Flash Player 9 for Linux released : Quick install for Ubuntu Dapper

Adobe Flash Player 9 is finally out of beta ! No more feeling like a second class netizen on "flashy" sites !

Here's how I installed it on Ubuntu Dapper (the package is for Debian Sarge, but seems to work fine):

Download flashplugin-nonfree.

Use right-click, "Save Link As ..." and save it to \tmp.

$ cd /tmp

$ sudo dpkg -i flashplugin-nonfree_9.0.21.78.4~bpo1_i386.deb

(you'll be prompted for your password, and once you provide it, the install should happen)

You can check if it worked by typing about:plugins into the URL box in Firefox. You should see something like "Shockwave Flash 9.0 d78" on that page.

Now go view some F-F-F-Flash cartoons :) (I don't think Homerstarrunner requires Flash 9, but it's the only Flash site I use on any regular basis)

Changing "Illustration" to "Figure" in OpenOffice Writer

I've decided to try and use OpenOffice Writer properly .. like take advantage of some of its more powerful features rather than just using it as a text editor with formatting.

For drafting manuscripts of scientific papers, pictures/photos/illustrations etc are usually referred to as "Figures", however when inserting a picture via "Insert -> Picture -> From File .." the default behavior of OpenOffice is to use the caption "Illustration". This will not do.

From the OpenOffice Writer Guide, Chapter 8 [pdf], here is how to get it to use "Figure" by default:

• Open the "Tools -> Options –> OpenOffice.org Writer—> AutoCaption" dialog box.

• Under "Add captions automatically when inserting section", check
OpenOffice.org Writer Picture, and make sure its checkbox is ticked.

• Under the Category drop-down list, enter the name that you want added,
eg, Figure, in the place by overwriting any sequence name in the list (it will probably have "Illustration", before you overwrite it.) I also like my Figure label bold, so I also selected "Strong Emphasis" from the "Character Style" dropdown box. Press OK to save the changes.

Now you can insert a Picture using "Insert -> Picture -> From File .." and the label should be "Figure", not "Illustration". The picture comes in its own frame, and you can edit the figure legend directly in the document.

Hmmm ... Latex is not looking so bad again ....

I submitted my PhD thesis, and all I got was this crappy balloon

Well, it's not really all that crappy ... the balloon is a nice happy gesture to mark the occasion. I even got to pick the colour. It took me far too long to write and submit this thing, it's a relief to not have to look at it for a few months. My thesis, entitled "The structure of outer mitochondrial protein import receptors", may well be the first Creative Commons Licensed thesis submitted in Australia (although I doubt it) . Once it's been examined (hopefully I pass), I'll release it online and allow everyone to poke holes and rip it to shreds (or they can poke at the associated peer reviewed publication instead .. unfortunately it's probably not Open Access).

Afterthought: One thing that slowed down the final submission was the bloody Latex typesetting. I'm a Latex novice, and while I really like the final result, Latex is an abomination (much like Perl).

---

Update, 15th October, 2007.

I've finally got around to submitting the final post-examination version of my thesis to the University of Melbourne ePrints server. You can get a PDF copy of my thesis here. I used the xmpincl Latex macro to embed XMP Creative Commons licensing data into the final PDF version generated by pdflatex. I probably didn't get the format of the licensing XML exactly right, but I'm sure it will be good enough that search engines can (or will one day) determine the correct licensing for the work.

I have bags under my eyes ... and a Wii

We stayed up late to collect a pre-ordered Wii at JB Hifi in the city last night. The midnight release 'party' was really funny with lots of nintendo fanboys hanging around playing their Nintendo DS handhelds in the queue.

So I've had about 2 hours to play it (Wii Sports Bowling, Wii Play ping pong, shooting, pose) and it's really fun.

There were a few small glitches getting connected to my Linksys WRT54G wireless router. Initially I was getting an "Error 51130" when trying to connect to the network. I needed to use the full WEP key in hex, not the passphrase to get it to connect to the router. Also, I need to turn the routers wireless mode from "G-only" to "Mixed" .. presumably the Wii uses 802.11b, not 802.11g ?

During the initial update I then got an "Error 32002" (after 5 mins or so of downloading) .. to solve this one I just tried again and it worked.

Also, the User Agreement "click-wrap" for the Wii network sucks ... nothing new really ... Nintendo owns your soul etc (WiiConnect24 can update YOUR machine with THEIR hacks [er .. patches] to get around your useful software modifications at any time, no questions asked). Anyhow .. for the moment I'm forgetting all this nastiness and just enjoying playing it .. in the future I may have to diconnect it from the network in order to run Linux on it ...

Now, I think I can fit in one quick game before work ... :)

First Online EMBL PhD Symposium

This looks interesting ... the First Online EMBL PhD Symposium, a sort of 'online' conference for the life sciences. Everybody with a scientific background is invited to participate. Registration is free.

The programme (Career Development Session, Omics Session / Systems Biology, Scientific Communication 2.0 and Participant's Contributions) and speakers list makes it look sort of like a "Biology 2.0" conference.

Apart from the (possible) IRC sessions, hopefully the fact that everything is stored as video/audio + comments on their content managment system means the 'inconvenient' timezone in Australia won't limit my participation too much.

(via the worldwide bioinformatics cabal :), Neil via Pedro, Roland and Stew)