Tutorials on Shared Bits

Installing and Maintaining Debian Unstable

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-08

1 - Introduction

Debian Unstable , also known as Debian Sid ( Sid being the Toy Story character who likes to destroy toys), is part of the development process for Debian Stable . Packages typically flow in the following order during the Debian Stable development process:

Experimental
Unstable
Testing
Stable

Approximately every two years, development is frozen and eventually Debian Testing becomes the next Debian Stable release.

While the primary purpose of Debian Unstable is for the development of the next Debian Stable release, it can also be used as a daily operating system. Used as a daily operating system, Debian Unstable is considered to be a rolling release . In other words, unless the installation breaks, you should never have to install it again. However, you need to know quite a bit about maintaining Debian Unstable as it is prone to breaking if you don’t know how to use and maintain it.

Braun Series 7 Model 7893s Electric Shaver Battery Replacement

Fri, 18 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2022-08-05

1 - Introduction

I purchased my first Braun electric shaver, a Braun Series 7 model 7893s, in 2017 at Costco . I’ve used electric shavers for most of the time I’ve shaved and the Braun Series 7 model 7893s is hands down the best electric shaver I’ve ever used. A site dedicated to electric shaver guides and reviews thinks the same about the Braun Series 7 in general, although not so much the newest iteration of the series. Two to three months ago, I began noticing that my electric shaver needed recharging after fewer shaves. Time to replace the rechargeable battery I thought to myself. The owner’s manual had a section on how to access and remove the rechargeable battery and the process looked simple, so I decided to attempt to replace the battery myself.

Share One Rainlendar Calendar in a Multi-Boot Linux Environment

Sat, 21 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Updated 2026-09-11

Introduction

Rainlendar is hands down, my favorite calendaring app under any operating system. I began using Rainlendar under the Microsoft Windows operating system years ago. When I decided to switch to the Linux operating system full time in 2012, I setup a multi-boot environment so that I could still access a few Windows programs when needed.

I didn’t want to have to manage separate Rainlendar calendars under each operating system that I used, so I did a bit of tinkering and I figured out a way to share one calendar with all installed operating systems. In this tutorial, I’ll detail how to share one Rainlendar calendar in a multi-boot Linux environment, but the steps are similar if you use Microsoft Windows in your multi-boot environment.

Logging Linux Package Activity (Installs, Removals, Upgrades)

Sat, 22 Aug 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-04

1 - Introduction

I learned the importance of logging package activity when I began using Debian Unstable . Because you can encounter breakage or a problematic package(s) when performing package upgrades under Debian Unstable, logging package activity can prove to be useful for troubleshooting purposes. Logging package activity can be also be useful for reference and historical purposes. In this post I will share how I log package activity, specifically upgrades, for Debian and Solus , the Linux distros I currently use as my daily operating systems. While not covered in this post, I also use the same technique to record manual installs and removals; i.e. I initiate the installs and removals.

Debian With Openbox and Tint2 - Part 2 - Usable System

Tue, 14 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-22

As of 09/12/2025, I am no longer using the Openbox window manager and Tint2 panel to simulate a desktop environment. This post will remain for a period of time for informational purposes, but will no longer be updated except for minor changes.

In part 1 of this series, I provided details on installing Debian , a Linux distribution, using the Network Install method. Be sure to check out that post first if you haven’t installed Debian.

Debian With Openbox and Tint2 - Part 1 - Debian Network Install

Wed, 13 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-16

Over a month in the making and many hours of work, this is part 1 of a 2 part tutorial on using the Openbox window manager and the Tint2 panel as a desktop environment under Debian , a Linux distribution. In part 1, I provide details on installing Debian using the Network Install method. As Luis Fernandes might have said, this is a ginormous post.

Manage Separate Pots of Money in GnuCash

Mon, 10 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Updated 2026-09-04

1. Introduction

In this post, I will talk about how to manage separate pots of money in GnuCash . If you would like a bit more detail about GnuCash, please refer to my prior post on managing medical costs using GnuCash.

Why would you want to have separate pots of money? Having separate pots of money can prevent unpleasant financial surprises, can lessen the impact of large bills, and can help you achieve future financial goals. For example, on a monthly basis I used to set aside a set amount of money for automobile insurance, which I paid on a bi-annual basis. Other uses could be to setup: an emergency fund, a future automobile purchase fund, a vacation fund, etc.

