Facebook Plunges Again
Tumblr 101: Tips And Tricks To Get Started
Hungarian student throws eggs at Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer
OK let's be honest. Who hasn't wanted to throw eggs at Steve Ballmer at some point. You know, you're up late at night trying to finish some report, and suddenly your computer crashes and you lose three hours worth of work (never mind the fact that this could have all been avoided if you hit the save button every now and again), and you turn to the sky and scream BALLMER!!!!
Well, maybe it's not as bad as all that. But when Ballmer spoke at the Hungarian University of Economy today, one student started throwing eggs at the Microsoft CEO. According to Valleywag, the act was meant to protest the millions of dollars Hungary's government spends to license Microsoft software at universities. While he's mostly yelling in Hungarian, you can make out a bit of English when he not-so-politely asks Ballmer to give the money back to the taxpayers.
The whole thing was caught on video. Note that Steve Ballmer was not harmed in the making of this video, but several eggs lost their shells.
Comments
31
Subscribe to commentsToddMay 20th 2008 9:18AM
Best. Video. Ever. Ya know what? I have never seen any throw eggs at Mark Shuttleworth, in fact when he appears in public people cheer and say "Thank You!". I have never seen Steve Wozniack get pied in the face, in fact parents go up to him and just express the most sincere heartfelt gratitude. And when I met Greg Papadopoulos in person, he was the most humble, polite person I have ever met. He was sincerely interested in how I use his technology to help people achieve their goals.....Hmmmmmmm.
Maybe Mr. Balmer needs to re-evaluate his whole life, maybe make some changes, does he really want to be remembered this way? Time's running out Steve, maybe watch the movie Pay It Forward, look at your bank account with all those zeros, there is a chance not to be a laughable footnote in computing history.
gojedaMay 20th 2008 9:49AM
Or maybe the two people that bother to go see Shuttleworth and Wozniak are fellating fanboys who don't have a life in the real world?
Just a thought....
I am quite sure Ballmer is eagerly awaiting your next quip though. You being the ethical compass that you are. LOL!
IanMay 20th 2008 9:35AM
This student should be arrested and sentenced to LIFE w/o Microsoft products, either directly, or indirectly used. I don't think he would enjoy that much....
ToddMay 20th 2008 3:35PM
Please give ma that "sentence"! For the love of all that is user friendly, intuitive and worth my money, PLEASE sentence me to life without any Microsoft products!
MariaMay 20th 2008 1:09PM
I applaud the man's bravery. As a new user of Vista, who has just found out that the new system is SLOW, and that software no longer comes free when you by a new computer, I would like to date a man who has the much courage and spine to throw eggs at Microsoft.
IanMay 20th 2008 5:27PM
Vista makes Windows XP feel great! My current desktop is on the way out and I would prefer to put XP on it and wait for Windows 7. Meantime I am using Linux on my eeepc and that's Ok, just the range of applications isn't as deep.
MariaMay 20th 2008 1:07PM
Our Prime Minister admitted publicly in 2006, that the Socialist Party (the legal continuation of the Communist Party) LIED about Hungarys economic situation to win the elections. For the past years, many instances of corruption have been revealed. Many leading politicians, who happen to belong to the old Communist aristocracy's next generation, are for sale. No wonder that Hungarians are angry. We are NOT the armpit of the world. There were almost 100 internation camps and labour camps and harsh prisons here during the old regime, and the inheritors of the system are now selling the country to multinational companies. The money are not returned to Hungarians, it goes into private pockets. Like the Microsoft bribe described above.
IanMay 20th 2008 5:16PM
I appreciate the isssues the better for your post. But would not the eggs have been better aimed at certain Hungarian Politicians. It's hardly a fault of Ballmer that your Government signed a deal with Microsoft. That's what corporations are supposed to do. The choice is with the buyer.
mertzMay 20th 2008 1:30PM
I don't think Ballmer would have gotten the same response if he had just limited this talk to "developers, developers, developers, developers, developers, DEVELOPERS... (gasping for breath)... developers, developers, DEVELOPERS!!!!!"
There is no CEO in the world that gives off the image of being a total farce, or just flat out exudes incompetence like Ballmer. If egg throwing really is a common occurrence in Hungary, it's a shame that the entire audience didn't pelt Ballmer back to Redmond.
All you MS fanboys want to improve your company's products, power in the marketplace (which is slipping), and the company's overall image? Get rid of the giant, sweaty, out of breath, out of touch, out of his mind albatross around MS's neck... that weight is Ballmer.
As corrupt as this deal might have been with the Hungarian government, I can't imagine anyone but Ballmer actually being pelted with eggs. Would never happen if Gates was the one talking.
As Bugs Bunny would say, "What a maroon."
IanMay 20th 2008 5:21PM
You are right!
Someone once threw a custard/cream pie at Gates!;)
DravenMay 27th 2008 5:33PM
did anyone else notice that on the back of the dudes white jacket it had Microsoft = Corruption??