Too much writing

I have way too much reading and writing to do this semester. Maybe it isn't too much, but it sure feels like it. Being a computing science student, I'm used to writing code, not prose. This semester I will have eight (I think) writing assignments in one course plus another two reports (at least) in another. Fortunately, the Algorithms and Data Structures course is keeping things interesting for me.

I'm sure this is good for me somehow. I could probably use some practice writing papers.


TL;DR: Too much writing, frustrated.

Well F (Mail) Me...

I'm not sure whether they've already done it or not, but word on the interweb is that Facebook wants to offer an email service a la Gmail.

Allegedly this service will unite your Facebook messages, IMs, SMSs and emails all into one service. I like this idea, this is a very good idea for sure. It will probably have a slick implementation, too.

The problem I have with it is that Facebook is doing it. To understand why, please read "Dear Facebook."

They have their hands on my name, age, location, employment history, and relationship status and now they want my emails. Yes, I know I gave them this information voluntarily, but why do they have to give it away like a cheap hooker in Las Vegas? And yes, I know Google does the same thing, but at least they aren't so blatant about it and they offer some pretty cool products and services.

I just hope that people will see the implications of a Facebook email service and will not use it as a result. Either that, or everybody should sign their Facebook email addresses up for some very questionable mailing lists just to troll Facebook. May I suggest Domestic Terrorist Weekly, Kinky Porn Monthly and Al-Qaeda Quarterly.*








*Mailing list titles are fictional.

Facebook, what the hell?

So it looks like today was the global roll out day for yet another Facebook profile layout. After having it for 5 hours, I already want the old one back. Personally, I don't like (ha!) The top section of the profile. I don't want photos of me showing across the top. Not because of privacy concerns, but because I really don't have any photos of me up there that are worthy of being at the top of my profile. I will investigate ways of turning that feature off.

Now, for the little "timeline" thing above those photos. I know that my personal information is already up there, but I can't help but get an "information stockpiling" vibe from it. I really do feel that they are putting less and less effort into hiding their true motives.

Birthday Post

So I'm 22 now, time to start thinking about graduation. The last few years have been so great, that I really don't wish to fundamentally change anything. I just wish for a "more of the same, but better" kind of year. By this time next year, I hope to have completed another two Co-op terms and maybe 15 credits. That would get me to within 21 credits of the 120 required to graduate.

Cheers to another trip around the sun!

Yeah, yeah, yeah, another filler post. I promise to get to the interesting stuff soon.

A new theme

This semester I'm taking a writing course. Five percent of the total grade will be based on 26 blog posts (this counts as one). The requirements are pretty slack, but I do intend to put a bit of thought into it. I'll also try to not make it "tl;dr." As before, I'll be sticking to the Rules of this blog, no matter how desperate I get for content. One down, twenty five to go.

Happy New Year and other things

Happy New Year!

I hope to do what i did in 2010 but more and better.


on to the other stuff:

Do you like the Mac OS X interface but don't want to join the Steve Jobs fanboy club?

Then check out Macbuntu.

Right now I'm running a mixture of that and the default Ubuntu Gnome UI:

• Looks like Gnome
• Global menus (I think that's what they are called)
• Dock
• Cube
• That Mac thing where if you drag the mouse to the bottom right it displays all your windows for you
• That Mac thing when you drag the mouse to the bottom left and it hides all the windows

Sick UI eye candy...all free and it won't try to shove HTML5 down your throat.

Some Windows troubleshooting advice for those who need it

If you are running Windows Vista or Windows 7 and you get a Blue Screen of Death on boot with the error "STOP 0x0000C1F5" this guy's blog post will help you out:

http://stop0x0000c1f5vistahelp.blogspot.com/

Credit goes to Vijay Gupta for that post.

He recommends SystemRescueCD, but really any Linux live CD distro will work (I used Ubuntu 10.04). The fix does not require any fancy commands as far as I can tell.

tl;dr version:

There is a directory somewhere on you C: drive called $TxfLog
This is corrupted and must be rebuilt using a Vista/7 recovery DVD.

1. Burn live CD
2. run live CD, mount C: drive (you can use the GUI for this, unless your HDD is completely screwed)
3. cd /path/to/mounted-c-drive/
4. cd \$Extend
5. cd \$RmMetadata
6. rm -rf \$Txflog
7. Boot with Vista/7 DVD
8. Follow the procedure to fix the startup for your Windows installation
9. Problem solved
   

better tl;dr version

1. Burn Ubuntu live CD
2. Install Ubuntu
3. Problem solved

I read somewhere that the developers of NTFS would work on it in the morning, then drink beer in the afternoon. Sometimes I think they drank in the morning and coded right after that.


Merry Christmas!

P.S: this is an old issue and Microsoft has released a downloadable patch to fix the issue. Yes, a patch that you have to download for a bug that BSODs your computer on boot.....