Link of the day: "The Web Browser Address Bar is the New Command Line"

The title of the post pretty much says it: "The Web Browser Address Bar is the New Command Line." By the way, I love the command line. It's fast and succinct. The only problem I can think of is that the command line relies on a good memory. If I don't use commands after a while, I forget them. When you add the shell to the command line, you get Unix magic!

The post mentions the site yubnub which really is the embodiment of the address bar as command line. I've tried yubnub but for some reason, I've never really felt a need for it.

Pine has labels

I learned that Pine allows you to setup labels/tags just like Gmail! Pine calls labels/tags "keywords." Pine is available as a stand-alone email client on virtually every operating system including Unix, Linux, Mac OS X and Windows. I've always enjoyed using Pine, but now I like it even more!

Incidentally, I also learn that the next version of Pine will be called Alpine (the name has been changed because Alpine uses an open-source type license whereas Pine uses a restricted license).

Tech: Text editor "Cream"

I'm an emacs user (not a particularly proficient one), but I'm interested in learning vi, the longtime archrival to emacs. Supposedly, most people use vim nowadays as it is a modern update to vi (VIM stands for "Vi IMproved"). Today I learned about a new text editor which is supposed to be a more user-friendly version of vim, called Cream -- available for Windows, GNU/Linux, and FreeBSD! For more details, see this article.

Linux migration links

While on a break from work, I found some really good articles about how to make the switch to Linux: "Boot out Microsoft, boot up linux" and "Everything you wanted to know about Linux." I also found out about CrossOver Office, an application that allows you to run some Windows software directly in Linux. Finally, an interesting article about a Linux alternative: BSD.

Link of the day: Hacking Xbox to run Linux

Here's an article about how to turn an Xbox into a stand-alone PC or how to put several Xboxes into a Beowulf cluster.

Future projects

It's summertime -- that time of year when life becomes less hectic for us academics and we have time to think about the course of our lives. I've decided to post a few of the long-term (non-academic) projects I have in the pipeline:

1) Work out more often and build a ripped body (well, maybe). I currently go to the gym three times a week, but my workouts aren't too serious.

2) Build a Linux box (down with Microsoft!)

3) Learn more about personal finance and investing.

4) Score another goal in an ice hockey game. I have one so far.

5) Ice skate on the Netherland canals.

6) Visit Maine and Arcadia National Park.

7) Visit Italy and see Michaelangelo's sculptures.