Erasing Microsoft UEFI

Erasing Microsoft UEFI

Erasing UEFI from a proprietary laptop is difficult.

Manufactures by collusion with Microsoft does not allow old BIOS System at boot up and specially Linux.

F2 is often blocked with a password.

 
One cannot simply dual boot a Linux system with UEFI capability.

So I erased everything with Knoppix but Knoppix could not boot from hard disk.

I erased hard disk with Debian 9.2 but it could not boot after installation.

Additionally SSD hard disks cannot handle a boot loader.

Finally I tried BSD OS, The TrueOS and it did the honours.

I installed it and UEFI was erased for good.

Big Thank YOU TrueOS.

Mind you TrueOS takes over your hard disk by the neck and do not try it, if you are a novice.

Domesticating Fruit Bats

Domesticating Fruit Bats

Yes it can be done.

I was interested in making the home garden “Birds Friendly’ but never imagined a “Fruit Bat” would frequent the house at night.

They are very secretive guys (?girl) and have very interesting habits according to Prof. Wipula Yapa.

I won’t summarize all of them here, lest nobody buys the book.

It has interesting collection of photos, too.

Much of their habits are far more superior to humans.

To begin with they can live integrated with similar bats species in caves in millions and settle in their own niche.

No in fighting.

Imagine three Ceylonese (apart from politicians, three or for local species want to divide the country like an American Pie) at a cross point.

First noise pollution.

Second bickering.

Third pollution ( I saw a guy urinating by the side of a main road).

This list can be endless.

Bats are social animals.

They are tribal (different species) but can live in the same cave in harmony.

No noise pollution in spite of acute sense of hearing with sonar ability similar to dolphins.

They look after the family (mother, father and the pup) closely.

Imagine a single child family in Ceylon, what a difference?

They reforest what is left over for the elephants to roam.

Our frequenter comes for fruits (one) and honey (three) in flowers.

Same attributes of birds but beat them in style in the darkness.

Can catch a mosquito in total darkness.

They clear up insects that hover round the lights but leave some pellets underneath for us to clear.

I had the wrong impression that they cause fungal disease histoplasmosis.

Histoplasmosis is not a zoonotic disease.

The fungus grows on the dropping left.

Do not go and disturb the caves and inhale histoplasmosis spores.

It is difficult to treat.

 

Bats do not cause diseases or suck blood.

 

They are part and parcel of our forest.

Granny Award

Granny Award

I intend to award a “Granny Award” in my mother’s name, to any person who come with an English Drama based on the stages mentioned below.

The contents are Open Source and are generally under the Linux GPL Convention.

1. Originator Unknown Ceylonese Author in his late Nineties (I claim he is not my late father)

2. Recent Rendering by a Bookshop Assistant in Kandy who wishes to be anonymous.

3. This edition is by me (Mini-Me Version) and BABA (one of my dear friends who is no more with us), SAMBA, BIMBA, ZIMBA, SINHA BAR (Lion BAR), ALI (Kandy elephants, the two legged variety) and any HORA-BABA (fatherless baby) or any unborn Ceylonese Baba (baby) can participate in future developments of this humane animal story (copy-left).

Currently the Pothe-Guru (story Teller) is me, the current author.

The Big Daddy Version (the language of communication could be from simple to vulgar depending on the alcohol content) is only for private consumption of my friends especially after a suitable beverage except the Ceylon Dust Tea (not Tiger Wood’s recent TEE) which I use as manure for ornamental plants.

Evam Mesuthan Ekam Samayam!

So, said and so heard.

1. I was a privy to Relay Carnival (passing the bucks relay, really fast, like the Hedging Deal and now the Bond Scams) in the Animal (they are more humane and eat only when hungry) Kingdom.

I was the only Ceylonese selected by an island wide Lottery conducted by the Hela Urumaya (or Hela Karumaya) Surakumu Foundation (HUKU-SUMU for short).

