Gerald R. Lucas

I’m thinking about starting a religion.

Seriously. It seems that only narratives about belief and faith get anywhere in this country these days. Facts are irrelevant — too pedestrian. Loud opinion is king, and my don’t we have plenty of it to go around? Not only do we like opinions, but we seem to relish uninformed, indignant, rude, and freakin’ loud! opinions even more, like pigs to the trough. Most of our current debates center around these types of beliefs, too. Yes, heath care is a very real problem, but it isn’t the fact of the problem that people care about, it’s the belief (a mystical flavor of opinion) about it that gets everyone so riled. You know, like religious belief.

My religion would be based around technology, more specifically computer technology. There’s already a Cult of Mac, but “cult” is such a pejorative term. I vote we make it into a full-fledged religion with all the concomitant benefits — and I’m not just talking about the material and economic ones. The narratives are already in place. We could make Apple the thing we worship, and Microsoft could be Satan and all his demonic horde. The particulars can be worked out later, and they’re not really that important. In fact, we could just as easily have chosen M$ as the entity most proper for our thoughtless devotion, but since I’m a Mac user, I’ve made Apple the arbitrary bestowers of goodness and light, and M$ the damned and execrable purveyors of sins most foul. Who is good is not really the point.

The Apple commercials are already allegorical. We have the Mac as the angel on your left shoulder and PC as the demon on your right. Who would you listen to? Justin Long is kind of a winy and right millennial, but John Hodgman‘s evil peecee commands my sympathy with his wry pathos. Apple’s marketing goons have done a great job with the complexity of this choice, like a medieval allegorist. Which will we choose? Well, ultimately there is no choice: we must go with the Mac if we are to achieve computing nirvana, even though its representative is as exciting as a latex-coated bible, and to me not really representative of of the holy OS.

Anyway, a new Apple religion. This is not because Apple deserves to be worshipped, but it does make sense that we’d choose a corporation to venerate in this country today. We love our stuff, and corporations know how to sell it to us. They’re like the pastor passing around the donation plate before communion, and we’re the obedient parishioners smiling while we give ten percent of our income to God before we’re rewarded with a snack. This is about right, too, if we take into consideration the computers at home, in the office, the iPods, service, upgrades, support devices, entertainment appliances, iTunes purchases. . . Ten percent might be conservative.

Still, I’m interested in the what religion signifies in this country above all of these other matters. I want to end the persecution. I want people to treat me and my choices as if they really mattered. You know, like we do for Christians. Religion is not up for debate. It’s not up for discrimination. It’s not up for rational thought. It’s about belief. I want the respect given to religion, say, by businesses and politicians. They don’t even have to understand why I have chosen to use a Mac; why I have chosen to shun Microsoft. They just need to support that decision, like they do, say, Christmas. You don’t ask questions about Xmas, do you? It’s America’s holiest corporate Christian holiday. How dare you!? You must be one of those Marxist Communists.

It’s really not so much to ask. There will be no pogroms to end Microsoft’s monopoly of the computer industry. In fact, they may still wipe us believers off the face of the digital planet. That day would be like Pope’s “universal darkness,” and I certainly hope it doesn’t come to that. Yet, the place where I work is discriminating against my religion by trying to marginalize Mac users and end their support of our platform on their network. They are not friendly toward our technological choices and would sleep much better if we would just go away. Ask them. We are just a nuisance to them, like a small band of believers were to Rome about 2000 years ago.

You don’t have to agree with me. In fact, I’m pretty sure you don’t. We are used to the discrimination of Applists, or should that be Macists? (I think I like the latter, since it sounds like Marxists, and you know that scares the shit out of people, even though they have no idea what it means.) For you non-believers, I will end with a final question: “What computer would Jesus use?”

Well, we finally did it: Giles and I have officially launched Regional Imagery, LLC. We envision it as a stock photography venture that specializes in images of place. We think that publishers and corporations are often interested in iconic shots and/or detail shots of particular places for use on book covers, brochures, web sites, etc. So, we combine that purview with our interest in travel and photography, and voilà a side business.

We’ve started modestly by having a blog front-end to the site to which we intend to add images and narratives regularly. Behind-the-scenes, we’re using Photoshelter to house our archive and galleries. My opinion of Photoshelter is currently mixed (they are pricy), but as I use it, I like it more, particularly for the right management features that Zenfolio simply doesn’t have (yet!). More on this later.

So, check out Regional Imagery, LLC. Leave a comment. Watch us grow. And, if you are a photographer who might have some images to contribute (we share any money made), let us know. Oh, and follow us on Twitter.

I have had a personal page for Facebook for a while. While I have some problems with how it’s organized and some of the mindless crap on there, if has been invaluable for getting in touch with friends from high school and college that I probably never would have seen again. For that, it has no equal.

Recently, Autumn noticed that you can add a page for your business, and she encouraged me to add one for what can now accurately be called my “side” business. Gerald R. Lucas, Photographer now has a “fan” page on Facebook. I’m not quite such how I’m going to use it, but having another place to highlight my work can’t be a bad thing.

