Another reason to hate Microsoft and Bill Gates

[VMI77]

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2014 ... ting-guns/

Since 2009 Microsoft’s Code of Conduct has been applied to more and more of their online service. If a service is covered by this Code of Conduct, users of it are prohibited from using it in “any way that promotes or facilitates the sale of ammunition and firearms” (See bullet point #13).

Almost all of Microsoft’s online services are by now covered under this “Code of Conduct”. These services include Windows Live, Office 365, Microsoft Sharepoint, Bing.com, Outlook.com, Windows OneDrive, Exchange Online, MSN and a number of other services.

[cb1000rider]

Yikes. I wonder if they've ever enforced it.
I wonder how Microsoft online platforms are the basis of gun/ammo websites?
I guess it doesn't apply to their server software... They have a cloud platform (services) - would they actually shut down a firearms related commerce site?

[VMI77]

Yikes. I wonder if they've ever enforced it.
I wonder how Microsoft server platforms are the basis of gun/ammo websites?

No idea. I do know that several years ago when I saw that a plane I was about to board was using an MS operating system for its controls, that given my experiences with their operating systems, I got on the plane with great trepidation.

[cb1000rider]

No idea. I do know that several years ago when I saw that a plane I was about to board was using an MS operating system for its controls, that given my experiences with their operating systems, I got on the plane with great trepidation.

A Microsoft flight control system on a production aircraft? Yea, that would get me walking the other way.
As far as I know Microsoft doesn't do any sort software for flight control systems - at all... I've never even heard of that. This was a commercial aircraft?

Typically certification of such systems (anything in aviation) lags way behind technology. I thought that the flight control systems were built by the manufactures - maybe with some outsourcing to domestic companies that have a history of flight controls.... IE the 777s control systems were built by Honeywell for Boeing. They're built for that application, not generic.


You sure someone didn't stick a "powered by Mircrosoft" sticker on there as a joke... I can see the pilots doing that.

[VMI77]

No idea. I do know that several years ago when I saw that a plane I was about to board was using an MS operating system for its controls, that given my experiences with their operating systems, I got on the plane with great trepidation.

A Microsoft flight control system on a production aircraft? Yea, that would get me walking the other way.
As far as I know Microsoft doesn't do any sort software for flight control systems - at all... I've never even heard of that. This was a commercial aircraft?

Typically certification of such systems (anything in aviation) lags way behind technology. I thought that the flight control systems were built by the manufactures - maybe with some outsourcing to domestic companies that have a history of flight controls.... IE the 777s control systems were built by Honeywell for Boeing. They're built for that application, not generic.


You sure someone didn't stick a "powered by Mircrosoft" sticker on there as a joke... I can see the pilots doing that.

I don't remember the details, as I haven't flown anywhere for about 15 years. My memory about it now is pretty vague, but yes, it may have been a joke.

[cb1000rider]

curious, why don't you fly anymore?

[VMI77]

curious, why don't you fly anymore?

I refuse to be treated like a criminal. Fortunately, my position gives me a great deal of discretion, so in those instances where flying is an option I choose to drive instead, and so far, I haven't been put in a position where flying is a necessity. Now, you should find this highly ironic: my oldest son finally got a full time position and he is going to be a TSA agent. He's a smart kid (has been tutoring math part time), personable (unlike me), married, and this is his first full time job offer in the 3 years since he completed college, so it's the first real opportunity he's had.

[cb1000rider]

personable (unlike me)

That's funny...

I refuse to be treated like a criminal. Fortunately, my position gives me a great deal of discretion, so in those instances where flying is an option I choose to drive instead, and so far, I haven't been put in a position where flying is a necessity. Now, you should find this highly ironic: my oldest son finally got a full time position and he is going to be a TSA agent. He's a smart kid (has been tutoring math part time), personable (unlike me), married, and this is his first full time job offer in the 3 years since he completed college, so it's the first real opportunity he's had.

Yea, we definitely gave up a ton of personal freedom in exchange for an appearance of safety. Of course, the "safety" per dollar spent makes no sense.
I'm with you, I really don't like what goes on there - mainly the stupidity, arbitrary rules that have zero safety difference, and tax dollar spend. Never mind the fact that if you want an aircraft, you can simply walk onto one of the thousands of general aviation airports and end up in something quite capable.

Congrats on your son getting a job. Hopefully, he'll really shine and get moved up to something appropriate quickly. Or this job will lead to something else...

[VMI77]

personable (unlike me)

That's funny...

I refuse to be treated like a criminal. Fortunately, my position gives me a great deal of discretion, so in those instances where flying is an option I choose to drive instead, and so far, I haven't been put in a position where flying is a necessity. Now, you should find this highly ironic: my oldest son finally got a full time position and he is going to be a TSA agent. He's a smart kid (has been tutoring math part time), personable (unlike me), married, and this is his first full time job offer in the 3 years since he completed college, so it's the first real opportunity he's had.

Yea, we definitely gave up a ton of personal freedom in exchange for an appearance of safety. Of course, the "safety" per dollar spent makes no sense.
I'm with you, I really don't like what goes on there - mainly the stupidity, arbitrary rules that have zero safety difference, and tax dollar spend. Never mind the fact that if you want an aircraft, you can simply walk onto one of the thousands of general aviation airports and end up in something quite capable.

Congrats on your son getting a job. Hopefully, he'll really shine and get moved up to something appropriate quickly. Or this job will lead to something else...

The idea is for it to lead to something else. After a year he gets priority consideration for other Federal positions, and apparently, many who start with TSA transfer into Customs, Treasure, Border Patrol, etc.