2. I was on holiday in a Forest Reservation (Jungle Habitat).

3. I observe an elderly (prostate enlarged) Peter Rabbit grazing.

4. Jack the Jackal (with financial interests in Ceylon) greedily waiting for an innocent prey.

5. Scene of the Jackal (both hip joints and knee joints are replaced-by bionic prosthesis delivered by a Ceylonese Tele Shop Giant on a Plate made of unclaimed Credit Cards-because of his Royal Ancestry) chasing the Rabbit.

6. Blind forest (Hermen) hermit descends from heaven and lands on a busy Junction (Thun-Man Chinthana Handiya) for free Dhana.

7. Rabbit approaching the hermit with break neck speed without a Crash Helmet.

8. Rabbit jumps over hermit visibly shaken up and annoyed.

9. Lands a squirt of Holy (Medical) Water (Urine for short) right on the nose and mouth.

10. Hermit really thinks the water is holy and ascends to a higher Jhana.

11. Jackal approaches the hermit with a bionic speed and put on breaks instantaneously.

12. Jackal licks the nose and face of the hermit.

13. Hermit rudely awakened from his Transient Trance (Transient Ischaemic Attack-TIA).

14. Jackal reprimands the hermit with a nasty comment;

Why don’t you stay a few feet above the ground?

15. Well, I was thinking about my Bank Balance of Merit (PIN-Numbers) in Seylan Bank and settled where I ought to be, was his reply.

16. Well then, did you see a rabbit running this way?

17. Yes, Yes I heard some animal running but I cannot say what species he was but I can very well tell you that he was a male.

18. You say you are a hermit and blind.

How can one see the SEX of an animal running fast in a Meditative Mode?

19. Didn’t the Master tells you, it is an illegal task to think about sex in Meditative Trance?

20. We animals think about sex, only when we are in full sexual flow and not otherwise, he proclaimed.

21. Can you tell me how the Blind Hermit instantaneously guessed the SEX of the fast moving passerby?

Help;

Nothing to do with his urine or prostate and it is due to some other reason.

Only a celonese would be able to guess the answer and it is a common saying when a policeman is chasing a politician who has committed a traffic offense.

Postscript:

Last Life-Purva-Bhava Connections

1. The hermit was a Traffic Warden (an active member of Hela Urumaya) who went to heaven instantaneously when hit by a Guy from the Presidential Escort.

2. The rabbit was a monk who went in search of emancipation in Ceylon Parliament and deposited his hard earned money in a private bank.

The Jackal was a Ceylonese Private Banker, better than an American swindler.

I was of course the CNN Reporter Assistant (only doing the editing) of iReportes, using a stolen mobile telephone.

Corollary

Only a male Jackal with large prostate can squirt a healthy vigorous stream while running, and a man cannot.

The rabbit in this story did it due to fear and the anger (monk standing on his getaway flight).

A female (liberal woman) will never be able to perform this act even when standing, the future female US President or probable female candidates included.

.

Cycle of Life and the Long Life

Cycle of Life and the Long Life

Maha Brahma (really his assistant) tells me that he has an old story to relate.

It goes on like this with some global modification by me to stand to reason for the modern world.

One day an earthling has come to visit him for his next round of birth as a human. He looked at his CV and offered him five years of life to the said being. 

He was thoroughly dissatisfied with the offer. So the Maha Brahma asked him to stay for a while so that he could offer him some bonus deals.

In real life most of the beings in the lower world except pigs (I come to that point later) refuse his offer and go for a lower life cycle than what is offered by the all almighty, so the Brahma can hand over any left over to any earthly beings as a bonus.

In a little while another earthling came for his share in the life cycle. Maha offered him 15 years as a dog. Dog was not happy to take this offer and Maha said that he has to take a minimum of five years that he offers to all humans and asked why he declined the offer.

He said as a dog even though is very faithful he only get left over food and dog food is really dog food and the garbage is no better.

Brahma promptly offered the balance to the human being making his life cycle 15 years and he was still not happy.

Then another earthling came and he was offered 25 years as a bull. Without batting an eyelid he refused the offer and went for the lower limit (minimum) of five years. His grouse was he has to work every day of the week and after all that when he is weak the human offer him to the slaughter house and it is not a pleasant ending.

Maha did not have any regrets and he gave the balance to the human being making his life 35 years. He was still not happy.

