Archive for October, 2007
October 28, 2007 at 8:03 am · Filed under Techy
Since living in Korea, I’ve been trying out some new software and web apps. The biggest software change was the Ubuntu operating system. I played around with it before, but I could never shake off Windows XP as my main operating system. (Recently, there was a major upgrade to Ubuntu called Gutsy Gibbon. Maybe you heard about it.)
The second change I made was Gallery. This is a photo gallery, which I can run on my web server. I’ve been using this in lieu of Flickr, Photobucket, or Google’s Picasa because… Well, I dont have a good reason. I was going to abandon it many times, but I kept working with it. Those other services have better functions and faster bandwidth. But, it seems redundant for me to pay a web host for servers and bandwidth, and then pay Flickr for their servers and bandwidth.
Though, Ubuntu and Gallery have been relatively easy to set up they’ve had their share of problems. My biggest problem with Gallery was the uploading tool. Using the web interface, I could only upload photos manually and 8 MB at a time. This took hours considering that I’d sometimes take over 100 photos per trip. There were, supposedly, some better uploaders for this task, but I was never able to get them running. Luckily, I was able to find a new feature.
I was messing around with F-spot, a pre-installed Ubuntu application, for viewing photos. I was looking for easy ways to rotate vertical photos. Luckily, I was in the menu bar and noticed the exporter. It listed Flickr, Picasa, and … Gallery as possible exports. ORLY? Could this really work with my Gallery installation. /cue the Kool Aid Man.
OH YEAH!
It works. Now, I don’t have to manually sit at the computer and upload photos five at a time. Ron Popeil must have created F-Spot, because I just have to set it and forget it! A time consuming job, now, easily takes care of 100s of photos at a time. Thank you to whomever added that functionality
October 10, 2007 at 7:29 pm · Filed under Books, Food
While reading, I came across this phrase, “Waste Not, Want Not.” I know I’ve heard it before, but the meaning didn’t seem clear. If we don’t waste something, … we won’t want it? I laid in bed thinking about it and looked it up this morning.
If we don’t waste what we have, we’ll still have it in the future and will not lack (want) it.
This definition makes it more comprehendable. ‘To lack’ something makes more sense than ‘to want’. They should change it to “Waste Not, Lack Not.” But, I suppose it doesn’t roll off the tongue as well.
I have some more thoughts on the wastefulness of food, but I’ll save that for later.
October 9, 2007 at 8:05 pm · Filed under Lifestyle
Recently, a friend was playing a piano CD in her car. I was really impressed with the music and inquired as to whom it was. The artist was Keith Jarrett, and he was playing a completely improvised concert. She lent me the CD, but then I needed more. So, I downloaded many of his live concerts. Most of which are only one song long. I find the music relaxing and good to have playing in the background.
I’m looking forward to the new Radiohead album. They are releasing this album without a record label. So, you’ll be able to get the songs from the website. I find it amazing that so many big name artists are speaking against the record labels and industry.
I’ve been reading Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World. It started out strange, but now I’m getting in to it. This is a book I got from Rob. Since he’s leaving soon, he’s been giving things away. I find it weird every time that another teacher leaves.
At Costco, I wasn’t looking for any particular foods. Then I stumbled across Annie’s Macaroni & Cheese. I’ve never had mac & cheese since I’ve been here. I have plenty of ramen and spaghetti, but Annie’s was calling out to me. I just had to buy a large box of 15. I find it delicious.
The teachers were amazed that I’ve been able to save $1000/ month. I find it amazing that they cant! Travel and drinking are the most expensive things here in Korea. I guess I dont travel that much or go drinking as often as they do. But still, putting away some money and living a little skimpy isn’t difficult to do.
