Rant. (OSS)

Yay for rants.

Sitting in the Union yesterday and playing True Swing Golf at Upper Deck Tuesday night made me realize something. Although Linux/Unix/etc. free operating systems and such are "superior" to that of Microsofts works, it will never win over until something happens. That something is the day Open Source advocators take their heads, and remove it from fellow OSS supporters asses. What exactly does that mean? Its simple really. The reason OSS doesnt spread is because the advocators of it feel that if you cant figure out yourself you dont deserve to. Picture a circle. Now picture the circle is a ring of OSS supporters. Now picture them inserting their head into the fellow members ass. Makes a cozy lil circle dont you agree? When I ask a simple question of how, it gets answered with "noob." Already I find myself warming up to Microsofts "communistic" ways. (Communistic refers to what most of my Linux savvy friends call Microsoft.)

They get it right, while the rest simply phail. (I play games, I know the proper spelling is 'fail'.) I think I have more fun calling Microsofts tech support than I do asking a person how to install Linux. As the old saying goes, "You can attract more flies with honey than vinegar." If Linux/Unix ever wants to flourish and be truly used. They need to make it "average" person friendly. I fit into that average category. Sure I can replace PC parts and semi-sorta troubleshoot, but cannot use a command line interface to save my life. Until someone is willing to discuss how to use an Open Source OS and its functions without a condescending tone, I say fuck it.

Dont even start to think I am uneducated. I am on my Sophmore year in Bemidji State University and study global affairs. I understand human on human interaction and acting as the "superior one" can always leave a bad taste.

After thought. On my section about making it user friendly, I dont mean change the way linux is. I refer to the people supporting it. Make them more people friendly.

Huzzah!

Well, I got lazy this morning again. I got up at 10am, (when my first class is), brushed my teeth and then walked across campus to my 11am class which is in the same room. I looked at the door and guess what. It was cancelled again, just like on Monday. For a moment I was very joyous.

Watched some of that movie "The New World" in my 11am class. All I can say is the music loop needs to either get extended or toned down. Also the time lapse of events had me so lost. I guess thats what happens when you retell old tales. Things get trippy. Had alot of fun in my World Regional Geography class. We discussed more on Africa and its resources and how geometric borders have a massive impact on the way socities live.

Speaking of movies that reminds me... I need to buy the extended version of Kingdom of Heaven. Awesome movie.

Bought myself a "snoopy" aviators cap last night. Cant wait for it to get here. I love aviation and enjoy collecting things involved with the field. This one though I can wear around.

Oh well, time for work. I get to sit here and think of things I can do, and will prolly never do cause thats what you do when your bored. Find things you can do, then just get distracted by something else that doesnt require as many calories.

Rowrgh...

Oh boy has it been cold. Walked outside this morn, took a deep breath, and coughed. Yeah, the air had that lovely "oh so crisp" feel to it. The kind that freezes over your nasal passages and forms ice on any facial hair you might have.

Anywho...

Made it to the HS building at about 10am to find class was cancelled. Yay me. So I ran about trying to finish up my Intro to Map Use homework. Was supposed to find a Mount Tom in California. Spent 30 minutes in the map room trying to find it, then gave up because im lazy and the maps are in no order what-so-ever. Went to my two other lectures. Had some steamed rice and Kung Pao Chicken. Unsure what the Kung Pao is all about but meh... Tasted ok to me. Of course my friend Kevin (from China), just had to try some.

While eating we found out Canada has 10 provinces and 3 territories. Learn something new each day I suppose. Continued my day by going to the map class. Found out the homework is not due til Feb. 12th... Next week, I know. Got into a panicked stupor for nothing at all. Sure hope Orie is ok. I have a feeling he wont admit that he cries himself to sleep each night worried about Algorithms. Thank God I have no more math classes... *laughs at Orie*

Been a while.

Well. It's been a while since I have posted anything but don't worry, I shall be posting more now.

This morning at about 4 a.m. I was watching the History Channel on Pearl Harbor when the thought struck me that no matter, there will always be war. I'm not saying I love violence and etcetera but people will always fight. Ideals, money, material items, war will always be waiting. Whether or not people choose to fight for what they believe in is a totally different discussion. My thoughts are that as one generation that had lived through and witnessed what war has done and can do pass on, the next lose these understandings and once again the cycle ensues. It's pretty much a given that their shall always be conflict's of interest. Just look at modern society here in the States. Sure you can blame the government for everything, or your neighbors. When in fact it is each and every citizen's duty to support and protect it's country. It is the people who are responsible for our own country, and for those that hate this country, why not leave? If it has been so bad then move out, make room for those that have worked hard to come here or those that do work hard here.

