disconnecting iPod from Linux

When I plug in an iPod into a machine running Ubuntu, the iPod auto-connects, but is not actually mounted.  This is especially problematic when I am running under i3 or other window manager which does not have a system tray or other mechanism for listing connected devices.

Turns out it is easy to disconnect:
  sudo eject /dev/sdb1

Season the device path as appropriate for your system.  I typically find the device name by looking through /var/log/messages for the USB messages for when I connect the iPod.

clonezilla (disk imaging) quickstart

[NOTE: I have found Paragon Backup & Recovery tool to be better fit for me, and really like it:  http://www.paragon-software.com/home/br-free/]

Steps for setting up Clonezilla an a USB thumb drive:

• go to http://tuxboot.org/download.php
• click Files on SourceForge
• download tuxboot*.exe (or other, depending on your currently booted OS)
• run tuxboot
• the defaults are good usually:
• clonezilla_live_stable chosen
• no Pre Downloaded images selected
• MD5 Check selected
• Type: USB
• Drive should be already the USB drive you have plugged in
• hit OK

gizmo's freeware

This is an excellent site containing reviews of best freeware in many categories.


Some notable reviews:

• http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-anti-virus-software.htm
• http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/top-freeware-picks-category-editors.htm
• http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-firewall.htm
• http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-cd-dvd-burning-software.htm
• http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-pdf-writer.htm
• http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-disk-de-fragmenter.htm
• http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-drive-imaging-program.htm
• http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-portable-programs.htm
• http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-non-adobe-pdf-reader.htm

www.softwarepatch.com

This is a great website for getting at direct downloads of notable HW/SW patches, service packs, security updates, DirectX, etc.

  http://www.softwarepatch.com

checking USB thumb drives

In my experience USB "thumb" drives are notoriously unreliable, but that's something you find out only once you attempt to read back the data you've "written" to the device.  Always check your medium before use.

Great tool that I found for such drive validation: "Check Flash": http://mikelab.kiev.ua/index_en.php?page=PROGRAMS/chkflsh_en

CapsLock as another Ctrl (Windows)

Registry change:
  http://ftp.gnu.org/old-gnu/emacs/windows/docs/ntemacs/contrib/caps-as-ctrl.reg

From:
  http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/windows/Installing-Emacs.html

Totes "Doorman/Gentleman" umbrella

I recently broke my favourite umbrella, the Totes classic black "Doorman" or "Gentleman" stick umbrella, and had a hard time finding a place to buy a replacement from.

Naturally, Totes online has it, but they don't ship to Canada, and their Canadian store is only going to come online next year.  Amazon.com does not ship to Canada.  Sigh.

Finally, success!  Someone that has it AND ships to Canada:
  http://www.beltoutlet.com
It can be found here:
  http://www.beltoutlet.com/meaustumbto.html

Now let's see how fast they can get it here.

Monday as first day of week in GNOME

A lot of approaches on the Net specify hacking the locale files; e.g.:
  http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=813945

However, a far simpler and certainly less intrusive procedure is to simply modify default LC_TIME:
  http://askubuntu.com/questions/6016/how-to-set-monday-as-the-first-day-of-the-week-in-gnome-calendar-applet

Specifically:

• in /etc/default/locale add:
  LC_TIME="en_GB.UTF-8"
• log out, then log back in

hunting for dock for Nexus S

Best deal on the "lean back" models is here:
  http://shop.brando.com/google-nexus-s-usb-cradle_p05659c1265d106.html
  http://shop.brando.com/google-nexus-s-2nd-battery-usb-cradle_p05660c1265d106.html

Interestingly, you can hack the dock by adding resistors, to get different results:
  http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=12160799&postcount=40
  http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=820275

dead pixel finder, online version

http://www.gdargaud.net/Hack/DeadPixels.html

fixing broken Ubuntu Unity

I must have clicked something naughty in Compiz Config Settings Manager, because I lost the top and left side panels, and generally there was not much more than just the desktop background.  I was stumped on how to fix this.

Then I found:
  http://www.tuxgarage.com/2011/04/missing-top-and-side-panels-in-unity.html

Very good walkthrough for fixing Unity.

In the end, I executed the "Reset Compiz" section, and things are back to normal.

setting static IP in Ubuntu

By default recent Ubuntus (e.g., 11.10) use Network Manager, which makes things simple:

• click network icon in system tray
• Edit Connections
• select the one entry that you see there (unless your network is not working)
• Edit...
• IPv4 Settings
• From Method drop-down select Manual
• the rest should be straight forward

If not using Network Manager to manage network connections, you need to edit /etc/network/interfaces and add (adjust to own network parameters):

auto eth0

iface eth0 inet static

        address 192.168.0.100

        netmask 255.255.255.0

        network 192.168.0.0

        broadcast 192.168.0.255

        gateway 192.168.0.1

cloning a github repo

Steps needed to download my repo from github to a new computer:

• install git
• generate SSH key
  ssh-keygen -t rsa -C "your_email@youremail.com"
• add public key to github keys associated with my identity
• have ssh-agent forget identies
  ssh-add -d 
• now reread new ones
  ssh-add
• verify ssh setup is working (see http://help.github.com/ssh-issues/)
  ssh -vT git@github.com
• clone repo
  git clone git://github.com/maciekk/emacs.git

Note that did not have to do a "git init" or "git remote add".

Recommended book on Mathematics

This book has been highly recommended to me, I should check it out soon:

Mathematics: A Human Endeavor
Harold R. Jacobs

http://www.amazon.com/Mathematics-Endeavor-Harold-R-Jacobs/dp/071672426X

A nice cup of tea (by Orwell)

http://www.booksatoz.com/witsend/tea/orwell.htm