blog

James Davidson: Emacs Daemon

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 21:48:00 -0700

Just now catching up with using Emacs in daemon mode. On that blog post, an anonymous commentor shows the best way to use emacsclient to start the Emacs server if it is not already started.

One last note is that the -c option will result in the same behaviour as the -t option if the DISPLAY environment variable is not set.

James Davidson: Chromium and Flash on x86_64

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 20:52:00 -0700

I am starting to feel the slowness of Firefox so I wanted to see if Chromium could fulfill my web browser needs. So far so good.

The first big issue was getting Flash working with my x86_64 version of Chromium. I found a tidy set of instructions to get and install the 64-bit Flash plugin. Just make sure you get the latest version of the plugin.

James Davidson: Fix Pidgin to work again with AIM and ICQ

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:36:00 -0800

Recently I have been getting "Received unexpected response from..." errors. I found a TechSpot blog with a fix that worked for me.

James Davidson: This is not the Droid you're looking for

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:38:00 -0800

I am not the only person pondering what mobile platform to get.

Though as I blogged already, I'll be going with Maemo.

James Davidson: Better Presentations

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:09:00 -0800

Just listened to the IT Conversations podcast Great Public Communications Skills which covers Carmine Gallo's new book, The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs: How to be Insanely Great in Front of Any Audience.

Two clips Carmine mentions specifically to watch are:

The return of Steve Jobs at MacWorld Expo 1997.
iPhone release at MacWorld 2007 (jump to 26min mark)

What I found interesting is that these 2 presentations, approximately 10 years appart, use the same presentation techniques.

James Davidson: Choosing Android or Maemo

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:16:00 -0800

I have devices that run both Android (OpenMoko Freerunner) and Maemo (N810). With new devices now available that run newer versions of Android and Maemo, I was trying to decide which one I would get (the WAF will not allow both).

The Google Maps Navigation announcement really made me want the new Motorola Milestone phone. That is a sweet app.

However, after reading Harald Welte's summary of Android Mythbusters and Comparing Freedom on Maemo and Android Android does not seem like the platform I want. If reviews of the just now shipping N900 are positive, that will be my choice.

James Davidson: F-Spot Mangles EXIF Dates

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:05:00 -0700

My wife has been organizing all our family photos using F-Spot for several years. After a long bout of inactivity, she started to work through the mass of photos that we have just been collecting and not sorting through. After she imported the pictured, she noticed that the date of the photos that F-Spot was reporting was off from when she remembered taking the pictures.

Well it turns out that F-Spot is indeed getting the dates wrong and is changing the EXIF header dates to be incorrect as well! A good summary of the problem is F-Spot Considered Harmful.

I think I'll take a look at digikam.

James Davidson: Amazing Shoutout Goal

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:53:00 -0700

Watch the video of a nine year old's shootout goal and be amazed.

I actually think he had some sticky stuff on the heel of his stick, but the timing involved to hit the net while spinning is still impressive.

James Davidson: Hockey Team Name Origins

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:49:00 -0700

If you ever wondered where NHL hockey team names originated, then read The Origins of All 30 NHL Team Names.

James Davidson: Best Flag Ever

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:42:00 -0700

I don't know of other funny flags from the past, but this Benin Empire flag is hilarious. I love how the guy apparently attempting to shake hands is greeted. I guess it wasn't that friendly a place to visit.