My Pontification

Gnome Do brings OSX Dock to Linux

Dustmite — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 06:50:28 +0000

I am a PC, Mac, and Linux user. At night I dual boot between Vista and Ubuntu and during the day I use a Mac almost exclusively.. As a result, there are many things I like about using my Mac at work and would not mind seeing them on my home desktop. Since buying a Mac right now for personal use is out of the question I have to make do with what I already have. At any rate, one of the Mac features I actually like is the Dock. For those of you who are not Mac users, the Dock is basically a bar at the bottom of the desktop where application icons can be displayed that will launch the application once clicked on. It’s attractive and useful and I have wanted one on my non-Mac desktops for some time now.

So, once again I went searching for that “Mac like” experience on Linux which lead me to the Gnome Do website (http://do.davebsd.com/).

Installing does not immediately create the Dock in the picture, but changing the preferences is pretty easy and painless. Once installed I simply launched the settings/preferences window and quickly found what I was looking for under the “Appearance” tab. Under the “Selected Theme” simply select “Docky” form the drop down window and you will have the desired dock at the bottom of your desktop. I did change the “Icon Size” slider and did make some minor changes to the “Docklets” list. I do need to note that trying to scroll through the “Docklets” window was my first taste of possible instability. I was able to scroll through it of sorts, but the contents did not seem to really scroll as much as they visually stacked on top of each other when using the slider controls making it a little harder to filter through the list. Best way to filter through the list is by clicking on an option and then using the arrow keys.

The default install has some basic application icons but the Dock will only be useful if the applications you use on a regular basis are the ones installed in the Dock. For me, I want easy configuration as well as use. Anything short of that and the Mac experience is already gone as is the desire to use the Dock. Fortunately, Gnome Do is very easy to use and configure. To remove an icon simply drag the icon out of the dock as if you were moving it to the desktop, just like on a Mac. To install new application icons you simply drag them to the Dock and they will be inserted into the Dock, just like on a Mac. For my use, I removed some of the default icons, added the application icons that I use on a regular basis and got rid of the bottom tool bar that is default with the Ubuntu installation of the Gnome desktop. But getting rid of that bottom tool bar meant I no longer had easy access to the trash bin so I selected “Trash” can display from within the “Docklets” menu under the “Appearance” Tab.

For me, that’s all there was too it. I have pretty simply desires so my configuration was pretty simple. Will I continue using Gnome Do? For a while, but I am unsure if I will have the patience for long term use with what appears like stability issues. Twice I have had the dock disappear and the only way to bring it back was to relaunch the application. All though active applications should display (and do display) a white dot under the icon, some applications also launch a second icon in the Dock. A good example of that is the dual TweetDeck icons in the first screen shot. I have also had one instance of trying to add an icon to the Dock in which my system did not like the act of dragging and dropping the icon so I received a pop up error message but lost all ability to click out of the error message or even gain access to the rest of my applications or desktop. Ultimately I was forced to Cntrl + ALT+ Delete to bring up the Ubuntu shutdown/reboot window. Because I was unable to navigate any of the application windows, I was unable to actually select a reboot or shutdown and was forced to wait for the automated shutdown timer to countdown to zero and shut down my laptop. Once I rebooted I was able to add the application that had previously froze my desktop.

Also, unlike the Mac when I minimize a window it disappears. You can click the application icon which will usually bring the window back up or you can “Alt + Tab” to cycle your way through the list of open applications. I would prefer if the minimized window disappeared from my visibly active applications but was simply lowered to the right side of the Dock. As it is, at least once when the Dock/system seemed to be glitching, I was unable to relaunch the application window when clicking on the active Dock icon. But, will this be a common user experience for me, or just a fluke? I don’t know, only time will tell.

So, if you are looking or might be interested in a Dock “launcher” then take a look at Gnome Do (http://do.davebsd.com/). It is a simple, attractive enough, and easy to configure Dock. The big question for me will be stability and usability for my personal usage habits and like I said, only time will tell.

