SlashersNo. 8093 · The 2026 edition
Halloween VIII: Doing the Damage-Control Dance
Ever wondered how the spooky traditions of Halloween evolved over time? This piece dives into the fascinating history behind the holiday, exploring its roots and the cultural shifts that shaped it int
Our own summary of the original — the full post and photos live at catb.org.
The article traces the historical development of Halloween, examining its origins in ancient festivals and how it transformed through various cultural influences. It highlights key periods of change, such as the blending of Celtic and Christian traditions, and discusses how modern customs like trick-or-treating and costume-wearing emerged from these historical roots. The piece provides a chronological overview of how Halloween evolved from a seasonal observance to a widely recognized holiday.
About this
An annotated reprint and analysis of a leaked internal Microsoft memo dated November 25, 2002, in which sales executive Orlando Ayala instructs subsidiaries to escalate and counter announcements by governments and large customers considering open-source software. Author Eric S. Raymond adds bracketed commentary, plus a table of contents linking all eleven Halloween Documents.
The list
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01
Halloween I: Open Source Software–A (New?) Development Methodology
First leaked memo on open source methods
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02
Halloween II: Linux OS Competitive Analysis: The Next Java VM?
Microsoft analysis of Linux threat
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03
Halloween III: Microsoft's reaction on the "Halloween Memorandum" (sic)
Microsoft response to first leak
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04
Halloween IV: When Software Things Were Rotten
Vallopillil's boss calls them Robin Hood's merry band
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05
Halloween V: The FUD Begins!
Sheriff of Nottingham rides again
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06
Halloween VI: The Fatal Anniversary
Mindcraft and Gartner shatter Microsoft credibility
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07
Halloween VII: Survey Says!
Microsoft research shows FUD backfiring
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08
Halloween VIII: Doing the Damage-Control Dance
Microsoft builds emergency response to Linux conversions
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09
Halloween IX: It Ain't Necessarily SCO
Point-by-point rebuttal of amended complaint
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10
Halloween X: Follow The Money
SCO's sock-puppet ties to Redmond
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11
Halloween XI: Get The FUD
Microsoft's revealing Get The Facts campaign
Facts from the original
- The page reprints a leaked memo sent Monday, November 25, 2002 at 5:22 AM.
- The memo's sender is Orlando Ayala and its subject line reads 'OSS and Goverment'.
- The memo went to GMs of Subsidiaries and was copied to Mich Mathews, Mike Nash, Craig Mundie, Brad Smith (LCA), Pamela Passman (LCA), Vivek Varma, and Ayala's direct reports.
- Raymond suggests LCA probably stands for Law and Corporate Affairs.
- The memo says Microsoft must respond to press reports about governments and major institutions considering OSS alternatives.
- It cites announcements by the Japan Government and earlier ones in Peru and Germany.
- It claims such institutions are only considering or piloting the technology rather than deploying it.
- It blames poor communication on a lack of integration across Redmond groups and subsidiaries.
- Escalation covers any government or significant corporate customer planning to study, support or deploy OSS including Linux and Star Office that could draw media attention.
- Escalation also covers media coverage of real or expected announcements of governments or corporate customers studying, supporting or deploying OSS.
- Raymond notes COMPHOT appears to be another mailing list, possibly for competitive hot spots.
- Raymond argues the combined attack on the OS and office-suite monopolies worries Microsoft most, and that OpenOffice rather than StarOffice is the real threat.
- Escalation instructions say to email the OSSI alias the same day.
- The OSSI group includes members from the Security Business Unit, Server Marketing, LCA and Corporate PR.
- Required reporting includes designating subsidiary owners and their 24-hour contact information.
- Recipients must explain the validity of the claim, what is reported, and what is true or false.
- Recipients must explain how the organization fits in the government structure, its influence on IT decisions, political influences, commitment to deploy, announcement details, and next steps.
- Recipients must explain likely influences and bottom-line reasoning such as security, cost or politics.
- Recipients must explain Microsoft's presence in the account.
- Recipients must name key contacts within the government.
- Recipients must name available third parties or potential defenders.
- Recipients must detail the writer and media outlet, whether technical, political or sensational.
- Corporate commits to deliver guidance and messaging within the same business day, including worldwide communication to prepare all subsidiaries.
- Corporate commits to follow up with more guidance, messaging and content, including customer and government communication tools, within a second business day.
- Corporate commits to become much better at giving messaging and content proactively on OSS and Linux issues.
- Todd and MarkM are to coordinate with SueB on Mike Nash's participation in a Linux business press tour.
- The memo is signed 'Orlando'.
- Orlando Ayala is Group Vice President of Microsoft's Worldwide Sales, Marketing and Services Group.
- Raymond calls this an unusual Halloween memorandum because it is not particularly evil, describing it as a reactionary memo about becoming less reactionary.
- Raymond suggests daily monitoring of the Linux User Group of Davis's 'Reasons to Avoid Microsoft' page.
- Raymond says Microsoft now publicly focuses on the cost argument after losing the security argument in February when Gartner Group told customers to avoid IIS.
- Raymond says the memo shows Microsoft is aware of security and cost problems and of revolt by sovereign governments against its hegemony.
- Raymond notes Ed Muth became a non-person on the Microsoft website and may have been demoted and exiled to Australia.
- Rob Landley assisted with preparation of the article, written by Eric S. Raymond.
- The page includes a table of contents linking all eleven Halloween Documents and the FAQ and links pages.
From the original
The page reprints a leaked Microsoft memo of Monday, November 25, 2002, sent by Orlando Ayala, Group Vice President of Microsoft's Worldwide Sales, Marketing and Services Group, to general managers of subsidiaries and copied to named executives and lawyers. Its subject, misspelled as 'OSS and Goverment,' orders recipients to respond quickly and with facts to press reports suggesting that governments and major institutions are adopting open-source software or Linux, arguing that many are merely considering or piloting it. It cites announcements by Japan, Peru and Germany as examples and complains that Microsoft's messaging has suffered from poor coordination between Redmond and subsidiaries. The memo defines what to escalate: any government or significant corporate customer planning to study, support or deploy OSS including Linux and Star Office, and any media coverage of real or expected such announcements. Escalation goes same-day by email to the OSSI alias, a group drawn from the Security Business Unit, Server Marketing, Law and Corporate Affairs and Corporate PR. Required content includes naming a subsidiary owner with 24-hour contact details, stating what is true or false, describing the organization's place in government and its influence, explaining likely motives such as security, cost or politics, describing Microsoft's presence in the account, naming key government contacts and potential third-party defenders, and profiling the journalist covering the story. Corporate promises same-day guidance, second-day follow-up tools, more proactive OSS messaging, and a Linux business press tour featuring Mike Nash. Raymond's commentary treats the memo as unusually tame but revealing of Microsoft's awareness of security, cost and sovereignty problems.
