 | "Honesty is the best politics."
-- Stan Laurel | |
Monday, September 27, 2004
Illegal Operation? Am I Under Arrest?
Illegal Operation? Am I Under Arrest?
"[Something] has performed an illegal operation."
Everyone has seen this popular (and I do mean popular as in frequent) Windows error. What a terrible name for an error. People actually think they have broken the law! Microsoft, why did you go with this syntax? Was there something legal about the code to begin with?
It just goes to show what one of the most litagated companies always has on its mind.
Sure, I don't think I'm actually holding a furry rodent to move the cursor across my screen and when someone says his computer has a bug, I don't reach for a can of Raid. But those are obvious, cute computer names. Illegal operation is just wrong. It will never catch on. They are just plain errors or exceptions.
"WARNING: You have just killed your mother. Do you wish to reboot?"
"[Something] has performed an illegal operation."
Everyone has seen this popular (and I do mean popular as in frequent) Windows error. What a terrible name for an error. People actually think they have broken the law! Microsoft, why did you go with this syntax? Was there something legal about the code to begin with?
It just goes to show what one of the most litagated companies always has on its mind.
Sure, I don't think I'm actually holding a furry rodent to move the cursor across my screen and when someone says his computer has a bug, I don't reach for a can of Raid. But those are obvious, cute computer names. Illegal operation is just wrong. It will never catch on. They are just plain errors or exceptions.
"WARNING: You have just killed your mother. Do you wish to reboot?"
Thursday, September 23, 2004
Progeny
A friend of mine and his wife just had their first child, a boy. Here's what he had say about his son being born:
I'll see for myself in about four months.
"Take your highest high, and then throw it away....because it won't compare"
I'll see for myself in about four months.
Ass Out Of You And Me
Ass Out Of You And Me
I have been accused many times in the past of turning a blind eye to a situation or I have been incorrectly labeled in a certain ideology. When this happens, I have essentially been judged by that accuser. The problem is, I think I have been judged unfarily because I don't always see it that way. Sometimes they're right but sometimes not and I think I have been unfairly judged by people who don't want to take the time to understand the complexity of something and truly know what the situation is.
First off, I don't see it as turning a blind eye to something. To turn a blind eye to something, you have to be aware of the situation and actively ignore it. It's an issue of a guilty conscience and it's not that I live with mine, it's that I don't have one about the situation I'm supposedly ignoring.
So what is it? What am I doing (or not doing)? I am refusing to make an assumption about something until all the facts are in. And here's the shocker; to me, it's not even important if the facts never come in. I'm content and things are safer as long as I don't make the assumption.
I don't understand why is it so important to people to make assumptions? You know what that is called, don't you? Jumping to conclusions. When has that ever been a good thing? If you're jumping to a certain position, that means you are leaping over something, passing objects by without even a glance. If you jump to conclusions, you're in a hurry or your lazy or ignorance tells you you already have all the facts so make your decision now. I lose a little respect for these people, but I know it's a common behavior, so since you all do it (including me but to a lot smaller degree than anyone I know), I can deal with it. But you'll quickly fall off my 'intelligent people' list everytime you do this to me, just so you know.
So what's the solution? If you're ignorant of a situation, why not just wait? Why draw a conclusion? Is your report to your Professor due? Is your editor jumping on you to get this story in before the presses roll? Is your C.O. preparing his plan of attack and needs your intelligence right away? If you're under a deadline, by all means, make your best guess. Otherwise, just enjoy it before you judge it. In fact, never judge it.
Assumptions lead to miscommunication, absence of justice, disagreement, offense, wars, religious extremism, violence, racism, sexism, poverty, illness, apathy, destruction - the list goes on.
Do some homework before you open your mouth, or better yet, don't open it.
Making a guess (and making it clear you're only guessing) is not the same as assuming. Feel free to be as prophetic as you want. It's ok if you stink at it. You put your reputation on the line and that's what it'll cost you if you're wrong. Judging someone else though, brings into it more than just your reputation and that's where the trouble begins.
I am definitely a Libra to think this way. The balanced view. I don't happen to believe in astrology, it just seems to be a coincidence that I live my sign to the tee. I don't dare assume I am a Libra in every sense of the term though.
I have been accused many times in the past of turning a blind eye to a situation or I have been incorrectly labeled in a certain ideology. When this happens, I have essentially been judged by that accuser. The problem is, I think I have been judged unfarily because I don't always see it that way. Sometimes they're right but sometimes not and I think I have been unfairly judged by people who don't want to take the time to understand the complexity of something and truly know what the situation is.
First off, I don't see it as turning a blind eye to something. To turn a blind eye to something, you have to be aware of the situation and actively ignore it. It's an issue of a guilty conscience and it's not that I live with mine, it's that I don't have one about the situation I'm supposedly ignoring.
