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) #~~ #####.##..
..###.#### ....##.#..
.#..##...# ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ...#.###..
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.
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.