FOSS

Went into the Mint software repository &  downloaded the "Panel profiles" feature and enabled them for XFCE. I ended up selecting something that looks rather Cupertino like; I've been able to configure my desktop to my liking and I appreciate XFCE for that. It's just so adaptable to different tastes!

I've never owned a Macintosh, classic or otherwise. I've used them on occasion yes, but here in Canada the cost is astronomical for Apple products - they've always charged Canadians a premium for their stuff. I loved the elegance of classic Macs and would take any opportunity to use one; the library's, the one at school, etc.

In my mid-20s when I finally decided to get back into computing it was just easier for me to find cheap PC hardware - that's why I started using Linux because Microsoft Windows 95 was too SLOW on my old 486, so I was stuck with 3.11 & DOS 6! Once I found a CD from a magazine that had Debian on it, there was no looking back. I managed to get it partly working  on that PC with no X. Had better success with a boxed version of Red Hat on CDs later on. I can hear you in the back mocking me now, shut up! I wanted the PRINTED manual. My internet connection in 1996 was still dial-up back then, alright? 

Ahem. I'd been bouncing between Win2K, XP,  Ubuntu, Win10, finally on Mint, with XFCE as my DE of choice. I've had a lot of fun re-discovering XFCE. Cinnamon was OK but I wanted to break away from Redmond's vision of the desktop.

All of my PCs and devices (networked or otherwise) have historically always been Russian/Greek/Cyrillic Women's names. I don't know WHY, that's just a convention I picked one day, and it stuck. 

It all began with Nikita; upgraded to Nikita ][, then Natasha, Veronika, Tatiana ... you get it. I hope that doesn't sound sexist - it's an inanimate object, after all. Bad enough I'm already anthropomorphising a PC.

Now I look at the state of computing and everyone has one, however they are sealed slabs of glass and titanium or even plastic. Hrm. It's not like it used to be.

I owe FOSS everything - all of my knowledge (such as it is), is due to open standards, such as POSIX, GNU & even good old IBM PC arch; which I was allowed to take apart, upgrade, tinker and LEARN how to build a PC all by myself and I'm grateful for those times.

Open standards are good! That's my point!

Physical Keyboards

A protracted battle with my on screen keyboard has recently convinced me of the superiority of physical keyboard when composing text for anything longer than an email.

I shall not answer the siren call of the Clicks Communicator; I have a Microsoft Bluetooth keyboard if I really need it!

Sorry @ Clicks Communicator unless you know, you want to sponsor me, a hard of hearing blogger? 😆

Claude Code

I'd been considering getting back into coding for a while. Reading Reddit threads and doing a little investigating about Claude Code, ChatGPT & other local LLM, I thought it would be possible to have an AI teach me/help me to code.

If I'm understanding this correctly, I would need a separate, powerful GPU in order to get actual benefit from using an agent. This PC doesn't have one of those, just an Intel IC. 

Oh, well. Guess I'll do it the old fashioned way. 📚

Cemetary

This is going to be a rough week. Wednesday is the anniversary of my Mother's death 3 years ago. I still start leaking every time I think of my Dad, too.

I should probably head out to the cemetery again.

Spice

For the last time, pumpkin isn't a spice.

Tolerant

"Yes, Canada is a generous, open country. And Canadians are tolerant, and kind. But never mistake our generosity for weakness."

-Jean Chretien, former Prime Minister.