As you know, I finally got a working installation of Elementary OS, the new Linux operating system distribution, after a few false starts installing it.
After reading the back to school advertisements, chock full of fancy quad core laptops running Windows 8, I decided to see how cheaply I could get online.
So here's my challenge to myself:
Can I use my $80 Craigslist laptop and the no cost operating system Elementary OS for a week?
Now I can't use it for my work, because currently our VPN doesn't support Linux, but they supply me with a computer anyway. But when you think about it, pretty much everything that one does online, besides gaming, runs in a browser... Gmail - browser; Facebook - browser; YouTube videos - you got it... browser. Even if you want to write a document and print it, you can use Google Documents and Google Drive and do it all online.
Here is what an $80 craigslist laptop is... first a confession, I am a bit of a craigslist junkie - I scan the computer section nightly to see if any interesting (and cheap) equipment has been posted. I particularly like computers with weird features or sizes. I have an early Dell all-in-one that is still chugging along after 5 years or more of Lymie's homework and "other stuff." I am looking at a Dell Duo - a netbook with a rotating touch screen, and I am looking for a used Raspberry Pi to run as a digital photo frame on steroids. My name is Lyman - I have a computer problem.
Laptop specs - this was purchased from someone closing a business. This was a training laptop with a gimpy WiFi card. I decided to give it a shot (she was asking an absurdly reasonable $80 for this laptop), thinking at the worst I would add a WiFi dongle to it to get it online. It turned out it was a firewall issue - it took me 10 minutes to sort that out. The CPU is a dual core 1.6 GHz with 1.9 GB RAM and a 150 GB hard drive. Screen size is a common 15.6 inches at 1366 x 768. It connects via Ethernet or 802.11 G. Noting fancy but it works.
Elementary OS has all the stuff you need to get online - a browser, wifi software, a few basic applications and an app-store to get more. After installing Google Chrome and logging in (I do all my online stuff with Google) within 3 minutes I had all my bookmarks, my preferences and my extensions at my fingertips - auto-magically!
I put my regular laptop in the corner of my office, booted the Dell Vostro and started creating this blog entry.
Check back in a week and see how I did!
Thanks.
Showing posts with label pop culture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pop culture. Show all posts
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Crappy Cinemas
So I went to the cinema for the first time in months. Now I know why the Film industry is having problems. Some of it is DVDs and large screens, but part of it is that they do not know what they are doing.
First, the tickets are outrageous - over $10 to see the movie. 2 kids and me - $30+
The concessions are way overpriced - I think it might be cheaper to buy stuff at an airport... $20+
Oh, and did I mention that the lobby was a pigsty? Crussed popcorn and spilled soda all over the floor. Now they ahve "self serve popcorn butter station" - I steered clear of that slimy area - both for health (butter, year right!) and sanitation reasons - it looked like an oil tanker had holed its hull there.
Things were not much better in the screening room. The print was scratched, the projection illumination was too bright, washing out hte colors and creating bloom in the bright areas. Plus people were talking like they were in their living room - hey! If you want to talk, rent it at home.
I asked for my money back... and got it.
That cinema will not be getting my patronage any more. If the cinema industry wants to survive, they will need to do a better job than that. And if we want a better experience, we need to ask for it.
First, the tickets are outrageous - over $10 to see the movie. 2 kids and me - $30+
The concessions are way overpriced - I think it might be cheaper to buy stuff at an airport... $20+
Oh, and did I mention that the lobby was a pigsty? Crussed popcorn and spilled soda all over the floor. Now they ahve "self serve popcorn butter station" - I steered clear of that slimy area - both for health (butter, year right!) and sanitation reasons - it looked like an oil tanker had holed its hull there.
Things were not much better in the screening room. The print was scratched, the projection illumination was too bright, washing out hte colors and creating bloom in the bright areas. Plus people were talking like they were in their living room - hey! If you want to talk, rent it at home.
I asked for my money back... and got it.
That cinema will not be getting my patronage any more. If the cinema industry wants to survive, they will need to do a better job than that. And if we want a better experience, we need to ask for it.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Slumdog Millionaire
Last night I saw Slumdog Millionaire.
What can I add? It was a wonderful movie. At some parts, it was hard to watch - there were scenes of grinding poverty and abuse, but in the end, it was incredible.
