fredag 30 maj 2008
Clutter quiz
I just added a 20 question quiz over on my other blog. Go there and see if Clutter is a problem for you.
New Look!
No there is nothing wrong with your eyes. I just decided it was time for a new theme for my blog. Eventually I will create my own theme but for now I'll be using the standard themes. This one contains my favorite color (guess what it is!)
I also added a twitter reader. I've just started using twitter and could do with some followers:) we'll see if it is any good and if I'll be keeping it.
I also added a twitter reader. I've just started using twitter and could do with some followers:) we'll see if it is any good and if I'll be keeping it.
Decisions
Some of you know I'm looking to buy a laptop soon. Well I thought I knew what I wanted but the vendors aren't making the choice easy for me. I finaly got dissuaded from buying the HP TX2020 that I was looking at. Apparently the touchscreen isn't very good.
So I was almost set on buying the new EeePC 901 once it hits the markets next week. But then Asus more or less confirms the existence of a EeePC 1000, and a soon to be unveiled tablet model. As if that wasn't enough choice Via anounces the OpenBook and Dell gives the world a peak of their Sub-notebook (which is by far the best looking in the bunch) on top of it all I might even consider a MacBook (yes, you read that right, you may now pick up your jaw from the floor) choices are never easy. For me the main question is: Will it run linux well? Then again I might just get myself a mac and just run linux on my mediacenter (the future fate of my current computer)
Ah choices. Such a blessing, such a curse...
So I was almost set on buying the new EeePC 901 once it hits the markets next week. But then Asus more or less confirms the existence of a EeePC 1000, and a soon to be unveiled tablet model. As if that wasn't enough choice Via anounces the OpenBook and Dell gives the world a peak of their Sub-notebook (which is by far the best looking in the bunch) on top of it all I might even consider a MacBook (yes, you read that right, you may now pick up your jaw from the floor) choices are never easy. For me the main question is: Will it run linux well? Then again I might just get myself a mac and just run linux on my mediacenter (the future fate of my current computer)
Ah choices. Such a blessing, such a curse...
onsdag 28 maj 2008
It is finished
The test is over. I cant call it a victory yet. It could swing both ways at this point but I will know in a month or so. In the mean time I'm having half a day at work after not sleeping much at all tonight so if I'm acting strange at the outreach center tonight you will know why. Also deep study mode is over and I will again be going to activities and showing up online. Will return with a proper blog entry later.
The final hours
I now have two hours until my test. I have been up since 4 am going through the material one last time. It feels pretty good. Wish me luck!
måndag 26 maj 2008
onsdag 21 maj 2008
Microsoft claims Africans don't understand OSS
Wow, this blog is meant to be a fairly lighthearted place (disregard that huge post a few weeks ago about experts:P) but this really made me sad. Microsoft is freaking out about the fact that South Africa is adopting ODF as a government document standard. With barely concealed prejudice they went ahead and made a statement more or less claiming that SA is to primitive to be able to fully understand OSS and it's benefits and that they should not focus on open source on the OS level but rather on the application level. Obviously they are fine with SA doing open source as long as they do it on top of Windows. They even have the audacity to claim that SA will somehow lose money by the fact that a patch or an application that they create can be picked up by a foreign vendor (such as Redhat or Novell.) As opposed to all the profit they will make by handing over their money directly to MS? The whole statement reeks of sour grapes and an attempt to play on other countries prejudices of Africa. Maybe someone should tell MS that Overt racism isn't the best PR trick these days.
Quick glossary for those who don't understand what I'm talking about:
ODF: Open Document Format. An international open ISO standard for digital documents. Used by virtually every major office application except Microsoft Office.
OSS: Open Source Software. Software licensed in a way that makes the source code freely available. This means anyone can modify and redistribute the software as long as they in turn grant others the same rights. Linux and Firefox are the two most well known examples of OSS.
OS: Operating System. The underlying system that all applications run on top of. Windows and Linux are examples of Operating Systems.
SA: South Africa
MS: Microsoft
I hope that clears it up a little bit.
PS:
As perspective to the article I want to mention that Ubuntu linux (Currently the most popular distibution of Linux) is lead by a South African.
read more | digg story
Quick glossary for those who don't understand what I'm talking about:
ODF: Open Document Format. An international open ISO standard for digital documents. Used by virtually every major office application except Microsoft Office.
OSS: Open Source Software. Software licensed in a way that makes the source code freely available. This means anyone can modify and redistribute the software as long as they in turn grant others the same rights. Linux and Firefox are the two most well known examples of OSS.
OS: Operating System. The underlying system that all applications run on top of. Windows and Linux are examples of Operating Systems.
SA: South Africa
MS: Microsoft
I hope that clears it up a little bit.
PS:
As perspective to the article I want to mention that Ubuntu linux (Currently the most popular distibution of Linux) is lead by a South African.
read more | digg story
onsdag 14 maj 2008
Entering deep study mode
In about two weeks I have a test that it is very important that I pass. Because of this I am now initiating Deep study mode, which means a complete lockdown on computer usage in my free time. As of leaving work today I will not be available on MSN or any other social network, after work hours, for the next 14 days. I will still be going to family home evenings and institute lessons as well as any other meetings where I have obligations. The rest of the time I will be at my books.
Wish me luck!
Wish me luck!
måndag 12 maj 2008
Three good questions
All those who didn't make it to Family home evening at the outreach center tonight sure missed a great lesson. Elder Tolboe had the lesson and it was a really deep and thought provoking one. Basically it boiled down to three questions:
Why me? Why here? Why now?
