People Are Idiots
People are idiots. Computers are not magical, they don't do anything you want. They are still bound by the rules of the universe. On the other hand, they can still do more, than anyone could have fathomed in the the past. Where does the line of possible and impossible stand.
Most people in the world today don't know where it is computers stand. Geeks, like me, don't seem to understand that most of the time. We ramble on about what we can do. What is happening in the world or technology. All the time the public listens in complete disbelief.
Some people think of computers as a mysterious box, it could be dangerous, its overly complicated and of course the hackers will get you! The fear of computers doesn't come from us geeks but, from the media. They play up how some obscure server some where is gathering your soul and selling it to communist, spammer, terrorists, who later come to your house and rape your family. I've heard of old ladies throwing there computers in the bathtubs, so the hackers don't get them!
Now, the view of omnipotency of computers have Hollywood to blame. Computers can't blow stuff up at will, you can't delete someone from a computer, they aren't hand grenades, and four year old children don't know how to make a virus. The other day, someone came to me, and said they were wondering what wireless laptop to get. We got talking and she said "I can't wait until I have my new laptop. I can have Internet every where!". This shocked me, and was the main reason for writing this story, some how she got in her head that 'wireless' meant 'everywhere' Of course, being in Canada, this is far from true.
People have come to me before and asked "Can you fix my computer". Every time I hear this I cringe. There are two possible outcomes to my situation. I fix it and get no thanks at all. Being your friendly neighborhood geek. It's my civic duty to solve all problems. Without complaint. Or, If I don't fix it. It's my fault! I of course have to PAY for the damages! this blows. One of my friends once tried to blame me for the death of their hard drive even after I fixed it... twice. Not to mention a laptop that was broken, that was entirely not my fault but, that's so obvious I'm not even going into detail about it.
Future 'Can you fix my computer's' I am not a magician. I don't solve all problems. I have no money back guaranty, and sorry, sometimes not every fix is free.
Most people in the world today don't know where it is computers stand. Geeks, like me, don't seem to understand that most of the time. We ramble on about what we can do. What is happening in the world or technology. All the time the public listens in complete disbelief.
Some people think of computers as a mysterious box, it could be dangerous, its overly complicated and of course the hackers will get you! The fear of computers doesn't come from us geeks but, from the media. They play up how some obscure server some where is gathering your soul and selling it to communist, spammer, terrorists, who later come to your house and rape your family. I've heard of old ladies throwing there computers in the bathtubs, so the hackers don't get them!
Now, the view of omnipotency of computers have Hollywood to blame. Computers can't blow stuff up at will, you can't delete someone from a computer, they aren't hand grenades, and four year old children don't know how to make a virus. The other day, someone came to me, and said they were wondering what wireless laptop to get. We got talking and she said "I can't wait until I have my new laptop. I can have Internet every where!". This shocked me, and was the main reason for writing this story, some how she got in her head that 'wireless' meant 'everywhere' Of course, being in Canada, this is far from true.
People have come to me before and asked "Can you fix my computer". Every time I hear this I cringe. There are two possible outcomes to my situation. I fix it and get no thanks at all. Being your friendly neighborhood geek. It's my civic duty to solve all problems. Without complaint. Or, If I don't fix it. It's my fault! I of course have to PAY for the damages! this blows. One of my friends once tried to blame me for the death of their hard drive even after I fixed it... twice. Not to mention a laptop that was broken, that was entirely not my fault but, that's so obvious I'm not even going into detail about it.
Future 'Can you fix my computer's' I am not a magician. I don't solve all problems. I have no money back guaranty, and sorry, sometimes not every fix is free.
Labels: life, psychology, technology
Bad Photography
Have you ever noticed how stale and uninspired photographs are on social networks, and the Internet in general? It seems like everyone is just posing, every shot looks unnatural and identical. Where are the candids? Where is the thought? Photography is for capturing a moment in time; for documentation. Not so you take as many photo's of your friends touching each other and smiling as possible.
There are two major types of bad Internet photography. There are what we call the 'Emo Shots'. Those of which usually include a single person showing very little emotion, or if any, a negative one. These shots are almost always either in sepia tone, or black and white. A very common variation of this category includes the 'Emo' in question taking a picture of another camera, or themselves in front of some type reflective surface. These 'Emo' Photographers usually claim to have great skill in the photographic medium. All though this may be true, in most reported cases this can be seen as a complete fabrication.
The second major type of bad Internet photography, is what we call 'Group Huggies'. Which has a group of people attempting to center themselves in a medium close-up to a medium shot while smiling, in an unnatural manner. This of course is secretly, or openly hated by everyone. We don't care that you were all hugging in front of a camera. Maybe if you were all hugging when you didn't know a camera was watching. Of course, no one would do that. A camera changes people. My self included.
