>>>>>Off-topic<<<<< 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, except Papa's mouse.
The computer was humming, the icons were hopping,
As Papa did last-minute internet shopping.
The stockings were hung by the modem with care
In hope that St. Nicholas would bring new software.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of computer games danced in their heads.
Dark Forces for Billy and Doom 11 for Dan,
And Carmen Sandiego for Pamela Ann.
The letters to Santa had been sent out by Mom,
To santaclaus@toyshop.northpole.com -
Which has now been rerouted to Washington State
Because Santa's workshop has been bought by Bill Gates.
All the elves and reindeer have had to skedaddle
To flashy new quarters in suburban Seattle.
St. Nicholas is suddenly a new billionaire,
With shiny red Porsche in the place of the sleigh,
And a house on Lake Washington that's just down the way
>From where Bill has his mansion. The old fellow preens
In black Gucci boots and red Calvin Klein Jeans.
The elves have stock options and desks with a view,
Where they write computer code for Johnny and Sue.
No more dolls or toy soldiers or little toy drums
Will be under the tree, only compact disk ROMS
With the Microsoft label. So spin up your drive,
>From now on Christmas runs only on Windows 95 !
More rapid that eagles the competitors came,
And Bill whistled, and shouted, and called them by name.
"Now, Adobe! now, Claris! now, Intuit! too.
Now, Apple! and Netscape! you are all of you through.
It is Microsoft's Santa that the kids can't resist
It's the ultimate software with a traditional twist -
Recommended by no less than the jolly old elf,
And, the package, a picture of Santa himself.
Get 'em young, keep 'em long, is Microsoft's scheme,
And a merger with Santa is a marketer's dream.
To the top of the NASDAQ ! To the top of the DOW !
Now dash away, Dash away, dash away - WOW !!!
Now Mama in her 'kercheif and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
The whirr and the hum of our satellite platter,
As it turned toward that new Christmas star in the sky,
The Santalite owned by the Microsoft guy.
As I sprang from my bed and was turning around,
My computer turned on with a Jingle-Bells sound.
And there on the screen was a smiling Bill GAtes
Next to jolly old Santa, two arm-in-arm mates.
And I heard them exclaim in a voice so bright,
Have a Microsoft Christmas,
and to all a Good Night !!!
*<8-) |