We discussed it and a lot of points were brought up. The conclusion I took with me from the lesson was that I'm here right now because there is something here right now that needs to be done and I'm the only one that is able to do it. And the same goes for everyone. We are all here to do our part, a part that has been especially chosen for, and tailored to, our needs and our capacity. So we need to go out there and find out what it is. Or at least let the spirit guide us so that we may find our porpose and fullfill it. Maybe even without knowing that we do.
Why me? Why here? Why now?
We discussed it and a lot of points were brought up. The conclusion I took with me from the lesson was that I'm here right now because there is something here right now that needs to be done and I'm the only one that is able to do it. And the same goes for everyone. We are all here to do our part, a part that has been especially chosen for, and tailored to, our needs and our capacity. So we need to go out there and find out what it is. Or at least let the spirit guide us so that we may find our porpose and fullfill it. Maybe even without knowing that we do.
Free music!
I found a great source of music the other day. Or rather, I knew about it for a while but the other day I discovered that they had a client embedded in the default music player of Ubuntu (Rhythmbox) it has, at this point, approximately 100000 free titles in all genres and languages. Though I did notice a certain bias towards french and german music, but that might just have been the store focusing on european music since thats where I'm from. All the music is free and distributed under a creative commons copyright license.
The quality of the music is surprisingly good. I immediately found a french artist called amandine that I really liked, though I still have no idea what she is actually singing. Any frenchspeakers that would like to download her album and try?
Jamendo survives mostly on donations but the user is not required to donate to be able to download. There are no DRM restrictions so the music can be listened to on any device. I know I'm sounding like an ad for Jamendo but I just feel that when someone in the music busyness finaly does the right thing they need support. And who knows, you might find some music by some artist that is absolutely amazing and that you would have never found otherwise. The address is http://www.jamendo.com/
If free things make you nervous and you want to pay for something then you might want to visit http://www.magnatune.com/. They have a very small catalogue of handpicked music of very high quality where you can pick your own price (but you do have to pay something.) Their artists get a good deal since they get half the money you pay (as opposed to 2-5% with the four big labels) Oh and did I mention they have it written in their license that you are allowed to share the music you bought with up to three people! And they are not involved with the RIAA, which alone should make the user experience that much more pleasant.
There you are. Two great sites for discovering fantastic music that is not being played on the radio or sold in the record stores.
The quality of the music is surprisingly good. I immediately found a french artist called amandine that I really liked, though I still have no idea what she is actually singing. Any frenchspeakers that would like to download her album and try?
Jamendo survives mostly on donations but the user is not required to donate to be able to download. There are no DRM restrictions so the music can be listened to on any device. I know I'm sounding like an ad for Jamendo but I just feel that when someone in the music busyness finaly does the right thing they need support. And who knows, you might find some music by some artist that is absolutely amazing and that you would have never found otherwise. The address is http://www.jamendo.com/
If free things make you nervous and you want to pay for something then you might want to visit http://www.magnatune.com/. They have a very small catalogue of handpicked music of very high quality where you can pick your own price (but you do have to pay something.) Their artists get a good deal since they get half the money you pay (as opposed to 2-5% with the four big labels) Oh and did I mention they have it written in their license that you are allowed to share the music you bought with up to three people! And they are not involved with the RIAA, which alone should make the user experience that much more pleasant.
There you are. Two great sites for discovering fantastic music that is not being played on the radio or sold in the record stores.
Temple trip
Saturday was a fantastic day for a trip down to copenhagen. We started early (way early actually. 05:30 am to be exact) So I didn't get much sleep. As temple trips goes this one was fairly uneventfull. Except for first Eva then Erik missing the bus leaving the ferry.
I'm always fascinated with how fast I forget about most of my problems once I'm inside. It's like the world and its troubles cease to be important and the focus is on things of the spirit. Though after having slept for only an hour the night before sleepiness becomes an issue.
Either way. Temple trips. I recommend. Do it!
I'm always fascinated with how fast I forget about most of my problems once I'm inside. It's like the world and its troubles cease to be important and the focus is on things of the spirit. Though after having slept for only an hour the night before sleepiness becomes an issue.
Either way. Temple trips. I recommend. Do it!
fredag 9 maj 2008
Summer in the city
Wow, things change fast! Lately the weather has gone from dreary and wet early spring/late winter to almost full on summer. Taking the bus to work is becoming an increasingly unpleasant experience (since the city is too cheap to invest in some good AC) and walking in the streets no longer require several insular layers and an umbrella.
And as always in Sweden the sun brings out the good mood in everyone. The first few days of sunshine it seemed like the population of the city doubled or tripled. And it's more or less impossible to feel down or miffed about anything.
All this business with sunshine and happy people milling about has put me in the mood of getting some summer music. Most of what I had was purged from my collection about a year ago when I decided it was time to become more... legal... in that department. I do have a nice little collection of good music. But most of it fits better with fall and winter. Listening to Kent in the blazing sunshine becomes quite a contrast. I'll have to pick up some of the old goodies like Gyllene tider, Joe Cocker, etc.
Do you have any good ideas for summer music to add to my playlist? Especially 60's and 70's music suggestions are welcome. Just leave a suggestion in the comments here.
And as always in Sweden the sun brings out the good mood in everyone. The first few days of sunshine it seemed like the population of the city doubled or tripled. And it's more or less impossible to feel down or miffed about anything.
All this business with sunshine and happy people milling about has put me in the mood of getting some summer music. Most of what I had was purged from my collection about a year ago when I decided it was time to become more... legal... in that department. I do have a nice little collection of good music. But most of it fits better with fall and winter. Listening to Kent in the blazing sunshine becomes quite a contrast. I'll have to pick up some of the old goodies like Gyllene tider, Joe Cocker, etc.
Do you have any good ideas for summer music to add to my playlist? Especially 60's and 70's music suggestions are welcome. Just leave a suggestion in the comments here.
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