Are you ready to build your very own website? It’s not as hard as you may think! A computer with an internet connection is all that’s required. Oh, and not to mention a healthy dose of patience!

This is a straightforward tutorial/guide which walks you through the entire process: installation and set-up, content management and basic configurations. Okay, enough chit-chat, let’s begin!

Obtaining the Tools

The softwares you’re going to be using are all free, open source and available online:

• Drupal is a web content management system (WCMS). Basically, it’s an application which facilitates the creation of web contents (blogs, forums, polls, etc.), manages/controls the contents, usually by a point-and-click work-flow. Best of all, Drupal requires little or no programming skills.

Drupal 6.12 Download – http://drupal.org/project/drupal

• XAMPP (cross-platform, Apache, MySQL, PHP, Perl) is a web server application packaged with Apache HTML web server, MySQL (database management), PHP (a scripting language) and Perl (a programming language.)

XAMPP for Linux Download – http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp-linux.html

Pre-Installation

By now, you should have already downloaded the following files:

1. xampp-linux-1.7.1.tar.gz
2. drupal-6.12.tar.gz

Note: Unless you know what you’re doing, it’s recommended that you’re using the same files to avoid any confusion. If, for example, when newer versions are released, simply type in the correct file name when installing in the “Install XAMPP” and “Install Drupal” sections.

Now, this tutorial is done on a Linux system (Ubuntu), not Windows. Remember earlier when I told you the tools I’d use are all free? Well, Ubuntu is an excellent alternative operating system to Windows! Give it a try, you may like it!

Install XAMPP

We install XAMPP by extracting its content to a folder named “opt”:

1. Locate the file xampp-linux-1.7.1.tar.gz you’ve just downloaded.
2. If it’s not on your Desktop, move the file there.
3. Open the Terminal, enter the following command:

sudo tar xvfz Desktop/xampp-linux-1.7.1.tar.gz -C /opt

Start XAMPP

You installed XAMPP in the previous section, now it’s time to start it:

1. Open the Terminal, enter the following command:

sudo /opt/lampp/lampp start

You should see the following lines in the terminal if everything is done correctly:

XAMPP: Starting Apache with SSL (and PHP5)…
XAMPP: Starting MySQL…
XAMPP: Starting ProFTPD…
XAMPP for Linux started.

Test XAMPP

Okay, so how do you know if XAMPP is currently active?

1. Open your favourite web broswer.
2. Enter the following address:

http://localhost

This page should pop up:

Click the Status link to see what’s running:

Install Drupal

Let’s install Drupal by extracting its content to “opt/lampp/htdocs”:

1. Locate the file drupal-6.12.tar.gz.
2. If it’s not on your Desktop, move the file there.
3. Open the Terminal, enter the following command:

sudo tar xvfz Desktop/drupal-6.12.tar.gz -C /opt/lampp/htdocs

1. Let’s rename “drupal-6.12″ folder to a cleaner name, “drupal”.
2. Enter the following command:

sudo mv /opt/lampp/htdocs/drupal-6.12 /opt/lampp/htdocs/drupal

Test Drupal

Okay, we can now verify whether Drupal has installed correctly:

1. Open your web broswer.
2. Enter the following address:

http://localhost/drupal

You should see this page:

Create a Database

In this section, we create a new database for Drupal to store data:

1. Open your web browser.
2. Enter the following address:

http://localhost/phpmyadmin/

1. In the Create new database text box, type in a name for your database (I named mine “creativebushido”.)
2. Click the Create button.

Configure Drupal

Having completed the installation of XAMPP, Drupal, and a brand spanking new database, we can finally go ahead and configure Drupal:

1. Open your web browser.
2. Enter the following address:

http://localhost/drupal

1. Click the Install Drupal in English link.
2. You will be likely to ecounter the following page:

Don’t fret! First, we make a copy of default.settings.php and rename it to settings.php.

