I've been looking around the internet for a comparison of speeds between USB Flash Drive (thumb drives, memory sticks, whatever you want to call it) and USB Hard Drives. I haven't found any so I am going to run some tests myself.
I'll post the results here...
-P
Thursday, 6 March 2008
Wednesday, 5 March 2008
Do you remember the weather on your birthdays?
Today is my birthday. It happens that today's weather looks to be nice and mildly-warm, even if it started cold. Last year is was also sunny, even though the weatherman has said it would be cloudy and miserable.
As a matter-of-fact, as far back as I can remember (and have taken note of) the weather on my birthday has always been sunny. For some time, I've even told myself that "It's God's birthday gift to me" not that just being alive isn't a gift in and of itself.
Now March isn't particularly a great month for weather as it's almost Spring, but it's still Winter and therefore you're prone to having some wild weather (at least in the Northern Hemisphere.) I know, Australia probably has great weather ALL of March, but that's not the point. I've lived all my life in places where it's usually Winter-ish but have had wonderful weather.
Still, the question is still valid... Do you remember the weather on your birthdays?
-P
As a matter-of-fact, as far back as I can remember (and have taken note of) the weather on my birthday has always been sunny. For some time, I've even told myself that "It's God's birthday gift to me" not that just being alive isn't a gift in and of itself.
Now March isn't particularly a great month for weather as it's almost Spring, but it's still Winter and therefore you're prone to having some wild weather (at least in the Northern Hemisphere.) I know, Australia probably has great weather ALL of March, but that's not the point. I've lived all my life in places where it's usually Winter-ish but have had wonderful weather.
Still, the question is still valid... Do you remember the weather on your birthdays?
-P
Sunday, 2 March 2008
Hex Hex and Hex Hex Next
I'm not the type that usually will play board games or card games, however a friend of mine introduced me to Hex Hex and Hex Hex Next, a game by Smirks and Daggers that once you learn the basics will having you wanting more.
So I bought Hex Hex Next while travelling and introduced it to a group of my friends. At first, they weren't sure what was going on, but after a few rounds they all agreed to make it a weekly event. Even my wife who is very hard to convince about things like this wanted to play it after that day.
In case you don't know the game, you basically have a hexagon (multiple actually) and cards. You start with one Hex and during play you have to divert the Hex using the cards that you have been given. The cards have basic "deflection" like Turn Aside Right, which basically makes the Hex go to the right. Once you run out of cards and you receive the Hex you are Hexed and lose 1 point (Voice.) The game gets interesting when you play cards like Madenning Compulsion Left which means that everyone has to play a card that makes the Hex go to the left, if they can't they're Hexed.
So, I think you get the idea. The rules are on the website above as well as a page with all the cards for you to look through them. I recommend this game! It's addictive and a lot of fun.
-P
So I bought Hex Hex Next while travelling and introduced it to a group of my friends. At first, they weren't sure what was going on, but after a few rounds they all agreed to make it a weekly event. Even my wife who is very hard to convince about things like this wanted to play it after that day.
In case you don't know the game, you basically have a hexagon (multiple actually) and cards. You start with one Hex and during play you have to divert the Hex using the cards that you have been given. The cards have basic "deflection" like Turn Aside Right, which basically makes the Hex go to the right. Once you run out of cards and you receive the Hex you are Hexed and lose 1 point (Voice.) The game gets interesting when you play cards like Madenning Compulsion Left which means that everyone has to play a card that makes the Hex go to the left, if they can't they're Hexed.
So, I think you get the idea. The rules are on the website above as well as a page with all the cards for you to look through them. I recommend this game! It's addictive and a lot of fun.
-P
Friday, 18 January 2008
Great UNIXy tips
I've been using Linux and Unix for a long time and I am always trying to make people that aren't Linux users change and go to Linux. One of the things that I like about Linux is the command line and all the tools available to speed things up using just one line (or maybe a few lines.)
Here's an example:
You want to build a complex directory tree of ... I don't know, say 20 directories and subdirectories. Now instead of typing
mkdir first-dir/ ; mkdir first-dir/first-sub-dir ; first-dir/first-sub-dir/first-sub-sub-dir
You can do:
mkdir -p first-dir/first-sub-dir/first-sub-sub-dir
Nice... But how about those twenty directories in a more complex arrangement? That's easy too!
mkdir -p first-dir/{first-sub-dir/{first-sub-sub-dir,second-subs-sub-dir,\
third-sub-sub-dir},second-sub-dir/{another-dir,one-more},\
third-sub-dir/maybe-one-more-dir}/last-dir
Yes, that was one line! (Or multiple lines separated with a \ so that the command continues in a new line.)
What does that look like?
ls -R first-dir/
first-dir/:
first-sub-dir second-sub-dir third-sub-dir
first-dir/first-sub-dir:
first-sub-sub-dir second-subs-sub-dir third-sub-sub-dir
first-dir/first-sub-dir/first-sub-sub-dir:
last-dir
first-dir/first-sub-dir/first-sub-sub-dir/last-dir:
first-dir/first-sub-dir/second-subs-sub-dir:
last-dir
first-dir/first-sub-dir/second-subs-sub-dir/last-dir:
first-dir/first-sub-dir/third-sub-sub-dir:
last-dir
first-dir/first-sub-dir/third-sub-sub-dir/last-dir:
first-dir/second-sub-dir:
another-dir one-more
first-dir/second-sub-dir/another-dir:
last-dir
first-dir/second-sub-dir/another-dir/last-dir:
first-dir/second-sub-dir/one-more:
last-dir
first-dir/second-sub-dir/one-more/last-dir:
first-dir/third-sub-dir:
maybe-one-more-dir
first-dir/third-sub-dir/maybe-one-more-dir:
last-dir
first-dir/third-sub-dir/maybe-one-more-dir/last-dir:
So what do you think? Neat huh? Try doing that within your gui!
