I was very reluctant about upgrading to Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron, and was running it in a VM, to test it. However, I then ran into this. Needless to say, once I read it, I immediately opened my Upgrade Manager, and told it to upgrade to Hardy. 21 minutes left. More to come, once I get it up and working. Meantime, here is a screenshot from the article above, to whet your appetite:
(credit: Lifehacker)
I have mentioned Pandora and Last.fm before, and have highlighted the pros and cons of both of these online radio stations. Today, I would like to introduce you to another alternative.
Both Pandora and Last.fm allow you to select an artist or genre, and it will display similar music. However, haven’t you ever wanted to listen to just one particular artist, or some popular song that you really like, but just cannot get it to play on Pandora/Last.fm? Well, I have a solution for you, my friend.
Myspace.
I know what you are thinking, you know about Myspace Music, but do not like to use it for listening to music on a regular basis, because you first have to locate the artist’s page, and, when you do, you have to load this HUGE page, with tons of artwork, youtube/myspace videos, a heck of a lot of flash applications, and then the media player on the page. Well, in case you do not know this yet, Myspace, several months ago, added an option to pop-out the media player in a seperate window. Great. That’s no good, you still have to load the page, right?
Wrong.
This is what I do: I go to my favorite artist’s page, and open the pop-up media player. Then, I expand the window so it is no longer the size of the flash app. Then, I click on the white space between the app and the window border, to deselect the app (note: This step is not always necessary). Then, I press CTR+D. That bookmarks the page. I do this to all of my favorite bands. Then, I simply click the approproate bookmark whenever I want to listen to that band, and it brings up just the media player on the page. Here is an example (Linkin Park)
These flash apps are relatively light on your rescources, so, if you have an older computer, or a slow internet connection, this is a much more practical solution to listening to online music, than Pandora or Last.fm.
Also, if you have Opera, then you can also add these online MP3 players onto your side bar, and play them on there as a page, and continue playing them while you are browsing the internet.
Okay, I am going to begin a learning experience, that will benefit both me, and you. I am going to install Ubuntu’s new version, 8.04 Hardy Heron, in a Virtual Machine. I will write it as it happens, and we will see if it can live up to it’s amazing hype.
While you’re waiting, here is an interesting article about Hardy Heron, which I enjoyed, and learned a lot from.
Hey, guess what I found in the garage last night? an old laptop! It is a Toshiba Satellite 1730, with a 700MHz processor, 192MB of RAM, and a 10GB HDD. We got it from a relative that collects old computers, as an E-mail computer for the girls. Unfortunately, the power cord got cut in two, I have no idea how. Therfore, as any normal person would assume, it was useless, since they looked up the cord, and found it for $50, which Dad was not willing to pay for an old computer like that. However, I know where to get stuff cheap, and, after checking my sources, found that I could replace the cord for $30, including shipping. Now, a computer with those specs might not seem like much use, but I have a purpose for it. I enjoy blogging (obviously), and I enjoy taking notes during Bible Study, which we hold almost every day of the week, at 8:30 p.m, until 9:00. But, my handwriting is sloppy, and if I want to look back at my notes, I automatically go to my computer, which they are not there, and I am not willing to type them in after every Bible Study. Also, my notebook keeps getting lost, along with my bible. So, I figured, that if I could replace the power cord, I could install a stripped-down version of Xubuntu, which I would run OpenOffice, and a bible program. The same relative that originally gave it to us, however, might have a power cord that would work, and I have E-mailed him about it. if he has one, I offered to pay him $10, for either shipping, or gas money to drop it off next time he is in town. Also, if that works, I will spend the money I saved on that, in buying another 128MB peice of RAM, which I have found for $11. After all that, only one issue remains: the battery. This is an old machine, so I do not know how well the battery would work. However, all I need it to be able to do is last long enough for me to take it upstairs, anything besides that is a luxury. In other words, I need the battery to last me a full 5 minutes, so I am not that concerned, the only way it would be a problem is if the battery is completely dead.
yes, it’s Teusday, I know.
Technology:
I get a monthly Tiger Direct magazine catalog, because I have bought items from that store, previously, just like all geeks. Well, by each product, there is an “add to cart” button……..
