In the dark of the night, one torch and then another was seen moving across the countryside. Soon lines of torches appeared, all converging on the central square of the city of Ubuntu. It was the time for the semi-annual Ubuntu release party and people from all over the land of Linux were making the pilgrimage.
Crowds of people gathered around the flickering bonfire burning strong in the square. A semi-circle of towering statues gleamed in the firelight. One was a skinny-legged heron, looking down on the crowd. To the right was the statue of an ibex. The next was a mythical beast -- a jackalope with buck-toothed grin on his face and antlers on his head. Next to it was a koala chewing on a eucalyptus leaf. The next was a lynx ready to pounce. The last in line was a statue covered with a large cloth looked like a ghost in the dim light, but its true form would be revealed tonight.
A slow, steady thumping of drums began as the stragglers hurried to the square. The crowd began chanting "oo-boon-too, oo-boon-too," and clapping their hands to the beat. The drums began to increase in their tempo and volume, and the chanting increased to match them. "OO-BOON-TOO! OO-BOON-TOO!" chanted the crowd louder and louder, faster and faster. Soon the chant had reached a fever pitch. Masses of moving bodies all clapping to the rhythm of the drums and chanting at the top of their lungs echoed all throughout the land of Linux.
CRASH! went the cymbals and the drums began a roll. The chanting turned into cheering as the sheet was lifted revealing the new statue. The crowd fell silent as the form of a meerkat standing on its hind legs towered above the crowd. A new chant rang out, "Maverick Meerkat! Maverick Meerkat! Maverick Meerkat!" This continued for at least an hour.
The release party went all night long. Free food and drink was supplied in abundance. By the time morning came, the crowd had dispersed, and all was silent in the city as the revelers slept off their indulgences.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Agnes finds a home
Continued from:
At first, the refugee from the kingdom of Microsoft enjoyed her new temporary dwelling. The interior of the dwelling was very well built and tastefully decorated in contrast to the curious cylindrical exterior with the mystic "Live CD" emblazoned above the doorway. The floor plan made sense to her, and it seemed to be modern and up-to-date. However, it was only two days until she became suspicious that something strange was happening. It concerned her quite a bit and so she set off to find some help.
She walked for a few minutes down the street toward the center of town and came to the LUG, a place where the locals gather to eat and drink, but most of all, to talk about Linux for hours at a time. She knew someone there could help her.
When she walked in the door, who did she see but Sir Hackalot himself.
"Hello, miss. How have you found your temporary dwelling?" he asked.
"It's very nice, but someone in this village must be a trespasser and a thief!" she exclaimed.
"My good miss! Whatever would cause you to come to that conclusion?" queried the knight.
"Well, the first day I moved in, I moved some furniture and put some new pictures on the walls. Then while I was gone on a walk, someone moved it all back. Then the next day I baked some bread and went out for some fresh air. When I came back, the bread was gone! Someone must have broken in and stolen it."
"Oh, I see!" cried Sir Hackalot. "That is why it is a temporary dwelling. When you leave your temporary dwelling, you will find that anything you did there will be set back to where it was before you moved in. Did you notice that your bed was made for you and the dishes washed as well?"
"Yes, I noticed these things too, but they did not upset me. How can I make my dwelling the way I would like it to be?" asked the woman.
"If you move into a new house, you will not have this problem. Are you ready to do that now?"
"Yes, please," replied the woman. "That would be much better than moving the furniture every day."
"Would you like me to help you find a new house?" asked the knight.
"I'd be delighted," answered the woman.
The two exited the LUG and walked together toward the outskirts of the village where the new mint-green houses were being constructed.
"This one here is unclaimed. Is this a suitable location?" asked the knight.
"It looks splendid," replied the woman. "Why is there a sheet of paper on the door?"
"It is a form to fill out for your new house," replied the knight. Taking it from the door he started to read. "You need English language, I presume?"
"Yes that would be good."
"OK... Let's see... standard keyboard... OK... Use all of the space in the house for you... OK..." Pausing a bit, he asked, "What is your name?"
"Well, my parents named me Agnes, although I was a bit stout when I was younger and some called me Fat Agnes. I would much prefer Agnes, however."
"I heartily agree, Agnes. And by the way, no one would call you Fat Agnes today. You are quite the fine specimen of a woman now."
She blushed a bit and replied, "Thank you for your kind words, sir."
"You may call me by my given name William if you would like," replied the knight.
"I'd like that very much, William," she said with a glint in her eye. Composing herself she asked, "Is that all there is to the form?"
"Oh, oh yes, the form, the form," stammered the knight. "Here is a place to write your password so that only you can enter your home. Don't tell me or anyone else what it is."
The knight handed the form to Agnes and she wrote her password on it.
"What should I do with this now?" she asked.
"See that slot to the left of the door? Slide the paper through the slot," he replied.
