Small is beautiful-Linux

Small is beautiful-Linux

One does not need a high Linux distribution to to do productive work.

Carry the stuff in a USB stick.

One need a USB stick (bigger the better, at least 64 GiB) and a few iso images downloaded including Linux MultiSystem boot DVD.

Steps

1. Write image to a DVD
2. Boot the DVD
3. Stick a USB (one may have to remove it and insert it again)
4. Write the GRUB boot loader on the stick
5. Drop the iso images to the graphic utility.
6. Wait for it to make a sfs file
7. Repeat till the USB is full

I divide my USB into two, one for Multisystem the other for nfts for my data.
Please do not confuse with Pendrive Linux site (it is probably not active now)
Pendrive Linux (256 USB stick of those days) was my first entry to USB booting using Puppy Linux!

 

Kali Linux fails my Linux Test

Kali Linux fails my Linux Test

Casual look at Kali Linux has made me to write this.

It has nothing new for a Linux guy using Debian.

Instead, of helping a Linux newbie, it is trying to sort out guys and girls who pirate (I am totally against pirating) Windows and having problem with booting Windows.
I have never used it in spite of its popularity among hackers.
I prefer Tails, which is SOLID.

I was a Solar Advocate for Ceylon, I am proved wrong!

I was a Solar Advocate for Ceylon with lot of sunshine.

I am proved  wrong.

Its (Solar) half life is pretty short and in my estimate with current pricing of normal electricity (hydroelectric) in Ceylon, the initial infrastructure payment far exceeds my normal payment for my entire life at twilight years.

Reproduction from Scientific American

The Downside of Solar Energy

As renewable energy expands, used photovoltaic panels are creating a growing waste problem—but recycling could be the answer

The solar economy continues its dramatic growth, with over a half-terawatt already installed around the world generating clean electricity. But what happens to photovoltaic (PV) modules at the end of their useful life? With lifespans measured in decades, PV-waste disposal may seem to be an issue for the distant future. Yet, the industry ships millions of tons every year, and that number will continue to rise as the industry grows. Total e-waste—including computers, televisions, and mobile phones—is around 45 million metric tons annually.
By comparison, PV-waste in 2050 will be twice that figure. Motivated by concerns about exposure to toxic materials, increased disposal costs and overcapacity at landfills managed by underfunded local governments, researchers are exploring global solar waste management solutions based on concepts like the circular economy.
At the same time, demand for everything from sand to rare and precious metals continues to rise. While supplying only about 1 percent of global electricity, photovoltaics already relies on 40 percent of the global tellurium supply, 15 percent of the silver supply, a large portion of semiconductor quality quartz supply, and smaller but important segments of the indium, zinc, tin, and gallium supplies. Closing the loop on these metals and embracing circular economy concepts will be critical to the industry’s future.

Europe is leading the way
The leading policy with a proven record of successful end-of-life product management is extended producer responsibility (EPR). A decade ago, European PV manufacturers began participating in a voluntary EPR system called “PV Cycle.” In 2014, when the industry came under the Waste Electronics and Electrical (WEEE) Directive, all manufacturers were required to participate in an EPR program. Since 2009, the EPR program run by PV Cycle has recycled over 30,000 metric tons of PV, and with the establishment of collection centers, has driven a market in second-life PV modules.
In the U.S., there is no federal e-waste regulation to motivate PV-waste collection and recycling. Federal law only requires special management for PV modules that are characterized as hazardous waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Some PV modules are considered hazardous waste because of lead or cadmium, others are not considered hazardous waste at all. Since it is not possible to tell whether a PV module is hazardous from visual inspection, many argue it is simpler to collect all PV modules.
States in the U.S. are taking the lead. In 2020, manufacturers wishing to sell into New York or Washington markets, will be required to participate in a take-back and collection or EPR program. Several California agencies, a state with more than half of the nations’ installed PV capacity, recently convened a task force to evaluate options, including EPR, for recycling both PVs and lithium-ion batteries.
Without clear incentives, recycling markets are struggling struggle

Linux for Newbies

Linux for Newbies

This a comment I made in Quora!

Mint was good when it hijacked proprietary codec when Linux was new to the commercial market.
Now Linux can standalone without proprietary STUFF (it has better stuff NOW) with over 300 active (some dedicated for Linux Developers) distributions.
In my blog site I have had a run down on most of them BUT I rarely write about them except USING Debian (Big Brother with lot little brothers) exclusively.
Regards to Mint (I never used it-re codec violations, mentioned above), it has a beautiful and an impressive desktop but it is nowhere near Debian’s STABILITY.
Even Ubuntu (Debian derivative) Unity desktop is falling behind.
My advice is to learn (lot of help and FULL documentation) using Debian, even though the learning curve is steep.
Lot of other distributions are short of documentation (last Linux Bible was out in 2010) and learning help.
The general community (not the dedicated) in general is aggressive to newbies but take them on the bump.
There is a Linux Magazine coming from Germany that does a wonderful service for Linux community.