Rick Rant

Views and opinions on the latest news and hot topics for computer business owners and other IT service professionals.

Trusting your data to the cloud can be Danger-ous

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Users of Microsoft’s Sidekick smartphone experienced an outage early this month that nine days later turned out to be catastrophic. While its not the first time a communications platform has experienced downtime, this time it’s different. This time users didn’t just lose service, they lost access to all their data. Many lost all of the data itself. Permanently.

The outage is the talk of tech sites, blogs and forums and raises what many believe are serious questions about the future cloud computing.

The Sidekick is a smartphone developed by Microsoft-owned subsidiary Danger, Inc. and sold by T-Mobile. User data such as calender entries, photos, address books and to-do lists are all stored on Microsoft Danger servers utilizing a Storage Area Network.

On October 1, 2009 Danger’s servers went down, taking user’s data off line. According to some reports Microsoft was performing an upgrade on its SAN when something went terribly wrong. At first it was believed to be only a temporary outage and by October 8 access to most of the services was restored. However much of the data was not and two days later Microsoft sent an e-mail to users and a notice was posted on T-Mobile’s community forums admitting their data was likely gone for good.

The reason? Microsoft did not back up the servers prior to the upgrade.

Rumour has it the snafu is being blamed on Hitachi , who Microsoft allegedly hired to perform the upgrade. Whether this is true or not is irrelevant to users now. The fact is, Microsoft lost their customers’ personal data and there was no backup. The damage was done.

The irony of all this is that, overall, the entity responsible for this epic fail is Microsoft, a company that should know better. Backup, backup, backup. Isn’t this something Redmond has drummed into our heads over the years? Of all companies to trust with our data shouldn’t they be the company most responsible to manage it?

Now, granted, Microsoft’s business model was not built on cloud computing. Their core business model is based on desktop computing, selling operating systems and software that reside directly on the desktop.  In fact, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has stated in the past that he doesn’t think the public is ready for working in the cloud and to a certain extent he has a point. In spite of Ballmer’s rhetoric Microsoft enter the arena anyway but it seems as if it did so only half-heartedly, a move that was likely made more for the sake of keeping up with Google than actually doing anything innovative in the cloud itself.

This brings up the most important question. Is cloud computing ready for prime time and is it really safe to trust it with your data? This isn’t a new discussion at all, but after such a massive and destructive event as the Sidekick outage it does remind us how important and controversial a question it is.

For instance, many tech business owners, myself included, have been hesitant to promote or sell cloud-based solutions to our customers simply based on the uncertainty as to whether or not the cloud can be trusted.

Take back-up solutions, for instance. There are a number of companies who offer them today and there are a myriad of opportunities to partner with these companies for recurring sales revenue. However, no matter how secure the data is, anything in the cloud is potentially hackable, an inconvenient truth that, unfortunately, has already been proven time and time again.

Aside from the security aspect of placing a data backup in an environment that is just “out there”, one that is essentially virtual and could potentially be accessed by anyone, anywhere at anytime, there is the aspect of reliability as well. Anyone can claim 99.9 percent uptime, but that percentage is relative depending on the length of time against which that percentage is measured. . 1 percent of a day is not very long at all. .1 percent of a year or two is something else entirely.

What if a small business customer backed up all their data to a backup service and that service had a Sidekick event? What if that data backup was unrecoverable? The potential effects could be catastrophic, not only for the customer who lost their data but for the service provider who recommended and sold that service to their customer. Is the loss of that customer and the potential damage to the service provider’s reputation worth risking for an extra buck or two each month?

Yes, it sounds overly paranoid of course, but these are questions some service providers ask and among the reasons why some may not recommend or offer such services to their customers. While It may seem like an overreaction, it could happen and it already did happen to Sidekick users, only worse, because it wasn’t a mere data backup that was gone, it was the data itself that was destroyed.  

