Peppermint Reinstall

Peppermint Reinstall
I had some problem with LibreOffice.
For the second time LibreOffice froze saying I have exceeded the cash at backup folder.
Instructed me to FREE memory and try but it never re-started LibreOffice.
I immediately re-installed SuSe in my second hard drive and used LibreOffice from Suse and backed up my last two books in preparation (I am getting lazy to write now) and downloaded Peppermint and created a MicroSd USB using ImageWriter of SuSe and reinstalled.
Installing with USB was brisk except for the installation of language pack (local servers are very slow).
Just to wild the time till it installed the language pack, completed this blog piece.

Peppermint use a light weight window manager (unlike KDE and SuSe).
That let me do the background work using Google Document.
Peppermint does not have Office.
I will download it later.
Software center is excellent.

ImageWriter from SuSe-KDE based

ImageWriter from SuSe
SuSe has a good image writer.
This is the first KDE based USB creator that worked without a problem for me.
In fact I created a Peppermint in a MicroSD loaded to a USB adapter.

Postscript;
1.Make sure USB is formatted with FAT 32 using Gparted.
Most of the memory cards have proprietary files for booting, at boot level and they should be erased.

2. This is a very dangerous Utility, my advice is for you not to use it.

Reasons 
1. It renames the USB or MicroUSB and one cannot erase it, unless one uses the command line.

2. It cannot erase the proprietary MicroSDs (e.g; for example Sony).

3. Due to the above fact it won't boot.

4. It does not tell you what file systems it uses and Gparted cannot read them.

5. Its ?Grub or boot menu is pretty bad.

Once used, even MultiSystem utility cannot change its name.
In other words this utility corrupts the file systems and partitions, one might not use them again.

I lost only two MicroSDs (only 1 GiB capacity but expensive (one Sony and one non-proprietary).

I will use command line and recover them but it is bit of a hassle for any ordinary Linux user.

In hindsight, this is the utility I will use when I want to discard any USB utility in final cremation procedure, so nobody would recover my identity.

Knoppix 7.0.4-Booted From MicroSD-with Iceweasel Browser

Knoppix 7.0.4-Booted From MicroSD- With Iceweasel Browser

This is booted from a microSD (2 GiB) mounted on a USB Key adaptor (sold on the payment) from China.

This is an example that one need not be hooked to Android but one can work on a versatile Linux Live CD.

My favorite Knoppix.

One should neither become a Slave to the tecnolgy nor the Operating System but use the internet productively even with a MicroSD.

I heard the RoboLinux has changed to FireFox dropping Iceweasel which wasn't a good idea.

Iceweasel warns you at the entry point (in this case my blog site ) but gives the otion partially allowing (3/5 ratio) the cookies.

This an excellent workaround.

I have already stated what had happened to Pinguy Linux elsewhere, where a malaware (automatic with Firefox) disrupts the internet freedom.

Bye, this was just testing time for me.

Technology Killing Linux Star

Sorry for any errors in English, I have a little problem with LibreOffice, with lack of backup memory.

I generally work in LibreOffice and there after paste it on Google blog.
Not Today.

Technology Killing Linux Star (not Textstar of PCLinux).

It is like Radio Killed the "Radio Star"

This was something I wanted to write for a long time but kept postponing it for no good reason.

My previous post was a classic example of developers for speed of action letting slip away the security option in Linux (Pinguy Linux, coming from UK).

Cookie comes on with Firefox and kills both Google and Fire fox one and the same time.

Let me be brief.

I was very happy when Abdroid came in and was very impatient to test it but within a first few shots at it lost all the interest.

It has diverged from all security concerns in Linux.

It is fast.

It is pleasing.
It is cute but even a kid can write a script to destroy it.

Lot of these mobiles do not have USB ports to prevent this but with the emergence of wireless HiFi, there is another port to enter any device on the internet.

Lot of guys and girls do not know that there mobiles and tablets, let others eavesdrop on you every time you use them.

Only a few are snooping currently (except NSA doing it as a default function) but it is a real threat to Privacy and Privacy.

