Comments on: The Blue Span of Death: Microsoft’s Gov’t Funded Bridge to Microsoft http://www.redstate.com/erick/2009/03/31/the-blue-span-of-death-microsofts-govt-funded-bridge-to-microsoft/ Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:47:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Kyle-MI http://www.redstate.com/erick/2009/03/31/the-blue-span-of-death-microsofts-govt-funded-bridge-to-microsoft/comment-page-1/#comment-20891 Kyle-MI Wed, 01 Apr 2009 05:27:35 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/erick/?p=1750#comment-20891 From the article: "And even though the bridge goes from a parking lot behind Microsoft's West campus across a highway to an entrance of Microsoft's East campus, Marchione says, people other than Microsoft employees would use the overpass." How much is Microsoft going to like people driving through their parking lot? From the article:
“And even though the bridge goes from a parking lot behind Microsoft’s West campus across a highway to an entrance of Microsoft’s East campus, Marchione says, people other than Microsoft employees would use the overpass.”

How much is Microsoft going to like people driving through their parking lot?

]]> By: Fred Maidment http://www.redstate.com/erick/2009/03/31/the-blue-span-of-death-microsofts-govt-funded-bridge-to-microsoft/comment-page-1/#comment-20847 Fred Maidment Tue, 31 Mar 2009 23:23:23 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/erick/?p=1750#comment-20847 I'm not saying that private business couldn't do it better and cheaper, but as they are a shared resource that is virtually impossible to fairly charge on the basis of use, we've given the responsibility to government. If the bridge was a necessary bridge to ease traffic flow, then it was a reasonable thing to build. That Microsoft has covered almost $18 million is unusual. The $11 million increase in cost just to connect Microsoft campuses, <i>plus</i> the Federal support of such a poor decision, is what I see as wrong, not the bridge itself... I’m not saying that private business couldn’t do it better and cheaper, but as they are a shared resource that is virtually impossible to fairly charge on the basis of use, we’ve given the responsibility to government.

If the bridge was a necessary bridge to ease traffic flow, then it was a reasonable thing to build. That Microsoft has covered almost $18 million is unusual.

The $11 million increase in cost just to connect Microsoft campuses, plus the Federal support of such a poor decision, is what I see as wrong, not the bridge itself…

]]> By: macbigot http://www.redstate.com/erick/2009/03/31/the-blue-span-of-death-microsofts-govt-funded-bridge-to-microsoft/comment-page-1/#comment-20787 macbigot Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:59:28 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/erick/?p=1750#comment-20787 I mean, really, if the tax payers are footing the bill for this bridge, we want to make sure that no one in their employ has more wealth than everyone else... If there are any Microsoft employees making more than $500K, they need to redistribute it right back to rest of American taxpayers, now that 'we' have 'bought' part of this 'ailing company'. That's just our government selling (I mean 'being'...) Fairness. I mean, really, if the tax payers are footing the bill for this bridge, we want to make sure that no one in their employ has more wealth than everyone else…

If there are any Microsoft employees making more than $500K, they need to redistribute it right back to rest of American taxpayers, now that ‘we’ have ‘bought’ part of this ‘ailing company’.

That’s just our government selling (I mean ‘being’…) Fairness.

]]> By: baserunr http://www.redstate.com/erick/2009/03/31/the-blue-span-of-death-microsofts-govt-funded-bridge-to-microsoft/comment-page-1/#comment-20784 baserunr Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:23:39 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/erick/?p=1750#comment-20784 in its own right. If the cost/benefit analysis says the bridge is a good idea, they should fund it themselves. As a long-time MS shareholder, and a longer-time resident of these United States, Microsoft should itself build whatever bridge makes the most sense, or no bridge at all. But no part of it should be paid for by taxpayers. in its own right. If the cost/benefit analysis says the bridge is a good idea, they should fund it themselves. As a long-time MS shareholder, and a longer-time resident of these United States, Microsoft should itself build whatever bridge makes the most sense, or no bridge at all. But no part of it should be paid for by taxpayers.

]]> By: Neil Stevens http://www.redstate.com/erick/2009/03/31/the-blue-span-of-death-microsofts-govt-funded-bridge-to-microsoft/comment-page-1/#comment-20780 Neil Stevens Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:51:00 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/erick/?p=1750#comment-20780 "I didn't get rich writing checks!" – Bill Gates “I didn’t get rich writing checks!” – Bill Gates

]]> By: nricciar http://www.redstate.com/erick/2009/03/31/the-blue-span-of-death-microsofts-govt-funded-bridge-to-microsoft/comment-page-1/#comment-20779 nricciar Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:40:54 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/erick/?p=1750#comment-20779 you don't become successful by spending $11 million on a bridge, you become successful by convincing someone else to spend $11 million on a bridge. :) Oh and congrats on the using the one true OS :) Happy Linux user myself. you don’t become successful by spending $11 million on a bridge, you become successful by convincing someone else to spend $11 million on a bridge. :)

Oh and congrats on the using the one true OS :) Happy Linux user myself.

