Firefox, my favorite web browser, turned 5 years old. I started using it when it was known as Firebird although there was one earlier name Phoenix. Anyway, ars technica has a glimpse back at their original coverage. Check it out.
Firefox turns five… [ars technica]
I ran across a very nice straightforward article showing how to setup secure file deletion in Linux with full Gnome/Nautilus integration. 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.” It’s a useful trick.
Delete Files Securely in Nautilus [Web Upd8 blog]
With the approaching 40th birthday of the Unix operating system (August), ComputerWorld has an interesting feature on its history. Unix has been a powerful force in computing in both a practical and philosophical way. (Not to mention a very big part of my IT career.) Very interesting reading.
Unix Turns 40… [ComputerWorld]
Anyone see a problem with this infobox of job postings on the Linux Today homepage?
Screenshot from LinuxToday
Another guy with time on his hands playing with old hardware. Live demo of 1960′s 300 baud acoustic modem being used to connect to the internet. 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.)
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. 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. But keep in mind that in most areas the major telcos/cable operators have a government-approved and somewhat protected monopoly. 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. However, the major players are always ready to fiercely protect their restricted markets even lobbying government to actively prohibit municipal and other independent providers. I call foul. 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?
What to do with that ancient computer equipment lying around and a whole lot of spare time? Use it play some Queen of course. This guy obviously has too much of the latter.
It seems the entire Vatican is going solar. This would make it the first nation-state to generate all it’s power from solar technologies. In fact, they will generate a lot more power than needed and sell the surplus to Italy. Two words: very cool.
Pope Pursues Heavenly Power… [Bloomberg]
I recently ran across a very informative forum post from a reader over at LXer. If you are looking for a new computer pre-loaded with Linux (or no OS at all) then check it out. Way more options than the few well-known standards.
On a side note, LXer is a pretty decent site for Linux news. I became aware of it and saw a few of the people involved when I attended LinuxFest a couple years ago. I have monitored the site (maybe weekly) ever since.
Linux System Vendors List [LXer Forums]
P.S. LXer has their own official one too.
Wow… Perpetual tech curmudgeon John C. Dvorak is a Linux convert. Yes, the guy that makes his living writing about Windows. Ubuntu won him over in this case.
Dvorak Likes Linux [PC Magazine]
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