The Grumpy Geek » Tech

Fix bootup resolution with ATI/nVidia cards in Ubuntu 10.04

Grumpy Geek — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 12:55:12 +0000

If you use the proprietary 3D video drivers with Ubuntu 10.04 you may notice that the bootup resolution (GRUB and Plymouth) is extremely low even though things are right when you get to the desktop. I ran across an excellent post with some ideas for fixes. The main solution worked flawlessly for me.

High resolution Plymouth & Virtual Terminal for ATI/NVIDIA… [Tux's Idyllic Life]

Lucid Lynx is coming…

Grumpy Geek — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 03:49:30 +0000

I’m oddly looking forward to the release of Ubuntu Lucid Lynx. With 2 of my 3 main computers running Ubuntu now it should be interesting.

We know where you were last summer…

Grumpy Geek — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 03:35:33 +0000

Grrrr. Instead of constantly telling us how the Constitution doesn’t apply, how about the feds leave us alone?

Feds push for tracking cell phones [cnet.com]

Well, we knew it was BS from the beginning…

Grumpy Geek — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 02:05:37 +0000

If you haven’t heard of the latest security toy “backscatter x-ray” then you are living under a rock (and didn’t see my last post.) There has been quite a bit of outrage in the UK where they are becoming mandatory in the airports. Supposedly the best thing for security since sliced bread, there is no possible way for people’s privacy to be violated. I also have a bridge I can sell you for a very good price sir…

Exposed: Naked Body Scanner Images Of Film Star Printed, Circulated By Airport Staff [PrisonPlanet]

Happy Birthday Firefox

Grumpy Geek — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:58:49 +0000

Firefox, my favorite web browser, turned 5 years old.Â I started using it when it was known as Firebird although there was one earlier name Phoenix.Â Anyway, ars technica has a glimpse back at their original coverage.Â Check it out.

Firefox turns five… [ars technica]

Secure deletion of files (Linux) with Gnome Integration

Grumpy Geek — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:07:00 +0000

I ran across a very nice straightforward article showing how to setup secure file deletion in Linux with full Gnome/Nautilus integration.Â You may be familiar with the command-line “shred” utility but you may not know how to get that to be an option when “right-clicking.”Â It’s a useful trick.

Delete Files Securely in Nautilus [Web Upd8 blog]

The history of Unix

Grumpy Geek — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 02:20:43 +0000

With the approaching 40th birthday of the Unix operating system (August), ComputerWorld has an interesting feature on its history.Â Unix has been a powerful force in computing in both a practical and philosophical way.Â (Not to mention a very big part of my IT career.)Â Very interesting reading.

Unix Turns 40… [ComputerWorld]

Something’s a little off…

Grumpy Geek — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 01:38:36 +0000

Anyone see a problem with this infobox of job postings on the Linux Today homepage?

Screenshot from LinuxToday

1960′s modem demo (more old hardware)

Grumpy Geek — Fri, 29 May 2009 03:33:15 +0000

Another guy with time on his hands playing with old hardware.Â Live demo of 1960′s 300 baud acoustic modem being used to connect to the internet.Â Interestingly enough, I worked at a company that had a 1200 baud acoustic modem still in daily use in 2000 (the same company also had a 286 computer still in production.)

ISP data cap arguments just BS…

Grumpy Geek — Thu, 07 May 2009 04:21:46 +0000

ArsTechnica has an excellent article laying out why the major ISP’s claims that they need data caps to avoid financial ruin just don’t hold water.Â Just like their opposition to the various “net neutrality” proposals we continue to see evidence of what we already expected–they are just being greedy.

Now, the libertarian side of me believes in a free capitalist market.Â But keep in mind that in most areas the major telcos/cable operators have a government-approved and somewhat protected monopoly.Â That isn’t a free market and the lack of competition means they don’t truly operate at the levels that the “market would bear” without such constructs.

In areas where there is more competition we see things can be done better at some pretty amazing costs.Â However, the major players are always ready to fiercely protect their restricted markets even lobbying government to actively prohibit municipal and other independent providers.Â I call foul.Â For a recent example, just see what Time Warner is doing in North Carolina.

ISP’s costs, revenues don’t support… [ars technica]
Time Warner lobbies government… [neowin]

What do you think?