Rupert Goodwins' Diary

Friday 12/12/2003
Now, I've been very good (you listening, Santa?) at overlooking some infelicities from certain other technology news Web sites. Even when they publish snide comments saying that because CNET has bought the mp3.com domain, we can't possibly write about online digital media distribution without larding our text with constant disclaimers. That's a valid point of view, certainly, but hard to back up when you yourself run an ISP, flog twenty tons of kit and countless books you also review, and all that jazz. But it's a tough world out there, and far be it from us to pass judgement.

However, sometimes it can go a little awry. Take our brothers in packets The Register, who have some sort of deal going with a company called Expansys. Not sure exactly what they do -- Expansys, not the Reg, silly! -- but it involves a little banner that pops up from time to time saying The Register, Powered By Expansys. All fine, except that the X is in a long, swishy, hand-painted blue style, while the rest of the lettering is a nice outline white sans typeface. Not a problem by itself, were the background to the banner not also a sort of blue -- with the result that the Reg is apparently powered by e-pansys.

I don't know what an e-pansy is, but it doesn't sound very butch.