Fatboy Slim

One of the best music-videos made in the last 10 years is to Fatboy Slim's song "Weapon of Choice".



Get a load of it!

Linux Disto' Timeline

What a great way to get to know the Linux way of thought - check out this amazing timeline of all the Distros Linux has. This time table enables you to see which predates which, and which are the new fads in the biz.

More tips for new Ubuntu users

One of the fun things regarding Ubuntu is that lately more and more people are discovering it. With more and more new people who migrate from the old WIN OS mode of thought into the Linux-Ubuntu way of computing, it is ever more urgent to discover new "greeting tools", like this new tips list.

TrackMeNot

A new extension I've found for FireFox is TrackMeNot. I've run across it on a site of NYU which tells how it works, and why it does what it does. It is at the very least an important read for any FireFox user, and an installation that worth checking out.

The website has the link you need to download the extension via the Mozilla extension site.

Commanding the Command-line

Another fine tutorial I've found online (thank you Digg) is the Commanding the Command-line over at "noenemies". It is nice , simple and to the point.

It is not a list of ALL the commands, but rather a more concentrated look at the most common/useful ones.

Web2.0 Logo Creator by Alex P

A really funny site for the Web2.0 fad is this great site I found. After trying a few myself, I can definitely say it is worth coming back to.

Try it with or without the BETA sign, with or without the reflection. I actually think it has potential to evolve more into a fun gizmo for people to create new logos in.

ubuntu theme for FireFox

Two great things combined, a new theme for FireFox takes form in the default colors of ubuntu. Change the way FireFox looks to blend in with the whole ubuntu atmosphere.

Ever wanted a great space picture?

A new service by NASA is this new site called "GRIN", short for Great Images in NASA. It is the house to some of NASA's greatest picutres ever. The site enables you to search by subject, keyword or by Center, giving you a rundown of some of the greatest pic's.

This site could very well be a nice source for teaching aids regarding space lessons' plans or sending the students to this site tou look something up.

Here is one of my favorites so far.

FoxyProxy

A nice little extension for FireFox that enables you to get through a proxy.

Instead of me explaining the How's and the Why's I'll let the good people of Mozdev explain their creation here.

The Mozdev website can be found here.

The Evolution of Desktops

An amazing archive of ancient GUI designs, and a round-up up to the latest OS. Check this great link out to see how far we've come.

This also shows how much Bill Gates wanted to copy Apple's GUI with the Windows line of products.

Free "Powered by Ubuntu" Sticker

One of the nice things to find lately is the rise of Ubuntu. An example of it is the sticker hand-out via snail-mail. All you have to do, as it says on this link, is to send them a self-stamped envalop and they will mail you back 4 free sticker. Now that's what I call cool.

Movies you just have to see

I am hoping to create a list with all the movies people,or students, just "have to see". This list will include movies you have to see at least once, and movies you have to watch at least more.

This is an open list with all the movies that are a "must see". This list in open to input, as I do not know all the good movies out there. Let's just put on a limit on this, they have to be in English and non of them can be X rated or R rated. I am only talking about good-regular-unique movies so please don't spam the list.

The list (in no particular order):

1. Brazil (1985)
2. Dune (1984)
3. Die Hard (1988)
4. Back to the Future (1985)
5. Matrix (1999)
6. Gone with the wind (1939)
7. Grease (1978)
8. Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
9. Tron (1982)
10. Save the Last Dance (2001)
11. Lord of the Rings (2001)
12. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
13. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
14. The Deep End of the Ocean (1999)
15. Spaceballs (1987)
16. Star Wars (1977)
17. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
18. Top Gun (1986)
19. Beetle Juice (1988)
20. Toy Story 2 (1999)
21. Blade Runner (1982)
22. Ghost in the Shell (1995)
23. West Side Story (1961)
23. The Incredibles (2004)
24. Shrek 2 (2004)
24. Animatrix (2003)
25. Monsters Inc. (2001)
26. Total Recall (1990)
27. Schindler's List (1993)
28. Princes Bride (1987)
29. Reservoir Dogs (1992)
30. Pulp Fiction (1994)

A more extensive list I've found online (with similar taste I think...) is this one.

Star Trek light strobe

One of the things any Star Trek fan remembers about the bridge of any ship of the Federation, Enterprise or otherwise, is the strobing lights underneath the "Screen", or View Screen. Surfing across the web, I found this nice Japanese site (in English) that tells you how you can build a LED flasher to show just that kind of a stobe.

