Open Source Solutions for Everyday Headaches

Time to Play?

I'm starting to think I play with my Linux installs a little too freely. I know that customization is one of the biggest features of open source software, but sometimes it gets annoying. After dropping the Ubuntu Precise beta and going back to 11.10, I opened my Ubuntu One settings to recover my files. I wasn't too shocked to find one Mythbuntu machine, and several copies of both my phone and my laptop. Then, I realized I spent four hours today with an upgrade of the Ice Cream Sandwich beta ROM on my phone. Normally it only takes an hour or so to download the file, backup everything, install the new ROM, and restore my settings, then the rest of the day is spent tweaking processor speeds and settings. Today I got several bad downloads due to busy servers, and I just had to run an errand in town, away from my beautiful wifi connection. I was stuck, forced download on Tmo's network (read earlier posts) or wait till release date plus one. So instead of

It's Not News!

Have you Ever?

Have you ever come across something really new and interesting and want to find out more about it? I sure as hell have, and have been disappointed on what I've found. It seems that in this digital age where everyone can share their opinions, research, and dare I say, news, with the click of a button, that plagiarism is on the rise. As both an Android user and avid Google apps subscriber, I see this daily and it seems the digital sharing age makes it that much easier. For example, open up Google News and search for anything. Better yet, search for the release date and reviews of the new Samsung Galaxy Nexus Prime. I'll wait here.

WTF!

I find this every morning when I open my news, the same three or four articles, repeated several times, by several different "authors," from several so called news agencies. And even worse, these stories can be repeated for weeks, sometimes include links back and forth to each other, and occasionally referencing and crediting the original post. (These are from the bloggers and columnists that don't know how to include links.) Not all of these sources could have been there, taken the original notes, taken the original interviews and photos, then concluded the same exact articles! Now I can see how papers on opposite coasts might mirror a story using the Associated Press, but when these same papers repeat an almost identical story a week later, more poorly written, that's cutting corners.

The Solution