Monthly Archives: October 2007

Use JDarkRoom to Get More Done

Posted on by
Reply

My new favorite word processor is one without many features, and in fact, it’s main feature is a mostly blank screen. This word processor is JDarkRoom, which is based upon the WriteRoom tool for Macs.

There is a similar tool for Windows users, DarkRoom, but DarkRoom requires Microsoft’s .NET 2.0 framework. I don’t like installing big programs, like .NET and I like applications I don’t have to install, so I have been using JDarkRoom.

JDarkRoom running on my Dell Vostro notebook

JDarkRoom does require Java, which is pretty common and easy to install. I prefer the JAR file, which keeps me from having to install JDarkRoom, but both the Windows installer and the JAR file can be found here. Because it is written in Java, JDarkRoom can be run on any system that can run Java, including Windows, Mac, and Linux.

JDarkRoom, and WriteRoom originally, have implemented an amazing idea; either program presents a writer with a completely dark screen, allowing a writer to concentrate on the task at hand, writing, and only writing. Everything else is located off screen, so the writer (hopefully) will not spend time on email and Facebook while trying to write. And Lifehacker recognized the productivity potential of JDarkRoom.

This would be a great tool to use when writing a novel for National Novel Writing Month (Nanowrimo), which begins tomorrow.

I am tagging this post as open source, but I believe the project might not be open source. The developer, whose blog is here, distributes JDarkRoom free of charge.

Learn Flashcards More Efficiently with JMemorize

Posted on by
Reply

Do you make flashcards frequently? Would you rather save some trees and use electronic flashcards? Or would you rather learn them more effectively, using the Leitner system?

Try JMemorize, a Java-based flashcard learning system where flashcards are made efficient to create and learn and are fun to use.

jMemorize logo

JMemorize is distributed under the GNU GPL license, meaning this software is free as in beer and speech.

JMemorize Screen

I really like this software, and I have used it a lot recently while studying vocabulary for the GRE. jMemorize is a really good flashcard program for learning a foreign language, and I wish I had used this when I was taking Arabic.

One thing I really like about this project is that the developer is easy to get in touch with. I recently contacted him and suggested some changes to the keyboard shortcuts and asked him for the project logo to use in this post. As you can probably see, he got back in touch with me.

More on Corruption

Posted on by
Reply

More from Lawrence Lessig on political corruption here. I have said this before, but I really appreciate the work that Larry Lessig is doing into political corruption. Lessig previously worked on Creative Commons and has dedicated the next ten years of his studies to political corruption.

The video is an hour long. I listened to the lecture while working on a paper for class. I really like Lessig’s Powerpoint slide techniques, along with his logic and outcomes.

The video of Lessig’s first lecture on corruption follows after the jump.
Continue reading →

Bruton Smith Is In Charge

Posted on by
Reply

Yesterday, Bruton Smith, CEO and majority owner of Speedway Motorsports, Inc, told the city of Concord, North Carolina who’s boss. See articles in Scene Daily, That’s Racin’, ESPN, and FoxSports.

After the city of Concord changed the zoning regulations to specifically stop Smith and SMI from building a drag racing strip next to Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Smith announced he was looking to move the speedway itself unless Concord would remove the offending regulations.

While this may seem trivial to most people, Lowe’s Motor Speedway moving would be a major loss for the city of Concord and it’s coffers. Nascar Nextel Cup race weekends at the track bring in over 200,000 fans twice a year, making the raceway a huge boon for the local economy, somewhere to the tune of $5 billion a year to the state of North Carolina ($3.9 billion to the Charlotte/Concord area alone) according to the UNC-Charlotte Urban Institute. Also, I’d imagine that Lowe’s Motor Speedway has one of the biggest property tax bills in the city of Concord. That’s a hefty chunk of change that Bruton Smith can wave around.

Those involved in economic development have long seen the impact of sports on local economies (of which Nascar arguably has the biggest impact). This showdown in Concord might ultimately show the city just how big an impact this racetrack really has.