2005-05-16 21:53:00 

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2005-05-16 21:53:00 
Physical Volume Knobs

If I were to design The Ben Notebook Computer it would have many improvements over today’s antiquated laptops. The first feature would be a hardware volume knob. I can not fathom the reasoning going through the engineer’s head who said, “I know, let’s make software control the volume so we don’t have to have a volume knob by making users press Fn+UP or FN+DOWN!”  

The worst part is the most popular OS doesn’t allow control of the volume until it has started playing some ridiculous startup chime. 

Phil – email – 2005-05-17 12:53:24
The problem with mocking the “most popular OS” is that it’s too easy…. The challenge is pretty much gone.

Jeff – 2005-05-17 18:43:25
I always wanted both my compys to start with a flip of a switch. Just like in the old movies where they had to use the huge electric switch with a burst of sparks to get the machine going.. Ah, good times.. good times.. 

Ben – email – 2005-05-17 19:39:55
sorry Phil, i guess i could have said the same thing about Linux…so i will: one annoyance in Ubuntu Linux is the only way to control the sound in X11 is through the Gnome volume thing. This is very bad because when I’m playing a game like Quake III it is impossible to get to it without exiting the game. 

toggle switches… i wired one of my desktops to use one for power and a momentary toggle switch for the reset. …it was pretty cool, and very convenient to have that reset switch. …until i electrocuted myself that is.

Phil – email – 2005-05-20 12:52:46
I don’t get it…. Why don’t you just adjust the volume from within Quake? It seems like it’s a flaw in the game if it doesn’t allow you to adjust the master volume. 

How would you rather have it?

Ben – email – 2005-05-20 15:41:09
If only all games were flawless in design. 

Most games have some ability to control the volume (usually not the master channel) in-game. Sadly it is a pain as you have to back into the game’s menu, find the volume settings (and mind you that some game menus are hard coded for right-handed mice so if you’re left-handed you end up secondary clicking all over the place), and drag a slider… 

By the time this is done you have been shot at, killed, and have respawned only to be killed again. On desktop computers speakers usually have a manual volume knob allowing for quick adjustments. 

Sometimes older methods are better for controlling certain things. The main reason software is taking over more control is because it is much cheaper than hardware.

Phil – email – 2005-05-24 17:11:48
Oh, I see. Your problem is that Ubuntu doesn’t auto-detect your hardware volume buttons. I thought it was a GNOME flaw or something. 

Once again, Laptop users end up being second-class citizens. It’s a shame, but things are definitely looking up.

Ben – email – 2005-05-24 19:31:49
Gentoo automatically set up the pseudo-hardware Fn volume buttons for Gnome (but not for KDE)… and that was an older version of Gnome than Ubuntu is using.

2005-05-14 21:10:00 

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2005-05-14 21:10:00 
COMMENT SYSTEM ONLINE

In one sitting–except a break for lunch, a friend dropping by, and a few phone (fancy hearing from you Jenny) calls–I wrote the long anticipated and requested comment system.

Many of the ideas are shamelessly stolen from genius Phil Hagelberg. 

Please report any bugs here. Enjoy. 

Jeremiah – email – 2005-05-14 21:42:19
Nice work Ben, I was wondering when I was going to be able to post comments to your blog… 

There seems to be a little trouble with the cursor positioning though… Maybe its on my computer.

sab771 – email – 2005-05-15 01:23:07
No, the cursor is goofy for me too. 
Wait, now it’s fixed. 
Um… maybe not. 

Nice blog.

Ben – email – 2005-05-15 01:40:05
Fixed Firefox jumping cursor bug (i think).

Ben – email – 2005-05-15 01:46:26
Fixed nasty regex matching incorrectly for s when preceded with r bug which resulted in converting the characters “rs” to a non-sgml character in posts.

Phil – email – 2005-05-15 14:02:58
Nice system. Just checking to see if you save name/email/uri in a cookie for later use.

Phil – email – 2005-05-15 17:23:16
Here’s a nifty regex to replace URIs in the comment with links to the given URI. My apologies if my entites get blasted by your system. 

——- 

$regex = ‘/http:\/\/([^\ ,\n

Phil – email – 2005-05-15 17:24:13
Yep, it got taken out. Maybe this will go through: 

——- 

$regex = ‘/http:\/\/([^\ ,\n<]*)/’; 
$replace = “<a href=’http://$1′>http://$1</a>”; 

$comment[content] = preg_replace($regex, $replace, $comment[content]);

Ben – email – 2005-05-16 00:31:49
Thanks for the regex code Phil, sorry my script blasted it the first time. Cookies are on the todo list.

2005-05-13 13:51:00

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2005-05-13 13:51:00
Ben buys Cell

Well by now everyone I don’t want to have the number has it so it’s safe to let people know I have one…

After waiting a LONG time and much research I bought the LG VX-6100 from Verizon Wireless.

