Category Archives: HowTo
Python: ad infinitum
In Seth’s post on dice rolling, he briefly mentioned something called a “while loop”. It has the basic structure while (this is true): (do this) Note: Courier font or italics show code. WordPress is douchey about font-changing, so it’s easier … Continue reading
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Inkscape: Digitally sign a PDF
Printers are dumb and waste paper. There is little that I hate more (aside from Apple) than having to print a document, sign it, and then scan, fax, or mail the stupid hardcopy. So, I decided to try to cheat … Continue reading
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R: Getting Started
If you’re like me, you love data. Ok, so it’s likely that you aren’t like me, at least in the data-loving regard, but you have to admit that (1) data can be beautiful, and (2) data is how we understand … Continue reading
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puzzle solver, part II
In a previous post, I discussed my attempt to write a program to solve a puzzle. I never updated that post because, well, I ran the program all night and it didn’t find the solution! I had made up a … Continue reading
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Homeopathy: Belly Flop to a Cure!
Homeopathy says essentially this: Something that causes disease can be made to cure that same ailment if the something is diluted into water so much that it is no longer present. For example, if you were to take one molecule … Continue reading
make your own passport photos
For my upcoming Peace Corps action, I was required to get a few passport photos for my passport and visa applications, which ended up costing me nearly $30. Like anyone else who would be applying for these things, I just … Continue reading
LaTeX in Ubuntu
For anyone interested in getting a TeX system set up in Ubuntu, it really couldn’t be easier. If you’re comfortable with the command-line, just open up a terminal and type “sudo apt-get install texlive-base” (without the quotes!) and then give … Continue reading
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Make Notepad++ your default editor (XP)
If you don’t know what Notepad++ is, why it would be useful, or why you should want it, read this other post first. If you are looking to replace Notepad on something other than Windows XP, check the wiki. [A lot … Continue reading
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LaTeX, Part (6): Other REALLY important basics– Spacing
Previously, I showed you how to set up the most basic TeX document that is humanly possible. For a quick review, it goes like this: \documentclass[12pt]{article} % the percent sign tells LaTeX to ignore everything on this line, until the … Continue reading
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LaTeX, Part (5): Writing your first document
We’ve got the warning and very basic background out of the way, so let’s start making a TeX document! First, open up Texmaker. If you left a shortcut on your desktop during installation, double-click it. If not, go to your … Continue reading
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