Then the third in the line of earthlings came for his godly offer. Maha offered him a choice that he could have 25 years as a village pig and said that there is no guarantee that he could live up to the maximum. Pig requested a lower regime and Maha offered him 1 to 5 years. One year as a domestic pig or 5 years as a wild boar. He went for the latter offer knowing very well the outcome of the former life (slaughter house within a year).

Maha offered him the balance 20 years to the man making his life time 65 years but he was still not happy.

Then came the last of the earthling for the day and he offered 40 years as a bat.

But the bat asked why 40 years.

He said you do night duty when all other earthlings are having a good snooze and so “it is a bonus” Maha said.

But bat said it is not a fun standing upside down the whole day and seeing the world upside down.

Maha said the whole world is upside down now anyway and what you are seeing is the real world.

But the bat was not convinced he went for a lesser time of five years and Maha offered the balanced to the man who was quite pleased with 100 years.

When he was about to leave the Maha told him my friend you are going to live only five years as a real human being.

How come the man asked?

Now child you will live as a child for five years.

Then the next five years you live like a dog always faithful to your parents, to elders and teachers.

Then the next 20 years till 35 years you will live like a bull doing all the dirty donkey work for your family.

Next 20 years you like live like a pig eating all the rubbish the world has to offer.

The last 35 years you live like a deaf, dumb and a blind man and seeing the world going upside down right in front of you and you a ready for the dustbin any moment after 65 years.

Man asked why didn’t you tell me this?

You never asked the Maha Brahma replied.

Now I come to my late discovery and hope somebody would propose me for a Nobel Prize in psychoanalysis.

This actually should go to Piaget but he did not publish this in his time (found in his possession as crumbled notes) fearing that if he published it then he would have been sent to the dustbin of history with all his previous writings.

My adaptation of his psychoanalytical theory goes little further than Piaget assumed it to be.

1. Up to 5 years Concrete Operational  

2.  5 to 15 years Formal Operational  

3. 15 to 35 years Formal but non Functional  

4. 35 to 65 years Non operational  

5. 65 to 100 years Concrete (Complete) non Operational

In another way of putting the facts of life is as follows.  

1. Up to 5 years Ego  

2.  5 to 15 years Accelerating Ego  

3. 15 to 35 years Decelerating Ego  

4. 35 to 65 years Non Ego  

5. 65 to 100 years No Ego

When this theory is applied in a scientific way to politics and science what is revealing is fantastic.

Politicians

The politicians also go through the child stage and the dog stage up to about 15 years and having achieved nothing in this period he would go to the stooge stage abruptly (Formal but non Functional Stage) and becoming subservient to his political masters.  
At 35 years he goes to the Killer Stage. 

By default according to my latest analysis (Non Operational Brain Stage) at this stage they do not get any new ideas and subside on others ideas for survival (for example All Party Conferences). This stage they start killing other’s ideas within the same party and if they cannot do that they physically eliminate them.

Then they turn to the opposing parties and start abusing and eliminating them until they culminate in coming to the helm by hook or by crook.

The final culmination of all the hard work and they become the rulers (The President or Prime Minister) without any new ideas or common sense (Mr. Blair and Mr. Bush were examples).

They project all ideas of the others as their own and Mr. Reagan was an example and was a very good actor at that.

Scientists

Coming to Scientists they go through the Discovering Stage (rather learning) up to 35 years.

Then they go to the Discovered Stage.

They do some hard work and at the end they find all these have been already discovered by others.

Having discovered this fact at a later stage of their career they have no urge for living and die prematurely at around 65 years of age (looking for a better life next time).

Buddhist way of Analysis

Lord Buddha and Buddhists analyze this in a subtle way. 

It is easy to analyze this in modern Banking Terms.

There are only three stages.

1. Deposit Account Stage from birth to 15 years – Kusala Kamma (KK for short)  

2. Current Account Stage from 15 to 35 years    – Kusala Akusala Kamma (KAK for short)  

3. Overdraft Stage from 35 to the end    – Akusala Kamma Stage (all Kusala consumed)

Then the Brahma takes over and recruits them to the Animal Kingdom again.