1. Number one is lack of security in modern Linux, especially light weight mobile Linux.

2. Number two Monopoly of Google.

Ubuntu tried crowd source project on mobile and gave it up due to lack of funds.

Even now I do not use Ubuntu since it was the first distribution that let the root function disappear from desktop use.

Even if they succeeded in the mobile market, they would not have worried about security.

3. The Firefox has mini mobile now.
Its entry is good, so there is competition with Google. 
FireFox is heavy and in spite of its security, Pinguy made a hash of it by automating at first use and a malaware script has joined force to bring down high state, along with Google.

4.Now even windows 8 is trying to enter the market but making a mess of it.
The surface pro may not get better.

5. So hardware technology, the mobile and the tablets are determining what the operating system do.
It should be the other way round.
Hardware should be independent (OEM) but they should determine the operating system specifications, to be stale, reliable (not only easy to use) and functional.

This we see with surface and windows 8.

6. The one I really miss in modern Linux is the work-spaces that toggle (active and inactive) not the clutter of windows/logos or thumb prints to click on.

They should think of menu and work-spaces to toggle with, which should not be that difficult with Linux.

So hang Android, think fast in Linux and make work-spaces and many menus avaible, even in a mobile (tablets, too).
that is my dream.
I do not like clutter.
One can do one thing at a time on the surface of a mobile or tab.
Let the other work be behind the screen, the music, alerts and friendly messages and updates.
Minimum of two workspces, one active and one working behind the screen.
I prefer 4.
One of them for command line work.
Even latest Ubuntu 14-04 one has to search for a terminal.

It looks like nobody work on terminals now.
Why?
Unlike graphic utilities, the terminal does not cost much memory but it is astronomically fast.

So take away the obsession with touch screen and work on Linux principles in which security and privacy are high on the agenda.
Then even NSA won't be able to penetrate.
sky is the limit for linux.

Do not let few companies to dominate or monopolize.

That is the "Open Source Dream".

I have nothing against Google.
Google showed the way.
The developers join the bandwagon.
They should have tried to outsmart Google, even at this late stage.
Then even Google would become much better in the long run.
That is how market forces worked.
We waited for Apple to dominate and that empire is falling due to Samsung.

Pinguy Linux 14-04-Firefox Warning-Nasty Cookie

Pinguy Linux 14-04-Firefox Warning

This is a warning for anybody who uses new version of Pinguy Linux 14-04.

It has added lot of eye catching cosmetic changes but there is a problem with Firefox when you start it first time.
It runs a nasty cookie before (wine something) starting Firefox automatically and one cannot stop it.

Then one opens Google Search, it does not let you search with Google.

This nasty cookie is killing both FireFox and Google in one go.

I think Pinguy has to work hard to prevent this.

I was to write a blog piece Technology Killing Linux Stars but this piece has to come first.

Thank god I tested Pinguy and Ubuntu 14.04  for different reason.

Just to test USB Multibooting Utilities and found this piece of malaware that comes with simple automation without security check ups.

One of the worries I have with modern Linux including Google's Android is lack of security and root permission before installing software.
All Linux developers should go back to basics in Security and all root permission to avoid this scenario, I have encountered.

Sorry for any errors in English, I have a little problem with LibreOffice, with lack of backup memory.

I generally work in LibreOffice and there after paste it on Google blog.
Not Today.

Final Update on U.S.B. Multi -Booting

Final Update on U.S.B. Multi -Booting

This is the Final Update on preparing a Multibooting USB.

YUMI
In spite of warning, by Peppermint, I installed YUMI Version One (using Debian Installer) on Ubuntu 14.04.
With lot of fiddling, I managed to Install few distributions on a 8 GiB USB.
It installed everything including wrting the boot menu.
But USB failed to boot.
This was written in Gambas programming language.

I did not investigate the reasons and what were the missing files.

MultibootingUSB (the follow up of YUMI)

Then from sourceforge I got version 7 of multibooting USB and installed it using Debian Installer and both attempts at launching it on Ubuntu 14.04 and Pinguy 14.04 failed due possibly to a  missing dependency.

Sudo and root does not work and program crashes and disappears, never to be activated again.
In addition Ubuntu does not have a utility to Uninstall a package installed from Debian Installer.

