2022
August
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Cleaning Linux Systems
Outside the enterprise, virus and malware scanning tools usually are . . .
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Living with Laptops
I much prefer desktop systems over laptops . . .
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Technical Editing
While the two titles often are the same role in . . .
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SSH Basics
SSH questions are common in Linux forums. Some important points . . .
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Copying and Moving Files
I tend to avoid using desktop file managers for bulk . . .
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Linux is not Windows
Attracting attention months ago was an effort from two people . . .
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The Linux Desktop Experience
After using computers for more than 40 years, using Linux . . .
July
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Slackware 15 — 8
Through the years I notice that updating each new Slackware . . .
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Slackware 15 — 7
I continue to test updating to Slackware 15.0 . . .
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Slackware 15 — 6
I continue to test updating to Slackware 15.0 . . .
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Slackware 15 — 5
On the office computer the ethtool command does not display . . .
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Slackware 15 — 4
One of the irregularities while testing 15.0 were error messages . . .
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Slackware 15 — 3
I have not been restless or eager about updating my . . .
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Slackware 15 — 2
For me the next step with updating Slackware is compiling . . .
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Slackware 15 — 1
Slackware 15.0 was released February 2, 2022 22:22 UTC — more . . .
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Newer is Not Always Better
One of the never-ending challenges of computer software are regressions. . . .
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Measure Twice Cut Once
Sometimes the root cause of a problem is easily found — . . .
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MP-BIOS Bug 8254
After having configured a system hard disk for the not-well-admired . . .
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No POST No Display No Boot
I thought I would tinker more after configuring one of . . .
June
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Repurposing a Cranky Computer
One of the bumps encountered while traveling memory lane was . . .
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Vintage Computers — 17
Maintaining vintage computers might seem like a waste of time, . . .
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Vintage Computers — 16
While not related to the previous DOS escapades, I continued . . .
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Vintage Computers — 15
After configuring the 486 system I created a dd image . . .
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Vintage Computers — 14
After renovating the 486 computer I received an interesting dialog . . .
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Vintage Computers — 13
During my initial steps of traveling memory lane I pondered . . .
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Vintage Computers — 12
Although the special floppy disk drive cable remained inside the . . .
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Vintage Computers — 11
One reason I began this vintage computer journey was to . . .
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Vintage Computers — 10
With the K6-III+ system in the office, I wanted to . . .
May
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Vintage Computers — 9
This enchanting vintage computer journey began with wanting to image . . .
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Vintage Computers — 8
Some years go on the 486 system the CMOS battery . . .
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Vintage Computers — 7
Using the vboxmanage command I converted the new virtual disk . . .
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Vintage Computers — 6
I chose a different tactic to brush away the cobwebs . . .
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Vintage Computers — 5
I have a tendency to tinker with multiple projects. In . . .
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Vintage Computers — 4
The next computer was a throwaway. The system had an . . .
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Vintage Computers — 3
In late 1997 the next office system was an ASUS . . .
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Vintage Computers — 2
My first personal computer was a Commodore 64 in 1982. . . .
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Vintage Computers — 1
About 15 years ago I archived my collection of floppy . . .
2021
November
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Not Owning a Smart Phone
Smart phones have revolutionized human existence. Denigrating jokes have been . . .
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Reliable Software
A sobering commentary, but nothing new to anybody who has . . .
October
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Web Browser Auto Suggest
The Mozilla folks again acted questionably with a new Firefox . . .
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Do Not Use a VPN
Recently some online writers have been sharing that using a . . .
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End of an Era
The recent release of Geany 1.38 ends support for GTK . . .
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Converting a Physical Disk to Virtual
Virtual machine (VM) technology is one of the great features . . .
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Helping Free Software Projects
Often I read forum posts from liberated new users asking . . .
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Windows 11 and Linux
Apparently the hardware requirements for Windows 11 will require some, . . .
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Personal Migration
Once upon a time I used only Windows . . .
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Ridiculing Windows
I have no special fondness for Windows or Microsoft, but . . .
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Advertising
There is an old joke. How to know when politicians . . .
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The Sad Demise of Hewlett-Packard Printers
About 20 years ago a nice Hewlett-Packard (HP) LaserJet 4200 . . .
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Web Browser Privacy Leaking
Online authors like to discuss how web browsers leak private . . .
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Linux vs. Other Operating Systems
There are many online articles touting how Linux is better . . .
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Pipes
I long have enjoyed the flexibility of Linux shell scripting. . . .
September
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Predictable Network Interface Naming
While the so-called Predictable Network Interface Naming specification helps certain . . .
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Atheros alx Driver
Some years I ago I purchased a ASRock N68C-GS4 FX . . .
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Increasing Partition Space
The default configuration for Linux ext file systems is to . . .
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Disaster Recovery Testing — Lessons Learned
There are some lessons learned after testing disaster recovery scenarios . . .
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Disaster Recovery Testing — 10
Usually computer disaster recovery plans presume available backups in one . . .
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Disaster Recovery Testing — 9
Disaster recovery testing continues with rebuilding both office desktop hard . . .
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Disaster Recovery Testing — 8
Disaster recovery testing continues with rebuilding both office desktop hard . . .
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Disaster Recovery Testing — 7
The next step with testing disaster recovery plans is rebuilding . . .
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A Distro for the Tech Illiterate
After 40 years of using computers, more than 20 years . . .
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Disaster Recovery Testing — 6
Continuing my disaster recovery testing, next was replacing a failed . . .
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The Uncomfortable History of Firefox
I have been using the Mozilla Firefox web browser since . . .
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A Handy NFS Export Trick
While exploring ways to prevent certain network systems from accessing . . .
