Mountain Xpress Forums

Going Totally Open Source

2009-11-18T17:26:03-05:00

I’m taking the plunge and going 100% open source today (or as close as I can get, depending on plugins). No more Windows XP, and no more ancient student versions of software I got a decade ago. Assuming Firefox 3.5, the FTP client, GIMP and a video editor works (I’m looking at Kdenlive), I should be fine. I really don’t use anything beyond that in Windows as is.

I’m using Linux Mint, since that seemed to impress the heck out of willc.

Anyone here ever tried to go totally open source? Any warnings?

Living “off the grid” versus being “plugged in”

2009-11-19T00:13:54-05:00

Over a few drinks the other night, a friend and I were talking about life and how each of us has chosen to live. We both have many of the same priorities and views about the world, society, politics and capitalism, but we have gone about living our lives in two rather distinct ways.

My friend is a carpenter by trade who lives on a relatively self sufficient farm in Sandy Mush. He rarely needs anything outside of his biodiesel and a few other things that he “treats” himself to (electronics, CDs, or the occasional DVD). He views the outside world as a rat race and hopes to just do the best he can through his farm and his work for himself and his family and sees no point in interacting with the outside world- unless it’s on his terms.

I see the point in his philosophy, but isn’t there something good about good old fashioned subversion? Isn’t there something to be said about someone being relatively in the middle of things and interjecting ideas that are unpopular?

I guess the thing I don’t get is how living a relatively off the grid lifestyle anything but an extension of an “I got mine, #### the rest of you” attitude?

(Piff and Tattooed Jay- I know you guys are interested/participate in this lifestyle to an extent, and I mean no ill will by that statement, it was just the best way to describe the sentiment I was going for).

Things I’ve found while writing Video-A-Go-Go that I couldn’t post on the front page for various reasons

2009-11-20T19:58:37-05:00

This, because it’s dirrrrty ...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgY00n_hdf0[/youtube]

This, because it’s just a clip from Babylon 5 and because it’s not local at all. (Not to mention that it’s actually a more accurate depiction of exactly what it felt like to be under repressive, rights-blocking, Patriot Act-passing, freedom-crushing, war-starting, economy-ruining, illegal Iraq-invading, health-care reform-ignoring, Blackwater-hiring, no-bid contract giving, POW-torturing “conservatives” for eight years. Sorry, ThunderPig, but you just made a video about what it was like to have GWB in the White House, not Obama.)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jBsfcJ6P2o[/youtube]

I’ll post more as I find them.

I’m thinking of starting a vlog

2009-11-03T14:18:29-05:00

I’ve been watching a lot of That Guy With The Glasses and the Angry Video Game Nerd of recent, and it’s really been getting my mind spinning on how these ideas could be applied at a local level. In case you’re not familiar with either project, they’re basically geek video blogs (vlogs) and/or podcasts. TGWTG is focused on Doug Walker’s Nostalgia Critic reviews, but with several other vloggers doing similar kinds of stuff on the network. AVGN is James Rolfe’s well-known, foul-mouthed video game review series.

What I like about both is how simple they are. It’s generally a performer/reviewer, a digital camera and some simple editing. There’s not much to it on the technical or cost side, yet the shows are well-written and highly entertaining.

While this is pretty much geek stuff, in the back of my head I was thinking about how these same concepts could be applied to local news and arts. Since I’m based in Spartanburg, what would a local news, arts and event vlog—still intended to be mostly entertainment—look like?

Any ideas? Any other examples I could look to for inspiration?

Credit card security

2009-11-05T12:04:30-05:00

After eating lunch at Thai Basil yesterday, I noticed that when I was signing my receipt they had printed my whole credit card number on there. I hadn’t seen that happen in years, and I immediately scratched it out. I happened to be with a group of cyber security guys, and they were all in disbelief as well.

It would be very easy for a thief to pick up your receipt just after you leave, then go home and have an online shopping spree. The server or anyone else handling your receipt could do the same thing.

I looked up the laws on this, and it is in fact a federal offense to print out the full credit card number on the receipt:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/business/alerts/alt007.shtm

So, be warned if you eat there, and always be vigilant about looking at your receipts anywhere you use a card.

