Since I’ve switched to Linux, I’ve noticed that it’s very difficult ot keep up with my Blog reads without an RSS reader. Tremendously difficult.

Problem is, I’ve yet to find a decent linux RSS reader. I tried AmphetaDesk, but couldn’t get it installed correctly. I’ve also had my eye on rol, which almost meets my needs, but isn’t quite there. I’ve tried a few others with varying degrees of failure/success, but nothing seems to fit that niche.

If anyone has any suggestions, please pass them along.

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I despise links that create new windows. I use a browser with tabs, as does most of the rest of the known world. Given this fact, I fail to see how they are of any use anymore.

Using this hack from Virtuelvis, you can make them go away. And go away they shall (well, at least on my site).

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Via About D@mn Time

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As my wife delicately put, I’m on the prowl for a new handheld. I’ve played around with Pocket PC’s and with the Zaurus, but neither really fit my needs.

The Pocket PC, while very nice, doesn’t sync with Linux (my main OS) and most of the software is way too expensive for my taste.

The Zaurus was an impulse buy, however, it failed to meet my expectations. Most of what’s wrong with the Zaurus is a result of Sharp’s management not listening to the consumer and not paying attention to it’s competition. As a wireless device, it’s awesome. As an organizational tool , it’s quite lacking. And forget about syncing as it barely syncs to it’s own desktop software much less outlook. It’s also a pain to get it to work under a linux desktop. Can’t even sync with the same OS that runs on the device! I also couldn’t have know most of this prior to purchase, so I ended up stuck with it.

The device I’m chasing after now is a Tungsten | C. It is, quite frankly, the holy grail of PDA’s. 64MB of internal memory (not that program/storage crap you have to deal with on Pocket PC’s or the Zaurus), an expansion slot, built-in wifi, color screen (OK, that’s not really impressive, everything’s color these days) and thumbboard.

In my mind Palm has always been better at organization than other handhelds. And, as such, I want to go back to it. It has a lot more software and freeware available for it, it syncs with linux, rechargeable, everything the Zaurus tried to be but came just short of.

It is a tad pricey, but, if I sell all my other handhelds, that should cover the cost of the T | C.

So, anyone want to buy a PDA?

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I can’t take it anymore. More specifically, people. Not all people, mind you, but the masses. I’m tired of turning on my radio/tv/web browser and seeing what the latest RIAA news is or what MS has recently done to screw everyone over and no one caring. I’m tired of it.

I tire of the glazed looks I get when I tell people that they’re losing their rights. They don’t care and it serves nothing more than to get my blood pressure up. I don’t sleep well at night because of thoughts about what’s wrong in the world. My life is suffering too much to concern myself with it anymore. Let the sheep be led to slaughter for all I care.

Despite the little voice in my head that tells me that I need to help fight these problems, I feel like I can do nothing. Writing to Congress has yielded nothing but letters of thanks or claims they have no idea what I’m talking about. It’s very frustrating.

Consider this my white flag of surrender. Let the country go to hell in a handbasket. Many are walking willingly anyway through acts of ignorance or apathy.

Oh, I’m still blogging, BTW, I just probably won’t rant that much anymore.

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Via GeekGrrl.

You are Neo, from “The Matrix.” You
display a perfect fusion of heroism and
compassion.

What Matrix Persona Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

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Well, I bit the bullet and moved from windows2000 to RedHat 9.0. I totally ignored the poll I put up and decided not to dual-boot. Better to sever the connection quickly and remove the dependancy.

I’m acutally really enjoying it. Everything runs fairly smoothly and looks nice. I have most of the programs I need, such as Open Office (I don’t do much office-type work anyway), GAIM for IM (I used GAIM on windows, anyway), Mozilla for browsing (again, same for windows), Evolution for an outlook replacement and Xmms. I guess I’m not really out much.

I will have to make some adjustments for gaming. There have been some really cool game makers out there that have released linux clients, such as Unreal Tourney and UT2K3. Devastation will have a client soon and Bioware has a beta client of Neverwinter Nights (which is running beautifully, might I add).

Try as I might to avoid spending more money, a subscription to transgaming will still be neccessary to play Diablo 2, Thief and any other games that aren’t nice enough to satisfy the linux crowd.

If you have any recommendations on other software I should try, please drop me a comment/email/IM and let me know. More specifically, a decent RSS reader (not Amphetadesk).

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Via GeekGrrl.

take the nerd test.
and go to mewing.net. a nerd utopia.

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Upon looking at my site visit, I notice a sharp decline in the number of hits I recieve. I’m forced to wonder if I’ve offended my readers or if I’ve unwittingly done something different over the past few weeks that my readers don’t like? Am I not offensive enough? Do I need to start reeming people more often?

Let me know. I’m really interested in knowing what everyone expects when the read my site. I’m willing to accomodate to a degree.

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Catching up on my blogreading, I ran across this at GeekGrrl’s site.

Basically, the whole thing boils down to the author of the article, a TechTV employee, advocating the theft of stylesheets and site layouts.

I’ve been through three drafts trying to compose an intelligent post about my thoughts on the subject, but I keep getting off track and my points become muddied.

Facts:
- The TechTV author posted step by step instructions on how to steal stylesheets and site layouts (not that this is difficult to do bay anybody with two braincells to rub together and a beginner’s knowledge of how teh web works).
- The TechTV author posted these details as instructions on how to steal code. There was no pretense. There could be no assumptions. The title of the section was “Steal, steal, steal!”.

Without passing judgement on the author, I have to say I’m surprised at the community’s response to this. After reading it, several entities in the blogsphere immediately called the author on it, as should be expected.

What shocks me the most is the response the recieved. Because they stood up and showed that they posses morals of some kind and called what the author did was wrong, they are being flamed for being holier than thou. I’m forced to wonder what happened to ethics in this country.

Sure, you can argue “it’s just html/graphics/code, it’s not a big deal. It’s not like I’m hurting anyone”, but does that argument hold water? They worked on that html/graphic/code and you’ve just taken teh credit away from them. I also have to wonder home those who consider those of us who want credit for our work would react if it was their work that was being ripped off? Would htey be as forgiving, or would they, then, be the holier than thou ones? Of course not, then it’s effecting them, and attitudes change when that happens.

It’s very difficult for me to piece together a post regaarding this topic without it turning into a rant. I guess teh short of it is that taking code from a site without the owners permission is stealing, however, there is little that can be done about it short of litigation (yeah, right) or public bashing of the offender.

Given the scenario, I would rather be apart of the holier than thou’s in this case rather than the thieves. At least I’ll be left with the knowledge that my site is either my own work or the work of someone who has given me permission to use it. It’s a really good feeling, really.

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