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.