His choices and picks have no overrule in life and matters.

The life cycle begins again with fresh vigour.

Rough Guide to the Tree Equivalent of Man and their Re-plantation

Rough Guide to the Tree Equivalent of Man and their Re-plantation

This is not referring to the commercial scale of replacement since the rate at commercial scale exploitation cannot be estimated to any accuracy.

This is based on the use of tree, timber and its products by man during his productive life.

If we were to sustain each man or women has to grow at least 10 trees and maintain them till their mature life. This  has to be done in 4-5 year cycles and older you (above 35 years) are the cycle has to be at least 1-2 years. Ideally each man or woman plants a tree on his / her birthday!
1. The use as timber products for roofing and housing

2. To replace the use of paper products

3. Use of fire wood (this has to be in relation to the use)

4. The use of furniture

5. Wastage in every production line

6. The trees not sustaining themselves due to bad planting or weather conditions

7. The last 4 are for unaccountable felling and vandalism encountered and may have to vary according to the country.

  This amount is to keep the balance of nature. 

If one has a house with 4 adults in it this estimate makes it 40 trees around their neighbourhood and the way the houses are built in a city next to each other there is  no room for us to grow enough trees.

Not even a single tree or hedge to act as windbreaks and shade. (please look at how rich Americans build their houses and walkabouts).

That means every major city has to have a buffer zone (this is how the ancient people built cities) of tree cover equivalent to the population that is incarcerated in the name of development.

  Colombo city can never regain its splendor what ever we do now for it.

The Kandy city has almost 3 three times population density of Palestine Refugee Camps and we are going to be no different to Israel in another 10 or 20 years.

We are losing it faster than it’s regeneration.
Regarding the commercial exploitation the re-plantation has to be according to the tree’s cycle. If the tree grows to maturity in 4 years for every tree harvested 4 should be planted and only a few trees fall into this category.

For some trees, if it is lost it is lost for ever.

They take may be 400 to 500 years for it to grow to maturity and often not reproducing fast enough due to their longevity and this simple equation cannot be applied in recreating its natural habitat.

  This is only a rough estimate and we have lost about 60% of our forest cover in 50 years of unsustainable use.

I do not think these people with mega-development ideas have understood the problem or have insight into the matters of concern we are facing now.

The have no futuristic goals but presence of mind for exploitation.

Very soon we will be like Dubai, the work we have to do now is enormous if we are to arrest these trends.

Forest Harvesting; Comparison of American Style and Sri-Lankan Style

I was bit inquisitive why there are so many tornadoes and hurricanes in America.

I just went to Google Earth and had a little peep from above of Americas’ West and East.

There is hardly any different of tree cover of the land. Mostly farmland and build up areas. That did not give me a clue to the state of the forest cover. Then I went and searched deforestation.

American harvested the 90% of the land in 70 years from 1850 to 1920.

Entire East was covered with Forest and fair proportion of the West was covered with primary forest.

The deforestation continued to this century and America now has mainly secondary forest covering 10% of the land.

American knew that the CO2 problem started around 1920 and continues even today due to their exploitation of fossil fuel.

Did they tell the truth to the world? Big No.

In Sri-Lanka we had 90% forest cover until around 1850 and British started deforestation for coffee and tea cultivation.

By the time they left in 1948 forest cover was over 60% but before they left they pass a law prohibiting encroachment of Crown Land.

From 1948 to 2000 we have decimated another 40 percent especially after 1970.

We are now below the minimal threshold of 22% to maintain our rivers.

This land now can be called President’s Land instead of Crown Land and the development goes on.

When the thermal power plant is operational we will be approaching 10% level which is the cut off point for desert classification.

Acid rain will do the rest even we stop cutting to Zero.

Then we can say we are better than America in case of deforestation and go for an IMF loan.

Very soon we will be no different from Dubai.

Regards to American tornadoes and hurricanes trees act as a wind breaks and control the water cycle better.

They should reforest America back to 1920 or continue to have this cycle every year.

Problem is there is no country rich American can go to avoid hurricanes since rest of the world is no better including China.

This is what I call the development of the Earth Crisis.