This is a very dicey situation.

MultiSysytem from France works nicely on Peppermint, Pinguy and and Ubuntu.
It does not let you delete a distribution.
This is something available on Debian MultibootUSB

I did not test it on Debian (I was bit lazy and Debian on 7 version is bit high and advanced for me) and it is probably a result of the distribution variability.

I have a request from both developer teams.

1. MultiSystem should add the functionality to delete a distribution/s.

2. MultibootUSB should work on the dependency and the distribution variation and specially the root and sudo administration.
It should release the source code for other distribution workers to tinker the missing files.

3. UnetBootIn should work on both of the above issues and produce the third viable option (multibooting and deletion of distributions) which is available for KDE desktops unlike MultiSystem and MultibootUSB.

I want both packages to succeed in the long run.

Both are pretty good. 
Mind you we only had UnetBootIn, my favorite for different reasons.
It can be used on KDE desktops.

KDE guys and girls still cannot figure out and produce (gnome the winner) a good USB MultiBoot Utility.

USB Multi-booting with Ubuntu 14.04-Update on Multi-booting

USB Multi-booting with Ubuntu 14.04-An Update on Multi-booting

There are only two multi-booting utilities.

One coming from Debian Linux called YUMI- (Your Universal Multi-booting Installation) and other from Ubuntu (Coming from France).

Links are both available at Pendrive Linux.

The hassle I went through was unbelievably agonizing for a Linux Convert.
But I am one who Never give up, simply because if have to tell a newbie how to do something in Linux, I need to have done it at least once, myself.

Downloading Ubuntu was Easy Peassy (old Ubuntu Netbook derivative).
Installing was difficult since I had an old Graphic Card and only I GiB RAM.

It had Libre and fire fox on the left side menu.

Then using Ubuntu Software center, I installed gparted and K3B.
That was easy.

Then I wanted to Install MultiSystem Utility.

1. Went to Pendrive Linux site and down loaded the .sh file.
easy.
Extracted it. 

2. I clicked on the file to see whether, the file file open a terminal.
It did not.
3. I did not know where the terminal was.

4. Went to the search logo on top of the left hand corner and typed, command terminal.

And presto, I found the hidden terminal.

6. With difficulty, I pasted the .sh file gave the root password and activated the Debian's apt-get.

7. In a flash it downloaded (those are breezy in Linux even with my 56 KB download speed) and installed it and after a reboot (Updated the file on reboot) Multi-Sytem was running fine.

But what a hassle!


Then I wanted install YUMI.

1. Downloaded the Debian file of YUMI.

2. Extracted it but it won't run.

3. Then I kept on clicking on the file but no result.

4. Then after a few fiddling, It left a message and went to Ubuntu Software centre and directed me to download YUMI.

5. Unlike Multi-system (which took half an hour of 280 odd files) in a few minutes it Installed MultiBoot with a simple dialog box.

6. I am downloading 4MLinux to (about 160 iso) install in a PenDrive and thought of writing this to keep me occupied, from the brand new and very slow Ubuntu.

My advice to the developers is, for them to install one of the utilities as a default for the newbies to enjoy the product.

I tried YUMI on Ubuntu 14.04 and it does not mount the Pendrive and after several tries gave it up.
I went back to Peppermint and tried to install YUMI and it straight away alerted me that it has lot of dependencies (it is a gambas- visual basic product) and probably obsolete and did not go ahead with the installation.

The Linux Magazine states that the developers are developing the version 7 in python with Qt base and my advice for the newbies is not to try it at all.

The developers should make intending users aware of the above facts in their web site.

 Nothing to worry since MultiSystem does a good job of creating multi booting USBs.

 

This is why I use small Peppermint Linux (Ubuntu derivative) and top up the other software as and when I need them.

Update on Multi-Sytem Multi Boot Linux System and the Live CD

Update on Multi-System Multi Boot Linux System and the Live CD

I am glad, even the Linux Magazine is reading my blog posts (even though, my blog pieces are bit crappy).

In the Last Magazine, they produced a DVD with lot of Tiny Linux distributions.

