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Zotac ION-ITX Unboxing

Fosten — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:02:16 -0400

Processor    Intel® Atom™ Processor 330 (1M Cache, 1.60 GHz, 533 MHz FSB)
Chipset    MCP7A-ION
Memory    2x DDR2 800 DIMM slots (up to 8 GB)
Graphics    Onboard NVIDIA® ION (NVIDIA® GeForce 9400M) with NVIDIA® PureVideo™ HD, CUDA™, PhysX™ and nView™ support (up to 2 monitors)

Live Blogging PSE09 Day 2: Deliverance - Plone theming without the learning curve

Fosten — Fri, 29 May 2009 15:43:01 -0400

Deliverance, allows you to inject plone into an existing design.

Sample designs at http://www.oswd.org also combine themes

rule to replace items with content from plone site

logo <replace content="" theme="logo.h1" />

to call elements of navigation
children:#portal-globalnav children:#links ul

drop theme elements with drop

if there is different ie <div> <p> replace with tag:

runs as wsgi middleware

zine - python blogging tool can be themed as plone edit paste/rules

collective.xdv define template locatoin w/o running deliverance separately

deliverance as proxy runs another python process

Live Blogging PSE09 Day 1: Hone Your TestFu

Fosten — Thu, 28 May 2009 17:39:56 -0400

Writing tests forces clear requirements up front

Test-Code Cycle - write, if test fails, write new test until it passes

Unit tests gauge individual behavior in product, use Python unittest module

Functional tests, what goes in and out, use PloneTestCase

UI tests - act as an end-user would, use zope.testbrowser

http://plone.org/documentation/tutorial/manipulation-plone-objects-programattically

bin/instance -s (specify which module to load)

roadrunner is a tool that preloads Plone to make running your integration tests much faster

if fail use -D to drop you into Pdb

Use plone.reload to try out these changes live

Dont overtest, tests are software too and must be maintained

Live Blogging PSE09 Day 1: Adding Interactivity to your Plone Site

Fosten — Thu, 28 May 2009 16:41:40 -0400

Bringing JavaScript (JS) into Plone via portal_javascripts

New in Plone 3.3 pull in JS from external sites

Using Javascript libraries can reuse existing code and save time

Kinetic Style Sheets (KSS) make changes without reloading page

KSS rules contain selector, action type, action, action parameters

If JS is disabled, KSS recognizes, runs action, and doesn't break

KSS failes silently, but by turning on debugging in portal_javascript messages will appear in firebug

Documentation at http://kssproject.org

Plone 4 won't ship with KSS but can be used as an add-on project

Making jQuery calls :first :last :nth :not

http://plugins.jquery.com

If uses the plugin uses $ replace with JQ and insert it in resource registries between jquery.js and jquery-integration.js

Examples collaspable content, sortable tables, Deco (in Plone 5)

check out more at http://bit.ly/plone-interactivity

Live Blogging PSE09 Day 1: De-mystifying GenericSetup

Fosten — Thu, 28 May 2009 15:14:07 -0400

Allows you to save Plone customizations for repeatability

Creating profiles in GenericSetup

What's in a profile? profile-<package_name>:<profile_name>

Controlled through the portal_setup tool

Ability to take a snapshot of the site and compare changes

metadata.xml gives profile a version # and define dependencies

profiles allow a uninstall path for themes that wont go away

portal_setup vs portal_quickinstaller, cant unquickinstall profile

Jaunty Jackalope Release Parties Everywhere

Fosten — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:40:00 -0400

Parties, parties, everwhere. Ubuntu 9.04 final release hit the planet today. Check out the worldwide list of events! Including a Revolution OS movie screening on May 8th at 8pm at our offices in Lilly, Pa. Stop by! We'd love to have ya!

The Pirate Bay Spectrial

admin — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 21:40:00 -0400

Today, the four founders of The Pirate Bay, each received a one year jail sentence for violating Sweedish copyright laws. Defendants Gottfrid Svartholm, Fredrik Neij, Peter Sunde, and Carl Lundström were accused of making copyrighted material easily searchable and accessable to the public. TPB was started in 2003 by the Swedish anti-copyright organization Piratbyran (The Piracy Bureau). The founders, who have made a splash over the years by laughing in the face of companies who send them legal notices. However, this day in court was very real, as real as any orchestrated media circus can be.

