Ryan's Journal

In slightly more upbeat computer-part news, I managed to get my 40GB laptop hard drive to function in my desktop, thanks to an adapter. I have no idea what to do with the space, so I'm downloading the latest Debian GNU/Linux ISO's for future burning and installing. I've no need for it at home right now and not enough blank CD-R's to burn it - I'm not even sure how I intend for the boot process to proceed, so it probably won't be installed for some time. At least now my hard drive purchase wasn't a total waste. Perhaps this will be the impetus for the desktop upgrade I've been planning but too busy to do (new CPU and motherboard at the least, now that the hard drive is up and running, and maybe a DVD drive). I've been satisifed with the way my Pentium II 450 holds up under most loads, but it gets really unhappy about video of any kind. Java gets kind of slow too. Hopefully I can move out of the realm of 16-bit color too with a more powerful processor.

Then again, maybe I'll just hold off on it for a little longer since it's about time for the annual celebration (or desecration) of Christ's birth via materialistic obsession. I wonder if I can get away with donating money in people's names to charitable organizations instead of stressing over what kind of newfangled thing they want (you can yell at me in a comment below if that's a bad idea). Golden rule, perhaps - I don't really want stuff, so if I don't give stuff, maybe people will stop giving me stuff. I'll buy what I need, that's what I have a job for. Nothing wrong with gift giving, I can understand why people might give gifts on Christmas (God gave us His Son, let's celebrate by giving freely to those we love from what He's given us). It's the confluence of material gain and Christ's birth which to me makes for a very uncomfortable juxtaposition of opposing philosophies. Only in America do all roads lead to materialism, even religion. So please cater to my self-obsessed distaste for Christmas gifts by not buying me stuff and instead, spend some time either finding out about or celebrating the arrival of God on earth, and we'll all be better off. Or you could donate some money to a charitable organization in my name...