Camera's were invented to capture a moment in time. Not to be one. How about the next time you have a camera, just take pictures. Don't have people Line up, or stick there tongue out. Just let them be themselves. I promise you, the best pictures you take will be the ones you didn't plan.
There are two major types of bad Internet photography. There are what we call the 'Emo Shots'. Those of which usually include a single person showing very little emotion, or if any, a negative one. These shots are almost always either in sepia tone, or black and white. A very common variation of this category includes the 'Emo' in question taking a picture of another camera, or themselves in front of some type reflective surface. These 'Emo' Photographers usually claim to have great skill in the photographic medium. All though this may be true, in most reported cases this can be seen as a complete fabrication.
The second major type of bad Internet photography, is what we call 'Group Huggies'. Which has a group of people attempting to center themselves in a medium close-up to a medium shot while smiling, in an unnatural manner. This of course is secretly, or openly hated by everyone. We don't care that you were all hugging in front of a camera. Maybe if you were all hugging when you didn't know a camera was watching. Of course, no one would do that. A camera changes people. My self included.
Camera's were invented to capture a moment in time. Not to be one. How about the next time you have a camera, just take pictures. Don't have people Line up, or stick there tongue out. Just let them be themselves. I promise you, the best pictures you take will be the ones you didn't plan.
Labels: life, psychology
How I got my Wii
I was all ready to wait in line for Wii. I had set my alarm clock and was going to be up at 11PM to wait in line (I slept all day). The problem is... I never woke up. So, I got up at 6AM. I was so sure I wouldn't be getting a Wii, but I didn't give up.
I went to Walmart. And there were about 200 people waiting there. I knew I wouldn't be getting one there so, I moved on. I found myself at a Zellers several minutes later. To my surprise there wasn't a single person there! It may have been Zellers bad reputation, or just the fact that people didn't know it was selling. Either way, it was my lucky day. I stood in line for about 40min. when someone else arrived. We talked about games, why the PS3 sucks, etc. So, over the hours until 9AM -opening hour-. About 15 people arrived. Most of them over 50, all looking for Christmas gifts. In fact the only two there who wanted to play the Wii were me and my new found friend. We thought it was wrong. they were going to keep the Wii in the house. Sealed. Un-played. for over a month. We'll... we decided to do something about it. We became the most annoying things on the earth. We sung. And danced. and all around were very rude.It worked! Many in the back of the line left. But... of course some were very stubborn.
At this point Zellers staff stepped in. In an attempt to stop any... violence... they made TWO 'tickets'. That's right. Only two... And of course. Given to the first two in line. Justice. The rightful people were going to get the Wii's. But that would be to easy wouldn't it? The 50 year old women in front of me was making a fuss. She didn't think it was fair there weren't enough for everyone. So she came to both me and my friend and said she'd give me $50 for it. I could only say one thing to that... "I've got the golden ticket!" I ran around saying. She wasn't amused... She was ranting on about "I'm your elder." and "You disrespectful little...", Anyway, everyone else left. I went in to buy my Wii, and heard her in the background yelling at the manager.
In the end I bought a Wii, one Wii-mote, one Nun chuck and three games.
I went to Walmart. And there were about 200 people waiting there. I knew I wouldn't be getting one there so, I moved on. I found myself at a Zellers several minutes later. To my surprise there wasn't a single person there! It may have been Zellers bad reputation, or just the fact that people didn't know it was selling. Either way, it was my lucky day. I stood in line for about 40min. when someone else arrived. We talked about games, why the PS3 sucks, etc. So, over the hours until 9AM -opening hour-. About 15 people arrived. Most of them over 50, all looking for Christmas gifts. In fact the only two there who wanted to play the Wii were me and my new found friend. We thought it was wrong. they were going to keep the Wii in the house. Sealed. Un-played. for over a month. We'll... we decided to do something about it. We became the most annoying things on the earth. We sung. And danced. and all around were very rude.It worked! Many in the back of the line left. But... of course some were very stubborn.
At this point Zellers staff stepped in. In an attempt to stop any... violence... they made TWO 'tickets'. That's right. Only two... And of course. Given to the first two in line. Justice. The rightful people were going to get the Wii's. But that would be to easy wouldn't it? The 50 year old women in front of me was making a fuss. She didn't think it was fair there weren't enough for everyone. So she came to both me and my friend and said she'd give me $50 for it. I could only say one thing to that... "I've got the golden ticket!" I ran around saying. She wasn't amused... She was ranting on about "I'm your elder." and "You disrespectful little...", Anyway, everyone else left. I went in to buy my Wii, and heard her in the background yelling at the manager.
In the end I bought a Wii, one Wii-mote, one Nun chuck and three games.
Labels: gaming, internet, life, pictures, psychology, technology, video