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Hell Week In Progress
Sorry about the lack of updates. My hell week of assignments on top of assignments just began this week. Started off tame too. Anyways, I am going into “silent running” mode until I get a handle or break from the onslaught of work. Today by itself has 2 assignments due. The cryptography assignment is proving…
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Running Audacity under Ubuntu 6.10 Linux
As a “budding” radio journalist (self-styled freelancer), I quickly realized the need to practice and learn the art of audio documentaries. So I decided to upon keep radio diaries. For recording, I am using Audacity, an open source sound editing program. Running Audacity under Ubuntu Linux 6.10 proved a bit problematic. After a bit of…
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Running Quake 4 Demo on Ubuntu 6.10 (Edgy)
I felt the urge to do some violent gaming. So I grabbed the Linux demo of id’s Quake 4. The installation ran smoothly, but I ran into the infamous sound problem. Turns out that the demo fails to use the right sound driver. The result doubled delayed sound that sounds like crap. The solution: >…
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Like a Sitcom
Yawn. Nothing is worse than a bad sitcom ending. Everything gets resolved into nice tidy way, and life proceeds as normal for the characters. Friday and today, many of my “issues” resolved themselves. Unlike a sitcom, this is not ending thankfully. I finally got my schedule in order. Everything from classes to study periods all…
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The Seven Sins of Software “Engineering”
On Monday, my class discussed about using software “engineer”for software writers. I naturally argued against it. My mother finished civil engineering, and I strongly believe in the elegance, timelessness and excellence of engineering. This morning, as I struggled with and later killed my groupware program over a dispute of syncing with my Palm, I solidified…
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Harnessing Chaos: A Framework for Team Management
Programming is a misunderstood art. Unfortunately many commercial ventures treat programming like a science and managers treat programmers as engineers. Engineers build things based on repeatable technologies and designs. Programmers craft code, a process more akin to the unpredictable and unrepeatable production of art like writing. Companies get in trouble when they try to apply…
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Open Source Palm-Desktop Groupware
I recently discovered the comfort of using groupware, to organize all my communication and email needs. I never used a groupware application before, so maybe I am just realizing the potential of such software. But I am getting ahead of myself. I commute to university the majority of the time. This means 3-4 hours on…
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KPilot Bugginess Fixed
Success! I need to download and install a newer version of kpilot (fortunately in a Ubuntu deb). Now everything works. Except the Palm email, but that I can look at another day. Bug 66313
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Kontacts, Palms & Course Juggling
Greetings again! 6 days into a brand new year 2007, and I am starting to feel the ominous feeling of stress. Without getting into details, things are not working out as planned, backup plans seem to backfire and a tense atmosphere has enveloped my personal life. Fortunately I have 359 days left to make up.…
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Exam Sideeffects, TV Online and the Pursuit of Rest
Exams. One word says it all. If you ever taken one you know what I mean. If you never had the “pleasure” of taking one, let me just name some of the side effects: anxiety, dizziness, confusion, insomnia, sleepiness, panic attacks and memory loss. In extreme cases, exams may cause serious injury or even death…