As you know, both my children are adopted from India, so the scenes there of the underside of India and of the orphans were at times heart-stoppingly touching. Sometimes I wonder where my kids woul dbe today if they were not part of my family.
Back to Slumdog. There were levels of depth that I did not expect from the movie. Fraternal conflict, unrequited love, gangsters, scenes of religious strife. Not enough dancing, however.
The music was nice too. Very modern Indian pop - a mix of Bhangra, rap and techno.
The print was bad and the projection was terrible, and the concession area was a pigsty, but that is another blog.
If you can handle the scenes of poverty, then I recommend Slumdog Millionaire - you won't be able to forget it.
What can I add? It was a wonderful movie. At some parts, it was hard to watch - there were scenes of grinding poverty and abuse, but in the end, it was incredible.
As you know, both my children are adopted from India, so the scenes there of the underside of India and of the orphans were at times heart-stoppingly touching. Sometimes I wonder where my kids woul dbe today if they were not part of my family.
Back to Slumdog. There were levels of depth that I did not expect from the movie. Fraternal conflict, unrequited love, gangsters, scenes of religious strife. Not enough dancing, however.
The music was nice too. Very modern Indian pop - a mix of Bhangra, rap and techno.
The print was bad and the projection was terrible, and the concession area was a pigsty, but that is another blog.
If you can handle the scenes of poverty, then I recommend Slumdog Millionaire - you won't be able to forget it.
Monday, November 10, 2008
A Clash of Cultures
There is a culture war coming. And it will not be pretty.
Some of that came to light when I was over at the stringed instrument store to pick up some music for my cello. As I pulled up in my minivan (small, 4-cylinder, 10 years old), I saw the cars an the parking lot: 3 Priuses, a Volvo, a Subaru Outback and a Honda Minivan, and a few other nondescript Japanese cars. No Fords, no Buicks, no trucks.
And all these cars were sporting eco bumper stickers and Obama bumper stickers and bumper stickers talking about classical music, stickers for private schools and academies. I was the only standout because besides my Obama sticker, I was sporting a Natick Lacrosse sticker.
It got me to thinking. What is it about playing a stringed instrument that attracts a cetain type of person in general? Middle/upper-middle class, liberal, academically oriented.
i don't have the answer, I am just making an observation. But it seems to be a type and there did not seem to be a lot of diversity in that group (racial diversity, yes - but other than skin color they looked pretty much the same).
I think this group is happy about the Obama win, but there must be thousands just like them. But there are others that are the polar opposite who are thinking that their world is crazy and turned upside down. They may be becoming smaller, but they are still a big group.
And they are in for a shock.
Some of that came to light when I was over at the stringed instrument store to pick up some music for my cello. As I pulled up in my minivan (small, 4-cylinder, 10 years old), I saw the cars an the parking lot: 3 Priuses, a Volvo, a Subaru Outback and a Honda Minivan, and a few other nondescript Japanese cars. No Fords, no Buicks, no trucks.
And all these cars were sporting eco bumper stickers and Obama bumper stickers and bumper stickers talking about classical music, stickers for private schools and academies. I was the only standout because besides my Obama sticker, I was sporting a Natick Lacrosse sticker.
It got me to thinking. What is it about playing a stringed instrument that attracts a cetain type of person in general? Middle/upper-middle class, liberal, academically oriented.
i don't have the answer, I am just making an observation. But it seems to be a type and there did not seem to be a lot of diversity in that group (racial diversity, yes - but other than skin color they looked pretty much the same).
I think this group is happy about the Obama win, but there must be thousands just like them. But there are others that are the polar opposite who are thinking that their world is crazy and turned upside down. They may be becoming smaller, but they are still a big group.
And they are in for a shock.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Election Day 2008 (2 thumbs up)
Woo hoo! Obama won!
The nightmare of the idiot Republican President and his gang of fascists is over.
One thing that I noticed about the 2 crowds at Sen Obama's victory speech and Sen. McCain's concession speech. Looking at the Obama crowd on TV it was all ages, all genders, all ethnic groups. McCain crowd was a bunch of really white guys, a few white women and nothing else.
If that is all the Republicans have, then they are in trouble. They are running out of scared white guys fast.
The nightmare of the idiot Republican President and his gang of fascists is over.
One thing that I noticed about the 2 crowds at Sen Obama's victory speech and Sen. McCain's concession speech. Looking at the Obama crowd on TV it was all ages, all genders, all ethnic groups. McCain crowd was a bunch of really white guys, a few white women and nothing else.
