rituals for computer operation
.#...#.##. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ....##...#
..#....##. #...###...
...#...### the computer is a very common tool in .#..#.##..
....#..#.# the futures, and in some ways even now. ..#...###.
.....#...# its job is to do vast amounts of small ...#..#.##
#.....#..# calculations in a short amount of time. ....#...##
##.....#.. #....#..#.
###.....#. most work on the principles of posing .#....#...
#.##.....# the problem on a hilbert plane, which ..#....#..
..###..... is then folded out of causality, so ...#....#.
..#.##.... that daemons can solve the problem ....#....#
#...###... without affecting real life. (these .....#....
.#..#.##.. daemons are under contract with the ......#...
..#...###. computer manufacturer.) .......#..
...#..#.## ........#.
....#...## it's commonplace for programmers and #........#
#....#..#. clerks to pray to the "gods" of their .#........
.#....#... computer, or to the daemons doing the ..#.......
..#....#.. work, for a quick and fault free ...#......
...#....#. operation. ....#.....
....#....# .....#....
.....#.... some ubiquitous and generally ......#...
......#... non-controversial rituals include: .......#..
.......#.. ........#.
........#. ~~# light a scented candle #~~ .........#
#........# ~~# for quiet and calm #~~ ..........
.#........ ..........
..#....... ~~# recite a mantra or other #~~ #.........
...#...... ~~# reassuring message to make #~~ ##........
....#..... ~~# the computer comfortable #~~ ###.......
.....#.... ~~# and at ease #~~ #.##......
......#... ..###.....
.......#.. ~~# some like to say a brief #~~ ..#.##....
........#. ~~# prayer for solace, to be #~~ ....###...
.........# ~~# left alone during their work #~~ ....#.##..
.......... ......###.
.......... ~~# offer a cup of steaming tea #~~ ......#.##
#......... ~~# or a meal to the machines #~~ #.......##
##........ ~~# (sometimes, by fey rules, #~~ .#......#.
###....... ~~# the daemons are allowed #~~ ..#.......
#.##...... ~~# to respond to this) #~~ ...#......
..###..... ....#.....
..#.##.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ #....#....
^^^~^ ^ ~~^ ^ ~^ ^~
^ ^^ ^ ^ . ^. .
. . ^ .
.
would you consider code golf
to be a kind of prayer?
as in, you make a convoluted,
intricate, beautiful, and useless
artifact. as in, you're using your
skills to ask for something,
...i'd ask for a handful of bugs?
code has bugs, lots of it.