Geek Stuff category archive
Geeking Out 0
Ubuntu MATE with the default MATE desktop.
Aside:
MATE is pronounced “mah-tay.” It refers to a tea served in South America.
It’s fork of Gnome 2 for persons (and I’m one) who loathe Gnome 3.
Make TWUUG Your LUG 0
Learn about the wonderful world of free and open source. Use computers to do what you want, not what someone else wants you to do. Learn how to use GNU/Linux and its plethora of free and open source software to get stuff done with computers.
It’s not hard; it’s just different.
When: Regular meetings are monthly TWUUG meeting at 7:30 p. m. on the first Thursday of the month.
Because of the Fourth of July holiday, this month’s meeting will be on a Wednesday, July 3, 2019.
Pre-meeting dinner at Chicago Uno, JANAF shopping center, 6:00 p. m. (map)
Who: Everyone in TideWater/Hampton Roads with interest in any/all flavors of Unix/Linux. There are no dues or signup requirements. All are welcome.
Where: Lake Taylor Transitional Care Hospital in Norfolk Training Room (map). (Wireless and wired internet connection available.) Turn right upon entering, then left at the last corridor and look for the open meeting room.
Scoot, Scooters! 0
The current epidemic of rental electric scooters is not a public service.
It’s a get-rich scheme by tech bros who are swooping into cities to drop scooters so they can rent them out, even as they and their customers ignore local laws and public safety. It’s one more example of Silicon Valley’s doing something just because they can get away with it, and it’s causing problems here and in other cities. And, according to a trauma doctor who writes at The Seattle Times, it’s hazardous to your health and the health of others. Here’s an excerpt from his piece:
In scooter-filled cities, kids and adults alike are riding them in the street, on sidewalks, pedestrian trails … everywhere. The rules of e-scooter riding are clear, but they are not followed. Riders ignore age requirements. Most do not wear helmets. They double-up and ride in areas not conducive to scooters or public safety. Even if rules are followed, riders are crashing due to user error, device malfunction or simply the nature of scooter design.
The city of Austin and the CDC published a study describing injury patterns and rates for e-scooter users. This study, and another in California, clearly show the incidence of head injuries as alarming; nearly half of injured scooter riders sustained serious head trauma.
Aside:
Indeed, I think I wrote in these electrons about being buzzed by two scootering bros weaving amongst pedestrians while at the beach front last summer.
Manufacturing Memories 0
In Psychology Today, Matthew Hutson examines the mechanics of manipulating memory, specifically in the context of what we see on the inner webs. It ain’t pretty, folks.
An excerpt:
Half the time, people said they remembered the false event happening, and in most of those cases they said they actually remembered seeing it on the news. They recalled being “torn” upon seeing it, or having “mixed emotions,” or “cring[ing].” Perhaps some people were lying about their recollections, but when told one of the events hadn’t happened, readers guessed the wrong one 37 percent of the time. For them, the fake event was not only real but more real than some of the actual events.
Aside:
I read this article in the print magazine, to which I have been a long-time survivor (it was helpful in my days as a trainer and instructional designer). Selected articles from each issue are available on the website when the next issue has been, well, issued. I made a note to come back to this one because it is a must read, especially in these days of Fox News and their dupes, symps, and fellow travelers.
The Myth of Multitasking 0
David’s guest explains why “multitasking” is not a real thing, and why, indeed, attempting to “multitask” can be counterproductive.
It’s All about the Algorithm 0
David questions how Youtube’s algorithm works.
Aside:
I pay no attention to Youtube’s “recommendations” and routinely turn off “autoplay.” The recommendations are always wrong and autoplay is evil.
Make TWUUG Your LUG 0
Learn about the wonderful world of free and open source. Use computers to do what you want, not what someone else wants you to do. Learn how to use GNU/Linux and its plethora of free and open source software to get stuff done with computers.
It’s not hard; it’s just different.
When: Monthly TWUUG meeting at 7:30 p. m. on the first Thursday of the month (Junwe 6, 2019). Pre-meeting dinner at Chicago Uno, JANAF shopping center, 6:00 p. m. (map)
Who: Everyone in TideWater/Hampton Roads with interest in any/all flavors of Unix/Linux. There are no dues or signup requirements. All are welcome.
Where: Lake Taylor Transitional Care Hospital in Norfolk Training Room (map). (Wireless and wired internet connection available.) Turn right upon entering, then left at the last corridor and look for the open meeting room.
Facebook Frolics 0
Professor of Communications Joseph B. Walther explores why persons continue to use Facebook despite the recent spate of revelations about the craven venality of its algorithmic manipulative tactics and porous “security” protection. A snippet (emphasis added):
(snip)
The psychological tendency at work here is called “the third person effect,” the belief that media don’t fool me, and maybe don’t fool you, but all those other people are sitting ducks for media effects.
Ironically, this dynamic can encourage people to support restrictions on media consumption – by others. If someone uses, say, a social media site and feels immune to its negative influences, it triggers another psychological phenomenon called the “influence of presumed influence.” When that happens, a person worries that everyone else falls victim, and supports efforts to protect others, even if they think they themselves don’t need the protection.
I commend the piece to your attention.
Gamed 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, Andrew Fishman notes that U. S. Senator Josh Hawley has introduced a bill to ban “free to play” games that include “loot boxes” and other money-making “features.” Fishman a look at the pros and cons of the legislation and some of the issues involved. Here’s a bit;
Most of their revenue is earned by relying on “whales,” an industry term for the tiny percent of players who choose to spend money on otherwise free games. Even though whales usually constitute less than 5% of all players, they pay enough to subsidize the game for everyone else.
(snip)
Regardless of whether or not it is a true addiction, few would argue that this type of game is not a problem, especially because games that include optional spending often specifically target children.
Much more at the link.
Facebook Frolics: A Question of Identity 0
At the San Francisco Chronicle, John Diaz considers Facebook’s half-hearted and sporadic efforts to reign in hate speech. After pointing out that Facebook is a private entity and can limit speech if it chooses to, he cuts to what he considers a crucial issue:
Facebook has essentially claimed each role, depending on the convenience of the moment.
Follow the link for his reasoning.
Geeking Out 0
The Fluxbox window manager on Slackware 14.2.
(I posted this solely because I find the background image quite striking and you should to.)
The Snaring Economy 0
Philadelphia takes Silicon valley scofflaws to court.
Plus the New York Times Sunday business section had an interesting exploration of Uber, the aforementioned scofflaw, its history of questionable workplace conduct which led to its dumping its CEO and founder, and its IPO.
Aside:
This fits right in with the Bret Stephens column that I cited earlier today.
Geeking Out 0
Windows 8 running in a VirtualBox virtual machine on Ubuntu MATE with the Fluxbox window manager on a Zareason Mediabox.
Aside:
I had a hardware issue with the Mediabox. It was still under warranty and Zareason stood behind their product like Hank Aaron stood at the plate.
Since a freak lightning strike on a nearby tree blew away my Lenovo graphics tablet, all three of my computers–two desktops and a laptop–are now Zareasons.
“Phubbed”* 0
Martin Graff explores why some persons fall into their “smart” phones and ignore the world (and the people) around them.
_______________
*”Phone Snubbed“