(Not Responding)

I recently came across this story - about which I was reminded when Windows 7 started doing a load of background things that slowed everything up (again) just now. I don't know if it is true; it sounds, perhaps, a little too perfect but it does say something about an experience with which too many of us are familiar. Here it is anyway.

There was a man who, in his youth, professed a desire to become a great writer. When asked to define 'great,' he said, 'I want to write stuff that the whole world will read, stuff that people will react to on a truly emotional level. Stuff that will make them scream, cry, and howl in pain and anger.'

He now works at Microsoft, writing error messages.

If this story is true, given my experience of working on Windows, I'm sure he has a very busy, full time job. He is unlikely ever to be out of a job. He is the guy who penned (or typed) something most of us see in parentheses everyday: '(Not Responding)'.

NB Happily, I've recently had the pleasure of moving over to Linux for a lot of my work.

Happy Valentine's Day

Another Barcode - 6

This is a 'Code 49' that says 'Marginalia55'.

Another Play upon Rubik's Cube

Originally found at Gizmodo.

The Non-Thinker

I was searching the Web for an image that would represent philosophy. One image that came up was that of the statue 'The Thinker' (Le Penseur, 1902) by Auguste Rodin (1840-1917). So, I did a search for images of The Thinker as well. I happened upon this cartoon of 'The Non-Thinker'. Poor fellow.

(Found at: CartoonStock.com)

The 'Non-Thinker' probably represents a lot of people. Those I used to see on the train stuck in the repetitive commute to and from the office everyday. It is not necessarily their fault. They get into a rut without realising it. If and when they do realise their condition, it's too late. Socrates (fl. 5th Century BCE) said that 'The unexamined life is not worth living'. Perhaps, if more people took hed of the picture painted by W.H. Davies (1871-1940) in his poem Leisure (1911) they might take steps to rectify their plight.

Addendum 20th Jan 2017:
For much more on Rodin, visit the August Rodin page at Artsy.