Ubuntu

I have been checking out Ubuntu (link). It is a Linux OS. I have been wanting a Linux box for a while and this just might be a way to do it. So far I have been able to make a working boot flash stick using it. So far, I have been enjoying it. I need to do a bit more work to get it a fully functioning os on the stick. I have been learning a lot and feel like I am swimming over my head with this but hopefully I can get this to work. Since Linux is open source, I am hoping to play with that as well. Hopefully I can geet a Linux Lab for the price of a flash drive. Check back for more details.

Earth Trek

There is a new project online called Earthtrek. (link) It is a proejct that needs everyday people to collect information for science. Two fo the projects start the first of July. check it out and see what there is there of interest.

Going Indy

I think it is funny that the more I go digital with my entertainment, the further from network TV and corporate radio I get. I have one mp3 player for nothing but music and another for nothing but podcasts. Between that and shortwave, I have very little for normal commercial radio. With DVD's, that eliminates commercial TV for the most part. I am getting far too use to what i want on demand. It does not hurt that I have several hobbies to keep mind and body busy. I guess that is why i thought it was funny when the dish satellite guy asked me what i would do for TV when the digital turn over came in. There is more to do than watch the one eyed mind sucker. Don't think I don't like some mindless entertainment but it is my choice to indulge instead of being my derfault thing I do.

Mp3 Player

I think it is kinda funny. When CDs first came out, I did not understand them and thought they were over price and did not want or have anything to do with them. Now, in this age of mp3 players and cheap memory, I have one mp3 as my portable music jukebox, a second for listening to podcasts for my talk radio and another one for a music archive. I cam go quit the time without having to reload. It is kinda nice. Keeping in batteries is more of a concern than content to listen to. I may not be the biggest geek but I have my moments.

PDAs

I have gone paperless with my planner for a while by using a Zire 31. It is a great little work horse. It does not have all the latest bells and whistles but that is not really what I need it for. For example, it can not be upgraded for wireless net connection. As neat at that would be, if I needed a wireless connection on the go, i would be probably using the laptop instead and that would have a full keyboard and a normal sized screen.

My wife Kim found an excellent program for my PDA called Handy Shopper. (It's website is here.) It is by far the best freeware I have ever used and one of the best and handy programs I have used period. It is for grocery lists or any sort of list at all. I am using it for a bill pay scheduler and it works great.

I am pondering doing a series of posts dealing with handy pda programs and while have a bias towards the Zire 31 or Palm devices and/or a series on digital devices and programs I enjoy using. I will see how it turns out.