Back in the day, I struggled through learning LaTeX for several reasons, one of which was the superb Computer Modern fonts that it comes with. Was there a chance that one could use said fonts in other contexts--like, say, a word processor?
Enter Latin Modern, a slightly-edited version of CM for other contexts. Last week I downloaded and installed LM on my laptop and have set it up for my word processor, my terminal emulator, web browsers... The most random and pointless sites now look the very picture of dignity!
"Font" means "source". Beautiful fonts are a source of beauty, and it is only right that we make use of them.
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Lenovo Thinkcentre: Odd BIOS beeps, hangs on boot
My desktop computer, a Lenovo Thinkcentre M52 9211, suddenly refused to boot the other day. Instead, it would give a series of beeps: three, then one, then three, then four. Then it would do nothing (except run the fan).
After digging around online, I found this gem:
http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/T61-and-prior-T-series-ThinkPad/Beep-code-3-1-4-3/td-p/44259
It's for a different line of Lenovos, but the basic idea was that by taking out the RAM and blowing away any dust, the computer could be restored to normal working order (after re-inserting the RAM, naturally). So that's what I tried.
And it worked. :)
I wonder if this holds true for all Lenovos? All IBM PCs?
After digging around online, I found this gem:
http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/T61-and-prior-T-series-ThinkPad/Beep-code-3-1-4-3/td-p/44259
It's for a different line of Lenovos, but the basic idea was that by taking out the RAM and blowing away any dust, the computer could be restored to normal working order (after re-inserting the RAM, naturally). So that's what I tried.
And it worked. :)
I wonder if this holds true for all Lenovos? All IBM PCs?
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Removing reviewers' names from MS Word comments
This is too cool!
Needed to review a ms's reviewer's name/initials from a Word file. A search led me to http://cybertext.wordpress.com/2013/04/10/word-removing-reviewer-names/ where I found a solution.
In my case, I tried using a standard text editor (from Linux: gedit) to edit the zipped document(s), but for some reason that corrupted the file and Word wouldn't recognize it any more.
Next I tried completely unzipping the files and editing them on OS X. Again, problems opening the docx after I rezipped the file.
Finally, I opened MacVim, dragged the zip file onto it, and was able to browse the archived files in MV. I did a couple quick substitutions as per the directions above, and then saved and quit. Upon reopening the Word file, all looks perfect!
Neat to see how some rather technical skills can solve significant acquisitions/publishing issues!
Needed to review a ms's reviewer's name/initials from a Word file. A search led me to http://cybertext.wordpress.com/2013/04/10/word-removing-reviewer-names/ where I found a solution.
In my case, I tried using a standard text editor (from Linux: gedit) to edit the zipped document(s), but for some reason that corrupted the file and Word wouldn't recognize it any more.
Next I tried completely unzipping the files and editing them on OS X. Again, problems opening the docx after I rezipped the file.
Finally, I opened MacVim, dragged the zip file onto it, and was able to browse the archived files in MV. I did a couple quick substitutions as per the directions above, and then saved and quit. Upon reopening the Word file, all looks perfect!
Neat to see how some rather technical skills can solve significant acquisitions/publishing issues!
Friday, February 21, 2014
Blinking Question Mark, and a Novel Solution
Well, that was interesting...
A co-worker told me that one of our iMacs was booting to blinking question mark. Bad #1.
Oh, and before it got to the blinking, it made loud clicking-grinding noises. Bad #2.
When I tried following Apple's directions to re-select the start-up disk, it froze at a gray screen--but oddly gave me a moveable mouse cursor. Apple didn't mention this as a possibility. Bad #3.
When I inserted the install CD, it went... back to the blinking question mark. Bad #4.
Tried zapping PRAM. Blink. Bad #5.
More for curiosity's sake than anything else, I grabbed a thumb drive with an x86 install of Arch Linux on it. Reboot.
IT BOOTED!!! TO OS X!!!
Weirder yet: I removed the thumb drive, and now it boots properly.
Bizarre. Totally bizarre. Could be coincidence, or not. But worth a shot if you ever get stuck with similar situation.
A co-worker told me that one of our iMacs was booting to blinking question mark. Bad #1.
Oh, and before it got to the blinking, it made loud clicking-grinding noises. Bad #2.
When I tried following Apple's directions to re-select the start-up disk, it froze at a gray screen--but oddly gave me a moveable mouse cursor. Apple didn't mention this as a possibility. Bad #3.
When I inserted the install CD, it went... back to the blinking question mark. Bad #4.
Tried zapping PRAM. Blink. Bad #5.
More for curiosity's sake than anything else, I grabbed a thumb drive with an x86 install of Arch Linux on it. Reboot.
IT BOOTED!!! TO OS X!!!
Weirder yet: I removed the thumb drive, and now it boots properly.
Bizarre. Totally bizarre. Could be coincidence, or not. But worth a shot if you ever get stuck with similar situation.
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