Travis Newman

Author: Travis Newman

  • Sleepy!

    Got some good studying done at the library last night.

    Came home and ate some dinner, then listened to dad’s work stories until 2am, which was good. I enjoy listening to them as much as he enjoys telling them.

    Then I was itchin for some IF last night so I started the game 9:05. Then passed out. More on that later when i’ve put some more time into it.

    Update: …i thought it was 10am… not 9am… Surprise! Now I have time for breakfast. Yay.

    Yay now I have time to listen to Diane Rehm.

    While I do need to finish 9:05, I’ve begun looking at other IF to play. I’m going off of the 2012 XYZZY Awards.

    To date, the only piece of IF that I’ve finished is Photopia, which is definitely interesting… I gotta get more under my belt.

    Update update: just finished 9:05… Super short… And yeah, there’s a twist 😀 recommended, play it, it’ll take like 30 minutes.

  • Song of the Now: High Hopes by S.O.S. Band

  • Tired!

    I managed to survive yesterday, I had a great time observing and I had just as much fun at lasers party. I have work at 3:45pm today… And before that I’m gonna try to get some cleaning done in my room. Ugh not enough hours in the day… And I still need to post about how the observing actually went.

  • Big day tomorrow

    1) First day observing, starts at 9am

    2) Meet Laser at my place in the afternoon so he can pick up my speakers and my receiver for his bday party

    3) Work at 5pm

    4) Laser’s 24th bday party

    ..I better get some sleep

  • Song of the Now: Computer Love by Zap

  • Song of the Now: Five Minutes of Funk by Whodini

  • Song of the Now: Don’t Disturb this Groove by The System

  • Song of the Now: A.D.A.M by X-Clan

  • Display Brightness Keyboard Shortcut in OS X

    Picture 3.pngSo I’ve moved back into my parents place and I haven’t set up my main desktop, and its been a while since I’ve spent some quality time with my iMac G4, so I figured, why the heck not.

    I had originally set it up with the Apple keyboard and mouse… but after a bit of typing, I had to go back to my mechanical keyboard and gaming mouse.

    Well I was sitting here fiddling around with it when I thought to myself, “Dang my screen is bright!”

    On the Apple keyboard, you can use the extra function keys (F15 and F16, but it could be F14 and F15) to adjust the brightness of the display. It’s not actually labeled on the keyboard, but you can probably do it with any Mac that it’s connected to.

    But I’m not using my Apple keyboard, I’m using my sexy KBT Race ‘board. So, what to do? Well, apparently, when a big ol’ regular keyboard is plugged into OS X, it doesn’t see Print Screen, Scroll Lock, and Pause for what they’re labeled as, it just sees them as extra function (F-) keys, as they are on the Apple keyboard, F14, F15, and F16.

    Why am I bothering telling you so?

    I’m telling you so because if you happen to be using a non-Apple keyboard in OS X and wish to adjust the brightness of your display… Fear not!

    Just press Scroll Lock to make it dimmer and Pause to make it brighter!

    Since I’m using a compact keyboard with a wacky layout, I have to hold down the Fn key and then press the appropriate key, but still, I am able to adjust the brightness with a keyboard shortcut.

    I’m a huge fan of keyboard shortcuts and OS X has some REALLY handy ones. I didn’t see brightness in the list there, but no matter, I’m telling you, so now you know.

    What are some of your favorite keyboard shortcuts?

    Note: That screencap of system preferences is from OS X 10.5 “Leopard”, so if you’re on a newer version of OS X, yours might look different. For that reason, if something doesn’t work as I’ve suggested it, use your Google-fu to find the appropriate solution for your particular operating system.

  • Home Again

    No more Brentdale.

    As of a half-hour or so ago, I have completely moved out of my apartment in Plano, save for the keys I will give back tomorrow. Right now I’m laying in bed at my parents’ place in Richardson. All of my stuff is still in boxes and I’m not particularly looking forward to finding clothes to wear in the morning. Happy to move on to bigger and better things and really focus on what I need to do to become a teacher, but still a little sad to leave that place behind. Despite only being there for a year, I had a lot of good times in that dinky place. Sadly, my financial situation has precluded me from living there… Also, perhaps this time with my ‘rents will do me some good (read: extra continued swift kicks to the ass). Goodbye freedom to laze on my bum, hello (really) hard work to becoming a productive member of society (again). I keep telling myself this is extra motivation for me to get something going that I’m happy with that isn’t just a job… I need and want a career in education. And I’m going to make it happen.