Good grief. Microsoft is hiring a well-known arrogant and temperamental opera singer to serve as its new consumer ambassador and "simplicity spokesperson". Her name is Stacy Elliott and she is Microsoft’s new Digital Diva. Does anyone at Microsoft know what "Diva" actually means?

Here’s the definition: diva n. 1.WOMAN OPERA SINGER a distinguished woman singer, especially one who sings in operas. 2. TEMPERAMENTAL WOMAN an extremely arrogant or temperamental woman (late 19thC. Via Italian from Latin, 'goddess' from the feminine of divus.)

So guess where we cribbed that from. Yes, that’s right, The Encarta World English Dictionary, sponsored by Microsoft.

You may also guess that Microsoft’s Digital Diva is not actually an opera star...with a name like Stacy, how could she be? Disappointingly, she is a career Microsoft PR bunny, now caught in the oncoming headlights of the world’s media.

According to Microsoft, the Digital Diva is an "outreach role", a phrase we have heard previously only in rooms where social workers or Christian evangelists gather. (Does any IT company employ evangelists these days, or have they all been replaced by opera singers?) We wish Elliott well in her new KISS (keep it simple, stupid) and Tell job.

It doesn’t sound like an awful lot of fun to us: "She will speak to groups whose members may be new to technology or use it outside of the work environment, like seniors', women's and parenting groups, in an effort to help explain how technology can offer options and solutions for them to pursue."

There's more. Much more. Carry on, if you must - just outreach and touch this link: http://www.microsoft.com/INSIDER/digitaldiva/default.htm.®