Considering the fact that Microsoft purchased a company called Danger and never changed the name was probably not the best move in terms of marketing or building trust in a brand. Since the outage, the name itself now carries a whole new meaning. Seriously, a huge behemoth called Microsoft owns a company called Danger which put all its user’s data in real danger by not backing up its own servers and subsequently lost it all, providing a reason for those who are not fans of cloud computing to bolster their argument that trusting your data to the cloud can be Danger-ous. Now, that’s ironic.

Incidentally, Danger initially launched the Sidekick on October 1, 2002, exactly seven years to the day of the outage.

 

 

 

 

My Laptop Terminator: Rise of the Netbooks

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Last month I headed out to Washington, D.C. for a family trip. As expected, I wanted to be able to check routes, access my e-mail and keep tabs on The Force Field web portal. Naturally I planned to bring along a laptop, however the battery wasn’t working well and I didn’t want to cart around something I had to keep plugged in everywhere to use. I was not inclined to keep tabs on another piece of luggage, either. I wanted something with mobility like a cell phone but with the ability to run multiple applications simultaneously like a laptop.

The solution was a new netbook.

I purchased an Acer Aspire One KAV60 netbook with an Atom N270 processor, 1GB of memory (upgradeable to 2GB) and a 160GB hard drive. This fit the bill perfectly. It was small and lightweight, yet allowed me to do everything I needed and then some. The best part was the price. It was below $300.

Now, granted, it didn’t include an optical drive, so I couldn’t run anything from a CD or DVD. In fact, my wife was a little skeptical of it at first because she couldn’t play DVD movies. However, with access to the Internet, we didn’t need one and it wasn’t missed. Every application I needed to install was available for download on the Internet. Anything else I needed could be loaded from a USB thumb drive or an SD card, which could be easily inserted in the multi-card slot embedded in the base of the unit. As for watching movies? Hulu and Netflix took care of that.

If I needed real computing power on the road, all I needed to do was log into my computer at home using GoToMyPC from Citrix and I could access all my serious applications and multitask from there. All I really needed was access to the Internet. With a choice of ethernet or wi-fi in the system, we were set. No worries.

It was then that I understood the full and historical implication of this: the Rise of the Netbooks was upon us.

I am not always distracted by the possible ramifications of new technologies and don’t automatically assume one will change the future of an entire industry. But it does happen, and often enough within the last twenty years to make me more watchful of anything new that comes along.

Take the Super 8 movie camera, for instance. Before the mid ’70s 8mm motion picture film was the way we recorded our family events. When video came along, it changed everything. Music was sold and distributed on vinyl records and audio tapes until the introduction of the Compact Disc. Now the CD is taking a back seat to iPods and mp3 files. Needless to say the iPod alone has had a tumultuous effect on the entire recording industry.

Since its initial introduction to the computer marketplace the laptop has been the de facto standard for computing mobility around the world. However, as given in the previous examples, every technology has its end of dominance or end of life. The laptop, as with anything else, is not immune to such obsolescence.

When I returned home from our trip with our netbook, I went up to my office and looked at my laptop, sitting on the table. It looked big, bulky and old. I’ve turned it on a few times since, mostly to download updates for applications and the operating system. Once or twice I used it to surf the Internet. Then I would turn it off, open the netbook and watch a movie online.

Now that I’ve turned the netbook over to my wife as a replacement for her old desktop, I need to buy one for me. Unless something changes, my laptop toting days are over. It’s another netbook for me.

There’s no doubt netbooks have a place in the computer market. They fill an important gap between desktops and full featured portables. In fact, for what I use a laptop these days, which is primarily for web-based work, the netbook has generally replaced it altogether. I considered purchasing a new laptop but I really don’t want to lug it around. The netbook does what I need a laptop to do on the road and I can slip it into a bag or case with my other gear easily, eliminating the need for a separate laptop bag.

As netbooks increase in popularity and performance, could they ultimately replace laptops for general use? If so, how will it effect the portable repair industry? Will it create a niche market for netbook repair or will they be so cheap that few netbook users will opt to repair them and simply toss them for new ones?

