Month: June 2007

OpenOffice.org tips and tricks site

Here goes one of my infrequent discussions on using legally free software. I’m not fond of the escalating price of software, especially considering how often new features are unnecessary for anything but to drive the ongoing need for more powerful hardware. And while I do know all the means of acquiring software illegally, I do use legal copies of software. Whenever possible, I download and instally legally free software, whether public domain, open source, freeware, ad-supported (although rarely) or any other means of legitimately free distribution. I do pay and use some applications, such as Nero and X to DVD, if I can’t find a free alternative that I like, but luckily, there are few needs for commercial software in my daily computing time outside of my games.

One of the applications my wife uses frequently is Microsoft Office. I don’t want the bloat from that on my system, but occasionally she works on my computer and needs access to some type of Office product. I’ve worked around this by installing OpenOffice.org (often referred to as OO.o) and Abiword for her to use. Unfortunately, I’m not very strong with OO.o, and sometimes Abiword doesn’t have all the features she needs. So, what to do? Why, I think I’ll buy a book and also read the author’s blog to learn how to better use OO.o. That should be a nice distraction from my other current reading – Beginning GIMP.

You can buy the book from the author for $30 via paypal, or head to Amazon and get it for $59.99. I have no idea why the price difference, but I’ve ordered my copy from the author.

So to reiterate – if you are tired of the cost of commercial software, consider many of the excellent free alternatives (and feel free to contact me for help finding tools for your tasks – I love tracking down stuff online). If you are in the market for office productivity software, consider OpenOffice.org, and read this hints and tips site to learn it (and consider buying the book).

[tags]Random free software commentary, Learn OpenOffice.org, OpenOffice.org tips and tricks[/tags]

Is this sleazy, or am I imagining that?

I know there is great profit to be made from exploiting those with the least financial resources. I understand that financial transactions with this class of consumers can be risky. I understand that high-risk endeavors can lead to high reward results. None of that helps me overcome my initial reaction that this is a sleazy financial tactic that abuses lower-income families and individuals.

Walmarts Tries To Become Your Bank With The “Walmart MoneyCard”

. . .

Check our Walmart’s awesomely evil deal: Cashing your check costs $3.00, but if you put the money on a Walmart MoneyCard, they’ll waive the $4.64 “loading” fee. Neat! After that it’s only $4.94 a month to keep your money on the card.

Want to know how much is left? That’ll be $0.70 to check your balance .This card, in essence, takes people who don’t have access to the banking system in this country and makes Walmart their “bank.” Except it’s a “bank” where it costs $1.95 to get money from an ATM, but getting “cash back” from Walmart’s POS is free! If you deposit more then $1,000, Walmart will generously waive the monthly maintenance fee on the card. Want to speak to a teller? That’ll be $3.50. Your paper statement? $2.00. What a deal!

My wife decided we were to boycott Wal-Mart several years ago. This just feels like another reason to pass on passing my money to the corporation. My understanding is that Sam Walton never would have abused the country like this, but I could be way off base.

[tags]Wal-Mart money card for robbing from the poor, Rob from the poor to give to the rich[/tags]

Terrorism database

Right up front, I’ll point out that this could be very useful in political discussions about the current state of American. However, until I’ve had time to view more of the data and get an idea of what’s in there, I’ll avoid any actual discussion of political implications. That out of the way, now is a good time to read up on the global terrorism database put together with funding from the Department of Homeland Security.

The majority of terrorist attacks result in no fatalities, with just 1 percent of such attacks causing the deaths of 25 or more people.

And terror incidents began rising some in 1998, and that level remained relatively constant through 2004.

These and other myth-busting facts about global terrorism are now available on a new online database open to the public.

The database itself is accessible through a University of Maryland web site.

Continue reading “Terrorism database”

RIP Mr. Wizard

Sad news for the sci-geek world – Mr. Wizard has died.

Don Herbert, better known to generations of TV viewers as Mr. Wizard, died yesterday at the age of 89. The cause was multiple myeloma. From the 1950s through to the 80s, Herbert brought science to the small screen in a way that captured imaginations and sent many children down the path towards a scientific career. His ability to make his material approachable to the public makes his passing a great loss for the scientific community.

. . .

Herbert’s work occupied a key place in science education. It helped demonstrate how science could provide an explanation when common sense failed, and it was able to do so in a way that was both exciting and approachable. Science was not only fun, but useful, and something everyone could do. He didn’t make the big, complicated findings of modern science any easier for the public to understand, but he sent children down the path to understanding them by making it seem worth the effort. His efforts targeted kids at the ages we are increasingly realizing are essential for establishing a scientific understanding.

Mr. Wizard, you’ll be missed. I remember watching so many shows.

[tags]Mr. Wizard passes on, RIP Mr. Wizard[/tags]

Another how to draw site

Long ago, I posted a link to a “How to draw” site that I thought was really cool. This week, I’ve found another such site. This new site takes a different approach to drawing lessons than the first, using a blog format, but it still looks to be a helpful and informative How to Draw site. Here’s a sample of the lessons on the site at the time I’m posting:

howtodrawblog.png

There are a lot of videos of the owner doing drawings, which may be a more useful way for some people to learn. I do laugh a bit at that 7th article in the recently written list – Inking the Monkey. I suppose that’s what all the cool kids are calling it these days.

[tags]How to draw, Video drawing lessons online, Drawing e-learning[/tags]

Wooden keyboards

The site is lacking details on the when and where of this, but I couldn’t pass up showing this beautiful wooden keyboard shown at COMPUTEX 2007 up for view at aving.net.

aving-wooden_keyboard-clip.jpg

Make that in a split keyboard style and I’ll have to get one. Of course, with how much time I spend on the computer, I suspect a wooden keyboard would wear down too quickly to be worth the price.

[tags]aving.net displays wooden keyboard, COMPUTEX 2007 show – wooden keyboard[/tags]

Turn your steps into storage

Really, wouldn’t you think this was a rather obvious idea, even if few places makes use of it?

lh-stepstorage.jpg

The Unclutterer weblog points out a really neat home design idea: a staircase that doubles as a set of storage drawers.

As the article at LifeHacker points out, this is something done on yachts and boats where space is at a premium. Still, it’s not something I can ever recall reading about before.

[tags]Turning steps into storage space[/tags]