The Silent Number

You know, besides it being generally sucky for whoever's stuck in it. A friend of mine who shall remain anonymous wrote this and i'm sharing it not because i agree wholeheartedly with it, but because although i am familiar with the concept of The Friend Zone, just as i'm sure all of you are as well, i'd never considered this before. My friend would like to note that this was written from discussions with their female friends, not experience or large, detailed research. I'm reminded of a somewhat-related XKCD.

TL;DR: Skip to the last paragraph.

Guest writers and anonymous contributions are always welcome! Please feel free to contact me if you have something you'd like to share here.

Although I knew this in the past, it was truly solidified for me today. While I have long heard of "The Friend Zone," a proverbial place a man finds himself in after befriending a lady, I did not truly believe that real, decent womenfolk participated in this kind of -- friendly castration. Essentially, it works like this. You are a nice guy, perhaps a bit low on confidence, and you meet someone. A girl, in fact. She's quite pretty, but you didn't notice that -- the first thing you truly noticed about her was that she was talking about XKCD. Math. Your favorite band. Really, whatever floats your boat. Love at first... overheard conversation? Yes. Anyhow, you summon up your courage and approach her. You understand her. She understands you. Before long, you're confiding in each other, letting each other in on your deepest secrets... you realize that whenever you think about her, your heart skips a beat... you go out of your way to run into her... and when you look into your heart, you realize that truly, this must be love.

The problem here is that by waiting long enough after meeting her to truly fall in love with her... you have sealed your fate. By initiating your interaction with the thought of friendship rather than the subtext of seduction, you've forever locked yourself in a part of her heart known as... the Friend Zone. The Friend Zone is a place that is all well and good, if you really just want to be friends. However, once in, you can't back out. The closer you become to her, paradoxically, the less room you have to maneuver the relationship into something Bigger.

Recently, after having a philosophical conversation with a certain female confidante who I believed to be, well, rather sane, I discovered that she too suffers from this strange disorder. I started realizing that every female friend I had was one less fish in the sea -- one more person I could never hope to date. By being the man that I am, I've found myself the subject of the adoration of many people I might, at some point, be interested in dating. But, alas, this adoration is the wrong kind... I have become, perhaps not "just" a friend, as that would dilute the value of friendship, but, well, solely a friend. No longer am I a "man," possessed of the equipment and accessories that make me a suitable suitor, but some sort of psychological eunuch. A creature not quite capable of sex. Not a man, but a sexless companion.

I truly do not understand how the female mind can possibly justify this. It encourages the kind of behavior that women claim to despise -- approaching them with the intent to get to know them better, but only in the biblical sense. If a man truly wants to get to know a woman for who she is -- there is no chance for him. He shall be a Friend, nothing more. If in the course of friendship, he realizes that he has met someone he finds truly special, it's too late. The very fact that he's discovered who she is, at her core, makes him unsuitable. In my experience, getting to discover a personality can only make me feel more strongly -- however, in the fairer sex, this process works backwards. It goes beyond rational desire to maintain a friendship without complications. If it were only that, the feelings would still be there. But it is beyond that -- not only is there no logical desire for a relationship, there is no capacity for romantic love when companionate love already exists. The sum is not commutative -- in order for a man to be successful, he has to enter a situation first with his penis, then with his heart.

What. The. Fuck?

Can Ubuntu reach over 16,000 anime lovers in April? Of course it can, with the support of the rapidly expanding super mega-awesome community (that's you all)!
PRESS RELEASE

Anime Boston returns for 2010 on April 2-4 and the Ubuntu Massachusetts Local Community Team has some ambitious plans. Last year, I went in on behalf of the team and dropped off 50 copies of the Ubunchu Manga with Jaunty CDs attached, and they were all gone within the first couple of hours of the first day of the convention. It seemed to be the only thing on the flyer table that people actually wanted! The event was amazing. There were people there from all over the country, even across the world. Over 15,000 people attended and that number has risen from little over 4,000 since the first convention in 2003. For 2010, we're going to be reaching out to this huge potential user base. While we're at it, we'll also be creating a new model for Linux groups to raise funds for projects without the having to go through registering as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or being legally recognized in any way.

