Not Win32 compatible

I am a relative newcomer to blogging, and as such, have been clicking the 'Next Blog' button frequently in order to find interesting blogs and like-minded (or even just -minded) people.
I have a few observations:

• There are a staggering number of people who posted to their blogs on Boxing Day.
• There are a lot of what I will call 'spamblogs' - that is, blogs containing nothing but advertising content.
• There are a lot of christians with blogs, mainly in the U.S.
• Many bloggers also write poetry.
• Many blogs are in txtspk. I skip these - Is the english language not varied enough for these people or are they just lazy?
• There are a lot of depressed bloggers out there.
• I sometimes get a popup containing the text "Sorry, your browser is not Win32 compatible".

This last point amuses me somewhat. No, my browser isn't Win32 compatible. I am not Win32 compatible. I am a linux convert. Mr Gates has taken up too much of my time already. But perhaps this tangent will be explored further in a future post. It's the second-to-last post that is a bit disturbing. It would seem that many are unhappy with their lot in life, and lack the motivation to do anything about it. My challenge to them is to read my previous post and think about it. You are your own ultimate judge. You are in charge of your life. The person who makes the executive decisions. I also urge you to read the book The Consolations of Philosophy by Alain de Botton. This is witty, accessible and, most significantly, actually helpful.
For a while now, my take on life has been: "If life hands you lemons, make lemonade".
(An aside, I love lemonade, especially the home-made kind. Nothing, excepting a crisp, cool glass of beer, is as refreshing on a hot summer's day.)
Perhaps these poor people feel that they are not Life42 compatible. But just like there are alternatives to using Microsoft Windows, there are alternatives to being miserable.
Why the hell wouldn't you want to change your life for the better? Go do it!
Read my last post, and go and do it.

Best Regards,

J.L.

Happy days are here again...

Ahh, the sun has returned to Christchurch today. 'Bout bloody time!
The weather here has been quite apalling recently, with violent mood swings; from bright sun one minute, to hosing-down-plus-thunder-and-lightning the next.

It is post-Christmas time. In New Zealand this means barbeques, beer and beaches. It doesn't quite sit right with me, as someone who grew up with the 'real thing' in the northern hemisphere. The whole thing is totally incongruous - The Christmas trees, the fake snow, the turkey and Christmas pud, despite it being a balmy 23 degrees outside. Hardly sensible or appropriate.
Not that my family do Christmas, mind you. We're not christians, and have decided that the holiday is quite farcical. But I don't begrudge others of the joy it might bring them: Everyone is entitled to a little happiness. I don't envy the stress it causes many people, nor do I revel in the rampant retail fever that strikes at this time of year.

No, Hogmanay (New Year) is the thing for Scots. A time to reflect on the f**king horrible year we are leaving behind in hope of a better one next year. Mostly, this is helped along by the liberal consumption of whisky and other booze, loud music and partying hard for three or so days straight. I'm thoroughly looking forward to this.

This year has seen some truly awful events, but here's the rub: So will next year. Call me a cynic, I don't mind. This is not a bad thing. I'm reminded of the motto of the school I attended in Auckland, "Per angusta, ad augusta" - through adversity, to strength. It's a useful excercise to remind one's self that shit happens, and often there's not much that you can do about it. Accept that you will have troubles. This doesn't mean that you must cower away from life, and fret and worry. Oh no. Rather, go out and do things anyway. Go and do whatever you want. Others may chide you, but the hell with them. At the end of the day, when you are sitting on your death bed, you will regret not having done more of what you wanted to do. So go and do the things you've always wanted to do, and don't worry so much. You will be better for it. In the words of a friend: "You're here for a good time, not a long time."

So I'm going to make myself a coffee and relax.

I wish you all a fun and fruitful New Year,

Best Regards,

J.L.