The trial of TPG began on February 16th, by the second day half of the charges had been dropped. The trial, seen as a very real and landmark case for internet freedom, turned into a modern day big-media driven public lynching. TPB gang, never short to entertain, provided colorful commentary as they tried to explain the technology behind BitTorrent. The decision hurts all private citizens everywhere.

The 6 versions of Windows 7

Fosten — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 22:48:48 -0500

If Microsoft was going to release 6 versions of Windows 7, why not just go for the gold and release like 7 versions? I mean, seriously, just so you can make sure to get your point across. The absurdly over-saturated list includes:

Windows 7 Starter (limited to three apps concurrently)
Windows 7 Home Basic (for emerging markets) $200
Windows 7 Home Premium (adds Aero, Touch, Media Center) $260
Windows 7 Professional (Remote Desktop host, Mobility Center, Presentation mode) $300
Windows 7 Enterprise (volume license only, boot from virtual drive, BitLocker)
Windows 7 Ultimate (limited availability, includes everything) $320

Microsoft says however they will focus on two primary editions of Windows 6.1 (sorry I meant Windows 7): Home Premium and Professional.

This is a complete failure for a company to ever need to release this many versions of one piece of software. This is a slap in the face to consumer requests for single brand name they can identify with. Your great response to free and open source software is to charge between $200-$320 for your operating system? And you seriously think limiting multi-tasking in your most basic version is funny? Microsoft, do you understand not yet understand why I'll just install Puppy Linux for free?

Pirates pwn the RIAA, no more lawsuits

Fosten — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 21:20:00 -0500

After suing 35,000 people in the last 5 years for downloading music over the internet, the Recording Industry Association of America has finally decided to give up its fight. The RIAA announced today a change in strategy to end litigation and will now instead try to partner relationships with ISPs to cut off service by way of TOS agreements to those serving MP3s.

Why it took the RIAA 5 years to realize they had become the most despised, ridiculed, and hated group on the planet, I'll never know. After a national organization starts suing single mothers, dead people, and 13-year-old girls, someone from within should have had the bright idea to hire a PR firm.

Instead of putting their energy towards envisioning new and innovative ways to deliver and sell music, the RIAA's legal practices have been nothing but destructive to artists, consumers, and the entire industry as a whole. Today's announcement is not just a major victory for pirates, but for everyone. Please be sure to call your grandmother and tell her its safe to listen to music on the internet again without fear of the feds busting through her door at 3am.

Now, will someone please tell the RIAA to leave broadcasters alone and help us save internet radio?

Pigs and refrigerators in space = Mission complete

admin — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:00:00 -0500

Space shuttle Endeavour has finally finished its cross-country piggyback ride to the Kennedy Space Center, fixed atop a modified 747, two weeks after landing at Edwards Airforce base in California due to bad weather in Florida. The astronauts aboard STS-126 completed a 16 day mission to install the first refrigerator in space. The refrigerator, measuring just 16.5 inches deep, 10.2 inches wide and 6.7 inches high, can be cooled by either air flow or water flow. Other improvements to the International Space Station included new state-of-the-art exercise equipment, an extra toilet, additional sleeping quarters, and a Water Recovery System that uses recycled-urine. Providing renewable sources of life-sustaining food and water for long-duration space travel is essential and the latest mission will have an immediate impact by increasing the capacity of ISS crews from 3 to 6. Removing our dependency on freeze-dried food outside the planet Earth opens up a whole new world of possibilities. All ancestors of this Russian swine should be concerned.

Buying an unlocked G1? Why not go Android Dev Phone 1?

Fosten — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 23:45:00 -0500

Yes, the T-Mobile G1 can be unlocked and run on AT&T's network, but not without limitations. Better yet, Google is now offering the Android Dev Phone 1 a SIM and hardware-unlocked G1 for $399 (free shipping to the US). Unlike retail devices, the bootloader on the Dev Phone 1 doesn't enforce signed system images, enabling you to flash custom Android builds to the device (plus you get the cool custom Android logo design on the back). To order one, you have to register as an Android developer in the Android Market (one-time $25 setup fee). Now you can finally have a test environment for all those mobile apps you've been developing! Haven't been coding anything? Well, what are you waiting for? Here's Hello, Android! to get you started.

Use Microsoft Live Search Cashback This Holiday Season

Fosten — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 20:00:00 -0500

For those of you looking to save a few dollars this holiday season, be sure to find your gifts using Live Search. Microsoft's Live Search Cashback is a program that pays Web users rebates for buying products from participating Microsoft vendor partners.