Ubuntu really is a perfect candidate for the new operating system of choice for all anime lovers, and that is exactly what we aim to make it. Is there a more passionate and tight-knit, yet diverse and open minded cultural phenomenon that we could target than the widespread anime fandom? Convention goers are a great target audience. They tend to be slightly on the geeky side but still cool of course and very receptive to Ubuntu. An OS that is beautiful yet still highly customizable, Free and Open Source with a supportive enthusiastic community that very much mirrors their own couldn't be a better match! With the right planning along with support from the community and maybe a couple of the big dogs, our goals are very attainable.

So, what exactly will we be doing? We can approach this on several levels, starting with setting up a booth in the Dealers' Room of the convention. From here, we can distribute free copies of the Ubunchu Manga, Ubuntu LiveCDs, and materials on FOSS, Ubuntu, and our team. Most importantly, we'll be out there talking and connecting with people and generally just making a big impression on them. We will also offer live installs and do some cool demonstrations, the basic stuff that should be expected. If we gain enough resources, another great opportunity is distributing our materials in the Anime Boston registration bags. This would put our materials in the hands of almost every single convention attendee. That's expected to be over 16,000 people!


It's important that we are smart about how we spread Ubuntu since buying a computer with Ubuntu pre-installed is the most effective way to get people to switch. We are hoping companies who are committed to FOSS and GNU/Linux will be willing to partner with us for the event. We have already contacted some manufacturers such as System76 and ZaReason and would happy to hear from any others. With additional funding we may be able to sell Ubuntu merchandise like bootable USB drives and display some machines from our partner(s) with anime themes (some good wallpapers from here and here). If possible, we'd like to auction or raffle off a customized laptop with anime themes and an Anime Boston design laser-etched into it. How cool would that be!

I might also be signing up for a tech staff or volunteer position at the event so I can be an inside man solving problems and being a computer hero all the while spreading Ubuntu to everyone running the convention. If you thinks you might be interested in doing this, you're encouraged to apply at the Anime Boston website. During one of the main events at the 2009 convention, I remember hearing Windows error sounds!

On top of all of this, we have a digital camcorder which will capture everything every step of the way. The video camera records in full HD and everything (Sony HDR-XR520V if you're curious). So not only would we have an immediate impact on everyone at the convention, but we can extend our reach to YouTube and continue to have a lasting impact long after the convention closes its doors for the year.

As mentioned before, we will be setting a precedent with this project. To the best of our knowledge this has never been done before or at the very least not on this scale. Thanks to Linux Fund, we will be able to accept tax-deductible donations to cover the costs of this event. Linux Fund is currently in the process of setting up a system that will allow them to provide this service to other FOSS community groups at a competitive rate. Such a valuable resource has not been readily available to unincorporated FOSS groups in the past. This is a real game-changer: the possibilities are endless. This relationship reflects the growing trend of FOSS groups building relationships with the nonprofit community. Once this infrastructure has been implemented, we can expect to see many more projects of this magnitude and greater spring up.

This is where all of you, the community, come in. We cannot depend so much on big sponsors to jump on board just yet, so we are going to start with a community fundraiser to raise money for the essential elements of our campaign and show our potential sponsors that this is a worthwhile endeavor. The most important element of this campaign is our physical presence at the Anime Boston conventions so our first fundraising goal will be $700; that's just 70 people willing to give ten dollars! Help us blow this goal out of the water so that we can move on to the good stuff. Please repost this everywhere you can: (micro)blogs, YouTube, etc. Also pitch us your ideas in the comments of this post and please subscribe to keep up with our fundraising. Thank you all!


For more donation options, please visit our project page at Linux Fund: 

http://linuxfund.org/projects/ubuntu/

Spread the word!

Copy the code below to embed this button on your website.

