• 5Oct 08

  Who cares about Linux?

  Seriously. Everytime someone does a "My computer is acting wierd" thread, someone will inevitably jump up and down telling you the wonders of Linux and how much better it is then Microsoft/Apple.

  I've tried 3 different versions of Linux. Ubuntu, which won't load on this computer for god knows what reason, won't detect the internet, and can bearly run Firefox without dying on it's arse. Fedora, which decided my 8800GT graphics card couldn't handle the LOG ON SCREEN and so I had to sift through DOS like command lines in order to shut down. And finally something called Musix, which was the only one that would work for more than 20 mins, but after which decided to delete the sound off the system tray and give out System Errors like confetti at a wedding.

  I don't know if I'm supposed to know the complete inside workings of Linux in order to understand how great it is, but I feel that I shouldn't have to. Any program which slogan is "the operating system for humans" or whatever it was, should live up to that promise.

  I feel that a lot of Linux OSs and programs simply exist for the "because I can" factor. Linux systems are fine for people who know how to use them, but for the rest of us who just want to do some work or play a quick game of TF2, it's just unnecessary hassle.

  • Posted Oct 5, 2008 8:57 am PT
  • Category:
  • 2 Comments
  • Tag
  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Digg
• 7Sep 08

  Racism in Japan

  I was recently shown this video on racism in Japan.

  Now it would be extremely naive of me to argue that Japan has no racism. No matter where you go in this world you will always find people who hate you because of who you are regardless of whatever race, colour, hair, religion, shoes or glasses you currently own/are. However, this video has made me wonder a few things - mostly is it legal to place discriminatory regulations on a store's policy in Japan? Well according to Wikipedia Article 14 of the Constitution of Japan doesn't. They don't have specific hate crime laws, and so things like assault are treated as regular crimes.

  However this isn't what my point is. My point is more to do with taking these signs out of context. On this surface these seem to be akin to the "No colours allowed" signs that were prominent around America pre-1960, however I noticed something. At 0:55 of the video there's a sign entirely in Japanese. The line the guy is pointing at begins with "Nihon-go". This literally translates as "Japanese language" but it essentially means to speak Japanese. I noticed this more and more with the other signs and it becomes more clear that this isn't anything against foreigners per se. It's against "Stupid Tourist Syndrome" where if you speak your native tongue slower, louder and stand closer to whom you are speaking then they should surely understand. This is more along the lines of an old Dead Ringers sketch where they interview Abu Hamza to represent the Muslim community and then Head Dragon of the KKK to represent the white community on the war in Iraq.

  This makes a whole lot more sense seeing as I've been to 4 cities in Japan and didn't encounter any racism of that kind at all. In all honesty I've never seen such a collectively polite and curtious nation in my life. Within the next 5 years I shall be moving there to teach English as a foreign language. I cannot wait to go back.

  • Posted Sep 7, 2008 9:26 am PT
  • Category:
  • 5 Comments
  • Tag
  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Digg
• 6Sep 08

  Steaming mad

  Damn you, Steam! Damn you and your fantastic tempting deals! I've just purchased the id Super Pack (that is 22 games) for the measly sum of $41.11, or £23 in real money.

  I didn't get it just because it was cheap either, most of these games I haven't had the chance to play before. Things like Quake II and Doom 3 have always been on my list of games to play, but with little chance to play them. This should be a fun weekend.

  • Posted Sep 6, 2008 4:47 am PT
  • Category:
  • 1 Comment
  • Tag
  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Digg

See Previous Blog Posts