Then in the previous edition Linux magazine described the Linux multi boot options.

There is a smart guy who brings out EXTON derivatives of Linux distributions and his work single handed should be recognized as good as Knoppix.

Here is an update on Muti-System USB Boot utility not YUMI which is basically windows utility.

Pendrive Linux site gives graphic descriptions of all the utilities.

It is the best available SITE.

But the Linux Magazine described a Linux Live CD.

Its name ms_its_precision_r9.iso.

After lot of digital digging, I found it at Linux Software foundation and downloaded it (which is 700 MB).

It is a French creation and one needs to press F2 (boots very fast)to get the English (if you are not French).

It has a Ubuntu Desktop and has Multi System Utility to prepare USB Multi-booting.

My advise is for you to download the favorite distributions ISO.O to your download folder and then use the Muti Syttem Utility.

I used my Peppermint Linux, in root (cannot use it as an ordinary user) and tried to boot ms_its_precision_r9.iso distribution.

I tried it twice and GRUB Menu directed me to Multisystem in French and English but its squash (Live file system) file is not properly extracted into the USB or faulty and is not loaded with initrm.

This blog is to make them aware of this fact and in future it should be able to boot (Multi-Sytem iso).

This is probably due to dropping some of the files that are used by Ubuntu in Live Mode.

I hope they will work on it and in future not only from a CD but even from a USB, the Multi System Utility should be able to boot.

Below is my earlier blob about YUMI.

Please NOTE

YUMI-Your Universal Multiboot Installer

Not So Yummy!

USB Multi-booting with Ubuntu 14.04-An Update on Multi-booting

There are only two multi-booting utilities.

One coming from Debian Linux called YUMI- (Your Universal Multi-booting Installation) and other from Ubuntu (Coming from France).

Links are both available at Pendrive Linux.

The hassle I went through was unbelievably agonizing for a Linux Convert.
But I am one who Never give up, simply because if have to tell a newbie how to do something in Linux, I need to have done it at least once, myself.

Downloading Ubuntu was Easy Peassy (old Ubuntu Netbook derivative).
Installing was difficult since I had an old Graphic Card and only I GiB RAM.

It had Libre and fire fox on the left side menu.

Then using Ubuntu Software center, I installed gparted and K3B.
That was easy.

Then I wanted to Install MultiSystem Utility.

1. Went to Pendrive Linux site and down loaded the .sh file.
easy.
Extracted it. 

2. I clicked on the file to see whether, the file file open a terminal.
It did not.
3. I did not know where the terminal was.

4. Went to the search logo on top of the left hand corner and typed, command terminal.

And presto, I found the hidden terminal.

6. With difficulty, I pasted the .sh file gave the root password and activated the Debian's apt-get.

7. In a flash it downloaded (those are breezy in Linux even with my 56 KB download speed) and installed it and after a reboot (Updated the file on reboot) Multi-Sytem was running fine.

But what a hassle!


Then I wanted install YUMI.

1. Downloaded the Debian file of YUMI.

2. Extracted it but it won't run.

3. Then I kept on clicking on the file but no result.

4. Then after a few fiddling, It left a message and went to Ubuntu Software centre and directed me to download YUMI.

5. Unlike Multi-system (which took half an hour of 280 odd files) in a few minutes it Installed MultiBoot with a simple dialog box.

6. I am downloading 4MLinux to (about 160 iso) install in a PenDrive and thought of writing this to keep me occupied, from the brand new and very slow Ubuntu.

My advice to the developers is, for them to install one of the utilities as a default for the newbies to enjoy the product.

I tried YUMI on Ubuntu 14.04 and it does not mount the Pendrive and after several tries gave it up.
I went back to Peppermint and tried to install YUMI and it straight away alerted me that it has lot of dependencies (it is a gambas- visual basic product) and probably obsolete and did not go ahead with the installation.

The Linux Magazine states that the developers are developing the version 7 in python with Qt base and my advice for the newbies is not to try it at all.

The developers should make intending users aware of the above facts in their web site.

 Nothing to worry since MultiSystem does a good job of creating multi booting USBs.

