Friday, December 5, 2008
Fixed Java problem? *crosses fingers*
I believe I might have solved the problem I was having with Java on my computer. I seemed to have had two versions of Java fighting to work, and the one that was working while I was having problems was icedtea; I had typed "java -version" in the terminal and got told it was using icedtea even though I had uninstalled icedtea a while ago. Turns out, when I went to the package manager, I had missed a couple packages which weren't actually called icedtea, but were the complete environment for it. The main package was openjdk-6-re, as well as another one called openjdk-6-re-headless. There was another one too but I cannot remember the name, but it was directly below the first two in the package manager. I tested this by opening Pogo and loading Casino Island Blackjack (a game I was previously having trouble with) and it worked! Yay!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Pidgin is a bitch
I have no idea why, but Pidgin is being a stupid cunt and won't keep me logged into MSN. It will log in, and within a minute will say it has disconnected. It won't do it on a constant basis either, it only does it on certain occasions. Maybe I will change instant message clients tonight or something. But first, food.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Ubuntu update
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.
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 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!
Friday, October 17, 2008
MobileScrobbler and Apple's stupidity
This is copy pasted from a journal entry I posted on Last.fm :
So, I figure I will try and update to 2.0.2 or whatever the most recent version is, and see how that goes. I'll then try and download this "official Last.fm app" shit, and see where that takes me. It looks like I'm going to have to go into Windows to do it too... If everything was open source and accessible, I would not have half the computer related problems that I do.
I use an iPod touch, and I am currently still using firmware 1.1.1 which is just fine with me; I don't need Apple's craptacular innovations on my hardware. I also use MobileScrobbler to scrobble my iPod tracks, which is something everyone should be able to do. As of a couple days ago, my iPod randomly stopped scrobbling. It's not a problem with MobileScrobbler, since it's doing everything it's supposed to do, but a problem with Last.fm, as it is not accepting the tracks from MobileScrobbler. I have been looking around online, and apparently I am not nearly the only one having this problem. Apparently everyone with firmware 1.1.1 had this problem. It has been concluded that Last.fm is in cahoots with Apple, and are collectively trying to force people to use that bull shit "App Store" thing that Apple is pushing. This is one very small and annoying step in that attempt. Why should we be forced to update our firmware? I was perfectly happy with 1.1.1... but I should be able to answer my own question: it's because Apple wants us to spend money in the fucking "App Store". Fuck Apple. I'm not giving them one cent to scrobble my iPod, which better be free.
So, I figure I will try and update to 2.0.2 or whatever the most recent version is, and see how that goes. I'll then try and download this "official Last.fm app" shit, and see where that takes me. It looks like I'm going to have to go into Windows to do it too... If everything was open source and accessible, I would not have half the computer related problems that I do.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
All moved in
As of last Sunday, I am all moved in to my new place. I ended up rooming with a friend of my girlfriend's. It has proven to be rewarding. I am closer to everyone and everything that is important to me (not including family though unfortunately). One of the major advantages is now I have a permanent wired connection and can therefore use Ubuntu almost exclusively. I had to go get a new wired keyboard, and still can't use my Bluetooth mouse, but I'm thinking of selling them anyway. They've been nothing but trouble, and I can always invest in wireless that is not Bluetooth. I find Bluetooth, for something simple like peripherals, is quite pointless. No data is exchanged and therefore, Bluetooth is overkill. The only problem is that I want to keep the dongle for my computer (to keep it's Bluetooth compatibility) but might have a hard time selling the keyboard and mouse without it. But we'll see. I will check eBay next.
Another problem is that the internet connection is kind of shaky for the Xbox. I got dropped from a Halo 3 game lastnight. I have never dropped before. I've also been having some major connectivity problems with Lost Planet Colonies. I go to search for games, and most of the time it has told me "no matches found". This has happened to me once at home. That was a result of server problems on the end of the game server. I seriously hope my NAT is closed or something so I can fix it and be on my merry way again. I am going to be severely depressed if I can't play Lost Planet.
Another thing that's odd for me is that I have to turn off my technology when I go to bed. I am used to just leaving it on all the time. But since I will actually be paying for power, I have to be conscious of this. But I can still leave it on the majority of the days on the weekends. Just when I know I won't be using it.
I've also been stressed more. Since everything around me has changed, and I have been presented with a whole new set of expectations, I have kind of been slow on the upkeep. I will continue to be stressed until I can really establish a regular and beneficial routine. But even then it might be a long, long time before I am comfortable, due to some interpersonal problems. I've even been stressed since before school even started. Getting in wasn't a pretty picture, and neither was the whole last minute change. I thought I was going to one school up until a week before classes start. The place I wanted to go (where I am now) accepted me extremely last minute, and my stress level increased exponentially. I had to do in a week what most people had months to do, in order to prepare for classes and such. After that, of course, was trying to find a place to live. Most of the places I saw were complete shitholes. The one place I wanted got snatched out from under me a couple hours before I was going to potentially take the place. It was kind of chaotic. And now school begins, as does a whole new set of problems. Yippe skippie.
Another problem is that the internet connection is kind of shaky for the Xbox. I got dropped from a Halo 3 game lastnight. I have never dropped before. I've also been having some major connectivity problems with Lost Planet Colonies. I go to search for games, and most of the time it has told me "no matches found". This has happened to me once at home. That was a result of server problems on the end of the game server. I seriously hope my NAT is closed or something so I can fix it and be on my merry way again. I am going to be severely depressed if I can't play Lost Planet.
Another thing that's odd for me is that I have to turn off my technology when I go to bed. I am used to just leaving it on all the time. But since I will actually be paying for power, I have to be conscious of this. But I can still leave it on the majority of the days on the weekends. Just when I know I won't be using it.
I've also been stressed more. Since everything around me has changed, and I have been presented with a whole new set of expectations, I have kind of been slow on the upkeep. I will continue to be stressed until I can really establish a regular and beneficial routine. But even then it might be a long, long time before I am comfortable, due to some interpersonal problems. I've even been stressed since before school even started. Getting in wasn't a pretty picture, and neither was the whole last minute change. I thought I was going to one school up until a week before classes start. The place I wanted to go (where I am now) accepted me extremely last minute, and my stress level increased exponentially. I had to do in a week what most people had months to do, in order to prepare for classes and such. After that, of course, was trying to find a place to live. Most of the places I saw were complete shitholes. The one place I wanted got snatched out from under me a couple hours before I was going to potentially take the place. It was kind of chaotic. And now school begins, as does a whole new set of problems. Yippe skippie.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)