She should be awarded the $100,000 and then declared mentally incompetant and not responsible for her actions. She should be fitted with footy pajamas and a bib, all meals to be pureed and she should not be left unattended. She should become a ward of the state unless there is family willing to assume responsibility for her well being. She should be institutionalized for a period of not less than 2 years for observation and treatment with the aim of returning her to a fully functional state.

This is the only way to ‘entice’ adults to take responsibility for their own actions and to not file these kinds of frivolous lawsuits. This is really embarrasing for the plaintiff, for the court system and for the country as a whole.

Bottom Line: If this woman asserts that she cannot be held responsible for her actions, then remove her from responsibility for ANY of her actions. And in so doing, you MUST remove her authority/ability to make and decisions that could further injure her. This would be a kind and just resolution in this case, whether she is actually incompetant or simply greedy and irresponsible. This verdict would work in either situation.

If the story you tell is true (and I have NO reason to believe it isn't), then you were working with a new/unskilled UNIX/Novell admin. There's nearly nothing you can do with a GUI that you shouldn't be able to do just as easily with the command line. I'd like to know how you change the home directory of 300 user accounts in 20 minutes in a GUI. I can do the same thing in a command line in 10 seconds. How do you de-activate 110 user accounts easily in a GUI? That takes 5 seconds in a command line. Oh, and if you'd like to use a GUI, UNIX/Linux has not one but several to choose from. HP-UX has CDE, Solaris has CDE or Gnome and don't get started on Linux GUI options.

My guess is the UNIX/Novell admin you were working with was a newbie admin or someone not very skilled in scripting. It happens and we've all worked with weak/mediocre admins if you've spent any time in the field at all. I'm a two time MCSE with certs in Solaris, HP-UX, SCO, Linux and Netware. I've worked long enough that I was once a strong DOS guy and deployed/managed hundreds of OS/2 laptops/workstations. My experience tells me that for scripting and command line systems management, UNIX/Linux can't be beat today. Windows Powershell is a decent start but the ease of scripting in UNIX is unrivaled. SED, GREP and AWK together are incredible and come with EVERY UNIX/Linux sold today. PERL or other scripting tools are just the gravy, great additions but just simplify what you already get with standard, built-in UNIX scripting tools.

When Microsoft has the scripting ease and power of the UNIX command line and a GUI flexible enough to easily do the things I mentioned above (multiple account/file/directory/systems modifications) THEN they will have the ultimate systems admin interface. (Think about this: select any number of objects, apply a filter to the selection to further narrow the affected objects, specify a change/addition/deletion, offer the option to schedule the action and include a re-occuring option, send the action log to a file/email/page/website, specify error/alert message condition and action (logfile/email/txt msg/website).

Bottom line: While this guy was an idiot for posting this word twice while on company time on company equipment, it was unfair to be 'fired' for it. Yes, he resigned. Anyone who believe he resigned voluntarily is also an idiot. He was given a choice and chose the lesser of two evils. Call it what it is, he was fired for doing something stupid.

I'm glad I was never fired for doing something stupid. I didn't say criminal or grossly negligent or very costly to the company. I said something stupid. We've all done it and thank god most of us don't get fired for it. Unfortunately, this guy was. And that it was precipitated by a journalist who solicited comments to a humorous article is what really angers people. Kurt went too far in reporting this guy to the school. That's it. End of story. Kurt should acknowlege that he stepped over the line and move on. The fact that he hasn't is also what angers people. I for one don't like the precident this sets and will be very careful in posting to unfamiliar sites in the future, on or off the job.

Kurt, you may have just chilled quite a few readers into silience which, I guarantee, is not good for your column or on-line journalism in general. Congratulations. And good luck getting responses to your article in the future.

• Software Carousel by SoftLogic Solutions

• TopView by IBM

Both of these predate the patent in question. And both were early competitors with Quarterdeck's DesqView. I never used either product but there should be ample evidence of their existence besides the Quarterdeck product.

Hope this helps.

He's right that most graduating students don't know how to budget, plan, save for their toys or balance their checkbook. Learn these BEFORE graduating and practice every month. Keep in mind that budgeting doesn't mean denying yourself. It means making sure that you CAN have the toys/fun you want while staying warm, dry and well fed.

Second is confidence. Be confident that you know what you know. But also keep the willingness to acknowledge what you don't know and then learn it. The phrase "I don't know" is rarely spoken by computer professionals. The phrase "show me how" is even rarer. Keep both handy and you'll be regarded as someone who knows a lot but doesn't seem arrogant. Try not to feel threatened by someone who seems to know more. If they do know more, learn from them. If they really don't know more, others will figure it out around the same time you do.

The only other thing I can suggest in general is to take ownership of your own career. Don't expect your employer to train you or keep your skills fresh and new. That's your job. Also, keep asking yourself "what are you doing this year that warrants a raise from your employer?". If you don't want to pay your cable company more this year for the same service you got last year, your employer feels the same about their developers and administrators. Upgrade the services you provide, then ask for a raise knowing you deserve it.

And lastly, HAVE SOME FUN! LIFE IS TOO SHORT NOT TO.

Hope this helps...