After a Decade with Firefox, I Made the Jump to Zen

I've been using the Zen Browser for a about three months now, and it has done what no other web browser has been able to do for more than a couple of decades. It took the place of Firefox as my go to web browser, something that until a couple of months ago seemed unlikely.

To be honest, it helps that Zen is a fork of Firefox. It allows me to use my Mozilla account, which made the transition easier. Not only that, all the it feels a lot more modern and supports Firefox's add-ons. The only thing that it doesn't is Firefox's themes, but for me is not a big deal since Zen looks a lot better for me out of the box, and it just takes some tweaks to make it feel my own.

It also helps that it is a free and open source app, which I prefer over proprietary apps where is possible.

Honestly, I made the jump not because I didn't like how Firefox has changed with time. I just found that Zen comes closer to what I want my web browser to look and behave. And it helps that it not only a fork of Firefox, but its updates continue to have Firefox as a base.

Now, the browsers I can recommend are Firefox and Zen. Both are fully free and open source apps, with different take on how to implement a web browser, as such they target different people as an user base. Most importantly, along with other Firefox's based web browsers like LibreWolf and Waterfox, gives users alternatives for web browsers not based on Google's Chrome.

Personally, I see Firefox and Zen as the best options for mainstream users, or users that just want a web browser that with a focus more on their needs. Though I'd say that Zen is a bit more privacy focused that Firefox is nowadays.

Now, if only Linux Mint developers would allow to make web apps based on Zen it would be great... 

Cyberpunk Is a Warning, Not a Blueprint

As someone who likes Cyberpunk, and thinks that some of the tech shown on the media, it worries me that some people see Cyberpunk setting as something to strive for and not as the warning it is.

The unchecked implementation of tech, at times along side unchecked capitalism, creates societies where all the problems we currently face are made even worse creating a society that destroys itself or where the ones who control the resources basically enslave the rest of the population.

Cyberpunk is a warning about advancing tech without putting the needs of the people at large first. All tech development need a set rules that prevent a few to make use of it in a way that isn't in the best interest of the whole of society. Yes, tech needs to be developed, but in a way that benefits the most people possible.

We do need tech to make better worlds, and move forward in the best way possible. Yet, it should bring along the most people possible in a way that its implementation is a net positive. It should not be seen as zero sum game, but as something where most people can use to make their lives better as a society.

It is about making tech help bring the best for the individual, and the society at large. If we want individuals, and societies, to thrive to their full potential, both need the conditions to do so at the same time.

The warning is Cyberpunk is not tech, is how it was implemented, employed, or developed. Is the warning of how not to do tech.

Paper, Pens, and Practicality: Building the Ultimate Desk Setup for Administrative Work

As someone who works at the administrative side of business for more of a decade, I find it frustratingly hard to find desk setups targeted the kind of work I do. Most of the time, the desk setups are targeted to content creators, gamers, or programmers.

The admin side is more of a side note for programmers and content creators, most of the time just pointing out storage options for the paperwork they need to do. Other than that there are some peripherals that could be used by admin workers, like mice, keyboards, and monitors. The chair is one where there some commonality, and the desk on some degree.

The desk is the most annoying part, since they all seem too big or too small for what an admin worker does on daily basis. Content creators tend to need more things on the desk, like lights, microphones, cameras, and the like. While programmers tend just to need their computer, monitor, mouse, keyboard, and some note taking implements with some stationary,

Admins tend to use a computer with its peripherals, but need more space for stationary like staplers, pens, tape, and more space for paperwork that is being worked on at the time. Some might need a printer, specially if working from home which doesn't need to be on the desk, but would be nice to hace it on the desk.

As such, our desk space for often than not lies between the programmer and the content creator. While I see most admins making a good use of standing desk, with a nice chair, finding the correct size can be difficult. Storage on, and around, the desk is another difficult thing to find, since our storage needs, don't need as many cables, and tech, like content creators.

The same goes for every day carry bags, since we don't have to bring with us cameras, lenses, and other support tech. While some of use might bring a laptop, we also bring food containers and other small items like an umbrella, notebook or pad, some pens. But, we are most likely to sit down for actual work at our office or home office desk. If we do sit at a café for example, is more likely we will manage email, or have a meeting with clients. As such, a tablet, or notebook, will be more enough to take notes or show the work done to the client.

The closest I've seen to my needs have been some lawyers, some programmers working for big tech companies, and some startup people, but they generally lose me when it comes to the bag they use. Specially when it comes with bringing the food they cook to work, since most of the time they get food service at work, or don't mention that part of at all.

I've been thinking about staring a place where to show case how admin workers setup their desks, and they manage their everyday carry. I just need to know if anyone would be interested.

Stop Gatekeeping, Start Listening: A Better Way to Recommend Linux

As a Linux Mint user, and someone who advocates for Linux in general, I find that saying what distro should you recommend to new users, or the one users should have on their computers, is something that isn't useful in any way for a wider Linux adoption.

When helping new users choosing what Linux distro to begin with, we should actually listen to what they need from their OS. For some, Linux Mint will the best option, for others might be Zorin OS. Some might be better served by Pop!_OS, all comes down to what they need from their OS, and the computer they have.

Limiting new users to a single point of entry, is setting them up for failure to adopt Linux. Not every new user to Linux has the same same needs, skill level, computer, or expectations,  for what Linux should be or do for them. As such, there is no ideal or single distro that should be said to be for new Linux users.

