Think Different, I mean Different! Open Source, Linux... Inspired by MacHEADS... lol

I watched MacHEADS this afternoon, (yea, I don't have a DVD player, and I streamed it to the Wii, it's not a perfect world, LOL).   It's nice to see people have an obsession or be fans of something that's geeky. True, I'm not a Mac fan, but in the history of  Personal Computers, the Mac has played it's part, and in many ways, I'm glad it did.  They upped the ante for Microsoft to create a more usable interface for it's users.  I didn't take to Win 3.x right off, and fought using that danged mouse, but it seemed to be kinda pretty compared to the C:\ prompt. :)  

I recall bouncing around on my C:\ Prompt for my BBS with QFiler (a lot like Norton commander), and using PKZip to help clean up some disk space, and as a sysop that seemed to be the best formula for getting things done. I'd have a simple text editor in Qfiler to edit the BBS config files... and while I'm digressing, BBS's or the good ones, could be used as dos shell in many ways...  

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Linux Mint 9 - Part 3

Over the past week (or three), I've installed the following to make my Linux Mint 9 desktop more complete:

Xsane:  The simple scanner just doesn't do it for me, won't re-number the images auto-magically or if it does, I didn't see or know how. To me thats a simple "must have" feature.  One Scanner utility looks like you're viewing the guts of C3P0 (Star Wars Episode 1) and the other one seems to be overly plain Jane.


K3B:  While Rhythmbox will rip the CD's etc, K3B seems to do it faster... ? I don't know why.

Had to make use of the NDIS wrapper that comes with Mint, as the wireless card on my laptop died on me, - But I only had an old PCIMCI card to use, and it's chip set isn't Linux friendly, so I had to use some from windows.

I can't think of much else at the moment..  

Oh and a snapshot of the Air Lines Theme.. 

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An example of a Mal-ware Attack targeted for an Windows XP machine.

I don't use Windows, or a Mac, I've been running Desktop Linux (Ubuntu / Linux Mint/ Sidux) on my PCs for some time now.. So when I see these sites, I understand how someone that doesn't "see" the difference of their computer vs the web or their browser, can get tangled up with some BS. 

Posted via email from Randy's Posterous

The Penguin Shelf | @fabsh found out that I had named some of these penguins after podcasters,

And I had told him, yea, I did, but they've been put away for some time, and I don't recall their names.  He wanted to know if one of them had been named after him.  Why yes, there was.  So, if I screwed someone's penguin name up, and you're a podcaster, and you recall what your penguin was, and how I just ripped your name off of it and gave it to someone else. I say. You've got to be kidding!?!?!?  I named this silly things when they were on the dash of my truck, listening to podcasts, and was keeping myself from getting bored out of my mind going down the road wishing I was using Linux, and not working.  LOL,  

Ok Ok, so not ALL the podcasters are represented... Well, we'll get to you and yours sooner or later. And yes, I know there are Three of them named there that are not currently  creating a podcast, but still, they DID have penguins named after them. :) 

In any case, I've got to get away from the KBD...  Have a Great one! :) 

Posted via email from Randy's Posterous

Linux Mint 9 (RC 1) 2nd post.

More tweaking for Mint 9. Can you See why I don't like to update every 6 months, it takes me 1-2 months to get the thing "just right".  There are some other ways to go about it, and when I find those, I'll post about them also.  But I'm going from a fresh install to what it is that I'd like. I'd like to keep to a minimal amount of tweaking, but I think that's just crazy talk.

I'm also thinking that I'll have to make up a list of the changes I did over the first month. - If I still have free time to do so.

So, this week, we've got:

gThumb image edit and viewer. "gThumb is an image viewer and browser for the GNOME Desktop. It also includes an importer tool for transferring photos from cameras." It also allows for some quick cropping of files. One of the features that I use the most.

Also got Ubuntu One setup, and have Tomboy Notes backing up to that folder, don't know what else I'll be doing with that, But I'll be fiddling with Tomboy Notes a little more. It's been a while since I've done much with them, but they're kinda handy.  Check them out if you haven't. - I first used the Synaptic Package Manager to install it, but think that they've got a .deb file to run for the last two versions of Ubuntu.

Added Alarm Clock  Since I don't have Evolution and it's one useful item that I did use with it, was the alarm clock. - I also added to this my Mashpodder script to run three times a week. Yea, I know there's a way to do a Cron Job, for those of you who are command line jockey's. But I've not tried that yet, nor do I think I could walk someone else how to do a cron job. - Part of "My Linux Experiment" is to be able to figure out some things without to much command line, using obvious solutions in the repo's. Trust me, I'd like to be able to take the time to bounce around on it, but it's not something some people would find very user friendly.

Installed Grsync. Simple backup utility. - And that reminds me, I've not taken the time to look at the Mint Backup program. - I need to do that. It's faster then Nautilus for moving large chunks of files etc,  I'm using it now to move stuff from one USB drive to another. I've a drive that has a large FAT32 partition, and I just don't need that around for anything. Moving to EXT3, and of course GParted to perform this feat.

Oh! The one additive that I thought should be included with all GNOME installs or the ones that have Rythmbox is the Nautilus enqueuer plugin for Rhythmbox. Oh yea. I know for some this might seem sorta goofy, but heck, I used to love Amarok, and the fact that it USED to behave a lot like WinAmp, and was for the most part, REALLY GOOD.  With a million different programs out there that will play music on a Linux box... that don't really do anything special, I'm digressing.. Ok, Ok,  I like to be able to bounce around in the file manager and load up a few Podcasts or Tunes.  OR both. But there wasn't really a clear path to do it, or program that DID for me it out of the box with my Linux Experience two years ago, except for Amarok. KDE4 killed off the old player, and the new player just looks wrong, and left me wanting. RythmBox kinda sorta still does, but it's the default Gnome do-dad music thingy and It'll do just fine.

Themes! We mustn't forget the Themes. The AirLines: A New Bisigi Project Gnome Theme is a gorgeous theme. And has a background that changes from daytime to nighttime. Here, better yet, check out the Bisigi Project home page.  A handful of very very stunning themes. - Ubuntu didn't need to move the silly buttons, they could have just added one of these to their default install, and it would have made Ubuntu (or Mint in my case now) a gorgeous desk top that would rust the pixels on any "Brushed Aluminum" crud that the Apple cart has to offer.

That's about it. I don't expect to add much more, or to tweak much more.  I think now, I'll concentrate on getting my personal files sorted out and organized.

Linux Mint 9 is has finally made my laptop work the way it was intended. The Sound Card Issues aren't there, I can use my headphone jack on my Toshiba Satellite A135 now, I can hook it up to the TV with the S-Video port, something I wasn't able to do until now.  I haven't tried the mic jack as of yet, but at the moment, that's a non-issue for me.  Nor have I tried Audacity, or a few other programs that will find their way on my Linux Box.

Have a Great day!

Photo Harassment of the Fresh Ubuntu team..

The first photo is of Peter Nikolaidis, @nikolaidis on twitter, etc,  He's got a test Iron Ubuntu Suit on...

The second two are of Harlem Quijano, He's kind of a gNome.. So... here is is. 

I think that these two tried to pick two of the hardest last names to spell... I don't know what's up with that.. :P 

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from Randy's Posterous

Regina Brett's 45 life lessons and 5 to grow on

Regina Brett's 45 life lessons and 5 to grow on

By Regina Brett, The Plain Dealer

May 28, 2006, 10:13AM

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.

It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolls over to 50 this week, so here's an update:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.

17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.

18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.

38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

45. The best is yet to come.

46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

48. If you don't ask, you don't get.

49. Yield.

50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

To reach this Plain Dealer columnist:

rbrett@plaind.com, 216-999-6328

via cleveland.com

Posted via web from Randy's Posterous

Today's Note - I gotta get organized. I think. Maybe.

I'm trying to figure out how to make my life a little more simpler, you know. I joined about half the media social sites, and the other half I've not bothered with.  Nor do I think that I will.  Most of them are good, they do what you want, you can post an email to most everything these days, CC it to multiple accounts etc. Such as I'm doing now.  And Those sites will shoot it out to a couple others.  

 Now, I'm not the most organized person, nor will I get the award for being Mr. Tidy.  But I try. Lately I've been trying to get things simplified on my hard drives. - I ferreted out some WMA files that were on my "Backup" music directory  (it's alone, so it's really not a  backup) drive. It's more of the drive that I dump things to when I move from one computer to another, or don't want to take up massive amounts of space with audio and video files. The Document folders etc, those are tiny compared to the media. But I still ought to ferret out the crud from the keepers. - Videos, not many of those, but heck, if you dupe one or two 4 gig file... You've wasted a sizable amount of space, if you blow it. You might have just toasted a irreplaceable video of the kids.  Pictures from the phones? Way to many junky ones there.... But easy to move to a DVD or disk. Same for the Videos, but if you bury those away in the attic, what good they? 

Web sites. - Oh my lord. - Do you have to many sites too?  Two or three Blogger Accounts, a Posterous Account, and who knows what other freebie one's I might have had on Yahoo, etc..  Trying to keep focused, as A Tech Blog, A Blog about Linux, A Linux Tech Blog? A Blog about the Cat? Dog? Hardware? Mouse? Any kind of Mouse. Live or one with a blinky red light.  A Proud Parent Blog? Showing off the kids. Wait, maybe not so much, there's weirdos out there. Or are the weirdo's next door? Who knows? One about Green Eggs and Ham, Sam I am. Twitter or Dent, and now a Buzz.. Connect them all, you want all of your friends to be able to find ya. Ya never know what might happen next, who's going to see that you're brilliant, and that they want to hire you for tons of money, so you better include LinkedIn with that lot...  Whew! 

