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.
Monday, June 14, 2010
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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