I’ve been away from running Linux on my desktop full time for a bit and I’m already getting a bit rusty at some of the command line details. I’ve stepped up to the task of deploying an inhouse server for a local web development company who needs a platform to do internal testing and to act as a general file structure. I’ve always been hesitant in the past to buy physical books because so much information is at hand with a quick google search. That being said, I found the format of Linux Phrasebook (and Apache Phrasebook) to be just right, offering comprehensive coverage of core...

With so many other positive changes that I’m trying to make, and after acknowledging the reality of meat consumption and its impact on our environment, I’ve decided to do my part and consume less meat. A lot of people immediately run to meat substitutes, boca burgers and soy bacon and tofu, but for quite a while I didn’t bother, I just started eating more fresh vegetables and taking care to just reduce my red meat intake. Steak and burgers were first to go, nor do I eat pork often, and now I just have chicken and fish occasionally. A friend of mine tried a blackened tofu wrap at a...

After a brief honeymoon with Ubuntu I have decided to move back to Windows. I loved Ubuntu for its power and for being indepedent and free, and I stil do. I’m managing a small in house webserver now and will be building a media center soon, but Xorg and it’s ilk is just not for me. I went back to XP for a few weeks but it just wasn’t the same. Fortunately Windows 7 is in RC and I’ve heard good things so I took the dive last night and tried it. ...

It’s thursday and I’m already looking forward to visiting Sweetwater again for the third time. Sweetwater is an organic, urban farm in Tampa and holds a Farmer’s Market every sunday from noon to four. They sell a wide variety of organic produce grown right on the premises and other items available from elsewhere. They also invite other vendors to participate, selling everything from eggs, raw milk, seeds, and plants to natural cleaning products and clothing. The atmosphere is great too; it is uplifting to be surrounded by positive, progressive minded people, people with whom I often...

We received our worms from VermiTechnology Unlimited yesterday, safely packed with a good bit of bedding and even instructions! ...

The political sphere and mass media have both been increasingly shouting the cause of globalization. With social, economic, and ecological problems all over the globe, they tout a global solution. Fortunately there are a growing number of people who are realizing that what we need is precisely the opposite, we need to go local! ...

I’ve mapped out most of the small food and farmer’s markets in the Clearwater, Florida area where you can buy fresh produce. I’ll add more as I find them. There is also a deli and a seafood shop on there. We all know where that huge Publix building is, but take some time to find a local market and keep the money in our area. View Clearwater Local Food in a larger...

My girlfriend really got me to recycle regularly, and I’m a little embarrassed to admit that it was a little difficult to get on board at first; it is so easy to toss things into the trash that I had trouble recycling everything at first. I didn’t even know you could recycle styrofoam! Not only do you put your waste to good use but it really makes an impact on you seeing the pile of trash you use each week. I’ve even stopped buying most items that don’t come in recyclable packaging; it is disappointing to find items that must be trashed. We live in an apartment so we don’t...

So I’ve been learning Linux, and I’m stoked. I’ve installed Ubuntu about 3 times now over the past few years “so I can play around with it”. I would install it, and then tinker with it for a night, not learn anything, and then give up.  The problem I had in the past was that I didn’t have the right pieces of the puzzle to establish solid ground on this foreign operating system. I’m going to write about those pieces in coming posts, but for now, what you should know is that you absolutely must learn Linux if you are a web developer. ...