Day: December 12, 2002

Be happy

netjeff

This is a little off-topic from my usual technology-oriented items. Not sure who the author is, it seems to have been floating around the internet for several years at least…

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren’t old enough and we’ll be more content when they are. After that, we’re frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage.We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation,or when we retire.The truth is, there’s no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges. It’s best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway. Happiness is the way. So, treasure every moment that you have and treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time with… and remember that time waits for no one.So, stop waiting

until your car or home is paid off
until you get a new car or home
until your kids leave the house
until you go back to school
until you lose ten pounds
until you gain ten pounds
until you finish school
until you get a divorce
until you get married
until you have kids
until you retire
until summer
until spring
until winter
until fall
until you die…

There is no better time than right now to be happy.

Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

Software as magic

netjeff

Jakob Nielsen’s 9 Dec 2002 issue of Alertbox compares software to the world of magic as described in the Harry Potter series. Although Nielsen is not the first to make the comparison to magic (see Vernor Vinge’s excellent novella True Names), I liked this insight:

In the Harry Potter books, the population consists of two distinct groups — a small group of wizards, and a much larger group of Muggles (standard-issue humans) who know nothing about magic or the dealings of wizards.

Similarly, in our world, the vast majority of people don’t understand computers or technology. Science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke once said that “any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” Unfortunately, computers and the Internet are this “advanced technology” as far as most people are concerned. Things appear on their screens, computers deliver the desired results, and how it happens is all just so much magic.

In the Harry Potter books, the ethical wizards have agreed to leave the Muggles alone and not do magic tricks on them. It seems that computer wizards have something to learn from Harry Potter, because they often use their power in ways that are harmful to regular people.