2011 on The Total Token Vortex

emacs --daemon

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 23:52:00 +0000

Good blog post about running Emacs in daemon mode:
http://emacs-fu.blogspot.com/2009/02/emacs-daemon.html

Also a thread on how to cleanly shut the daemon down:
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1167484/how-to-gracefully-shutdown-emacs-daemon

Windows 7: startup items

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 23:38:00 +0000

Can get to these by Running “msconfig.exe”.

disconnecting iPod from Linux

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 17:49:00 +0000

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.

clonezilla (disk imaging) quickstart

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 02:08:00 +0000

[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

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 02:55:00 +0000

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

Some notable reviews:

www.softwarepatch.com

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 02:46:00 +0000

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

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 01:56:00 +0000

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.

CapsLock as another Ctrl (Windows)

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 22:20:00 +0000

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

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 22:42:00 +0000

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.

Monday as first day of week in GNOME

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 02:01:00 +0000

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

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 01:54:00 +0000

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

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 04:35:00 +0000

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

fixing broken Ubuntu Unity

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 02:48:00 +0000

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.

setting static IP in Ubuntu

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:46:00 +0000

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):

cloning a github repo

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:41:00 +0000

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”.

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 23:09:00 +0000

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

install git
ssh keygen
add public key to github keys associated with my identity
ssh-add -d (have ssh-agent forget identies)
ssh-add (now reread new ones)
ssh -vT git@github.com to verify ssh setup is working
git clo

Claude (migration note): Empty or missing title. Filename is a numeric post ID (likely a Blogger import artifact). Missing title and truncated content (ends mid-sentence) — strong candidate for deletion.

Recommended book on Mathematics

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 23:38:00 +0000

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)

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 23:35:00 +0000

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

configuring grub for auto-selecting Windows

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 18:35:00 +0000

Typically “Windows” is one of the last options in the GRUB menu, and thus rather brittle to selecting by static index. Instead, one can specify default GRUB choice by using the full option name. Here are the steps I followed last to update this on a recent Ubuntu (11.x) install:

how to reset Furthest Page Read on Kindle

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 16:28:00 +0000

From http://www.kindleboards.com/index.php/topic,25545.0.html

Solution – Reset the Furthest Page Read
Use the same device for all of the steps below before opening the book on a different one, the below example is using a single Kindle
1. Set the Synchronization off on your Amazon Account (Go to Amazon -> Your Account -> Manage Your Kindle -> Manage Kindle Device Synchronization -> click the “Turn the Synchronization off” button to turn off the synchronization)
2. Wait about a minute, then exit & re-enter your book
3. Go to the beginning of your book on the Kindle
4. Sync to the furthest page. If it tells you that you’re on the furthest location, you’re good to go.
1. If not, select Cancel on the sync message, exit and re-enter the book to attempt the reset again. (I think that the Amazon databases have to get reset-thus the delay; in any case, it always works for me on the 2nd attempt)
5. Turn on the synchronization setting on your Account – your Furthest Page read will be reset to your new location.
6. On your other devices–if further along in the book, you will have to go to the beginning of the book, but once done the Furthest Page Read location will sync with your Kindle.

fixing headphone config on Acer Aspire One

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 04:35:00 +0000

From:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1070212

add this line:
options snd-hda-intel model=acer_wmi
to the end of /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base

This has now changed. Put the above line in /etc/modprobe.d/sound

Notes from Ubuntu 11.04 install on Acer Aspire 522 - BZ499

Sun, 29 May 2011 04:14:00 +0000

C-50 Ontario processor is 64-bit, so we’ll use the 64 bit image: ubuntu-11.04-desktop-amd64.iso
installed image onto USB stick using: ‘sudo usb-creator-gtk’ command
make sure BIOS is configured to read from USB stick before HDD
note: ubuntu kept hanging on me (mouse cursor/throbber frozen)… from posts on Net I suspect it is due to wireless driver

solution: install with wired connection plugged in; this allowed me to do install no problem
this link sounds relevant: http://fossplanet.com/f10/[bug-775034]-[new]-natty-freezes-due-acer-aspire-one-522-wireless-148584/

suspend and hibernate work right out of the box with this (tested both)
clicking on Additional Drivers in top bar, it seems we are already using Broadcom STA wireless driver (hence could conflict with other one)
now able to use wifi (w/o wired plugged in) using following:

add in /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf this line: “blacklist atl1c”
“sudo update-initramfs -u”

suspend still works
outstanding issues:

(non-proprietary) video driver has poor YouTube playback, etc.
after resume (from Suspend?) the Ubuntu top and left bars stop updating visually (Ubuntu One compiz component; switch to “Ubuntu Classic” in GDM and all is well)

attempting ATI/AMD proprietary FGLRX gfx driver install…

resume from suspend no longer working… can’t even ping the machine (but did not check earlier that I actually could)

went back to non-proprietary video drivers

Sun, 29 May 2011 00:34:00 +0000

Claude (migration note): Empty or missing title. Body is empty. Filename is a numeric post ID (likely a Blogger import artifact). Empty title and empty body — strong candidate for deletion.

