Dear Microsoft, you did a good job at out-Appling Apple with the Windows Phone 7. At least on paper. But instead of trying to beat them completely, it seems that you want to screw it all with two stupid decisions.

The first one: Eliminate application multitasking. After making fun of Apple’s iPhone for not supporting multitasking, you are exactly following Apple’s task model… just when it seems that they are bringing multitasking with iPhone OS 4.0.

Let me get this straight: The biggest smartphone on the planet, the one you are trying desperately to beat, may implement multitasking in its next revision, and you decide not to do it? Even if multitasking doesn’t materialize in the iPhone OS 4.0, don’t you think it would be good to come up with a way to allow it, and introduce your smartphone as the better alternative? No? Yes? Maybe? Come on.

And then… then there is copy and paste.

You and your fans didn’t just make fun of the iPhone’s lack of copy and paste—which lasted until iPhone OS 3.0. You just couldn’t stop laughing and pointing your finger at it and doing faces and sticking your tongue out. But now, when it’s your turn, you are not including copy and paste. Please, allow me to try to put this to you as mildly as possible:

Are you out of your fucking mind? What kind of fuckassery is this, Microsoft?

Mind you, I didn’t think any of these things were dealbreakers with iPhone OS 1.0 and I don’t think they’re any more of a dealbreaker with Windows Mobile 7. I just find it hysterical that Windows fanbois are apt to ignore their criticisms of the iPhone (many of them said that without these two features, the iPhone wasn’t even a smartphone at all) and run screaming to the greatness that is Microsoft with the same shortcomings.

In reality, most of them have just proven what Apple people have said all along: that most criticisms levied against Apple were from people who are rabid Apple hating Microsoft coattail riders.

Now, that being said, I’m looking forward to Windows Mobile 7. Apple needs some competition to wake it up. Android, despite its large number of handset installs, doesn’t seem to be doing it, Palm is practically out of business, and a recent survey said 40% of RIM customers would switch to iPhones if they could.

Microsoft has a chance, as Diaz says, to be the better alternative for a lot of people. The question is will they pull it off, or will they end up looking like they’re trying to “out-Apple apple.”

Either way, Diaz’s rant left me with a warm fuzzy feeling. Big time.

Humanists Prepare to Hold LGBT-Inclusive Prom in Mississippi

For Immediate Release

(Washington, DC, March 12, 2010) The American Humanist Association (AHA) stepped forward today and offered to plan and fund a prom for the Itawamba County Agricultural High School in Mississippi. The Itawamba County School District made headlines earlier this week by cancelling their prom rather than letting a lesbian student, Constance McMillen, bring her girlfriend as her date.

“It’s shameful that closed-minded members of the school board are prepared to deprive an entire class of students their prom over their outdated religious mores.” said Roy Speckhardt, Executive Director of the AHA. “People can hold to any belief or no belief in this nation, but the school board misuses their position when they try to impose their beliefs on the student population in Itawamba.”

McMillen was barred from the prom after making it known that she intended to bring a same-sex date. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Mississippi became involved and demanded the school reverse its policy. The school board responded by cancelling the prom.

“The ACLU is doing good work in Mississippi, and we humanists can also bring resources to the table that will defend students from a repressive school board,” added Speckhardt. “Prom is a special event for teens across America; we’ll make sure it’s a special night for these students as well.”

AHA members Todd and Diana Stiefel made a $20,000 grant available to the AHA for the purpose of holding a prom in Itawamba County. The AHA will be discussing logistics with the pertinent parties today.

Humanists and freethinkers have a history of speaking up for the rights of all. The AHA was among the first to support civil rights, equal pay for equal work, and the right of same-sex couples to marry. Recently the AHA launched the LGBT Humanist Council to advance equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their families. (www.lgbthumanists.org).

The American Humanist Association (www.americanhumanist.org) advocates for the rights and viewpoints of humanists. Founded in 1941 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., its work is extended through more than 100 local chapters and affiliates across America.

Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism, affirms our responsibility to lead ethical lives of value to self and humanity.

Have a great time kids!

Company officials are reviewing security tapes after an announcement was made for “all black people” to leave a southern New Jersey Walmart store.

Shortly before 7 p.m. Sunday, a male voice came over the public-address system at the Route 42 store in Washington Township and calmly announced: “Attention Walmart customers: All black people leave the store now.”

Management later apologized.

Washington Township police and the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office are investigating the incident as a possible bias crime.

Alright, it’s a joke. A prank. A not so funny one but a prank nonetheless.

A bias crime? Really?

You probably got one of these, too. A letter from the U.S. Census Bureau informing you that you will receive another letter from them in about a week.

No wonder the country is broke.

I said the same thing when I got that stupid-ass letter. Do I need a letter to tell me I’m gonna get another letter?

An appellate court has upheld references to God on U.S. currency and in the Pledge of Allegiance, rejecting arguments they violate the constitutional separation of church and state.

“The Pledge of Allegiance serves to unite our vast nation through the proud recitation of some of the ideals upon which our Republic was founded,” Judge Carlos Bea wrote for the majority in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals 2-1 ruling Thursday.

Bea noted that schools do not require students to recite the pledge, which was amended to include the words “under God” by a 1954 federal law. Members of Congress at the time said they wanted to set the United States apart from “godless communists.”

In a separate 3-0 ruling, the appeals court upheld the inscription of the national motto “In God We Trust” on U.S. coins and currency, citing an earlier 9th Circuit panel that ruled the phrase is ceremonial and patriotic and “has nothing whatsover to do with the establishment of religion.”

On the day I agreed with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, I always thought I’d have to jump off my terrace.

It’s raining today, though. Maybe tomorrow.