Drew's Journal
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05/01/2009 00:10 #48548
The SimpsonsCategory: tv
04/30/2009 09:40 #48541
ADHD updateCategory: adhd
So, (e:jim)'s update has reminded me that I have not updated.
Basically, I am off the meds because the doctor's appointments and bills became to much to deal with. My doctor was great, but their office staff was a wreck.
I promised my dear wife I would start over again with a new doctor.
Does anybody know a good doc, with an organized/efficient front office and billing system?
And Jim, I am sorry that the other stuff stopped working for you. The Ritalin, for the short time that I was on it, worked sometimes and not others. I only felt bad if I drank too much coffee with it, or took my doses to close together.
Basically, I am off the meds because the doctor's appointments and bills became to much to deal with. My doctor was great, but their office staff was a wreck.
I promised my dear wife I would start over again with a new doctor.
Does anybody know a good doc, with an organized/efficient front office and billing system?
And Jim, I am sorry that the other stuff stopped working for you. The Ritalin, for the short time that I was on it, worked sometimes and not others. I only felt bad if I drank too much coffee with it, or took my doses to close together.
04/23/2009 16:26 #48485
Dear Computer NerdsCategory: computers
I am downloading the newest version of Ubuntu right now. Windows will live on in a partition of my harddrive, but hopefully, I will use it infrequently.
I am more excited about changing an OS than a person should be, but I am glad to stop complaining about crazy Microsoft and actually start doing something about it.
I give credit to Open Office and Firefox for demonstrating how much better Open source can be, and to Vista, for convincing me that a different OS couldn't be much worse. Also to Ubuntu for making a live CD easy to test out and for making installation look easy (we'll see how easy when I am done)
I am more excited about changing an OS than a person should be, but I am glad to stop complaining about crazy Microsoft and actually start doing something about it.
I give credit to Open Office and Firefox for demonstrating how much better Open source can be, and to Vista, for convincing me that a different OS couldn't be much worse. Also to Ubuntu for making a live CD easy to test out and for making installation look easy (we'll see how easy when I am done)
04/20/2009 09:22 #48446
TortureCategory: politics
Our government has admitted to torture, in general, but hasn't "named names" or prosecuted it. In my opinion, the Obama administration is failing to do its' duty here. While the "low-level" guys MIGHT have an excuse, the higher ups do not. Prosecution will be difficult, but if we do nothing, there is no deterrent to future torture.
To avoid trials, I would be willing to offer amnesty for all people that made a full reporting and apology for any involvement in torture. Following that period of amnesty, there should be a full investigation and trials.
To me, this is not a left/right thing. It's a humanity thing, a security thing, and a rule of law thing. There is never a reason to torture a person. Every time we condone torture, we gain enemies and alienate allies. Every time we ignore our laws and our values, we weaken them.
To avoid trials, I would be willing to offer amnesty for all people that made a full reporting and apology for any involvement in torture. Following that period of amnesty, there should be a full investigation and trials.
To me, this is not a left/right thing. It's a humanity thing, a security thing, and a rule of law thing. There is never a reason to torture a person. Every time we condone torture, we gain enemies and alienate allies. Every time we ignore our laws and our values, we weaken them.
04/10/2009 08:34 #48339
Paul inspired meCategory: computers
I've wanted to try Linux for the longest time. Now I really have. I downloaded an Ubuntu live CD last night, and am making this post right now from my home computer running it.
(e:Janelle) is more fond of windows than I am, so we will not install it on the home computer, but I do anticipate that I will install it on my laptop sometime soon (I have one windows game that doesn't work on the home computer--I've got to wear that out a little, first)
Everything works great, everything looks great. It's fast and its easy and there is all kinds of stuff for free.
My only beef is that the internet looks different. I think it's the fonts.
I don't know if you can see the difference in this screen shot:
hmm. can't upload the screenshot. nevermind.
That's the other thing you can't tell from the live disk--how the plug-ins and other necessary downloads work. I am still growing in my confidence though.
(e:Janelle) is more fond of windows than I am, so we will not install it on the home computer, but I do anticipate that I will install it on my laptop sometime soon (I have one windows game that doesn't work on the home computer--I've got to wear that out a little, first)
Everything works great, everything looks great. It's fast and its easy and there is all kinds of stuff for free.
My only beef is that the internet looks different. I think it's the fonts.
I don't know if you can see the difference in this screen shot:
hmm. can't upload the screenshot. nevermind.
That's the other thing you can't tell from the live disk--how the plug-ins and other necessary downloads work. I am still growing in my confidence though.
uncutsaniflush - 04/12/09 19:26
(e:drew) - some distros such as Mandriva (formerly Mandrake) :::link::: and PCLinuxOS (originally based on Mandrake) :::link::: can automatically import Windows fonts from existing Windows partitions in a dual boot scenerio. They also can import Windows fonts manually from any partition. Of course, the legality of this depends on what rights the EULA or license that the fonts were distributed with.
I would suspect that there are other distros with similar something similar to drakfont.