The rise of the netbook could be the beginning of a new era in the PC marketplace. The question is, will it offer new opportunities for techs or will it be the beginning of the end for the laptop repair provider? Which ever way it goes, stay alert, watch closely and be ready. The Rise of the Netbooks has begun.

Are Social Networks Effective Tools For Marketing Your Business?

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I read a thread on Technibble today on the topic of social networking sites and whether or not using them for marketing your business was actually beneficial. The responses were somewhat mixed but the general consensus was that they are. Interestingly, the individual who posted the initial query was not a fan of sites such as Facebook and had reservations about using it for business purposes. This is not an unusual position.

I have talked with a number of tech business owners who have no interest in social networking. In their view, sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter seem to be mindless diversions or a waste of valuable time. They are also somewhat intrusive. They don’t want their personal lives publicly displayed on the net for all to see or search for on Google. They don’t want to market their businesses in a fashion that to them is perceived as “unprofessional”.

I have also talked with those who wholeheartedly embraced social networking either on a personal level, a business level, or both and who invest a lot of time daily to exploit this type of public exposure to its maximum potential. They are not afraid to Twitter the day away or publish the most mundane details of their lives on Facebook with the ultimate goal of building online relationships with family, friends, associates and complete strangers for fun, profit or both.

 I certainly do not subscribe to the notion that social networking as a marketing tool is a bad thing or a waste of time. Neither do I think it is always the best or the only way to go. I do, however, think that utilized wisely, social networking on a professional level can be a very useful and effective tool in marketing your business. The key, as I view it, is the approach.

There are businesses that do quite well with sites like Facebook and Twitter. They have developed relationships with their customers on more than just a professional level. Using social networks these relationships have become both more professional and personal in a positive way. By monitoring social networking sites these companies watch and listen to customers more closely and customers enjoy a more direct and instant communication with the companies they do business with. This one-on-one relationship is in complete contrast to the typical phone IVR and web based customer service models which typically serve to insulate companies from their customers and their needs, effectively hurting customer relationships instead of nurturing them.

Of course, not every company “gets it”. There are many businesses that jump into the social network marketing model without a clue as to how to do it right and ultimately hurt their reputations instead. This is because, as with everything else, there is a right way and a wrong way to do it.

For instance, there are a few companies I followed on Twitter that seemed to treat every “tweet” as if it were an ad. Each post was a blatant shout to buy a service or product, often in repetitive, word-for-word carbon copies. There was no useful information in the posts, no links to newsworthy or interesting blogs on a mutual topic of interest, no attempt to engage me personally in any meaningful dialogue. They were all just mindless billboards with sales pitches in 140 characters or less. These are companies I did not follow long and I did not consider to do business with.

I also heard of companies who started out with a less than stellar reputation for customer relationships and turned their reputations around with social networking. These companies followed their customers, listened to the chatter on these social networking sites from those customers who had issues with the company and then contacted those customers personally to resolve those issues and make things right. These companies were actually listening to their customers and responding to their needs. They weren’t selling to their customers, they were building relationships with them – and that is what “social networking” is all about.

There are a few companies with loyal legions of fans and followers who have built their businesses and profits through social networking. Any company can do this if they follow proper social “netiquette” and utilize social networking sites for what they were designed to be – not as conduits for commercials, but as tools for personal interaction with others.

Is social networking a good and viable marketing tool for your business? That all depends on how you use it and how you want to interact with your customers. If your goal is simply to make a quick sale and move on to the next, probably not. If, on the other hand, you’re in business for the long haul and your goal is to develop long-term, meaningful and profitable relationships and develop a loyal customer base with word-of-mouth referrals (the best kind of advertising in any book), then social networking sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter are free and powerful tools that can help you achieve that objective.

Tips for building your business in a stressed economy (and why you should follow them)

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I just started to clean my office a few minutes ago and began sorting through a stack of trade magazines when I ran across an issue of ChannelPro from May 2009. I stopped to parse through it and found an article that compelled me to stop and write this blog post.

