New Tunes

Got a new Internet radio station I'm enjoying.  80s Planet.  I knew it was bookmark material when I saw that it played Kraftwerk and Falco within a short span of time.  It's not all I've dreamed of in a radio station (shouldn't there be a different term that works better here?) but it's not bad.

Do you have a favorite Internet radio station?  What do you usually listen to for tunes?

New Tunes

Got a new Internet radio station I'm enjoying.  80s Planet.  I knew it was bookmark material when I saw that it played Kraftwerk and Falco within a short span of time.  It's not all I've dreamed of in a radio station (shouldn't there be a different term that works better here?) but it's not bad.

Do you have a favorite Internet radio station?  What do you usually listen to for tunes?

My Next Computer Supplier?

Way too late last night, I was reading up on the dirt cheap ($200) GNU/Linux box that Wal-Mart has recently been selling by the pound.  In the process, I think I just found my new computer supplier, East Bay area-based ZaReason.   Nice starter box starting at $250.  It's an Ubuntu Linux shop.

Limbo 2440 - ZaReason, Inc :: Desktops
Getting to Know ZaReason's CEO - All About Ubuntu

Still the siren song of the Dark Forces of Wal-Mart is strong and persistent.  ;)

Everex TC2502 Green gPC w/ Via C7-D Processor - Wal-Mart

"This exceptional value is built around a Via Technologies processor designed for low power consumption. It runs on the Gos [GNU/Linux] operating system and features the OpenOffice.org 2.2 software suite that gives users the ability to create word processing documents, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases and more. Additional highlights include a DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive, Ethernet port and stereo speakers."

The responses are on the Wal-Mart site are fascinating.  Almost completely love or hate responses.  Of course some are from dingleberries that think all computers have Windows on them by default and are dismayed to find the "unusable" Linux variant on their systems.  Not bad for just under 200 bucks. Some folks are converting them into low energy consumption servers.

One personal crab. I *HATE IT* that pre-installed Linux systems can't figure out how to get the Winmodem that comes with the motherboards to work on their boxes. I've been able to get mine to work just fine in the past but somehow the "experts", those who have put this box together from scratch and pre-installed all the software, can't figure it out.

The Winmodem prejudice is right up there with the constricted type of thinking that says you must have Windows to have a functioning system. Rant off.

P.S. - Yet more Ubuntu Linux boxen at system76, Inc..

My Next Computer Supplier?

Way too late last night, I was reading up on the dirt cheap ($200) GNU/Linux box that Wal-Mart has recently been selling by the pound.  In the process, I think I just found my new computer supplier, East Bay area-based ZaReason.   Nice starter box starting at $250.  It's an Ubuntu Linux shop.

Limbo 2440 - ZaReason, Inc :: Desktops
Getting to Know ZaReason's CEO - All About Ubuntu

Still the siren song of the Dark Forces of Wal-Mart is strong and persistent.  ;)

Everex TC2502 Green gPC w/ Via C7-D Processor - Wal-Mart

"This exceptional value is built around a Via Technologies processor designed for low power consumption. It runs on the Gos [GNU/Linux] operating system and features the OpenOffice.org 2.2 software suite that gives users the ability to create word processing documents, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases and more. Additional highlights include a DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive, Ethernet port and stereo speakers."

The responses are on the Wal-Mart site are fascinating.  Almost completely love or hate responses.  Of course some are from dingleberries that think all computers have Windows on them by default and are dismayed to find the "unusable" Linux variant on their systems.  Not bad for just under 200 bucks. Some folks are converting them into low energy consumption servers.

One personal crab. I *HATE IT* that pre-installed Linux systems can't figure out how to get the Winmodem that comes with the motherboards to work on their boxes. I've been able to get mine to work just fine in the past but somehow the "experts", those who have put this box together from scratch and pre-installed all the software, can't figure it out.

The Winmodem prejudice is right up there with the constricted type of thinking that says you must have Windows to have a functioning system. Rant off.

P.S. - Yet more Ubuntu Linux boxen at system76, Inc..

Software Freebies

PC Magazine had a cover story on "The Best [157] Free Software" that was worthwhile. Found out about a new freebie firewall called Comodo Firewall Pro 3.0 that looks promising for Windows users. Can be used for non-commercial AND commercial uses. Much new freebie funkiness to check out.

Software Freebies

PC Magazine had a cover story on "The Best [157] Free Software" that was worthwhile. Found out about a new freebie firewall called Comodo Firewall Pro 3.0 that looks promising for Windows users. Can be used for non-commercial AND commercial uses. Much new freebie funkiness to check out.

Fun with Open Primaries

Political parties that have "open" primaries where folks from other parties (or independents) can waltz right in and vote the same as true members of the party deserve all the problems they get from that kind of nonsense. This is particularly true for parties that are small in number like the Greens where the real Greens could easily be outnumbered by non-Greens in any given race.

Exit Polls: Did Limbaugh Influence Democratic Race? - CNN Political Ticker Blog

"There were concerns that Republican voters would participate in large numbers in the Democratic primaries in Ohio and Texas Tuesday and cause mischief, following a call by Rush Limbaugh for listeners to vote for Hillary Clinton. Early exit polling shows 10 percent of the voters in Ohio's Democratic Primary identified themselves as Republican, along with 22 percent who said they were independents. It was the same story in Texas: 10 percent of the voters in the Democratic primary identified themselves as Republican, along with 25 percent who said they were independents."

Fun with Open Primaries

Political parties that have "open" primaries where folks from other parties (or independents) can waltz right in and vote the same as true members of the party deserve all the problems they get from that kind of nonsense. This is particularly true for parties that are small in number like the Greens where the real Greens could easily be outnumbered by non-Greens in any given race.

Exit Polls: Did Limbaugh Influence Democratic Race? - CNN Political Ticker Blog

"There were concerns that Republican voters would participate in large numbers in the Democratic primaries in Ohio and Texas Tuesday and cause mischief, following a call by Rush Limbaugh for listeners to vote for Hillary Clinton. Early exit polling shows 10 percent of the voters in Ohio's Democratic Primary identified themselves as Republican, along with 22 percent who said they were independents. It was the same story in Texas: 10 percent of the voters in the Democratic primary identified themselves as Republican, along with 25 percent who said they were independents."

Nuclear Power - You Can't Get There From Here (Study)

More sad news for the Renaissance people.

Nuclear Power Not Efficient Enough to Replace Fossil Fuels, Study Finds - Science Daily - 05 Mar 08

"Nuclear energy production must increase by more than 10 percent each year from 2010 to 2050 to meet all future energy demands and replace fossil fuels, but this is an unsustainable prospect. According to a report published in Inderscience's International Journal of Nuclear Governance, Economy and Ecology such a large growth rate will require a major improvement in nuclear power efficiency otherwise each new power plant will simply cannibalize the energy produced by earlier nuclear power plants."

Nuclear Power - You Can't Get There From Here (Study)

More sad news for the Renaissance people.

Nuclear Power Not Efficient Enough to Replace Fossil Fuels, Study Finds - Science Daily - 05 Mar 08

"Nuclear energy production must increase by more than 10 percent each year from 2010 to 2050 to meet all future energy demands and replace fossil fuels, but this is an unsustainable prospect. According to a report published in Inderscience's International Journal of Nuclear Governance, Economy and Ecology such a large growth rate will require a major improvement in nuclear power efficiency otherwise each new power plant will simply cannibalize the energy produced by earlier nuclear power plants."