The application indicator for Ubuntu called Sound Switcher Indicator (which I blogged about) has been updated to version 1.1.1. There’s no new functionality in this release, its main purpose is to make the indicator work in Ubuntu 13.10 (Saucy Salamander). It was broken because of a bug in libdbusmenu.
I’ve done something useful in my spare time. I crafted a website for my aikido school (or dojo) called Aikikai Amersfoort, which is now located at aikikai-amersfoort.nl.
The former website was really ancient-looking, built back in 2004 and totally outdated. For example, one had to download an .avi file if they wanted to watch a video. YouTube did not exist at that remote moment.
My today’s story is about a well-known yet impressive graphic editing technique called multiplicity. It allows you to multiply objects on a photo—most commonly people, but it can be just as well kittens or lawn-mowers. Using this technique, you can make pictures like this:
I’m a Linux guy and hence my favourite graphic editing tool is Gimp, but the same can be done with any other editor that supports layers and masks.
Recently I’ve discovered a peculiar feature of my M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 speakers.
Last weekend I’ve finally got to visit the most eminent, in every meaning, place in Amersfoort. Since I’d come to live here, my country has changed its president twice, one of them has divorced and the other has made quite a few equally destructive achievements, yet I failed to take my time to get to it.
In the brochure of Spoffin I found a discount coupon for climbing the tower for € 2.50 instead of € 4. The coupon was valid until August 31st, which conveniently fell on Saturday. This chance we couldn’t miss.
It’s August again, which means festival time in Amersfoort! In the beginning of the month there’s usually the world-famous Gay Pride in Holland. The main venue is, of course, Amsterdam, but many other cities, including Amersfoort, hold smaller parades. However in the beginning of August I was in Tyumen, so I won’t tell you anything about that.
Sagres is a small town in western Algarve. It is noteworthy mainly for the nearby Sagres Point (Ponta de Sagres) and its fortress.
Our tour guide described Alte, which is 20 km northwards of Albufeira, as “the most picturesque village in Algarve”. To verify this statement one would have to travel around all other Algarvian villages, so let’s take it on trust.
Albufeira is a main tourist destination. Fair enough, given its vast ocean beach and three hundred sunny days a year.
Concerning the car we rented at our hotel in Albufeira, where we were staying.
Recently I’ve visited Portugal for the first time in my life. The everlasting Dutch off-season makes one long for sun, and where else in Europe can you secure a sunny place, except maybe the Canaries? This spring in Europe is particularly poor, full of floods and cold, so Portugal appears to be the best option for the continental part.
We’ve decided to go for its south coast, the Algarve region. Where the Atlantic Ocean, endless beaches, real waves and the edge of the world are. But first things first.
Warning: tons of photos under the cut!
It’s been two years of suffering from the speakers built into my iMac. The speakers, despite all Apple’s marketing noise and even two 17 Watt power amps, suck big time. I’ve already connected my AV receiver via Bluetooth, but it’s quite a hassle to start it up every time. Another issue is that Logitech Bluetooth adapter gives a very low output level, which requires setting receiver’s volume to -20 dB every time I power it up.