As Agnes began to slide the paper through the slot, a whirring sound was heard, and the paper was pulled from her fingertips. A clanking noise continued for a few seconds and then a clink of metal on metal as a key slid down a chute into a small opening beneath the slot. She took the key, and after she put the key into the door and unlocked it, a quiet arpeggio of bells was heard.
"Sounds like you are ready to move in," said the knight. "Enjoy your new home and let me know if you need anything."
"I think I already feel at home here in this village. You have made it a pleasant place for me," said Agnes, looking into his eyes.
"And you for me as well! Till we meet again!" shouted the knight as he walked away.
"Till we meet again!" returned the woman as he walked away.
As she gazed at the knight walking down the street, her mind wandered to her first order of business in her new house -- moving the furniture.
- Compassion in the Aftermath of War
- Journey from the Kingdom of Microsoft to the Land of Linux
- A New Life in the Village of Mint
- An Immigrant from the City of Ubuntu
At first, the refugee from the kingdom of Microsoft enjoyed her new temporary dwelling. The interior of the dwelling was very well built and tastefully decorated in contrast to the curious cylindrical exterior with the mystic "Live CD" emblazoned above the doorway. The floor plan made sense to her, and it seemed to be modern and up-to-date. However, it was only two days until she became suspicious that something strange was happening. It concerned her quite a bit and so she set off to find some help.
She walked for a few minutes down the street toward the center of town and came to the LUG, a place where the locals gather to eat and drink, but most of all, to talk about Linux for hours at a time. She knew someone there could help her.
When she walked in the door, who did she see but Sir Hackalot himself.
"Hello, miss. How have you found your temporary dwelling?" he asked.
"It's very nice, but someone in this village must be a trespasser and a thief!" she exclaimed.
"My good miss! Whatever would cause you to come to that conclusion?" queried the knight.
"Well, the first day I moved in, I moved some furniture and put some new pictures on the walls. Then while I was gone on a walk, someone moved it all back. Then the next day I baked some bread and went out for some fresh air. When I came back, the bread was gone! Someone must have broken in and stolen it."
"Oh, I see!" cried Sir Hackalot. "That is why it is a temporary dwelling. When you leave your temporary dwelling, you will find that anything you did there will be set back to where it was before you moved in. Did you notice that your bed was made for you and the dishes washed as well?"
"Yes, I noticed these things too, but they did not upset me. How can I make my dwelling the way I would like it to be?" asked the woman.
"If you move into a new house, you will not have this problem. Are you ready to do that now?"
"Yes, please," replied the woman. "That would be much better than moving the furniture every day."
"Would you like me to help you find a new house?" asked the knight.
"I'd be delighted," answered the woman.
The two exited the LUG and walked together toward the outskirts of the village where the new mint-green houses were being constructed.
"This one here is unclaimed. Is this a suitable location?" asked the knight.
"It looks splendid," replied the woman. "Why is there a sheet of paper on the door?"
"It is a form to fill out for your new house," replied the knight. Taking it from the door he started to read. "You need English language, I presume?"
"Yes that would be good."
"OK... Let's see... standard keyboard... OK... Use all of the space in the house for you... OK..." Pausing a bit, he asked, "What is your name?"
"Well, my parents named me Agnes, although I was a bit stout when I was younger and some called me Fat Agnes. I would much prefer Agnes, however."
"I heartily agree, Agnes. And by the way, no one would call you Fat Agnes today. You are quite the fine specimen of a woman now."
She blushed a bit and replied, "Thank you for your kind words, sir."
"You may call me by my given name William if you would like," replied the knight.
"I'd like that very much, William," she said with a glint in her eye. Composing herself she asked, "Is that all there is to the form?"
"Oh, oh yes, the form, the form," stammered the knight. "Here is a place to write your password so that only you can enter your home. Don't tell me or anyone else what it is."
The knight handed the form to Agnes and she wrote her password on it.
"What should I do with this now?" she asked.
"See that slot to the left of the door? Slide the paper through the slot," he replied.
As Agnes began to slide the paper through the slot, a whirring sound was heard, and the paper was pulled from her fingertips. A clanking noise continued for a few seconds and then a clink of metal on metal as a key slid down a chute into a small opening beneath the slot. She took the key, and after she put the key into the door and unlocked it, a quiet arpeggio of bells was heard.
"Sounds like you are ready to move in," said the knight. "Enjoy your new home and let me know if you need anything."
"I think I already feel at home here in this village. You have made it a pleasant place for me," said Agnes, looking into his eyes.
"And you for me as well! Till we meet again!" shouted the knight as he walked away.
"Till we meet again!" returned the woman as he walked away.