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The other side of pro-choice

Dustmite — Thu, 06 May 2010 07:06:41 +0000

I was reading the blog post “Hypocritical, Irresponsible and Seriously Profane” over at “Sacred & Profane“. Like my last post, Heidi was talking about the Hypocrisy of pro-choice people towards those who choose to have large families. One of the readers posted a comment that to some degree argues the “other side” of this argument. So I thought I would offer a few thoughts regarding the readers comment.

“But, if I’m remembering correctly, you want your choice, but you don’t necessarily want to allow others their choices in the cases of abortion… No one is trying to stop you from having more children, but there are certainly people trying to stop others from having (completely legal) abortions.”

First, I am not a pro-life person who supports killing doctors or blowing up buildings. I do believe abortions are wrong and even believe it was bad law constitutionally speaking, but I do not believe that justifies killing doctors or those seeking abortions. And, even though I believe Roe vs. Wade was bad law, it is still currently the law as the commenter points out.

As to the claim that “No one is trying to stop you from having more children” I would say that is false. Currently it may not be a major movement, but there is a movement and a desire by a growing group of people to limit other peoples family size. The current trend is based mostly around the environmental movement. I think after what we have seen our elected officials do over the last year we should all realize that the ability to regulate family size is not all that far fetched. The health care (Obama Care) law alone gives potential power and reason to the Federal Government as well as our fellow citizens to limit family size. Now that we all have to pay for everyone else’s health care, it will be much easier to complain about the family of 3, 5 or more. Never mind that we actually need much larger families to support the every growing demand for Government services and mounting debt. And lets not forget that President Obama has brought in advisers (czars) John Holdren – Science czar, and Cass Sunstein – regulator czar, both who have been documented as proponents of the population control movement. Mr. Holdren has gone as far as to promote population control through our food and water supply.

Now, regarding not allowing others to choose abortion I would simply like to highlight the breakdown of choice between the two points of view. If abortion was outlawed, women would still have choice. But, if the choice to have children or the quantity of children is regulated then there is no choice but simply the law. So, even if you take abortion away there is still far more choice then if society or Government starts regulating women’s fertility.

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Po-choice political hypocrisy

Dustmite — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 06:59:13 +0000

Lately I have been acknowledging (to myself) the high level of hypocrisy from the left. “They” want the right to criticize others, but how dare you criticize or question them. “They” want freedom of speech, but how dare you think you are entitled to the same freedoms. “They” want America to leave other countries alone, to not force our way of life on them, to not get involved, but “THEY” want to force their views of population control, and abortion on these other countries. Odd isn’t it? Sounds like typical leftist hypocrisy to me. Ya, Ya I know, it’s not just liberal Democrats that are hypocritical. But still, I do believe it tends to be liberal politicians who display more dangerous societal hypocrisy. Cheating on your spouse while running a “family values” campaign is hypocritical, but not damaging to society to the extent of attacking peoples freedoms, undermining other peoples and other countries family values, etc. We should all be free to choose, so long as we do not choose life. After all, who in their right mind would choose life over abortion? Choose many kids over one, two or even none at all?

Anyhow, here is another video from the Population Research Institute highlighting the attempt to force other countries to legalize and promote on demand abortions.

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Origins of the anti-mini me movement?

Dustmite — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 12:30:23 +0000

Found at overpopulationisamyth.com.

How many mini me’s do we need? Found at overpopulationisamyth.com...
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How many mini me’s do we need?

Dustmite — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 16:21:06 +0000

Found at overpopulationisamyth.com

Origins of the anti-mini me movement? Found at overpopulationisamyth.com....
Contraception Preamble Catchy title huh? I recently read and then listened to...
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Show us your birth certificate

Dustmite — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 05:54:08 +0000

KPHO is reporting the Arizona House of Representatives have initially voted for a provision that would require “all” presidential candidates in 2012 to show their birth certificate in order to be placed on the Arizona ballet.

Can someone please tell me why the United States has very specific laws regarding who can legally become the President of the United States but only requires someone to “promise” they are legal citizens? This is absurd! There should be a law that requires anyone filing for public office to provide verification of their legal right to run for public office.

