So, as readers of my blog know, one alternative to Windows is Linux. (Formally GNU/Linux) Another alternative I haven’t talked much about is BSD, another Unix derivative. Both of these are great operating systems, but they aren’t Windows. For the most part, this doesn’t matter. If I can do the same stuff on Linux, why not use an operating system unencumbered by patents and other nasty things. However, some people need to use Windows. They need the programs or they just don’t want to learn a new OS. On Linux (and possibly BSD), an imperfect solution is to use Wine. Wine is not an emulator (that’s what Wine stands for, incidentally) but rather implements DLLs in order to run Windows programs. They get closer and closer every day, but it’s imperfect and will probably continue to be for quite some time. For gamers, there’s Cedega, but that costs money - a monthly fee to be exact.

The other day I decided to read the Constitution of the USA. I don’t know what compelled me to do this, other than the fact that I stumbled upon it online. I don’t have anything specific to say about it except that I’m amazed at how they thought of nearly every contingency. For example, the House can Impeach the President, but the Senate conducts the hearings. Thus neither house has complete power. Also, they can’t change the President’s salary while he’s in office in an attempt to coerce him. Below I will just mention little things I noticed as I read it.

Fedora Core 5 has moved one step closer to being finalized with the release of Test Release 3. I’m currently downloading the torrent of the DVD because I think I want to go ahead and put it on my main machine. Yeah, it’s a test release, but I’m so impatient to get working with Beagle and Fspot! I’ll see what others are doing before I do anything rash. See the official announcement here.

I don’t agree with a lot of what the current administration is doing. While I don’t necessarily believe that G. W. Bush is evil like Mr. Burns and wishes to bring the US and England together under IncSoc, I do agree with some congressmen that he has set some perilous precedents if congress just leaves things alone. For example, as many jounalists and bloggers have pointed out, one of the key themes in 1984 is perpetual war. Because Oceana is always at war, people are willing to tolerate a loss of freedoms and a worse quality of life than they had prior to World War II. I agree that we have certain rights afforded to the Executive Branch during war-time. However, If Bush can do whatever he pleases because we are at war and we are always at war, then he can always shirk the constitution.

Those of you who have been daring enough to run Gnome 2.13 already know most of this stuff. However, if, like me, you can’t afford to have unstable desktops, this page contains a preview of what will be in the latest offering from Gnome. It looks as though the changes will only be incremental in nature, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I think this is the first Gnome which will require Cairo, and that’s supposed to provide a huge boost in graphics capabilities.

On the face of things, Theora seems to be a better codec simply based upon the fact that the OGG file is 50 MB compared to the 185 MB MPEG file. I still have to do some tests to see if this comes at the cost of worse quality in the picture or sound, but if it’s equivalent, then OGG is clearly the best format for storing DVDs. Not only is it free (and allegedly taggable via metadata), but it’s also smaller in file size.

To encode your video in a free codec (ie not proprietary), use Theora from Xiph.org. This codec is still in ALPHA stage (as in, not even beta!) so don’t use it for mission critical stuff just yet. However, xine and mplayer already play the codec. If you try to convert an avi to theora (using ffmpeg2theora) the audio will be out of sync with the video. So either encode the original video as an mpeg or type in the following:

Winter’s Returning:

Snow falls gingerly downward.

Will you stay long, snow?

“Dance, Dance, Christa Paffgen”

She’s got the time says she got time on her side Running the rule Commanding the late boys eyes She runs around, knows all the streets by name So mysterious, shadows meet James Dean She’s intoxicating, soon your favorite drink Your black dress in disarray Only dance floor prayers can save you Temperatures rise and I start to move But it’s you that’s coursing through my veins Say she’s got hope Took shelter to the Hollywood list, taking control Wanted my heart but I gave her my soul She’s like a Paige Davis with a Monroe kiss Disappeared today, left no trace But someday I’ll know your name Don’t need no drugs, you’re my chemical Now I’m dependent, swear I’m clinical Addicted to those glances, taking chances tonight I need a fix in those heroin eyes Don’t need no drugs, you’re my chemical Now I’m dependent, no not cynical Addicted to those glances, taking chances tonight I need a fix in those heroin eyes She’s no saint but she’ll take you to your knees Try her boy, but she’ll still do what she please Do you believe in science? She prefers chemistry She wanted my love but I gave her the rest of me Dear Stephen Patrick: You’ll adore me before the night is over If London’s calling don’t you dare pick up the phone Only you entwined could make this orphan feel at home Lips that need no introduction, but now waiting for your call if picture’s worth a thousand words Then your touch is worth them all