FLHL looking for Freesoftware Adverts

The guys at the Free Linux Help Line (http://freelinuhelpline.net) are looking for Ads to run between segments of their soon to be podcast. So do you know of a Distro, App, Event, or Podcast that is or is about Free Software? Well if you can condense you enthusiasm into 30 seconds or so then send them to freelinuxhelpline@gmail.com. Ep 0 is scheduled for January 10th.

Once a wanker always a wanker

This is an age old spat but about 4 months ago I called "Merlyn" a wanker and he has now proved my point.

Dave Yates and some other Linux Podcasters are creating a planet to aggregate all of the Linux Podcasters blogs. This whole thing has been built in a mailing list. Because of this project I have proof that Merlyn is a wanker. Here was his one and only reply to the list.

I'm getting a "you have mail" notice from this thread about every five minutes
for the past 4 hours. I don't think that's necessary any more. Please remove
me from future postings.

If you want to include FLOSS Weekly in your roll-up, go ahead. That's really
all you need from me.

--
[REMOVED] - Stonehenge Consulting Services, Inc. - +1 503 777 0095

Smalltalk/Perl/Unix consulting, Technical writing, Comedy, etc. etc.
See http://methodsandmessages.vox.com/ for Smalltalk and Seaside discussion

and here we're some funny replies... I have removed the posters name (if you wrote it and would like to be known let me know)

linuxplanet.org is a totally cool name. Forget "podcast"

...Oh let me just make sure Randall isn't in my replyToAll list..i don't want to bother him, I know he's a busy guy. -klaatu

Busy guy is one thing to call Merlyn. I can think of a few others.

I also have some hosting space if needed. And, I'd be happy to set up a Drupal backend.

I know this isnt an elegant post but I thought it was really funny so here it is

LinuxCranks Podcast Episode 0

LinuxCranks is a podcast that has no real direction or well anything for that matter. Its loosly about Linux, Free/Open Source Software, copyright issues... ummm really anything goes. In ep0 we bitch about pulse audio, and some talk about Ubuntu and Fedora.

the page can be found at unixporn.com or talkshoe.com/tc20037

Flooding at the Columbus Convention Center, but that's where OLF is held!?! Nooooooo!

Thats right kids the THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH is reporting that the flood in Downtown Columbus was a waterline and that's "... estimated that the damage to walls, carpeting and other fixtures will run into millions of dollars."

"The waterline, which runs down Swan Street and provides water to the west side of High Street, had been capped under the northern section of the convention center at 400 N. High St. The cap blew off for an unknown reason, and water shooting under the center pushed up the concrete slabs that make up the floor and flooded the center. When the water was turned off, the slabs subsided, leaving damaged drywall and doors that no longer line up with their jambs in the northern part of the center."

So here's to hoping for a OLF2008!

How much do YOU love Freedom?

My brother and I were discussing Software Freedom, well I was being a zealot and he was being somewhat intelligent in his discussion. After this discussion I got a message on facebook telling me to install a thing called vrms. So I did. For those of you who don't know,

vrms (Virtual Richard M. Stallman) is a program that will analyze the set of currently-installed packages on a Debian-based system, and report all of the packages from the non-free tree which are currently installed.

Note that vrms is not limited to Debian systems only (which means that it also works with Debian-derived distributions such as Ubuntu). It is also not limited to Linux-based systems.

Future versions of vrms will include an option to also display text from the public writings of RMS and others that explain why use of each of the installed non-free packages might cause moral issues for some in the Free Software community. This functionality is not yet included.
(via wikipedia)

so here is the output on my Gutsy Beta box:

three@CondorV2:~$ vrms
Non-free packages installed on CondorV2

human-icon-theme Human Icon theme
linux-generic Complete Generic Linux kernel
linux-restricted-modules- Non-free Linux 2.6.22 modules on x86/x86_64
linux-restricted-modules- Non-free Linux 2.6.22 modules on x86/x86_64
linux-restricted-modules- Non-free Linux 2.6.22 modules helper script
linux-restricted-modules- Restricted Linux modules for generic kernels
nvidia-glx-new NVIDIA binary XFree86 4.x/X.Org 'new' driver
tangerine-icon-theme Tangerine Icon theme

8 non-free packages, 0.7% of 1170 installed packages.

so that means that I am 99.2% free, how much do you love freedom?

The Reason Why Ubuntu Wins Hardware Vendors' Polls

I was listening to the most recent Distrowatch OGGcast http://distrowatch.com/podcast/dww20070910.mp3
and the host brought up an interesting question, why does Ubuntu win all of the polls? Well here are my reasons why the next top competitors aren't on top.

