Google from Microsoft

[Melbosa]

Saw this today and thought it was well drawn:

[Mr. Analog]

Hah, speaking of Google, it's their birthday.

I wonder if MS sent them a cake again?

I know Apple probably sent them a poison cake... (with rounded edges)

[Thorin]

Is Google allowed to let that rounded-edge cake onto their campus?  Aren't they worried Apple will try to sue them?

[Tom]

Heh. Maybe MS should have sent them an Edgeless safety cake.

[Mr. Analog]

That's only if they bake a cake with rounded edges

[Tom]

That's only if they bake a cake with rounded edges

Thats why the edgeless safety cake! No edges, no problem!

[Mr. Analog]

That's only if they bake a cake with rounded edges

Thats why the edgeless safety cake! No edges, no problem!

But can you dance

can you dance

everyone look at your pants?

[Thorin]

I googled "edgeless microsoft" and learned that the Bing and Hotmail data center burned extra electricity just to avoid a fine for under-consumption (the fine was higher than the cost of the electricity they burned): http://carpet-edgeless.blogspot.ca/2012/09/microsoft-deliberately-wasted-energy-at.html

Seriously, a fine for under-consumption of electricity?  I think Obama needs to step in and tell this electric utility what retards they are; after all, he felt he should step in and tell the NFL and their refs to sort things out, so why not get down to the brass tacks with the electric utilities?  They're busy ruining his plans for a greener, cleaner America.

[Mr. Analog]

Well, it's just as retarded as buying carbon credits and I don't see that changing any time soon.

[Thorin]

The carbon credits are at least an intention to offset pollution, though (for instance, getting carbon credits for paying to have a large swath of land re-treed).  Fining a company for not using enough pollution-causing energy so that they'll use more of it, that's just not caring about what happens to the environment at all.

I'm not an environmentalist and I'm at least skeptical of some of the climate change claims, but let me put it this way: if we go to Chicken For Lunch and you don't finish your regular-sized clamshell of delicious, delicious goodness, should you be forced to give Amy another three dollars?

[Mr. Analog]

I don't think that example jives because Chicken for Lunch is a product not a service

It's not like they buy boxes of energon from the power company and just put it in crates or something.

[Thorin]

Okay, imagine going on vacation and turning off all your computers and TVs and lights at home, then coming back to an electric bill that's $100 more than normal because you didn't have your TV and computers and lights on?  Wouldn't you expect it to be lower instead of higher?

[Mr. Analog]

Right but if I told the provider I needed that service while I was away and they allocate people and resources and I didn't use it I'd still be charged right

I'm not saying it's right, I think Microsoft's response highlights the lunacy.