YUMI-Your Universal Multiboot Installer-Not So Yummy!

YumI in Japanese is arrows but in Linux is Your Universal Multiboot Installer.

I downloaded both Mini and and Meteor from Linuxtracker.

Mini is over 800 MiB and and the Meteor was of Gorilla size, nearly 4 GiB.

Both work in only on windows.
That was the downside for me.

After three days of trial and error, I managed to get a hang of it but it allowed only a selected lot of multiple Linux distributions and all the old windows operating system including XP.
Some of the latest and my favorites Korora were not there.
Take what is offered and not what I really wanted in my Flash Drives.
This problem was there with UnetBootIn and I figured out how to make best use of it and install what I want.
It can be done in Linux since it only wants the path to the iso file and Flash Drive mounted.The GRUB is taken care of.

It worked well with windows 7.

However it was very slow indeed.

Finally, I decided to install the Linux version of Multiboot which is just over 200 MiB but can be used only on Ubuntu based Linux distributions.

UnetBootIn can be used in some of KDE Linux (not in SuSe) and the USB creators of all the KDE platforms are generally very bad at making a Bootable USB.

So my Peppermint 4 installed it in half an over in its terminal mode.

In initial instruction came in French but with my limited ability in French, I got it running.

Unlike the windows derivative, the work I did in windows on three days was accomplished in one hour.
In fact I erased it, and did it twice to get a hang of it.
So in half hour of work, I  got my first USB with multiple Linux distributions (of my choice) installed.
It let you drop the image into its lower counter of the dialog box and the work is done in a terminal with checking of data and updating the GRUB2.
GRUB2 is the best boot loader currently available by passing dos in windows platform.

I had a Flash drive (Verbatum) which had a file that did not allow full formatting (about 4 MIB of proprietary data) and installing of Grub 2 on its master boot section.

What I did was to install gparted in windows mode (Mini multiboot-v2- YUMI application was used in graphic mode) and booted it with its GRUB file (as a Dos exe file) in  and to my luck, the Multiboot (much faster than UnetBootIn) shifted the boot section to another sector and hid the unwanted file out of sight, which was blocking MultiSystem utility. so that I could get on with the installing, Knoppix, DSL, JoliOS, and EasyPeasy with 512 persistent for Knoppix and another 750 FREE for any data.

So if you have a Flash drive that does not boot due to proprietary files, MULTIBOOT is the answetr both in window's mode (unfortunately windows to begin with and Linux to shift the boot record (in his case GRUB2) to a bootable sector.

All this is done by PENDRIVE Linux and my first bootable (apart from Puppy Linux) was made on Pendrive Linux in 2009 using windows operating system.
I still have that FLASH Drive as a souvenir.

Now that I rarely use windows, thank you very much, Pendrive Linux.

I used Windows 7 (paid copy but never registered) for this work and during this period windows search engine was eavesdropping on my computer and to my annoyance it warned me about 100 times.
Interestingly it downloaded the driver for my old machine which was not available on first boot.
Microsoft should know that I do not violate its monopoly but I have over 300 Linux distributions in my archives.
Over 30 distributions in Flash Drives for demonstration purposes.
With this MultiBoot System of Pendrive, I will be carrying 0ver 100 Linux distributions in Flash drives including XP which will be soon defunct soon with JavA Zero effect.
Mind you the name of this blog site is Linux 100.

They (PENDRIVE) are looking for translators for translating the documentation and please join them and HELP them.

I hope somebody would translate this blog piece of mine (ideally with added details) for those who cannot understand English or do not use English as a first language.

Thanks a LOT Pendrive Linux.

This is posted with a Flash drive (Multboot System) booted with KNOPPIX, one of my favorite Linux Live distributions.

Pinguy Linux 14-04-LTS

Pinguy Linux
The latest version of Pinguy Linux is SUPER and the team has done an excellent job.
The Mini version has no utilities (1.5 GiB) but the standard version with 2.0 GiB has latest Libre Office, Calibre and very useful utilities.

How to make Tablets Successful and Popular

How to make Tablets Successful and Popular

This is a follow up to my blog piece “Why I think Tablets going to be a failure (in the long run)”.