As for the arguments for which distro is the best, or be the  Linux users should targets, is also one that should be more focused on the user instead of the distro itself. I've over a decade using Linux, and I've no intention to move to Arch or any other so called advanced distro. I plan stay on Linux Mint, with Pop!_OS being an option. The main reason is that both of these distros work for me without a problem, they just allow me to focus on my work without having to think about the OS.

This is why a prefer, and advocate for Linux. There is a distro that fits you, not perfectly but close enough. What Linux needs to be more widely adopted, apart for being installed out of the box on more computers, is people that actually listen to new users to guide them to the distro that best suits them.

After that, places where people can physically to get support when they need. Not only that, a place where they can talk to people about what they do on their computers, and get advice and tips to better use of their computer. Even learn about apps that can make their work easier.

While some people just need to read a wiki, go to a forum, or watch a YouTube video, to solve the doubts and problems they encounter, others are better served by meeting people in person to better understand and learn the same things. One the strengths of Linux are the communities that are built around it, distros, and other projects. We need to build them online and offline.

There more we focus on making Linux better for the people who actually use it, the better off Linux and its users will be in the long run. 

De-politicizing Awareness: Why Everyone Should Be Woke

Being woke, is being aware of social injustices around you. In a way, is the first step in making any society, or country, a better place for all those who make it up. No action can be made, if one isn't aware of said injustices.

So, being woke should not be considered to pertain to the left or right of the political spectrum. Everyone should be woke to the injustices happening around them, finding a way to correct them, and helping create a more just society. One could contend that a perfect society isn't something we can build, but we all should work to get as close to it as humanly posible.

As such, when anyone tries to use woke as an insult tells me that they are ignorant of what being woke means, or they don't want to be made aware of the injustice around them. Both are just as bad, and it makes it hard to move forward as a society.

While woke is something considered left leaning, it shouldn't be. Being aware of social injustice is something that people in the right and left should be aware of, and to work to fix. There is no reason why any one should argue that fixing systemic injustice is in the best interest of everyone.

Making a society more just for everyone, is something that benefits everyone in that society, directly or indirectly leveling the playing field benefits everyone. Being woke, and pointing to what need to be fixed is something that allows for actions to be taken that benefit everyone in the long run.

Yet, just being woke isn't good enough if it doesn't lead to action for the betterment of society. Pointing to an injustice needs to lead to actions to correct that injustice. We all have benefited from woke, but there is still much work to do and need to remain woke.

Geek Culture Didn't Turn Left—It Started There

As someone who is into tech, science fiction, anime, and other things considered nerdy, it baffles me when people say that they have become woke or left leaning on the political spectrum. They always have been woke, or left leaning, in some way.

How much to the left they have been, can de debated and even said that it depends on the subject, creator, or community being talked about. But, all of these thing have been woke and left leaning for a long time. Many have been one of the outlets for creativity, and expression, that people in the left and minority communities, have had for decades. The conservative right has always shown no interest, and even repulsion, for all of these thing.

The sole exception is when they want to profit from the people who use, want, or are interested in these things. Specially with tech, which is where the left and right crash more often and in the open on how to handle the balance between profit and users rights.

It is worse when those in the right accuse those left leaning communities to becoming radicalized just because they voice concerns, or even disagreements, with their behaviors or where they want to take something. Just expressing any of these isn't becoming a radical, is just a natural way to let it be know where those people stand on something.

And when people, or communities, become radicalized it in answer of something. Most often than not, is the response to a radical move to the right. Radicalization doesn't happen in a vacuum, it is an answer to something. And while the have been some radical left people doing questionable things, most of questionable things that have happen have come from the right or in answer to something that right did.

Honestly, more left leaning people in tech, science fiction, anime, and such need to start to take a stance on things. Not just to make a stance, but to start a dialogue with everyone that has an stake. We all not need to agree on everything, but at least we all should be part of the dialogue to make things better.

And not everyone has to have a stance on everything, but at least on matters that they claim are important to them. 

Software, OEMs, and Community: The Real Roadmap for Linux

As a Linux user, I do advocate for Linux knowing that not everyone can make the jump for a variety of reason. From the apps they need for work aren't available on Linux, and there isn't a suitable replacement app for their needs, to the computer they is loaned by their work.

As such, what is needed to for wider Linux adoption is to increase the number of apps in Linux. Not only that, is bring the apps professionals use to Linux, so that more professionals can make the jump to Linux. Not only that, we need more OEM of computer and laptops to offer Linux preinstalled, since most of the average users don't want to go through the extra step of installing Linux on a new computer no mater how easy it has become lately.

Granted, is easier to convince them to do so on a computer they already own, and have financial incentive to keep running for years to come. Yet, when buying a new computer is whole different matter where Linux coming preinstalled would make it a lot easier for them to make the jump. This would be easier if display computers are made available for them to test the Linux distro before making the purchase.

One of the things I'd like to see, are places where people interested in Linux could go and physically meet people who use Linux daily on their main computers. This way, they could ask questions, and for help, from people who have the experience and know how to actually help. This would make people trusting Linux a lot easier, since having someone at the same place helping you build trust faster then trying to do so online.

At the end of the day, Linux is build to be used by people. So, making sure it reaches the hands of as much people as possible is vital to get it adopted. The more people use it, and talk about it in a positive way, the easier it will become for more people to make the jump.

What Linux needs are not gatekeepers, but people who help people make the best use of it.