Perhaps you’re familiar with Mini-Microsoft, the anonymous Deep Throat Microsoft blogger who’s been lovingly griping online about the company online since 2004.

Mini is somewhat infamous (having been interviewed by Business Week and The Seattle Times) and has managed to maintain his anonymity despite all the attention.

I recently had the chance to pester Mini with some of my own questions, and took the opportunity to ask him about his sad experience with facebook, how he felt about Fake Steve Jobs, and his groupies.

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Dare Obasanjo just wrote a great post about his job AND his blog:

Thousands of Microsoft employees share their ideas with their coworkers, competitors and customers via blogs on a daily basis. Lots of companies would clamp down on that sort of behavior and ensure that only sanctioned company positions go out in employee communications but not Microsoft.

Read Dare’s whole post.

Megan Wallent (formerly known as Michael Wallent, General Manager with IE) is back on the job this week.

It’s been absolutely fascinating to read about her transition on her blog … and it sounds like things are going smoothly now that she’s back in the office!

Yay for the lolcat costume!

I’ve always wondered. And now the truth comes out!

Video: Israeli foodI grabbed this from Declan’s awesome blog all about International MSFT tech jobs:

So what do software engineers eat in Israel?

 

So for a bit of Friday fun check out Lisa, one of our SDEs in Israel, telling us a little about free food and in particular”diet” food that they all eat in the Haifa break room… :)

I am on the hunt for this gold helmet-wearing Segway rider. He’s been spotted all over campus (that’s my building in the background of this photo!) and I must speak with him. I want to know more about tooling around Redmond on a Segway — and why the gold helmet?

Looks like Jeff Sandquist (of Channel 9 fame) is working on a new project:

A couple of nights ago Larry Larsen, Max Zuckerman and I got together to film some new content at my home for Channel 10. This will used for a new series where we go to the homes of fellow Microsoft employees and show the technology they use.

Think about it….

Channel 9 brought you inside the halls of Microsoft, now Channel 10 will take you to their homes. Yes, I know you’re probably thinking that this will be some sort of lame MTV Cribs like rip-off series.

Not the tone we’re looking for. Instead we’re honing in on the actual technology people use in their homes. [Read the rest]

I love seeing the way geeks hack their homes, so I’m totally looking forward to this. I can’t wait to see the wifi-enabled blenders and database networked bathroom fans.

From Valleywag: Michael Wallent, a general manager at Microsoft, will return to work in January as Megan Wallent.

While this news is interesting in a “huh, that doesn’t happen every day” sort of way, the blog post touches on broader issues about gender and Microsoft: This is a company that as of late last year counted only 100 women among its top 900 executives — those Wallent’s rank and higher. In becoming Megan, he’ll only improve that ratio by 0.1 percent.

Read the full article.

This is what happens to your office when you go on vacation.

So there’s this anonymous Microsoft blogger who goes by the name of Mini-Microsoft. He’s been around for ages, grumping about Microsoft and offering his cranky advice about how the company could be improved. Mini’s gained a lot of credibility as an MSFT watchdog, and was recently featured in Business Week.

I love Mini (every enormous global company should have an anonymous bitchy blogger — seriously!) and recently added him on Facebook.

It was over on Mini’s Facebook page that I found this awesome wall posting:

Hey Mini,
I wanted to let you know that I am a recently hired level 59. I am a top student from a top program (which of course means SHIT until I start seriously producing for the company).

One of the main reasons I chose Microsoft over my other extremely gratuitous offers was because of your blog. Yes, I understand one of your overall messages involves frowning upon my entrance because I’m initially another face in the crowd who initially may not add much to the bottom line. Yes, I understand your blog magnifies and makes public many operational problems at MSFT. Yes, I understand your blog has caused many potential hires to be scared. But when I read mini-microsoft, I get excited, because I realize the problems you write about are solvable and more important they are worth solving because of the potential this company has.

So I guess what I’m trying to say is…. Thank you….

I love this! I firmly believe that the best way for any company (MSFT included) to attract smart, awesome folks is to be honest and forthcoming about its shortcomings and weak points — after all, those are the areas of the company that theoretically need the brightest superstars and problem-solvers, right?

So Mini — I salute you! Thanks for being the crabby voice that no-one wants to hear, but everyone listens to.