the initial configs

I just finished my first Linux post, but I wanted to get this stuff out before it was forgotten. Technical details...

I installed with the wrong hostname. I used olly when I should've used sifl. Tsk tsk. Anyway, I knew there was a way to change my hostname. I also knew that the bare hostname command wouldn't be permanent. I googled and found that, on Ubuntu at least, all I needed was to edit /etc/hostname and "restart" the "service." This was done by issuing the command

/etc/init.d/hostname.sh start

There really isn't a service. Not that I can see, at least. And nothing happens if you attempt to "stop" it. That script just seems to set the HOSTNAME environment variable. It's called automagically on startup through the S02hostname.sh service file listed in my /etc/rc#.d directories. Odd thing though: once I changed it, I couldn't launch new terminals in X. I'm not sure I could launch any new applications, actually. Strange, dontcha think? Well, a short robot fixed it. That would be a "reboot" to all of you not speaking e-craziness right now. An X restart probably would have as well.

And VNC. There is nothing called VNC here. I decided that "Remote Desktop" was layman for VNC, so I enabled that under the Preference menu. After opening a port on my router/firewall, I was able to connect from work. I was not, however, able to see anything. I even asked cep (over IM) if my computer seemed to be functioning correctly. It was, so I was baffled. Upon returning home this evening, I realized that a request prompt was waiting for me. "Do you want to allow remote desktop access from this address?" or something similar. Yes. Yes, I do. The remedy was unchecking "Ask you for confirmation" in the Remote Desktop preferences dialog. Pretty simple and easily tested. Slow though. Hopefully that won't be an issue.

the linux blog

So I took the plunge. Again. I installed Linux on my desktop, and it's soon to be the sole bootable OS on my desktop computer. I went with Ubuntu because I've heard good things. I also like their versioning strategy.

The experience was amazing, let me say that much.

Upon inserting the CD into my computer, a Windows auto-run application popped up notifying me of three options: 1. restart to demo and install, 2. install like a Windows application but with some limited functionality, 3. learn more about Linux. While installing within Windows sounded interesting, I knew that I would want hibernation and a native disk interface, so I chose Option 1.

After rebooting I had a fully functional, albeit slow-as-poop-because-everything-is-loaded-from-CD, Linux system. I played around with it a bit in this state. I figured out the wireless connection, checked out a sweet disk utilization app, and even repartitioned my desired Linux drive all from inside this "demo." But alas, slow was unacceptable. Holding my breath, I double clicked the "Install" icon which was so conveniently placed on my beautiful brown-paper-bag-with-coffee-ring desktop. No, honestly, it's really pretty.

I was asked a few standard questions. What time zone are you in? What keyboard layout do you have? That sort of stuff. Then I was asked where I wanted to install. This part was pretty slick. The installer suggested that I resize my existing Windows XP partition and install Linux in the remaining space. I was amazed. The last time I ran Linux full time, the NTFS kernel modules were listed as "experimental." Back then you could try reading NTFS, but it seemed dangerous to write to it, not to even mention resizing it. I didn't need this option, however, because I was all ready with a separate hard disk for Linux. It was amazing nonetheless.

I believe the last step in the process floored me. The Ubuntu installer asked if I wanted any of my Windows profiles moved over to Linux. !!! It was willing to transfer my Firefox/IE settings, my documents/music/pictures, my wallpaper, even my XP user logon image all at the click of a few boxes. Talk about great migration options.

So it installed. It took about half an hour, but afterwards things looked just like the demo again, sans "Install" desktop icon. I was back online; I was even being notified of new software updates that are available. What's more, I was notified of hardware drivers that I may or may not want to download, depending on my free-as-in-speech/free-as-in-beer tastes. I stupidly closed this window hoping to jump back to it soon, but the notification went away. Fortunately the message and choices were easily re-found as the Hardware Drivers option of the Administration menu.

So that was my Linux install experience. It was pretty great. I have additional things I want to post here about my Linux travails, but they're more technical, and I'm not sure anyone cares. Bottom line: I installed Linux. I'm using it right now. I feel more... computery, somehow. I just hope cep doesn't get too frustrated with it.

the campaign against

Sorry, but I had to:

the horror

I was thinking of posting about Facebook's Terms of Use. Specifically of question is the Term of Use indicating that they can do anything they want with your User Content (pictures, posts, etc.). They can license them for advertising purposes and seemingly don't have to contact you at all. Sure I'm being alarmist, but I've always had that sort of streak. Maybe -- hopefully -- it's not as bad as it looks, but I've heard stories...

Anyway, what I'm actually going to post about is far more grave. Let's not worry about online rights, OK? Life was fine before "online" and life will continue to be fine once it has passed, or once it's so locked down as to become unfashionable (it's probably inevitable at this point). Thai police have ordered shut hundreds of websites that were found objectionable to the current government. Scary, huh? It's worse in Russia, apparently. A staunch anti-Kremlin website owner was arrested by police and shot. In the head. While in police custody.

Honestly, I'm not even going to write about those incidents. I'm not going to write further about those incidents, I mean. We know things are scary all over this world. However, I didn't know they were that scary here, aux États-Unis. Apparently (again, I'm being cautious), presumed protesters of the Republican National Convention had their houses and apartments raided at gun-point by large groups of SWAT team members. Many we handcuffed, some detained, and a few fully arrested and charged. Computer equipment was taken. Warrants existed, but weren't shown in some cases until the end of such incidents. However, no crimes had been committed. This isn't scary, really; it's horrifying. Just go read it.

I'm sure details are missing, and I hope there's another side to this story. If anyone knows it, please please please forward it along. Like I said earlier on, I have this alarmist streak, and I'm quite alarmed right now.

the outlook

I ran in to Karl in the elevator a few days ago on my way to work. Karl's my neighbor, see, across the hall. For weeks now he's had this rather large back brace on, and he's been walking with a cane. He walks with a bit of a limp, and it looks like there's still some residual pain creeping into his face from ... something. cep and I think he had an auto accident or something, but we're too embarrassed to ask (or pry, as the case may be). He was getting into the elevator with his high-school-aged son when I asked him how he was. His reply was simple:

He's going to camp, I'm going to work, and my wife's going to the farmer's market, so life can't be that bad.

"Life can't be that bad." Amazing. I had to call cep immediately. She needed to hear this message. She's in Vermont right now, mourning, but I think it helped. I think a message like that, an outlook so humble and hopeful, should always be able to help.