]]> By: nohone2 http://www.redstate.com/erick/2009/03/31/the-blue-span-of-death-microsofts-govt-funded-bridge-to-microsoft/comment-page-1/#comment-20776 nohone2 Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:23:36 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/erick/?p=1750#comment-20776 and using that perception, even though it may not be true is OK? Is that no different than the MSM, who create a perception then exploit it to move people to their own agenda? Ironically, I am listening to Rush right now talk about individualism vs. following the crowd. and using that perception, even though it may not be true is OK? Is that no different than the MSM, who create a perception then exploit it to move people to their own agenda?

Ironically, I am listening to Rush right now talk about individualism vs. following the crowd.

]]> By: nohone2 http://www.redstate.com/erick/2009/03/31/the-blue-span-of-death-microsofts-govt-funded-bridge-to-microsoft/comment-page-1/#comment-20777 nohone2 Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:23:36 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/erick/?p=1750#comment-20777 and using that perception, even though it may not be true is OK? Is that no different than the MSM, who create a perception then exploit it to move people to their own agenda? Ironically, I am listening to Rush right now talk about individualism vs. following the crowd. and using that perception, even though it may not be true is OK? Is that no different than the MSM, who create a perception then exploit it to move people to their own agenda?

Ironically, I am listening to Rush right now talk about individualism vs. following the crowd.

]]> By: Brian Johnson http://www.redstate.com/erick/2009/03/31/the-blue-span-of-death-microsofts-govt-funded-bridge-to-microsoft/comment-page-1/#comment-20775 Brian Johnson Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:07:18 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/erick/?p=1750#comment-20775 But, that's neither here nor there :) I have to agree that I find Microsoft needing $11M from the government unnecessary and wonder why a company as successful as they are would decide to take that money. However, what I'm interested to know is, when are the mobs with their pitchforks and torches going to decide that the top earners at MS don't deserve their pay now that they've shaken hands with the devil. Wonder when our "we know better how to run your lives than you do" government will let Microsoft know how to run their business. I don't like Microsoft, but I don't think they deserve what's going to happen when the devil comes for his dues. Brian But, that’s neither here nor there :)

I have to agree that I find Microsoft needing $11M from the government unnecessary and wonder why a company as successful as they are would decide to take that money.

However, what I’m interested to know is, when are the mobs with their pitchforks and torches going to decide that the top earners at MS don’t deserve their pay now that they’ve shaken hands with the devil. Wonder when our “we know better how to run your lives than you do” government will let Microsoft know how to run their business.

I don’t like Microsoft, but I don’t think they deserve what’s going to happen when the devil comes for his dues.

Brian

]]> By: Neil Stevens http://www.redstate.com/erick/2009/03/31/the-blue-span-of-death-microsofts-govt-funded-bridge-to-microsoft/comment-page-1/#comment-20772 Neil Stevens Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:29:54 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/erick/?p=1750#comment-20772 I thought that's what we were talking about. Perceptions. I thought that’s what we were talking about. Perceptions.

]]> By: zuiko http://www.redstate.com/erick/2009/03/31/the-blue-span-of-death-microsofts-govt-funded-bridge-to-microsoft/comment-page-1/#comment-20771 zuiko Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:26:47 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/erick/?p=1750#comment-20771 Just because your marketing is better doesn't mean your product is any better, whether that product is Obama or the Mac. The marketing is what public perception is based on (in both cases)... not the reality of the situation. Just because your marketing is better doesn’t mean your product is any better, whether that product is Obama or the Mac. The marketing is what public perception is based on (in both cases)… not the reality of the situation.

]]> By: zuiko http://www.redstate.com/erick/2009/03/31/the-blue-span-of-death-microsofts-govt-funded-bridge-to-microsoft/comment-page-1/#comment-20769 zuiko Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:12:42 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/erick/?p=1750#comment-20769 A whole lot of people were still running Windows 3.11 long after Windows 95 came along. There are still plenty of servers out there running NT4. This is not new to Vista. Vista is fine. XP is fine. A whole lot of people were still running Windows 3.11 long after Windows 95 came along. There are still plenty of servers out there running NT4. This is not new to Vista. Vista is fine. XP is fine.

]]> By: Neil Stevens http://www.redstate.com/erick/2009/03/31/the-blue-span-of-death-microsofts-govt-funded-bridge-to-microsoft/comment-page-1/#comment-20768 Neil Stevens Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:11:08 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/erick/?p=1750#comment-20768 You're comparing apples and oranges (heh). I actually didn't say in my comment that Windows was bad *because* Vista flopped relative to XP. I'm just noting that the public eye it already *is* discredited. And it seems to me that the boys in Redmond would agree. One word: Mojave. I'd never argue that Microsoft isn't a *business* success. Far from it. MS pioneered the software-as-product business model and has done incredibly well at it. No argument there. And I never called Mac OS a heavenly panacea. I just think that for many uses, it's a lot better. The tradeoffs are a net gain. You’re comparing apples and oranges (heh). I actually didn’t say in my comment that Windows was bad *because* Vista flopped relative to XP. I’m just noting that the public eye it already *is* discredited. And it seems to me that the boys in Redmond would agree. One word: Mojave.