My analysis was based on what is currently available and presented to an average customer with basic security in mind.

If one tries to do too many things from a little gadget (Camera, Phone and a PC) it is bound to become a failure when other professional options are available to do the same jobs.

Suddenly the creativity takes backseat and low priority when one is obsessed with promoting the new gadget which has hit the market but trying to vie with already established professional standards.

I always believe there is many ways making a tablet popular and successful.

This is just a glimpse of my thinking.

My comments were not negative but based on pragmatic reasoning.

If things are dicey the hardware manufacturers are not willing to manufacture little gadget in large numbers.

So I try to think of new ways of making the hardware manufacturers aware and looking at its market force, is for the tablet to be flexible and adaptable to the emerging market especially with school kids in mind.

I thought the tablet is going to be in every kids hand when it emerged first but companies trying to make a capital out of tablets took narrow and selfish approach and killed the universal use of a tablet.

Just like the OLP (one laptop for kids) it died a natural death.

Let me say how we can tackle this problem.

I believe there are many ways like ASUS transformer but I will state what I believe will turn the tables upside down.

How to overcome the problem?

1. Just make the tablet a “Game Console” to play with many sizes.

I really mean a Game Console with many options.

2. This game console should not have a proprietary operating system.

That is an essential necessity.

3. On top of the game console one should build the functionality like a Linux Samba Server.

The ability to link to one's personal computer or laptop if one desires.

This is the crux point.

It is an accessory to what one already has.

No body is going to throw away one's functioning PC or the Laptop since the new kid or the tablet has come home.

The new kid has its own role and it adds to the family needs.

It should not be a duplicate.

If one thinks, the Tablet as an Accessory, the driving force is already there.

It is like a remote control if one uses the WiFi to link to the PC or the Laptop or another Tablet.

I prefer the wired or USB connection with security in mind.

4. How is link maintained?

Either Hardwired or WiFi.

5. Lot of guys and girls would want to carry a portable hard disk or pen for mobility or current work.

So if one makes the tablet the portable companion another low key job can be accomplished without a hassle.

Like the Raspberry Pi one can keep on adding more and more functions.

With the three I mentioned, Game Console, Link Console and Work Console, the tablet can be in every body's hand including school kids.

So my Tablet which is going to have mass scale production and mass appeal has following features.

1. No operating system.

2. Lot of games with USB port for the Game Kit.

3. Stand to keep it erect when playing games or working.

4. 64 SSD hard disk, more is not unnecessary since it is linked to the home computer or the cloud.

5. Silky browser to read the email.

6. BIOS not possessed by a big company. 

One is free to dual boot with one's favorite Linux or proprietary operating system.

7. Lot of USB, MicroUSB, HDMI and other hardware links.

8. Good battery life.

9. Hardwired and WiFi connection.

10. Affordability like Raspberry Pi.

11. No connection to a particular company with dependency on cookies.

I think it is going to be the way forward for the tablets, an accessory everybody needs, like a remote control.

It can actually be a better “Remote Control” that will open one's garage door or light up the house when one enters the house.

Possibilities are countless when one gets out of the “Closed Box” thinking, which is actually the function of a laptop or a personal PC.

Postscript; 
I missed the points that Tablets can be go between the Phone or Camera with suitable Hardware and Software (WiFi) access. but it is a minor point.

12. Security Gateway:
It can be better utilized as a Security Gateway to Internet.
That is futuristic.
Passwords are becoming not reliable due to governments and hackers using them in eavesdropping.
The tablet can be used to monitor biometrics (Full Hand instead of Thumb imprint or Retinal Image) along with other dimensions of security (password) to sign in.
This is something the present dimensions of phone cannot deal with unless one uses, an image (Retina or hand held in front) in front of the phone face.
 This has commercial use.

Your comments are welcome.

Why I think Tablets going to be a failure (in the long run)

Why I think Tablets going to be a failure (in the long run)

I was very excited when tablets started hitting the market.

I thought it is going to be the “digital slate” that will be in every child's school back.

I for one want it to be my digital reader cum writer.

I thought it is the best thing that is going to happen in my twilight years away from the PC.