So what is it? What am I doing (or not doing)? I am refusing to make an assumption about something until all the facts are in. And here's the shocker; to me, it's not even important if the facts never come in. I'm content and things are safer as long as I don't make the assumption.
I don't understand why is it so important to people to make assumptions? You know what that is called, don't you? Jumping to conclusions. When has that ever been a good thing? If you're jumping to a certain position, that means you are leaping over something, passing objects by without even a glance. If you jump to conclusions, you're in a hurry or your lazy or ignorance tells you you already have all the facts so make your decision now. I lose a little respect for these people, but I know it's a common behavior, so since you all do it (including me but to a lot smaller degree than anyone I know), I can deal with it. But you'll quickly fall off my 'intelligent people' list everytime you do this to me, just so you know.
So what's the solution? If you're ignorant of a situation, why not just wait? Why draw a conclusion? Is your report to your Professor due? Is your editor jumping on you to get this story in before the presses roll? Is your C.O. preparing his plan of attack and needs your intelligence right away? If you're under a deadline, by all means, make your best guess. Otherwise, just enjoy it before you judge it. In fact, never judge it.
Assumptions lead to miscommunication, absence of justice, disagreement, offense, wars, religious extremism, violence, racism, sexism, poverty, illness, apathy, destruction - the list goes on.
Do some homework before you open your mouth, or better yet, don't open it.
Making a guess (and making it clear you're only guessing) is not the same as assuming. Feel free to be as prophetic as you want. It's ok if you stink at it. You put your reputation on the line and that's what it'll cost you if you're wrong. Judging someone else though, brings into it more than just your reputation and that's where the trouble begins.
I am definitely a Libra to think this way. The balanced view. I don't happen to believe in astrology, it just seems to be a coincidence that I live my sign to the tee. I don't dare assume I am a Libra in every sense of the term though.
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
Cool Weather, Cool Gifts
First off, welcome Fall.
Second, three entertainment pieces came out yesterday that I want.
1) Star Wars trilogy DVD set (the good ones even though Lucas left in his crap revisions)
2) Mr. Show Season 4 which will cap my Mr. Show collection. The show lived too brief a life.
3) Van Halen: Best of Both Worlds. I don't feel tardy.
Second, three entertainment pieces came out yesterday that I want.
1) Star Wars trilogy DVD set (the good ones even though Lucas left in his crap revisions)
2) Mr. Show Season 4 which will cap my Mr. Show collection. The show lived too brief a life.
3) Van Halen: Best of Both Worlds. I don't feel tardy.
Monday, September 20, 2004
O Draconian Devil, O Lame Saint
O Draconian Devil, O Lame Saint
I've been reading this really fascinating book called The Da Vinci Code. I didn't think I'd like it because I usually don't read anything that isn't Dune related or at least Scifi, but I gave it a try when my neighbor handed it to me and now I can't put it down - well obivously I can at some point but I do have to work and post blog entries.
The story is very interesting, especially for a geek like me who likes nothing more than to keep a storehouse of useless trivia in my brain. This book delivers and cites the origins of many well known symbols and phrases in our society.
I'm about half way through it, but I'd recommend it. It has a fictional story in a non-fiction location, so there is a plot at work to keep you interested in case you were thinking it was just pages and pages of trivia crap.
My title for this entry is an anagram from the book. See if you can figure it out.
I've been reading this really fascinating book called The Da Vinci Code. I didn't think I'd like it because I usually don't read anything that isn't Dune related or at least Scifi, but I gave it a try when my neighbor handed it to me and now I can't put it down - well obivously I can at some point but I do have to work and post blog entries.
The story is very interesting, especially for a geek like me who likes nothing more than to keep a storehouse of useless trivia in my brain. This book delivers and cites the origins of many well known symbols and phrases in our society.
I'm about half way through it, but I'd recommend it. It has a fictional story in a non-fiction location, so there is a plot at work to keep you interested in case you were thinking it was just pages and pages of trivia crap.
My title for this entry is an anagram from the book. See if you can figure it out.
Friday, September 17, 2004
First Pictures Of The Fruit Of My Loins
First Pictures Of The Fruit Of My Loins
That's little Lockette, my future daughter. I guess I won't get to call my child Tumor after all.
She's waving. Wave back. DO IT! NOW! There.
Fruit of my loins. What an odd phrase. Why not Veggies? Veggie of my loins? The lesson here is don't be foodist.
That's little Lockette, my future daughter. I guess I won't get to call my child Tumor after all.
She's waving. Wave back. DO IT! NOW! There.
Fruit of my loins. What an odd phrase. Why not Veggies? Veggie of my loins? The lesson here is don't be foodist.
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