hmfneh
I've been on the verge of panic for a couple days now, and not for any good reason. I mean, I've had shit to be unhappy about: bills, Trusted Computing, a few more arguments than I'd like - and work isn't exactly unstressful.
Regardless, though, I'm pretty sure that this is chemical; three days ago, I suddenly felt incredibly, disastrously unhappy - and then there was a period of unbreakable euphoria, where everything I saw or touched was wonderful and every song I played was resonant in my ears.
Not so much, now - I'm in a rut, certainly, but thankfully not one that is really of my own making. This somehow tends to make such things easier to weather.
I must say, though, that Trusted Computing is one of the most terrifying concepts I've heard in a while - Richard Stallman wrote a vivid, chilling article that sums the matter up very well. But for those of you who don't feel like swallowing a load of four-kay miserable words in depiction of our horrific future, I'll sum up:
It will be possible - very soon - for every computerized document to be retroactively erased, edited, and otherwise censored; likewise, only licensed and approved software will run on our computers.
I say ours, and this is the depths of fallacy: I will be snottily plonking away on my Linux box, and mine will be a brighter end of days.
I guess Apple's embracing the Trusted Computing platform, which is a shame - not unexpected, of course, as Apple is probably only second to Microsoft itself in the arena of innovating nothing - but I guess for a while I'd dared to envisage another, great schism - hellfire and brimstone, certainly, the earth quaking as it settles beneath the digital factions above; security versus freedom pitted against one another in a final, largely symbolic rite of war.
What I find maddening about the situation is that the Trusted Computing Group - TCG, for short - does not believe that we are trustworthy enough to have control over our own computers - assuming that, as people, we are morally deficient. And yet, unless I missed something - the TCG is comprised of people, same as we the consumers - either people are trustworthy, in which case TC is unnecessary; or people are not, in which case I do not imagine there is cause to trust them with the reins to my computer and everything I might view, read, or create with aid of same.
Which is another lovely point, really - because the software will be identical from machine to machine, or largely-so. Although the concept is ephemeral, I cannot help but feel as if it is a little ridiculous that those who create the vehicle feel they are entitled to control what the passengers inside are thinking.
I guess I'll be buying a console. We will be buying a console. I don't like where we're headed, and even Alessia - who, given her propensity for The Sims and other, similarly PC-specific franchises,* has no inclination to pollute herself with the relatively minor (compared to the Trusted schemes of futuretimes) copy-protection schemes offered by EA games in this year-of-our-lord two thousand eight.
The last game I bought was On The Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness: Episode One. Before that, Bioshock. Before that? I think it was the orange box.
I guess the only game I've torrented in that time was Bioshock - which I purchased once I'd beaten it (as I was under the impression that the copy protection would interfere with my play - incorrect.) and before that, Civ 4.
I argued otherwise for the longest time, but we're in a Goddamn recession and for once that doesn't mean the fucking economy. That's three games (four, if you count Civ - which I will be picking up for reals shortly) in twelve months - I don't know, maybe it's time for more motherfucking throughput.
What makes me smile most about consoles at this point is their - and I say they, as if to ascribe reason - crafty welcoming of the mouse and keyboard. That's fucking brilliant, and would still be a deal-breaker were it not present. The selection is lovely, as well; although between myself and the wife, we each have our eyes on completely different consoles.
A friend of mine - Shawn - believes that consoles are likely to follow our estanged PCs into the dark eternal night that is Trusted Computing - I guess I agree with him, although it would take having my legitimate end-user experience infringed upon to get me to stop playing entirely.
Seriously, guys. I thought zealous fuckheads like this guy were supposed to have dealt with this by now.
Regardless, though, I'm pretty sure that this is chemical; three days ago, I suddenly felt incredibly, disastrously unhappy - and then there was a period of unbreakable euphoria, where everything I saw or touched was wonderful and every song I played was resonant in my ears.
Not so much, now - I'm in a rut, certainly, but thankfully not one that is really of my own making. This somehow tends to make such things easier to weather.
I must say, though, that Trusted Computing is one of the most terrifying concepts I've heard in a while - Richard Stallman wrote a vivid, chilling article that sums the matter up very well. But for those of you who don't feel like swallowing a load of four-kay miserable words in depiction of our horrific future, I'll sum up:
It will be possible - very soon - for every computerized document to be retroactively erased, edited, and otherwise censored; likewise, only licensed and approved software will run on our computers.
I say ours, and this is the depths of fallacy: I will be snottily plonking away on my Linux box, and mine will be a brighter end of days.
I guess Apple's embracing the Trusted Computing platform, which is a shame - not unexpected, of course, as Apple is probably only second to Microsoft itself in the arena of innovating nothing - but I guess for a while I'd dared to envisage another, great schism - hellfire and brimstone, certainly, the earth quaking as it settles beneath the digital factions above; security versus freedom pitted against one another in a final, largely symbolic rite of war.
What I find maddening about the situation is that the Trusted Computing Group - TCG, for short - does not believe that we are trustworthy enough to have control over our own computers - assuming that, as people, we are morally deficient. And yet, unless I missed something - the TCG is comprised of people, same as we the consumers - either people are trustworthy, in which case TC is unnecessary; or people are not, in which case I do not imagine there is cause to trust them with the reins to my computer and everything I might view, read, or create with aid of same.
Which is another lovely point, really - because the software will be identical from machine to machine, or largely-so. Although the concept is ephemeral, I cannot help but feel as if it is a little ridiculous that those who create the vehicle feel they are entitled to control what the passengers inside are thinking.
I guess I'll be buying a console. We will be buying a console. I don't like where we're headed, and even Alessia - who, given her propensity for The Sims and other, similarly PC-specific franchises,* has no inclination to pollute herself with the relatively minor (compared to the Trusted schemes of futuretimes) copy-protection schemes offered by EA games in this year-of-our-lord two thousand eight.
The last game I bought was On The Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness: Episode One. Before that, Bioshock. Before that? I think it was the orange box.
I guess the only game I've torrented in that time was Bioshock - which I purchased once I'd beaten it (as I was under the impression that the copy protection would interfere with my play - incorrect.) and before that, Civ 4.
I argued otherwise for the longest time, but we're in a Goddamn recession and for once that doesn't mean the fucking economy. That's three games (four, if you count Civ - which I will be picking up for reals shortly) in twelve months - I don't know, maybe it's time for more motherfucking throughput.
What makes me smile most about consoles at this point is their - and I say they, as if to ascribe reason - crafty welcoming of the mouse and keyboard. That's fucking brilliant, and would still be a deal-breaker were it not present. The selection is lovely, as well; although between myself and the wife, we each have our eyes on completely different consoles.
A friend of mine - Shawn - believes that consoles are likely to follow our estanged PCs into the dark eternal night that is Trusted Computing - I guess I agree with him, although it would take having my legitimate end-user experience infringed upon to get me to stop playing entirely.
Seriously, guys. I thought zealous fuckheads like this guy were supposed to have dealt with this by now.