Of course, it's not necessarily something that you'd put underneath you TV or LCD screen, but it is nice, and there are plenty of things you can do with it. The site is here and if you look closely at pattern number 3 you'll see the familiar Star Trek light strobe.

Linux XGL/Compiz Graphics

Wow. This is a really cool demonstration on the things you can get out of Linux. This site has really done well for showing a comparison with both the Apple OS and the up-coming Vista.

If you've ever wanted an example of things to come, from all three different OS approach to the GUI, you have to check out this link.

Greasemonkey

As an avid FireFox user, I've come to love the various extensions available. I find them far superior to the add-ons available for the IE, and far more versatile. A great example of it is the Greasemonkey extension. Allowing me, the user, and not the webdeveloper to decide how the site will show up on my screen is a tremendous advantage.

One possible use that comes to mind is people who are vision-impaired and can use an enlargement of all the text on a page.

There are links on the main page of the Greasemonkey site, including ones that teach you what you can do and how to do it.

I'm off to learn the stuff ;-).

Rescuing files with a Boot CD

Using the LiveCD of Knoppix, this tutorial will explain, step by step, how to save, back-up and retrieve your files from that windows HD that just crashed.

Another useful way of windows users using the Linux apps and OS. BTW, this is also a good opportunity to recommend you go ahead and get acquainted with it.

How to add a google-map to your site/blog

http://wikimapia.org

This nice site tells how to add google-maps to your website or blog. Just click on the Wiki button on the top right corner.

Here is also a link to the Wikimapia blog.

This is an example, a map of the Hong-Kong Central Library and Victoria Park.



Another example is the Hong-Kong International Airport;

Clever Word Play

1. A man's home is his castle, in a manor of speaking.

2. Dijon vu - the same mustard as before

3. Practice safe eating - always use condiments.

4. Shotgun wedding: A case of wife or death.

5. Those who jump off a bridge in Paris must be in Seine

6. A man needs a mistress just to break the monogamy.

7. A hangover is the wrath of grapes.

8. Does the name Pavlov ring a bell?

9. Condoms should be used on every conceivable occasion.

10. Reading while sunbathing makes you well red.

11. When two egotists meet, it's an I for an I.

12. A bicycle can't stand on its own because it is two tired.

13. Definition of a will: A dead give away.

14. Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

15. She was engaged to a boyfriend with a wooden leg but broke it off.

16. A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.

17. If you don't pay your exorcist, you'll get repossessed.

18. With her marriage, she got a new name and a dress.

19. When a clock is hungry, it goes back four seconds.

20. You feel stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.

21. Local Area Network in Australia: the LAN down under.

22. Every calendar's days are numbered.

23. A lot of money is tainted - It taint yours and it tai'nt mine.

24. Once you've seen one shopping center, you've seen a mall.

25. Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead-to-know basis.

26. Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses.

27. Acupuncture is a jab well done.

credits to the unknown author (if you know the author please leave a comment).

Gnarles Barkley

Even thought this song has being playing all over, and most people are fed up with it, I like the fact that Gnarles Barkley shows up in each live performance he gives in a new themed costume. The first live show I saw him perform was in the Top of the Pops show, where he was dressed in a Pilot's uniform and the co-singers were his cabin crew.



This MTV show tops that. In this video Gnarles is Darth Vader, and his band are both Rebels and Empire, along with Chewbecca the drummer. This is a brilliant idea.

The Bump Key

An amazing find, this video I've found via Digg leaves one speechless. Can you believe that ordinary locks are no longer safe? The video shows how in a simple procedure a "bump key" can be made and then shows several examples of locks who fall victim to it.

What's important about the publicity of this is that you have to protect yourself better, not necessarily for the thieves but rather against your insurance companies. It seems that unless there is a sign for a break-in, they will not reimburse you for your loss. Meaning, they are ignoring the fact that thieves are already putting this technology to use.

It is definitely something to keep in mind. Here is the video:



In case it doesn't load, here is a link to YouTube.

Extensions for FireFox and the Y! Widget Engine

Another tutorial for writing extensions for FireFox has surfaced. It is always nice to find another tutorial which would explain things from a different perspective.

I have seen some tutorials before, and this is the latest one I ran into.

