Wednesday, June 28, 2006

My Ubuntu/Dapper Configuration

I've posted some extensive notes on all the post-installation configuration steps needed to make an Ubuntu/Dapper standard install the way I like it -- dual head, personal & corporate email, network manager, f-spot, etc

Check it out: My Ubuntu/Dapper Configuration

Monday, June 26, 2006

Close up of Anti-DRM stick on iPod ad (Eliminate DRM)



Close up of Anti-DRM stick on iPod ad (Eliminate DRM)

Originally uploaded by marcn.




Griffin and I saw RENT in Boston yesterday and saw this anti-DRM sticker on an iPod poster a the Park Station MBTA station.

See http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcn/174956558/ for a view of the whole poster.

Saturday, June 24, 2006

More on Dual Monitor with Ubuntu/Dapper

This is a follow on to last week's post about Dual Monitor on Ubuntu/Dapper

I've been using the xorg.conf-ati.20060621 configuration at work with two monitors, but when at home the laptop didn't degrade down to working with the one LCD monitor of the laptop. So, here is a new configuration that lets you switch between a single monitor mode (1024x768) or one large one (2048x768) that can be 'slid over to' by using the mouse. The key press is Control-Alt-+ (the + over on the side where the number entry is). On the laptop, it is Control-Alt-blue_Fn-?

Here the is xorg.conf file:

xorg.conf-ati-works-with-one-monitor.20060624

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Dual Monitor on Ubuntu/Dapper

I've noticed a number of people asking about dual head support in dapper on #ubuntu, so here is my setup:

This hp/compaq nc6000 laptop/notebook that has an ATI card:


$ sudo lspci|grep VGA
0000:01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc RV350 [Mobility Radeon 9600 M10]


I have two head monitors working with both the 'ati' and the closed source 'fglrx' drivers.

Here are the configuration files:

  • xorg.conf-fglrx.20060621 -- works when booting without the second monitor


  • xorg.conf-ati.20060621 -- when booting with out the second monitor attached, it still thinks it is there. Some windows may pop up on the unreachable monitor.



  • Before you start hacking around with your xorg.conf, save a copy somewhere safe.

    Friday, June 9, 2006

    Walk New Hampshire Celebration!



    Dr. Susan Lynch, NH First Lady

    Originally uploaded by marcn.



    Today at the State house Plaza, NH First Lady Susan Lynch lead the Walk NH celebration.

    Other speakers included NH Ski Paralympian Tyler Walker and Governor John Lynch.

    Tyler Walker -- NH Paralympic Skier


    NH Governor John Lynch

    See the complete set of photos here.

    Wednesday, June 7, 2006

    Creative Webcam Live! works with Ubuntu/Dapper

    I just picked up a Creative Webcam Live! which does a reasonable 1024x768 snapshot and 640x480 video resolution for $49. At first it looked like I'd have to build the spca5xx kernel module for Ubuntu/Dapper, but it is now included in the default kernel & modules packages.

    Just plug it in and start using one of the many video capture packages like camorama, webcam, camstream, motion, gqcam, etc and start playing around!

    FWIW here below the fold are my loaded kernel modules:

    Saturday, June 3, 2006

    8th Annual Sea Lamprey Appreciation day at Amoskeag Fishways

    We had so much fun last year, we went this year to the Lamprey Appreciation Day again!

    Another historial nugget we learned today -- the lamprey were so numerous in the Merrimack River, that the people of Manchester (called Derryfield in the 1800s) that they were called Derryfield Beef.

    HPIM1024-1.JPG

    HPIM1027-1.JPG

    HPIM1025-1.JPG

    Check out all the photos here: 8th Annual Lamprey Appreciation Day

    Thursday, June 1, 2006

    Akismet works great

    In the last week there has been a dramatic spike in the number of comment spam messages I've been getting. Yesterday I installed akismet, got a wordpress.com API key and in 24 hours it has stopped 300+ junk comments and let the one real one through -- incredibly simple and painless to install and start using.