When computers, especially ones running OSes that don't protect system memory, have been doing lots of things without being rebooted, incremental corruption makes them start behaving really strangely. Very complicated programs, ones with thousands of preference settings, can create an analogous situation: Trivial changes in settings accumulate like gene damage over the lifespan of the program, eventually resulting in complete dysfunction.

Broid Damned rebellious computers (1.95M mp3)

This is what was happening with cubase over the last couple of days. My frustration grew as I tried over and over to render this song idea to disk:

Every attempt met with a new and interesting failure: Only a tiny fragment got recorded, the analog tracks and synthesized instruments playing at apparently different sample rates, the drums suddenly being transposed an octave up - This last one sounded a lot like Industrial Elf Music. I was becoming convinced that the computer just didn't think it was a good song idea. How else could I explain mathematically generated instruments going out of tune?

Well, because the options interact with different programs in non-obvious ways (such as: unchecking "play in background" causes Reason to only respond (in Rewire mode) while its window is switched to the back.) I had a inadvertenty embedded little frustration crystals in my song. It works fine now, but I was so annoyed with it earlier, I developed an aversion reflex. Blech, song. Oh well. Every time I hate Cubase, I become a better Cubase user. Hey! That could be a good mantra for lots of activities!

I finally acquired approval for a car loan. After being rejected so many times by such a wide variety of supposedly open-minded credit providers, I felt it necessary to visit the loan officer in person and explain exactly what it was I was doing with the money, to make sure it was all right. I thought they had approved my loan because they misunderstood my application. Well, according to her it would be "just fine" if I did it that way. How strange. I found the car. I got the money. All I have to do is go to San Francisco and pick it up. I'd say it was almost too easy, except that it was a titanic hassle.

I've never owned a car before, so I'm reading up on all the attendant responsibilities. I spent part of tonight looking up information about car insurance, and what a fascinating topic it is! Eventually I found myself at IIHS HLDI. After reading table after table of fatality rates and seeing hundreds of pictures of test dummy and sheetmetal quiche, I am now terrified of driving. The car I'm getting has very high marks, as far as safety goes, but that won't save me from being crumpled into dripping hash by a random 5,000 pound red-light-running SUV. The poetic justice, as far as dangerous huge vehicles goes, is that very heavy vehicles tend to be much harder on their occupants when crashing into stationary objects. Safest car? Mercedes E class or Lexus LS 430.

I find myself getting more and more obsessed with this car, and cars in general, as the review/purchase date approaches. This particular model has come to stick out like an albino bat when I come across one on the street. Have I fallen for a car? Nooooo that would be dorky. Ahem. It's too bad I have no garage - I could turn into one of those Car Craft subscribing greaser types. Perhaps someday, when I have a house, that luxury will be available to me. For now I will be content with the ability to move my music rig around on a whim, and the knowledge of exactly which colors of paint were available on a given year for 'my' model. siiigh