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Ah, computers, aka money making machines for hucksters

Listening to the radio on the way to work inspired this entry.

I heard ad after ad about ‘geek squad’, Anti-virus software, and the new AOL which protects you from the all the bad guys.    Well, I just makes me chuckle how much money is made off of Mircosoft’s shoddy products.  I know why Linux is unsupported and slow to adopt in PC’s.  None of the software companies want to loose their revenue stream of fixing, essentially, broken products.  My Linux computer just zips along, working and working and working.  If it wasn’t for having to move, my  uptime would be in the the YEARS range.  That’s right, my computer has never crashed, EVER.  It has not locked up, slowed down due to adware, or really changed over time.  I don’t run a server, it is just a desktop machine, and that’s it.  I am connected to the internet 24-7 and I don’t have a single virus, adware, or hacker on board.  I have a modern, non-fragmenting file system.  That’s right kids, I never have to de-frag my hard drives.    I have a journalized file system, a real one, NOW.  Not like WinFS, which may never appear.  How much did the software cost me?  Nothing.  Is it legal? You betcha.  Can I just hand you a copy and not worry about copyright law?  Sure can, in fact they encourage it.  Is it perfect?  No, but it sure is fun to play with.  I do have security updates, which don’t require me to re-boot my machine.  Anything short of replacing the kernel does not require a reboot.  My software is updated often, and quickly as new vulnerabilities are found.    Well, all I can say is enjoy your buggy, slow, virus/ad/spyware ridden computers.

 

Posted by on December 14, 2004 in Linux

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Why are we so busy, and what is it doing to our children?

You see it all over the news, in books, and talking to people.  We are all way too busy in this day and age.  I don’t know we do it to ourselves.  A hundred years ago the American worker fought to have a 40 hour work week, and now we are volunteering for a 60 or 80 hours week.  I understand if you are underpaid, you need to work 2 jobs just to make ends meet, I have been there, but why do we fill our lives with so much?    People work 40 to 50 hours a week, followed by a long commute, the picking up the kids, going to night classes, etc. etc.  In the meantime, we have all forgotten how to make or appreciate home cooked meals and time with our children.  I may be old fashioned, but a parent should be at home for the formative years of a child’s life.

Things that we have lost:

Sitting down to a family meal together to discuss the day’s events.

Helping your children with homework.

Watching your infant become a child, a child becoming an adult.

Our sense of wonder.  When is the last time you looked at the stars or watched the beauty of nature in your own back yard?

Are our busy lifestyles really worth it?  I think we all need to slow down, and really think about what in important.  A little happiness goes a long way.
e all wonder why our children are turning into monsters.  It is because we fill our lives with bullsh*t all the time, and forget what matters.

 

Posted by on November 30, 2004 in Family

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Thanksgiving

We had a very nice Thanksgiving  The turkey turned out great, and everyone was happy.  I hope everyone gave thanks for all the little things that make life great, like a favorite book or piece of music.  I know there a lot of problems in the world, but it could be worse, and it could be better.  Let’s all work to make the world better.  We in the U.S. do very well, but we have to be sure to make sure we don’t loose our place in the world, or ignore the plight of suffering of others in the world.  Do something good this holiday season, no matter what belief system you have.

 

Posted by on November 28, 2004 in Family

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A more hopeful Dave

I am so sick of hearing about a ‘more hopeful America’ or signs of hope in the middle east/Isreal.  Quit hoping and start doing.  Hope gets you nowhere in the end.  Actions are what counts.  Stop talking about doing something, and actually do it.  That is what really irks me the most about Bush.  Big words and no actions.

 

Posted by on November 13, 2004 in Political

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Vote in 2004

Less than a week left until the United States of America voters make a decision on our course to destruction or possibly a new vision.  I don’t know what 50% of America is smoking, but what the hell are you thinking to want to elect that moron?  (I don’t use the term re-elect, since Bush lost the last election.)  Can’t you remember that last 4 years?  2 wars?  3,000 dead citizens?  Over 1,100 soldiers dead?  They crappiest economy in decades?  The only president with a net job loss since Hoover?  Job creation that only results in low paying service jobs?

It makes me sick to think, oh, I will vote for him because he stays on course.  Well, you fricken lemmings, news flash, there is a f’ing cliff ahead.  I know Bush ignores the rest of the world, but nature will take her vengeance big time if we don’t stop screwing around.  We can’t win in Iraq.  I am sorry, we are GOING TO LOSE.  Period.  Get out now before we screw up more.  Our armies are at their limits now.  I don’t know how the numbers add up to avoid re-starting some sort of draft.  I can see it now.   In order to get a student loan, you need to sign up for 2 years.  I bet that is how it will happen.  That way it will exempt the rich kids (again) and really get the middle class involved in the war effort, instead of the lower class.

We need a new start, please, everyone go out and vote on November 2nd.  Send a clear message we want some change.  We need a new vision.  God help us.

 

Posted by on October 27, 2004 in Political

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