World of Suck

I won't buy Vista.

There's lots of good reasons why. Good, solid, valid reasons. And most of all they're *my* reasons. I don't want it, I don't like it and I don't have to have it.

Microsoft of course is pissed about this because I'm not in a minority. Vista, since its launch, has sucked. It's been made fun of, and deservedly so.

So what's an almighty software giant like Microsoft to do?

Simple. Try and use their clout in other markets to force people to change.

What people?... Well gamers.

When I picked up a copy of Halo 2 for the PC I discovered this abusive campaign under the guise of "Games for Windows". In essence it was "either you play this game (which was released a stupid amount of time after the xbox version) on *our* terms or you don't play it at all." Basically a variant of the infantile: "Well either we play with my toys my way - or you can all just go home."

(Note that this is especially amusing since Microsoft has just recently enabled a path to "downgrade" to XP - admitting that yeah, Vista really does blow dead dogs.)

Honestly you think they'd know better. There isn't a more stubborn, truculent, mulish group than PC gamers. Numbers decimated by console offerings, we remain the few, the dedicated, the unyielding. Trying to lead us along by waving bright, shiny objects, such as Bioshock for example, simply isn't enough to make us want to renovate our precious computers with Vista filth.

As bad as it seems, in fact they did me a favor. I'd been torn between trying ET: Quake Wars or Halo 2. Now I didn't have to decide at all...

The smoking bans have reached epic heights. Let me just say that I personally hate cigarette smoke and I would love it if everybody quit. But I am a realist, the 20% of Americans that smoke are not just going to quit. However, I do have a bit of sympathy for someone who is told they can not smoke in a place they OWN.

For many years, landlords have banned smoking. My parents owned a rental property about 20 years ago and would not rent to smokers after renting to one for 3 yrs. From a purely business perspective this makes sense. Smoking is a fire hazard so insurance is higher. Smoking makes the windows and walls completely gross and cleaning up after a smoker who has moved is time consuming, smelly and thankless. Furthermore, smoke-free appeals to the 80% who do not smoke. However, smoking bans aren't just for tenants anymore.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-10-02-nosmoke_N.htm

Now some condo associations are banning smoking. Since most don't grandfather people in, it doesn't matter if you bought your unit 3 months ago or 10 yrs ago. If one buys a condo or a home in any other restricted community, one realizes that they will have rules to live by in their own home. However, should those rules be changed on someone? Now some municipalities are passing laws banning smoking in apartments and condos. I do not think its fair, no matter how much I hate smoking.

Think about this - the government is passing a law on what you can do within the four walls of the home you own. Something that is not inherently illegal. People tend not to squawk unless the right being taken away is something they like having the right to do. If the government can ban smoking in someone's home, a privately owned residence, where will the erosion of our rights end?