As she gazed at the knight walking down the street, her mind wandered to her first order of business in her new house -- moving the furniture.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
An Immigrant from the City of Ubuntu
Continued from:
One day as the shadows were lengthening and the sun was nearing the horizon, a horse-drawn cart slowly made its way through the streets of the Village of Mint. The cart was piled high with all sorts of furniture such as a kitchen table, an iron bed, wooden chairs, a large hand-carved wardrobe, and various other items. It looked as if the entire contents of a small house had been loaded onto the cart. The man driving had the appearance of a vagabond. He was a dark, shadowy character, with dirt on his face and rips in his clothing exposing dirt-covered flesh on his left arm and left leg. It was obvious that some misfortune had befallen him, and his dazed look revealed that it was not long ago.
Even though he looked disheveled and befuddled, he had a steady gaze and a clear sense of purpose in his direction; he knew where he was going.
A few of the villagers called to him as he rode by:
"Are you all right?"
"Can I help you?"
"Do you need something?"
To all these queries, he answered, "No thanks, I'll be fine soon."
He continued on his way through the streets of the village until he came to the outskirts where new mint-green houses were being constructed by volunteers. One of the houses looked nearly complete. Swinging down from his cart and limping up to the house, he spoke to the workers, "Hello, will you be done with this house today?"
"Yes, we have just finished now," was the reply.
"Is it spoken for already?" asked the man.
"No, it is yours to dwell in," replied a worker. "You look as if something dreadful has happened to you. May I ask what?"
"It is a long story," replied the man, "but in the end I'm not quite sure what really happened. I had spent a long time fixing my house in the city of Ubuntu. I had everything just the way I liked it, but then this afternoon the house crashed down around me. I don't know what caused it, but I was able to escape with my life and a few extra bruises and scrapes. I pulled out my belongings from the rubble, which I brought here in this cart. I came to the village of Mint because the houses you build already have most of the modifications I had made in my old house in the city of Ubuntu. This house looks almost like a house I would build myself. There are only a few things I will have to add."
"I'm glad to hear that you like our houses here," replied the builder. "Many people have come from the city of Ubuntu to live in our village. I hope you like it here."
"I believe I shall enjoy the quietness of this village more than the noise and hurried pace of the city."
"Well, we must be going. Enjoy your new house!"
After the workers left the house, the man washed himself and had a good night's rest. Before noon the next day, he had unpacked all his belongings and set up his new house just the way he liked it. He was very happy that he had an entirely new house in the village of Mint that was every bit as good as his highly customized house in the city of Ubuntu.
* * * * * *
By the way, this story is about me. For some reason, the Ubuntu computer I use at work refused to boot after a software update. I was able to boot from another partition on the hard drive that had an earlier version of Ubuntu so I could work the rest of the day. At the end of the day, I installed Linux Mint in about 20 minutes, and it was pretty much set up the way I liked. The easiest part with the reinstall is that all my files were in my home directory, and I didn't have to reconfigure every application. The next morning I installed the rest of the tools I use. In all, I don't think I lost more than an hour or so. Try that with reinstalling Windows!
- Compassion in the Aftermath of War
- Journey from the Kingdom of Microsoft to the Land of Linux
- A New Life in the Village of Mint
One day as the shadows were lengthening and the sun was nearing the horizon, a horse-drawn cart slowly made its way through the streets of the Village of Mint. The cart was piled high with all sorts of furniture such as a kitchen table, an iron bed, wooden chairs, a large hand-carved wardrobe, and various other items. It looked as if the entire contents of a small house had been loaded onto the cart. The man driving had the appearance of a vagabond. He was a dark, shadowy character, with dirt on his face and rips in his clothing exposing dirt-covered flesh on his left arm and left leg. It was obvious that some misfortune had befallen him, and his dazed look revealed that it was not long ago.
Even though he looked disheveled and befuddled, he had a steady gaze and a clear sense of purpose in his direction; he knew where he was going.
A few of the villagers called to him as he rode by:
"Are you all right?"
"Can I help you?"
"Do you need something?"
To all these queries, he answered, "No thanks, I'll be fine soon."
He continued on his way through the streets of the village until he came to the outskirts where new mint-green houses were being constructed by volunteers. One of the houses looked nearly complete. Swinging down from his cart and limping up to the house, he spoke to the workers, "Hello, will you be done with this house today?"
"Yes, we have just finished now," was the reply.
"Is it spoken for already?" asked the man.
"No, it is yours to dwell in," replied a worker. "You look as if something dreadful has happened to you. May I ask what?"
"It is a long story," replied the man, "but in the end I'm not quite sure what really happened. I had spent a long time fixing my house in the city of Ubuntu. I had everything just the way I liked it, but then this afternoon the house crashed down around me. I don't know what caused it, but I was able to escape with my life and a few extra bruises and scrapes. I pulled out my belongings from the rubble, which I brought here in this cart. I came to the village of Mint because the houses you build already have most of the modifications I had made in my old house in the city of Ubuntu. This house looks almost like a house I would build myself. There are only a few things I will have to add."
