Random Ramblings 4

It has been a while since my last post. I've been working and mostly just had a lack of interest in posting, plus very little to report on. I don't really have much for this post either, but I recently ran across a couple of items that I thought I'd share with you.

The Computer OS: A new Paradigm

As previously reported, I use virtual machine software to test various Linux distros in hopes of finding something better than what I use today. Not that there is anything really wrong with what I use today, but I have always believed that standing still is the same thing as backing up. This is especially true in the tech world where what you get today will most likely be obsolete tomorrow. Some folks do not mind sticking with the tried and true, and that is certainly their right. However, I am just not built that way.

Golf tech

Well it seems after a multi-year absence I am once again hooked on golf. I have been back playing for a few months now. You might not think that a 6-7 year hiatus would be that big a deal, but let me tell you, it was hell in the early going. While I am in very good shape for 48 years old, apparently I was not in very good "golf shape". After a week or so of hitting 75-100 balls a day on the driving range, I discovered aches in places I did not know existed. It was mostly relegated to the upper torso area as my legs are in most excellent shape from power walking and bike riding. I even pulled a muscle in my rib cage which necessitated a quick trip to the doctor for x-rays, and a diagnosis of "your getting old". I should explain that my doctor is a former triathlete who also thinks he's a comedian.

Yup. There's a Linux app for that

I was recently reading a forum discussion about Ubuntu 10.04. As usual, there were the fan boys who think Ubuntu is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Then you have the usual selection of Windows fan boys saying Ubuntu is not all that special after all. Generally I avoid such discussions, but in this instance there was one particular post which essentially denounced Linux all together. The poster prattled off a list of things he could not do because there was no such software available for Linux. I replied with a list of programs that would easily accomplish everything he listed. Cornered, he replied that Linux just sucks anyway. Oh well, to each his own I guess.

Gunfight at the Linux Corral

As I promised in my previous post, I've decided to write about how I test Linux distros. But before we get to the testing, I figured I'd update you on the laptop situation. After a month or so with PCLinuxOS 2009.2 running smoothly, I discovered one small glitch for me. I was having a bit of trouble installing and running some newer versions of my favorite software. At first it was just Firefox. Version 3.6 was not available in the repositories, so I did a manual download and install from the Firefox web site. Then the problems began.

My Tribulations with Linux

Although this post is about Linux, it could just as easily apply to any OS, or any other software program for that matter. As I have previously written, I use Linux as my primary, day to day OS. In fact, it has been several months since I used Windows for anything more than  playing an occasional game. My OS of choice on my laptop was Ubuntu 9.10, with Windows on there as a dual boot setup just in case. Inexplicably after a recent update, Ubuntu just lost it's mind and would no longer boot past an odd Grub boot prompt. It was asking for additional boot parameters for some reason. After a few more tries at booting and getting the same error, I immediately rebooted into Windows and proceeded to search the internet for a fix.

Oh no! It's politics!

I never intended to write about politics on this blog, but there is just too much stupidity going on in Washington to ignore. I mean with the health care debate, the Tea Party movement, and now even the Supreme Court has jumped into the fray. What's a lowly blogger to do? Ignore it? I think not! To clarify where I am coming from, I must first explain that I am an independent minded voter. Since there is no Independent party, I generally vote for the lesser of the evils presented to me at election time. I do not think for one minute that all Democrats are Liberals, or all Republicans are Conservatives. If they aspire to work in Washington, I believe they are all equally slimy. I also think the country would be better off with a no party system. This whole two way adversarial system is sooooo tired. Let the slime balls stand on their own two feet without some party backing them up and telling them what to do.