Ubuntu: gVim in fullscreen

Sun, 29 May 2011 00:01:00 +0000

Under compiz window manager, you need an extra package, which is not installed by default in Ubuntu 11.04. I’ve set the keybinding through gnome settings, and that was not sufficient to have the fullscreen action work.

Ubuntu/gnome: disabling password request on resume

Sat, 28 May 2011 18:58:00 +0000

Problem: on resume from suspend, Ubuntu/GNOME presents password entry dialog, which is annoying.

Found a working solution here:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1466504

Namely:

As you’ve probably already done, uncheck:
“lock screen when screen saver is activated”
in the System->Preferences->Screen Saver menu.

Type gconf-editor in a terminal. Under apps/gnome-power-manager/locks check:
“use_screensaver_settings”.

If still asked for password, you can (also in gconf-editor) go to desktop/gnome/lockdown and check:
“disable_lock_screen”
Credits to itslofty below for this tip!

I only had to do steps 1 and 2 on my Ubuntu 11.04 Natty Narwal on the Acer Aspire 522 BZ499.

Ubuntu + my Acer Aspire 522 BZ499

Sat, 21 May 2011 14:10:00 +0000

Various notes on trying to get latest Ubuntu (11.*) running on my AO522 netbook.

Useful links;

writing effective Thank You notes

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 20:20:00 +0000

From:
http://www.thank-you-note-samples.com/how-to-write-a-thank.html

Here’s how to get started:

Dear [Name of person]. If “Dear” sounds too formal to you and you know the person well, you can get away with “Hi”, as in “Hi Michelle!”
Thank you for the [description of gift] [name of gift].Example: Thank you for the fuzzy brown scarf.
At least one sentence about the item; something you did with it, a reason you like it, when you plan to use it. Ideally, make the sentence 2 parts, like the example below. This makes the note feel more sincere.Example: It matches many of my clothes and I know I’ll use it on my trip to Iceland.
Tell the giver you appreciate the thought or time they put into it and the occasion for which the gift was given.Example: It was so thoughtful of you to think of me on my birthday.
Mention something about the giver such as family members or something happening in their lives.Example: Best wishes to Tom and the kids. OR Have a great time in Maine next month. I look forward to hearing about it!
Sign off. “Love” is fine for family members and close friends. For others, some choices are “Yours Truly”, “Regards”, or “Warm Regards”.
Sign your name. Don’t make this an autograph scrawl; neaten it up so you they know it’s you.

PDF virtual printer for Windows

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 21:12:00 +0000

Useful review of top free PDF printers:
http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-pdf-writer.htm

I chose to install BullZip one. Ran into issue where upon printing I would get error about macros. The following post was useful:
http://www.bullzip.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=8538

blocking Flash in Chrome

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 01:06:00 +0000

Interesting post, seen on https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/cdngiadmnkhgemkimkhiilgffbjijcie:

You don’t need any 3rd pary extension to block flash anymore. To enable Chrome’s built in Flashblock type ‘about:flags’ into the address bar and hit enter. Scroll down to the botton and enable ‘Click to play’, then restart your browser. Now click the wrench menu > Options > Under the hood > Content setting > Plug-ins and select ‘Click to play’ from the right hand side. You can use the Exception button to whitelist specific domains.

setting up googlecl in Windows

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 01:19:00 +0000

Some instructions here:
http://publicint.blogspot.com/2010/06/setup-googlecl-on-winxp.html

However, it seems newest versions of the googlecl tool come pre-built. The only issue was I was missing MSVCRT71.dll file. This can be obtained for Windows 7 here:
http://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/fix-msvcp71-dll-and-msvcr71-dll-missing-error-in-windows-7/

remapping CapsLock to extra Control key

Sat, 05 Feb 2011 19:36:00 +0000

To that end, I found this link useful:

http://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/MovingTheCtrlKey#toc4

In *NIX:

 setxkbmap -option ctrl:swapcaps # Swap Left Control and Caps Lock
 setxkbmap -option ctrl:nocaps # Make Caps Lock a Control key

setting up my Acer Aspire One

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 02:13:00 +0000

Just got an Acer Aspire One (AO522); here are some things I bumped into with Windows 7 Starter, or otherwise interesting links:

Xubuntu issues encountered: