SURBER*US » computers

Still alive and kicking

josh — Thu, 10 May 2007 04:14:43 +0000

I know, I know, it’s been a while. Seems like it always is, but my life doesn’t leave much to blog about that anyone would really care to read. I have been trying for a while to move from a personal diary type blog to more computer and political stuff that would interest a wider assortment of people, but I haven’t really done much on the computer other than keep up with the latest RSS feeds (I’m back to using Google Reader but planning my own aggregator) and my email.

I saw Spiderman 3 the other day and while it was quite good for a comic book movie, I was let down. I guess I have never really been a comic book type of guy, though.

Work is fun. I love being a cashier! I get paid the same money, but don’t have to do any work any more. I hope to be a head cashier soon, but the two people who have say about that both dislike me so I doubt that will happen any time soon. Maybe if I apply at Lowes…

I realized something odd a few minutes ago. When I was using a Mac, which is famous for having a great interface, I spent most of my time (other than that spent in Camino) in a terminal window issuing textual commands. Now that I am using Linux, which is famous for seeming to require knowing how to use a terminal, I find that I am using the graphical interface more and more. I used have Vim open at all times, and used it for all my text editing, now I am using Bluefish and Screem. I barely even touch Vim any more! Has Linux really gotten that good?

God, though, do I miss Camino.

Upgrade to Ubuntu

josh — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 07:02:47 +0000

I apologize for my prolonged absence. My monitor developed a short, and seeing as how I have (had) a first-generation iMac, lack of a monitor meant that I had to replace the entire computer. I finally got an old HP from my step-mom, on which I am now running Ubuntu Linux. It had been so long since I used Linux, I forgot how much I love all the freedom that comes with it. It seems slightly slow due to the age of the computer, but it is still better than my aging iMac. After having converted three or four people to Ubuntu, it is about time that I got to give it a go. I don’t think I will be looking back.

I am working days at work again, sort of. I work 0400—1300 Monday, Thursday, and Friday, and 0800—1730 on Friday and Saturday. I am glad to have a decent schedule again. The overnight freight crew does seem to be having quite a bit of difficulty without me, though.

After the release of WordPress 2.1, with all its improvements in database performance, I am thinking of switching to WP again. Perhaps this time it will be for good. The TextPattern community seems to have stagnated somewhat. The biggest news to come out of TxP lately has all been commercial products that would be nice to have, but that I don’t feel justify paying for when WP is completely free (free as in speech and free as in beer).

Promoting Linux

josh — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 00:35:03 +0000

Most Linux news sites (OS News, Linux.com, NewsForge, etc) run a couple of articles per week on how you can help to promote use of Linux on desktop systems. My simple advice, refuse to do any tech support for people using Windoze, other than installing Linux. Since most tech geeks are their family’s IT support, if more people refused to help troubleshoot viruses and malware on Windoze the unwashed masses would have little choice other than to either migrate to Linux or put up with Indian tech support hotlines.

Slightly cruel but should be effective.

Essentials – Mac OS X

josh — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 23:29:50 +0000

A few months ago, while stuck on a Windoze machine, I posted an article on the apps I used. Keeping up the idea of a list of essential applications (similar to Mark Pilgrim), now that I am using Mac OS X here is my new digital life colophon:

OS

Mac OS X ($129, cheaper on eBay). Hey, it just works. I have, of course, improved it with TinkerTool (free) to update options Apple hid for some reason, and Quicksilver (free), because it keeps everything at my fingertips. I can’t picture life without QuickSilver.

Editor

MacVim (free, open source) because I am quite used to Vim and it runs everywhere. I like having a GUI but don’t want to be forced to use it. Honestly, I actually use this in a Terminal window more than the actual application.

Browser

Camino is now my browser of choice, after installing CamiTools.

Mail reader

GMail with the GMail Notifier. It may not be quite as fast as an actual application, but this is made up for in power.

Feed reader

Google Reader has a great interface and keyboard shortcuts to make things quick. Using a web-based reader seems to make more sense, as you are reading parts of web pages anyway, and by having a central server do all the downloading you save time, bandwidth, and processer cycles.

IM client

Adium can handle just about any protocol out there, but does such a good job integrating all your accounts that you forget you have more than one.

Media player

iTunes (free until you start shopping in the music store) just because it is free and pretty.

