As I have said before, I am happily using Ubuntu as my primary operating system on my desktop computer. It took me a while to get here, but I did after several difficult issues getting it installed on my other crappy computer. There were the issues of use as well, considering I was installing it not knowing the least bit how to use it. So, I guess you could say I taught myself the basics of Ubuntu. Aren't I awesome?
Either way, as most experiments encounter, I have had my share of problems. A lot of them had to do with sound. For a while I could only get temporary sound, and each time I had to reinstall the ALSA sound base. Fortunately, the update to 8.10 (from 8.04) fixed that, and allowed me to use OSS, which completely solved the problem. The only other problem is that I cannot get sound in flash videos. It's really annoying, I can't use YouTube.
Another problem I had was with my monitor. I got a 22 inch Samsung monitor for my birthday and for the life of me could not get it to recognize the fact that it was a 22 inch and not a 21 inch. Also the fact I had to adjust the resolution every time I turned on the computer, which got really old really fast. Fortunately, it was another problem solved by updating to 8.10. Let's just say I was very glad for 8.10.
Something I am noticing, and I am pretty sure it's the websites and not my computer, but any website I go to where I need to do some kind of online transaction (eg. banking, paying bills etc.) the page will not load. It's really fucking annoying because I can only pay my cell phone bill online, and I can only do certain bank transactions online. I went on my laptop earlier (it's a shitty old Mac) and I could get on my cell phone company website on there, which is balls. But I am pretty sure it's something to do with the website being a piece of shit, because my bank site has been intermittently working (generally it doesn't work when I need it most), so I know it is possible for it to work.
The Bluetooth not working has been an ongoing problem to the point where I have given up caring. It's not even that significant, but the annoying thing is that I can't use my wireless keyboard and mouse. It's a bitch because the mouse I use sucks. But it's one of the minor problems.
Overall, though, I am extremely satisfied with Ubuntu. I will never willingly return to Windows. You can do so much more with Ubuntu, and people make the software for it because they care about the software (since it's all open source). Proprietary stuff is complete bullshit if you ask me, since this is a much more effective way to do things. It also leaves people more satisfied.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Canada's Sex Offender Registry a National Embarassment
[link]
I was doing some research for an essay I have to write for class (yes another essay...) and came across the above article. I am shocked and appalled at this, for many reasons. One of the main reasons is that it's so, so simple to implement! It's a database! We're living in the information age, and even when we weren't, there were still tools available to create a database like this, even a secure one! Fucking political red tape is the worst kind. For something that's supposed to make things happen, it's pretty good and preventing things that should happen. I'm sure if I took a course or two I could make up a fucking database like that. And every police officer in Canada would have access to it (with discretion of course; no editing allowed except by certain individuals, considering the stories in the above article about cops being offenders themselves).
Why can't we have something like the US has? If the US has anything right, it's their justice system. If you're going to commit a crime of such an abhorrent sexual nature, you deserve to be strung out to dry, and have people vandalizing your house and sending you death threats every day. You deserve to live with the consequences of your actions, just like everybody else in the world. It's your problem that you decided to do what people consider depraved. I think every sex offender in the world should have their personal details published on the internet for everyone to see. But that's just me.
I was doing some research for an essay I have to write for class (yes another essay...) and came across the above article. I am shocked and appalled at this, for many reasons. One of the main reasons is that it's so, so simple to implement! It's a database! We're living in the information age, and even when we weren't, there were still tools available to create a database like this, even a secure one! Fucking political red tape is the worst kind. For something that's supposed to make things happen, it's pretty good and preventing things that should happen. I'm sure if I took a course or two I could make up a fucking database like that. And every police officer in Canada would have access to it (with discretion of course; no editing allowed except by certain individuals, considering the stories in the above article about cops being offenders themselves).
Why can't we have something like the US has? If the US has anything right, it's their justice system. If you're going to commit a crime of such an abhorrent sexual nature, you deserve to be strung out to dry, and have people vandalizing your house and sending you death threats every day. You deserve to live with the consequences of your actions, just like everybody else in the world. It's your problem that you decided to do what people consider depraved. I think every sex offender in the world should have their personal details published on the internet for everyone to see. But that's just me.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
ugh responsibility
How annoying is it when I have to do studying but all I really want to do is play my Xbox? I bought two games a couple weeks ago, Lego Batman and Civilization Revolution. Right now, I am currently fixed on Lego Batman, and have a friend who is officially addicted as well, and now loves playing co-op mode. I haven't dedicated enough time to Civ Rev (one thing at a time), but from what I've played it definitely seems damn cool. I have started an Aztec civilization and am trying to conquer by having the best technology.
If anyone has played Lego Indiana Jones, (I have 1000/1000 gamerpoints from it), Lego Batman is quite similar in some ways. You collect studs to buy things, which are characters, special extras, and in the case of Batman, vehicles. You also go through levels collecting certain items that add up to make a bigger item, and that's part of the objective of the game. The point is, there are several objectives, which I love. My favourite thing is Free Play mode. You use the characters you purchased to go through the levels and access things you couldn't access with the normal characters (each character has special abilities). I think the Lego games are super fabulous. Next, I will be getting Lego Star Wars!
If anyone has played Lego Indiana Jones, (I have 1000/1000 gamerpoints from it), Lego Batman is quite similar in some ways. You collect studs to buy things, which are characters, special extras, and in the case of Batman, vehicles. You also go through levels collecting certain items that add up to make a bigger item, and that's part of the objective of the game. The point is, there are several objectives, which I love. My favourite thing is Free Play mode. You use the characters you purchased to go through the levels and access things you couldn't access with the normal characters (each character has special abilities). I think the Lego games are super fabulous. Next, I will be getting Lego Star Wars!
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