Yesterday, following the announcement that the folks behind the Opera web browser were giving away registration keys (the FREE part is implied) in celebration of their 10th anniversary, I too took the time to download a Linux version to see what the big deal was. Opera is yet another web browser that is freely available for several different operating systems (Linux and Windows included) with a small caviat: The un-registered version has a toolbar-like banner displaying adds while you browse.

While telling a co-worker how I managed to listen to my private *.ogg music files, I was asked if my music collection was “legal?” Having never spent much attention or time trying to understand what the music industry’s peeve with music swappers, I started to think out loud what the answer should be to his question. The logic I used was as follows: All of my current music files were originally encoded from my own, store-bought CDs… I have pretty much gotten away with keeping the real CDs at home because [lengthy explanation followed here]… and decided to keep a digitized copy stored in one of my many external hard drives.

My good friend from `The Land of the Rum <http://www.ogmaciel.com/?p=166>`__ has spent the last 4-5 days attempting to install iWhax Linux onto him Windows XP laptop via VMWare 5. If I remember correctly, there weren’t a lot of usefull information “out there” in the web and the few posts we (I also did some googling on the side for him) came across were either inacurate or not very newbie friendly. I remember that I borrowed his laptop this last Friday and tried some of the “recipes” but the automated installation script (don’t remember the exact location in the iWhax menu) failed miserably every single attempt.

Been talking to someone from work quite extensive about Linux, Mono and C# these last 4 days. So much in fact that I looked back at my old pet project, Comic Buddy#. This had been a VB6 application I had written several years ago to allow me to browse all/any Calvin and Hobbes or Garfield comic strip that were (back then) freely available online. These comics, together with many others are still housed and fiercely maintained by a group (the company name and web site url left out on purpose) that has recently changed their policies concerning the viewing of said strips.

Legend: Ship’s Captain - The V.P. for a certain local organization. Slave Master - Works for the Ship’s Captain. Has the ability to send shivers down the spines of most slaves and turn her Pacers into docile puppies. Pacer - Works for the Slave Master, mostly by pretending to control the Slaves and licking the Slave Master’s feet with their bifurcated tongues. Slaves - Bottom dwellers at said “ship.” Spend their days avoiding the “ship’s staff” and minding other Slaves' business.

Just because I’m a geek and the guys at p.d.o. are doing it… ;)

During one of those lucid moments of spontaneous philosophical discussions I have with my wife while driving to work, I came up with the following question: Assuming you follow Christianity’s point of view about the creation of the world and human kind, you most likely know that God gave life to Adam and Eve, Earth’s first inhabitants. They proceeded to follow his advice of propagating the race and gave birth to 3 kids (I believe they were all of masculine gender).

I forgot to add 2 other items purchased during said shopping spree: The Shins - Chutes Too Narrow: I wanted to buy their album ever since I heard 2 of their songs in the soundtrack CD for “Garden State”. Good listening! Bluegrass Today: I confess… I’m addicted to bluegrass music!!! There, you’re happy???

Tomorrow will be the 14th anniversary of the birth of Linux!

After the first shock-wave caused by the announcement of Google Talk and the lack of a client for non-Microsoft operating systems, I’m glad to inform that you’ll be able to join in the fun using some of the other supported open source clients. Since I use Gaim for all my instant messenger needs, here's the info on how to set it up.