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Privileged to serve Jesus

Dustmite — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 05:36:57 +0000

OK, I admit that I probably have never viewed my relationship with Jesus as a privilege. I also don’t think I have ever viewed serving Jesus as a privilege either. I am not exactly sure how I have viewed it although if I was being honest I would probably say that there has been at least a little feeling of obligation or a chore. I know it sounds bad, but I am not always thrilled about what I should be doing or what I should be saying. And certainly not viewing Christianity as a privilege has not helped stifle the feeling that Christianity is a chore at times or just something that exists.

What “if” I viewed my relationship with Jesus as a privilege? What “if” I viewed serving Jesus as a privilege, something to be excited about because I “get” to serve him?

These were the thoughts and questions I had after reading Rebecca’s post titled “Priveleged” over at “the first hundred“. I am not going to give too much away, so you should go read her post. But I have been thinking about how I view my relationship and interaction with Jesus. I also started contemplating what the impact would be if we viewed our interactions with others as a “privilege.” I wonder how much stronger our relationships with those around us and connected to us would be?

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Obamacare versus Congressional Intelligence

Dustmite — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 06:23:09 +0000

I think there are many Americans who cannot believe that Obamacare was passed. I think many Americans just could not believe their elected officials would ignore them or public opinion. And yet they did. Were they ignorant or belligerent? Well, I think I have the answer for you, it’s both!

I think by now it is pretty obvious that Americans have been electing belligerent and egotistical men and women to server as our representatives. But the following two Bill O’Rielly video clips also show what appears to be just plain ignorance on the part of Representative Anthony Weiner (D) New York. Now I realize some people will want to credit Rep. Weiner with being a good actor, but I have a hard time buying that. After watching the video I must say his ignorance was very believable.

The ~~ignorance on display~~ Debate:

The Reality:

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87% polled say birth control pill causes side effects

Dustmite — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 06:36:06 +0000

Holly Grigg-Spall has a poll on her blog,”Sweetening The Pill“, which asks “Have you experienced negative side effects from the birth control pill?”. I realize this poll is not scientific and may be somewhat skewed by the the nature of her blog, but based on the warning labels and the mounting bad press lately I am going to guess this poll would show similar results if done more scientifically.

At the time of this post, 126 people have voted with only 16 (12%) saying they have never experienced a negative side effect. That means that 110 women (87%) HAVE experienced at least one negative side effect.

If I tried to sell you a car and I told you there was only a 12% chance that you wouldn’t have any problems, would you buy it? Would you move into a neighborhood where you only had a 12% chance of being safe? If a doctor recommended you take vitamins to help promote a healthy active lifestyle and told you there shouldn’t be any problems even though the warning label said you only had a 12% chance of NOT suffering from a side effect, would you trust the doctors advice?

Two of the most common side effects are feeling bloated and a lack of desire for sex. Think about it, the pill which is supposed to unnaturally give you the freedom to have sex when ever you want to without fear that your body will act naturally might make you feel bloated and uninterested in sex.

The average woman’s body is only fertile for roughly a week out of each month and will provide the woman with multiple indicators announcing her fertility. And yet evidently the need or desire to have sex during a woman’s fertile week without a 100% guarantee their body won’t respond as it was designed to, causes most women to gamble they will be part of the 12% group and not the 87%. Either that or the danger and likely hood of even the most basic side effects let alone the life threatening ones have been down played to them. Could it be a little of both?

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My New Year’s Resolution

Dustmite — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 07:06:30 +0000

I realize I am 7 days late, but these things take time. I decided that the reason so many people fail miserably at their resolutions is not because they make them, but because they set the goal way to high.

Therefore I have decided to make a simple resolution. I am still setting a goal, but I want it to be a realistic goal that is achievable. After all, the most important thing is that I feel good about myself and my progress throughout the 2010 year.

So after evaluating the things that I could improve on, I have picked just one thing to focus on. As a result, I hereby pledge to make at least one blog post over the course of this year (2010). So if you are reading this post, I have reached my goal. I can now feel good about myself and call it a year.

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