Comments for Bruce H. McCosar http://bmccosar.wordpress.com Welcome to the music blog of Jamendo artist Bruce H. McCosar Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:12:53 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Ubuntu 9.10, Maxima, and wxMaxima by Lusepuster http://bmccosar.wordpress.com/2009/11/02/ubuntu-9-10-maxima-and-wxmaxima/#comment-19955 Lusepuster Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:12:53 +0000 http://bmccosar.wordpress.com/?p=854#comment-19955 Hi; Yeah I played around with it a bit and it was indeed the JSMath fonts I needed to install. It renders nicely now - now I just need to know how I get TeXMacs to play with a version of Maxima that actually works on Ubuntu 9.10. I still think that combination is superior to anything else. YesI am an astrophysics student, and well spotted, the Wolfram Alpha post indeed used some examples of neutron star calculations from a class I had this spring/summer. It is a very interestig topic, but not many around here are doing it, so my main focus for the next year is going to be galactic astronomy, concentrated on the Dark Ages before formation of recent galaxies. Hi;

Yeah I played around with it a bit and it was indeed the JSMath fonts I needed to install. It renders nicely now – now I just need to know how I get TeXMacs to play with a version of Maxima that actually works on Ubuntu 9.10. I still think that combination is superior to anything else.

YesI am an astrophysics student, and well spotted, the Wolfram Alpha post indeed used some examples of neutron star calculations from a class I had this spring/summer. It is a very interestig topic, but not many around here are doing it, so my main focus for the next year is going to be galactic astronomy, concentrated on the Dark Ages before formation of recent galaxies.

]]> Comment on Ubuntu 9.10, Maxima, and wxMaxima by bmccosar http://bmccosar.wordpress.com/2009/11/02/ubuntu-9-10-maxima-and-wxmaxima/#comment-19954 bmccosar Wed, 16 Dec 2009 02:24:55 +0000 http://bmccosar.wordpress.com/?p=854#comment-19954 On the Edit -> Configure dialog, there is a tab called 'Style'. Mine has a checkbox that says 'use jsMath fonts.' This box is checked on mine, and I also have the jsMath fonts installed. That's about all I can tell you. It's usually worked for me out of the box, but then I also have a number of math packages installed on this system -- it could be one of them brought in a prerequisite that has somehow helped the entire thing to work. It happens from time to time. BTW, I see from your blog you're studying astrophysics ... which area interests you? From what I can see of your Wolfram Alpha post it looks like some sort of (I'd guess) neutron star calculation? On the Edit -> Configure dialog, there is a tab called ‘Style’. Mine has a checkbox that says ‘use jsMath fonts.’ This box is checked on mine, and I also have the jsMath fonts installed.

That’s about all I can tell you. It’s usually worked for me out of the box, but then I also have a number of math packages installed on this system — it could be one of them brought in a prerequisite that has somehow helped the entire thing to work. It happens from time to time.

BTW, I see from your blog you’re studying astrophysics … which area interests you? From what I can see of your Wolfram Alpha post it looks like some sort of (I’d guess) neutron star calculation?

]]> Comment on Ubuntu 9.10, Maxima, and wxMaxima by Lusepuster http://bmccosar.wordpress.com/2009/11/02/ubuntu-9-10-maxima-and-wxmaxima/#comment-19953 Lusepuster Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:34:47 +0000 http://bmccosar.wordpress.com/?p=854#comment-19953 Blahota István has kindly provided more up-to-date packages of (wx-)Maxima on his <a href="http://zeus.nyf.hu/~blahota/linux/" rel="nofollow">webpage</a>, I've downloaded that and it seems to work nicely. However, my math output is far from as cute as yours - How do you get it to render so beautifully? Blahota István has kindly provided more up-to-date packages of (wx-)Maxima on his webpage, I’ve downloaded that and it seems to work nicely.
However, my math output is far from as cute as yours – How do you get it to render so beautifully?

]]> Comment on Kubuntu Studio by bmccosar http://bmccosar.wordpress.com/2008/01/27/kubuntu-studio/#comment-19951 bmccosar Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:33:13 +0000 http://bmccosar.wordpress.com/?p=270#comment-19951 I am dual booting my studio computer. The first partition is <b>Ubuntu 9.10, 64 bit</b>. I am <em>not</em> running it with the real time kernel, because they have yet to make it compatible with the nvidia driver. I do like the extra 64 bit power on mathematical projects. The second partition is by far the most successful configuration I've ever had -- <b>Fedora 10 / CCRMA</b>. I have been running the rt kernel the entire time, with no problems -- I even mixed and mastered an entire album with this system (<a href="http://www.jamendo.com/en/album/52977" rel="nofollow">In Unexpected Places</a>, Jamendo, 2009). However, I'm running F10 in 32-bit mode, and with only the default 'nv' driver. So it looks like a tradeoff. On one hand, I have 64 bit number crunching and full video capability; on the other hand, I have a proven, if slightly slower, system with realtime audio capability. I wish the systems would evolve so I could do both at once! I am dual booting my studio computer.

The first partition is Ubuntu 9.10, 64 bit. I am not running it with the real time kernel, because they have yet to make it compatible with the nvidia driver. I do like the extra 64 bit power on mathematical projects.

The second partition is by far the most successful configuration I’ve ever had — Fedora 10 / CCRMA. I have been running the rt kernel the entire time, with no problems — I even mixed and mastered an entire album with this system (In Unexpected Places, Jamendo, 2009).

However, I’m running F10 in 32-bit mode, and with only the default ‘nv’ driver.

So it looks like a tradeoff. On one hand, I have 64 bit number crunching and full video capability; on the other hand, I have a proven, if slightly slower, system with realtime audio capability. I wish the systems would evolve so I could do both at once!

