Monthly Archive for February, 2007

Never Feel Sorry for a Man who Owns a Plane

As I was writing my last bit about books, I realized that I haven’t really ranted about anything on here in a while, and I’ve been meaning to post to this a bit more often. The title of this comes from a quote from The Edge (a movie with Sir Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin if you want to know). Lately there’s a lot going about with the RIAA and MPAA and DRM and other acronyms that sound real official, but all boil down to the same determining factor: control. Yes, friends, Big Brother really is watching you, and he’s starting to see a lot more clearly then he did in well, say, 1984.
I should tell you at this point that this is an opinionated rant, as denoted by the term rant, I suppose, so be prepared for some bitching.
First, I should tell you that I’ve been doing computing and the internet and whatnot (oh, you knew that word was coming, didn’t you?) since Yahoo! and Google were pretty much nobody. When we all handled everything with modems and the ASCII BBS was king. I’m talking about when “pwned” was a typo, folks, not a trendy saying. Back in the day, you could find generally anything on the internet. Hell, I remember when I went over to a friends house and he was listening to an mp3 and I was like “Wow? Where’s the CD?” – we barely new what the hell an mp3 was. Nowadays, we have Digital Rights Management, the iTunes store, and lawsuits over file sharing. Yes, if you were wondering, I was on Napster back when it started up. Personally, Audiogalaxy (if you remember that one) was way cooler, in my opinion. While we’re on the topic of music, I’ll tell you exactly why I don’t use the iTunes store. First, I think iTunes is a very nice, easy to use player. Right now I’m on a Mac, so I use it by default. However, I decided I’d pick up some music from the iTunes store one day and realized that I had only so many times I could authorize it. No, about then I was like “Hold up there, boys? I paid for this.” If I buy a CD or an LP (yes, I do own records), there’s no regulation on how many different players I can stick the thing into before it won’t play, other than how I treat it. I’ve bought Where You Been? by Dinosaur Jr on tape once and CD 3 times because I played it out and that’s fine. But who in Green Hell are the RIAA or anyone to tell me what I can or can’t do with the stuff I legitimately buy? Sure, they whine and say that I’m not supporting recording artists if I download mp3s and I’m not doing my civic duty or some crap, but I’ll tell you what: if you have a house that costs as much as a corporation in the hollywood hills, you get no sympathy from me. I buy music from local, independent and unknown artists. I often go out of my way to purchase their stuff. But the thing with Metallica? Man, these guys can go whine about the fact that they didn’t make a few extra million this year to someone who doesn’t worry about making rent. ‘Cause you never feel sorry for a man who owns a plane.
Windows is king with this one as well. I won’t go off on a classic rant here about the whole Explorer/Netscape thing or how they bully you as much as possible and blame it on software piracy. That’s all been said. What I will say is that you should really check before you buy Vista, folks, or you may find that you’re right to choose anything has been given to a software giant for you. Before you even consider upgrading, give the folks at badvista.org a listen, then go check out this link. How would you enjoy all of these giants deciding whether or not your choices in computing are valid? Wait a minute, you’d have to have the ability to make choices first.
The problem is, they blame all of this on the hacker community, saying that they’re driving up the costs for legitimate users. Now, folks, I bought a legitimate copy of XP Professional. I installed it, validated it, registered and all that. Then, eventually I re-formetted and re-installed because windows decays after a while and slows down a good system. That’s fine, it happens. I won’t say it’s MS’s fault: they have to program for hardware made by thousands of designers. Everyone says OSX works better, but remember that OSX is programmed for proprietary, specific hardware conditions. Now, after I upgraded my computer and installed again, I was told that my legally bought-annd-payed-for, registered copy of XP, was no longer valid, that it had been activated too many times. This is a $130 operating system, much cheaper than what they’re charging for Vista, and I can install it, what. 3 times? Well, needless to say, the software giant had their chance and I went back to the hacker community and got a new copy for free that bypasses all of this b.s. Because you can’t beat them. I’ve been around when it comes to the underground, and I ca tell you first hand, they are faster and they are more dedicated. All that these giants are doing is beating down the consumer who doesn’t know better. When your CEO’s are worth billions and paycheck determines what bills i have to pay late I have no sympathy for you. ‘Cause you never feel sorry for a man who owns a plane.
I urge all of you to beware of DRM, because a lot of legislation reflecting these practices is designed to slip by unnoticed. We made the mistake of giving away rights without considering the consequences already in this country (I’m talking about the USA if you’re across the pond – thought you likely already knew that) and pretty soon if we don’t watch out we’ll be wondering about the Thought Police and room 101 before our kids outlive us. Sounds extreme? Maybe it is, but it’s also possible. I’m no conspiracy theorist, but I do look deeper. There is a back-story behind everything. There is almost always more to something than they tell you. All I’m saying in the end here is be aware, truly aware, of what is going on in your world. This doesn’t mean sit around whining about it, this means support the people who are against it, support the underground, support whatever rebellion you like, however you like. But do not go gently into that good night, friends, do not…