Image Editor

Gimp.app (free, open source) is a Mac port of the classic image editor The GIMP and has most of Photoshop’s power, yet is free (as in speech and free as in beer).

FTP

CyberDuck (free, open source) does everything I need, and has the cutest icon in my dock.

Note that all prices are in US dollars. Of course you should always register shareware. Not that I do, but I am a bad person. Better: use open source.

Essentials – Mac OS 9

josh — Thu, 02 Feb 2006 07:58:00 +0000

New list of essentials for old Macs.

OS

Mac OS 9 due to a problem with my OS X install disks and/or CD-ROM drive, with numerous extensions to make it more useable. I would recommend OS X to anyone with a choice though.

Editor

MacVim (free, open source) because I am quite used to Vim and it runs everywhere. I like having a GUI but don’t want to be forced to use it.

Browser

iCab (free or $30 for a version with more features) because it is the only browser for Mac OS 9 still being developed. I would recommend that any Mac users give it a try, but Camino seems to be the best choice for OS X right now.

Mail reader

GMail. Most application-based clients aren’t being activly developed for OS 9.

Feed reader

RSSFwd combined with GMail gives me all of GMail’s sorting and searching power.

Media player

iTunes (free until you start shopping in the music store) just because it is free and purdy.

Image Editor

An old version of ColorIt found on an ancient Mac Secrets CD-ROM. I don’t think this app has even been ported to X.

FTP

Transmit (free for Classic version) has a great interface.

Note that all prices are in US dollars. Of course you should always register shareware. Not that I do, but I am a bad person. Better: use open source.

Got a new phone

josh — Fri, 17 Dec 2004 13:33:03 +0000

I just got a Treo 600 and must say, it is the coolest piece of technology I have ever owned. From one device I can make calls, check email, browse the web, listen to music (with a SD card and headphones adaptor), read books (I just bought a new Star Trek book from Peanut Press), take pictures, and play games. I have yet to have a single problem with it, and despite the fact that it is a handheld computer (that I can sync with my desktop) I don’t feel like I am talking into a pocket calculator when I use the phone. The applications are all well integrated (if someone emails me a phone number I can dial it with a single tap on the screen). I would defiantly recommend it to anyone looking for a new phone that wants to be able to do more than just make calls.

I have got everyone’s Christmas shopping done. I do believe Jennifer and I picked the perfect gift for everyone on our list too. Which is ironic considering that my perfect gift is usualy a gift card.

Anyone know someone looking to sell a laptop on the cheap? I am looking for one.

Oh, and I still have gMail invites. Reply to this and I will give you one.

Building a Better Mozilla

josh — Wed, 14 Jul 2004 04:00:00 +0000

Wired article outlining how you can customize Mozilla into the best browser on earth, along with a followup. I have mentioned this before myself, and must point out that neither of us have mentioned MozEx. Planet Geek got my back on that one though.

Also, OSNews has run an article describing how to make Windoze look like Apple’s Aqua. Wired has run an article on doing this too.

I got a new computer!

josh — Wed, 26 May 2004 18:17:00 +0000

It’s bloomin’ awesome. It is one of the older iMacs. I know that it isn’t the fastest computer ever, but my main two programs are a web browser and a text editor, so I don’t need to spend thousands on a top of the line system when a $150 iMac on eBay will do everything I need. (At least that’s what I keep telling myself) Once I pick up my check tonight I am gonna get Mandrake PPC and run Linux on it anyway— Linux thrives on older hardware.

The new broad started working last night. She was supposed to come in the night before at ten. The night before that she called to confirm her schedule and repeated it back to me to be sure. So on what is supposed to be her fist day, I get the following call around midnight:

Me	Shell, this is Josh
Her	Hi, this is Kim. My roommate just woke me up and told me I am supposed to work tonight. I didn’t think that was until tomorrow night
Me	Well, I gave you your schedule last night
Her	I guess I got confused
Me	Well, you’re over two hours late already. You should hurry up
Her	Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow night. Bye

Click.

She was supposed to work with me so I could show her around the store, help her get comfortable with it and everything. So Molly (the manager) asks me to come in for a couple of hours on my night off, just to show her how things run. I come in at ten, the same time she is supposed to be there. She shows up at eleven fifteen. By the time I went home she didn’t seem like she had a clue about bloody anything. If she didn’t make me have to work on my night off I would have felt bad about it. Stupid broad.