be nice for all the candidates to have an Internet presence. To tell what they care about. To tell us why they are competent. To tell us what they think is important, and how they plan to make it happen. And it should probably be designed by someone involved in the campaign, with some input by the actual candidate. (Like maybe he or she should actually touch the keyboard.)

True enough. Unfortunately, most US politicos get stumped just looking for the “any” key.

Meanwhile, Cringester K. R. sees Dell’s possible comeback going down in flames.

Since fires were erupting in Dell’s Servers – I do not purchase, I have spent $200,000+ on IBM Servers. Since fires were erupting in Dell’s Laptops – I do not purchase, I have spent $50,000+ on laptops. Since fire(ing)s happened to reasonable English speaking support – I do not call Dell for support…. Since a VINTAGE TRUCK was fired by Dell? F’em – they ought to replace the truck. Would have probably cost less than sending a team out to investigate the incident and couple that with the PR around that – I’m never buying a Dell until they replace the truck.

I got some interesting responses to my item about Google Trends. Unfortunately, most are unsuitable for a PG-13 rated blog like this one. Suffice it to say that the residents of Italy and France ought to pay special attention to the recent Johns Hopkins report about throat cancer.

Finally, amateur swami A.S. peers into his crystal ball and predicts:

When alien technology is revealed in 2012, and we all know we know more than we say we know we know, all of IT will be outsourced to an off-planet support group. We in IT development and support will be joining our brethren working down at the local 7-11 serving up Slurpy’s and microwaveable chile dogs. Those in management will transported to an unrevealed location elsewhere in the solar system to manage intergalactic administrators that can’t reveal the workings of their systems and only respond with “Gork!” when asked questions.

Sounds about right to me. I, for one, welcome our new alien IT overlords.

Got hot tips or burning issues to discuss? Send me a note or post your pithy comments below. Top tipsters may receive a nifty Cringe bag for their efforts.