• azimir@lemmy.ml
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    1 year ago

    This joke is explained with a story by Neal Stephenson in his “The Hole Hawg of Operating systems”. It’s a short, but great read: http://www.team.net/mjb/hawg.html

    To quote:

    “But I never blamed the Hole Hawg; I blamed myself. The Hole Hawg is dangerous because it does exactly what you tell it to. It is not bound by the physical limitations that are inherent in a cheap drill, and neither is it limited by safety interlocks that might be built into a homeowner’s product by a liability-conscious manufacturer. The danger lies not in the machine itself but in the user’s failure to envision the full consequences of the instructions he gives to it.”

    • sebinspace@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Like a review of the OG Dodge Viper:

      “Traction control? Air bags? Nope. You get ten cylinders, four wheels, and a steering wheel. Whatever happens next, it’s on you.”

      Edit: Here it is

      • Alterecho
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        1 year ago

        “this car accelerates like it hates the past” is maybe one of my favorite quotes of all time now. Thanks for sharing this gem

        • sebinspace@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          His Demon review is even better:

          “This car doesn’t accelerate, it escalates. Like a conversation born from the phrase ‘what’s wrong?’”