This is one reason why I seldom clean my office. I get caught up in something I find during the process and go off on a tangent that goes into a completely different project. needless to say I never seem to finish the office.

The article that caught my attention was one written by guest columnist Randall Cochran called “5 Tips For Building Your Business in a Tough Economy “. It wasn’t an unusual title; the general topic  of building businesses under current economic conditions is a common one these days. Everyone seems to have tips, tricks and views on what it takes to start and manage a business under a stressed economy and such an article could easily be lost among many others.

But the first couple of tips caught my attention. Then I skimmed the other three. Then I read the article. It got me started.

The reason it compelled me to stop and blog about it was because it was exactly what we were discussing in FF Episode 35 . Exactly. Point by point, each item pointed out the same principles and advice we covered in episodes 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 34 and 35 of The Force Field podcast.

I wish I could reproduce the entire article here, but I can’t. However, I will paraphrase the 5 tips. You can read the entire article at your discretion.

The five basic tips are as follows:

  1. Educate yourself.
  2. Partner with your peers and other providers.
  3. Utilize vendor tools and resources.
  4. Find vendor programs that fit your business model
  5. develop relationships with your vendors

Now, I understand that the concept of working “in the channel” is a new and alien concept to many of you. There are those who think they are too small and won’t profit from it. There are others who think they are too big and successful already to need it. Either way a lot of providers, from field service professionals, computer shops and small VARs to large system integrators, vertical system resellers and MSPs can all service themselves and their customers by utilizing resources provided by the vendors and manufacturers of the products and services they support and sell.

I have discussions with other providers who are always looking for new ways to market their businesses and find more customers. They are always talking about the tough competition and they are always looking for a competitive ‘edge’. Well, here it is.

A large percentage of providers do not use vendor programs. This means that the minority of those who do already have a competitive edge over their counterparts. Why aren’t these programs utilized more?

Why do the majority of providers dismiss these resources? I could understand it if these tools were outside the reach of these business owners, but they are not. In fact, here are reasons of my own to argue why you should use these resources.

  1. They are free. FREE. They don’t cost you money to join. You can’t beat free.
  2. They don’t require a large investment of time. You use what you need as you need them.
  3. Co-branding opportunities abound. You are associated with your vendor.
  4. They add credibility to your company. You have a relationship with your vendor.
  5. You can better service your customers. You have a higher level of service and support.

Did I mention these vendor partnerships and programs are free? Even if you only purchase the actual products from retailers on the Internet, there are still many advantages to joining these programs from a training and marketing perspective.

You don’t have to take my word for it. Join NASBA . It’s free. Subscribe to ChannelPro . it’s free too. Both of these resources will give you a better perspective of the industry, your competitors and your own business, even if you don’t participate in any programs.

If you want to compete, you need to know what is out there, what your competitors are using and who you can collaborate with to better manage your business, especially in these economic times.

Reviews of service platforms

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I don’t normally write reviews of vendors, contractors and other resources listed in the IT Business Resource Directory for several reasons.  First, the site itself is vendor neutral. That is, The Force Field as a portal does not endorse any specific resource. Second, as a portal, I wanted let the members do it themselve, leaving the praise, criticism or judgement of any specific company or organization to those who work with them directly. Third, it’s a lot of work and I just don’t have time to do it.

While The Force Field remains neutral, I, as a member, also have my own voice independent of the portal. Therefore I can post my own opinions and experiences in my own articles under my own blog or as one of the contributing writers in a review or editorial.

End disclaimer.

There are numerous service venues and platforms popping up on the web. Some are good, some marginal, some questionable and a few are outright scams. Many of our members have dealt with a number of each over the years and have the scars to prove it. As more of these services and companies appear, it is more important than ever to differentiate between the good, the bad and the ugly to protect ourselves, our customers and our businesses.

Therefore, from time to time I will post reviews on these various “platforms” in order to enlighten and protect IT service professionals from mistakes that could cost them more than just money.