Link to this blog post: <a href='http://blog.thesilentnumber.me/2009/11/can-ubuntu-reach-over-16000-anime.html'><img src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PtyHEChBKZw/Swoc8F21TGI/AAAAAAAAd3k/jbx3yTEdDDc/s1600/ubunchu-animebostonbutton.png' alt='Ubuntu Anime Boston Button' border='0' /></a>	Link to Linux Fund project page: <a href='http://linuxfund.org/projects/ubuntu/'><img src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PtyHEChBKZw/Swoc8F21TGI/AAAAAAAAd3k/jbx3yTEdDDc/s1600/ubunchu-animebostonbutton.png' alt='Ubuntu Anime Boston Button' border='0' /></a>

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yamNKwoYvps
From my YouTube channel (please subscribe!): http://www.youtube.com/user/TheSilentNumber

To continue my selfless giving out of sheer love for my readers, i'm going to follow up those ten free Google Voice invites with eight free invites to a service in much higher demand and much lower supply. I'm still going to direct people to that YouTube contest i started since it's never going to end at this rate, but anyways, enjoy these:

1. https://wave.google.com/wave/invite?a=pre&wtok=d1eaff123141a470&wsig=ABk8uhRfgeqNKbhYWaO9AYqGMox7a4HPrA
2. https://wave.google.com/wave/invite?a=pre&wtok=54089d973a03eece&wsig=ABk8uhRDM4GWhzk2x4QqM66PhBSK_xzQMg
3. https://wave.google.com/wave/invite?a=pre&wtok=1368047731672bc6&wsig=ABk8uhR0se3lfseNCFBNLMkpB9N1LdLGrw
4. https://wave.google.com/wave/invite?a=pre&wtok=c5776ddff23a0416&wsig=ABk8uhTR3YXgHQ7cBqgRxJDfdPAX2Wt5CA
5. https://wave.google.com/wave/invite?a=pre&wtok=c1e797af6424b043&wsig=ABk8uhSR72gy7_SpRuxM593_K-vX3RaL8A
6. https://wave.google.com/wave/invite?a=pre&wtok=6df4ef2ec01b1cc7&wsig=ABk8uhSNxL0bmz-aqKq_QwHA_QA3uawFHQ
7. https://wave.google.com/wave/invite?a=pre&wtok=8ba3045df2eb8cd9&wsig=ABk8uhRVHtrykC9OhnzAZVseBRuPR97WJw
8. https://wave.google.com/wave/invite?a=pre&wtok=ea628f9eac2dfc9d&wsig=ABk8uhRY-3E8McR-Ymtlgzh2VuU7kWlL6w

See the new version: Ubuntu 10.04 Post-Install Guide: What to do and try after installing Lucid Lynx!

So you've just installed Ubuntu 9.10, the cute and cuddly Karmic Koala, but now you're confronted with a most pertinent question, "What do i do now?" Ubuntu is a very complete and full-featured Linux distribution, but no operating system can come with everything you want. There's much more fun to be had in what comes after installing the OS on your machine: now you get to set it up with all the best software it didn't already come with! This list of the top things to do immediately after installing your newly acquired copy of Ubuntu doubles as a general list of great software to try out and use, complete with links to any special instructions on how to set them up, Terminal commands for those who prefer a command-line interface (CLI), and when available, personal package archives (PPA), repositories to keep the applications at their newest version, not just the security updates provided for you by default. Repositories can be added easily by clicking the "Add..." button in the "Other Software" tab of Software Sources and entering the provided APT Line. Feel free to pick and choose; enjoy!

Basic Stuff

Download Mirror & Updates

After every major Ubuntu release (beta, release candidate, and especially the final), the official servers will be unbearably sluggish. To select an alternative server, just launch Software Sources (System ⟶ Administration ⟶ Software Sources) and click the drop-down menu next to "Download from:" and select "Other..." at which point the Choose a Download Server window should pop up. If you know of a fast local server you may select it from the list, or you can try clicking the "Select Best Server" button to launch a tool that will test all the servers for the fastest connection and choose the best result.

