Wednesday, April 02, 2003

BFO #2 According to CNET News, Californians swamped a state-run Web site launched Monday that allows them to make their phone numbers off-limits to telemarketers. As of Tuesday afternoon, more than 180,000 people have registered on the the site, administered by the office of Calif. Attorney General Bill Lockyer, said Hallye Jordan, a spokeswoman for Lockyer. The state is using the site to let California residents add their names and numbers to a national "do not call" list being compiled by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. People are apparently eager for relief from annoying telephone pitchmen. Traffic was so heavy on the site Tuesday that some people couldn't reach it at times, Jordan said. This can't possibly be a surprise to anyone. But maybe the state can commission Forrester Research to conduct a survey to see how Californians really feel about telemarketers. 8:48:30 AM    Oh yeah? [] BFO #1 Today's blinding flash of the obvious comes from Forrester Research, who have apparently been paid real American dollars to conduct a survey which reaches this conclusion: 75% of the computer software security experts at major companies surveyed do not think Microsoft Corp.'s products are secure. The inanity of statistical research never ceases to amaze and astound. Perhaps the only thing more inane was this comment in the report: 40 percent of firms [surveyed] were not planning to make security improvements themselves and that only 59 percent of those who suffered security attacks have made changes to the way they use Microsoft software. Which really just explains why MS isn't truly motivated to secure their products. 8:38:37 AM    Oh yeah? []