The prediction that world ends in 1912 should be rephrased that irreversible loss of biodiversity is in full swing from now onwards.

We Sri-Lanksn will be drilling oil with Indian help till sun goes down.

The cycle of destruction has begun and it is irreversible unless there is global consensus.

Next biggest crisis will be food crisis and that will be worse than 1973 (due to oil crisis and poor foreign balance) since this time it is related to failure of rain and land becoming dessert.

We are at a cliff edge.

Problem is politicians obsessed with development and energy do not want to see that in that way.

We have no plan for food security but have big plans for 100% energy supply which we will never achieve.

Children who are born today will see the consequences but we do not even have a population plan.

The Truth about Cholesterol

1. Cholesterol is a vital biochemical component

2. Its body’s production far exceeds its dietary intake and independent of eating eggs.

3.Cholesterol is needed for proper function of serotonin receptors in the brain. Serotonin is the body's natural "feel-good" chemical.

4. Its treatment with anti-cholesterol drugs causes dementia which American Heart Association and Drug Companies would like to hide.

5.Eating eggs is a healthy habit.

It is a class one protein in addition to supplementing vitamins.

6.Its treatment causes confusion,domestic violence, suicide and even homicide.

7. Its a vital component in the brain-this is for meditators

8. Its secretion parallels cortisols, the vital stress hormone of the body.

In other words it a secondary stress indicator and not a stress hormone.

9. Its treatment does not prolong life.

10. Only Aspirin prolongs life in low dosage.

11.Treatment of hypertension does not prolong life but retards secondary organ damage (Heart Failure and Kidney failure

12. Human growth hormone is one that prolongs life

Unfortunately one cannot interfere with its production except regular and mild exercise.

13. Good sleep (without pills) is my best indicator of healthy life style.

Have plenty of it (one can do that only retirement)

14. Meditation may be helpful but I have a caution.

The Truth about Cholesterol

If You had been cheated by American Drug companies, please read the real Biochemistry! Your body makes saturated fats, and your body makes Cholesterol – about 2000 mg per day. In general, cholesterol that the average American absorbs from food amounts to about 100 mg per day. So, in theory, even reducing animal foods to zero will result in a mere 5% decrease in the total amount of cholesterol available to the blood and tissues.

In practice, such a diet is likely to deprive the body of the

substrates it needs to manufacture enough of this vital substance; the cholesterol, like saturated fats, stands unfairly accused.

It acts as a precursor to vital corticosteroids, hormones that help us deal with stress and protect the body against heart disease and cancer; and to the sex hormones like androgen, testosterone, estrogen and progesterone; it is a precursor to vitamin D, a vital fat-soluble vitamin needed for healthy bones and nervous system, proper growth, mineral metabolism, muscle tone, insulin production, reproduction and immune system function; it is the precursor to bile salts, which are vital for digestion and assimilation of fats in the diet. Recent research shows that cholesterol acts as an antioxidant. This is the likely explanation for the fact that cholesterol levels go up with age. As an antioxidant, cholesterol protects us against free radical damage that leads to heart disease and cancer.

Cholesterol is the body's repair substance, manufactured in large amounts when the arteries are irritated or weak. Blaming heart disease on high serum cholesterol levels is like blaming firemen who have come to put out a fire for starting the blaze. Cholesterol is needed for proper function of serotonin receptors in the brain. Serotonin is the body's natural "feel-good" chemical. This explains why low cholesterol levels have been linked to aggressive and violent behavior, depression and suicidal tendencies. Mother's milk is especially rich in cholesterol and contains a special enzyme that helps the baby utilize this nutrient. Babies and children need cholesterol-rich foods throughout their growing years to ensure proper development of the brain and nervous system.

Way Forward

One correct judgment does not mean that our judiciary is reformed.

It has long way to go!

Milk and Brest Feeding

Milk and Brest Feeding

Breast Feeding is the Best for first six months.

Every mother has the right to choose breast feeding or bottle feeding.

Breast feeding depends what the mother eats and her general health.

The nutritional requirement of a breast feeding mother is more than when she is pregnant.

Mother should avoid taking drugs, medicine and smoking.