That includes a lot of popular retailers like eBay, Barnes & Noble, Overstock, Sears, AT&T, FTD, Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Kmart, and Saks Fifth Avenue. When you buy items through those websites after using Live Search to locate them, Microsoft will send you PayPal funds or a rebate check in the mail. There is a limit of $200 per rebate, 12 transactions, and/or up to $2,500 of savings each calendar year.

Today Microsoft said Live Search Cashback program has been an overwhelming success since its launch in May. Microsoft has seen a 30 percent jump in the number of products listed on the Web site, which is now drawing 4.5 million unique users and 68 million search queries per month.

Sirius XM Radio new channel lineups

Fosten — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:00:00 -0500

Today, officially, the monopoly and the merger, are complete. XM adds 22 new channels, Sirius picks up 11 new channels, and a bunch of old ones have been moved, renamed, and generally all mixed up. Click below for your printable cheat sheet.

XM's New Lineup

Sirius's New Lineup

So the FCC allowed a merger between Sirius and XM so they could compete with terrestial and internet radio stations, but Sirus XM is allowed to have 6 satellites in outer space, and ftfradio.com isn't allowed to have 1? Until we get an ubiqutous internet bubble around the earth or internet radio preloaded in our cars, in what way is this a level playing field? Maybe the folks at savenetradio.org could petition the FCC to allow the launch of an open-standards satellite for internet broadcasters to relay their signals off of?

FCC Decides to Free The Airwaves Declares White Space Open

Fosten — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:55:00 -0500

On Tuesday, the FCC voted 5-0 to approve unlicensed white space usage. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has voiced his support throughout the process, along side major companies like Google, Microsoft, and Intel and their campaign toFree The Airwaves. The National Association of Broadcasters weren't too happy though, as they fear it could interfere with wireless audio equipment. No word yet on when the world will support our efforts to Free The Future.

Steve Pavlina "Personal Development for Smart People" book review

Fosten — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:00:00 -0400

As a long time fan of Steve Pavlina's blog, I have grown to enjoy and admire Steve's outlook and wit from article-to-article. So last October when Steve published his first book Personal Development for Smart People, I was excited to acquire a copy. In an effort to give back to the blogosphere, Steve offered free advanced copies of his book for bloggers to review. I applied and was lucky enough to be chosen.

A few weeks later, Steve's book showed up in the mail, much to my delight. The next few months were a difficult time for me, as my Grandmother passed away at the age of 92. Steve's book was an uplifting, positive experience which helped me as I went along It is now my pleasure to share some of what Steve wrote with others through this review.

Steve's book discusses the fundamentals of personal development. Steve believes that analyzing our life on 7 basic ideals truth, love, power, oneness, authority, courage, and intelligence, we can learn to more easily identify the paths to personal success. Part 1 of the book examines each of those principles in detail and the way in which we think about it, while part 2 discusses the application of those principles.

Truth is the first principle Steve discusses, and the ways in which we can more correctly align and connect ourselves with reality. Our ability to identify truth comes from our perception, prediction, accuracy, acceptance, and self-awareness. The better we become at these aspects of truth, the more capable and successful we can become. Often times, we can find blocks to truth in such things as media conditioning, social conditioning, false beliefs, emotional interference, addictions, immaturity, and secondary gain. Steve offers suggestions on ways we can become more truthful through such exercises as self-assessment, journaling, and media fasting.

The second principle, love, can be consciously grown when we begin to identify the major aspects of connection, communication, communion. It is our ability to make connections, express our feelings, and to fully embrace those connections which lead us to experience love. Certain blocks to love include a disconnected mind-set, fear of rejection, incompatibility, and lack of social skills. We can connect more deeply through recognizing beauty in all things, meditating with our past and future selves, sharing, fast-forwarding to imagine what your relationships will grow to become in a couple years, verbally and directly acknowledging your feelings about another person, and by actively expressing appreciation and gratitude.

Power, or your ability to consciously and deliberately create the world around you, is the third principle. Power comes from accepting responsibility for your life, desire, self-determination, focus, effort, self-discipline. We often fall short of achieving power because of timidity, cowardice, and negative conditioning. You can build your power through progressive training, mastering the first hour of each day, find strength through personal quotes, doing the most difficult activity first, friendly competition with others, and adequate rest.

