Fuduntu to FuSE: Providing interesting alternatives

It seems to me that the folks that brought us Fuduntu and will soon be bringing us FuSE (assuming openSUSE has no issues with it) are primarily interested in presenting interesting alternatives for the desktop linux community.

何このLinuxっていうOS？

私を知っている人はほとんど皆は私がLinuxというパソコンのOSを使っているのを知っていると思うんですが、それより詳しくは知らないかもしれないので、ちょっと説明させていただきたい。

Sale vs License of Digital Information

Amazon’s “Buy” now with 1-click

I’ve been thinking about this issue ever since I first heard about Amazon remotely pulling already paid for copies of 1984 e-books from user’s Kindles.  The issue resurfaced when Amazon remotely deleted another lady’s entire collection of paid for books.

It’s the afternoon of the age of the Internet

For me the Internet equals two words: Instant Gratification.

We can connect to everyone important to us, no matter where they are in the world*.  We can connect beyond those tight-knit circles too, tapping the public if we wish.  When we post some personal content, those connections give us feedback.  It’s the human social dream come true.  Speak, be heard, be spoken to, respond.  Instant gratification.  Furthermore, if you want to shut it out, it’s as easy as leaving your mobile behind and turning off your computer.  The information quiet can be wonderful.

*excluding those places without any connectivity of course.

Audio Fiction – Podcast format

Aiming my sights at my long term goal, I’ve been thinking about ways to improve my writing.  In the next few years I’m going to be revising my Nanowrimo novels, which I think will help me gain a lot of perspective on refinement and what my future works really need.  Since my long term goal however is live-action film, with a script performed by actors, I really need to exercise my script-writing skills as well.

Free culture, yes or no?

I love free culture.  Free is an ambiguous word in English in a way that it isn’t ambiguous in many other languages.  Our word “free” encompasses the meanings of freedom, rights, and a price tag of $0.00.  Some people in the free culture movement like to distinguish these two meanings, but I see no problem in conflating them.

What is a Linux Distribution?

TLDR: a Linux distribution is a collection of software including the Linux kernel that is provided to users via the Internet.

In this post I’m going to explain what the phrase “Linux Distribution” means.  I’m assuming a basic level of competence with technology, but not necessarily anything in depth.  I will make prolific use of links to Wikipedia and other websites where appropriate.  I am not attempting to advocate anything, just explain, but I have some personal bias as a Linux user.

Paypal ticks me off

Searching for Paypal sucks on google results in over 9 million hits.

Searching for paypal rocks on google results in about a million fewer hits.

I’m done with Paypal.  Hate that service.

Tried to pay for the Legend RPG which donates its proceeds to Childs Play but Paypal refused my credit card.  Why?  No explanation.  I won’t be using Paypal again, ever.

Google payments? Sure.  Amazon payments? My favorite.

Paypal? No thank you.

Where free culture stands today

Free culture is basically the shared belief that information that can be copied at no cost and no effective lost of value, should be available freely not only to use, but to edit and redistribute without restriction as well.  On top of that many contributors to the free culture movement make content available for free even at a loss, with the belief that it benefits society and may gain them some recognition in the process.  Some might argue that the value of this recognition is compensation enough for their efforts.

LMDE Update frustration

I have now encountered my second problem incurred as a result of Gnome3‘s emergence in the wild.  The first was Gnome Shell, and it resulted in me moving away from gnome as a desktop environment in a gradual manner, so as to ease the process.  This time, long after not using gnome anymore, I was running updates with Linux Mint’s update manager when I noticed that it said Dropbox was going to be uninstalled.