…and NEVER feel sorry for a man who has sold platinum level record-sales, a company who cheats recording artists and forces you, the listener to pay on the pretense that the artists suffer, corporations who believe that you are incapable of making your own choices, or any man who owns a plane.

– Ashe

Uncertainty, Questions & Rebellious Young Folk

Here’s a bit more on books for you, those who read this. As I said in my last post, one of the most important aspects of writing is reading, absorbing the great woven stories of past, present and future. Dream, Memory and Now if you like. I’ve been running more through the classics as of late, older and newer and I thought I might share these two with you. Both feature themes I’ve always enjoyed: change, uncertainty, and the rebelliousness of youth that too many of us, I think, often forget.

The Catcher in the Rye – J.D. Salinger

This is one of those books with really staying power. Taught in some schools for its brilliance and banned in others for its profanity, Catcher in the Rye has become infamous both as one of the most challenged books of our time and for the fact that it often becomes an obsession of the disaffected. The story, as many of you may already know, follows Holden Caulfield, a young privileged prep-school case, through a period of turmoil in his life. As with last time, I won’t give away the plot if you haven’t read this book. To my recollection, however, few works of the written word have so accurately captured the turmoil that such a youth is faced with, the distance, the feeling of isolation, the frustration and uncertainty. This book is worded in excellent voice and you really feel Caulfield, it really seems to have been written by him, bad vocabulary and all and it is a welcome change, often, from works that paint such a character, but attempt to do so eloquently. There is nothing eloquent about this book. It’s goddamn to the point, as Holden might have said. It’s definitely not phony in its approach. If the word goddamn offends you, be prepared; it’s in there over 200 times. But, whether you may be offended by the profanity or themes of the work, I urge you to read it. This is an amazing story that should hold a place in literature for all.

The Giver – Lois Lowry

Mom mom picked this book up for me when I was younger; still in high school I think. I was amazed at its portrayal of a society of Sameness, where the world really is nothing more than black and white and a few shades of grey. I was overjoyed when I saw this one on the high school reading lists because this is a hell of a good read. It’s short and sweet, a story that teaches the importance of choice, change and of memory. An amazing work of science-fiction with a profound message toward individuality, the Giver is one of the novels among juvenile fiction that stands out to a very adult level. I highly recommend this one. If you had to read it for school and that, to you, takes away from the book, read it again. Read it for yourself. This book exemplifies that first part of the great Old World edict: Keep the Memory.

One more, while I’m on a roll, though I read this one less recently:

1984 – George Orwell

This is one of those books that I would say go out and buy or borrow now if you haven’t read it. A depressing, hope-shattering look that defined the term dystopian future, 1984 will knock you on the floor. Do not expect to be overjoyed by this one, though, folks: 1984 puts the harsh in harsh reality. In a world where Big Brother Is Watching You, where WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY and IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH, there is no escaping your fate. Nonetheless, read this book. It sets a lesson about the application of governing power that has scarcely been rivaled in fiction. Though Brave New World and Fahrenheit 451 are also good choices for this theme. For the gamers out there: if you’ve ever thought about running a dark future campaign where the System is in control or there is any amount of overseeing presence, this is required reading for you. 1984 is among the best out there in harsh-reality reads.