1. Open the Terminal, enter the following command:

sudo cp /opt/lampp/htdocs/drupal/sites/default/default.settings.php /opt/lampp/htdocs/drupal/sites/default/settings.php

Next, we need to grant permissions to the settings.php file so that it’s writeable:

1. Enter the following command (press Enter after each line):

cd /opt/lampp/htdocs/drupal/sites

sudo chmod a+w default

sudo chmod a+w default/settings.php

Finally, we need to increase our PHP memory limit from 8M to 16M.

1. Open the Terminal and type:

sudo nano /opt/lampp/etc/php.ini

Look for the memory_limit parameter and change the number 8 to 16.
Once you’ve changed it, exit the text editor by holding down Ctrl and press x. Type y to save the file.

Because you’ve just made changes to the PHP file, you need to restart XAMPP to update it:

1. Open the Terminal, enter the following command:

sudo /opt/lampp/lampp stop

1. To start XAMPP again, enter the following command:

sudo /opt/lampp/lampp start

That should have solved all the problems! Okay, now you should be able to see the Database configuration page in your browser:

Notice that I have entered a name for my database, the same name I’d used earlier. Make sure you do the same.

Once you clicked the Save and continue button on the Set up database page, you will be directed to the Configure site page, like the picture below:

For security purposes, it tells you to remove write permissions to the settings.php file. Let’s do that:

1. Open the Terminal, enter the following command:

sudo chmod a-w /opt/lampp/htdocs/drupal/sites/default/settings.php

Finally! You are now ready to enter some important informations for your new web site.

Fill out the the required information for the Site information and Administration account sections. Make sure you remember the username and password you’ve entered!

Once all the informations are filled out, click the Save and continue button.

Voila! Give yourself a pat on the back! You have just completed installing Drupal on your computer!

For now, you can begin building your site. Everything you’re doing right now is offline. Once you have everything to your liking, you can deploy the final product live online.

I hope this has been useful. If you have any technical issues, I strongly recommend that you make use of Drupal’s excellent Community web site!

It won’t be long before all cars are equipped with GPS navigation systems. As GPS prices have fallen considerably, with entry-level models priced below $100, and high-end units quoted above $300 – there’s one to fit everyone’s budget.

Shown here is the Tom Tom ONE 3rd Edition, an “all you need in a portable car navigator” entry-level GPS navigation device from TomTom.

TomTom ONE 3rd Edition comes with preloaded map of U.S. and Canada, all of which can be updated and shared with TomTom HOME software program. Also comes in the box is a windshield holder, a USB car charger, and a USB cable for connecting to your PC.

With a very responsive touchscreen, programming is a breeze. It takes only a few “clicks” before you’re on your way to wherever you choose. If you accidently/intentionally go off-course, the device recalculates new routes within seconds; unlike your wife, it won’t nag you! As for spoken instructions, the speaker is remarkably loud & clear, with 36 languages to choose from. 

The main drawback of all GPS devices lies in its accuracy – not all roads are on the map. Therefore, it is wise to keep your eyes on the road. So far, I have no problem with it; but your experience might differ if you live in rural areas.

Technical Specifications

• Highly sensitive GPS chipset
• 3.5″ full color TFT LCD touchscreen (320×240 pixels, 64,000 colors)
• 1GB internal memory
• RDS-TMC connector
• Internal Lithium-Ion battery (2 hours operation)
• Dimensions: 3.8″x 3.2″ x 1.0″
• Weight: 6.1 ounces
• Operating temperature: 14 °F to + 131 °F

Pros

• Affordable
• Quick and easy programming
• Portable
• Text-to-Speech
• Wide variety of spoken navigation instructions in different languages
• Works with Windows and Macs

Cons

• Touch screen could have been bigger
• Windshield’s suction cup not all effective
• Lacks Bluetooth, media (MP3s, photos), traffic receiver, FM transmitter
• Does not automatically switch between day/night colors

Final Thoughts

All in all, a good product for a decent price, but some quirks. It’s missing some extra features seen in other more expensive units (Bluetooth, media (MP3s, photos), traffic receiver, FM transmitter). Even with these shortfalls, it’s a solid choice for first-time buyers. If you are still wavering over purchasing your first car GPS, now is the time, buy one! — it’s one of the few gadgets that you won’t regret buying.

