Weekly Digest
- 31 DIY backyard projects just in time for summer. http://t.co/E7m9uoCR6a 2014-04-08
- Why I subscribe to ballet Tumblr threads in my search for dance. http://t.co/wCaXxfIHcX 2014-04-07
Vim Colors
First thing to do if I’m going to use Vim as my default text editor, is to get the colors looking good.
First, I’ve downloaed a theme (for example distinguished.vim) and placed it in my newly created ~/.vim/colors folder.
Next, I created a ~/.vimrc file and entered the following contents:
syntax on
colorscheme distinguished
set t_Co=256
Finally, if I type in tput colors into a terminal window, it tells me I have 8 colors. Even though my themes still appear to work in Vim, an error gets reported upon opening Vim.
To fix this error, I’ve edited my ~/.bashrc file and entered the following line.
export TERM=xterm-256color
Now tput colors reports 256 colors and Vim no longer reports an error when automatically loading my distinguished.vim file.
For those looking for a new Vim color theme, here’s a good place to look and another list of 10 good ones via VimNinjas.
I must admit though… colors still seem to be a bit wacky for me, as they don’t match the theme examples listed on the web page.
Vim – lighting fast text editor
It sounds like “lightning fast” is just another typical headline for viral Facebook post, which automatically makes me feel as if I’m not giving Vim enough credit.
I typically use basic text when writing on my pc, and I sometimes create light code or html. Since I originally used a Windows machine, I have used Notepad, Context, Notepad++, etc. After moving to Linux, I was usually operating in gedit. It wasn’t until recently till I started shopping for another solution. Since we’re talking about BASIC TEXT, I felt it was pretty critical to choose an open source tool. I don’t like the idea of using a closed source tool in order to help me speak.
I have spent a bit of time looking, testing and reading comment and I think I’ve got a pretty good hold on the text editor options out there. The same names pop up pretty frequently… though one editor has always stood out as being a legend in this area, though it does not have a GUI. Vi or Vim.
I’m a big fan of not having to jump onto the mouse constantly, especially after realizing the RSI that the mouse was causing me.
What is Vim? Alan Thomas does a great job of introducing Vim and looks at it through the lens of “sentences”, comparing the keystrokes to nouns, verbs, etc. He also includes some great example uses.
So now the learning begins. This experience is much like when I had to force myself to touch type. I was slower at typing for a few days, but after 3 days of practice, I was almost twice as fast of a typist as I was before I touch-typed. Initial investment is pretty low compared to the benefits!
First step was to force myself to get comfortable in using hjkl in order to navigate around the page. The first 3 levels of VIM Adventure helped with that.
Other Vim Resources
Cheat Sheets
Vim common actions in catagories
Vim Quck Reference Card (PDF)
Best of Vim Tips
Like a Pro
Vim teaser quickly demonstrating some editing magic.
Ben Orenstein’s expert level vim talk (40 minutes) shows how deep you can get.
vimcasts.org/episodes/archive
Why learn Vim?
Best way to master
Is it worth the effort?
7 reasons Vim is your text editor
More Interactive Ways To Learn
OpenVim’s tutorial
Sitting at a Linux computer and want muscle memory to assist your text editing? As Alan reminds us, just type this in a terminal window:
vimtutor
Bookmarks in Nautilus
Using Nautilus 3.4.*, I decided it was time to rename/remove the distracting unused bookmarks in Nautilus (file explorer GUI).
Found this thread which has the solution.
In Nautilus click view > Show Hidden Files then from your home directory go to /.config/ in there you will find a file called user-dirs.dirs this contains the entries under ‘Computer’.
MAKE SURE TO BACK UP ANYTHING YOU CHANGE
If you change, for example, XDG_DOWNLOAD_DIR=”$HOME/Downloads to just XDG_DOWNLOAD_DIR=”$HOME/” the downloads folder will no longer show up under ‘Computer’ in the sidebar.
You can also just comment out every line, in which case it will only show ‘Home’, ‘File System’ and ‘Trash’. It will keep those other directories as bookmarks though so you can do what you like with them.
This will not remove the ‘Computer’ entry entirely, just remove its entries, but it will make it look considerably cleaner. Sorry I can’t help on the ‘Network’ Entry.
Sources: Personal experience trying to restore missing entries under ‘Computer’.
Animated Infographics
Stuxnet: Anatomy of a Computer Virus
tech history
Stuxnet: Anatomy of a Computer Virus from Patrick Clair on Vimeo.
Bitcoin Explained
the technical can be visable
Bitcoin Explained from Duncan Elms on Vimeo.
The Innovation of Loneliness
How we can become disconnected in all this connectedness.
The Innovation of Loneliness from Shimi Cohen on Vimeo.
Fracking explained – opportunity or danger
Fracking explained – opportunity or danger from Kurzgesagt on Vimeo.
Rear Window Timelapse
stich together the pieces of a Hitchcock mystery to get the whole picture
Rear Window Timelapse from Jeff Desom on Vimeo.
BBC KNOWLEDGE 60
BBC KNOWLEDGE 60 from iamrader on Vimeo.
GENESIS
We don’t have to get lost in the details.
Procrastination
What are you doing here?
Procrastination from Johnny Kelly on Vimeo.
Deutsche Telekom
or maybe keep it pretty and conceptual
Deutsche Telekom “Das Netz der Zukunft” from Original Program on Vimeo.
School Yearbooks
Just read the comments in my 9th grade school yearbook. I was a sweet, funny and annoying guy… who was to have a great summer.
I look very small in my class photo.
Newly Married
I sit here alone and think of her (she’s out climbing a wall right now).
I’m remembering the incredible friends she has and I see how well she gets along with mine. She treats other humans and animals respect, yet doesn’t hesitate to share how she feels. Artistic. Dancy. Giving and not materialistic. She is showing me a whole new level of empathy and trust.
She gave me a bracelet for my birthday. Leather straps holding a plate that has the geographic coordinates of the beach that we met on.
Funny to realize that I spent so much of my life not even allowing myself to feel what I feel right now.
I don’t consider myself “lucky”, but I am very grateful and I will do all I can in order to be worthy of such a gift.
Oh yeah… and she sent me this, so that I could send it back to her via her new email address, containing her new name. POW!
Interview w/ Noah Bradley
Artist Noah Bradley says it’s OK to go to art school, but only if it’s free. He feels that the debt that art school creates for artists is hurting them. Artists don’t make a lot of money yet art school can be incredibly expensive. He has even refused teaching at universities, however he does perform online training classes. I came across this interview while reading a thread on creating art that impacts the world.
Can You Read My Eyes?
New York Times just posted an emotion test on their website. There are dozens of images of sets of eyes and you are asked to pick one of four emotion options. At the end you get a score. Find out just how much emotion the windows the the soul reveal.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/03/well-quiz-the-mind-behind-the-eyes/