"I'm glad to hear that you like our houses here," replied the builder. "Many people have come from the city of Ubuntu to live in our village. I hope you like it here."
"I believe I shall enjoy the quietness of this village more than the noise and hurried pace of the city."
"Well, we must be going. Enjoy your new house!"
After the workers left the house, the man washed himself and had a good night's rest. Before noon the next day, he had unpacked all his belongings and set up his new house just the way he liked it. He was very happy that he had an entirely new house in the village of Mint that was every bit as good as his highly customized house in the city of Ubuntu.
By the way, this story is about me. For some reason, the Ubuntu computer I use at work refused to boot after a software update. I was able to boot from another partition on the hard drive that had an earlier version of Ubuntu so I could work the rest of the day. At the end of the day, I installed Linux Mint in about 20 minutes, and it was pretty much set up the way I liked. The easiest part with the reinstall is that all my files were in my home directory, and I didn't have to reconfigure every application. The next morning I installed the rest of the tools I use. In all, I don't think I lost more than an hour or so. Try that with reinstalling Windows!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
A New Life in the Village of Mint
Continued from:
As the white knight and his charge ride together, the woman senses that the atmosphere of the land of Linux is altogether different from the kingdom of Microsoft. Somehow the air feels lighter, and there is no fear of attack nor dread of the forced labor that King Windows demands of his subjects.
The government in the land of Linux is also very different than the kingdom of Microsoft. Instead of one king who rules over the entire country, there are many different rulers in the land of Linux. Every village or city has its own governor, and each has its own customs. The people of the land may be few, but they live in peace and safety because of the armored wall constructed many years ago by the elders who migrated there from the ancient land of Unix.
As they ride through the green grass of the countryside, they emerge over the crest of a hill, revealing the outline of a large number of buildings in the distance. The predominant color of the buildings is brown with a tinge of orange added to it, though some of the newer buildings have a brownish-purple color.
The woman exclaims, "What a large and beautiful city! Is this where you dwell?"
"The city of Ubuntu is beautiful, and indeed it is the largest city in the land of Linux, but it is not where I dwell," replies the knight. "I dwell in the village of Mint which lies straight ahead."
As the knight and the woman ride through the village, they pass many houses. Some are made of wood and others of brick, but all of them are meticulously kept. Most are painted a mint green color, though others are painted blue or black or other colors as the owner desires.
People wave at the pair and shout greetings as they pass.
"Look what Sir Hackalot has brought us!" says a young man.
"What great fortune!" says an old woman.
"Welcome to our village!" cries a young boy.
"Thank you all!" replies the woman.
The two halt at a place where there are many new houses waiting to be occupied.
"Would you like to have a home for yourself?" the knight asks the woman.
"This seems like a fine village, but what if I do not wish to dwell here? Is there an inn where I can stay for a time to see if I will like it here?"
"There is indeed a temporary dwelling provided by the village. You may begin there and later move into a permanent dwelling if you so desire."
"That sounds fair to me," replies the woman.
The knight and the woman mount the horse once again and head toward a tall, cylindrically-shaped brick structure painted the same lime green as the houses. Carved in ornate letters letters over the front door is, "Live CD."
"You may stay here until you are comfortable moving into a new house," says the knight.
"How long may I stay? Is there an innkeeper I should pay?" asks the woman.
"No, there is no innkeeper, and the dwelling is provided free of cost. The houses are also provided free of cost," replies the knight.
"What did you say? The houses do not need to be bought? Every house in the kingdom of Microsoft sells for a high price! How can the village afford to do this?"
"The houses in the land of Linux are constructed by volunteer experts all over the land. Though some houses are sold in the land of Linux, we in the village of Mint give all of ours away, and this custom is upheld in most of the villages and even some of the cities."
"What a strange and wonderful practice! I will not refuse this hospitality. I hope that someday I may give back what was given to me."
"That is the sentiment of many of the people who dwell here."
As the woman enters the building, the knight says, "Should you need assistance, you may contact me at any time."
"Thank you very much for your kindness. You have saved my life and opened my eyes to a strange and wonderful life. I will forever be in your debt!"
"Do not pay back your debt to me but to any who may need your assistance in the future. Good Day!"
"Good day!"
As the knight rides away, the woman ponders this way of life and wonders what other surprises lie ahead in this strange country.
As the white knight and his charge ride together, the woman senses that the atmosphere of the land of Linux is altogether different from the kingdom of Microsoft. Somehow the air feels lighter, and there is no fear of attack nor dread of the forced labor that King Windows demands of his subjects.
The government in the land of Linux is also very different than the kingdom of Microsoft. Instead of one king who rules over the entire country, there are many different rulers in the land of Linux. Every village or city has its own governor, and each has its own customs. The people of the land may be few, but they live in peace and safety because of the armored wall constructed many years ago by the elders who migrated there from the ancient land of Unix.
