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Getting to know the command line, again
by Peter Alcibiades 01 Feb '10

01 Feb '10

Someone a while back posted a query about what to read on getting to know the command line. I suggested Scott Granneman 'Linux Phrasebook' which is really nice, compact physically and in pages. Since then I've been looking some more on behalf of a colleague who has moved to Linux and is reaching the limits of point and click, and have come on two others which may be useful to someone. The first is: William Shotts 'The Linux Command Line' A long very carefully written book, available in pdf for download and from Lulu in paper form. I've only read the first few pages, and then skimmed here and there, but this seems quite exceptionally patiently and carefully written, anyway, its free to download in pdf form before you buy in the paper version, from http://gd.tuwien.ac.at/linuxcommand.org/tlcl.php The second one is Glen Smith 'An introduction to shell scripting'. There are some excerpts available on the site http://slashetcbooks.co.uk/itss.html and this also looks very carefully written for pedagogical purposes. Its quite a bit cheaper if you buy direct from them. There is supposed to be an awk book coming as well, but it seems that parenthood has got somewhat in the way of getting that one finished. As it does. Both of these guys, and Granneman also, seem to understand the difference between teaching and describing, which is a pretty rare talent in any field. I'm sure there are a lot better books for the experienced, or to use as references, but for someone who wants to be taught from first principles they seem pretty good. See how my friend gets on anyway. Peter

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Why doesn't my IMG float? (trivial HTML question)
by Chris G 30 Jan '10

30 Jan '10

In the following snippet I was expecting the text to appear beside the image but it obstinately stays above it:- <p>Zelma has to be back at work tomorrow so we went down to Chateauneuf and Zelma and Ben left us there to return home. Maxine and I then pottered downstream to Cheffes and back, all very scenic, with supper back at Chateauneuf.</p> <div align="left" class="figure"> <img alt="http://home.isbd.net/boat/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/DSCF2320.jpg" src="http://home.isbd.net/boat/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/DSCF2320.jpg" style="height: 50px;" /> <p class="caption">View of the moorings at Chateaneuf-sur-Sarthe</p> </div> Can anyone suggest what the problem might be? Yes, I know there are possibly other bits around that might affect it but I can't see anything relevant. The code is generated by docutils by the way so don't complain about my style, I didn't do it! I'm viewing in Firefox 3.5.7, has it decided that as div align="left" is deprecated it can ignore it? I've just tried IE as well, same result. -- Chris Green

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Re: [ALUG] BT Broadband linux compatability?
by Anthony Anson 30 Jan '10

30 Jan '10

Ken Hamer wrote: > On 29/01/2010 23:51, Anthony Anson wrote: >> They still haven't mended it. > So are you saying that you don't have a working phone line (including > voice)? Yes, that's what the situation is. I seldom used the phone anyway, and typically, my bill would be around ten quid, which would include (say) tw calls. So, I have a PAYG elderly phobile and this internet dongle. It's only inconvenient on badly-constructed websites, or if I want to access audio or video files. -- Tony Anson www.girolle.co.uk/

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[OOPS!!] Dud keyboard solved! Thanks.
by Ted.Harding＠manchester.ac.uk 30 Jan '10

