Started a new tech-related blog over at Wordpress. This is because Blogger does not support PDF attachments (remember the previous post about LaTeX). To all my computer-savvy readers, figure out where it is. Hint: There has to be a Unix connection for the name, and devices are an eternal favorite along with the fascination for 0.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Sorely missing Linux
I have been using my new desktop (bundled with Windows 7) for a while, but I am sorely missing my Linux (especially Ubuntu, Kubuntu, and Debian). And with that, I am also missing all the wonderful utilities that GNU brings along. Not to mention LaTeX (not the material, but the software). Its a pleasure to read documents that are typeset with LaTeX and variants. With a lot of (non-work related) material to be put into document form, I finally installed ProTeXt for Windows. While it seems to be working fine, I still miss my Kile -that fine KDE-based software with which I had typed my entire master's thesis.
I am also looking at trying out writing some mini (or maybe pocket) books. Looking over my disk archives, I had found a wonderful way of combining LaTeX for A5 sized paper with some nifty Linux shell scripts (psnup and what not). This would produce a booklet, but still be printed on a standard A4 paper, but the pages would be laid out such that when printed it could be stitched like a look. Really love the idea, as well as the output quality. Another point is that most of the cheat sheets that I had prepared while doing my academics were typeset in LaTeX.
Now, I know there are a lot of GNU utils available for Windows (GetGnuWin32, Cygwin, etc.). And I do not think any other software (at least the free ones) can match the quality of LaTeX. I think it is better to get Ubuntu installed (maybe using Microsoft Virtual PC or other virtual machine). So that's what's happening now - a download of the Ubuntu 10.10.
Update (2011-02-17): Yeah! just finished installing and firing up the Ubuntu 10.10 on a VirtualBox. This update is being posted from the VM running Ubuntu. Had some problems with the VM crashing while installing initially and later the display res, but things have been sorted out. Works like a charm!
I am also looking at trying out writing some mini (or maybe pocket) books. Looking over my disk archives, I had found a wonderful way of combining LaTeX for A5 sized paper with some nifty Linux shell scripts (psnup and what not). This would produce a booklet, but still be printed on a standard A4 paper, but the pages would be laid out such that when printed it could be stitched like a look. Really love the idea, as well as the output quality. Another point is that most of the cheat sheets that I had prepared while doing my academics were typeset in LaTeX.
Now, I know there are a lot of GNU utils available for Windows (GetGnuWin32, Cygwin, etc.). And I do not think any other software (at least the free ones) can match the quality of LaTeX. I think it is better to get Ubuntu installed (maybe using Microsoft Virtual PC or other virtual machine). So that's what's happening now - a download of the Ubuntu 10.10.
Update (2011-02-17): Yeah! just finished installing and firing up the Ubuntu 10.10 on a VirtualBox. This update is being posted from the VM running Ubuntu. Had some problems with the VM crashing while installing initially and later the display res, but things have been sorted out. Works like a charm!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
"Don't Lose Your Mind, Lose Your Weight" - a reminder to what we forgot
Just finished reading the book by Rujuta Diwekar (website not working when checked last). While most of it is common sense, it came across an important read because common sense is so uncommon. In any case, the rules stated by her are something inline with what I had gathered over the years. Of course, the most important thing is to know the signals offered by the body (I call this "debugging" the body). It becomes easy when you have a settled and more-or-less fixed routine. Just like it is easy to debug a program that broke due to changes made - you know where to look, it is easy to understand why you feel light or heavy, why you do not feel hungry, have a headache, etc. if there are some changes to the diet or routine.
The book seems to have preference for ayurveda and yoga and other desi things, but that is similar to my opinion too.
The book seems to have preference for ayurveda and yoga and other desi things, but that is similar to my opinion too.
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