There are also a number of cli (command line interface) methods of importing fonts depending on the desktop manager (kde, gnome, etc) and the distro used.
(e:drew) - some distros such as Mandriva (formerly Mandrake) :::link::: and PCLinuxOS (originally based on Mandrake) :::link::: can automatically import Windows fonts from existing Windows partitions in a dual boot scenerio. They also can import Windows fonts manually from any partition. Of course, the legality of this depends on what rights the EULA or license that the fonts were distributed with.
I would suspect that there are other distros with similar something similar to drakfont.
There are also a number of cli (command line interface) methods of importing fonts depending on the desktop manager (kde, gnome, etc) and the distro used.
paul - 04/10/09 20:40
I also have used linux pretty much every day since 2001 and I have to say, if you are using the main flavors (fedora, ubuntu, suse) they have gotten significantly easier to use. I mean I am sure a lot of it is because I have learned more about it but the last couple installs have required almost no significant tweaks to get the major stuff going (sound, video, wireless, fonts, web). A big change from when I first started.
I also have used linux pretty much every day since 2001 and I have to say, if you are using the main flavors (fedora, ubuntu, suse) they have gotten significantly easier to use. I mean I am sure a lot of it is because I have learned more about it but the last couple installs have required almost no significant tweaks to get the major stuff going (sound, video, wireless, fonts, web). A big change from when I first started.
uncutsaniflush - 04/10/09 20:32
Welcome to Linux. I've been happily running Linux (various distros) since about 2001 almost exclusively. I hope that you have lots of fun with linux and that the learning curve isn't too steep and frustrating for you.
Welcome to Linux. I've been happily running Linux (various distros) since about 2001 almost exclusively. I hope that you have lots of fun with linux and that the learning curve isn't too steep and frustrating for you.
tinypliny - 04/10/09 14:40
In fact, last month I switched from OpenOffice to MS 2007. I couldn't handle the format disasters and general disarray between work and home any longer. Plus I hate the fact the OpenOffice still doesn't have soft shadows.
In fact, last month I switched from OpenOffice to MS 2007. I couldn't handle the format disasters and general disarray between work and home any longer. Plus I hate the fact the OpenOffice still doesn't have soft shadows.
tinypliny - 04/10/09 14:38
WAY TO GO! *Applause* I want to switch as well... (But I am way too wimpy).
WAY TO GO! *Applause* I want to switch as well... (But I am way too wimpy).
paul - 04/10/09 10:26
This is so exciting. Ya the file uploads work fine with the flash player.
This is so exciting. Ya the file uploads work fine with the flash player.
mrmike - 04/10/09 09:14
I have too much crap that is Windows based on my main pc (as much as Vista just flat out blows) but I have an 80 gb box just sitting, a shell of its formal xp self.
Might be worth an experiment, once I finish cleaning the files off.
I have too much crap that is Windows based on my main pc (as much as Vista just flat out blows) but I have an 80 gb box just sitting, a shell of its formal xp self.
Might be worth an experiment, once I finish cleaning the files off.
jim - 04/10/09 08:48
If you also want the operating system's display to use more windows-like fonts (not just the contents of web pages), you can additionally take other steps: :::link:::
If you also want the operating system's display to use more windows-like fonts (not just the contents of web pages), you can additionally take other steps: :::link:::
jim - 04/10/09 08:45
Drew, after you install (if you're using Ubuntu?) it pops up a question and asks if you want to also install non-free software like Flash, etc. That's free as in open source, so the not-free software is free of cost.
File uploads should work after that.
As for as web page rendering in Linux, that's due to a different set of fonts. They are mostly similar to the Windows/Mac font set but aren't quite as nice.
Open a terminal/command line window and type: "sudo apt-get install msttcorefonts"
You'll need to enter your password. After that web pages will look more 'normal'.
Drew, after you install (if you're using Ubuntu?) it pops up a question and asks if you want to also install non-free software like Flash, etc. That's free as in open source, so the not-free software is free of cost.
File uploads should work after that.
As for as web page rendering in Linux, that's due to a different set of fonts. They are mostly similar to the Windows/Mac font set but aren't quite as nice.
Open a terminal/command line window and type: "sudo apt-get install msttcorefonts"
You'll need to enter your password. After that web pages will look more 'normal'.
Ubuntu doesn't ship with a flash plug-in or jre or w32 codecs and some other stuff because they consider them "non-free" so not everything estrip may work out of the box.
The easist way install all that restricted stuff is to type "sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras" (without the quotes) in a terminal. I'm sure there are gui ways to install the restricted extras but I don't run Ubuntu to be all familar with them.
See :::link::: for more info.
Awesome. Estrip should work great!
Shame on me. I got rid of openoffice and switched to Office 2007. I just couldn't take the unpolished edges and format problems anymore. I would have gladly gone all LaTeX but none of my advisors are happy with that - so it left me with no choice other than to give Openoffice the shove. Also, I hate that OO doesn't have softshadows.