Stop by and become my fan.

So do something for the planet that we need, but that doesn’t need us.

Put your politics aside for a day, and consider what would not only help the world, but would also help us. Check out Repower America. They want to Repower America with 100% clean electricity within 10 years. This goal means new industries with high-paying jobs. It means lower energy costs. It means replacing coal and foreign oil with clean domestic sources. It is a vital step toward protecting the environment and solving the climate crisis. It means considering what we do to the planet that we need for our survival.

After all, Earth Day is really about our survival, not the Earth’s.

Several weeks ago, my MacBook Pro’s monitor started acting up. I purchased my 15″ MBP in November of 2007, so it was about two months out-of-warranty when the monitor would inadvertently not come on during boot or flicker off during use. Finally, after I lived for a month with the display’s new capriciousness, it went off for good.

Despite my better judgment, I took it to the local computer place: the so-called Quality Computer Systems on Riverside Drive in Macon, Georgia. I link to them, not to send them business, but to hopefully let my experience reflect on their business. What I mean by “better judgment” is based on my first experience with them. A couple of years ago, I had a 12″ PowerBook that I spilled a bit of water on. It immediately went dead and would not boot, even after several hours to let it dry. I thought I hosed the computer, so I took it to QCS for their diagnosis. After it sat there for about three days, they called me and said it was ready. Apparently, just letting dry for a bit longer was all that was necessary; that’ll be $85. “For what,” I asked. “Well, it did boot, but we ran diagnostics to see if everything was OK.” Fine, I thought, paying the money, but feeling ripped off. I made a mental note at the time never to go back there again. They could have at least called me before they ran those diagnostics.

Well, flash forward a couple of years to my current monitor problem. Apparently, I have forgotten about my experience with them or was just distracted by my current dilemma. I packed up my ailing MBP and headed to QCS. This was a Thursday. Nearly a week later, they called me to report my logic board needed to be replaced (the video card is shot, and that lives on the logic board). A new logic board would be about $1200. I told them I’d just come get the computer. “That’ll be $85.” I paid it without a word. While it did take them a week to get to it, it wasn’t their fault my computer seemed beyond repair.

I began looking for another computer thinking I could sell my MBP for parts. Autumn just got a new MacBook, and we decided we could share that as well as a new 24″ iMac for the house. Since the blogosphere was a-twitter with rumors of imminent new iMacs, I decided to wait. When they were finally announced a couple of days ago, I was underwhelmed with the offerings. Had the upgraded iMacs had LED monitors, this story might have ended differently.

“What the hell,” I thought, “I’ll give Apple a call about my MBP.” Giles reminded me of the number: 800-SOS-APPL. I called, and I was almost immediately connected with a guy named Anthony. I explained the problem, and he was sympathetic. He checked the price of a new logic board, and came up with the same number that QCS gave me. “Hold on,” he said, “let me check one other thing.” He was gone for a minute, and when he came back, he had a better price for me: $350. Apparently, since I had not abused my computer, this is the adjusted out-of-warranty price. I had a box the next day and received my fixed MBP yesterday from Apple. Sweet.

I gotta say: I was not expecting such a positive outcome. My experience with Apple and customer service lately has not been what it used to be when they were not on top. I am pleasantly surprised, and my faith in my favorite computer company has been renewed. Thanks, Apple.

As for QCS: couldn’t they have called Apple for me? The more I think about it, the more upset I get. This is what local customer service has turned in to. I guess, because of geography, they feel they have some sort of monopoly here in central Georgia (is that called an oligopoly?). I think they could have done more. I’m out $160+ from my two experiences with them, and what did I get either time? Really. I will not be going back, and I actually feel like writing to the owner. I would, if I felt it would do any good.

From President Barack Obama’s inaugural address:

We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions — that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

. . .

We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age.

. . .

And those of us who manage the public’s knowledge will be held to account, to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day, because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

. . .

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.

Our founding fathers faced with perils that we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations.

Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience’s sake.

And so, to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and we are ready to lead once more.

. . .

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness.

We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and nonbelievers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth.

And because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.

To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict or blame their society’s ills on the West, know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy.

To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

Read the entire speech in The New York Times. And check out the new web site.

Today was my first day back for the spring term. I didn’t have to teach today, only advise. I’ve always considered myself pretty poor at advising, but I had several students today — all of whom I think I was able to help.

It seems like the only difficulty I really have at advising is the technology. Not only is Banner a difficult system to use — it’s on this archaic mainframe that’s cryptic at best — it is not available for the Mac. It’s a web-based system run on Java, but for some reason it is not compatible with Mac. I’ve tried to find out why, since the old version worked fine. Ever since the “upgrade” last summer, it’s been broken.

So I end up having to go to the conference room to use this Gateway from the middle ages. I was told by tech support that it’s SCT — the makers of Banner — who do not support Macs. Really? Tell me: how difficult would it really be? Especially since it worked in the last version. Sounds a bit anti-competitive to me, especially since one of the reasons for developing in Java is for compatibility.

So, how about it, SunGard?