FloatingPoint Blog

Oh, to use the humble comma, or not to use thee?

That is the question.

• Several writers are guilty of writing too long sentences.
• Other writers, just write fragments.
• Yes, I try to be niether. However, perfect prose does allude me.
• My opinion, I side on using commas. Better to have a sentence with some pause, for breathing. Don't you think?

Glen

Why build a Linux box?

Can you do it yourself, without someone showing you how?

Does it cost me anything?

Answers

• 1: Several. Because you can. Yes, it is free. Good thing to use an old computer for. Setup up some servers & make your own Web services.


• 2: Yes. However, you have to train yourself. Take time to read books. Go to the lilbrary. Learn technology and take it easy. It is a learning experience. Magic won't happen in 3 hours, though sometimes it does.


• 3: Nope, except for buying some blank CDs. Yes, again, it is free.


• Want to skip all this? Put in a live-CD (or live-DVD) distro. Thank You Knoppix

= Yes, I even have installed two machines from Knoppix images. It ran pretty darn well and had tons of packages installed, too.

Glen

Quote:

OxygenOffice Professional (was: OpenOffice.org Premium) is an enhanced version of OpenOffice.org what is a multi-platform office productivity suite. OxygenOffice Professional contains more extras like templates, cliparts, samples, fonts and VBA support.

Unquote:

OxygenOffice Professional [OOOP or O2OP]

Want something with even more kick than OpenOffice. Try this enhanced package, based on OpenOffice, of course.

Featured on LifeHacker.
Extend OpenOffice with OxygenOffice

Glen

There are several reasons. Hopefully, MicroSoft is applying & creating patches, faster than ever. Plus, "they do" test their browser for more days, than FF.

However, there are so many other reasons. Bottom line we all need to educate ourselves. Understand, when "something says" install this, and get something promised useful.

Google it, check if it is true. Being a little suspicious goes a long way. Before clicking yes (or even no). ie, Sometimes, you have to kill the browser outright. It it looks like something really nasty is starting.

• Why is Internet Explorer Unsafe?


• Is IE More Secure than FF - quote below.


• Technical User's Article: 13 Reasons To Use Firefox Over IE:


• Lastly, from Mozilla's FireFox FAQ - itself. Title: Is FF more secure than IE?

Firefox developers are much better in developing patches with a significantly higher patch rate, thus significantly compensating for the higher vulnerability detection rate.

Glen

= Remember, Mozilla pioneered giving these features to the public, first.

1. Pop-up blocking
2. Tabbed browsing
3. Increased Security
4. Automatic Updates
5. Customizable - ie, Give users the power to control & configure their browser!

Glen

• Why use Firefox?
• Why "don't use" Internet Explorer?
• Benefits of Firefox?

1. It is free.
2. Install NoScript & turn off default running of JavaScript.
3. Do not use IE. Unless, you have to. Unless, you want to get your computer infected with Malware, Spyware, or Trojans. Or at a friend's house & you hate them. (Bizarre, none the less.)
4. Look at all these Extensions.
5. Most secure way to surf the web.
6. Finally, several web references. Why am I saying these things? See this post.

Glen

The project has just turned seven years old now.

Quote:

OpenOffice.org community celebrates its 7th anniversary
104 million downloads of the open source productivity suite

Today, the open source project OpenOffice.org celebrates its 7th
birthday. Founded by Sun Microsystems on October 13th, 2000,
continues to experience tremendous growth. The project recently
counted 104 million downloads from its website, and downloads have
been increasing since the release of OpenOffice.org 2.3 last month.
It is widely considered the most important open source productivity
suite and one of the largest open source projects.

OpenOffice.org is available in more than 80 languages and runs
natively on every major platform; it uses the ISO standard, the
OpenDocument Format, for its files. Thousands from around the world
contribute to its ongoing success, helping with the development,
localisation, documentation, user support and marketing of the
program. "OpenOffice.org is being developed around the world, and it
is being used around the world by governments, businesses and
individuals", said Florian Effenberger, Marketing Project Co-Lead of
OpenOffice.org. "The community has achieved what few predicted seven
years ago, and we have just begun!"

In addition to its founder and main contributor Sun Microsystems,
OpenOffice.org is also recognizes the contributions of RedFlag
Software, IBM, Red Hat, and Novell, among others. OpenOffice.org
welcomes the contributions of all organizations and individuals.

OpenOffice.org 2.3 can be found at http://download.openoffice.org/2.3.0/
Links to community and professional support, templates, books, etc.,
can be obtained from http://support.openoffice.org

Press Contacts

John McCreesh (UTC +01h00)
OpenOffice.org Marketing Project Lead

Florian Effenberger (UTC +01h00)
OpenOffice.org Marketing Project Co-Lead

Louis Suárez-Potts (UTC -04h00)
OpenOffice.org Community Manager
louis@openoffice.org

Unquote:

Source an email I received from the OpenOffice.org Project

Of course,

If you can ignore being right-handed. Just loop it through. (If you are right-handed?) And don't mind using your left hand to tighten the belt buckle. Then, you can ignore this whole problem.

Perhaps, you're ambidextrous, or ambi-handed? I am not - however.

Glen

• Either, have a forward looping belt. So, we connect the free end last, by connecting the belt buckle to the pulling end.
• Or make a belt with the ability to be placed on, either way.
• Here are my diagrams on this question. "the link"

Glen

= Have you noticed? We put our belts, on in reverse.

= A person doesn't just grab it, as you wear it. You have to grab the end and thread through the pant loops.

It would seem nicer to just start, where you want the buckle to be. Then, wrap it around, connect it, and close the belt buckle.

Question: How can we overcome this point of function?

Glen

No doubt, everyone has heard this one.

Silence is Golden

How do I see this? Several things are best said unsaid. ie, Being succinct is far more important & when explained clearly, the first time.

Looking for credits of this quotation. Ran across this author. He lists several reasonings behind the quotation and sources. This one stuck out, to me.

My personal hobbies are reading, listening to music, and silence.

Don't They Know that "Silence is Golden"? by MythMan

Glen