That’s all for now folks. Cassie has said I should check out Deus Irae next so I just may do that. That is, if I don’t find myself reading the Tripods Trilogy by John Christopher again. Lately, I’ve been on a bit of a sci-fi kick. I’m also one of those people who, though I know there are so many good books out there to be read, often go back and read the ones I’ve loved. I recommend you do so as well. There is nothing so constant as change in our lives and these changes bring with them new perspectives on everything. You may find that a book you suffered through in school becomes something you love now. Read, always. Whether you write or not, get off the video games and read a book. Consider it. Absorb it. There is a story for everyone out there, likely there are many; you have only to find the one that grips you.

Until next time:

Keep the Memory
Live in the Now
Believe in the Dream

- Ashe

Reading

I’m a writer at the core, folks. Sure I play the guitar, do graphic design, play combat sports and do all sorts of other things, probably far too many, but lately I’ve been going back and remembering what I really like to do most: write. Now, that sentence was crap, but then again I write quite a bit differently for these sorts of things. Anyways, other than finally deciding that I really needed to start getting some help with my ADHD, which I stubbornly ignored pretty much all of my life, I’ve returned to what I consider to be the most fundamentally important aspect of writing: reading. Yep, that’s what probably helps you as a writer more than anything, a constant influx of reading. In my better days I used to read sometimes 3-4 books a week, depending on length, though as the years have gone on I’ve sadly neglected reading as much as I once did. Lately, however, I’ve been back on a reading kick and I thought I might share with you a bit of insight into the last couple of books I took in.

Lisey’s Story by Stephen King

I must say I’ve been a King fan since I was young. IT, The Talisman and The Dark Tower, among many others, had a great impact on the creation of Cycle of Existence. I’ve read a good many of the works he’s written and I generally enjoy them. Personally, thought, his last novel, Cell, just didn’t do it for me as much as some of his other works. It was a good read, but it just didn’t seem to strike the same chord that some of his other novels, novellas or shorts stories had with me.
Lisey’s Story struck that chord extremely well.
This is an amazing novel; one I would rank high on a respectably long list of book’s I’ve read in my tenure on this island earth. I went in to this one knowing next-to-nothing about it (it was a Christmas gift from my parents) so I won’t spoil you with the details about it. What I will say is that it’s an extremely well-written story about marriage, life-long partnership, the process of grieving and a little bit of the classic otherworldy. I would recommend this one to anyone. Read it.

A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller, Jr.

This Hugo-award-winning science-fiction novel is considered among the classics of the genre and is one I’ve never gotten around to reading. It was recommended to me by my girlfriend, who has a love of reading that rivals my own, though we have different tastes here and there. I do trust her opinion to a great degree, however: she knows her literature.
A Canticle for Leibowitz follows a centuries-long account surrounding a monastery somewhere in the southwestern United States that springs up after a nuclear war that very nearly wipes out all life and knowledge on the planet. While there are many aspects of science-fiction here, it feels to me more as a well-woven commentary on religion and the tendency of history to repeat itself. Man is the antagonist here, folks and it’s beautifully done. If you have the chance and are into the apocalyptic, definitely give this one a shot.

Now, I’m not a book reviewer. I really could be, I’ve done my share of analysis, interpretation and writing, but personally I like recommendations better – I prefer not to know much about what I’m going to read. It is for that reason that I leave you with only my recommendation for these books and the hopes that you will enjoy them.

Currently, I’m reading The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, because for some reason I never got around to it before. I’ll let you know on this one, but so far I’m impressed.

- Ashe