Tuesday, April 17. 2007Our Computers are Geeky
I just realized today that soon no two computers in our home will be running the same operating system.
Our family computer downstairs runs PCLinuxOS, Philip runs Linux Mint, Natalie uses KUbuntu. I currently am using PCLinuxOS, but I think that I will be switching to PC-BSD some time soon. Notice that there is no mention of windows… 
I’ve tried windows, and many distros of Linux and I’m ready to move onto something new. I’ve been itching to try BSD, so I’m going to give PC-BSD a try.
Just for fun, I decided to compile a list of operating systems (and linux distros) that I’ve tried and installed. Some I’ve used for quite a while and others I’ve just used only briefly:
- Windows ( 3.1, 98, XP )
- DOS
- Ubuntu ( Ubuntu , KUbunu and XUbuntu )
- Red Hat
- SUSE
- Gentoo
- Mandrake ( now Mandriva )
- PCLinuxOS
- Debian
- ReactOS
- Knoppix ( LiveCD )
- Morphix ( LiveCD )
- Fedora
- SAM Linux
- DSL
So from all these, I’ve learned that there is no perfect operating system, even Linux 
I just realized today that soon no two computers in our home will be running the same operating system.
Our family computer downstairs runs PCLinuxOS, Philip runs Linux Mint, Natalie uses KUbuntu. I currently am using PCLinuxOS, but I think that I will be switching to PC-BSD some time soon. Notice that there is no mention of windows…
I’ve tried windows, and many distros of Linux and I’m ready to move onto something new. I’ve been itching to try BSD, so I’m going to give PC-BSD a try.
Just for fun, I decided to compile a list of operating systems (and linux distros) that I’ve tried and installed. Some I’ve used for quite a while and others I’ve just used only briefly:
- Windows ( 3.1, 98, XP )
- DOS
- Ubuntu ( Ubuntu , KUbunu and XUbuntu )
- Red Hat
- SUSE
- Gentoo
- Mandrake ( now Mandriva )
- PCLinuxOS
- Debian
- ReactOS
- Knoppix ( LiveCD )
- Morphix ( LiveCD )
- Fedora
- SAM Linux
- DSL
So from all these, I’ve learned that there is no perfect operating system, even Linux
Friday, April 13. 2007Remembering the Holocaust
I’m not sure how many of you are aware that April 15 - April 22 is the National Days of Remembrance for the victims of the the Holocaust.
Mr. Nutz (a friend / elder from church) and I went down to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. For those who have not seen this, it is definitely worth the visit. It was good to know more about what happened and why the holocaust occurred. There was quite a bit of shocking and repulsive material, but all of it was necessary to accurately document what happened.
Throughout the museum, there were many quotes that filled the walls. Here are a couple that really made me think:
Only guard yourself and guard your soul carefully, lest you forget the things your eyes saw, and lest these things depart your heart all the days of your life, and you shall make them known to your children, and to your children’s children.
Deuteronomy 4:9
Out of our memory…of the Holocaust we must forge an unshakable oath with all civilized people that never again will the world stand silent, never again will the world…fail to act in time to prevent this terrible crime of genocide….we must harness the outrage of our own memories to stamp out oppression wherever it exists. We must understand that human rights and human dignity are indivisible.
Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States
Where books are burned, in the end people will be burned.
Heinrich Heine
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out — because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out — because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out — because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.
Pastor Martin Niemoller
Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, which has turned my life into one long night, seven times cursed and seven times sealed. Never shall I forget that smoke. Never shall I forget the little faces of the children, whose bodies I saw turned into wreaths of smoke beneath a silent blue sky. …Never shall I forget that nocturnal silence which deprived me, for all eternity, of the desire to live. Never shall I forget those moments which murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to dust. Never shall I forget these things, even if I am condemned to live as long as God Himself. Never.
Elie Wiesel
Even if you are not able to go to the holocaust museum, at least take a moment to skim through the Wikipedia article on the Holocaust.
I’m not sure how many of you are aware that April 15 - April 22 is the National Days of Remembrance for the victims of the the Holocaust.
