I agree - just because you have the tools at your disposal doesn't mean you will automatically make something great. On the other hand, this technology exposes more people to music creation so given enough time it might give rise to great things. If you look at paintings when concepts such as perspective and foreshortening were brand new they look primitive and child-like. It took a long time until the Rennaisance painters produced paintings on a magificent scale with these techniques.
Also, home recording studios are a great way to learn music. I am learning to play jazz (be-bop) on my guitar. I can look at a lead sheet and lay down the melody on one track, play it back over and over and try different chord voicings behind the melody. I can play the chords and practice soloing. I can also lay down a bass and drum track and get practice playing in a group. I don't have to waste lesson time (and money) going over these exercises. I can use that time to go over new topics/concepts with my teacher each week.
As Linux distributions make installation easier more people who are not necessarily computer knowledgable will start using the OS. These users will not be so savvy because the installation did all of the configuration and the users did not need to find out about how their systems work.
Microsoft sells products aimed at the "Average Joe" who is not technical. This means that they have to hide many of the nuts and bolts and preconfigure much of the system. This would lead to a less secure system. As Linux moves into the mainstream it will face these same problems.
The only other movie in this list that I saw is LOTR and I would vote for that over Gangs of New York. However, Scorsese grew up in the neighborhood where the movie takes place. When he lived there it was Little Italy and it was ruled by the Mafia (the Irish had long since moved to the Bronx and then to Jersey). Little Italy and the Mafia are what Scorsese so artfully documented and in Gangs of New York he is just going back to the roots of his neighborhood. (It is well documented that the Mafia is descended from the Irish gangs).
As Little Italy - which only exists in vestigal form now and is pretty much gentrified - recedes into the past the old Five Points becomes even more remote. The actual Five Points was bulldozed during a reform movement 100 years ago although many buildings and landmarks still exist - including the old St. Patrick's Cathedral.
Although the story is contrived, the movie fits into Scorsese's canon pretty well and, based upon pictures I have seen and stories that I have read, he really caught the look and feel of 19th century New York.
Life is full of trade-offs. If I didn't get paid to do my job I wouldn't do it. This indicates to me that I don't "do what I love". OK, fine - however, I do enjoy programming in general and a programming job is pretty good in that you get to solve concrete problems, you use your mind, and it is creative to a large degree. Does corporate life suck? Yes. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.
In return for doing a job that I don't "love" I get to do many things that make life pleasant. With the money that I earn I can take music lessons, travel, take courses in subjects I find interesting, go out for nice meals with friends, etc. I love boating and being out on the water. Well, my job pays the money that I use to pay off the loan, slip fees, gas, etc.
When I use the men's room at work and I see the cleaning guy in there who probably earns just enough to rent a room someplace and send some money home I get over myself and my need to "do something meaningful" real fast!
P.S. You may love to play music or scuba dive or whatever - but when you depend on it for a paycheck you may find that you don't love it all that much afterall.
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Also, home recording studios are a great way to learn music. I am learning to play jazz (be-bop) on my guitar. I can look at a lead sheet and lay down the melody on one track, play it back over and over and try different chord voicings behind the melody. I can play the chords and practice soloing. I can also lay down a bass and drum track and get practice playing in a group. I don't have to waste lesson time (and money) going over these exercises. I can use that time to go over new topics/concepts with my teacher each week.
Microsoft sells products aimed at the "Average Joe" who is not technical. This means that they have to hide many of the nuts and bolts and preconfigure much of the system. This would lead to a less secure system. As Linux moves into the mainstream it will face these same problems.
As Little Italy - which only exists in vestigal form now and is pretty much gentrified - recedes into the past the old Five Points becomes even more remote. The actual Five Points was bulldozed during a reform movement 100 years ago although many buildings and landmarks still exist - including the old St. Patrick's Cathedral.
Although the story is contrived, the movie fits into Scorsese's canon pretty well and, based upon pictures I have seen and stories that I have read, he really caught the look and feel of 19th century New York.
In return for doing a job that I don't "love" I get to do many things that make life pleasant. With the money that I earn I can take music lessons, travel, take courses in subjects I find interesting, go out for nice meals with friends, etc. I love boating and being out on the water. Well, my job pays the money that I use to pay off the loan, slip fees, gas, etc.
When I use the men's room at work and I see the cleaning guy in there who probably earns just enough to rent a room someplace and send some money home I get over myself and my need to "do something meaningful" real fast!
P.S. You may love to play music or scuba dive or whatever - but when you depend on it for a paycheck you may find that you don't love it all that much afterall.