Google

So, everyone knows me as the technology guy:


My techie friend's know me as the Linux guy. My Linux-y friends know me as the KDE-head and all around software genious.


So A lot of people have asked what I think of Google's big announcement. Google Chrome OS.


Well, I think it's horrible. I honestly think it's awful and google needs to review their motto ("don't be evil").


"Well that's a bit extreme!" You may say. Let me tell you why I think this.

• It's a shitty web browser they're using to make a shitty Operating System.
• They've been deciding to go against products it was a huge advocate of: Firefox, Ubuntu, OpenID, Open HTML5 video , etc
• They're reinventing the wheel: They start with the linux core, but the rest of Chrome OS is going to be written from scratch. Why? They're not using the X.org graphical system. Google is wasting everyone's time, especially it's own.
• It steals thunder away from wonderful products: Ubuntu Netbook Remix has finally become stable and is a million times better than any dumbed down version of Linux or Windows that has ever been shipped with a netbook before. Google is going to kill desktop linux if it succeeds.
• Technical: This is another thing they should have used Qt for, but didn't
• Total loss of privacy: They want to move everything to the Cloud. For those less technical, that means they want to keep all your files and information on their computers where you use the internet to access it. They want total control over your computer life so they can better serve advertisements to you.
• Google is an advertisement company: I just remembered this. Notice how everything they do is free, yet they're still filthy rich? That's because they make revenue via advertisement services. You want to advertise? You want your website to make money? You sign up for Google's adsense as either a host of ads or customer of advertisement delivery. Advertisements are evil by nature, which goes against their motto.
• Have you realized how dependant we are on Google already? I try, but find it hard to use anything but Google for search, every web browser has it as default. Youtube is where you get your 15 seconds of fame. Adsense is how you make money on the internet. Blogger (for those of you on facebook... my notes are automatic copies of my blogger entries.), shit I'm using google right now! (Looks around to see if men in black are here to take me away)

This general move to the Cloud is frightening. Richard Stallman may be a sexist, psychotic freak, but he made a good point to warn against the universal move to putting applications and personal info on the internet. All of these services require you to agree to an End User License Agreement (EULA) of some sort. Have any of you bothered to read them?

Life is Exciting

As usual, it's been a long time since I last blogged. What's up with me? Well, my summer is totally awesome. It could be better, but that'd require I get the car fixed.

The 525i BMW is coming along steadily. If it would stop raining long enough for me to feel like working on the thing, it'd be done. The o2 sensor didn't seem to come off for my dad, but i'd like to spend a day doing it myself. I hate watching other people do work, and like even less having my father watch me do something. I don't know why, I just don't experiment or test things. If I'm by myself I try things out and learn more than watching.

Lena is wonderful. She's trying again to give up biting her nails. Her nails look so pretty all done up, I'm not used to it. We never seem to get very sick of each other. The summer gives us more than enough space, I could stand seeing her a little more often. In any case, I'm sure I could spend the rest of my life with her.

My birthday is nearing. 21. Woot, I can drink without anyone getting all weird on me! I'm not into getting drunk or partying, but a little drink now and then will be nice. I already re-upped on my driver's license. I needed a new card. I can't wait. I'm gonna have a little steampunk themed birthday soiree. Probably get some pizza, go in the pool, and watch steamboy. I've got a playlist all ready for it.

I've been listening to a lot of my Chromeo, Michael Jackson, and clubbing music compilatons. Bouncy summer music. Oh, and I liked MJ before he died. I'm not a wannabe fan. On the top of the list of music I've been into is the Air Gear anime soundtrack.

I've gotten re-obcessed with Air Gear. Kinda like how I got back into .hack, only better. I picked up the DVD set of the anime, mostly so I could have the english dub and the japanese sub. The english translation is really good, it's such a funny show with such good music. I rollerbladed over to barnes and noble's from my house yesterday. 4 1/2 miles each way.

I now know what second wind is like.

I picked up 4 of the Air Gear manga. Evan turned me to the manga via online scans. The story apparently is still going, and in japan is twice as long as where the anime stops. It is so much cooler, in depth, and the story is more beleivable. In general, the books are, again, better than the show, as with all things. I'm hooked.

Life is good. It's good to be working; playing; loving. Good to be alive.