bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

SCMP Reporter

Is he, or isn't he? Even if he could speak English, Teletubby character Tinky Winky would be unlikely to reveal his sexual orientation.

 Tinky Winky has garnered controversy about his sexuality because he carries a red handbag, is purple, and sports a triangle-shaped antenna. Triangles and purple are associated with gay pride.

 But Tinky Winky needs not to 'eh oh' as there is a Web site [http://mem bers.tripod.com/~WhosReallyGay/] supporting him.

 The site features a 'Leave Tinky Winky Alone!' banner that Web surfers are encouraged to put on their own sites. It also argues for his right to be whatever he may be.

'I know C++ like I know the back of my hand. I never use illegal software.'  Be careful of what you boast aloud the next time you are sitting in front of a computer, because the BS detector for PCs has arrived. Digital Robotics (www.digitalrobotics.com) has released the Fortress Personal Lie Detector, a US$29.95 downloadable software that uses VSA algorithms to audibly beep when 'the subject knowingly is engaged in deception'.

 Translated, this means the software detects stress in a voice which would indicate when a whopper is being uttered.

 The future implication of computer BS detectors could be intriguing. Writers of cyber personal ads could be made to take the test first before submitting 'I am a six-foot-tall, Brad Pitt look-alike' claims. On-line job classifieds easily may be able to detect genuine Harvard University graduates from wannabes.

 Technology columnists then could rule the world. (Beep!) Jokers are passing around a faux e-mail called The Positive Side of Y2K Problems. It reads:  January 1, 2000  Re: Vacation Pay Dear Valued Employee: Our records indicate that you have not used any vacation time over the past 100 years. As I'm sure you are aware, employees are granted three weeks off paid leave every year, or pay in lieu of time off. One additional week is granted for every five years of service. Please either take 9,400 days off work or notify our office, and your next pay cheque will reflect payment of $277,432.22 which will include all pay and interest for the past 1,200 months.

 Sincerely, Automated Payroll Processing 



Tinky Winky finds closet Web backers