Spice Up OS X Mission Control

Modification is rarely recommended for new OS X users. You don’t want to spend your time struggling reverting system to default settings. However, with little personalization, you can dramatically change the way how your Mac looks, especially when it’s the workspace you use every day.

Mission Control with its linen background becomes boring if you’re used to all the linen in OS X. What if we can replace the background with other pattern that looks better than the overused linen? It turns out that there is an easy way to replace Mission Control’s background without risking your OS X default settings. The first thing you have to do is selecting some nice patterns.

As soon as you’ve picked your favorite pattern¹, download Lion Designer made by Moritz Wette. This simple tool allows you to replace many low level OS X configurations² while providing a safety button to revert back to default settings.

Lion Designer will automatically relaunch the Dock whenever you make changes. After applying the new pattern, you should be able to see the difference immediately. Hence, enjoy your new Mission Control.

Light 2, Stylish Flashlight for iPhone

There is always a way to craft an app that is both stylish and simple. A good design is not always how it works, but it also requires an enticing user interface.

Light 2 is the most stylish flashlight app I’ve seen in App Store. It’s rare to see developers put their heart into making beautiful UI for simple tool such as flashlight app. In fact, I haven’t installed any flashlight apps yet. I honestly appreciate the effort that Jason Ting, the creator of Light 2, has put into by bringing this app to iPhone.

The first time you run the app, Light 2 will present a realistic round button to turn on flashlight. There are 3 modes available: SOS Mode, Flashlight Mode, and Strobe Mode. Each with its specific function that you can use to increase survivality. You can adjust the brightness level with the top slider. With Strobe Mode selected, the duration of flashing can be changed by moving the bottom slider. Of course, if you prefer to only have flashlight feature, there is a setting to turn off mode selector.

Light 2 is available on App Store for free with built-in ads. You can show your support by removing the ads with in-app purchases.

Yellow Butterfly

It may not be possible for you to picture my writing environment right now. With windows widely open behind me making use of the moon reflection as the only source of light, surrounded by the vast amount of water with limited electricity, and the endless rain increasing the water level, I don’t think many properties are able to survive this flood.

Each house has their own system to keep water from getting in. Ours is simple. We have two small water pumps ready for use whenever flood arrives, pouring out the water each time it enters the lower level. Problem arises when the water level reaches the ground level. There is no way to keep the water from getting in unless you seal the gate. We take this matter into account and prepare another preventive step. Whenever the water level almost reaches the ground level, we’ll attach an iron plate to the gate, only letting a small amount of water getting in, maintaining a healthy water level inside the house. This system has proven to work every year.

However, I’m not sure about it this time.

We’ve attached two iron plates that heighten the ground level by 1 meter. Despite the increased height, I can see the water is already within my reach and probably will overflow the gate soon. The sound of the rain keeps getting louder. If it doesn’t stop, I’m sure we won’t hold out any longer.

But that doesn’t stop me from liking rain.

I love rain. I love it since I was a kid. I like to watch each little drop of water creating many ripples on the ground, on the lake, and on the roof. The tranquility brought by the sound and atmosphere is the work of nature. Whenever it rains, my mind becomes clear.

Before writing this, standing by the window on the third floor, I saw a yellow butterfly struggling between the heavy rain. Just like us who are facing this flood, other beings are also suffering the same state. As I watched closely to the yellow butterfly, it flapped its wing vigorously to maintain its balance and disappeared between the darkness of tree leaves.