As they ride through the green grass of the countryside, they emerge over the crest of a hill, revealing the outline of a large number of buildings in the distance. The predominant color of the buildings is brown with a tinge of orange added to it, though some of the newer buildings have a brownish-purple color.
The woman exclaims, "What a large and beautiful city! Is this where you dwell?"
"The city of Ubuntu is beautiful, and indeed it is the largest city in the land of Linux, but it is not where I dwell," replies the knight. "I dwell in the village of Mint which lies straight ahead."
As the knight and the woman ride through the village, they pass many houses. Some are made of wood and others of brick, but all of them are meticulously kept. Most are painted a mint green color, though others are painted blue or black or other colors as the owner desires.
People wave at the pair and shout greetings as they pass.
"Look what Sir Hackalot has brought us!" says a young man.
"What great fortune!" says an old woman.
"Welcome to our village!" cries a young boy.
"Thank you all!" replies the woman.
The two halt at a place where there are many new houses waiting to be occupied.
"Would you like to have a home for yourself?" the knight asks the woman.
"This seems like a fine village, but what if I do not wish to dwell here? Is there an inn where I can stay for a time to see if I will like it here?"
"There is indeed a temporary dwelling provided by the village. You may begin there and later move into a permanent dwelling if you so desire."
"That sounds fair to me," replies the woman.
The knight and the woman mount the horse once again and head toward a tall, cylindrically-shaped brick structure painted the same lime green as the houses. Carved in ornate letters letters over the front door is, "Live CD."
"You may stay here until you are comfortable moving into a new house," says the knight.
"How long may I stay? Is there an innkeeper I should pay?" asks the woman.
"No, there is no innkeeper, and the dwelling is provided free of cost. The houses are also provided free of cost," replies the knight.
"What did you say? The houses do not need to be bought? Every house in the kingdom of Microsoft sells for a high price! How can the village afford to do this?"
"The houses in the land of Linux are constructed by volunteer experts all over the land. Though some houses are sold in the land of Linux, we in the village of Mint give all of ours away, and this custom is upheld in most of the villages and even some of the cities."
"What a strange and wonderful practice! I will not refuse this hospitality. I hope that someday I may give back what was given to me."
"That is the sentiment of many of the people who dwell here."
As the woman enters the building, the knight says, "Should you need assistance, you may contact me at any time."
"Thank you very much for your kindness. You have saved my life and opened my eyes to a strange and wonderful life. I will forever be in your debt!"
"Do not pay back your debt to me but to any who may need your assistance in the future. Good Day!"
"Good day!"
As the knight rides away, the woman ponders this way of life and wonders what other surprises lie ahead in this strange country.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Journey from the Kingdom of Microsoft to the Land of Linux
Continued from: Compassion in the Aftermath of War
In the borderlands of the kingdom of Microsoft, a massive wall rises to a great height, casting a dark shadow on the surrounding area. The wall was originally constructed after bands of raiders had ravaged the villages of the defenseless kingdom. King Windows commissioned knights McAfee, Symantec, AVG, and many other lesser-known knights to design a wall and oversee the workers. The wall was hastily constructed of materials that were close at hand: branches, burned stones, mud, and straw. Though impressive in size, the wall is not strong; in fact, sometimes a whole section of the wall collapses under its own weight. The entire wall is covered by black tar to hide the crude materials used for its construction.
As the white knight and the woman approach the wall, it can be seen that there is a wide gap large enough for horse and rider to pass. They pass easily though the opening into the wastelands, a veritable desert of barrenness. The complete lack of live vegetation is the first thing that assaults the eyes. Dust and dirt rise underfoot, and dark smoke and clouds swirl overhead. Dead trees stand mostly decayed or toppled over from the wind and lack of sun. The bleakness of the wastelands engulfs the two riders as the protective wall of the kingdom of Microsoft shrinks slowly in the distance behind them.
"Surely this is not the land of Linux!" exclaims the woman.
"No," replies the knight, "it is the wastelands of the Internet. Many lands are there in the world, but one must travel through this sea of barrenness to arrive at any of them."
After riding about twenty minutes in the wastelands, streams of sunlight begin to illumine the way as the smoke begins to dissipate. Grass, brown at first begins to turn green as they gallop onward. A bright line appears in the horizon and continues to grow as a shining wall rises into view.
This wall is quite unlike the dark wall around the kingdom of Microsoft. The brilliance of the wall dazzles the eyes of the woman as she squints to observe its outline.
"This must be the wall of the land of Linux." she says. "It looks very strong!"
"Indeed, it is," replies the knight. "Its armored walls are impenetrable to enemy attacks."
