I only use Windows because I have to. I’m gradually moving off it to Linux, including running non-Microsoft software under Windows. This includes ‘free’ (Open Source) applications. Most of these below fall into this category.
Browser: Mozilla Firefox with the excellent Googlebar extension.
Email: Mozilla Thunderbird
Music Librarian: I used to use Media Monkey, but have now moved to the Apple’s iTunes
File downloads (smaller files): Limewire
and for larger files: the Bittorrent network via the Azureus client program
For document creation: The brilliant Open Office can not only read MS Office formats, but create them too. Word. Powerpoint. Excel. More importantly, it’s own formats are future-proof; XML text. Unlike the closed, binary formats of Office.
There’s been some talk about this new Twenty 20 Cricket being played in the UK. Instead of a 2×50 over one-day format, this is less than half of that; 2×20 overs. Seems to be played between counties and as night matches. Hence it’s probably closer in duration to an AFL or Rugby game. I’ve got no doubt that Cricket Australia are eyeing this format off. Perhaps interstate games as a trial, then the Australian team.
Scores, per 20 over innings, seem to be around the 150 to 170 mark. This would suggest a run rate of well over 1 run per ball. But – as you can see below – with new penalties for things like batsmen not being ready, it may be even greater.
The main thing than interested me were the rules. These below, which come from another UK cricket site, have been edited slightly by me, to chop off stuff that we wouldn’t be in interested in (team names, prize money etc)
Continue reading “Cricket – Twenty 20 Cup Rules”
Even in small companies knowledge capture can be a challenge. WHAT employees and managers know and have achieved, plus HOW they did it (including any ‘things we tried but they didn’t work’) tends to remain in their heads or on scraps of paper. When they leave – or even move on to other tasks in the same company – it goes with them.
I’ve seen this, plus the assorted bold attempts to ensure that such highly valuable assets are captured. But they haven’t really worked. It always seemed to involve a layer of “intrusive” software or extra manual tasks for the end-user. It was easy for them to complain that it was holding them back from performing their ‘real’ work properly. The short term view won out.
I was therefore interested to read an article in Popular Science magazine. Continue reading “NASA and Knowledge Capture”
It’s possible to copy a movie off your DVD (MPEG2 compression) and convert it to XviD (the more modern MPEG4 compression). This is usually stored in the generic PC file format called AVI. The AVI can be 1/5th the size of the DVD, yet still be of almost the same video quality. It can be played back on your PC etc. The sound is ‘only’ digital stereo 
I use the Gordian Knot package in ‘manual’ mode (not auto) as it gives much more control, but at the cost of being more complex to configure and use. It’s at doom9 , where you can also find assorted guides.
Just grab the 2 s/w bundles ( GordianKnot Rippack + GordianKnot Codec pack) and print out the initial set up pages; easier to follow first time thru. Follow the links to make sure you’ve got all pages printed.
Continue reading “Tips for DVD to XviD”