[talltex]

I refuse to be treated like a criminal. Fortunately, my position gives me a great deal of discretion, so in those instances where flying is an option I choose to drive instead, and so far, I haven't been put in a position where flying is a necessity. Now, you should find this highly ironic: my oldest son finally got a full time position and he is going to be a TSA agent. He's a smart kid (has been tutoring math part time), personable (unlike me), married, and this is his first full time job offer in the 3 years since he completed college, so it's the first real opportunity he's had.

Thomas Jefferson would be proud of you...an appropriate quote of his:
"Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because the law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so, when it violates the rights of the individual."

[jimlongley]

personable (unlike me)

That's funny...

I refuse to be treated like a criminal. Fortunately, my position gives me a great deal of discretion, so in those instances where flying is an option I choose to drive instead, and so far, I haven't been put in a position where flying is a necessity. Now, you should find this highly ironic: my oldest son finally got a full time position and he is going to be a TSA agent. He's a smart kid (has been tutoring math part time), personable (unlike me), married, and this is his first full time job offer in the 3 years since he completed college, so it's the first real opportunity he's had.

Yea, we definitely gave up a ton of personal freedom in exchange for an appearance of safety. Of course, the "safety" per dollar spent makes no sense.
I'm with you, I really don't like what goes on there - mainly the stupidity, arbitrary rules that have zero safety difference, and tax dollar spend. Never mind the fact that if you want an aircraft, you can simply walk onto one of the thousands of general aviation airports and end up in something quite capable.

Congrats on your son getting a job. Hopefully, he'll really shine and get moved up to something appropriate quickly. Or this job will lead to something else...

The idea is for it to lead to something else. After a year he gets priority consideration for other Federal positions, and apparently, many who start with TSA transfer into Customs, Treasure, Border Patrol, etc.

I saw TSA as a gateway myself, and took the ICE test passing with a super high grade according to the person that interviewed me. No age limitation was a good thing, but I was warned that I was going to have to pass a physical, which was not that bad and if passed was pretty much a sure thing for hiring. The week I got called for the physical I tore my shoulder on the job, lifting a very overweight bag, goodbye ICE job.

I did feel somewhat misused when people talked about TSA hiring "the dregs" and "wannabes" and such as well as being accused of violating rights (we did not). I am a retired telecomm engineer with pretty high standing (at the time) in the telecomm industry and laid off when the industry imploded, and I was surrounded by others in similar circumstances

[Charles L. Cotton]

Yikes. I wonder if they've ever enforced it.
I wonder how Microsoft online platforms are the basis of gun/ammo websites?
I guess it doesn't apply to their server software... They have a cloud platform (services) - would they actually shut down a firearms related commerce site?

I suspect there's never been any attempt to enforce it. It constitutes a contract of adhesion and it's quite likely unenforceable. Plus, the backlash would be disastrous to Microsoft.

Chas.

[The Annoyed Man]

Yikes. I wonder if they've ever enforced it.
I wonder how Microsoft online platforms are the basis of gun/ammo websites?
I guess it doesn't apply to their server software... They have a cloud platform (services) - would they actually shut down a firearms related commerce site?

I suspect there's never been any attempt to enforce it. It constitutes a contract of adhesion and it's quite likely unenforceable. Plus, the backlash would be disastrous to Microsoft.

Chas.

Particularly since about 99% of the IT professionals I have ever met are pretty pro-gun. When a pro-gun purchasing decision maker has a choice between the LAMP world, and whatever abomination Microsoft mashes together, and Microsoft is virulently against the decision maker's rights....... well.....

[sjfcontrol]

Yikes. I wonder if they've ever enforced it.
I wonder how Microsoft online platforms are the basis of gun/ammo websites?
I guess it doesn't apply to their server software... They have a cloud platform (services) - would they actually shut down a firearms related commerce site?

I suspect there's never been any attempt to enforce it. It constitutes a contract of adhesion and it's quite likely unenforceable. Plus, the backlash would be disastrous to Microsoft.

Chas.

Hmm, looking up that term, it sounds like "shrink-wrap" or "click-thru" agreements supplied with LOTS of software. Are those unenforceable too?

[FL450]

No idea. I do know that several years ago when I saw that a plane I was about to board was using an MS operating system for its controls, that given my experiences with their operating systems, I got on the plane with great trepidation.

A Microsoft flight control system on a production aircraft? Yea, that would get me walking the other way.
As far as I know Microsoft doesn't do any sort software for flight control systems - at all... I've never even heard of that. This was a commercial aircraft?

Typically certification of such systems (anything in aviation) lags way behind technology. I thought that the flight control systems were built by the manufactures - maybe with some outsourcing to domestic companies that have a history of flight controls.... IE the 777s control systems were built by Honeywell for Boeing. They're built for that application, not generic.


You sure someone didn't stick a "powered by Mircrosoft" sticker on there as a joke... I can see the pilots doing that.

As far as I know no critical aircraft systems are run on MS but on both our Rockwell Collins equipt Citations onboard file server are powered by MS Windows NT( yes I said NT and these are 2010 and 2012 year Jets but certification is so costly that it is cost prohibitive to keep up with the latest changes on production certified aircraft) These are non critical systems though that run our onboard charts, XM Weather, Fault history, diagnastics etc. We have backup charts on the IPad and Live radar. Our Electronic engine controls are all firmware driven with backups.

I don't remember the details, as I haven't flown anywhere for about 15 years. My memory about it now is pretty vague, but yes, it may have been a joke.