Microsoft Bedeviled by Chatbot with a Plaid Dress On

Today, during lunch at Muze, my iPhone started to vibrate. I checked out the number calling me – it was Morton, who regular readers of this Web log will remember as an inveterate, peripatetic minion of Big Software. We go back a long way, and he’s a friend, of sorts. Tom: Holy smokes, Morton, where… Continue reading Microsoft Bedeviled by Chatbot with a Plaid Dress On

Secret Service Seeks Sarcasm Sensitive Software

When my sister-in-law Katje gets a bug in her ear concerning a certain subject, she’s pretty much implacable. So when she called me on Wednesday to make arrangements for dinner at my place in Great Falls, Virginia Saturday night, and insisted on doing all the necessary shopping and making everything herself so my brother Rob… Continue reading Secret Service Seeks Sarcasm Sensitive Software

The Internet Gets Pwned by NSA

Syria had everyone who is anyone in Washington – and their assistants – which includes me and Gretchen, of course, inside working today.  That’s a real shame because the weather was absolutely gorgeous outdoors and all I could do was look through the picture window at it as the sun shined down through a seventy-five… Continue reading The Internet Gets Pwned by NSA

Patriots and Phone Taps and PRISM, Oh My!

At a two fifty-five on Friday afternoon, as I concluded a lengthy consultation with a Slovenian economist on ways to avoid his country becoming the next Cyprus, Gretchen rang my extension. “Mr. Collins,” she primly stated, “your brother-in-law Hank and his sister-in-law, Shannon, have arrived and wish to meet with you at your earliest opportunity.”… Continue reading Patriots and Phone Taps and PRISM, Oh My!

Obama Finds His Voice on National Security Leaks

Last weekend, a Russian hacker cracked six and a half million Linkedin user passwords.  Monday, he posted them on the Internet.  Wednesday, Linkedin came out and admitted what had happened.  Thursday, all hell broke loose.  Friday afternoon, I had an appointment for a policy consultation with a Linkedin representative.  I had Gretchen reschedule her, however,… Continue reading Obama Finds His Voice on National Security Leaks