festive felicitations

Hey all!

I hope everyone had a fun Christmas/Hannukah/Kwanzaa period and are looking forward to a prosperous New Year.

As an aside, my official Ubuntu cds arrived in the post yesterday, so I have 4 going spare. If you wish to avail yourself of one, just holler and I'll send it to you! I will even waive the P&P charge (it is Christmas after all!)

Timmy "Have a magic 2006" Magic

ubuntu linux

I have recently made the move from Windows ME to Ubuntu Linux Breezy Badger and thought I would post to let you know how I am getting on.
(Ubuntu is a South African concept of humanity towards others)

For a start, Linux uses the resources available on the machine much more effectively. During installation it asks what you intend to use the computer for, and only installs the required software (eg network software, graphics programs and music players as per your needs). It makes use of some of the best free software on the market, including the cross-platform web browser, Firefox, which I use on my desktop in addtion to on my laptop and the GIMP, one of the best graphics programs around. Another great bit of software is OpenOffice.org which offers compatability for the entire MS Office suite as well as Adobe PDF support.

What is best of all is the fact that all of this is free. Linux advocates open source software, that is to say, the source code is freely available to be tweaked and changed to suit your requirements. As a result of this, even getting the CDs to install the operating system are free. To save on postage costs, and to widen the Linux usage, Ubuntu's Shipit system offer free postage of CDs, which are distributed as minimum orders of 5 discs. Do let me know if you want one - I have 4 going spare when they arrive.

The system requirements for the full installation are very low by today's standards, requiring only 128 megabytes of RAM & 2 gigabytes of hard drive space for desktop installation and 64 megabytes of RAM and 500 megabytes of hard drive space for server installation.

So if you are looking to broaden your computing horizons, or have a unused and antiquated PC lying around, Linux, and Ubuntu, might be the way to go!

Timmy "Blogging from Ubuntu" Magic

translations via MM

Further to the comments made the other day about playing a Dekan Jones piece at Expressions, there is soon to be a concert at Wembley by the famous pop group, "Nehmen sie", supported by the French group, "Prenez qui"

Timmy "Take What?" Magic

the chronicles of narnia

The time has arrived - the first film of the Narnia series, but as I said of the Lord of the Rings series, I won't see the film until I have read the books. This time round, however, I have started to read the series (actually I have finished the first book, 'The Magician's Nephew') and am really enjoying it. It is well worth a read.

Official Film Site

IMDB Site

Timmy "The Magician" Magic

bbc blogging

If you got the chance to see "Have I Got News For You?" this week, you will have seen the BBC's political editor and Andrew Marr's replacement, Nick Robinson. Nick Robinson has a blog, the BBC's first, on which he comments on the current UK and world political climate as well as his episode of HIGNFY and his debut as a Queen musician.

Here is the link to his blog, with his latest post talking of Charles Kennedy and his leadership issues with the Liberal Democrats.

Timmy "has a blog" Magic

lack of pictures

Thankfully I now have new hosting and a new URL - which means the pictures and other files will soon be speeding back when I get round to changing ALL the links to suit the new arrangements.

Also, the site can now be accessed through www.magicmusings.co.uk

Timmy "magicmusings.co.uk" Magic

magic - 6 weeks on

It has been about 6 weeks since I last posted, and my web hosting is still being stupid!

Having said this, lots of things have been happening!

* The Conservatives are looking for a new leader
* George Bush is President during the Gulf War
* Take That are popular

Hang on... are we still in 2005 or have we warped back to the early 90's?

For those of you who are out of the loop, I have stopped working too many hours at the Rink, and now work in R&D at THQ.

I have also passed my interview and medical for the Metropolitan Police. I am hoping to start as a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) in the New Year. I will, of course, keep you updated with the progress of my training and job.

Over and out!

Timmy "PCSO" Magic