July 10, 2008 marks an important day in U.S. history. Today, President Bush signed the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 bill into law. The landmark decision, approved by the Senate with a vote of 69 to 28, permits the National Security Agency (NSA) to conduct “warrantless surveillance” of all United States citizens, even without probable cause. It also grants immunity to telecommunications companies from past and future lawsuits for cooperation with the NSA in spying domestic targets.

The new law is controversial, with most of its support coming from the Bush administration and Republicans. Mr. Bush said the vote ”will protect the liberties of our citizens while maintaining the vital flow of intelligence.” On the other hand, opposition groups question the constitutionality of the new law, calling it a violation to the Fourth Amendment, which guards against unreasonable searches and seizures. Ironically, Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama voted yes on the bill, a decision which many Democrats held firm in opposition. Senator Hilary Clinton voted against the bill, while John McCain did not vote.

To find out your state senators’ position on the bill, check out the vote summary page on the United States Senate website. 

What do YOU think? Are you willing to sacrifice your civil liberties, for the sake of national security, even without warrants or judicial approval? Whatever happened to checks and balances?

[Via The New York Times]

In this tutorial, I will provide step-by-step instructions on how to encrypt and decrypt your data using TrueCrypt.

Before we start, you should have installed the latest stable version of TrueCrypt on your system. For this tutorial, I am running Windows XP; the same steps can be applied for Mac OS X and Linux users as well.

TrueCrypt main window.

Download TrueCrypt

Create a TrueCrypt file container

To encrypt your files, you first need to create a file container. Think of it as a typical “suitcase”, with a lock key.

1. Click the Create Volume button to open the TrueCrypt Volume Creation Wizard.
2. Make sure Create a file container is selected, click Next.
3. Select Standard TrueCrypt volume as a volume type and click Next.
4. Click Select File, specify the location and choose a file name for the container, and then click Save.
5. Click Next to move on to the Encryption Options.
6. Select AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) as an Encryption Algorithm and click Next.
7. Enter the size of the container (in MB) you would like to create and click Next.
8. Enter a password (this is the “key” to open your “suitcase”) for your container and click Next.
9. Click Format to create your new file container.
10. Click OK once your TrueCrypt volume has been successfully created.
11. Click Exit to close the TrueCrypt Volume Creation Wizard.

Use TrueCrypt to store your files in the file container

Lam Trường – Chuyện Hôm Qua

Genre: Pop/R&B
Released 2007
(p) Viết Tân Studio

Lam Trường (born October 24, 1974) has long been a favorite amongst Vietnamese fans. This multi-talented singer became popular in 1997 for his top hit song Tình Thôi Xót Xa composed by Bảo Chấn. Not only can he speak fluent Vietnamese, but also English, Cantonese, and Mandarin. Lam Trường has received numerous awards, including an invitation to perform on Japan public broadcast NHK.

Lam Trường’s latest 7th album Chuyện Hôm Qua reaffirms his committment and dedication to his love of music and an ever-growing fan base. The new CD features 10 tracks including one music video of “Chuyện Hôm Qua” (AVCD – Track 11).

Tracks

	01. Và Em Đã Đến
	02. Bảy Sắc Cầu Vồng
	03. Đê Mê
	04. Chuyện Hôm Qua
	05. Bóng Hình
	06. Có Lẽ
	07. Anh Luôn Chờ Mong
	08. Bờ Vai Dịu Dàng
	09. Mưa Vẫn Rơi
	10. Như Mùa Thu Qua
	11. Chuyện Hôm Qua

I found me a giraffe!