The fourth principle, oneness, results from combining truth and love. Where as love is choosing to be connected, oneness can be seen in knowing you are always at a naturally connected state. Oneness can be expressed through empathy, compassion, honesty, fairness, contribution, unity with the global consciousness. We can experience oneness more often through imagining a utopia where everyone expressed kindness, spend some time in nature, engage in physical contact, and by consider the things you like and don't like in others relative to yourself.

Authority, the fifth principle, is truth plus power. Authority, or the way in which you express your knowledge, has several aspects such as the ability to take command, illustrate effectiveness, show persistence, confidence, and believe that what you're doing is significant. Ways to increase your authority include orchestrate small rebellions, applying triage to identify which projects will have significant impact only if you do them, and experimenting to find out what works best for you.

The sixth principle, courage, or love plus power, can be seen in our ability to go after long-term gain in the face of short-term obstacles. Courage is derived from heart, taking initiative, being direct, and maintaining your honor. You can build courage through identifying which paths have heart, progressive training, educating yourself to eliminate your fears, and committing yourself in advance so that you follow through.

The seventh and final principle, intelligence is achieved when truth, love, and power all work in harmony. Intelligence can be most accurately expressed through authenticity, creative self-expression, continual growth, active energy flow, and beauty. Practices towards living more intelligently include conscious assessment, setting specific growth targets, and cultivating an intelligent microcosm.

Part 2 of the book looks at practical applications of those principles to produce the desired results in our life in areas of our lives such as habits, career, money, health, relationships and spirituality.

First Steve looks at how habits can be relative to our personal development. He explains habits as memorized solutions your mind saves on how to get things done. He offers a many helpful suggestions on good habits we can adopt such as identifying your peak cycles of productivity, setting mini-milestones, sending thank-you cards, turning off the TV, and running errands at unpopular times to avoid crowds.

Next we take a look at how career is grown through truth, love, power, oneness, authority, courage, and intelligence. Career is our primary outlet for self-expression, and to become successful we must identify both what message we want to express and the medium we want to express it through. Ask yourself, what is your true purpose in life? That is your core message. Steve identifies to build a positively authentic career that is aligned with truth, love, and power, one must ask themselves what must I do? what can I do? what do I want to do? and what should I do?

Money is considered next, addressing the polarizing idea of whether money is a good or a harm, how it will give you solutions yet create problems, whether it is better to give or receive, the basic goods you can acquire with it yet the social barriers it creates. Steve explains that in order to align yourself intelligently with money you must base your pursuits upon the fairness principle. If you're making a valuable social contribution, then you should be paid for it. And it is important not to err on the either side of self-sacrificing or greed.

Health is another essential area in which we can apply the fundamental principles of personal growth. Steve asks such questions as: Are you honest with yourself about your health? Do you make natural food choices? Do you take responsibility to set physical goals? Do you exercise with others? Have you identified what works best for your own health? Can you stick with an exercise routine? Are your health habits establishing long-term sustainability so your mind is free to dwell on intellectual pursuits?

Relationships come in many forms such as family members, friends, acquaintances, co-workers, life-partners, adversaries and we can apply the fundamental principles in many ways. Steve suggests being honest with yourself, pursuing intimate connections, and allowing good relationships to empower you. Learn to communicate using first-person sentences like "I feel... I believe... I'm concerned that..." rather than "You said... You made me... You always..." in order to create less resistance in the other person. Allow yourself to be friendly and smile so you can be open to the oneness we all share as humans. This will better lead you to make good connections and meet great friends you will love for life.

Spirituality, or your collection of beliefs and personal philosophy, arise from many things such as intuition, emotions, and logic. In trying to answer the essential questions such as Who am I? Why am I here? although there may be no right or wrong answers you may also apply intelligent practices as well. When you can learn to perceive reality through multiple lenses, you will become greater aligned with the truth. By building sound practices such as considering accuracy, ethic, congruency your other beliefs, and flexibility you open yourself up to a deeper understanding of reality.

No review is complete without addressing alternative ideas and approaches, as without, I would be doing a disservice to the author. I often felt throughout the book that Steve could have used a “good cop” to smooth over his passion. For someone who was not used to active abrupt encouragement, it may cause them to turn a blind ear to the goodness behind the message.

This book was an uplifting pleasure and I am sincerely grateful to Mr. Pavlina for having the chance to write a review. I highly recommend this book to all my friends as it is truly a great read. Best of luck to all who seek to better themselves and improve upon their own personal development through this guide!