I once noted at an Exchange demonstration (put on by a professional Microsoft Evangelist) that not all of the new features in Exchange were supported in the new version of Outlook, which seemed odd. He confessed that the two teams are not allowed to talk to each other during initial development because of NDAs. The two divisions of the company are kept in the dark from each other, even though the two products are designed to work together.

I think many large companies suffer from their size.

Ender is the protagonist of the series. So he is the one that needs to demonstrate tolerance. It isn't about the world tolerating him.

But for what it is worth, people initially see him as a hero for saving the Earth. Then after he writes a book on tolerance (The Hive Queen), society rails against his actions as a Xenocide, but loves the author of the book on tolerance. They also worship him for writing Speaker of the Dead, not realizing that he is the same person.

Again, there is a lesson on tolerance and acceptance there.

Locke and Demontheses are shock jocks in a sense. Kids create these puppets and have them say outrageous things to stir up populist movements and gain political power. Orson Scott Card basically predicted the internet, blogs and our current media.

As a kid, Ender's older brother is a bully and loves torturing animals just because, which is why the military program rejects him. Great leaders aren't sadists. They need empathy so their troops will want to support them.

In the Fantasy Game, Ender keeps dying to the Giant in his version of the Kobyashu Maru, and eventually kills the Giant by thinking outside the box. In a video game, he doesn't mind killing because it isn't real, and it sure beats dying.

Ender is tricking into killing an alien species because he thinks he is playing a game BUT the most important part is the end (and the entire rest of the series) in which Ender discovers the truth. He also discovers there is one alien left alive, who doesn't hate him. And Ender vows to find a safe planet for the last Hive Queen to right his wrong. The Buggers are perceived to be evil and abhorrent, when in reality they aren't if you get to know them. Ender writes a book called The Hive Queen in defense of his former enemy.

Jane, the first AI in the universe comes out to Ender because she knows he is tolerant and will accept her.

He also writes a book called Speaker of the Dead in which he says we must speak truthfully in all things about a life to really know someone.

When Humans then encounter their next alien species, Ender works to prevent another Xenocide and preaches tolerance.

The book doesn't advocate genocide/xenocide. It isn't about training kids to that end. It is a cautionary tale of how prejudice can lead to horrible mistakes, about empathy and tolerance. You either never read the book, or you have terrible reading comprehension.

I wouldn't boycott the movie because I disagree with the artist's personal views, or I'd have to boycott a lot of art.

I'd boycott the movie because I love the book, and the movie will likely piss me off. Spoilers below:

The movie apparently doesn't have Ender killing Bonzo because they didn't want to show youth violence or bullying. There is no fantasy game. The "kids" are much older and practically adults. Locke and Demontheses are completely cut out of the story.

The odd thing is that the point of Ender's Game is tolerance. The same man who wrote in essays that homosexuality itself should be criminalized and gays thrown in jail wrote this fantastic book that teaches tolerance.

The Apple TV doesn't come with a controller and play games.

Given that a smartphone can run GTA, then it is at least on par with an XBox. And it is closer to the 360 in power than the original XBox.

1. Your cell phone doesn't have a 360-like controller.
2. Your cell phone likely won't play games on your TV.
3. Every game on the OUYA can be tried for free. You don't have to put a credit card in to start downloading apps from the store.
4. Your cell phone can't be a dedicated media center.
5. Mother-fucking-Towerfall http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Es-okjDMAbI

Consider that many people consider $99 media center appliances to be a good bargain. Now consider a device at the same price that includes a gaming controller and plays games. That somehow makes it less viable?

Google gets warrants to hand over data, just like everyone else. There are some differences however in how Google handles government requests.

1. Google tries to be very transparent about what requests they get from the government, and how much they are forced to hand over.
http://www.google.com/transparencyreport/removals/government/

2. When George W. Bush asked for search data tied to IP addresses, all the major search provides just handed it over without a warrant and Google refused. Google's response was to go one step further and alter their policies to anonymize their logs even sooner to help protect their users.

3. Google has even considered moving data centers to the ocean to keep your private data away from government demands.
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/07/googles-search-goes-out-to-sea/

I am who I am. I've had the same handle since BBS days. If you take a few seconds Googling me, you can likely found out just about anything you want about me because I have nothing to hide.

You are correct that I'm pedantic. I focus on facts and I truly detest FUD. I do try to stamp it out. I thought Slashdot appreciated that.

I do always find it odd when an AC questions me when I have the courage to sign in and stand behind my statements.

Do SEC filings count as credible references? Or Microsoft's own statements?

Google made over 43 BILLION dollars in ad revenue last year.

http://investor.google.com/financial/tables.html

Microsoft made 1.45 billion in ad revenue last year.

http://marketingland.com/microsoft-q4-2012-earnings-online-advertising-revenue-up-12-16740

Microsoft themselves have admitted repeatedly to trying and largely failing in the contextual ads in your email business, and have publicly stated they've tried other tactics, such as these "deals" ads instead.

http://marketingland.com/seeking-to-banish-distraction-microsoft-replaces-hotmail-display-ads-with-deals-4790

I just read technology news daily and pay attention. And again, EVERY one of your posts on your account (a fairly newer account) is defending Microsoft data-mining while blasting Google and Apple for the same thing. So I ask again if you're an astroturfer or just ignorant?

I've had the same online identity since BBS days. I praise Microsoft when they do well (such as their surprisingly good anti-virus products as of late) and I blast Google when they fuck up (logging the SSIDs of wireless networks). I call them as I see them.

Microsoft has a service like Google Analytics, it just happens that no one uses it:

http://www.bing.com/toolbox/webmaster

Microsoft does keep track of email correspondence, see the link I posted earlier in the thread.

I know that Google data-mines me to provide me free services. But they're not giving my data to anyone else. I'll gladly deal with seeing ads to get free services that I like. If you don't like that arrangement, then no one forces you to use their services. But you won't find a web services provider that doesn't data-mine you.

Microsoft and Yahoo when contacted admitted to having this service that matched internet accounts to voting lists so that political parties could target you online.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/technologylive/post/2012/06/microsoft-yahoo-sell-tracking-data-to-political-campaigns/1#.UZUsm8XA9yV
http://www.propublica.org/article/how-microsoft-and-yahoo-are-selling-politicians-access-to-you

Again, citation needed. Anonymous, empty anecdotes are not evidence.