The two arrive at a tall wrought iron gate guarded by three men bearing the penguin logo on their long, white tunics. Two imposing guards stand watch in front of the entrance their long spears pointing upward and swords strapped to their sides. The other guard stands on a rough wooden platform that elevates him to the height of the riders. He asks the knight, "What is your name?"
"Sir Hackalot," replies the knight.
"And what is your password?" asks the guard.
The knight leans toward him and cupping his hand whispers something inaudible to the woman.
"You may pass. Good day sir!"
With a loud grinding noise the gate begins to open. The two guards with the spears step back from the gate to allow the riders to pass. The two enter the land of Linux and continue their journey inside the armored wall as the gate clanks shut loudly behind them.
In the borderlands of the kingdom of Microsoft, a massive wall rises to a great height, casting a dark shadow on the surrounding area. The wall was originally constructed after bands of raiders had ravaged the villages of the defenseless kingdom. King Windows commissioned knights McAfee, Symantec, AVG, and many other lesser-known knights to design a wall and oversee the workers. The wall was hastily constructed of materials that were close at hand: branches, burned stones, mud, and straw. Though impressive in size, the wall is not strong; in fact, sometimes a whole section of the wall collapses under its own weight. The entire wall is covered by black tar to hide the crude materials used for its construction.
As the white knight and the woman approach the wall, it can be seen that there is a wide gap large enough for horse and rider to pass. They pass easily though the opening into the wastelands, a veritable desert of barrenness. The complete lack of live vegetation is the first thing that assaults the eyes. Dust and dirt rise underfoot, and dark smoke and clouds swirl overhead. Dead trees stand mostly decayed or toppled over from the wind and lack of sun. The bleakness of the wastelands engulfs the two riders as the protective wall of the kingdom of Microsoft shrinks slowly in the distance behind them.
"Surely this is not the land of Linux!" exclaims the woman.
"No," replies the knight, "it is the wastelands of the Internet. Many lands are there in the world, but one must travel through this sea of barrenness to arrive at any of them."
After riding about twenty minutes in the wastelands, streams of sunlight begin to illumine the way as the smoke begins to dissipate. Grass, brown at first begins to turn green as they gallop onward. A bright line appears in the horizon and continues to grow as a shining wall rises into view.
This wall is quite unlike the dark wall around the kingdom of Microsoft. The brilliance of the wall dazzles the eyes of the woman as she squints to observe its outline.
"This must be the wall of the land of Linux." she says. "It looks very strong!"
"Indeed, it is," replies the knight. "Its armored walls are impenetrable to enemy attacks."
The two arrive at a tall wrought iron gate guarded by three men bearing the penguin logo on their long, white tunics. Two imposing guards stand watch in front of the entrance their long spears pointing upward and swords strapped to their sides. The other guard stands on a rough wooden platform that elevates him to the height of the riders. He asks the knight, "What is your name?"
"Sir Hackalot," replies the knight.
"And what is your password?" asks the guard.
The knight leans toward him and cupping his hand whispers something inaudible to the woman.
"You may pass. Good day sir!"
With a loud grinding noise the gate begins to open. The two guards with the spears step back from the gate to allow the riders to pass. The two enter the land of Linux and continue their journey inside the armored wall as the gate clanks shut loudly behind them.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Compassion in the Aftermath of War
Near the borderlands of the kingdom of Microsoft, dark smoke fills the sky. Not far from the great wall lies the charred ruins of a village, still smoldering. Wisps of smoke continue to rise from the village, though it has been at least two days since enemy forces breeched the wall and burned the village to the ground.
A lone knight surveys the damage. His gleaming, white armor stands in stark contrast against the backdrop of charcoal-black ruins. The knight's armor is quite different than that of other knights usually seen in the kingdom. Their jet-black armor adorned with the distinctive four-paned flag insignia of King Windows identifies them as the agents of peace in the kingdom of Microsoft. From what kingdom is this foreign knight who dares pierce the defenses of the wall? On his armor, is not a fierce animal such a lion or a dragon or a bear but instead a simple drawing of a docile penguin.
Rubble and ruin lie ahead of him, the smoky warmth still rising from the recently burned village. He stops and dismounts to rest and catch a breath among the soot and smoke. Out the corner of his eye, he sees motion among the coals. Walking toward the spot, he sees it is nothing but a raven feasting on the carcass of some unfortunate victim. Then, a whisper of a moan filters into his ears. Scarcely ten feet in the other direction, a blackened figure lies in the charred rubble.
The knight observes the form of a woman and calls out, "Hello? Can you hear me?" The response is a dry cough, and then a frail whisper, "Water! I... need... water!" Swiftly, the knight hurries to his steed and returns to the spot with a flask of fresh, clean water. The flask is received with weak hands, and the first few sips are met with a series of convulsive coughs. After about a minute, the coughs subside. The knight studies the woman as she drinks the life-giving liquid.