Today I will review Service Magic.

About the OnForce OSMI article on the front page of The Force Field

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I know that there will be a few OnForce providers who will raise their eyebrows over the publishing of the press release for the latest OnForce Market Services Index on the front page of the site today, especially in light of recent events. Yes, it is an OnForce-written press release and, yes, I did somewhat unofficially recuse myself from promoting OnForce. That was not the intention of the post.

While the OSMI is primarily aimed at potential Buyers and not Providers, it does contain a lot of information and statistics about the state of the industry that can benefit IT companies on both sides. It is a good use of their resources and, of course, it’s free.

I generally post the OSMI reports specifically for our own edification regarding industry trends, because, whether we like to admit it or not, OnForce, as do all of us collectively, do help shape and influence the overall marketplace.

The reason I posted this particular Q1 2009 report was primarily to use it as an additional source to compare it to our own data gathered from the four part series of The Force Field podcast we recently concluded on The State of The IT Industry.

The results of the OSMI closely mirror and quantify the data and upbeat outlook from all the guests on the shows. This certainly encouraging.

There is another important reason to check out the OSMI. If you look at trends withing specific areas of the industry that are listed, you will notice a few that seem to be poised for further growth. As you may recall, one of the reoccurring themes of the shows in the series was that of finding such areas in which to diversify in order to survive when times were slow in the areas you service.

If you study the OSMI you may find additional areas to move into that are still largely untapped or are potentially profitable and in which you can expand your businesses.

I know this seems somewhat hypocritical to post press releases for the company but I assure you that it is not my intention to actively promote the company. It is simply to take advantage of something they have that we can use to promote our own businesses. The OSMI is is a marketing piece for them and I understand that. It does, however have some statistical data that can prove to be of value to us all and I, for one, would like to make the most of it while we can.

Study says adoption of Windows 7 will be slow

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If you think Windows 7 will finally lure users away from XP and redeem Microsoft for Windows Vista, think again, says a new study.

The study, released this week by Kase Networks, reports that 84% of respondents have no plans to upgrade to Windows 7 in the next year. The new operating system is due out by the end of 2009, however the study says a majority of companies will be slow to adopt or migrate to it, choosing to either move to Macs or Linux or stick with Windows XP. Of those who do plan to move to Windows 7, more than half said they were going to do so “specifically to avoid Window Vista”.

The study polled 1,142 IT professionals and found that while some respondents were receptive to the new operating system, many were reluctant migrate over to it immediately for several reasons. 88% of those who were reluctant listed software compatibility as their primary concern. 42% said economic conditions were also a factor.

The study also indicated that while many still plan to stick with XP for awhile, users were aware that there were other options available and many were considering a move to non-Mircosoft operating systems. Although 99% of respondents were using Microsoft operating systems, 50% considered adopting Apple or Linux based operating systems instead, a 7 percent jump from another study conducted in 2008.

What does this mean for Microsoft? Windows is its mainstay. About 40% of its revenue comes from Windows licensing. After losing a three year battle to sell the masses and the enterprise on Vista, Window 7 could make or break their business in the OS marketplace.

As limited in scope as this study may be, it is indicative of a mindset and a stigma among users about a post-XP Windows world. Windows XP is still popular, but it is nearing its end-of-life and, while still spry, it is showing its age. Eventually it will be time to upgrade to something.  Windows 7 needs to be a hit or Microsoft will have nothing for XP users to upgrade to and they  will inevitably migrate to something else.

The study is available at http://www.kace.com/pdf/analyst-report/Windows-7-Adoption-Survey.pdf

Barrister to bill service providers $100 for tardiness – techs are ticked

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Barrister is frustrating service providers again and this time they are really ticked.

Barrister Global Service Network, which claims to be “the oldest and largest woman-owned computer service company in the United States”, is a national contractor based in Louisiana. The company was founded 1972 and advertises a network of 15,000 techs on the roster who are independent contractors. The company is well established and is well known among field service technicians and IT consultants as a source of contract work.

