Ubuntu what?

I'll be the first to admit that I've always had a secret crush on linux.

After working on unix systems right out of high school, the idea that I could have something similar on my computer at home always thrilled me.

But then I actually tried playing with linux. Believe it was Corel Linux, which really didn't last that long. Then I tried one of the Red Hat distributions, don't recall what version. That didn't last long either. I kept going back to windows.

I needed access to all of my games.

Fast forward to a couple weeks ago. I started noticing that my computer was behaving oddly. Random shut downs, that kind of thing. So I took it upon myself to back up all of my important data. (You always forget a file, don't you?)

I had made cds from various recent linux distributions, with the intention of slapping linux on a spare laptop to fiddle with. Was very glad that I had those cds when my system restore fragged my primary laptop.

IBM really should include windows cds with their laptops instead of making you have to create your own through built in recovery software.

So, once I had reduced my computer to smoldering slag, my only choices were to install linux or track down someone's windows xp professional cd and use my key. Opted to go with linux since I had the cds on hand and didn't want to lose my computer for a couple of days. (Only way I can talk to Tammy during the day. We aren't at liberty to talk on cell phones while she's at work.)

So after much debate and refomatting, installing, wiping etc. I'm now running Ubuntu 9.04 on my laptop. And I like it.

Just getting it to play nice with an online game is frustrating. But I think I'm in the home stretch now. *crosses fingers*

Links!

You know you love clicking links from someone's random blog. I know you do.

Only two today, you can let out the sigh of relief already.

Ikea Hacker: DIY hack and slash site for modifying "cheap" Ikea furniture into something more useful or better looking.

desktopgaming: video game backgrounds, look at all of the Super Mario ones! I really enjoy the multiple monitor sets. :D

Other than that, I'm in the process of removing all of the .m4p files from my laptop. Do you realize how long it takes iTunes to burn a cd? Sheesh. At least, then I can re-rip the music to the normal .mp3 format that I prefer. Since I don't even use iTunes or WinAmp anymore.

foobar2000 is my new music player of choice. I've been using it for three to four months now. It's not as minimilist as my old old version of WinAmp, but it hogs up less resources than both iTunes and WinAmp. So that makes me happy.

What problem?

Ok, so I think I might have a problem.

I can't stop downloading various linux distributions and installing them on my crap laptop. I fiddle with one for a day or couple hours, before I wipe it with a different distribution...

I have yet to find/stumble across one that I completely love, or that recognizes all of my hardware off the bat. And to make matters worse, I don't even know all of the hardware on that laptop, so it's not like I can go look for proper device drivers or anything. Frustrating.

But some LiveCD versions play wonderfully on my IBM ThinkPad. >.> Just not quite ready to back up everything and wipe this laptop yet. That's a scary thought.

But I haven't had any real work lately, I'm too focused on the move to even be looking for work. So do I really need to keep the laptop in fully functioning order? So long as I have internet access and a web browser, I'm happy to talk with Tammy, write posts, check out other linux versions, etc...

Just want to tinker.

Currently checking out SimplyMEPSIS, Linux Mint, and Good OS.

So yeah... I may have a problem.

Updates

Random updates and links. Be warned!

Adam Savage: My quest for the dodo bird, and other obsessions
Very interesting, sounds like the man has a bunch of interesting hobbies. Might need to start saving all of the interesting crap I find online for my future projects.

Like these.

http://colorschemedesigner.com/
Helped finalize the color scheme for the new look.

Unofficial World of Warcraft Papercraft blog. I love the full size gnome... Would so love to have one of those. I need to make that happen.

Slax, one of the reasons I wish my dinky linksys router was still working. Trouble shooting the latest Slax 6.1.1 on a super old laptop that Aaron gave me.

Stumbled across Blender last night while I was fiddling with Slax. When I first came across it, I wasn't that impressed, because I was being taught how to use 3ds Max. But now... I might start fiddling with it again. 3d modeling was the only time when I was at AIH where I felt like I actually was creating anything of my own, instead of modifying what other people had created.

Experience

"When analytical thought, the knife, is applied to experience, something is always killed in the process. That is fairly well understood, at least in the arts. Mark Twain's experience come to mind, in which after he mastered the analytical knowledge needed to pilot the Mississippi River, he discovered the river had lost its beauty. Something is always killed. But what is less noticed in the arts--something is always created too. And instead of just dwelling on what is killed it's important also to see what's created and to see the process as a kind of death-rebirth continuity that is neither good nor bad, but just is."

-Robert M. Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Workspace Planning

With the move just around the corner, I've started to cull all of the useless and unnecessary junk from my apartment. This has made me question why I even bothered to purchase a lot of my possessions.

So, I've been selling books, giving away clothes, hauling trash bags full of once valued junk to the dumpsters. And then I turned my gaze toward my poor jumbled computer desk.

I spend way too much time in front of the computer, sitting in odd positions to reduce back pain, muscle fatigue, etc. Unfortunately, I can't get rid of the computer desk or chair yet, and I do plan on bringing them with me. But the situation has made me really think about what I need and want out of a desk and workspace.

Browsing Lifehacker, checking out people's desk setups, looking at furniture stores. I think I know what I want. I want to be comfortable, be it sitting or standing. Ergonomics and all of that.

Then I found this ergonomic workspace planner, which I'm eager to put into use.

I find myself walking, more pacing really, when I do any serious work/thinking. And I feel my workspace should reflect that. So ultimately I think I need to make/buy a desk that will adjust from sitting to standing height. Having two seperate desks would be impractical to say the least.

Exactly

Perfect example of me before coffee. Courtesy of garfield minus garfield.