30 Jan '10

Apologies for the loss of time! I had failed to check the systemn clock after rebooting this morning. As a result the following was sent "two days ago". Now back to real time. -----FW: <XFMail.100128085753.Ted.Harding(a)manchester.ac.uk>----- Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 08:57:53 -0000 (GMT) Sender: main-bounces(a)lists.alug.org.uk From: (Ted Harding) <Ted.Harding(a)manchester.ac.uk> To: main(a)lists.alug.org.uk Subject: [ALUG] Dud keyboard solved! Thanks. Apologies for not responding earlier -- I was in Cambridge most of yesterday, and did not have time to deal with people's replies until today. Many thanks to all who responded. I do seem to have raised a lot of dust in attics! Since I was in Cambridge, I followed up Ken's suggestion, so popped into Maplin's and bought an L90BT (PS2 female to DIN male adaptor). As Wayne indicated, it wasn't cheap (£7.99), but is nicely made and solid. Since Maplins had a few "on the hook" in the shop, there was no issue about being "lucky to find one in a hurry"! Anyway, back at home, this morning I used the adaptor to connect a PS2 keyboard to the DIN socket on the box. Worked perfectly, and I fscked the filesystem (Statutory Declaration: I have not made a typo). I am now back to emailing normally from that machine! The following may be of interest (and a possible useful warning). I dismantled the old DIN keyboard to try to diagnose the problem. The heart of its mechanism is two plastic sheets with "printed circuitry" on them: on the underside of the upper sheet, and on the upper side of the bottom sheet. These lie below the keys, and when a key is pressed it presses the upper sheet down onto the lower sheet, and makes a contact. I suspect that this may be the source of the problem. Because the computer in question is mainly accessed remotely, its keyboard is hardly ever used (except occasionally when rebooting); so, to keep the keyboard out of the way, I have had it standing upright on its edge (the edge that would be nearest to you when laid flat for use). Undoubtedly, at least when putting it back on its edge after use and probably often when just shifting stuff around, the keyboard has been tapped onto the tabletop when in the upright position. This may have caused the plastic sheets to shift inside the keyboard, either getting it out of alignment with the pegs on the keys (that press down on the sheets) or moving it out of touch with the contacts in the keyboard case that connect the sheets with the little chip that feeds the cable. Whether that is the explanation or not, the end effect has been that pressing a key produced no result (and the effect had been intermittent until yesterday, when it had apparently become permanent). So beware! (Another warning: dismantling a keyboard should not be done lightly. There are lots of loose bits inside. Reassembling and getting everything back in line is not trivial. Indeed, I recall, from years ago, taking the bottom off a keyboard only to discover that it had spring-loaded insides. It took ages to pick all the little bits up from the floor ... ). I shall be in touch privately with the people who have kindly invaded their attics on my behalf, once I have brought that machine properly up-to-date again. Meanwhile, thanks again and best wishes to all, Ted. -------------------------------------------------------------------- E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <Ted.Harding(a)manchester.ac.uk> Fax-to-email: +44 (0)870 094 0861 Date: 28-Jan-10 Time: 08:57:50 ------------------------------ XFMail ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ main(a)lists.alug.org.uk http://www.alug.org.uk/ http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/main Unsubscribe? See message headers or the web site above! --------------End of forwarded message------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------- E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <Ted.Harding(a)manchester.ac.uk> Fax-to-email: +44 (0)870 094 0861 Date: 30-Jan-10 Time: 10:19:52 ------------------------------ XFMail ------------------------------

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FOSDEM upcoming
by Sam Tuke 30 Jan '10

30 Jan '10

6-7th Feb, Brussels. See http://www.fosdem.org/2010/ Is anyone thinking of going to FOSDEM? I'm sure that it'll be a fantastic experience to meet amazing people, learn about new technologies and exciting projects. Also it's good to represent Britain with the largest turnout possible (remind Europe that we aren't all backward numbskulls when it comes to technology - it's just our government). Transport and accommodation may be easier/cheaper if people travel as a group. So, any takers?

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Graphics Card Recommendations
by James Bensley 29 Jan '10

29 Jan '10

Hey List, Can anyone recommend a graphics card that can definitely play full 1080p video under Ubuntu. Currently I have a Palit GT 240 which can play 1080i at 20Mbps OK but above that and it struggles. However 1080p at 16Mbps isn't watchable. I get a better result out of mPlayer than VLC when user VDPAU with X11 but its still not watchable. The machine is dual boot with WinXP Pro x64 SP3 and has the same results? Recommendations are welcome. -- Regards, James ;) Samuel Goldwyn - "I'm willing to admit that I may not always be right, but I am never wrong." - http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/s/samuel_goldwyn.html

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URGENT! Ancient keyboard/adaptor needed!
by Ted.Harding＠manchester.ac.uk 29 Jan '10

29 Jan '10

Hi Folks, One for the attic-hoarders amongst you! I need a replacement for one of those old keyboards with the fat (pre-PS2) connector (I forget what their proper name is). Alternatively, if there's an adaptor that would allow a PS2 keyboard to be plugged in to the ancient socket in the back of the case, then that might do the job. Reason: the keyboard on one of my machines (dating back to the 90s) has failed, and I can no longer re-boot it (it needs a manual fsck following a power failure). Any offers/advice/suggestions most welcome! Thanks, Ted. ---------------------------------- E-Mail: Ted.Harding(a)manchester.ac.uk Date: 29-Jan-2010 Time: 08:10:00 This message was sent by XFMail ----------------------------------

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Hello!
by Martin A. Brooks 28 Jan '10

28 Jan '10

Hello ALUG, I thought I might try and find a LUG which is a little closer to my home than my usual haunt (GLLUG), and didn't fancy taking on the responsibility of restarting Essex LUG. So, err, hello! Hope you guys are friendly.... :) Mart.