The king of Microsoft does not care for the people ravaged by an enemy virus invasion. He feels that once the enemy is destroyed, no problems remain. There are plenty of subjects in his kingdom. Why save the weak and the injured? They are only a burden! This is not the sentiment of the people of the land of Linux. Every person is valued in the land of Linux, and white knights often search burned-out villages in the kingdom of Microsoft for any signs of life. Because of these missions, many people escape the oppression of the kingdom of Microsoft to live in the freedom of the land of Linux.
The woman has drunk her fill and now speaks to the knight, "Thank you! You have saved my life!" The knight responds, "You are a life worth saving."
Upon seeing the knight's gleaming white armor the woman asks, "Why is your armor not black? What country do you come from?"
"From the village of Mint in the land of Linux," is the reply. "There are many from the kingdom of Microsoft who have sought refuge there. Would you like to return with me?"
"I have not heard of this land of Linux," responds the woman. "Is there peace there? Are the people good?"
"There is peace and the people are very good, with each helping his neighbor," replies the knight.
"I should like to see this place," says the woman.
"Then let us be on our way. It is not far from here."
The knight's strong arms assist the woman onto his horse, and they are soon on their way toward the land of Linux. As they ride, the woman dreams of her new life in this strange and wonderful land.
A lone knight surveys the damage. His gleaming, white armor stands in stark contrast against the backdrop of charcoal-black ruins. The knight's armor is quite different than that of other knights usually seen in the kingdom. Their jet-black armor adorned with the distinctive four-paned flag insignia of King Windows identifies them as the agents of peace in the kingdom of Microsoft. From what kingdom is this foreign knight who dares pierce the defenses of the wall? On his armor, is not a fierce animal such a lion or a dragon or a bear but instead a simple drawing of a docile penguin.
Rubble and ruin lie ahead of him, the smoky warmth still rising from the recently burned village. He stops and dismounts to rest and catch a breath among the soot and smoke. Out the corner of his eye, he sees motion among the coals. Walking toward the spot, he sees it is nothing but a raven feasting on the carcass of some unfortunate victim. Then, a whisper of a moan filters into his ears. Scarcely ten feet in the other direction, a blackened figure lies in the charred rubble.
The knight observes the form of a woman and calls out, "Hello? Can you hear me?" The response is a dry cough, and then a frail whisper, "Water! I... need... water!" Swiftly, the knight hurries to his steed and returns to the spot with a flask of fresh, clean water. The flask is received with weak hands, and the first few sips are met with a series of convulsive coughs. After about a minute, the coughs subside. The knight studies the woman as she drinks the life-giving liquid.
The king of Microsoft does not care for the people ravaged by an enemy virus invasion. He feels that once the enemy is destroyed, no problems remain. There are plenty of subjects in his kingdom. Why save the weak and the injured? They are only a burden! This is not the sentiment of the people of the land of Linux. Every person is valued in the land of Linux, and white knights often search burned-out villages in the kingdom of Microsoft for any signs of life. Because of these missions, many people escape the oppression of the kingdom of Microsoft to live in the freedom of the land of Linux.
The woman has drunk her fill and now speaks to the knight, "Thank you! You have saved my life!" The knight responds, "You are a life worth saving."
Upon seeing the knight's gleaming white armor the woman asks, "Why is your armor not black? What country do you come from?"
"From the village of Mint in the land of Linux," is the reply. "There are many from the kingdom of Microsoft who have sought refuge there. Would you like to return with me?"
"I have not heard of this land of Linux," responds the woman. "Is there peace there? Are the people good?"
"There is peace and the people are very good, with each helping his neighbor," replies the knight.
"I should like to see this place," says the woman.
"Then let us be on our way. It is not far from here."
The knight's strong arms assist the woman onto his horse, and they are soon on their way toward the land of Linux. As they ride, the woman dreams of her new life in this strange and wonderful land.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
War in the Kingdom of Microsoft
When Windows runs smoothly, all the inhabitants of the kingdom of Microsoft are at peace. They all sing the praises of Microsoft in perfect harmony beneath the cloudless skies on the green, rolling hills. There is no danger nor fear. Everything is right with the world. Windows is king.
However, sometimes attacks come from within or outside the kingdom that cause the peaceful singing and holding of hands to be overcome by a wave of violence in the land. This undercurrent of uncertainty -- even in times of peace -- produces an oppressive atmosphere of terror which the people of the land of Microsoft constantly live under.
The attacks came suddenly and unexpectedly for some friends of mine. The first problem was that the computer began to have a lethargic feeling, which was not unexpected since it was getting up in years. Eventually, though, Internet Explorer could not connect to any web sites, which meant something needed to be done. In scanning the computer, I found that 6 enemy viruses had infiltrated Windows' defenses. I removed them but still found other enemy forces that were more insidious though not as destructive: over 50 pieces of spyware, which I removed as well. After re-installing the mouse driver and clearing Internet Explorer's proxy settings, everything seemed to work.
