{"id":12885,"date":"2012-07-20T11:48:47","date_gmt":"2012-07-20T16:48:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/scienceblogs.com\/gregladen\/?p=12885"},"modified":"2012-07-20T11:48:47","modified_gmt":"2012-07-20T16:48:47","slug":"was-microsoft-referring-to-female-breasts-or-its-ceo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gregladen.com\/blog\/2012\/07\/20\/was-microsoft-referring-to-female-breasts-or-its-ceo\/","title":{"rendered":"Was Microsoft referring to female breasts or its CEO?"},"content":{"rendered":"

This from Slashdot<\/a>:<\/p>\n

“Microsoft has apologized and promised to rectify the fact that one of its developers slipped a sexist phrase into Linux kernel code supporting Microsoft’s HyperV virtualization environment. In that code, the magic constant passed through to the hypervisor reads ‘0xB16B00B5,’ or a slightly camouflaged ‘BIG BOOBS.’ After Linux developer\/blogger Matthew Garrett criticized Microsoft for the stunt, the predictable debate over sexism in the technology world ensued. Microsoft issued a statement to Network World apologizing and added, ‘We have submitted a patch to fix this issue and the change will be published in a future release of the kernel.'”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

HREE<\/a> is the NetworkWorld link.<\/p>\n

Now, my question is this. What was really being said? Because I think there are two possible interpretations here. 0xB16B00B5 could be parsed as BIG BOOB S for Big Boob Steve Ballmer, or it could refer to the female body parts.<\/p>\n