Cogs can think.

Massive school shooting in Germany this week.

What did the shooter use? Ah yes, his dad’s legal weapons.

To everyone who is pro-killing pro-gun ownership: you are totally, totally right. Guns should be legal, so that this never happens again.

It’s always fun to see your own understanding of the world confirmed.

About a year ago, I wrote how I think atheism has become a religion in and of itself - something I do not wish to be associated with, and consequently, I do not call myself an atheist, even if I don’t believe in (a) god(s). I said:

For all intents and purposes, atheism has become a religion in and of itself, complete with feelings of moral superiority to those who are not atheists and a drive to convert others to atheism (to spread the faith). So yes, if you look at the true meaning of the word, anyone who doesn’t do the beard and book stuff, is an atheist. However, out in the real world, atheism means a whole lot more, something I do not wish to be associated with.

In the comments, I explained it all in a more philosophical manner:

Cogito ergo sum is not some vague, inapplicable statement - with it, Descartes summed up the entire foundation of both our scientific, as well as our religious world. As I’ve said before, science and religion are nor juxtaposed. They are two sides of the same coin, because they both deal with beliefs.

Lots of knickers got in twists, lots of people who do call themselves atheists were all upset because, as we all know, the truth hurts. I was wrong, I was an idiot, atheists didn’t do the things I said they do. I apparently insulted lots of atheists because I simply listed the similarities between atheism and most other religions, and concluded from that, well, for all intents and purposes, atheism is a religion.

And now we see my conviction proven in the real word. Several atheists groups in The Netherlands are setting up atheist billboards near highways, trying to… Spread the faith. Recently, groups in the United Kingdom have been doing the same thing on buses.

Atheism has become a religion, and I see it confirmed around me every day.

Due to all my Fiona worshipping, you’d almost forget that there are actually other artists in my world. There is one song that in all its simplicity has more emotional power than just about anything else I’ve ever heard. The Ballad Of Billy Jo McKay, one of the most touching and endearing songs I’ve ever heard.

My name’s Billy Jo McKay,
I just turned 16 yesterday
I’m gonna get the nerve one day
To get outta here

My ma passed on 3 years ago,
they said it was cancer and it took her slow
And ever since then I’ve been
Sayin’ no to my daddy and my tears

Now when you come down our road
You gotta watch the bump
Right there across from the garbage dump
You can find me out back
Jumpin’ on the trampoline

And in the springtime
We’ll be skippin’ school
We sneak off to the Cantrell’s swimming pool
Man, you can’t get much cooler
than me and my friend Darlene

Now my grandaddy’s hands are worn
From 50 years of growin’ corn
Back behind the house where I was born
Before he had to sell
And my cousin Eddie,
He got shot in the Wal-Mart parkin’ lot
Yeah this little town’s changed a lot,
He said it hurt like hell

My name’s Billy Jo McKay,
It’s a hot Mississippi summer saturday
Daddy’s on the front porch with uncle Dave,
drinkin’ Dixie beer

16 years of being bored
My window’s open, forget the door
Hope there’s some gas in the old man’s Ford
‘cause I’m outta here
I’m outta here, I’m outta here

Maybe I’ll go down to Biloxi
Or maybe to New Orleans
Or maybe Hotlanta

Stuff that doesn’t make it to my Windows machines (or that shouldn’t be there):

Anything Apple-related, like Quicktime, iTunes, Safari. Apple installs unwanted software along with them (iPod services, iPhone services, updaters) that I did not give them permission for installing. In addition, Apple’s Windows software is horrible.

OpenOffice.org. The only reason I use OOo is because there’s no decent alternative on Linux. Preferably, I’d personally light the fire in which we burn OOo. What a horrible office suite.

Internet Explorer. Apart form the standards issue, this browser has the world’s worst interface. Seriously, I don’t understand how any programmer or designer can look at IE’s interface and say “Yeah, this looks pretty good”. Please, take it ’round back and take it out of its misery.

Any IM application other than Miranda IM. Miranda is how IM should be: barely uses any system resources, extremely fast, very configurable, and most importantly: completely unobtrusive. It’s probably a little too feature-packed for most ordinary users, though.

Any third-party driver/hardware configuration tool, such as those that come with wireless dongles, printers, or scanners. They have horrid interfaces, interfere with Windows Vista/7’s capable and well-designed default tools, and suck up system resources for no apparent reason.

Virus scanners. UAC+WinPatrol+anti-spyware application, all you need.

Opera. I can’t say it’s a “browser” with a straight face. Classic case of biting off more than you can chew. Opera, ditch all the useless crap, and just release a browser for once. Oh, and stop your pathetic whining to the EU about IE. Even without IE being bundled Firefox, Chrome, and Safari would still be better than you.

Just a selection.

When even MacDailyNews - of all places - agrees with your article, then there’s something seriously wrong.

I’ve been spending lots of time on Mac websites the past few days since Safari 4’s release, and the community is torn. Half got used to it after a few days and thinks it’s the next best thing since sliced bread - the other half hates Safari 4’s tabtitlebar to bits. It’s not very common to see the Mac community so torn up over something. Usually only a few mouthy people disagree with Apple’s wisdom, but rarely are they with this many.

Funnily though, looking at the OSNews comments’ section - no one is actually able to refute any of the arguments put forth by the detractors. If you like the tabtitlebar, that’s fine, great, awesome - but that doesn’t mean that everyone else has to like it too, or that those that don’t like it are idiots, arrogant, or “killing OSNews”.

It just means that Apple has to go back to the drawing board - or piss off half of its userbase.

Cupertino’s choice. There’s always Camino, Omniweb, and Firefox.