Demand feeding is the best approach.

Weaning is not recommended before six months.

If weaning is intended it should not be delayed beyond 5 to 6 months.

The breast milk substitute should be an infant formula Highly modified (humanized) cow’s milk.

Goat milk has no place in infant feeding.

Infant formulas are two types.

 

Whey Based;

Low in protein

Low in salt.

Low in calcium.

High in fats

 

Casein Based;

High in protein

High in salt

High in calcium

Low in fats

Infant formulas have added vitamins.

Cow’s milk is not recommended for infants.

Cow’s milk is high in salt, protein and calcium.

Infant formula generally recommended is whey based.

Follow on formulas have different composition.

They are cheaper than the whey based highly modified (humanized) infant formulas.

Milk alone is not sufficient after 6 moths and careful weaning should be introduced.

May be introduced between 12 to 18 months.

Milk should be prepared according to correct instructions. Concentrated milk can cause dangerous hypernatraemia.

If there is a family history of asthma and eczema continue breast feeding at lease for 12 months and the mother should avoid all potential allergenic foods during breast feeding.

Shelf Value

Deception is the default system and truth has no shelf value.

Dog Shit as a Meditative Object

Dog Shit as a Meditative Object

All dog lovers should read this.

I was to write about my 'Mini Garden Concept' but this is more urgent matter to deal with.

It was only yesterday, I was walking down our foot path and there was a little tussle brewing.

I generally avoid such encounters like, I avoid dog shit on our path.

This guy was a old polio case with a big limp and at the street level with direct eye contact.

I knew him as a casual labour when young not for good reason.

He refused to cut grass as fodder for the young cattle (cow and a bull) my wife had saved from the slaughter house.

His refusal did not deter me doing this menial job of looking after them for over seven months.

The other was a wife of a policeman who died recently as a pensioner.

She was on top flight of the steps.

I did not look up but diverted the guy's attention to me.

Then he said that dog shit was on his steps everyday.

He knew, I love dogs and feed all the stray dogs I meet on my walkaway.

 The lady, in a second retreated to her house.

This guy is living at a higher level and there is another guy who is very friendly with me because of his reading habits. (Only recently I found that they were two brothers and their childhood history was terrible.)

He is relatively poor but I make a point to buy a book or two of his choice, if I meet him in a bookshop.

 I like him since he always has a question or two for me to answer or expand upon, which sometime end up as a blog piece.

I have this canny habit of rephrasing his question to make his next question more vulnerable.

He is caring for all the dogs (now partially stray) that come to his house from the neighbourhood.

I told him the other day, that he is stupid and with the cost of living as it is, feeding dogs is not a minor matter.

I told him, I feed stray dogs on the street but never take them home as my company.

These dogs have the uncanny habit of pleasing you with a drop of a hat.

I tell him, follow me, when I see dog shit in my garden, I clean them up immediately in meditative mode (my dog never does it on the steps) since my wife has a big aversion.

Mind you dog shit is dog shit and smelly if your dog is not a vegetarian dog (there aren't any vegetarian pedigree dogs).

My dog has limited space but his shit is small and in pellets formation and easy to cast away like a bad thought in meditative mode.

His only problem is constipation both he and I suffer due to dehydration (extremely hot weather even in Kandy).

So dog shit is a meditative object for me but for many Buddhists in this country dog shit is enough to start a war now that the ethnic war is extinguished (but the mad hatters are harping on).

I was able to stop the tussle, just yesterday.

This guy is deceased now.

But I won't try it once the parliament is dissolved.

All our political stray dogs are there cohabiting with shit on the floor of the house with p words.

I was looking down from my balcony and there were five or six dogs on the road making their territorial marks.

It just reminded me one of our present minister's pedigree dogs were poisoned for political reasons.

So they (now he is just a citizen with lot of spare time on his hands) will be busy igniting the ethnic war while at the same time visiting Buddhist temples.

How can these Buddhist monks practice meditation not on 'dog shit' but on 'ethnic purity shit'? 

This theme is called 'territorial integrity' which dogs possess in abundance. 

I think dogs acquired this "SHIT TERRITORIAL POSSESSION" from man.