I gotta post on identi.ca, twitter, buzz, ping the dang thing. Ping 140 chars of whats most important to you at this moment. I need to work, I need to sleep, I have a friend that just had a baby, or puppies, can I get you to post the wee one's in a tweet, we know they're sweet, we want to have a picture to savor the moment, as we know it's the journey, not the destination to get us to where we're going.  Tell everyone about it. But we've gotta be worried about our privacy. Wait? Who? What? Who's going to know? Wait for them to find out? 

We've got to be organized, we've got to figure out how to get it done sooner, better, faster or someone else will beat us to the punch line, the finish line, they'll have a bigger house, or care, or boat... Maybe they'll have the iPad with a cool ap that will let them Meditate and become more Zen like in 140 Characters per thought. And then the voices in my head go off again..  Of course that person's going to be more Zen Like. The darn thing cost them an arm and a leg, so all they have to have is one hand left to move things around on the touch screen, they're Zen like from an iObotomy. It's "The Future". I Wonder if they lean to one side when they stand with only one arm and leg to stand on? Oh that's cruel... glad it was the voices in my head that came up with that one, and not me.

With 140 char's per message it might be all that I need, it'll be on my TV on my Laptop, my Phone, My Game Deck, and I'm sure someone is figuring out how BEST to put it on their refrigerator.  - Is it Data overload? Is 140 char per conversation a good thing? 

When really. All we (me?) need is to s.l.o.w. d.o.w.n.  

And to smile, to take a genuine interest to the people within 140 FEET of where we're sitting?

Maybe... just after one last tweet...  

I Told ya, I'm not organized, I was going to go on about something else... Something about staying focused on my personal blog. 

Posted via email from Randy's Posterous

Linux Mint 9 (RC 1) 1st post.

I downloaded and installed Linux Mint 9 RC LTS. - As it's the Release Candidate I expected to find some bugs in it here and there. But so far, nothing painful has cropped up. I am pleasantly surprised.  -  No, the Buttons weren't on the left side of the window, but that would be easy enough to change even if they were.  Also, it's a Long Term Support Release, I've been thinking that I want to go the LTS route for now.  I'll get this setup tweaked and  don't plan on doing anything major with it for a couple of years.
Sure, I might put something else on another partition, if my time allows.

I Went with Mint, just due to some of the things that it Does have that Ubuntu doesn't.  And didn't include things that I didn't care about.  Such as the Evolution Email client.  Ripping that out of Ubuntu is sorta painful and causes issues.  Since I use Thunderbird, IF I use a desktop email program (and I do, from time to time, to "backup" messages.  It fits me better. Since I DO want to watch a movie, or use MP3 files,  I don't have to add that feature, as it's already "in there".

I did a fresh install, and will be testing it some more, I have a little used install of Karmic, that will most likely be blown away. I expect to keep my Intrepid version on a little longer, as it "just worked" minus some sound card issues.

So far I've:

Installed Chrome:  And added extentions: (I might go into these w/ a later post, my fav's and why)

"Fixed" the "Switching workspace with mouse scroll wheel" change that started with Ubuntu Karmic.  Not being a Compiz Guru that's one of those sniggly changes that happens that can get a person to wreak havoc on their system.  "Fixed" Drag a window from one desktop to another. Fixed "back" also.

I'll be adding gPodder, for podcasts that I want to put on my RockBoxed Sansa.  And to separate out some of the podcasts that I like to listen to or stream via Rhythmbox to my Netbook, I'll use Mashpodder and point Rhythmbox to view the files there. These are the non-Tech-Geek podcasts that I want to keep around to listen to on a long term basis. Not that Tech 5 or TLLTS isn't worthy of keeping around, I just don't intend to listen to them over and over.  Such as  Decoder Ring Theatre,  Old Time Radio,  X Minus One, etc...

Well, it seems that I'm out of time with updating my Mint 9 Configuration... Will have more later..
Such as ..  AirLines: A New Bisigi Project Gnome Theme ~ Web Upd8

I've never been good at organization,  so I'm merging photo's and images from one system to the next, and not really needing to KEEP every digital shot that I take with my camera,  So, I'm farting around with the file structure and locations of stuff. Moving from one version to another doesn't help me with my hair brained way of doing things.

Fonts - Ubuntu Wiki & The League of Moveable Type

If one finds The League of Moveable Type, they might also want to know how to put them into play.. I used the manual method. If I knew how to make a repo or .deb file to put these to use, I would. But then, I'd miss out on knowing who the the League was...

Fonts - Ubuntu Wiki

http://www.theleagueofmoveabletype.com/