This also raises the question I've been pondering about, to write a widget for the Yahoo!Widget engine, or to write an extension for FireFox. Both are compelling, but since the last two engine reforms Yahoo! have done to the engine, I find it less and less to my liking. It seems as if they are trying to take the good, nice, open-source/community development atmosphere that existed during the days for v.1 of the engine.

If I were to advise them on how to make it better now, I would suggest:
1. Remove the Y! logo from the engine and from any popup screen.
2. If step 1 is not available, at least minimize it and maximize the widget logo.
3. Spread word about the widget engine across the Y! domains, in form of ads and others.
4. Rally open-source supporters and other to contribute.
5. Support (how about a financial prize?) crossplatform widgets that incorporate the Y! Widgets and other systems.

The Linux Command-Line list&tips

A nice link I found on Digg relating to the ever elusive command-line parameters and their usage. This could be very handy when migrating to Linux.

To some extent, I miss DOS. The GUI of windows is nice, and practical, but sometimes you just need that command line feature back. I know some people are content with the built-in command line that lurks behind the XP GUI, but it's far too much hidden in the background for my taste.

Self Publishing and Books

A link I've found to another nice blog is to the Self Publish Blooks. Having read just a bit I find it interesting. Like many other fellow bloggers I too sometimes write (you know, pen and paper), and none of my stuff has yet been published. I'd probably look into it again, but one thing that is on my mind is that as far as I know it is usually expensive to publish your own books, unless you do it online (and therefore forfeit any profit from it).

The profit question is a tough one. I am not sure how the novice writer/blogger solves it.

I encourage you to read Blake Schwendimans blook story. I know I am looking forward to reading his new novel.

UC Berkeley on iTunes U

This is a great source for podcasts of university related materials. In fact, there are podcasts there of lectures (what a great idea!!), and I can only wish that my university professors make something like this too. Listening, and going over the lecture materials as I commute is a grand thing, and I'm sure many student would like to be able to have podcasts of their university stuff to listen to too. Of course we wouldn't listen to is always, but hey, is a lot easier than cramming the books at the library.

If you have iTunes than all you have to do is click on the link they have, and get access to that content.

Like I've said, a great idea by the good people of Berkeley U.

Free online eBooks - Project Gutenberg

Free eBooks are always nice, and I think that most computer oriented people enjoy reading an eBook, from time to time. Some people don' t like the way they appear on the screen, and prefer the "paper touch". I can relate to that as well, but sometimes I find it very practical that I can scan through and eBook with the "Find" function, rather than try to skim through it looking for whatever it is I'm looking for.

Project Gutenberg- thousands and thousands of free eBooks, waiting for you to download.

ubuntu - a Linux base operating system

One of the things I've begun looking into is Linux. As a non-Linux native, I've always wondered about it. Many times I'd hear people whispering of its superior power over the Windows platform,
and yet so few of my closest friends have actually made the move.

One thing I've always hold to when going through a major software or hardware change is to have some other close friend who's already been there and could help answering my tech questions. Up until now, the closest my friends got to the Linux platform is to use it at work or at university. Non of them really installed or set it up, or even used it on a daily basis that will make them able to answer my tech quarries. Therefore, if I wanted to get to know Linux I would have to figure it out on my own.

About several months ago I first heard the phrase ubuntu. I had heard before of several other Linux versions, like Red Had, Mandriva and SUSE. This one, however, caught my attention.



The thing that always drove me away from installing a different OS to the ones I know was the complexity, or rather the lack of guiding tech friends to help guide me through the installation. I wasn't even thinking yet about getting help moving about with the new OS, just installing it.

One of the nice things I've found was that more and more info about ubuntu was coming in through various channels. I saw many ubuntu related posts at digg, which has proved to be a valuable source of tech-info. These posts directed me to several interesting articles about ubuntu, and I'd like to point to my favorite.

Since I was interested in learning to install a desktop, but also a server I found at the HowtoForge a great link to explain with pictures how the process is done. Guiding through the different screenshots of everything, I found it very useful and very interesting.

Another link I'm fond of is at the Free Software Magazine, an article which describes how to change the way the OS looks and feels. It is, of course, very useful and very important, since non of my friends could really help me with it. On top of that, I think that customizing you OS to your feel, your vibe, is the best thing to do when you install an OS. And it's also a lot more fun.

I am always on the lookout for more links of ubuntu and Linux related stuff. Though I have fiddled around with the ubuntu LiveCD, I have not yet installed it.