Finally got around to fixing the netbook. When Ubuntu NBR updated the last time the wifi stopped working, and the video and sound had never worked. So I decided to try another Linux distro. I downloaded gOS Gadgets and installed via a USB install. Video and sound worked immediately, wifi with the addition of the old Linksys USB wifi dongle. Internal wifi still doesn't work but this seems to be a common problem for HP Minis.

So far it works very well. gOS is based on Ubuntu, so I don't understand why Ubuntu doesn't work. The Gadgets part refers to Google Gadgets. It's heavily based on cloud computing.

Got a new 4gig SD for it as well, so plenty of open space. Now to fill it up.

We have yet to find out any details re the REC closing.

I'm bumming out at the moment. I've got to dismantle the LLC and go close out the bank account. Put the remaining money back in my savings account. Because I might actually need that $390 in the near future.

My usual method these days of dealing with major depressive incidents is to go buy something fabulously expensive and electronic, and I know exactly what I want. I even have an excuse, getting my usual Christmas present for myself. With that $390 I could even get it handily, as it's about $320. But of course I can't do it. And that's aggravating me no end. Strangling people doesn't solve any problems. Neither does buying an EEE PC 901 with 1gb RAM, 16gb SSD, and Linux. (They use Xandros. I'd have to locate an external CD drive and burn a copy of Ubuntu Netbook Remix and install it before I could use the EEE without holding my nose. But that's a small consideration.)

Oh, and I looked up how much they're selling the Merakis for these days, and they've inexplicably trippled the price of their standard indoor model. So that was one instance where being an early adopter paid off in spades. So guard those $50 Merakis with your lives, cats and kittens. Worth their weight in platinum, at least. (smishes Meraki, you make my life complete and wireless all at the same time!)

JCF RoundTable tonight, and I have no idea what to talk about.

It also bums me out that I was only just acquiring a life and now I've got to up sticks and start over somewhere else. The JCF, the magazine... then somebody somewhere hit the reset button. This too makes me want to strangle people.

Oh well. Not much I can do about it, or even think about it until I have some answers. Like where I'm being posted, yadda yadda.

Got my Christmas present to myself today and installed it. The Meraki wirelsss repeater, which takes the signal from a DSL modem and converts it to WiFi. Think of it as dumb-as-dirt WiFi hotspot in a package about the size of an iPod. You plug in the Ethernet from the modem, plug in the power cord, screw the antenna on, and get online. You configure everything from the Meraki dashboard site online. You can have public or private access, tiered access, you can even charge for access. And restrict bandwidth. See the link in the BrainSpaces list to the right.

So now my house is wifi, and I moved Copernicus back into the Temple permanently.

Also added the link for FreeGeek in Portland, which see the video in the last post.