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Fortunately I found an open multimedia lab to pull the images from my camera's memory card and edit/export them. Now that I've finished that, my laptop has decided to boot properly. Once again, fuck computers.L

Over the past few days in my religions class, I was able to formulate an analogy between computers and religions. Like everything that comes from my head, it's extremely clever. Allow me to illustrate:

Two of the understood principals of Buddhism are that change is constant and life is full of suffering. So the goal is to be able to accept this constant state of change while being the best person you can possibly be. This is the underlying principal of the Linux/open-source community. Technologies are constantly being rolled out, version after version after version. Since we all accept that computers are tools to help accomplish tasks that would normally be impossible with the human conscious alone, Linux users seek to get the most out of their hardware and software (which really isn't often the case).

Buddhists strive to achieve "enlightenment" through a multitude of rituals, methods, and practices. These rituals are conducted alone, in small groups, or large groups. Similarly, Linux users can choose from hundreds of programs (most of them suck) in order to accomplish their tasks effortlessly. Additionally, the path to enlightenment is controlled solely by the individual. With Linux, bugs and other things are often resolved by the users themselves, either through patches or bug submissions, which are ultimately rectified by the programmers.

Buddhists often gravitate toward a simplistic lifestyle, but the underlying principals of their beliefs can be quite complex. Similarly, with Linux, one can run a vanilla installation of Ubuntu or Fedora and do all of their basic tasks effortlessly (so long as it doesn't involve gaming or camera RAW editing). However, the underlying mechanics of the Linux operating system are quite complex and well-structured.

Buddhists will often live in communities, monasteries, or sanghas, where they will practice their traditions; just as Linux users will congregate on online message boards, exchanging ideas, helping one another, and generally being compassionate (aside from the not-so-meager portion of elitist snobs).

There are many different flavors of Linux, just as there are many flavors of Buddhism. Theravada and Debian (or Gentoo)? They're two strict, highly conservative versions. Manyaha/Ubuntu? Buddhism and Linux for everybody!

Anybody is open to participate, following the original teachings of the Buddha--I mean, Linus Torvalds.

For some reason society at large dislikes the Jew, and I'm not sure why. For a long time Jews were outcasted from society, indeed almost exterminated from the planet completely. The same thing happened to the Apple Macintosh. For a long time everybody hated the Mac and users thereof. They were inferior, disillusioned, and their market share was nearly gone. Until about five years ago, Macs suffered heavily. Now they're everywhere, and you can't stop them. They're taking over, just like the Jew has taken over Hollywood (don't worry, I say that somewhat facetiously).

But really, let's face it. Macs are the trend-setters. People flock to indie coffee shops to sit with their iBooks and MacBook Pros to look at the latest pricey offerings from the Prophet Steve Jobs. Their methods are often misunderstood or rebuked by outsiders, and the Cult of Mac, like the Kaballah, harbors a growing list of followers.

Come on, was there any doubt in your mind? The platform that has secured nearly 95% of the market share over the past two decades still maintains its grip on society as much as possible. Just as Christianity borrowed many key concepts from Judaism, PCs have borrowed (a highly controversial topic) many ideas from the Mac and its predecessors. Both Windows and Christianity have a long history of blood on their hands as well.

With Christianity, the path to salvation lies through God. It is a gift from above, similar to the subsequent (shitty) batches of updates, service packs, and operating systems offered from Microsoft above. One may communicate with Microsoft through prayer, which is done by sending error reports. Sadly, just like in Christianity, these prayers are never heard of answered.

Many people follow Christianity, or use Windows, simply because that's how they were raised. They see no reason to change, and, even though most Christians don't even practice their fucking faith, see their traditions as being the only true and right ones.

Recently both Christians and Microsoft have felt a massive threat to their power structure. While Christians see no limits to criticizing those who protest or refuse to follow its teachings, Microsoft does all it can to implement anti-piracy and "Windows® Genuine™™ Advantage®™©" campaigns. Both Christians and Microsoft like to stroke the governments big, federal cock.

Microsoft is full of flaws and hypocrisies, much like the predominant religion in the world. And, just as Christianity has many denominations, Microsoft likes to release five different versions of the same product. And they all do the same thing.

I've tried to remain as unbiased as possible, though it is quite clear that, as a confirmed Catholic, I hate Christianity. However, I couldn't help but notice that many key concepts in each religion seem to line up with the practices, both conscious and unconscious, of different computing platforms.

What is the moral? Computers and religions are capable of incredible things, advancing the human race far beyond its own conscious potential. However, in an organized fashion, computers and religions are a bad thing. A very bad thing used to enslave humans and enforce agendas.

Thanks Natalie.

Tonight, rather than finish my screenwriting assignment, I made another logo, whose style I borrowed from another web site that inspired me. Sean and I agree that it looks pretty good, though I worry that it might be nauseating to some. I could keep it this way for a more compact, "logo-ish" look, but I may try arranging the letters into a row for more readability (though I'll need to compact the letters so the image isn't 1200 pixels wide).

Okay, my nerdgasm is deplete. And I really don't consider myself a very good designer.

How bizarre.

Most of you (all three of my readers) probably know this, but the new Radiohead album, IN RAINBOWS, came as quite a surprise to many. It's been two or three years since Hail to the Thief, Radiohead's last LP, and aside from worldwide touring and photographs on their website, nobody really knew when the next album would drop. Well, as fate would have it, those of us who have signed up for the Radiohead mailing list (and their friends and pretty much the rest of the world) received an email about ten days ago announcing that they would be releasing their latest album today.

Oh, but it gets better. Much better. The album, so far, is only available online. You can either purchase it in the digital form, or preorder a disc-box that will arrive some time in December. What's even better? You pay as much as you want. Zero pounds? Five pounds? A million pounds? It's yours. How fucking crazy is that?

Being the charitable soul that I am, I decided to pay one British pound for In Rainbows, which I think translated to about $1.47 charged to my credit card. This morning I received an email containing a link which allowed me to download a .zip file containing the ten, 160-kbps [sic!], DRM-free mp3 files. Easiest thing in the world. Right now the In Rainbows site is down, but when I downloaded the .zip file this morning I got great network speeds.

This means that, for the price I chose, I can now freely and legally distribute this album to whomever I want. Since Radiohead made this album completely by themselves, without a label or anything, it is solely owned by them, and, by extension, their fans. This is fucking incredible. I'm not the most knowledgeable music snob in the world, but I can't think of anybody (maybe Phish, but I'm not sure) who has done something like this before. And you know what? Radiohead will still make a killing from this album. They are always performing to sold-out shows and their merchandise sells like wildfire. They attract enough publicity to get the word out, and their fanbase is strong worldwide.

This method of delivery is truly the next great trend for musicians who are serious about their work and care more about their fans and their art than making money and bowing to (yes, I'm about to say it) big, evil corporations. Now it seems that other artists, including Oasis* and Jamiroquai, are following suit in this method. And Trent Reznor, who has been bitching about his record label since March or so, is now free from his contract with Interscope as well.

Does this mean the downfall of gigantic record labels and the RIAA? I doubt it. But it certainly gives them much cause for alarm, as more and more people realize that these behemoth money machines are no longer needed for great musicians with a solid mass of followers.

*fuck Oasis.