Idlemind - nickcoster.com
Future gazing from a quiet corner of cyberspace.

Well here I go again. Events have not directed me down the path that I had hoped so now it is time for reflection. Again. It has been a tough week. I have been asked to perform tasks at work that are not part of my day to day role, however during this time I have feeling like I have been under the gun of an interview process. A process that is now complete with out an obviously positive resolution for me. The other sucky part is that it was my birthday during the week and I have had this cloud hanging over me.

Tomorrow the game starts new again. I need to decide where to from here. Same old, same old or new rules of engagement. It has to be that latter but I am not sure yet what that means. Importantly I don’t doubt my own abilities. I am however, frustrated by some sort of perception that others have of me as a one horse race. Very wrong. It makes me angry because I don’t know weather those involved are too stupid to see me otherwise or choose not to for their own reasons. I have learned not to assume stupidity although it is usually the most likely cause.

I have to say that i love the ego of Bill Gates. By the time he no longer wants to, he will rule the world. This week he has stated that he will stop spam. I love that kinda talk because I hate spam. I have an easy to spam email address, and at last count I am getting over 500 spams every day. I use a number of tools to combat this so I still deal with it in a way that has not yet stopped me from using the email address. In fact here it is - nick@bigpond.com. Bring it on. I will not be beaten by spammers.

However there is one thing that does send a shiver down my spine and that is how Bill is going to stop the spam. Better filters, bigger bounties, lobbying law makers? Somehow I dont think so, because all of these are reactive, and that is not Bills way. So I think to myself how would I make spam go away if I was Bill Gates.

Assumption 1 - I am Bill Gates and I own and control Microsoft. (ps i know there are other share holders but this is a dream, ok)
Assumption 2 - I own all of the computer desktops and servers that I care about. I don’t care about those silly unix or linux systems, or those annoying little fruity things (apples).

Idea… Why don’t I add a patch to Windows email software that only accepts messages from other Windows email applications. Well at least the ones that require product activation so that I know that there is a unique system to use it. It can even be optional. My customers don’t have to use it, but if they want to get rid of spam then maybe they will want to.

It is hot where I am sitting but this idea makes me feel cold. We need a better solution that one that Bill dreams up.