Barrister had a good reputation with field service technicians at one time, however within the last few years many service providers have complained about poor communication and slow or non-payment for services rendered.

The payment issues were initially blamed on Hurricane Katrina, which wreaked havoc on the entire state in which Barrister is based and all but put the company out of business. However, three years later the company is back in business and seems to be a different company with a different attitude, according to some service providers.

A few weeks ago Barrister surprised 15,000 techs on their network when they sent an e-mail outlining an new Quality Initiative Program.

The following is the content of the e-mail:

“Dear Technician,

Effective Monday, February 16, 2009, we are going to be launching our Quality Initiative Program.  This initiative will reward those technicians that show up on time for their ETA, perform quality work, provide updates and closing information from onsite, etc by sending them more work. 

With the Quality Initiative program we will begin to penalize those technicians that do not show up on time for their ETA, do not perform quality work, do not provide updates and closing information from onsite, or who turn back calls after accepting them.

Effective Monday, February 16, 2009 any technician who is late for an ETA without notifying Barrister, or who doesn’t show up for an ETA will be charged a $100.00 penalty.

As you may know, our competitors offer 100% money back guarantee to their customers in regard to the quality of the technician and the work performed. With today’s economy, we have to be more customer focused and more quality driven then ever before.  

This initiative will ensure our field technician’s representing us are focused on quality as well, and the technician’s that have poor performance will have financial ramifications. “

Some techs are fed up. Many have stopped accepting calls from the company altogether.

The response to the e-mail in tech forums was overwhelmingly negative. Although a few posted positive or neutral comments about their relationship with Barrister, most of them considered the new initiative an attempt by Barrister to circumvent or avoid payment for contract work altogether. This was understandable, since some of them were still waiting for payment for jobs performed months earlier and at least one had been stiffed completely.

I received an e-mail from tbird635 that summed it all up. 

He said: “I got that email too. What really stuck out in my mind were the words ‘This initiative will reward those technicians that show up on time for their ETA, perform quality work, provide updates and closing information from onsite, etc by sending them more work.’ And just where will this additional work come from? I see maybe one a week now.”

He then pointed out another line in the Barrister e-mail that he found ironic.

“And this gem….
‘This initiative will ensure our field technician’s representing us are focused on quality as well, and the technician’s that have poor performance will have financial ramifications.’  Focused on quality??? More like focused on their watches.”

“If I were running late, and knew I was going to get nailed for that $100, I’d turn around and go home and return the favor by giving them an unfinished (and unbillable) job. as well as a P-o’ed customer (who may then seek an alternative to them). 
I think I’ve done my last Barrister job.”

Barrister is listed in The Force Field National Contractor directory under Barrister Global Services Network, Inc..  Members of The Force Field who have performed work for Barrister can rate the company and leave comments in the listing.

I called Barrister today to get their side of the story. After explaining to the operator who I was and what I was calling about, I was placed on hold for 10 minutes until someone audibly hung up the phone.

Vista downgrade to XP lawsuit draws ire – from both sides

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Today I read an article on Computerworld about a woman  who filed a lawsuit against Microsoft after she was charged $59.95 to downgrade her brand new laptop from Windows Vista to Windows XP. She alleges that by billing her for exercising her downgrade rights, Microsoft is engaging in monopolistic and anti-competitive practices.

Many readers sided with the user. A few sided with Microsoft. Both sides had interesting arguments but there was one response that got my dander up. One anonymous user said this:

“Microsoft charging to downgrade? A sensible solution considering Microsoft probably should have stopped selling XP entirely a year or two ago. They’re giving people the option to downgrade.”

“Giving” them an option to upgrade? They were at one time. Microsoft isn’t “giving” an option now. They are selling it to them.

The anonymous user continued. “What if this same lady went to ‘downgrade’ and instead of being told ‘Give me 60 bucks’ she was told ‘No.’ ? What then?”

