A little background on myself, and thoughts to a new 'blog-column'
Posted 03-23-2016 at 10:13 AM by goumba
Hey guys,
So, a little about me. Until a few years back, I was a big computer nerd. I still use Linux exclusively, but I used to spend every spare waking hour (that I wasn't working my day job which was typically 12-16 hours a day) just killing time. I know UNIX and Linux, but never really delved too deep.
Enter the big D word, which I blamed on my time wasting in front a computer. Where did my life go? I hit 35 years old, and 'd' set in big time. Not where I wanted to kill myself, but the point where for the past few years I would just spend my time staring at the walls because I figured nothing else was worth it.
Now recently I've come to realize that computers aren't evil, it was just I didn't have enough discipline to realize when I had wasted enough time. So, I'm considering picking up the hobby again, but being careful.
I used to enjoy writing. Along with 'd', creativity goes out the window, so I haven't done that either. Many attempts have failed.
So I've come up with an idea. I had a lightbulb moment this morning, and decided maybe I should start using this blog more. The idea that came to mind was to bring to light commands that users may or may not know, may not now how to use properly, but are definitely worth knowing.
A quick search and I couldn't turn up great results, although like any web search it all depends on the keyworks used. I'm sure there's a similar blog out there buried somewhere. However, the goal is to be of benefit of myself as well as you the reader, so why not?
The first subject would be the command I just used while creating an image of a thumb drive I accidentally erased. No, it's not 'dd'. Are you tired of not knowing dd's progress? Sure, you could use kill along with SIGUSR1, but I have noticed at times it kills the process altogether.
Enter pv. Who knows it even exists? How many of you use it?
So, what do you think? Would you all be interested? If I go on, is there a command you'd like to see explored?
So, a little about me. Until a few years back, I was a big computer nerd. I still use Linux exclusively, but I used to spend every spare waking hour (that I wasn't working my day job which was typically 12-16 hours a day) just killing time. I know UNIX and Linux, but never really delved too deep.
Enter the big D word, which I blamed on my time wasting in front a computer. Where did my life go? I hit 35 years old, and 'd' set in big time. Not where I wanted to kill myself, but the point where for the past few years I would just spend my time staring at the walls because I figured nothing else was worth it.
Now recently I've come to realize that computers aren't evil, it was just I didn't have enough discipline to realize when I had wasted enough time. So, I'm considering picking up the hobby again, but being careful.
I used to enjoy writing. Along with 'd', creativity goes out the window, so I haven't done that either. Many attempts have failed.
So I've come up with an idea. I had a lightbulb moment this morning, and decided maybe I should start using this blog more. The idea that came to mind was to bring to light commands that users may or may not know, may not now how to use properly, but are definitely worth knowing.
A quick search and I couldn't turn up great results, although like any web search it all depends on the keyworks used. I'm sure there's a similar blog out there buried somewhere. However, the goal is to be of benefit of myself as well as you the reader, so why not?
The first subject would be the command I just used while creating an image of a thumb drive I accidentally erased. No, it's not 'dd'. Are you tired of not knowing dd's progress? Sure, you could use kill along with SIGUSR1, but I have noticed at times it kills the process altogether.
Enter pv. Who knows it even exists? How many of you use it?
So, what do you think? Would you all be interested? If I go on, is there a command you'd like to see explored?
Total Comments 4
Comments
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Well, your post has already got double the views that my first blog-post got, so there's clearly some interest even if no one has responded yet. Personally, I've never used 'pv'. I have recently discovered 'xclip' though and that's been a game changer for me and my workflows.
Most folks write blog posts to scratch an itch. If writing a blog posts pleases or entertains you then go for it! I doesn't really matter if no one reads them... which is probably just as well as I don't think the LQ blog section is really all that active.
Posted 03-26-2016 at 09:31 AM by GazL 
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I balance my computer time with outdoor projects to keep on a even keel with how much time I spend online.
For example. This weekend has been re-furbish 1950's Youngstown Ohio Steel Kitchen cabinets weekend .
I picked them up for free and they are in sad rusted condition.
Marble stone tops and a hammered Rustoleum spray can paint job with white interiors for shelves and doors should tune them up quite nicely.
For the Linux stuff. I keep a pastebin account for my own documentation.
I used to keep a blog
http://yatsite.blogspot.com/
But after becoming a distro team member. I decided I needed to give something up. So the blog was chosen.
My blog here is not so serious as my old one. I post stuff there when
Like mentioned previously above. So I do not take the one I have here as serious. So not as much work as my previous blog goes into doing mine here.Quote:to scratch an itch
Which gives me time to read and reply to yours.Posted 03-27-2016 at 11:31 AM by rokytnji
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Ya know guys, thanks. I had let life get in the way again and got sidetracked. Six months later I doubt you'll even read this, but thank you.
I know a blog is to "scratch an itch"... my "itch" as with Linux as well as in life is to help others. I'm not talking some grand sacrifice type of help, but just the little things that normally no one would think about, such as in this case: helping someone to discover something new about their PC that would be *useful*. This case, I figured I'd get some use as well, learning new things myself.
I'm on my way to Best Buy to get myself a cheap netbook for my long commutes, in which I'll be able to play with this idea more.
As far as the widespread knowledge of these blogs... yeah, I hate to say they probably go unnoticed as they're at the bottom of the menu. How many people really look there?Posted 09-27-2016 at 09:17 AM by goumba
Updated 09-27-2016 at 09:18 AM by goumba -
I love the cabinets!
Posted 09-28-2016 at 09:54 AM by vmccord
