Mobile
Hey there all you crazy kids. I thought I’d write a quick post about my latest bit of technology. It’s a USB jump drive, or flash drive, or whatever you like to call them. I first recommended a USB key to my sister a while back as a faster, more convenient method of transferring files back and forth from computer to computer. Thing is, I never actually went out and bought one. Until last weekend. I had seen an ad in the newspaper for the Daiki sale going on at the moment. (Daiki is kind of like Home Depot or Lowe’s in the states, I think, just add a limited pared-down digital media section next to the topsoil…and make the physical store waaay smaller.) Anyway, I took a walk to the local Daiki (map) on my way home. I picked up a 1GB Buffalo USB 2.0 Flash Drive for about ￥2400. That’s a good deal. Also bought some more blades for my razor. That’s good news too. Ha ha.
When I got home I started to play around with the drive, and I installed and uninstalled some things. I bought it to store school files, but I suddenly had an idea. I’d read about portable applications, so I decided to look them back up again and catch up. I am currently writing this entry sitting in Yuge High School, after my classes for the day have ended. (I’m a good worker. I swear. I’ve even done prep for tomorrow already.) I’m using Firefox Portable, which I installed along with the PortableApps interface. It’s pretty much cool. There aren’t too many other applications available that I actually have any use for, but I did install the Clamshell antivirus, Portable Sudoku (when I’m torn away from my Sudoku desk calendar), and VLC Media Player Portable.
The browser is nice. Everywhere I go I have my browser, now. It has my bookmarks, my saved stuff, and my settings preferences locked into it. I installed the FoxyProxy add-on (get it here), and using a ProxyGet program (from PortableApps), I’m able to swap out proxy connections on the fly and get through to the net from anywhere. I toyed with TOR (a method for surfing anonymously), but decided it was entirely extraneous - didn’t need it. Not a shady person, I guess. Anyhoo - it’s cool to have my quick access anywhere. Also - I only use my power for good (and for awesome, actually). It’s neat technology, and I’m glad that I finally got a USB key.
Funny side story - as I walked up the cement ramp into the schoolyard today, I was listening to my iPod, and I felt wind on my face. Then, a clattering roar came up from my side, and it seemed like all the garage doors were rattling. I wrote it off as a lower gust, but in actuality, it was a level 4 earthquake. Ha ha ha. Awesome. I am oh-so aware of my surroundings. 