Kimberlin

Kimberlin

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Mar 19 / 11:55pm

What Goes Up

by Kyle Kimberlin
A movie from the point of view of a space shuttle's solid rocket booster.

 
Mar 19 / 2:01pm

Arrests at OWS 3.17.2012

by Kyle Kimberlin
It is dangerous to be right in matters on which the established authorities are wrong. 

~Voltaire

The cops are never going to learn that they are supposed to protect the rights of the peope, not do the will of the rich. They have become systemically corrupt and irremediably confused.  It is necessary to teach those to whom the cops think their allegiance is owed. Which is not US.

 
Mar 12 / 10:48pm

Blog Closing

by Kyle Kimberlin

Twitter has acquired Posterous.

Congratulations to the CEO and staff of Posterous on being hired to work on Twitter. I'm sure they will contribute and make that network even more relevant to the future of global communication.

As a result, I will not be developing any new content to be published at this address.

If you've been following this site, here are other ways we can keep in touch.

Blog:              blog.kylekimberlin.com

Google Plus:  profiles.google.com/kkimberlin

Facebook:      facebook.com/kyle.kimberlin

Twitter:          @Kimberlin

 
Mar 12 / 2:03pm

Thoroughly Clear

by Kyle Kimberlin
Don't forget to say thank you to your trash collectors from time to time. They work very hard ... like this guy.

Angry-garbageman

 
Mar 10 / 10:01pm

The Windows 8 Solution

by Kyle Kimberlin

Oh! What fresh hell is this? Microsoft is selling new software. The consensus so far is that Windows 8 is cool for tablet PCs, not so great for mouse & keyboard machines. So, many brilliant geeks are already looking for ways to make Windows 8 more like Windows 7. 

I understand the excitment of something so different from the essential look and feel we're accustomed to. We're curious, intelligent, and easily entertained creatures. But why would you want to get 8 and make it like 7? Just keep using 7. Microsoft is selling a new product, not issuing an edict that all shall now upgrade, resistance is futile, and we will be assimiliated. 

From where I sit, it's a creative advance, a shift in thinking and design and that's progress, and that's a good thing. But that doesn't mean we need to go buy it.

If you have a PC right now, Windows 8 isn't an issue unless you want to to explore. In which case, boldly go. And let us know, for the sake of edification, what you find.

The truth is that it's almost never necessary to upgrade to a different operating system than the one than comes with a new PC. Reinstall? Yes. Upgrade? No. The most glaring exception, of course, is Vista. If you're still running that disaster, treat yourself to Windows 7 if you can. 

If you buy a PC in the near future, it will still have Windows 7; for another year would be my guess, but I don't know. Then computer makers will start putting 8 on new machines, and 7 will continue to work on the machines we have now. That's when we'll need to worry about adjusting to Windows 8 or hacking the FAIL out of it, to make it suit our needs. 

As for this blogger, Windows 7 is running great on my desktop. XP is just whistling along fine on my laptop. So I won't be trying 8 until I get a PC that comes with 8 installed. And you don't have to try it either. We don't have to buy it. And make no mistake, trying the Consumer Preview is part of the purchasing process. Evenutally, you will be expected to pay up or return the way you came. Which is of of the reasons why I'm still using Office 2003. 

 
Feb 19 / 11:30pm

The Windows Key

by Kyle Kimberlin
If you are like a lot of people, there are keys on your keyboard that you never use. What are PrtScr, SysRq, and ^? Well, I could tell you but the I'd have to Esc you, so let's save those for later and deal with the Windows Key today.

The Windows Key lives on the lower left part of your keyboard, next to Alt and pretty close to Z.

Windows-button


What does it do? Press it and see. Go ahead, it won't hurt anything. Press it, watch what happens, then press it again to reverse the event.

The windows key does the same thing as clicking the Start button with your mouse. It opens the Start menu, so you can see your main menu, programs, etc.

Pressing the key a second time simply makes the menu go away.

This is useful because you can access a vital function of your PC with a press of a button. You're not confined to using the mouse. And in Windows 7 your Search programs and files function is the first thing on the bottom of the menu.

Start_search

I'll admit that I didn't use the Windows Key for years. But now, and for a long time now, I do it without even thinking. That little Search element is my constant friend. I use it to quickly find documents and folders, and I use the larger Start menu to open programs, access photos and videos, navigate to My Computer, My Dropbox, etc.

Get to know your Windows Key. It will come in handy, you'll see.

 
Feb 18 / 4:38pm

Work Work Work

by Kyle Kimberlin

Hi. I'm working on the site today.The Internet is a work in process.

If you're looking for all the just for fun and general interest stuff I used to post here, catch up with me on Google Plus. It's much better suited for fun.

profiles.google.com/kkimberlin

My creative writing blog is still Metaphor.

 
Sep 20 / 11:45am

copyright vs creativity

by Kyle Kimberlin
In case you haven't heard, the modern world has reached a crossroads in legal and social policy concerning the publication of creative work. And there's a fight going on in the road, with creators of stuff - writers, musicians, etc - getting their asses kicked by The Man.

Anyone who says it's happening to protect artists is lying and almost certainly working for said Man.

Obviously, I'm less than articulate on the subject. But fortunately, writer Cory Doctorow isn't.

I recommend watching his recent talk at the Melbourne Writers Festival. He has posted it on his blog.

"Any time someone puts a lock on something that belongs to you, and doesn't give you a key, that lock is not there for your benefit."
 
Aug 29 / 12:18pm

The Web Is Dead?

by Kyle Kimberlin
The Web Is Dead. Long Live the Internet | Wired Magazine

"You’ve spent the day on the Internet — but not on the Web. And you are not alone. ... Over the past few years, one of the most important shifts in the digital world has been the move from the wide-open Web to semiclosed platforms that use the Internet for transport but not the browser for display."

I get the point. We're using the traditional website less because we have newer devices and applications to receive content. Cool. But gee, I hate hyperbole sometimes. Half the examples they cite of non-web uses of the Internet either are Web content, or at least depend on a Web browser and a computer at some point in the experience.

For example, they cite:

"During breakfast you browse Facebook, Twitter, and The New York Times — three more apps. ... watch a movie on Netflix’s streaming service."

Wrong. Facebook, Twitter, and The Times are websites, not apps. You can use an app on a device such as a phone to get their Web content. I use my PC. And Netflix's streaming service works just great in Firefox; just as well as it does via wii or cable.

Saying Facebook is an app is like saying Wal-mart is a car, because you used a car to get to the store and bring your Wallyworld goodies home.

The Web isn't dead, it isn't dying, it's just the older child in a growing family, and it's getting less attention.

But I guess a headline like that wouldn't have gotten my attention as easily as "The Web is Dead," would it?

Filed under  //  tech stuff