Microspeak: them and us
A-dash Prefix used for e-mail names (transcribed as "a-") and in conversation to distinguish Microsoft contractors (called Orange Badges), who are hourly paid by temp agencies, from Microsoft employees (see below), who have salaries and vesting stock options. Blue badge (or Blue Card) (sometimes, slightly derogatorily, blue badger, or just plain blue) Synonym for full-time Microsoft employees, the Brahmins of the deeply ingrained Microsoft caste system, whose card keys have a blue background rather than the orange used for contractors and green for vendors. Derivative terms include "turn blue", meaning to earn full-time status. © Ken Barnes	Any powerful organisation generates a strong sense of belonging - in the field of computers there have been mythical precedents, like 'Big Blue'. Within the industry as a whole, there is also a strong distinction between "geeks" (they have the knowledge) and suits (they have expense accounts).

Microspeak: them and us

A-dash: Prefix used for e-mail names (transcribed as "a-") and in conversation to distinguish Microsoft contractors (called Orange Badges), who are hourly paid by temp agencies, from Microsoft employees (see below), who have salaries and vesting stock options.
Blue badge (or Blue Card): (sometimes, slightly derogatorily, blue badger, or just plain blue) Synonym for full-time Microsoft employees, the Brahmins of the deeply ingrained Microsoft caste system, whose card keys have a blue background rather than the orange used for contractors and green for vendors. Derivative terms include "turn blue", meaning to earn full-time status.

Any powerful organisation generates a strong sense of belonging - in the field of computers there have been mythical precedents, like 'Big Blue'. Within the industry as a whole, there is also a strong distinction between "geeks" (they have the knowledge) and suits (they have expense accounts).

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