Mr. Nutz (a friend / elder from church) and I went down to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. For those who have not seen this, it is definitely worth the visit. It was good to know more about what happened and why the holocaust occurred. There was quite a bit of shocking and repulsive material, but all of it was necessary to accurately document what happened.
Throughout the museum, there were many quotes that filled the walls. Here are a couple that really made me think:
Only guard yourself and guard your soul carefully, lest you forget the things your eyes saw, and lest these things depart your heart all the days of your life, and you shall make them known to your children, and to your children’s children.
Out of our memory…of the Holocaust we must forge an unshakable oath with all civilized people that never again will the world stand silent, never again will the world…fail to act in time to prevent this terrible crime of genocide….we must harness the outrage of our own memories to stamp out oppression wherever it exists. We must understand that human rights and human dignity are indivisible.
Where books are burned, in the end people will be burned.
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out — because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out — because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out — because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.
Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, which has turned my life into one long night, seven times cursed and seven times sealed. Never shall I forget that smoke. Never shall I forget the little faces of the children, whose bodies I saw turned into wreaths of smoke beneath a silent blue sky. …Never shall I forget that nocturnal silence which deprived me, for all eternity, of the desire to live. Never shall I forget those moments which murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to dust. Never shall I forget these things, even if I am condemned to live as long as God Himself. Never.
Even if you are not able to go to the holocaust museum, at least take a moment to skim through the Wikipedia article on the Holocaust.
Monday, April 9. 2007College Search
Although I’ve almost completed my B.S. in Computer Science, I’ve never had to do a college search before. George Mason was an obvious choice since it is only seven miles from my home and I can’t afford to go away to college.
However, since I am planning on going to China to teach English, I’m looking to get a Master’s degree in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). There are many great colleges that offer such degrees, but I had initially narrowed the list down to five colleges. I’ve been praying about it and asking God for wisdom and guidance to discern which college He wants me to go to.
One by one each of the colleges have been eliminated for me. Either they wouldn’t fit my needs or they are too difficult to get into (especially since I have a CS degree instead of an English or Linguistics-based degree). So, as of right now, it looks like I will be going to Regent University. They offer a Masters of Education degree in TESOL most of which can be taken by distance. They are based in Virginia Beach, although they do have a campus near D.C. In addition, they are a Christian university.
Many thanks to those who have been praying for me, I’m really excited about starting on my Master’s degree 
Although I’ve almost completed my B.S. in Computer Science, I’ve never had to do a college search before. George Mason was an obvious choice since it is only seven miles from my home and I can’t afford to go away to college.
However, since I am planning on going to China to teach English, I’m looking to get a Master’s degree in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). There are many great colleges that offer such degrees, but I had initially narrowed the list down to five colleges. I’ve been praying about it and asking God for wisdom and guidance to discern which college He wants me to go to.
One by one each of the colleges have been eliminated for me. Either they wouldn’t fit my needs or they are too difficult to get into (especially since I have a CS degree instead of an English or Linguistics-based degree). So, as of right now, it looks like I will be going to Regent University. They offer a Masters of Education degree in TESOL most of which can be taken by distance. They are based in Virginia Beach, although they do have a campus near D.C. In addition, they are a Christian university.
Many thanks to those who have been praying for me, I’m really excited about starting on my Master’s degree
Tuesday, April 3. 2007Animusic
Yesterday, I stumbled across animusic. It is 3d music videos in which robot or mechanical devices perform the musical pieces. All the music is synthesized and is very nice, but the 3d artwork is outstanding. If you’ve never seen these, there are a number of samples on YouTube. I’d love to be able to do 3d modeling and animations like this. I’ve listed several of my favorites below:
Yesterday, I stumbled across animusic. It is 3d music videos in which robot or mechanical devices perform the musical pieces. All the music is synthesized and is very nice, but the 3d artwork is outstanding. If you’ve never seen these, there are a number of samples on YouTube. I’d love to be able to do 3d modeling and animations like this. I’ve listed several of my favorites below:
