Alan Wake : My Achievements(10)

Departure

You completed the game on Normal difficulty. - 40G


Tornado Wrangler

You calmed the fury of the storm. - 20G


What Light Through Yonder Window

It is the east, and the flaregun is the sun to 50 Taken. - 20G


Carny

You have heartlessly knocked over five defenseless can pyramids. - 10G


Couch Potato

You have watched every single TV show on offer. - 30G


The Lady of the Light

Cynthia Weaver has taken you to the Well-Lit Room. - 20G


Come One, Come All

You wiped out four Taken with a single flare. - 10G


Gatekeeper

Truly, you are the master of floodgates. - 10G


Two For the Price of One

You took out two Taken with a single barrel. - 10G


Drink 'Em Both Up

You drank 'em bot' up. - 10G

Gadgets : Samsung CLP-310 Colour Laser Printer

So I brought a Samsung CLP-310, because of the Ubuntu compatibility.

However, I discovered very quickly that the driver within Ubuntu, Foomatic/foo2qpdl isn't that compatible. The printout are dirty brown and the colour templates are awful, none work, plus side black is great and it does automatically recognise the printer.

So, you end up downloading the Samsung Unified Driver. Good news, Ubuntu instructions and they are simple and easy to follow. Bad news, the unified driver is closed-source and you can tell as the installer adds "Unified Driver Configuration" icon to your desktop and "Samsung Unified Driver" to your Application Menu, it stinks of Microsoft! Are Samsung trying to fill a gap or find a gap in the market?

Next dirty little addition is smfpd to your deamons, this is Samsung's unified solution to multi function printers connected via the LPT port, this was added due to a root level flaw in the previous version, but we are back to closed-source again and as you can probably guess, a USB only device has no need for this deamon. So, enter bum, or boot-up manager and deamon disabled, what is disappointing is the lack of description for this deamon, again something that would be done automatically in the open-source world.

So, driver installed enter the unified driver configuration and guess what? Two printers, one setup via Ubuntu/CUPS and one via Samsung Unified Driver, delete the Ubuntu/CUPS and Ubuntu will auto-reinstall at restart, the reason Samsung also create their own URI's for LPT and USB ports, again doubling there own work by not working with existing open-source methods for LPT/USB URI naming and creating the two printer issue. Messy, but I can live with it, so the Samsung Unified Driver Printer Driver needs configured because by default it selects the recommend and poor Foomatic/foo2qpdl printer driver, so after trial and error, I discovered that the correct setting is "Samsung CLP-310 Series (SPL-C)". The printouts look great and the colours are good, very good. The printer is quiet, it goes to sleep straight after printouts are complete, it is small, compact and cheap to run both electrically and on consumables.

It is a shame that Samsung's closed policy means a degree of messing around, but results are worth it for £90. I suggest Samsung should look at the policy on drivers and follow HP into open-source market.

Further Reading:
http://www.samsung.com

Graphic Novels : Irredeemable, Volume 3

So, good I ordered it twice. Actually, I forgot that I had pre-ordered it on Amazon. Oops! Anyway, Plutonian beaten in Volume 2 licks his wounds and remembers his child hood. While yet more surprises awaiting the remaining heroes about their own dirty secrets. I really enjoyed this volume and wanted more!

Official Boom Studios Website:
http://www.boom-studios.com

Ubuntu 10.04 : My Evolution hangs at startup

Interesting start to the morning, booted up Ubuntu 10.04 and opened Evolution, hangs? Force quit then try again, must be temporary. Nope, still hanging. Ok, so I search the forums and seek a fix and here it is;

1. End the process evolution-alarm-notify, Evolution should start
2. In Evolution perform a Backup of Settings, this seems to reindex the database
3. Problem solved
   

Official Evolution Website:
http://projects.gnome.org/evolution/index.shtml

Graphic Novels : The Authority, Revolution Book 1

Very strong piece of writing from Ed Brubaker, the writer responsible for the death of Steve Rogers, Captain America. Revolution is exactly as it sounds, a "what-if" a team of super heroes replaced the current government because they felt it was corrupt, would the people accept this change, did they want it? Political, dangerous and very entertaining.

Official Wildstorm Website:
http://www.wildstorm.com

Open Source : Support Open Source

One of the biggest problems for the development of open source is often cash and Open Source groups seems to think it is wrong to ask for donations. I personally believe that if you like a product and are financially able then donate, or buy something from their store. I try to do my bit, I have made a commitment to myself and open source that I will purchase, or donate at least once or even twice a year. This year a brought a few items from Ubuntu's store including the official mug, which seems to be able to hold a gallon of coffee!

Anyway, one of the easiest ways to the support the GNOME is by visiting the link below and adding the Amazon Search Plugin to your browser, so every time you search Amazon and make a purchase GNOME get a few pennies. Brilliantly simple, so Support Open Source, spread the love and the link.

Official GNOME Support Site:
http://www.gnome.org/friends/

Graphic Novels : Back to Brooklyn

In Back to Brooklyn, Garth Ennis tackles the mob and what would make a man turn on his "family". Polished, clever and extremely violent, all part of a great graphic novel.

Official Image Comics Website:
http://www.imagecomics.com