Using an Amcrest IP3M-941B IP Security Camera Under Linux

Sun, 20 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2024-12-16

I’ve desired to purchase additional security cameras to monitor the exterior areas of my home for quite some time after purchasing a Sharx SCNC2606 IP security camera in 2011. Although the Sharx IP security camera has been useful, the video quality and resolution of the camera (640x480), the limited field of view, and the lack of some additional desirable features left me longing for something better.

Manage Personal Medical Costs With GnuCash

Mon, 31 Dec 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-04

Introduction

In early 2017, I experienced a recurrence of lumbar (lower) spine issues. Toward the latter part of 2017, I also began experiencing pain in the thoracic (middle) area of my spine. After doing some research about spine issues, I determined that I needed to see someone before my issues became worse and as a result, possibly became permanently debilitating.

I saw a number of medical providers for diagnosis, imaging, and procedures. I initially used a LibreOffice Calc spreadsheet workbook in an attempt to manage all of the medical bills from the different providers. Using a spreadsheet workbook to manage my medical costs worked, but I found it somewhat cumbersome to manage.

Markup a Bible for Chronological Reading

Sun, 09 Dec 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-06

Introduction

I set a personal goal a few years ago to read the entire Bible. I have now read the entire Bible twice, although I skipped over the genealogy parts both times and the instructions from God for the building of the temple on the second read.

The second time I decided to read the entire Bible, I wanted to read the Bible chronologically; i.e. in the order of events. I decided to purchase HCSB Reading God’s Story: A Chronological Daily Bible by Dr. George H. Guthrie (henceforth called the HCSB chronological Bible). HCSB is an acronym for the Holman Christian Standard Bible, one of many Bible translations . I found reading the Bible in chronological order to be a more enjoyable and enlightening experience. However, the HCSB chronological Bible would not make a good reference Bible. If you needed to look up a particular book, chapter, and verse, how would you do that? I also much prefer the New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation of the Bible.

Creating a WordPress Staging/Testing Site

Mon, 15 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-08-28

Introduction

This is a lengthy tutorial, so grab your favorite beverage before commencing.

Initially, I was going to follow guidance from two different sources for setting up a staging/testing site under my SiteGround account, but then I looked around in cPanel and I noticed a site cloning feature and thought that might be easier, which turned out to be true.

What are some of the reasons for creating a staging/testing site? First, to test new features, plugins, or themes you may be considering for your live site. Second, to test plugin, theme, and WordPress updates to make sure nothing breaks your live site. Third, to experiment without interrupting or breaking your live site.

Moleskine Pim Hack

Sun, 23 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Updated 2026-08-26

01 - Introduction

In 2009 I was searching the Internet for ideas of how to make a paper PIM (personal information manager). I came across a blog post by a Japanese lady named AK, where she detailed how she used a large Moleskine squared hard notebook to make a personal PIM/diary.

Note: The link to AK’s blog post may generate a javascript error window. If so, just click the OK button. The post is old and probably uses outdated javascript code.

WordPress: Use Image URLs to Save Space on Your Hosting Account

Fri, 07 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-20

01 - Introduction

I recently took an online introductory WordPress course in preparation for starting my blog. In a lecture on optimizing images, the instructor recommended storing images of a certain resolution and file size. Otherwise, you risk quickly fill up your hosting space.

The first thought that came to mind was, can you store images elsewhere and use links to point to those images? I learned about using the technique through my frequent use of Linux forums. I learned about a site called Postimages from a Linux forum I used to frequent. Postimages is what I have used to store images for forum posts, utilizing forum thumbnail links. Couldn’t you use a similar technique to show images in WordPress?

Onis 2.5 Free Edition Under Linux

Sat, 01 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Updated 2026-08-30

Introduction

Onis is a DICOM image viewer for the Windows OS. DICOM images are normally generated and provided on a CD when you have MRIs or CT scans performed and sometimes for X-rays. What makes Onis so special? Well, if you have an MRI of your spine, axial (horizontal) and sagittal (vertical) slices (images) will be taken. With Onis viewer, you can open a set of sagittal images in one window and a set of axial images in another window. When you do that, a slice line appears enabling you to know what you’re specifically looking at. Dr. Doug Gillard did a video about using Onis 2.5 Free Edition to read MRIs and explains it much better than can be explained in text.