Rory's Journal

Balance:
  The art of creating stability by destabilizing already stable areas in an attempt to create a constant level.

I've discovered some new markers for where you are in your life. Spam. Spam e-mail will tell you where you are and what you have done. I used to get the beginners spam. That's the spam that advertises going to some website for some stupid reason. Then, I started to get e-mail about getting ready for college. I don't know how they knew I was in college, but they managed to send it to me. After that, it was spam about getting a scholarship to pay for college, or about students in general. Now, I get spam about home mortgages. I don't own a home yet, but they seem to think I could. Maybe in a few years I'll be receiving spam about getting money for sending my kids to college, only to be followed by planning my retirement spam. So, before you empty your e-mail trash folder, maybe you should take a second to read the headlines. Where are you in your life now?

A few days ago I was searching for an awesome piece of technology and I found it. A badass open source audio/video converter that pretty much takes any kind of media file you pass it and turns into another one that you desire. Programs like these aren't seen every day. This is a program that definitely goes in my ultimate program collection. Unfortunately for anyone interested in video convertion, it is a Linux only program, or Mac OSX. Basically, anything with gcc compiler, so you could probably get it working for Windows... Naw, just install Linux. I just needed to put that out there because it's such an awesome program. More info found here.

Why can't Romeo and Juliet just work out in the end. They come so close, yet lose everything. The symbolism is there for me, but I like it when beautiful things are made reality. Love should always work out.

I bid you warning my friends and family. The movie title, "Epic Movie" is an abomination and crime against humanity. Avoid this and all other movies created by the producers, writers, and directors of this movie. I feel like I have had my money stolen and then I was raped repeatedly until I had no conscious thought of happiness. There should be laws to protect people from movies like these. This movie reminds me of why people steal and download movies. This is time and money I will never get back. I truly believe that my penis is two inches smaller because I saw this movie. I must rest now as my soul as been drained of all life.

For your reference: The creators are Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer. Next time you go to see a movie, download it. If you can't do that, then make sure that it is NOT written by these worthless shit-head hacks. Untrained, wild baboons using toothpicks dipped in fudge could write a script that would be a breathtaking sonnet in comparison.

Today, for my job, I had to install two brand new Dell computers at a clients house. Each of these new computers had Windows Vista installed on them, Microsoft's brand-new Operating System to the uninitiated. The goal after configuring these systems was to get them to network with an older Windows XP computer. I also needed to get two printers to print across the network from any computer to any printer. Does that sound complicated? It actually isn't. If you use ANYTHING else besides Vista. Under normal circumstances, you set the computers up, plug in the network cables, plug the printers in to network cables, and on each computer you "Add a Printer" and tell the computer to look on the network for it. That's it. Done. Except Vista.

Vista refused to see the XP computer, network setting were perfect. Trust me, I've installed networks and computers before. The settings were exact. Because of that alone I could not get the computers to see any of the printers. To over complicate things, Vista kept trying to secure the damn network, which means halfway through this ordeal, even the Vista computers stopped talking to each other. Vista has a new security protocol where it asks you if you want to perform a high level operation. Since these computers were for a client, they had no passwords. But, Vista diligently continued to ask me to click the damn OK button to do things. Which in turn, were the incorrect things because I couldn't find the right stuff under any of the "usual spots".

In the end, I got nothing done. Which looks horrible to a client that wants everything to go smoothly. If you are thinking of upgrading, I advise you with all of the knowledge of computers that is in my head, DO NOT UPGRADE. You will find that your usual programs do NOT work, the hardware (even some certified for Vista by Microsoft) will not function properly as some of it is STILL in Beta development. You are better of sticking with Windows XP. If you feel that the OS is outdated or getting too old for you let me suggest a few things. Buy a Mac! Or, try Linux. Believe it or not Linux has gotten amazingly stable and easy to use. Try it on an old computer instead of throwing it out. You may find yourself more productive on the Linux system. It isn't scary, or just for hackers. But, you could always go the Mac route, throw their mouse away, and plug in the mouse from your old system. You can do that! And it will work miracles on your Mac.

Please take my advice. I have experience and expertise in this field. I know you will call me one day and ask way Vista is crap. And I will only shed a tear for you, because I am going to pretend that Vista is not an option. Because it isn't.

Legal Notice: "Use of Linux or Mac products may incite productivity, feelings of usefulness, spurts of creativity, feelings of utter freedom, anger towards oppression, active use of choices, destructive feelings towards blue windows, provocative writings of passion, artistic nature, or other expressive outlets due to full and open use of your computer. Endorsement of your choice is in no way connected to Mr. Rory Brown, but if he is telling you to buy a Mac, Vista MUST be very bad!"
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