I’d never argue that Microsoft isn’t a *business* success. Far from it. MS pioneered the software-as-product business model and has done incredibly well at it. No argument there.

And I never called Mac OS a heavenly panacea. I just think that for many uses, it’s a lot better. The tradeoffs are a net gain.

]]> By: manstreammedia http://www.redstate.com/erick/2009/03/31/the-blue-span-of-death-microsofts-govt-funded-bridge-to-microsoft/comment-page-1/#comment-20767 manstreammedia Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:10:30 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/erick/?p=1750#comment-20767 It really would have been nice if you folks had delayed vista about 2 years. It works fine, now. It really would have been nice if you folks had delayed vista about 2 years. It works fine, now.

]]> By: nohone2 http://www.redstate.com/erick/2009/03/31/the-blue-span-of-death-microsofts-govt-funded-bridge-to-microsoft/comment-page-1/#comment-20766 nohone2 Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:04:52 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/erick/?p=1750#comment-20766 if Vista is a failure, and so far this year that Vista's marketshare grew while OSX marketshare shrank (http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/41581/113/), then the market has spoken and OSX is worse than Vista? I have a Mac mini to do software development for my iPhone (have been thinking about contacting you to write an official RedState iPhone app). So as somebody who uses both OSes, this "Vista is a crashing pile while Macs are a heavenly panacea" bit is a tired routine. if Vista is a failure, and so far this year that Vista’s marketshare grew while OSX marketshare shrank (http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/41581/113/), then the market has spoken and OSX is worse than Vista?

I have a Mac mini to do software development for my iPhone (have been thinking about contacting you to write an official RedState iPhone app). So as somebody who uses both OSes, this “Vista is a crashing pile while Macs are a heavenly panacea” bit is a tired routine.

]]> By: Neil Stevens http://www.redstate.com/erick/2009/03/31/the-blue-span-of-death-microsofts-govt-funded-bridge-to-microsoft/comment-page-1/#comment-20765 Neil Stevens Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:43:01 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/erick/?p=1750#comment-20765 Microsoft's customers did by not buying it, and by kicking up such a stink that XP's lifespan was extended. And while you're free to bash Macs... I'll debate you anytime on which is better for which purposes. :-) Microsoft’s customers did by not buying it, and by kicking up such a stink that XP’s lifespan was extended.

And while you’re free to bash Macs… I’ll debate you anytime on which is better for which purposes. :-)

]]> By: nohone2 http://www.redstate.com/erick/2009/03/31/the-blue-span-of-death-microsofts-govt-funded-bridge-to-microsoft/comment-page-1/#comment-20763 nohone2 Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:41:04 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/erick/?p=1750#comment-20763 As a loyal RedState reader, a MS employee, and somebody who is not entirely happy about this bridge, I find the last line completely unnecessary. We complain around here about this Presidential administration trying to ruin business, but now we have RedState trying to discredit the product of an American company? Can I start complaining about Mac and iPhone, products which I use at home along side Vista? As a loyal RedState reader, a MS employee, and somebody who is not entirely happy about this bridge, I find the last line completely unnecessary. We complain around here about this Presidential administration trying to ruin business, but now we have RedState trying to discredit the product of an American company? Can I start complaining about Mac and iPhone, products which I use at home along side Vista?

]]> By: zuiko http://www.redstate.com/erick/2009/03/31/the-blue-span-of-death-microsofts-govt-funded-bridge-to-microsoft/comment-page-1/#comment-20760 zuiko Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:55:26 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/erick/?p=1750#comment-20760 Than putting in a 12 miles of light rail track that does absolutely nothing for traffic at a cost of about a billion dollars (plus the ongoing losses from operations). Than putting in a 12 miles of light rail track that does absolutely nothing for traffic at a cost of about a billion dollars (plus the ongoing losses from operations).

]]> By: Achance http://www.redstate.com/erick/2009/03/31/the-blue-span-of-death-microsofts-govt-funded-bridge-to-microsoft/comment-page-1/#comment-20759 Achance Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:39:52 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/erick/?p=1750#comment-20759 It didn't increase the federal transportation budget by one dime that year and actually connected a real town to a real airport, it's only link to the World that moved more than 20 mph. It had people all over America, including quite a few here, calling for the recall of the Congressman who backed it, supporting his opponent in a primary, and pronouncing the places it connected to be "nowhere." Yeah, I remember that. Where's the outrage? Or is Renton, WA somewhere? It didn’t increase the federal transportation budget by one dime that year and actually connected a real town to a real airport, it’s only link to the World that moved more than 20 mph.

It had people all over America, including quite a few here, calling for the recall of the Congressman who backed it, supporting his opponent in a primary, and pronouncing the places it connected to be “nowhere.” Yeah, I remember that. Where’s the outrage? Or is Renton, WA somewhere?

]]>