That is it for now. I will continue this in a later posting. Hope it gives maybe a different perspective of thought on things.

Time. (Paper from High School)

This is just a paper I did my senior year of high school. Enjoy.

Time

By: Warren Helms

I think Van Morrison used the subject of time and patience in his work. That he tried to interpret the feeling of urgency we all get to want to rush... and that we must learn that sometimes it is better to wait for the moment to blossom into its full potential.

~Waiting Game~

"Sometimes pure joy it comes with patience"

In life, there are lots of instances that require one to wait before they can truly be enjoyed. For example a good steak or a good meal, it has to be fully prepared before it can be enjoyed to its fullest potential. Or a more common one being wine, it has to sit many years on a shelf waiting to reach perfection.

"I am the observer who is observing"

As an observer, one is required to have great patience due to the high amount of time required in making an observation. They have to be able to make these observations in a totally unbiased manner, untainted by any outside ideals.

"When the leaves come tumbling down, remember"

Fall comes around once a year, the time spent waiting for this single event requires patience throughout three quarters of a year. Even after the event, the memory remains, possible due to the joy of receiving a pleasure after exerting the effort and time to witness such an event.

~The Healing Game~

"I'’m back on the corner again"

It appears that he has been in this situation once, and has the patience to wait it out and start over again. In order for wounds to heal it takes time and patience for one to be mended back into a safe state.

"Sing their songs of praise '‘Bout their golden days"

Although that time had past... memories remained within the ones that had experienced it. Now they sit with patience until their time of life passes.

~Precious Time~

"”Precious time is slipping away"

Much patience was spent waiting for that precious moment in time. Once it occurs, that precious time seems to pass far too quickly, leaving one with the emotion of being robbed of their moment. But as it is said, time will also heal many a wound, no matter its severity.

"Well the fire'’s still in me and the passion burns"”

Despite the passing moment, a "fire" of passion remains for that cherished moment. Though it may be lost in time... it still carries weight and meaning to those affected by it.

"”I love a medley '‘til the day I die"

In order to experience the full medley of life, one has to maintain patience throughout the event in order to savor its full potential. A medley cannot be taken in at one moment and fully comprehended right then at its given moment. It has to be thought out, and tested with time to unravel its many mysteries.

Time is but a human concept... and the emotions normally associated with it can be devastating or a great pleasure at its given moment. Patience is attached time since what we want cannot be given at that moment. Even though time was created by humans, it still holds much significance in everything we do. We practically live by it. Our bodies organic structure is created in time... it grows, it develops. But then, at a set moment within our "“internal clock"”, the bodys’ organic structure starts to crumble. Thus beginning the process of deterioration. It is that very process that makes us "clock watchers"” to our own end. It makes us treasure that given amount of time in which we have to live. But with that comes the patience and wait for the "“certain end"” which we all face. We watch in observance as others carry out the process before our very eyes, and are also being watched by other curious eyes. We remember those times of ups and downs throughout our "“time span"”. A good example of this is Roy Batty and the other androids of Blade Runner. Roy is subject to many experiences that are beyond even human conception as he is enslaved by humans to do their work. But even he “"feels"” and is touched by those rare moments in time that he is afraid shall be lost forever. It is best described in what he says... before his timely death. “"I've seen things you people wouldn'’t believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched c-beams... glitter in the dark near Tanhauser Gate. All those... moments will be lost... in time, like tears... in rain. Time... to die."” It is the very cherished moments like those that we all take in and keep, in hopes that time will somehow make it last forever. But the truth being... once those moments have passed... they truly are lost, in time, washed away as if "tears in the rain."”

I think that along the lines of "“time, patience, and life"”, Philip K. Dicks'’ "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" and Van Morrisons' theme have a lot in common. That it is the very moments in the time of ones life that causes the unstoppable craving for more. The androids had tasted life, and wanted more, but the creator had made them with an expiration date. They went to any extent in order to preserve their memories that they carried with them, in hopes of letting the moment flourish into an eternity. But all moments have to die eventually, just as we must one day pass on to make room for new beings, to create and enjoy their own moments in life.

I think Van Morrison realized this, and tried to tie it in with his work, that moments in time are what drive us to either keep waiting patiently or give up in haste. That the patient one is greatly rewarded in the end for their efforts of time and moments given up in hopes of an even greater instant. Possible life is just a large test of our patience, given by a "“higher power"” and that we must keep that flame burning within us lit, to show for our efforts. Even after they have tumbled down from a graceful moment into the form of a crumpled lifeless leaf in the months of fall, we do not forget... Those live on forever within us, as a memory, nah... something more, as an experience that continues to grow and flourish within ourselves. To be cherished forever... eternally... internally. To never reoccur in the realm of actual time.