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2007-04-11

25 Reasons to Convert to Linux


Businesses, educational institutions, governmental agencies and other organizations around the world are converting1 their computer operating systems from Microsoft Windows to Linux at an increasing pace. They are likewise converting their application programs from commercial software to free software (also referred to as open source software

http://www.bellevuelinux.org/reasons_to_convert.html

Island Monks Fly in Satellite to Watch Pope Funeral

Island Monks Fly in Satellite to Watch Pope Funeral
Fri Apr 8, 2005 8:33 AM BST

LONDON (Reuters) - Monks living on an island off the west coast of Wales have flown in a satellite dish to watch the Pope's funeral on Friday.

Caldey Abbey, on Caldey Island, is home to the monks of the contemplative Cistercian order which follows a strict routine of prayer and work throughout the day and observes vows of silence every evening.

They already own a television set, although it has not been used for some time, but the satellite is needed to pick up the signal from Rome.

The monks have promised to return the dish once the funeral is over.

http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/002045.html

Zen cycling

A Zen teacher saw five of his students returning from the market, riding
their bicycles. When they arrived at the monastery and had dismounted, the
teacher asked the students, "Why are you riding your bicycles?"

The first student replied, "The bicycle is carrying this sack of potatoes. I
am glad that I do not have to carry them on my back!" The teacher praised
the first student. "You are a smart boy! When you grow old, you will not walk
hunched over like I do."

The second student replied, "I love to watch the trees and fields pass by as
I roll down the path!" The teacher commended the second student, "Your eyes
are open, and you see the world."

The third student replied, "When I ride my bicycle, I am content to chant
nam myoho renge kyo." The teacher gave his praise to the third student, "Your
mind will roll with the ease of a newly trued wheel."

The fourth student replied, "Riding my bicycle, I live in harmony with all
sentient beings." The teacher was pleased and said to the fourth student, "You
are riding on the golden path of non-harming."

The fifth student replied, "I ride my bicycle to ride my bicycle." The
teacher sat at the feet of the fifth student and said, "I am your student."

http://www.velonews.com/news/fea/7418.0.html

Welcome to Electric Fence On-line

Welcome to Electric Fence On-line. Specialist online suppliers of the HOTLINE/RENCO range of electrical fencing products. When it comes to keeping livestock in, protecting paddocks, fields and crops or keeping predators out, the HOTLINE range of electric fencing and netting will support almost any electric fencing application. If you need an electric fence, you will find the electric fencing components you need here

http://www.electricfence-online.co.uk/index.html

Also poultry

http://www.electricfence-online.co.uk/ishop/1047/shopscr403.html

Don Dunklee's DIY Solar Cycle

[M]ost of us would probably end up charging our electric bikes with the garage power outlet. But not Don. In true Treehugger style, he's converted his EVT 4000E into a mobile electric solar power station...

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/04/don_dunkees_diy.php

Wireless Binds Tibetan Exiles

"Nothing is independent. Everything is related and interdependent. We have to connect with each other, and for connecting we need communication. And for communication now there are tremendous facilities (through technology) ... and it is very good." - Samdhong Rinpoche

http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2006/08/71608

The World's Most Energy Efficient Vehicle

Comparing energy used per passenger-mile (calories), they found that a bicycle needed only 35 calories, whereas a car expended a whopping 1,860.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/07/world_most_ener.php

The Bicycle is the World's Most Popular Vehicle

1.4 billion bicycles can't be wrong

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/08/the_bicycle_is.php

Einstein At Least 99.95 Percent Right

A team at the University of Manchester have used three years worth of data on a pair of pulsars as a litmus test, against which they've tested Einstein's theory. From the article:

"Though all the independent tests available in the double pulsar system agree with Einstein's theory, the one that gives the most precise result is the time delay, known as the Shapiro Delay, which the signals suffer as they pass through the curved space-time surrounding the two neutron stars. It is close to 90 millionths of a second and the ratio of the observed and predicted values is 1.0001 +/- 0.0005 - a precision of 0.05%. A number of other relativistic effects predicted by Einstein can also be observed. "We see that, due to its mass, the fabric of space-time around a pulsar is curved. We also see that the pulsar clock runs slower when it is deeper in the gravitational field of its massive companion, an effect known as "time dilation".

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/09/060914094623.htm

Imagining the 10th Dimension

Welcome to the website for Imagining the Tenth Dimension, a book by Rob Bryanton. This website utilizes Macromedia Flash animation technology and requires the most recent version of Flash to be installed in order for the site to be viewed correctly. It is also recommended that you have a broadband internet connection. A text-only version of the site has been provided if your system cannot meet the requirements or if you are just looking for something simple

http://www.tenthdimension.com/flash.php

Hologram

Streets before cars

At the beginning of the 20th century, before the massive proliferation of cars, most roads were traditionally freely available to all.

http://www.zing.icom43.net/streets/index.html

Animal Photos

http://animal-pix.blogspot.com/2007/04/animal-love.html

Ficlets

A ficlet is a short story that enables you to collaborate with the world.

Once you’ve written and shared your ficlet, any other user can pick up the narrative thread by adding a prequel or sequel. In this manner, you may know where the story begins, but you’ll never guess where (or even if!) it ends.

http://ficlets.com/

Solar power breakthrough

New solar cells developed by Massey University don't need direct sunlight to operate and use a patented range of dyes that can be impregnated in roofs, window glass and eventually even clothing to produce power.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/bayofplenty/4017784a11.html

Why Use Software Illegally When You Can Use Legally ….

If you run Linux and install free software, you won’t have to worry about this ever again! Most of free (as in free speech) software is free (as in free beer). You can find a free replacement for most of the commercial software out there. They might lack some of the advanced functionality, but they’ll be more than enough for most people. Here’s a list of some commercial software, and their open source equivalents

http://linux.wordpress.com/2007/04/08/why-use-software-illegally-when-you-can-use-legally/

Worldprocessor

Multiply the number of daily TV deaths by the number of people owning TV sets and subtract that number from the population. Most nations would disappear on a daily basis.

http://worldprocessor.com/catalog/world/