But in three years I have to revise my opinion and scale down my excitement.

I have few reason for not buying one till now.

I will list them later but jot down in point form, why I think tablets are going to be a failure.

Not the best thing that happened in the IT world.

Number 1

It is not going to replace the functions of a simple desktop.

The old IBM (I have several but discarding one by one, and sticking to my wok horse) did donkey work for me and still going on batting for me.

The keyboard, the mouse and the screen are designed for human needs and not for a robot.

Small screen and even touch screen capability is not design for androids (human hand).

If used in regular basis by children will have hand eye coordination problems.

Hand eye coordination are essential for a vascular or heart, plastic surgeon.

Future surgeons might have to use a robot for surgery and I won't go under one of them (I would be gone by then anyway).

Number 2

Tablet won't replace a good mobile phone in usage.

For communication and text messages to begin with.

Number 3

Tablet will never replace a good SLR camera or a video camera.

In other words, the PC, the phone, and the camera were dedicated gadgets.

What tablet did was to integrate the three with some increase in bulk.

It did not replace any one of the professionally designed gadgets, for example good quality PC for gaming or simulation of flying.

Now let me come to the more important topics.

Number 4-Security

Mark Shuttleworth of Ubuntu (According to Linux Magazine) calls for declarative firmware.

He claims most of the manufacturers put out low quality closed source firmware, which can become paradise for hackers.

Whether we like it or not dominance of the device configurations and firmware will remain with the parent company.

In this scenario even Apple is not safe.

The tablets will come with poor firmware and will be hacked in no time.

I think they will have a shelf life of two years if carelessly used.

That is my major concern.

They do not have USB ports to prevent using root kits to hack the firmware but the hacker can reach it from the Internet when the tablet is connected.

The manufacturer will put the fault on the user instead of owning his lack of responsibility.

Android has lot of holes even though it is based on Linux derivatives.

Kernel is not as good as a standard PC Linux kernel.

Let me dish out my own reasons.

Number 5

I won't buy a tablet without a USB port.

I do not want to use Apple or Samsung software.

I prefer my own Linux software and if possible use a root kit (ideally both commercial and my own) to install my own Linux Kernel out of the hundred available in the free software foundation.

Rest are academic not related to tablets alone.

Number 6.

Battery life.

Durability.

Customer support etc.

Number 7 

It is not yet ready for school use. 

I want tablets to be universally available both for rich and the poor.

My Gut Feeling

In this scenario, ASUS Transformer wins the game for a long time to come.

I hope the price of the tablet and transformer with the battery and keyboard will come down.

This is what I wrote few years ago.

It has long battery life, the human keyboard and the portability.

So think twice before buying a tablet.

If you have a laptop keep it in running condition and use the tablet as an accessory and not the work horse.

In my case I will have my old computer running till it packs up, (even if I decide to buy a tablet) or me pack up for good due to old age.

Feeding Pet Fish is not Easy

Feeding Pet Fish is not Easy

I have made a hash of it recently.

Let me tell all the mistakes I made later but antecedents worth a brief mention.

It is extremely hot and my guppy fish started dying simply because of the heat and the algae menace.

I keep fish to avoid mosquitoes.

My main interest is propagating water plants and due to the extremely hot weather, I have to top up one to two inches of water almost every day and it is making me tired, at the end of the tether, so to speak.

My outdoor fish tank's front glass broke due to shear heat to add to my problems.

I foresaw this and divided the tank into two portions one in front with glass front and back with only cement.

That saved the day and all the fish were quickly transferred to the backup, back portion of the fish tank.

Some plants are wilting away and the algae are dominating the eco-sysyem.

With all these misadventures, I decided to make a mini garden, so that I could propagate few of my exotic water plants indoors.

These exotic plants won't last a week outdoors.

Mind you, I have given up keeping fish indoors, anyway.

So all my problems started a week after, I have decorated my mini water garden with plants (in a mini tank).

Within a few days the plants were showing poor health.

I thought of lack of CO2 and Nitrogen.

Added few Guppy fish and gradually the numbers swelled to over 30 since out in the wild I had a variegated collection of male fish with beautiful colours.