How long will there be peace in the kingdom? When will the violence return? No one knows for sure. There is a constant knot in the pit of each stomach as no one knows with surety what disaster will happen next.
Most inhabitants of the land never visit the borders of the kingdom, but if they did, they would observe a dismal scene. The borderlands are engulfed by the ominous shadow of the towering wall that surrounds the whole of the kingdom. Near the wall, the terrors of the world outside are obvious. All sunlight which dares to penetrate the borderlands is choked off by the black smoke which swirls overhead. Every breath of air feels heavy and reeks of the smoke of the campfires of the enemy. The deafening roar of the invading hordes assaults the sense of hearing.
In being so close to the wall, it can be observed that as high and massive as it is, it is also in a state of utter disrepair. Large cracks have formed, and scattered piles of rubble lie fallen around it because of the inferior quality of the original material used to construct the wall. Scattered patches in the wall have been made, but much more of the wall remains in a decayed state; ever so slowly crumbling piece by piece.
There is a crescendo in the roar of the hordes outside the wall. At the pounding of a battering ram, rubble sprays from the wall. A crack appears. Another impact is heard and another until a section of the wall collapses. Enemy invaders pour through the wall like water through a breeched dam.
The sound of a trumpet is heard in the castle of Microsoft. Horses' hooves gallop quickly to take their riders to the site of the breech. Commanders McAffee and Symantec lead the way. The defenders fight at the breech, but it is already too late; the enemy has already destroyed the nearest village and has gone on to the next. The defenders divide their forces into two units; one to fight at the breech and one to fight the invaders in the second village. They reach the second village just in time to see it engulfed in flames. The enemy is vanquished quickly, but two villages lie in ruin.
The collapsed wall is reconstructed hastily in the midst of battle, and a patch is developed within two weeks time. The riders return to the castle victorious as the people cheer them on. "Long live Windows! Long live Windows!" they shout. The people go back to their mindless work as the army awaits the next assault. Such is life in the kingdom of Microsoft.
However, sometimes attacks come from within or outside the kingdom that cause the peaceful singing and holding of hands to be overcome by a wave of violence in the land. This undercurrent of uncertainty -- even in times of peace -- produces an oppressive atmosphere of terror which the people of the land of Microsoft constantly live under.
The attacks came suddenly and unexpectedly for some friends of mine. The first problem was that the computer began to have a lethargic feeling, which was not unexpected since it was getting up in years. Eventually, though, Internet Explorer could not connect to any web sites, which meant something needed to be done. In scanning the computer, I found that 6 enemy viruses had infiltrated Windows' defenses. I removed them but still found other enemy forces that were more insidious though not as destructive: over 50 pieces of spyware, which I removed as well. After re-installing the mouse driver and clearing Internet Explorer's proxy settings, everything seemed to work.
How long will there be peace in the kingdom? When will the violence return? No one knows for sure. There is a constant knot in the pit of each stomach as no one knows with surety what disaster will happen next.
Most inhabitants of the land never visit the borders of the kingdom, but if they did, they would observe a dismal scene. The borderlands are engulfed by the ominous shadow of the towering wall that surrounds the whole of the kingdom. Near the wall, the terrors of the world outside are obvious. All sunlight which dares to penetrate the borderlands is choked off by the black smoke which swirls overhead. Every breath of air feels heavy and reeks of the smoke of the campfires of the enemy. The deafening roar of the invading hordes assaults the sense of hearing.
In being so close to the wall, it can be observed that as high and massive as it is, it is also in a state of utter disrepair. Large cracks have formed, and scattered piles of rubble lie fallen around it because of the inferior quality of the original material used to construct the wall. Scattered patches in the wall have been made, but much more of the wall remains in a decayed state; ever so slowly crumbling piece by piece.
There is a crescendo in the roar of the hordes outside the wall. At the pounding of a battering ram, rubble sprays from the wall. A crack appears. Another impact is heard and another until a section of the wall collapses. Enemy invaders pour through the wall like water through a breeched dam.
The sound of a trumpet is heard in the castle of Microsoft. Horses' hooves gallop quickly to take their riders to the site of the breech. Commanders McAffee and Symantec lead the way. The defenders fight at the breech, but it is already too late; the enemy has already destroyed the nearest village and has gone on to the next. The defenders divide their forces into two units; one to fight at the breech and one to fight the invaders in the second village. They reach the second village just in time to see it engulfed in flames. The enemy is vanquished quickly, but two villages lie in ruin.
The collapsed wall is reconstructed hastily in the midst of battle, and a patch is developed within two weeks time. The riders return to the castle victorious as the people cheer them on. "Long live Windows! Long live Windows!" they shout. The people go back to their mindless work as the army awaits the next assault. Such is life in the kingdom of Microsoft.
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