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December 4, 2003

XML XMschmell

I think I'm going to form a foundation that offers tech journalists rewards for failing to mention that a given application or protocol is "XML-based." XML is so malleable that pointing out its use borders on meaningless unless you're going to really get into it on some level I don't think the average trade press hack is interested in (or up to).

I blame Microsoft, which figured out that embedding proprietary data in an XML file format is the best of both worlds: proprietary lock-in, and the April-fresh smell of "open standards" breast-beating all in one maggoty pie of self-righteous hoo-ha.

If I can't get enough support for rehabilitating these people outright, I'll consider giving a nickel to anyone who saves mentioning it for somewhere after the lead paragraph.

Like that graphic? It's jpeg-based.