Tp-Fancontrol Thinkpad T61 Ubuntu Intrepid

Here are step-by-step instructions of how I got tp-fancontrol up and running on my Thinkpad T61, running Ubuntu Intrepid Ibex 8.10. First, download these files (right click on them, ’save target as’):

• Download tp-fancontrol script
• Download init Debian script
• Download configuration file for init script

In console, go into the directory where these… Continue reading...

Google History - Big Brother’s Watching?

Did you know… that Google keeps your search history? I didn’t till about a couple of days ago. As long as you have a Google account, all of your search history — including but not limited to web, images, videos, news, maps…etc. — is stored for your convenient viewing! For example, my oldest… Continue reading...

Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex - ThinkPad Middle Button Scrolling - EmulateWheel

Due to the changes in Xorg in Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid, middle button scrolling stopped working. Gone the days of simply emulating right from Xorg. Thanks to Phil, here’s the solution:
Instead of modifying your xorg.conf, create a new file called /etc/hal/fdi/policy/mouse-wheel.fdi with the following contents:

<match key=”info.product” string=”TPPS/2 IBM TrackPoint”>
<merge key=”input.x11_options.EmulateWheel” type=”string”>true</merge>
<merge key=”input.x11_options.EmulateWheelButton” type=”string”>2</merge>
<merge key=”input.x11_options.XAxisMapping”… Continue reading...

Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex - ThinkFinger Fingerprint Reader

Upon upgrading to the Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex on my Thinkpad T61, ThinkFinger appears to have stopping working. After furthur investigating, I discovered that I needed to hit “Enter” every time after sweeping my finger. So here’s the solution to getting it working without the carriage-return:

1. Open up your xorg.conf file:
   sudo nano

Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex: Almost Out!

In a couple of hours, the latest and brightest version of Ubuntu — the Intrepid Ibex — is due to be released! I’m really looking forward to upgrading my Thinkpad T61 to the latest release. Some of the key features of the new Ubuntu 8.10:
Ubuntu 8.10 Desktop Edition is designed for the pervasively… Continue reading...

Monopolistic Lawn Mower

It turns out that your neighbour next door is not — like you expected — a small house with a green lawn, but instead,  a giant, concrete, multi-national office tower.

It turns out also, that they do nothing but sell lawn mowers. As a matter of fact, they’re the only guys in town who… Continue reading...

Akismet New Feature: Akismet Stats!

The latest version of Akismet now comes with a new feature: the ability to display spam statistic from the first day Akismet was activated on your blog.

The stats are divided into a number of categories, with monthly detailed graphs and charts. Upgrade to the latest version of Akismet, and you’ll find the stats under “Plugins… Continue reading...

The Internet Fascinates Me

The internet is truly amazing. On the eve of my Organizational Behaviour midterm exam, I saw the following search queries on Google that led to my entry about UBC Exams:
comm 292 ubc midterm
comm 292 ubc midterm tips
ubc comm 292 midterm past
Something about the internet really clicks with me. Something about the ability that… Continue reading...

Firefox 3: Hotmail “Browser Upgrade”

Lately, I’ve been getting the following message from Hotmail every time I try to login to my account through Firefox 3.03 running Ubuntu Hard Heron:
Upgrade your web browser
We recommend that you upgrade your web browser so you can get the most out of Windows Live Hotmail. Upgrading should only take a few minutes. To get… Continue reading...

Gnome Do: Clean Ubuntu Desktop

This is what my latest desktop looks like. Simple. Clean. Beautiful.

With Gnome Do, everything on my laptop’s only a few keystrokes away.