14 March 2024 - Free Software Part II

 Topics & Links of the Day:

• SpaceX's Starship Integrated Test Flight 3 occurred this morning.  Itgot much farther than LTF-2.  Still lots of work to do.  Mars is a long way off, but the first steps have been made.
  
• Crew8 arrived at the International Space Station, it's getting crowded there. Crew7 returns this week. The ISS has been continuously occupied for 23 years and counting.
  
• Marcus House does a great job in reviewing and giving the details of all space activities. Phenomenal close-up videos, better than any news channels.  Here is his channel on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@MarcusHouse  Check them out!
• Buy Microsoft Office:   <link>  Scroll down for the one-time, use forever 2021 version.
• Or, use the free On-line Office with a Microsoft Account:  <link>
• Or, LibreOffice is 100% free and does all the same things as Microsoft Office:  <link>
• Thunderbird is the best email client for Windows, and it's free:  <link>  It also does contacts and calendaring.
  
• The best way to look at Photos is IrfanView. <link> Fast opening, reviewing, minor edits, and slide shows.  Handles all formats transparently.
  
• The best way to look at Videos is is VLC. <link> Fast opening, reviewing, and flipping through multiple ones.  Handles all formats transparently.

 

7 Mar 2024 - Free Software

Topics of the Day:

• DelDot is having another meeting on the Old Baltimore Pike / Battle Drive intersection.  {link}  The Pencader Museum is against it.  Next meeting: Glasgow HS, March 25th, 5:30pm.
• There is a webpage {link} to report power outages.  Bob used the DelMarVa Power App to report his one-house outage.  (A device on the pole to his house failed, they fixed it in 4 hours)
• Check out O'Reilly Auto Parts part #121G {link}
• "In the beginning" AT&T Bell Labs wrote UNIX which they would only sell {link}.  Richard Stallman {link} thought "Information wants to be free" and wrote the free GNU. And that lead to Linux {link}.  Everything now seems to be based on Linux.
• What's the best browser is like asking what is the best car.  All have there advantages, except Microsoft's Internet Explorer.  Don't use IE.
• Different Browsers are like different models of cars to go to the same place.  Does it matter if you take a Ford or Chevy to go to the Walmart?  It shouldn't, where you are going, the web site, is more important.  Though I like my Toyota Prius and FireFox!
  
• How to security store, retrieve and use Passwords?  Use a Password Manager.  We like the free BitWarden.  {link}  Use an extension in your browser to automatically fill-in your saved passwords.