If that is all the Republicans have, then they are in trouble. They are running out of scared white guys fast.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
JetMan - A real Buck Rogers
Have you heard about Jet Man? The guy who flew across the English Channel with wings and a jet-pack strapped to his back? The guy is amazing. He literally soars through the air and steers with his head and shoulders!
I guess Buck Rogers is showing my age... for you kiddies out there, he is a real life Buzz Lightyear - with wings that pop open and jets on his back and little flashing lights. He is only missing the wrist-mounted laser (little blinky light thingie).
Anyway, this former pilot has built a jet pack that burns kerosene and has these carbon fiber wings on his back that lets him fly like a superhero. He has flown over the Alps (great video on his site) and recently flew across the English channel in under 10 minutes. I watched it on TV and it was incredible.
The called him a real-life Daedalus (thank goodness he was not Icarus), and he was amazing. Now I don't think this is ready for prime-time, as he has to jump out of a plane to get started and use a parachute to get on the ground, but it is a very interesting and inspiring feat.
I don't think we will be seeing people flying to work anytime soon - and the result of a collision would usually be fatal, but I would not be surprised to see this in a Bond movie soon.
Man, this was just too cool!
I guess Buck Rogers is showing my age... for you kiddies out there, he is a real life Buzz Lightyear - with wings that pop open and jets on his back and little flashing lights. He is only missing the wrist-mounted laser (little blinky light thingie).
Anyway, this former pilot has built a jet pack that burns kerosene and has these carbon fiber wings on his back that lets him fly like a superhero. He has flown over the Alps (great video on his site) and recently flew across the English channel in under 10 minutes. I watched it on TV and it was incredible.
The called him a real-life Daedalus (thank goodness he was not Icarus), and he was amazing. Now I don't think this is ready for prime-time, as he has to jump out of a plane to get started and use a parachute to get on the ground, but it is a very interesting and inspiring feat.
I don't think we will be seeing people flying to work anytime soon - and the result of a collision would usually be fatal, but I would not be surprised to see this in a Bond movie soon.
Man, this was just too cool!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
A Cure for Disney-itis
Are you like me? The constant barrage of manufactured teeny-bopper musicians makes you want to puke? Do Hanna Montana and Hillary Duff and the Gang from High School Musical fronting generic bands make your skin crawl, but your daughters scream for more?
Well, I have a solution for you.
We went to the Jersey Shore for a weekend and caught an Irish festival that was in itself pretty crappy - lots of expensive, cruddy trinkets and Paddy Bands singing about getting drunk. But on a stage off to the side I heard a very nice little band starting up, so I grabbed the kids and went over. It turned out to be a band made up of sisters, all under 15, and playing their instruments (more than one at times) and singing.
They were the Raining Hearts, from Pennsylvania. And they were sincere and talented and excellent role models of hard working kids doing something that it looks like they love. They play traditional songs and write their own Irish-pop songs and are entirely captivating.
Their self titled CD - Raining Hearts - is only $10 - but only 7 songs, and does not do justice to their infectious tunes, but it is a good start, and a nice alternative to that Disney crap, especially for kids. Give it a shot if you want to try something in the car for the kids to listen to. Their CD is in heavy rotation in our household.
I am sure that there are other kid bands out there that are worth hearing, so give it a try and see what you can find. Let me know if you find something you like.
Enjoy!
Well, I have a solution for you.
We went to the Jersey Shore for a weekend and caught an Irish festival that was in itself pretty crappy - lots of expensive, cruddy trinkets and Paddy Bands singing about getting drunk. But on a stage off to the side I heard a very nice little band starting up, so I grabbed the kids and went over. It turned out to be a band made up of sisters, all under 15, and playing their instruments (more than one at times) and singing.
They were the Raining Hearts, from Pennsylvania. And they were sincere and talented and excellent role models of hard working kids doing something that it looks like they love. They play traditional songs and write their own Irish-pop songs and are entirely captivating.
Their self titled CD - Raining Hearts - is only $10 - but only 7 songs, and does not do justice to their infectious tunes, but it is a good start, and a nice alternative to that Disney crap, especially for kids. Give it a shot if you want to try something in the car for the kids to listen to. Their CD is in heavy rotation in our household.