Today, April’s Fools Day, on Wikipedia’s main page, you will find the “on this day” section… different. The creators of Wikipedia have added a little… flair to the website, for the occasion. Also, the clip of the Featured Article has been altered, but clicking on the provided link takes you to the correct version. Check them out! (link)
Family:
Last week, I was playing Morrowind, and Shawn was looking on the map to tell me where to go. I was in a castle, and asked him where I was supposed to go next. He said (in all seriousness): “Enter the Ground Cancel Chamers.” I said: “uh… Shawn?” He stopped, and realized his mistake. We spent the next 5 minutes, laughing, while I steered my character through the Grand Council Chamber doors. (okay, lets stop picking on other people, now)
Although no one ever knew this, as we were finishing up helping the Morgans move, I was trying to get one of the last objects, when I heard a quiet *riiiiip…* heh heh. I excused myself, and spent the next 10 minutes trying to fix my pants. Fortunately, it was not in an… …obvious…. spot. 
Stargate:
Episode: “Miller’s Crossing,” Season 4 of Stargate Atlantis:
Jeanie: So… you going to marry that Katie girl?
Mckay: What?! We are being held hostage, and you want to ask me about my love life!?
Jeanie: Well, I was just trying to get my mind off of the fact that I have millions of tiny robots(nanites) running through my blood.
McKay: Oh, sorry.
Jeanie: So… are you going to marry that Katie girl?
McKay: I don’t know.
Jeanie: Well, you’ve been dating her for, what, over a year now?
McKay: So?
Jeanie: Well, for anyone to stick with you that long, it’s just amazing, and its not likely to happen again. I mean, it’s not like you are a John Sheppard, or anything.
McKay: WHAT?! Ok, hey! You know what? Lets go back to you berating me for my incompetence, because I think I liked that better!
.odt: monday-funnies-issue-2.odt
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Now playing: Demon Hunter - Screams of the Undead
via FoxyTunes
Well, okay, same blog. Just different URL/host. I have imported all of my other posts onto this blog, obviously. I also have made a title picture for my blog. Yes, I realize that the title and description of the page are above it, and that does not look good, but I will fix it. You like my new URL? I thought that I should change it to something more geek/nerd related, as that is what my blog is about. I got it off of Stargate Atlantis, from this one episode where you see Dr. McKay wearing a shirt saying “I’m with genius,” and an arrow pointing up. I thought it was funny. Plus, everyone knows that I am just as smart as McKay is! haha. My other favorite McKay quote was “Carter: ‘Go suck on a lemon!’” (he’s deathly allergic to lemons). Well, I guess I can’t just stop to change blogs, and take a week off of posting, so I will try to keep posting posts that do not have to do with the new blog.
On that note, I have had a wonderful day today, especially considering that it is the last day before Spring Break. The weather was the best I have seen all year, I got %100 on my math today, and finished my school a hour and a half early. The girls are having a sleepover/private party (they are not sharing the candy :P) with someof their friends, while we are left to watch movies all by ourselves. *sniff.* kinda makes you feel lonely, doesn’t it? No? oh, well.
This is my 200th post!!! I was going to just post something saying “happy 200th post,” or something, but I thought that I should wait a couple days to see if anything big happens that would be worthy of such a celebration. I did not have to wait long.
Yesterday night, I was just browsing the Internet, looking for interesting articles on news sites, and occasionally stopping to look for a cool desktop wallpaper, all the time admiring my new Zune theme for Windows (post below this one). Then, I got to thinking: “Even though they did a real nice job blending orange and black, it
would be nice to try to change the colors. So, I started browsing my WINDOWS folder, looking for a way to change the appearance. I soon learned that it was beyond my capacity, and decided to google a solution. I came upon a few good options, all of which required the installation of an outside program, which is simply not an option for me, because I use an older computer, and cannot afford any performance loss. So, I started looking at various sites dedicated to generating ideas on how to tweak XP. I ran across PowerToys, which is actually developed by Microsoft employees, and acts as an update, rather than an entire new program. These
just add little bits of added functionality to your system. Then, I ran across this, and this. In case you want to hold off clicking the link, and want to finish reading this post, allow me to explain what “this” it. It is called Vista Inspirat Ultimate. It is a clone of Windows Vista Ultimate’s eye candy, designed to run on XP. And, no, no software is needed. It is an installer, that goes into your system, and modifies the DLLs (what control your computer) that are for the visual styles (start bar, title bar, icons, etc.), and modifies each and every one of them. The install took probably a full 30 minutes, but, when it was done, I was simply stunned! We
just got a Dell Vista machine, and it looks EXACTLY the same! It even has the uber-cool dock that is a clone of Mac’s(but that is a separate program, running in the background, although it does not take up much RAM, CPU, or slow it down any[ I have a700MHz procc]). It changed my cursor, font, everything! And, even better, is that, during the installation, you can choose which features you want installed (theme, cursor, dock, wallpaper, screensaver, etc). It also has sever other programs that can be installed with it, that I did not choose, because I do not want any more programs. This is virus-free (as far as I can tell), and the best… thing of this type
that I have ever seen. Even the login screen looks different! Also, you can always switch back using the normal utilities.