The good: It can sync with BitPim (opensource). With analog capability it can even get a signal at my house. It uses the superior CDMA technology (although I think GSM is the future, CDMA is so much better right now).

2005-06-09 20:17:00

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2005-06-09 20:17:00
Trying to steal my identity?

Yesterday a voice mail on my cell claiming to be from Washington Mutual said my account was overdrawn (which is strange because I show a positive balance, and they don’t have my cell) and needed to call them. So I called the number and the lady asked for my social security number to “verify my identity.” Of course I refused, so she asked for my bank account number, which I also refused. They had called three times that day so I asked them to stop calling my cell (I thought perhaps the previously owner of this number might have also had a Wamu account). 

This morning Western Union calls to ask if I had authorized a $915 transfer to their bank from my Chase credit card. Of course not, so they put a stop on the transfer and I called Chase and the man asked for my social security number to verify that I wanted the card cancelled! …I finally convinced him to cancel it without my social. We also found another fraudulent charge on that card from peopledata.com …maybe that’s how they got my cell. 

I decided to call Washington Mutual to see if that call was from them, after a little research they said, “Those calls didn’t come from us.” …but they didn’t seem to be the least bit concerned that someone was impersonating them. They just wanted me to know the calls weren’t from them and have a nice day! 

So I had a nice day. |:-) 

Ben – email – 2005-06-09 21:05:49
One Time Use Numbers 
I would like to see “One Time Use Numbers”, login to your credit card account, generate a one time use card number, and even specify the dollar limit for that number. 

GodsFrog – email – 2005-06-10 01:10:04
Ben, 

For someone that takes soo much time to be sure that no one can ever steal your identity, you seem to be getting a lot of people trying… 

Take me for example, I do not take all the steps that you do, and I have never really had anyone try to rip me of fraudulenty… Dishonestly yes… But through idenity theft, no. 

Ben – email – 2005-06-10 01:48:19
This is why I don’t give me social out to anyone who asks. Had I given it to “Washington Mutual” to “verify my identity” the people who have my card number would also have my social and would no doubt be opening new cards in my name. 

An SSN is like an unchangeable easy to guess password that gives anyone access to open accounts in your name. The only institutions that should need it are: employers, banks, stock brokers and variants. 

Here’s some good information on the matter: http://www.epic.org/privacy/ssn/

Phil – email – 2005-06-10 12:04:14
In Indonesia, you have to make sure they don’t take your credit card into the back room, because that means they’re going to put it in a little machine that duplicates it. Scary. 

Phil – email – 2005-06-10 12:10:35
Thanks for that link, it’s very helpful. Hurrah for the Privacy Act. 

GodsFrog – email – 2005-06-11 01:38:19
Ben, 

For someone that takes soo much time to be sure that no one can ever steal your identity, you seem to be getting a lot of people trying… 

Take me for example, I do not take all the steps that you do, and I have never really had anyone try to rip me of fraudulenty… Dishonestly yes… But through idenity theft, no. 

Ben – email – 2005-06-11 11:33:17
I’m probably more of a target than most people Frog… 

Another tip: When you give your name out to businesses change your middle initial, then you’ll know who gave out your info when you get junk mail.  

Of course, someone probably patented this. 

2005-04-20 01:43:00

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2005-04-20 01:43:00
Ubuntu Linux on the Acer Aspire 2000

Ubuntu Logo

The last few weeks I tried FreeBSD, Gentoo, Novell Desktop, Ubuntu, and MEPIS. FreeBSD surprisingly had the best out of the box hardware support except for ATI drivers. I use FreeBSD for just about all of my servers, but stuff took too long to compile and I wanted the 3D hardware acceleration. Novell failed the left-handed mouse test. MEPIS failed to even get past grub. Gentoo takes weeks to get all the hardware working. Ubuntu, took some getting used to, and has a long way to go. But I was so impressed that it detected most of my hardware and had it working with no configuration on my part that I decided to delve into it further. It is the only distribution that has been able to allow my mouse to work left-handed (buttons reversed) while not making the touchpad context-click when tapping. It has a lot of quirks but it by far was the easiest install I’ve ever had on my Acer Aspire 2000. If you’re interested read my How to install Ubuntu Linux on an Acer Aspire 2000. Your mileage may vary.

2005-02-22 00:06:00

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2005-02-22 00:06:00
On search for a cellphone
After two months of determining to put up with cell phone shortcomings and get one…I …rather the cell phone industry has failed me. Verizon has the coverage and network I want (CDMA) but falls behind with free minutes that start after I stop talking to people. Morever their tri-mode phone (LG-6100) doesnt have complete functionality with bitpim.

Sprint (also CDMA) has a decent phone (PM-8200) with full bitpim support with good pricing, but lacks service in some areas.

Both companies fail to offer good no-contract deals. I am not really considering GSM networks because of where I live (America). 

In related news T-Mobile has been hacked twice recently. See T-Mobile hacked again! [Removed dead link, no archive available]