To see a list of the Microsoft programmers and support staff who brought us Windows 3.1, bring up the Help - About... box in any Windows 3.1 built in application (i.e. Write, Notepad, PIF Editor, etc.). Notice the icon in the upper left hand corner of the dialog box (not the close box). Hold down the Ctrl and Shift keys simultaneously while you double-click the icon with your mouse.

The first time you do this, nothing happens. Click OK to close the dialog box. Pull down Help - About... a second time and Ctrl-Shift-double-click the icon again. This time a small "Windows flag" appears with a message about the hard working people who brought you Windows 3.1. But you're not done yet.

Close the dialog box and click Help - About... for a third time. When you Ctrl-Shift-double-click this time, a completely different display appears. A cartoon figure appears, pointing to a scrolling list of the support staff. The four figures who appear at random are Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, Senior Vice President Steve Ballmer (he's the bald one), Windows and DOS product manager Brad Silverberg (the one with the beard), and a fuzzy teddy bear. This latter character requires some explanation. In Microsoft jargon, a "bear" is something that comes along and bonks a programmer after he has introduced a bug into a Windows module. It's kind of a Microsoft mascot, like Smokey the Bear.

So why is this important? It's comforting to know that the programmers that wrote Windows 3.1 were proud enough to have their names on the product. It shows they care and have an important part of their work in an operating environment that makes our working PC easier and more productive to use. Enjoy!