The other annoying credit card related issue is when there are establishments that tack on a surcharge for using a credit/check/debit card. For example, if your purchase is not over $5, they tack on a $0.50 fee for using a card. This is in fact in violation of Visa and MasterCard terms of service:
http://fso.cpasitesolutions.com/premium/LE/06_le_ic/fg/fg-merchants.html#C

Additionally, they cannot require a minimum purchase amount to use a card. This is a very common thing to see, and I can think of 5 places in Asheville that do it off the top of my head:
http://fso.cpasitesolutions.com/premium/LE/06_le_ic/fg/fg-merchants.html#B

So, be vigilant when using your card, and ask to speak to a manager if they require a minimum purchase or try to tack on a fee. You can send complaints about a merchant here:
http://fso.cpasitesolutions.com/premium/LE/06_le_ic/fg/fg-merchants.html#F

Visa Terms of Service (PDF):
http://usa.visa.com/download/merchants/card_acceptance_guide.pdf

Christmas Jam

2008-12-12T16:31:17-05:00

Anybody going?

Showers

2009-11-19T23:03:24-05:00

Showers are a great part of staying healthy.

Like, when you feel like some lame stupor has fallen over your desire to Board, you just want to take a shower. Personally, I like the Mandarin Orange lime bath that the cheapest at Ingles, with about a pound of Epson salt dissolved in the water. That is good for those aching joints.

Then you shower.

Golden, like Pony Boy.

The Dancing Chicken in the Parade

2009-11-19T20:27:20-05:00

Courtesy of yours truly
and
Picnics Restaurant, of course!

Let’s dance, Boarders. At least I will be! I’m thinking a nice SBD of Phish’s 3rd set from 11-1-09 will do the trick…..

Bisphenol A -It’s Everywhere and it Hurts You

2009-11-10T19:23:09-05:00

The more I read about this stuff the worse I feel about it..Google it..It’s in cans, plastic bottles, in composite dental work…nasty stuff ,,sorry to be the bearer of bad news..don’t use it, don’t microwave it..and especially don’t let your kids near it..get pissed and then just stop using it…really do it..study..you need to know this..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A#Health_effects

Human exposure sources

Bisphenol A has been known to leach from the plastic lining of canned foods[87] and, to a lesser degree,[citation needed] polycarbonate plastics, especially those that are cleaned with harsh detergents or used to contain acidic or high-temperature liquids. A recent Health Canada study found that the majority of canned soft drinks it tested had low, but measurable levels of bisphenol A.[88] This exposure through metal cans is due to the fact that BPA is an ingredient in the internal coating of food and beverage metal cans used to protect the food from direct contact with metal. While most human exposure is through diet, exposure can also occur through air and through skin absorption.[89]

Studies by the CDC found bisphenol A in the urine of 95% of adults sampled in 1988–1994[90] and in 93% of children and adults tested in 2003–04.[91] Infants fed with liquid formula are among the most exposed, and those fed formula from polycarbonate bottles can consume up to 13 micrograms of bisphenol A per kg of body weight per day (μg/kg/day; see table below).[92] The most sensitive animal studies show effects at much lower doses, while the EPA considers exposures up to 50 µg/kg/day to be safe.[72][93] In 2009, a study found that drinking from polycarbonate bottles increased urinary bisphenol A levels by two thirds, from 1.2 micrograms/gram creatinine to 2 micrograms/gram creatinine.[94]

Consumer groups recommend that people wishing to lower their exposure to bisphenol A avoid canned food and polycarbonate plastic containers (which shares resin identification code 7 with many other plastics) unless the packaging indicates the plastic is bisphenol A-free.[95] The National Toxicology Panel recommends avoiding microwaving food in plastic containers, putting plastics in the dishwasher, or using harsh detergents, to avoid leaching.[96]

Shad Marsh for Mayor?

2009-10-05T12:57:26-05:00

What ever happened to that Shad Marsh for mayor thread? Not that i care, because i’m a librul and already voted for bellemy, but i bet some of those God Fearing, anti-graffiti crusaders out there would love to hear more about this man.

Also, according to willard he is “the ” King Gay Guy ” over on Steve Shanafelt’s wimpy rag of a Forum at MtnXpress.”

Way to go Shad!

http://www.topix.com/forum/city/asheville-nc/TE02N7JTH398GSD7R