Suse (SLED and OpenSUSE): No one trusts Novell. People tend to switch to Linux to get away from Microsoft, so why use a partner's distro?!?

Mandriva: I think Mandrivia is just crap, they focus way too much on the "club" (the tossers that actually pay for it) and don't focus enough on community building.

Debian: scary server OS

Fedora: I don't like Fedora. Okay scratch that, I hate RPM (RedHat Package Manager) . All Fedora needs is a new package manager (how about apt) and it would be fine. I would still reformat and put Ubuntu on, but Fedora may survive the first day.

Gentoo and Slackware: will never win because they are too damn difficult.

Mint Linux: may win the poll but will never come from the OEM because of the non-free codecs and shit they add (some illegally)

PCLinuxOS: name, the name sucks

[Note] I will update this (maybe repost) with more distros as I think of them and why they will not win.

The definitive dual-booting guide: Linux, Vista and XP step-by-step

Today/Yesterday I posted a link to the RLUG Ubuntu Help Blog Titled exactly as this post, it is seriously "The definitive dual-booting guide". Dual booting is not really a fun thing to do, and I think this will make it really not too hard.

here is that link btw http://rlugubuntuhelp.blogspot.com/2007/09/definitive-dual-booting-guide-linux.html

Keese is now Linux friendly!

Forward: I am Linux's bitch.

About a year ago Threethirty told me about the awesomeness of Linux. He told the of the idea, the benefits of using it, and even the downfalls. I decided it would be a great thing to try out. I mean it's free (as in beer) so what the hell. I played with it for a little while but started to hate it because I was using a wireless adapter, which is a pain to get working. Then I upgraded my computer, and Linux yelled at me. Told me that X Server Failed to start. I had no idea what the problem was, and I even boggled Threethirty and Pegwole's minds with the issue.

Two days ago, was my first day at my Linux/Unix Administration class. For homework we were to burn a live CD-ROM with Knoppix on it as well as get the version of linux that came with the book onto our home computers. This wasn't much of a problem as I've had too much experience already burning Linux disks, and I was saving the Linux partition for a rainy day. It was there that I figured out the out the cause and solution to my X Server problem. I have a nVidia GeFirce FX 5500, and it turns out Linux didn't like seeing it. So I pulled it, and now I'm as happy as a kid in a candy store, I've been using it since I've installed it, and love it!

Reiew: Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon

Well honestly i can't review it much, X got stuck in a loop of crashes, but I did notice a new option when booting up the live CD OEM Install. This makes me happy, now computer companies have no excuse not to offer a system preinstalled with Ubuntu.

As for me, it looks like I'll have to wait until the beta release to get to experience Gutsy Gibbon.

New Compiz Fusion Screenshot and Effect

This is about the most awesome thing I've (personally) ever seen. This is an effect from the latest build of Compiz Fusion. Paper Airplanes are a totally productive 3d effect.

Okay NOW you have no reason not to not try Linux

Look we have tried to make Linux easy for everyone, non-text installs, Live CD's and DVD's, LUG's, install-fest's, etc, etc. But now we have done the one think that makes trying Linux as brainless as installing Windows apps.

I bring you Wubi.

Wubi is an unofficial Ubuntu installer for Windows users that will bring you into the Linux world with a single click. Wubi allows you to install and uninstall Ubuntu as any other application. If you heard about Linux and Ubuntu, if you wanted to try them but you were afraid, this is for you.

Wubi is Safe

It does not require you to modify the partitions of your PC, or to use a different bootloader.

Wubi is Simple

Just run the installer, no need to burn a CD.

Wubi is Discrete

Wubi keeps most of the files in one folder, and If you do not like, you can simply uninstall it.

Wubi is Free

Wubi (like Ubuntu) is free as in beer and as in freedom. You will get this part later on, the important thing now is that it cost absolutely nothing, it is our gift to you...

screenshots can be found here
a FAQ can be found here

You can get support here

OpenMoko: Linux-based $300 open smartphone

The OpenMoko is a cellphone platform for those who are tired of being pushed around by the big manufactures and the carriers. The Neo 1973 is a $300, Linux-based open smartphone. Unlike the iPhone, it doesn't come locked to any provider, it doesn't come with DRM, and it allows you to install any third party app you like, even if Steve Jobs worries that it might spoil your experience. It's still in "developer preview," but this will be my next phone.

The Neo 1973 boasts the following hardware specifications

* 2.8" VGA TFT color display
* Touchscreen, usable with stylus or fingers
* 266MHz Samsung System on a Chip (SOC)
* USB 1.1, switchable between Client and Host (unpowered)
* Integrated AGPS
* 2.5G GSM – quad band, voice, CSD, GPRS
* Bluetooth 2.0
* Micro SD slot
* High Quality audio codec