[rescue] Computerfests (was: first real server hardware)

[Jonathan C. Patschke]

On Sat, 17 Apr 2004, Dave McGuire wrote:

>    I don't want to hear it.  I have fucking _CRAY SUPERCOMPUTERS_ here
> that I haven't touched in eons.

Yeah, I know.  And I have a garage full of microcomputers, useless (to
me) old PDP11s, and other crap.  I feel bad about the really useful
boxes (like the AS2100As) that only rarely see a powerup due to my not
having anything particularly useful for them to do.

You keeping those Crays is worthwhile whether you power them on or not.
Those machines, by their very nature are rare.  Merely by preserving
them, you're helping maintain the state of the art of computing.  The
same can't be said for a couple of RS/6000 43Ps and a couple 32-bit
SGIs.

>    I need need NEED to get out of this "busy busy busy" mode in which
> EVERY MOMENT OF THE DAY is spent making just barely enough money to
> keep myself fed.

You and me both.  I leave work every day just -rarin'- to get home and
get some hacking done, but evening traffic always takes the wind out of
my sails.  I could rant for EONS on the utterly fruitless stupidity of
our society's clock[0] fetish that makes almost everyone work the same
hours.  This is triply-stupid for someone like me who can only do the
biggest part of his work outside business hours.  Yet, everyday, I have
to warm that chair for 8 hours.  GRRRR.

And then, when you get somewhere, finally, the suits from .gov take it
all away, at the point of a gun and under threat of imprisonment and
permanent loss of civil rights, to feed/clothe/bathe/medicate/educate
someone who doesn't have their shit together.  Our society -rewards- bad
behavior.  Ask any suit or crackwhore with 8 kids on welfare: crime
pays.

I'm partially proud of myself but mostly disgusted at my government to
say that I paid more in federal taxes this year than I -made- last year.
I could (barely) survive on what I paid to irs.gov this last year.

> Life is not supposed to be this way, even if it is "the norm" in this
> fucked-up society.

No, it isn't, but it's difficult to attain escape velocity to leave "The
System".  I'm working on it.  I have So Many projects I could turn into
viable, sellable products, but dammit.  I have no energy[1], and, when I
do, I almost don't see the point in fighting the juggernauts and only
want to play my music and go to bed.


[0] There are deeply-rooted psychological reasons why I only have ONE
    clock on my house.  I can't stand the stupid things.  If my body's
    internal clock isn't accurate enough, too bad.  Replace me with a
    quartz oscillator.
[1] Which, from SWMBO's account of my sleeping, sounds like the result
    of sleep apnea.
-- 
Jonathan Patschke  ) "Being on the Internet is not the same as being
Elgin, TX         (   famous.  That's like calling Cheetos 'dinner'."
USA                )                                    --Metal Steve