      A Computer's Perspective

      by Ron Mitchell

      1)      Belt Tightening: a process by which an over-indulgent 
              human reluctantly endeavours to reduce dependence on 
              those habits and activities which provided pleasure.

      2)      Computer Bashing: An activity carried on by humans who
              have spent too much time belt tightening. (Socially 
              acceptable substitute punching at walls).

      3)      Hacker: a human who has taken computer bashing to a 
              level that makes punching at walls seem like sane and 
              rational activity.

      4)      Geek: a hacker who has lost all sense of sane and 
              rational activity, unless there is a computer in the
              room.

      5)      Computer room: a sane and rational place for Geeks.

      6)      Rational: that which is based on physical evidence 
              without regard for truth.

      7)      Physical evidence: clear proof, based on verifiable
              observation, that computer bashing took place. Often
              manifest as a mess of computer components arranged 
              in disorganized or random fashion on the floor of
              the computer room.

      8)      Computer Components: physical items possessing 
              defined characteristics, which when assembled in
              the proper manner, make up a computer and take on
              a life greater than the collective sum of the items.

      9)      Life: that which is ignored by computer geeks, in 
              favour of results produced by the collective sum of
              computer components.

      10)     Results: The outcome produced by inputs, or the income 
              produced by outputs. Either way results can be 
              confusing, disappointing and unexpected.

      11)     Unexpected: not anticipated on the basis of 
              predictive analysis; ie. that humans would produce
              useful results, or anything at all for that matter.

      12)     Humans: a species of carbon based organism known 
              to inhabit certain planets of the universe. 


      12)     Universe. A place where belt-tightening is a way
              of life.


              
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