I am fascinated by their genetic variation and exotic array of colour display.

One cannot find two fishes looking alike.
 

That is the reason for exceeding the number (which should have been twenty the most, for the mini tank).

Then with my home folks coming to to advocate design qualities, reluctantly I had to had few Neon tetras to the family of guppy fish.

This is where my problem started.

At about the same time guppy fish started breeding.

When they are under stress they breed, sometimes prematurely and very often the mother fish dies leaving a school of tiny guppy fish.

The Neon tetras are fastidious in habit, both feeding and in their behavior, heavily domesticated and they would not live in peaceful co-existence with fully independent and almost neurotic guppy fish.

Guppy fish are very active and they cannot stay still.

Their random movement add colour to the static picture of the mini plants.

Neon tetras prefer to stay in a shoal.

They do not feed with big pellets.

They prefer the fish food in dust form.

Guppy fish in a second finish the food and there is nothing left for the Neons.

I had no option other than to overfeed with tiny guppy fish numbering over 40 needing ample supply of food.

Th hell broke in a week.

In a week there was more than the desirable algae in an indoor tank.

One morning when I was about to feed I noticed that all guppy fish were docile.

Water was more turbid.

One fish showing definite signs of ill health.

This was an emergency (they were lucky I was on a long holiday).

If I delayed another day neon would be gone, even though they did not show any signs of ill health.

In actual fact they were having a fair share of food with guppy fish being very sluggish.

Overfeeding leads to toxicity specially due to nitrogen and within 24 hours the fish would be dead, including the adaptable and resistant guppy.

Remedy.

1. Fed the fish.

2. Transferred all the guppy fish except ten to my big tank already repaired.

3. After half an hour, I quickly removed half the water (there were two dead guppy fish at the bottom).

4. Did not fill with fresh water till evening.

5. Next day no feeding, they can live up to 10 days without food except the very young.

No problem there was enough algae in the system.

6. Removed half the water.

7. Refilled in the evening.

8. Added two algae eaters.

9. Estimated the amount of food for a day.

In three days the fish are adapting and coming back to normal “status quo”.

1. How to feed?

2. When to feed?

3. How often to feed?

4. Type of food?

The answer to all three is very simple.

Do not go by books, hearsay or gut feeling.

It has to be “tailor made”.

Your tank is unique so you have to observe every day and make a mental note.

Any sign of turbidity of water (overfeeding or algae) is an impending disaster.

Underfeed instead of over feed.

If the tank has healthy plants one can feed even every other day.

That is how I am going to manage.

They never complain but adapt. 

I prefer the flakes but not the pellets for tiny fish.

It is better to stick to one formula or type of food.

Do not mix food like I do for my big tank.

To the big tank I add all three (pellets, flakes and chunks).

That is for surface feeders, bottom feeders and the middle of the tank feeders.

There is a big scavenger fish to eat the dead fish and he is the biggest and the most docile in the big tank.

Keeping an indoor tank in healthy state can be easy but may led to catastrophe.

Better avoid it if you have no time.

But it is a very healthy pastime and good for your heart.

I will end up with few more observations.

Neon tetras are no longer in a shoal.

They are adopting guppy habits.

Few of them are actually fighting and chasing their fellow beings.

They are becoming more independent and self assured.

After two days of starving they now eat even flakes.

I can wean off the food in dust form soon, when the tiny guppy tots are big enough.

Algae eaters are busy cleaning the glass.

My water plants leaves are cleared of the dark algae on their surface.

Mind you they eat only algae.

Adequate light is mandatory for plant life.

Make sure to turn off the light in the evening.

Plants needs continuous dark spells for their “Health” in addition to adequate sunlight or artificial light.

Bottom line is guppy is the most versatile, beautiful and easy to breed fish.

They grow in numbers and nothing else one can do other than increasing the size or number of tanks in your possession.

One inside and another in the garden to dispense the increasing numbers, is my solution.

I used to release them back to the wild in good old days but with streams and paddy fields are polluted to the extremes with toxic pesticides (including arsenic) and waste, it is a death wish for my guppy fish now.

We are a miracle country NOW.