From Bits to Bites &
Windshields to Worship

Though I am a self-proclaimed geek, my geeky-ness is only a small part of who I am. In fact, my relatively newfound interest in Linux has been influenced just as much by my concern for social justice. As Linux becomes more usable for a broader range of people, it is important to recognize the wide range of reasons why “common folks” (i.e. not “geeks”) might be using it and the social implications that entails. Equal support for Linux is not just about pleasing a few fussy geeks, it’s about social justice.

View entire post »

The time has come to once again begin contemplating the finer points of cell phones, plans, coverage, and pricing. For the past 6 years my wife and I have shared a Verizon family plan with my parents, who live in Virginia. At this point we were ready to consider all of the various possibilities when [...]

View entire post »

Could you go without using your computer (or smartphone, PDA, or other means of accessing the internet) for an entire day? That’s the question being asked by the minds behind Shutdown Day. So far they’ve gotten almost 10,000 people to commit to going offline for an entire day on this coming Saturday, May 3, 2008. Read on for more on why anyone would want to do this and whether I plan on shutting down on Saturday.

View entire post »

What do things like word processing and surfing the ‘net have to do with saving the environment? More than you might realize. In this day and age of constant connection it is increasingly common for households to have multiple computers left running 24/7. In addition, the marketplace’s push for us to constantly upgrade our computing equipment means that there is a lot of “e-waste” with lead or other toxic chemicals that is not being disposed of properly.

View entire post »

Web-based applications, or web apps for short, are continually popping up all over the internet as they promise us greater productivity, connectivity, and even entertainment. Such applications have only become feasible with the advent of constantly online high-speed connections like DSL and cable. In addition such applications become even more attractive now that you are [...]

View entire post »