2008: Linux’s year on the desktop?

Robin Harris sure makes some good points for it. Read them here.

My thinking is that as systems get cheaper, faster, and more stable Linux is inevitable. The next version of Ubuntu will be a real thorn in the side of Microsoft.  This will be a year to watch.

A follow up to IPBlock

Ubuntu Geek has a great guide to using IPBlock, thanks for the guide Ubuntu Geek.

IPBlock: A PeerGuardian alternative for Linux

Thanks to the folks at downloadsquad I was turned on to this application called IPBlock. Back in my windows days (yes at one point I used windows) I used this application called PeerGuardian 2, it’s just another thing you can do to guard your privacy when using Peer-to-Peer networks.

But now a easy to use version for Linux is out.

So find the distro that you use and get to downloading and to protecting your privacy.

Dell announces Ubuntu 7.10 PCs with DVD playback

Dell has told DesktopLinux.com that it will be announcing later today, Dec. 19, that it will be releasing PCs with Ubuntu 7.10 (aka Gutsy Gibbon) as part of its Dell Consumer Linux lineup along with the ability to legally play DVDs.

According to Dell spokesperson Anne B. Camden, the “Dell Inspiron 530N desktop and Inspiron 1420N notebook PCs are now available with Ubuntu 7.10 pre-installed.” Both of these models were part of Dell’s second wave of Ubuntu-powered PCs, which were released in June 2007.

Read all the good news here.

N.Y.S.E. Places Buy on Linux, Hold on Unix

The writing has been on the wall, and it was only a matter of time before we started seeing this type of migration.

Read it here.

The RIAA and MPAA turning America into Nazi regime.

I feel like at any moment the goose stepping Nazi Pigs (The RIAA and MPAA) will kick in the door and take me to the copyright concentration camps. This has got to stop. At least the Computer Operating System I use is still free.

Here are some of the major sections of the PRO IP Act:

* Fines in copyright cases dealing with compilations would be increased…

* Any computer or network hardware used to “facilitate” a copyright crime could be seized by the Justice Department and auctioned off. The proceeds would be funneled to the agency’s budget. The process is called civil asset forfeiture, and typically the owner does not need to be found guilty of a crime for his property to be taken.

Probably the most extensive part of the PRO IP Act is its creation of a new federal bureaucracy called the White House Intellectual Property Enforcement Representative, or WHIPER. The head of WHIPER would be appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate…with the head of the new agency bearing the rank of “Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.”

House overwhelmingly passes SAFE Act

Read the full story on engadget. Link to bill summary here. Link to who voted on it here.

When is this going to stop, has America has lost it’s collective mind. I’m getting damn sick and tired of the Nanny state.

“Look, kiddie porn and terrorism are bad. Obvious. But what better way for a government to push through controversial legislation quickly than to harness their emotive properties? After all, what self-respecting member of the US House of Representatives would vote against legislation called Securing Adolescents From Exploitation-Online, or SAFE? Only 2 it turns out (Rep. Paul Broun from Georgia and Rep. presidential candidate, Ron Paul) with 409 members voting yesterday in favor. The new bill requires everyone (that includes you and Starbucks) offering an open WiFi connection to the public to be on the lookout for “illegal images” and “obscene” cartoons and drawings which you must report. The reporting requirement extends to cover social networking sites, ISPs, and email providers. Failing to dutifully report what you’ve seen (or haven’t seen but are unwittingly complicit in) could leave your data seized and in debt from fines of up to $300,000″

Again, when will the rest of Washington D.C. read the constitution besides Ron Paul. I’m tired of my so called leaders using fear to control us. It’s fear and nothing more, they want to make us fear for our children’s safety (so they pass bill’s to control the internet), make us fear terrorist are around every corner (be sure and report suspicious activity on your friends and neighbors). I want my freedom back dammit.  We are turning into everything we are not, what other rights can we expect to see removed in the name of fear, no Habeas Corpus, held with out speedy trial, or held with out charges being filed. Oh wait we’ve all ready done that.

Does this belong on a technical blog, it sure as hell does, cause if this bill is passed and to turned into law, it makes us all informants do what the state dictates or suffer the oppression of the state.

Is there an App like this for Linux?

Custom Alpha Blended Mouse Coursors 

If not how do I start writing one!

Diabetes sucks

Diabetes sucks, the one thing you have to do is keep aware of your blood sugar levels for me that’s testing 4 to 6 times a day. I’m real bad about loosing my log book or not even logging in a test. I started looking for an application that I could use (I’m on the damn computer 10 hours a day might as well use it). I even started looking at writing my own application when I stumbled upon www.sugarStats.com

It comes in a free and Pro version but trust me the free version is all I need, it tracks my sugar levels and even gives me the daily average, as well as monthly averages too. Nice charts and graphs, and even lets you keep track of all the medications (I take 5 medications and I’m one of the lucky ones) that you take. It has a mobile version so I can enter my stats no matter where I’m at.

I have to say it was the answer for me, it’s got a nice Web 2.0 feel, but most important since I’ve been using it I’ve dropped my average  sugar level down 5%, now if someone would just come up with a cure.

New Mexico LoCo in Ubuntu Weekly #68

I just love seeing the New Mexico Loco in print….read issue #68 here. I have such a since of pride in what The New Mexico Team has accomplished, as well as pride for every LoCo throughout the world. I’ve met so many talented and knowledge people from almost the very first day I installed Ubuntu on my computer. The other day one of the members of a NMLUG (New Mexico Users Group) said he didn’t understand why I was so exited about our LoCo getting official status. I tried to explain to him how Ubuntu and the people that are associated with it make me feel the way I use to about computing some 30 years ago. The Ubuntu community makes me feel like I’m part of something, I can’t even tell you what that something is I just know it’s something good.