This not about chocolate Easter Eggs that might explode at any minute, this is about a piece of code (or something unexpected) that is deliberately hidden by its creator within software, a game, a film, or a soundtrack, as a source of amusement.

It was said to have originated with early computer code programmers who would surprise their colleagues with weird messages, or events, set to occur at certain times. The term was coined after the pastime of hunt the Easter Egg.

There are examples being discovered all the time and we can have a look at some of the latest.

Let’s start with the N64 Goldeneye 007 game. Insert the cartridge and turn the power on. Take a real close look at the start-up screen which looks like a British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) certificate. The BBFC has been replaced with Twycross Board of Game Classification, which becomes relevant if you realise that Twycross is the base of this game’s developer Rare. And the signature below the word President is James Bond and instead of a normal BBFC rating, say 12+, this has a number 4, with a message that suitable for only one to four people; the number of people that can play the game. Nice touch.

Another one cropped up in the movie Bruce Almighty. Have a look at the scene when, out on the lake, God talks to Bruce. Look closely at the background, and you’ll see some buildings looking like Optimus Prime. Clever, unless you don’t know who Optimus Prime is. And just in case you don’t know, he’s the leader of the Autobots. Still no wiser, the things that run around in The Transformers! Okay, good?

Now lets look at a computer game latest example. Half Life is a big game franchise and in Half Life 2, right at the start of the game, there’s a van which crops up and if you take a second to look at the centre of the steering wheel, you can see the face of the bear which was used to advertise Radiohead’s Kid A. It’s in fact a logo created jointly by Stanley Donwood and Thom Yorke.

Books aren’t exempt either and there’s a good one found in the guide C For Dummies. On page 371, you’ll come across graphical representations of a number of C header files. If you look at the text, it appears to be in Greek and disregarded as a meaningless filler. But, use the Windows font Symbol and put the symbols back to their usual font equivalents, you get:

“This is some very small text that you probably won’t be able to read. If you can, then you are very good. If you can’t, you’re typical. Actually, if you’re my editor, then you’ll probably be looking for some bad stuff. Rest assured. It’s not in here. BUT not that I’m writing this stuff in GREEK, I don’t think there will be a problem with it. Unless, of course, you’re GREEK.”

This is a good example of an Easter Egg, because who would have thought of doing all that’s entailed to get the right message. Pretty nifty.

So there we have it. If you’re on the look out for good Easter Eggs, perhaps it’s a good piece of advice to expect the unexpected.

Tags: Anti Virus, Digital Download Products, Easter Egg, Mcafee, Viruses

An elderly lady actually wrote this letter to her bank. The bank manager
Thought it amusing enough to have it published in The Times and this
Newspaper thanks him most sincerely.

Dear Sir,

I am writing to thank you for bouncing my cheque with which I
Endeavoured to pay my plumber last month. By my calculations, three
‘nanoseconds’ must have elapsed between his presenting the cheque and
The arrival in my account of the funds needed to honour it.

I refer, of course, to the automatic monthly deposit of my Pension, an
Arrangement which, I admit, has been in place for only eight years.

You are to be commended for seizing that brief window of opportunity, and
Also for debiting my account £30 by way of penalty for the inconvenience
Caused to your bank.

My thankfulness springs from the manner in which this incident has
Caused me to rethink my errant financial ways.

I noticed that whereas I personally attend to your telephone calls and
Letters, when I try to contact you, I am confronted by the impersonal,
Overcharging, re-recorded, faceless entity which your bank has become.

From now on, I, like you, choose only to deal with a flesh-and-blood
Person. My mortgage and loan payments will therefore and hereafter no
Longer be automatic, but will arrive at your bank by cheque, addressed
Personally and confidentially to an employee at your bank whom you must
Nominate.

Be aware that it is an offence under the Postal Act for any other person
To open such an envelope.

Please find attached an Application Contact Status which I require your
Chosen employee to complete. I am sorry it runs to eight pages, but in
Order that I know as much about him or her as your bank knows about me,
There is no alternative. Please note that all copies of his or her
Medical history must be countersigned by a Solicitor, and the mandatory
Details of his/her financial situation (income, debts, assets and
Liabilities) must be accompanied by documented proof.

In due course, I will issue your employee with a PIN number which he/she
Must quote in dealings with me. I regret that it cannot be shorter than
28 digits but, again, I have modelled it on the number of button presses
Required of me to access my account balance on your phone bank service.
As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Let me level the playing field even further. When you call me, press
Buttons as follows:

1– To make an appointment to see me.
2– To query a missing payment.
3– To transfer the call to my living room in case I am there.
4– To transfer the call to my bedroom in case I am sleeping.
5– To transfer the call to my toilet in case I am attending to nature.
6– To transfer the call to my mobile phone if I am not at home.
7– To leave a message on my computer (a password to access my computer
Is required. A password will be communicated to you at a later date to
The Authorized Contact.)
8– To return to the main menu and to listen to options 1 through 8
9– To make a general complaint or inquiry, the contact will then be put
On hold, pending the attention of my automated answering service. While
This may, on occasion, involve a lengthy wait, uplifting music will play
For the duration of the call.

Regrettably, but again following your example, I must also levy an
Establishment fee to cover the setting up of this new arrangement.

May I wish you a happy, if ever so slightly less prosperous, New Year.

Your Humble Client

***************************
Addendum from The Editor:

IMPORTANT to REMEMBER that this letter was written by a lady who is a 98
Year old woman; DOESN’T SHE MAKE YOU PROUD!!!?

Tags: Automated calls, Bank, Bank Charges, Funny