]]> Comment on Kubuntu Studio by Gors Fisch http://bmccosar.wordpress.com/2008/01/27/kubuntu-studio/#comment-19950 Gors Fisch Wed, 09 Dec 2009 04:08:10 +0000 http://bmccosar.wordpress.com/?p=270#comment-19950 Hi Bruce; So what are you running now? I tried a couple of 'studio' releases and settled on Kubuntu but recently changed computers and I have installed ubuntu-studio. I haven't had a chance to check out the music side of it because my printer (hp 1020) won't work and it took me hours to get amarok working and all the other things I need daily like Eclipse, etc. I think the latest Ubuntu is filled with problems. Is Kubuntu serving you well or are you using a special version to get real time kernel and so on? Yours Gord Hi Bruce;

So what are you running now?
I tried a couple of ’studio’ releases and settled on Kubuntu but recently changed computers and I have installed ubuntu-studio. I haven’t had a chance to check out the music side of it because my printer (hp 1020) won’t work and it took me hours to get amarok working and all the other things I need daily like Eclipse, etc. I think the latest Ubuntu is filled with problems.

Is Kubuntu serving you well or are you using a special version to get real time kernel and so on?
Yours
Gord

]]> Comment on New Beginnings by bmccosar http://bmccosar.wordpress.com/2009/11/26/new-beginnings/#comment-19947 bmccosar Fri, 04 Dec 2009 02:42:11 +0000 http://bmccosar.wordpress.com/?p=910#comment-19947 I think my favorite bit of both series was the mountain road in Whiparound II with all the fallen trees. It reminded me of so many "off beat" plans I've had . . . that have ended up turning into adventures of their own! Like the time Hannah and I canoed about 2 hours out on the Okefenokee Swamp . . . only to discover the swamp has an actual <em>current</em> . . . the return trip took 4 hours! I think my favorite bit of both series was the mountain road in Whiparound II with all the fallen trees. It reminded me of so many “off beat” plans I’ve had . . . that have ended up turning into adventures of their own! Like the time Hannah and I canoed about 2 hours out on the Okefenokee Swamp . . . only to discover the swamp has an actual current . . . the return trip took 4 hours!

]]> Comment on New Beginnings by Eddie http://bmccosar.wordpress.com/2009/11/26/new-beginnings/#comment-19946 Eddie Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:20:44 +0000 http://bmccosar.wordpress.com/?p=910#comment-19946 Wow, this is cool. Watching Whiparound brought back a lot of memories of when I lived in Australia. Absolutely fantastic place to explore, *especially* if you're the "off the beaten track" type of person. Wow, this is cool. Watching Whiparound brought back a lot of memories of when I lived in Australia. Absolutely fantastic place to explore, *especially* if you’re the “off the beaten track” type of person.

]]> Comment on One Last, Perfect Sunset: the story by bmccosar http://bmccosar.wordpress.com/2009/11/21/one-last-perfect-sunset-the-story/#comment-19941 bmccosar Sat, 28 Nov 2009 02:55:58 +0000 http://bmccosar.wordpress.com/?p=903#comment-19941 Thanks, Eddie -- Like I said way back, this song had a complex story behind it. And oddly enough, a few days after I wrote this article, this episode of Cosmos came on TV (Science Channel, 7pm, Nov. 24, the episode title "The Lives of the Stars.") And of course Star Trek is back, but in a much better form, at least in my opinion. Still, I always come to that moment. Maybe I'm walking the dogs in the afternoon and watching the sun go down. I see the Earth of the future, with its steaming oceans and receding tides . . . I think of all the effort we spend, each day, going about our tasks and our pursuits. I know it ends in dust. Still, I'm here for now. Might as well make the most of what I have. Thanks, Eddie — Like I said way back, this song had a complex story behind it. And oddly enough, a few days after I wrote this article, this episode of Cosmos came on TV (Science Channel, 7pm, Nov. 24, the episode title “The Lives of the Stars.”) And of course Star Trek is back, but in a much better form, at least in my opinion.

Still, I always come to that moment. Maybe I’m walking the dogs in the afternoon and watching the sun go down. I see the Earth of the future, with its steaming oceans and receding tides . . . I think of all the effort we spend, each day, going about our tasks and our pursuits. I know it ends in dust. Still, I’m here for now. Might as well make the most of what I have.

]]> Comment on One Last, Perfect Sunset: the story by Eddie http://bmccosar.wordpress.com/2009/11/21/one-last-perfect-sunset-the-story/#comment-19940 Eddie Sat, 28 Nov 2009 02:02:01 +0000 http://bmccosar.wordpress.com/?p=903#comment-19940 I like these stories behind the songs -- this song, in particular, is my favorite from this album. That's interesting about your budding fascination with space... I had the same experience (only I have no musical talent). The TV show that got me hooked was "Project UFO". Then it was the supremely cheesy "Star Hustler" show. Anyway, great story behind the song -- it lends even more depth and a touch of melancholy to the song. I like these stories behind the songs — this song, in particular, is my favorite from this album. That’s interesting about your budding fascination with space… I had the same experience (only I have no musical talent). The TV show that got me hooked was “Project UFO”. Then it was the supremely cheesy “Star Hustler” show.

Anyway, great story behind the song — it lends even more depth and a touch of melancholy to the song.

]]> Comment on One Last, Perfect Sunset: the story by hannanh http://bmccosar.wordpress.com/2009/11/21/one-last-perfect-sunset-the-story/#comment-19937 hannanh Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:54:48 +0000 http://bmccosar.wordpress.com/?p=903#comment-19937 Beautifully written, broke my heart. Beautifully written, broke my heart.

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