What then? Good question. The answer – then she is stuck. She would either be forced to use Vista – or nothing – if she wanted to use Windows. That’s how you treat a customer? Force them into an upgrade they don’t want or go elsewhere? If so, that’s a company that would never keep my business.

Forced upgrades from a vendor is an unfair and potentially monopolistic practice. How would you take it if the only telephone company was Bell and every time they upgraded their service you had to purchase a new $200 phone from Bell Telephone or you couldn’t use the service? You have a phone that you are perfectly happy with but you can no longer use it. You couldn’t use any other phone service. It was Bell Telephone or nothing.

What, you say? who is Bell Telephone? Why, that was the monopoly that was broken up a few decades ago for just that sort of thing.

Windows may belong to Microsoft, but your computer belongs to you. So does your data. If you must use Microsoft products to access your data, then you should have unfettered access to it. To force a user to upgrade in order to access what is rightfully theirs or they are locked out of it is nothing short of ransomware.
Windows and Office may not be ransomware per se, but what Microsoft is doing is questionable. Forced upgrades may or may not be unethical, but charging users for downgrades is sleazy.

Gates releases the bugs for real – philanthropy or crime?

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Bill Gates released a bunch of bugs to the public yesterday, literally. During a presentation at the TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) Conference  in Long Beach, California February 5, Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates opened a jar of mosquitos and let them loose on an unsuspecting audience of elitist rich and famous Hollywood types to demonstrate the need for a cure for malaria.

Apparently Bill and wife Melinda Gates pledged $168 million to the research and eradication of the illness, which is primarily spread through contact with mosquitoes in third world countries. He was giving a presentation at TED to raise awareness of the disease.  “not only poor people should experience this”, Gates said, just before opening the jar.

After sufficient reaction to the stunt Gates assured the audience that the mosquitos were not actually infected with malaria. However, while the audience understood the symbolism of the exercise, it wasn’t necessarily well received. eBay founder Pierre Olmydar tweeted out “That’s it, I’m not sitting up front anymore.”

Now, I’ll admit that the idea of gathering a bunch of rich elites in a room and making them sweat a little is probably on the minds of a lot of the rest of the country, but this just isn’t right. It’s a little weird, even for Gates. However, that isn’t what bothers me.

What bother me is that he could get away with such a stupid stunt, and it is stupid. Aside from the sensationalism it draws from the media and obvious jokes about Bill Gates and buggy products, there’s a real issue about a lack of accountability for the actions of someone who happens to be one of the most well-known and wealthiest individuals in the world.

Forget the claim for a moment that these mosquitos are malaria-free. Are they free of other communicable diseases as well? That little fact is yet to be corroborated. Even if they are, who wants to be bitten by a mosquito anyway?

The mere possibility of such an assault by blood-sucking flying insects in an enclosed room full of human beings initiated by a deliberate action on the part of another is, in my book, nothing short of a crime. Sure, the insects may not be infected and they may not even bite anyone, but there is always a risk someone will be bitten. They were deliberately released into a captive crowd with little or no notice. I consider that assault with a potentially deadly weapon, even if that weapon wasn’t loaded.

This is the equivalent of someone holding up a convenience store with a toy gun. It may not be a real weapon, but it doesn’t matter. It’s still robbery and it is still a crime. If a lunatic attacked someone with a needle and said they had AIDS, they’d be charged with attempted murder, even if they were bluffing. It’s not the act that is the crime in these cases, it’s the intent.

If someone off the street pulled the stunt Gates apparently got away with, they would surely be arrested and charged with such a crime. Why not Gates? Is it because he gives away money and is called a philanthropist? Hey, I used to give to the United Way. Why should I get a parking ticket?

There is a lot of talk about this mosquito stunt on the net. There are jokes and snide remarks and even a few who are “enlightened” by the symbolism of the act. Not from me. I am angry because someone did something that was clearly  out of line and he got away with it when others would be punished. Why? Because he is Bill Gates.

Standards only apply to those who follow them. – Rick