Wow. It’s been forever since I wrote anything on this blog, let alone anything personal. Regardless, I think it’s time I try to catch up a little.
A lot is changing right now, and will continue to change for the rest of this year. To start off, my best friend is off to Army Basic Training tomorrow, so that will be a pretty big change. I’ve also quit the bad habits I picked up over the last few years, and I’m already starting to feel better. I’m graduating my early college high school program a semester early, so I’ll be off to a real college in January 2011. I’m very seriously considering the University of North Carolina at Charlotte because of its proximity to my current location. It will get me away from where I am now, but I’ll also be close enough to visit family and old friends whenever I get the urge. I think it will be fairly easy for me to get into UNCC, so I’m not too worried about it. I’m ready to get into a new environment where I can kind of start over. In the meantime, there are a lot of things I want to change about myself during this year. Since most of my time will be for myself, I’m starting an exercise regimen. I’m also really trying to get myself into a positive, healthy state of mind. I’ve never been the strongest person, but I know I can be if I keep trying. Change does hurt, but I know it will all be worth it very soon.
Posted by John Mairs on Mar 08 2010 under Life
I just noticed today that Firefox 3 on Mac OS X was still using the familiar but ancient Google favicon in the searchbar. I, of course, Googled for a guide to updating this. I went with the first one that I found, but unfortunately it was only for Windows. It was easy to figure it out for Mac however, so I’m saving you about five minutes with this simple guide!
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Many companies and organizations use web filters such as Websense to filter what users may and may not access using their internet connection. There are many web-based proxies that quickly get around these filters, but they often end up being added to the block list of the content filters. In the past, I’ve used AnchorFree’s HotSpot Sheild. However, it puts adverts at the top of every page and has grown increasingly unreliable. Today, however, I happened upon Vidalia. Vidalia is a cross-platform TOR controller. In English, Vidalia allows you to connect to the internet by going through a number of other computers. This means that you are only making one, unfiltered connection using your company’s internet connection. Another computer then grabs the information you request (ie., MySpace.com), downloads it, and then sends it to you through that one connection. The advantages to this are that you get unfiltered internet while still being able to access local network services.
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Earlier today, I was trying to figure out how to type the infinity sign in Mac OS X. I Googled for a bit, and I came across these handy character sheets. There are a total of three PDFs that outline some of the lesser-used and lesser-known characters and the keystrokes used to enter them.
I decided to start a new weekly column-ette (if you will). Just quick, short technological tips to make your life easier.
So, I decided my first weekly tip is going to be to use OpenDNS!
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My school has a Mac lab, but unfortunately doesn’t really have an administrator for that lab. The lab consists of 20 of the newest iMacs, plus one quad-core Mac Pro with dual 20″ Apple Cinema Displays. I’ve taken on the task of assisting the instructor for that lab in kind of locking down the Macs.
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Posted by John Mairs on Apr 15 2008 under School, Tech
After over a year of inactivity, I’ve decided to give this blogging thing another go. I’m going to try to get posts out related to the technology industry. I certainly don’t intend to go out of my way to post every day, but hopefully I can provide information that someone somewhere will find useful.
Hooray! I’ve ordered a 2GHz white Macbook with 2GB RAM and a mini-DVI to DVI adapter.
I can’t wait!
Apple needs to SHIP FASTER.
So, I just saw a new holiday edition of Apple’s Mac & PC ads. It shows PC dressed in a festive red sweatshirt, and Mac wearing simply a blue shirt. They exchange gifts. For PC, Mac makes an iPhoto booklet of all the pictures of them in commercials together. Mac receives a C++ GUI Programming Guide, due to PC’s obsession with it.
Doesn’t really show a NEW point, but it is a nice and somewhat humorous holiday ad. And PC looks fat in red.
Update: Apple just posted the new videos to their site. Also, MacRumors posted an article on it. However, I’ll have you know that I beat MacRumors by 1 hour, 55 minutes.
Posted by John Mairs on Nov 27 2006 under Apple