If you include [inurl:"ViewerFrame?Mode=Motion"] in your query, Google will search for pages in which the URL contains the word “ViewerFrame?Mode=Motion”. This permits access to thousands of Panasonic- and Axis-made network cameras that have web interfaces, which allow the user to control the camera’s motorized pan-and-tilt mechanisms.

Instruction

1. Simply direct your web browser to google.com.
2. In the search box, enter: inurl:"ViewerFrame?Mode=Motion"
3. Voila!, you now have access to thousands of controllable network webcams!
4. If you find any cool/interesting (SFW) webcam, feel free to share them in the comment box. Enjoy!

V.4men, a Korean group consists of Ji/One, Lee Jung Ho, Jung Sae Young and Ha Hyoun Hee, debuted their first album in Sài Gòn, Vietnam in 2006. The album, named Adantc (slowly… slowly…), features 8 Korean songs written in Vietnamese by three Vietnamese musicians including Võ Thiện Thanh, Hà Quang Minh, and Chu Minh.

With the recent surge of popularity of South Korean popular culture in Vietnam, there is no doubt the band’s decision to enter the Vietnamese music market is a wise one. Best of luck to them!

V.4men – Nước Mắt (T.E.A.R)

V.4men – Go Back (feat. Lam Trường & Thu Minh)

V.4men – Dù Mười Năm Trôi Qua (Although Ten Years Have Passed) (with Minh Quân)

[Via VietnamNet Bridge]

“JEYA(제야) 2.0″ – 웃는얼굴
Courtesy: Kim Jong-Sook http://www.fiiz.com/

We all like a little pizzazz here and there when it comes to imagery of CG women. I mean, why not? Kim Jong-Sook (Hangul: 김종숙), a 3D artist from Korea, harnesses the power of Autodesk 3ds Max to create this breath-taking image of a beautiful looking Korean gal. Mental ray was used to render this artistic piece. Pay a visit to the author’s site for more pictures.

[Via fiiz.com]

Chances are you’re reading this on a machine with Micro$oft Windows operating system (OS) installed. Either that, or you’re using Mac OS X, developed and sold by Apple Inc. These are what they called proprietary software – software you cannot copy, modify, and distribute freely. But wait! Hot on the heels of the OS war is today’s release of Gutsy Gibbon, code name for Ubuntu 7.10.

Ubuntu is currently the most popular Linux distribution, an operating system developed with users in mind. Because it’s free and open source, you can install it on laptops, desktops, and servers – as many times as you like! Ubuntu comes with a full set of productivity, internet, drawing and graphics applications, and games. Windows is infamous for its insecurity and unreliability; not Linux! With a default Ubuntu setup, you can rest assured that your system is reasonably safe.

Ubuntu 7.10 features

• Gnome 2.20 desktop environment
• Compiz Fusion 3D desktop visual effects
• Desktop search
• Fast user switching
• Firefox plugins
• Dynamic screen configuration
• Automatic printer installation
• NTSF writing
• Encrypted hard disks
• And much more!

Get Ubuntu Now!

There’s no better time than now to treat yourself a hot bowl of phở, a noodle soup considered to be the national dish of Vietnam. Pictured here is a regular size bowl of phở gà dai (chicken-based phở). A hearty mix of succulent shredded chicken, with rice noodles, fresh green & white onions, cilantro, Thai basil, and bean sprouts, this traditional Vietnamese noodle soup dish makes the perfect winter or rainy day meal.

So where can you get your phở fix in the Bay Area? Check out Phở Thiên Long Restaurant in San Jose. I’ve been to many phở restaurants and this is the one I keep coming back to. The restaurant is casual and clean, with acceptable service. The price is very reasonable too, but only cash is accepted.

Phở Thiên Long Restaurant
3005 Silver Creek Rd. #138
San Jose, CA, 95121
(408) 223-6188

Open 7 days: 9 a.m. till 8 p.m.

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