WillShattuck.com

Ok so I am taking the plunge with Linux again.  My wife’s computer "died" so I let her use mine until I could figure it out.  By the time I did (faulty RAM slot) she didn’t really want to go back to her slower computer.  No problem.  I changed hard drives around, set up the Windows 2000 partition and added a 12GB hard drive to dedicate to Linux. 

Initially I installed Ubuntu 5.04 Hoary, found I liked it and lived with it for about a week.  Then while at Border’s book store I saw the UK Linux Format magazine with OpenSUSE SLICK on one of the CDs.  I thought, "Ok, let’s try this".  So I did.  After a couple of installs, I decided to go back to Ubuntu.

Why didn’t I like OpenSUSE SLICK?  Well, first the fonts just didn’t seem crisp and clean enough in KDE.  Then when I opened Firefox the fonts were just… well… wrong.  They didn’t look right like they do in Windows or in Ubuntu.  Also, using the YAST Online Update to keep updated gave me headaches.  First libtiff didn’t patch, then the next one didn’t patch, and the next.  I just gave up.  Yes, I could have searched the OpenSUSE forums, but I thought, "You really just like Ubuntu don’t you?" so I am back with Ubuntu.

I’m starting this Unofficial Ubuntu User Guide (UUUG) to record and track my progress in using Ubuntu and as bookmarks for what I find useful in getting my install up and running.  For example, I’ll post when I get my nVidia card working, when I get my sound working, other little tidbits as I find them.  So enjoy, comment, add info.

Yes I’m late to the show.  In this case, it is better late than never.  In reading my Lockergnome newsletters I came across one titled, I DoFollow Genius.  I haven’t even read about the WordPress plug-in yet.  This article then let me to read about the 14 day anniversary of the Indie Virus, which then, almost through stream of consciousness, led me to Pearsonified.com.

My blog isn’t even a little known blog, but an Unknown blog.  I am sure I still get traffic some how, but I thought I would give this Indie Virus thing a try.  So, Rob @ Crabapples.net, I have infected you with The Indie Virus.  Enjoy :)

A few weeks ago my wife was invited to a “sneak peak” for a new business that came into town.  It is called Dream Dinners.  The idea is that you come and prepare either 6 or 12 meals ahead of time and store them in gallon size freezer bags.  Then when you are ready to eat you just pull it from the freezer, thaw, and follow the directions on the label.

For those of us who have crazy schedules (or work a long way from home) this could be a great way to (1) eat healthier and (2) eat more meals with the family at home.  My family schedule is really crazy during the week and with my arrival time from home extremely variable we wanted to see how this would pan out for us.

So, this afternoon we went, paid our money for 12 meals and went to town.  My first impression was, “This looks like a TV food show.”  There were six stations that allowed you to prepare 2-3 different meals.   Recipes are posted on laminated cards which are easily read.  The station is set up similiar to a salad bar.  Various containers are filled with the ingredients for your meal, measuring spoons and cups are provided as well as spatulas, gallon sized freezer bags, aluminum cooking pan, etc.  Everything you would need for preparing a meal way ahead of time.

It took us an hour and a half to complete 12 meals.  They now sit in their bags or 9×13 aluminum pans in our deep freezer.  Tonight we pulled out the Meatball Hogie meal.  Tomorrow I will let you know how the prep, cooking and taste went.  Sneak Peak: There is only enough left for one sandwich.

Over the next few weeks I will provide updates as we eat the prepared Dream Dinner meals.  I’ll let you know how they taste, how they cook, how the instructions work out, etc.  If these work out as good as my wife and I foresee I can see using Dream Dinners often.

Today I ran across a neat extension for Firefox.  It’s called Peformancing.  The link for the extension is below.  It allows you to blog (split screen) any entries you have on your screen or just add a new one.  The editor looks fairly easy to use.  I’ll have to give it a try for a few weeks to see how it works.

Mozilla Addons - Performancing Extension for Firefox