August
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Email Overload
Many people claim to suffer anxiety and stress from something . . .
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Computing 2001 Style
I enjoy reading articles and blogs about using older computer . . .
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Scratching Itches
I subscribe to a sufficient number of RSS feeds to . . .
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Complex File Systems
In the home network the only file systems used are . . .
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Desktop As a Service
My baloney detectors alarmed when Windows 10 was first released. . . .
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Software As a Service
A family member decided to replace a mechanical hard drive . . .
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Complex Software
For a long while I have noticed many skilled computer . . .
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The Pain of Updating Windows
Although not being used in any productive manner, I decided . . .
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Disaster Recovery Testing — 5
The living room media player was next in the ongoing . . .
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Disaster Recovery Testing — 4
Another oddball disaster struck. I am not a big believer . . .
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Reducing Computer Fatigue
Many people experience eye strain when using computers. I encountered . . .
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CentOS and Apt-Cacher-NG
Somebody asked about an equivalent apt-cacher-ng software package for CentOS. . . .
July
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Configuring Clementine with LIRC
Amarok 1.4 from the KDE 3 days was installed in . . .
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New Media Player Remote Control
Remote controls are wonderful devices. Not great for a person’s . . .
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ICMP Rate Limiting
I was using the traceroute command while testing a VPN . . .
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LibreOffice Writer Compatibility with MS-Word
LibreOffice has a mixed compatibility reputation with MS Office files. . . .
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Extracting Attachments Without Launching Thunderbird
One of the precautions I have taken to avoid a . . .
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DD-WRT Bites Me Again
Embedded devices often suck. No, really. They are challenging to . . .
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Disaster Recovery Testing — 3
Reviewing and rehearsing disaster recovery plans is prudent and helpful. . . .
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Avoiding Ransomware
Ransomware is more or less out of control. There are . . .
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Exporting Lightning Calendar Data
In my effort to find a stand-alone desktop calendar, I . . .
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Disaster Recovery Testing — 2
Continuing my disaster recovery testing, I had one of those . . .
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Disaster Recovery Testing — 1
Generally, unlike proprietary operating systems, moving hard disks from one . . .
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Desktop Calendar
The Thunderbird Lightning calendar works well enough for me. There . . .
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Speed Tests Redux
I was content with my new method of monitoring internet . . .
June
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Windows 11
The Microsoft folks purposely obfuscate how to install Windows 10 . . .
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Detecting NFS Clients Redux
I never have been fully satisfied with detecting connected NFS . . .
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Windows 10 P2V
There is a single Windows 10 system in the house. . . .
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Copying Console Text to the Clipboard
I created a new computer work flow associated with a . . .
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Inode Extent Could Be Narrower
One day I was greeted with a cryptic message when . . .
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More Annoying Sylpheed Quirks
I am still using Sylpheed as a second GUI mail . . .
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Annoying Sylpheed Quirk
After only a few days I grew frustrated with a . . .
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Checking Local Spool Mail
One of the precautions I have taken with learning to . . .
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Tech Writing and Hemingway
Often I have thought that technical writers should read Hemingway . . .
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Speed Tests
I long have monitored my ISP connection. Generally the connection . . .
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Thunderbird and Movemail
According to the Thunderbird 87 change log, Movemail support was . . .
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My Desktop Computer Is Not a Mobile Device
In the past few years I have lost much faith . . .
May
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Copying a Directory Tree
I wanted to duplicate a directory tree without copying files. . . .
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Updating Slackware — 6
I found more issues while testing the upcoming Slackware 15 . . .
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Accessing VirtualBox Disks
I was looking to directly access VirtualBox vdi virtual disks . . .
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VirtualBox Snapshots With Raw Disk Access
Several times I have used VirtualBox raw disk access. Raw . . .
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Gracefully Closing Programs
In my ongoing efforts with learning to use a VPN . . .
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Updating Slackware — 5
I found more issues while testing the upcoming Slackware 15 . . .
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ISP Snooping — 4
I am looking at ways to avoid ISP snooping . . .
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Updating Slackware — 4
I found several issues after creating support scripts to help . . .
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ISP Snooping — 3
I am looking at ways to avoid ISP snooping . . .
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Renaming Files With Underscores
Through the past 20 years I have written hundreds of . . .
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Updating Slackware — 3
Resolving a problem is a challenge when something “just works” . . .
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Devices Using the Linux Kernel
Through the years I have observed excited claims about how . . .
April
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ISP Snooping — 2
I am looking into ways to avoid ISP snooping. For . . .
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Updating Slackware — 2
My first attempt at updating Slackware 14.2 to the upcoming . . .
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ISP Snooping — 1
I have been reading about the ways ISPs can invade . . .
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Forced Updates
I read that the Linux Mint developers were concerned about . . .
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Updating Slackware — 1
I really dislike updating operating systems. My dislike goes back . . .
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The Madness of Updating Computers
Computers are complex machines. Really complex. So complex that many . . .
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Loss of Console Soft Scrollback
Once in a while I feel as though free/libre software . . .
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Protecting Email Addresses
Many people pay little attention to their email addresses. Many . . .
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Instant Messaging
Outside of direct participation in forums, my only means of . . .
January
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Not Broke Don’t Fix
I am not fond of rapid release development . . .
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Starlink
Living in a rural area I am aware of the . . .
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Technical Writing and Return on Investment
Generally the investment in technical writing is driven by a . . .
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Disconnecting from the World
Within the past generation the popular acceptance of the world . . .
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Unable to Run inxi in Debian
I have a “system info” script that gathers information and . . .
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Laptop Wireless Always Hard Blocked
At work we have a Panasonic Toughbook CF-52F laptop. Previously . . .