Optionally, jump to the "Updates" tab. If you'll always be running the newest version of Ubuntu and are using third-party repos, which we will be, then leaving the defaults should be fine. "Unsupported Updates (karmic-backports)" gives you, as the name implies, unsupported versions of future packages which are still in development which you probably don't need or even want except in certain situations like having a newer-model Apple machine that requires bleeding edge updates. Packages may contain new features, introduce new interfaces, and not be sufficiently tested for inclusion in the 'proposed' repository. "Pre-released Updates (karmic-proposed)" is just the testing area for updates, recommended only to those interested in helping to test updates and provide feedback. Check that Ubuntu is scheduled to automatically find availably updates daily and to download all updates in the background to save yourself some time when it comes time to install them.

Before you go, head over to the "Statistics" tab and check it if it isn't already. This anonymously sends the list of software you have installed and how often you use them to help collect statistics on which apps are the most popular.

When you click close, you will likely be prompted to reload the list of available software. Click reload. If you're prompted with available updates when it finished reloading, follow the instructions to install them. If not, you can always manually check for and install updates via Update Manager (System ⟶ Administration ⟶ Update Manager). You should always keep your computer up-to-date.

Folder and Printer Sharing

If you want to be able to share files, folders, and printers with Windows machines, you'll need the samba package. You can set this up graphically by right clicking on any folder and selecting "Properties" and going straight to the "Share" tab. Check off "Share this folder" and you should be prompted to install the Windows networks sharing service. After that's installed, you'll need to restart and you can click "Create Share" to be able to view the folder and it's contents from other machines through the network.

Like any package, you may also install samba via Synaptic Package Manager (System ⟶ Administration ⟶ Synaptic Package Manager) or command-line (Applications ⟶ Accessories ⟶ Terminal).

Click here to install or use the following command:

sudo apt-get install samba

sudo apt-get install ntp

sudo apt-get install libdvdread4

sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread4/install-css.sh

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras

sudo apt-get purge flashplugin-installer nspluginwrapper

sudo apt-get install mozilla-plugin-gnash

sudo apt-get install gnome-shell

sudo apt-get install simple-ccsm

sudo apt-get install arc-colors community-themes gdm-themes gnome-backgrounds gnome-colors gnome-themes gnome-themes-extras gnome-themes-more metacity-themes shiki-colors zgegblog-themes

sudo apt-get install electricsheep

sudo apt-get install gnome-do

sudo apt-get install universal-applets

sudo apt-get install parcellite

sudo apt-get install pitivi

sudo apt-get install istanbul

sudo apt-get install jokosher

sudo apt-get install cheese

sudo apt-get install moovida

sudo apt-get install miro

sudo apt-get install banshee

sudo apt-get install chromium-browser

sudo apt-get install epiphany-browser

sudo apt-get install mnemosyne anki

sudo apt-get install gbrainy

wget -O- http://archive.getdeb.net/getdeb-archive.key | sudo apt-key add -

sudo apt-get install yofrankie

sudo apt-get install nexuiz

sudo apt-get install boinc-manager

sudo apt-get install solang

sudo apt-get install inkscape

sudo apt-get install blender

sudo apt-get install scribus

sudo apt-get install gnunet-gtk

sudo apt-get install linuxdcpp

sudo apt-get install lottanzb

sudo apt-get install deluge

sudo apt-get install alarm-clock

sudo apt-get install hamster-applet

sudo apt-get install gwibber

sudo apt-get install network-manager-pptp

sudo apt-get install tor tor-geoipdb

sudo apt-get install gufw

sudo apt-get install clamtk

sudo apt-get install unetbootin

sudo apt-get install backintime-gnome

sudo apt-get install gparted

sudo apt-get install virtualbox-3.0

sudo cp libflashplayer.so /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/

All the guides which dominate the top Google search results are now, as i recently discovered, completely obsolete! As you probably know, Google Gears is not officially supported for 64-bit Linux, but being Free and open source software, somebody else can port it for them. The other guides out there describe how to download a .xpi Firefox browser addon from whoever, but they're old versions of Gears. If you've installed from those guides, i'm sure you've gotten the available update notification over and over but trying to update fails because although there's a new version of the official Google Gears, there isn't for the 64-bit copy you have.

With the latest version of Ubuntu, Karmic Koala, installing gears for 64-bit Linux just got a whole lot easier. Would you like to know how already? Are you sure you're ready for this? here it is:

sudo apt-get install gears