By the way, I found this on a page at IBM's site a long time ago. http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/aix/library/au-badunixhabits.html
There's tons of them, search the site for "Speaking unix" and Unix tips. There are tons of things that you can find. Some of them you know, some I'm sure you don't.
By the way, one thing of importance... remember not to put any spaces between directories. If you have a directory with a space in it, quote it!
mkdir -p test/{test ing} will not create a test directory with a test and ing subdirectory... ;)
-P
Here's an example:
You want to build a complex directory tree of ... I don't know, say 20 directories and subdirectories. Now instead of typing
mkdir first-dir/ ; mkdir first-dir/first-sub-dir ; first-dir/first-sub-dir/first-sub-sub-dir
You can do:
mkdir -p first-dir/first-sub-dir/first-sub-sub-dir
Nice... But how about those twenty directories in a more complex arrangement? That's easy too!
mkdir -p first-dir/{first-sub-dir/{first-sub-sub-dir,second-subs-sub-dir,\
third-sub-sub-dir},second-sub-dir/{another-dir,one-more},\
third-sub-dir/maybe-one-more-dir}/last-dir
Yes, that was one line! (Or multiple lines separated with a \ so that the command continues in a new line.)
What does that look like?
ls -R first-dir/
first-dir/:
first-sub-dir second-sub-dir third-sub-dir
first-dir/first-sub-dir:
first-sub-sub-dir second-subs-sub-dir third-sub-sub-dir
first-dir/first-sub-dir/first-sub-sub-dir:
last-dir
first-dir/first-sub-dir/first-sub-sub-dir/last-dir:
first-dir/first-sub-dir/second-subs-sub-dir:
last-dir
first-dir/first-sub-dir/second-subs-sub-dir/last-dir:
first-dir/first-sub-dir/third-sub-sub-dir:
last-dir
first-dir/first-sub-dir/third-sub-sub-dir/last-dir:
first-dir/second-sub-dir:
another-dir one-more
first-dir/second-sub-dir/another-dir:
last-dir
first-dir/second-sub-dir/another-dir/last-dir:
first-dir/second-sub-dir/one-more:
last-dir
first-dir/second-sub-dir/one-more/last-dir:
first-dir/third-sub-dir:
maybe-one-more-dir
first-dir/third-sub-dir/maybe-one-more-dir:
last-dir
first-dir/third-sub-dir/maybe-one-more-dir/last-dir:
So what do you think? Neat huh? Try doing that within your gui!
By the way, I found this on a page at IBM's site a long time ago. http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/aix/library/au-badunixhabits.html
There's tons of them, search the site for "Speaking unix" and Unix tips. There are tons of things that you can find. Some of them you know, some I'm sure you don't.
By the way, one thing of importance... remember not to put any spaces between directories. If you have a directory with a space in it, quote it!
mkdir -p test/{test ing} will not create a test directory with a test and ing subdirectory... ;)
-P
Wednesday, 16 January 2008
Apple announcement and why I am not an analyst
So Steve Jobs announced the MacBook Air yesterday. It looks great and even my wife went "Wow, I can carry that in my purse!" Yes, she has a large purse.
Well, we got a new ultra-thin notebook, but unfortunately the tablet I was hoping for didn't materialize. I still have hope that someone will develop this or maybe even that the makers of the ModBook take some of the functionality of the new multi-touch software and make this tablet.
What do you think?
-P
Well, we got a new ultra-thin notebook, but unfortunately the tablet I was hoping for didn't materialize. I still have hope that someone will develop this or maybe even that the makers of the ModBook take some of the functionality of the new multi-touch software and make this tablet.
What do you think?
-P
Thursday, 10 January 2008
2008 Tech
I like reading articles related to future devices to appear in our homes. As I mentioned before, one of the next Apple devices to be released would be a tablet like device with multi-touch capabilities. I don't really know that this is going to happen, I just read about it. I don't usually see a photo to go with it since the products are not actually announced, but the artist rendition of Apple's product looks very nice and even if Apple doesn't release it, someone should! I'm talking about the item posted at this website: http://stuff.tv/News/BIG-IN-2008-MacBook-Nano/
I hope we get to see more esthetically pleasing hardware. Lets hope it works too.
-P
I hope we get to see more esthetically pleasing hardware. Lets hope it works too.
-P
Tuesday, 8 January 2008
Back from Mexico
We've been back from Mexico for a while. We had a great trip and I must admit I wish it would have lasted longer. Even without internet access I was able to find things to do. ;)
Now back in the UK, I'm trying to get into a new rhythm for work. I'm starting earlier that before and that means getting up very early to get into the office. At first I thought this was going to be the "worst thing ever" but it's not.
Now it's time to concentrate on getting the MythTV setup working. This should be a couple of weekends of work and hopefully that'll be it!
There's a few things I have to do around the house though... I think I am going to have to run a new antenna cable from the outside, but that's not too bad. Anyway, this is part of the few weekends that I need to get it done.
-P
Now back in the UK, I'm trying to get into a new rhythm for work. I'm starting earlier that before and that means getting up very early to get into the office. At first I thought this was going to be the "worst thing ever" but it's not.
Now it's time to concentrate on getting the MythTV setup working. This should be a couple of weekends of work and hopefully that'll be it!
There's a few things I have to do around the house though... I think I am going to have to run a new antenna cable from the outside, but that's not too bad. Anyway, this is part of the few weekends that I need to get it done.
-P
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