Without the System Info in the screen shots, no one can tell that it is not XP. Plus, my computer runs really fast! Apparently, in modifying the DLLs, the person that created it got a little carried away, and did some performance tweaks, too. I have run into no glitches, no performance issues, it does not show up as a separate process on the Task Manager, and the graphics are amazing! With an anti-virus program, and an IM program, and
Google Web Accl. running, I was only taking up 202 MB of RAM! and that is including the Dock (15MB of RAM). On the other hand, Windows Vista, running only an anti-virus program in the background, and an internet-filtering program, took up over 730MB of RAM. Wow. I am impressed. Definitely check this out! Oh, and another thing I thought was cool about it: It creates a system backup of the DLLs it changes, so, if anything goes wrong, you can just use that. Plus, it does have an uninstall feature.
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Screenshots:
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(Top to Bottom)
Screensaver.
Logon screen.
Screenshot showing the Start Menu.
Screenshot showing the animated high-quality Dock.
Screenshot.
The only piece of software it installs.
Click on pictures for full-screen version.
DUBLIN, Ireland — Necessity is the mother of invention, but coffee breaks help, too.
In an effort to encourage interaction among researchers, Pat Frain, director of NovaUCD, the incubation and technology transfer center at University College Dublin, had the café in the center’s complex start serving 1 euro cappuccinos.That’s a nice deal in a city where a coffee can set you back 3.20 euros, or nearly five dollars.
The deal made the front page of one of the local newspapers. Because it became popular, the facilities manager had him boost it up to 1.30 euros, but the low prices perform the task he wants.
The café doesn’t get to start serving, however, until ten, after everyone is working. If they cranked out coffees at 9 am, Frain figures, people would grab one and scurry off to work. Now, they have to consciously come out of their offices and invariably get stuck in a line, where they will start to mingle.
“You can see a certain amount of fluidity” in the line, he said.
Like a lot of countries, Ireland is trying to unlock research from its university labs to build up its tech industry. But, unlike some countries, Ireland is actually committing a fair amount of money and energy to the project. The goal at NovaUCD, which started a few years ago, has a goal of coming up with 10 start-ups a year.
The center is housed in a manor house next to campus dating back to the 1750s. When refurbishing the building, Frain also had the architect put glass panes in every door and glass walls on outward-facing conference rooms. The only concession he’s made is with banners in front of a glass wall for the seminar room, which gets used by visitors. He also had the stairs and elevators moved so people would have to pass each other more often to get to work.
And forget trying to cover the glass pane on your office.
“If I let one person put up something, they’d all do it in a week,” he said.
Original post found here.
Yesterday was Sunday. We went to church as normal, and we had a youth fellowship immediately after that. We had originally planned it as being at the church, but, since we did not think that very many people were going to show up, we decided to have it at our house, since we have an open invite every Sunday, anyway. After we had the fellowship, Ben and I went and hung out at his house for less than an hour. We had originally planned to spend the entire afternoon at his house, but we stayed longer at our house than we had originally planned. We decided that we were going to get together again next Sunday. Except, instead of less than an hour at his house, by ourselves, I am going to go over to his house, and have lunch with him and the College and Career group, and then Justin, Mike, Ben, and I will go down to Barnes and Nobel’s(or however you are supposed to spell it), and hang out. At five P.M., we had the annual “business meeting” at our church, which lasted a little over an hour, and the elders briefed us on all of the upcoming changes, and what our financial plan is going to be for 2008. Mr. Moorhead stepped down retired as an elder. We are going to get the playground/outdoor recreation area started in a short while, and the soccer fields will be built soon. There are going to be a lot of changes happening soon, now that we own our own building, we can do anything we wanted to do, but were unable to do in the building we were renting. We are even going to paint the Youth Group room. I hope it’s not pink…
On Friday, I will be going back to Birmingham again, to get an EMG done. Electromagnetic-something, I think. I hope that I do not have to wait as long as I did last time. Although I think that the procedure is rather long. I think that that was the thing where they stick stuff in my fingers, and see the response in them, and it takes about an hour, according to the doctor. Or maybe that was not the EMG. Oh, well, I will find out when I get there, won’t I?
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