I am sure that there are other kid bands out there that are worth hearing, so give it a try and see what you can find. Let me know if you find something you like.
Enjoy!
Monday, August 25, 2008
Clever TV - Word Girl
If you are about my age, you grew up watching Rocky and Bullwinkle - a very funny cartoon that had jokes for the kids and the adults. I still love to watch it.
But there has not been a lot nowadays that has filled that same void - humor for kids and adults.
Until now.
A new contender for the all-humor crown has sprung up from an unlikely place - PBSKids. The new show is Word Girl. It actually teaches kids vocabulary, but in a funny way, and I love all the jokes that I know the kids don't get.
For example, WG introduced the word "coincidence" by having Prof. Two-Brains (he accidentally fused a mouse brain to his brain, so now he steals cheese - and the mouse brain is just kind of stuck on the side of his head to give that gross-out factor that kids love) break out of prison on the day that an exhibit of ancient cheese was opening at the museum of history. Who'd a thunk it? A "coincidence!"
I heard about Word Girl from on of my favorite Podcasts Grammar Girl - yes, I listen to a podcast on grammar and it is also really interesting and entertaining. More on my podcasts later.
However, if you have little kids running around the house, you have an excuse to watch Word Girl.
And even if you don't have kids running around, watch her anyway.
But there has not been a lot nowadays that has filled that same void - humor for kids and adults.
Until now.
A new contender for the all-humor crown has sprung up from an unlikely place - PBSKids. The new show is Word Girl. It actually teaches kids vocabulary, but in a funny way, and I love all the jokes that I know the kids don't get.
For example, WG introduced the word "coincidence" by having Prof. Two-Brains (he accidentally fused a mouse brain to his brain, so now he steals cheese - and the mouse brain is just kind of stuck on the side of his head to give that gross-out factor that kids love) break out of prison on the day that an exhibit of ancient cheese was opening at the museum of history. Who'd a thunk it? A "coincidence!"
I heard about Word Girl from on of my favorite Podcasts Grammar Girl - yes, I listen to a podcast on grammar and it is also really interesting and entertaining. More on my podcasts later.
However, if you have little kids running around the house, you have an excuse to watch Word Girl.
And even if you don't have kids running around, watch her anyway.
Friday, August 15, 2008
R U A Nerd?
So is nerd cool? Or is nerd still... well... nerdy?
I don't know. But I do know that nerds are ruling the world and pushing a lot of our economy. Trust me, the nerds did not cause the dot-com bust. They did not cause the mortgage bust, and they did not cause the gas prices to fly out the window.
They didn't even cause global warming... but they may solve it.
Who knows, we may even get our first nerdy president.
Now I have to admit, I have many nerdy tendencies - unnatural obsession with technology. I am drawn to certain things that my wife just does not care about. Like pi. I think pi is cool, to her it is just silly. Same with prime numbers - no attraction for her.
And can you believe it, she doesn't even have a favorite number! I have one - 27. Why? Well it's kind of obvious 27 is 3 to the third power, and three is the lowest prime number. Cool, eh?
So I took an online nerd quiz and guess what? I made pretty nerdy.
See?
Give it a shot. I hit pay dirt with the number of computers I have and building my own, and owning an HP computer that does RPN (actually, I have 2). Also a microscope, telescope, and slide rule.
Anyway, check your nerd score and see what pops up.
Enjoy!
I don't know. But I do know that nerds are ruling the world and pushing a lot of our economy. Trust me, the nerds did not cause the dot-com bust. They did not cause the mortgage bust, and they did not cause the gas prices to fly out the window.
They didn't even cause global warming... but they may solve it.
Who knows, we may even get our first nerdy president.
Now I have to admit, I have many nerdy tendencies - unnatural obsession with technology. I am drawn to certain things that my wife just does not care about. Like pi. I think pi is cool, to her it is just silly. Same with prime numbers - no attraction for her.
And can you believe it, she doesn't even have a favorite number! I have one - 27. Why? Well it's kind of obvious 27 is 3 to the third power, and three is the lowest prime number. Cool, eh?
So I took an online nerd quiz and guess what? I made pretty nerdy.
See?
Give it a shot. I hit pay dirt with the number of computers I have and building my own, and owning an HP computer that does RPN (actually, I have 2). Also a microscope, telescope, and slide rule.
Anyway, check your nerd score and see what pops up.
Enjoy!
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