Archive for June, 2008
June 9, 2008 at 9:08 pm · Filed under General
It started when I went to Nait. It was shiny and new, and different.
It continued through my first job as I used it more and more.
It built once I joined Statusfirm and I was given a one to test with.
The pretty pictures and shiny graphics burned their way into my consciousness.
And suddenly, today, my fight has ended. No longer can I play neutral Switzerland in this OS war. Mac, you have my blade.
OS X is awesome, the new macbook pro is incredibly sexy, the iPhone is something I need, developing apps is a necessity, and iTunes controls all of my music purchases. Jobs is a voodoo gypsie, masking his ways in jeans and a black turtleneck. I’ve been caught, transfixed by his gaze as a deer to headlights.
If you’re reading this; know that I am a lost cause. Cut up my credit cards, because if you don’t I will give every penny I have to Apple. I fought a good fight but it’s over now. Gone are reason and perspective - blind devotion shall rule the day.
Viva la revolution. Viva la Mac!
June 7, 2008 at 8:23 pm · Filed under Faye, General
I’ve noticed a disturbing trend among “kids these days.” When given a “thank you” they will return a “yup” or a “yeah.” It drives me insane.
When I was a kid, my Dad was a manners Nazi. Elbows off the table! Please and thank you! Ask before doing! And if someone said “thank you,” failing to respond with a “you’re welcome” would result in the look. A look so menacing that, without words, my Dad could convey that he fully intended to teach me what it means to regret. A look which would leave me with no doubt that my Dad could - and would - end me.
This makes it sound like my Dad was quite the bully and while I’m sure he thinks that he’s a bad ass, the truth is that he was a one trick pony. Never, ever in my childhood did my Dad have to escalate a situation beyond the look. He didn’t have to hit me, or spank me, or yell at me; he used the look to let me know that if I did not immediately reconsider my actions he would do something much worse. Mind you, I have no idea what, but the look made it pretty clear that I didn’t want to find out. The few times I dared to test the boundaries of the look and question its absolute authority, I was met with a somehow more menacing look, and the phrase “did you just lose your mind?” I never once pressed beyond that point for fear that if the look hardened once more I would catch fire.
Now I’m sure that most people in the world will tell you that threatening your kids is a bad thing, and I’m fairly confident that spankings aren’t really acceptable anymore. It’s just that it seems to me that kids, by nature, will test every boundary placed in front of them. If there are no repercussions for crossing those boundaries, there is no incentive to obey them.
The decay of manners bothers me. I fear that my own daughter will end up as one of those punk kids. Something so simple as saying “you’re welcome” makes a big difference in how people perceive you. I would be embarrassed to hear my daughter reply “yup” to “thank you”; so why doesn’t anyone else seem to be? All I know is that I think it’s time I start practicing the look in the mirror. I could never hurt my daughter, but she doesn’t need to know that.
June 4, 2008 at 9:37 pm · Filed under General
The other night Ali pointed out something that I’ve become increasingly aware of: my blog is getting really negative. I had intended to write about life in general, not just the bad stuff. It’s just that I don’t have a lot of spare time and it seems that the only things which really drive me to post are the things which get me a little worked up.
Lots of great stuff has happened in the last few months, but you wouldn’t know it if you’re reading this. The big upside to my acting like a petulant child is that some of the anonymous comments that I’ve received have been hilarious. Seemingly, the irony of reading a complete strangers blog post, and then taking the time to fill out a form to let me know how big of a loser I am is completely lost on some people.
I’d like to consider this a vow to turn things around and really focus on embracing life to the fullest. That seems pretty unlikely though; more likely I will consider this a message to any who choose to read my blog. I whine. A lot. If you don’t like that, go read top ten lists and articles about Barack Obama on Digg.