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Dud keyboard solved! Thanks.
by Ted.Harding＠manchester.ac.uk 28 Jan '10

28 Jan '10

Apologies for not responding earlier -- I was in Cambridge most of yesterday, and did not have time to deal with people's replies until today. Many thanks to all who responded. I do seem to have raised a lot of dust in attics! Since I was in Cambridge, I followed up Ken's suggestion, so popped into Maplin's and bought an L90BT (PS2 female to DIN male adaptor). As Wayne indicated, it wasn't cheap (£7.99), but is nicely made and solid. Since Maplins had a few "on the hook" in the shop, there was no issue about being "lucky to find one in a hurry"! Anyway, back at home, this morning I used the adaptor to connect a PS2 keyboard to the DIN socket on the box. Worked perfectly, and I fscked the filesystem (Statutory Declaration: I have not made a typo). I am now back to emailing normally from that machine! The following may be of interest (and a possible useful warning). I dismantled the old DIN keyboard to try to diagnose the problem. The heart of its mechanism is two plastic sheets with "printed circuitry" on them: on the underside of the upper sheet, and on the upper side of the bottom sheet. These lie below the keys, and when a key is pressed it presses the upper sheet down onto the lower sheet, and makes a contact. I suspect that this may be the source of the problem. Because the computer in question is mainly accessed remotely, its keyboard is hardly ever used (except occasionally when rebooting); so, to keep the keyboard out of the way, I have had it standing upright on its edge (the edge that would be nearest to you when laid flat for use). Undoubtedly, at least when putting it back on its edge after use and probably often when just shifting stuff around, the keyboard has been tapped onto the tabletop when in the upright position. This may have caused the plastic sheets to shift inside the keyboard, either getting it out of alignment with the pegs on the keys (that press down on the sheets) or moving it out of touch with the contacts in the keyboard case that connect the sheets with the little chip that feeds the cable. Whether that is the explanation or not, the end effect has been that pressing a key produced no result (and the effect had been intermittent until yesterday, when it had apparently become permanent). So beware! (Another warning: dismantling a keyboard should not be done lightly. There are lots of loose bits inside. Reassembling and getting everything back in line is not trivial. Indeed, I recall, from years ago, taking the bottom off a keyboard only to discover that it had spring-loaded insides. It took ages to pick all the little bits up from the floor ... ). I shall be in touch privately with the people who have kindly invaded their attics on my behalf, once I have brought that machine properly up-to-date again. Meanwhile, thanks again and best wishes to all, Ted. -------------------------------------------------------------------- E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <Ted.Harding(a)manchester.ac.uk> Fax-to-email: +44 (0)870 094 0861 Date: 28-Jan-10 Time: 08:57:50 ------------------------------ XFMail ------------------------------

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Re: [ALUG] ISP issue, some sites I'm completely unable to access..
by Anthony Anson 27 Jan '10

27 Jan '10

Ken Hamer wrote: > On 26/01/2010 22:38, Anthony Anson wrote: >> Not sure where their exchange is - might even be Bunwell... >> </thinks> > Depends what is meant by Tibenham. Some parts of it are on the New > Buckenham exchange - unlucky ones on Tivetshall through cables made of paper. Or wet string? >> If I want a reasonable connection I have to take the little box into >> Norwich, where the dongle will play nicely. >> Afraid you are not alone. But fear not! Mr. Brown is trying to get >> you 2Mbps! This will happen Real Soon Now. Not a lot of good - Mr. Brown will have to explain to BT that their bit of beryllium between their pole and their junction box is broken, and suggest to them that since I've been telling them this for around five years, a bit of (an?) expedition might not go amiss - which is why my connection is via Vogonfone. Mind you, since I don't try to access video streaming, music and the like, the PAYG dongle only costs me - has only cost me up to now £2½ per month. >> Can't get the wi-thingy to work with the Fat Cat's wireless router >> thobut. > That will be thick walls, long reach, incorrect encryption key, broken > adapter or broken router. Maybe all five. All routine. Try HomePlug > devices. Devolo ones work. Of course your router needs to be getting > a connection. Does it? I haven't got a router connected - I take the Eee into the Fat Cat, and so does Neville of this (ALUG) parish. We get the magic screed from the bar, and key it in. Neville's flaptop connects straight away, mine just sits there, claiming that it's connecting. This happens every time. Wireless connection works in my brother's house, at my sister's, in other pubs, friends' houses, but not at the Fat Cat. It doesn't reject the attempt, it just sits there smugly and pretends it's doing something. -- Tony Anson www.girolle.co.uk/

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