Comparison of PCLINUX KDE wit Berry Linux.

PCLinux is updating its CD series in preparation for probably Christmas recess.

The image is probably highly compressed when I looked at the underside of the CD almost two third of it was clean without the a track.

I did not boot on my old IBM and I was worried the image was not written properly.

The I booted with my relatively new (that is also old by the way) IBM it did boot up.

There is nothing much to report the CDs will to go my archive.

It has no Cloud component like Ubuntu One bu has Dropbox download script.

It has no UnteBootIn and I do not thinks USB creator has not been upgraded.

It has no office installed at least Abiword.

Libreoffice manger is there.

I downloaded Berry Linux it has all (it is Redhat based) what one needs K3B, LibreOffice and Wine.

It has LXDE desktop too.

If you are newbie trying Linux I advise you to try it instead of PCLinux KDE.

Berry Linux is a clear winner.

It comes from Japan and has English version too.

There is keen context now and Fedora is in front by a nose but it has no office package but has new Gnome which is a new experience.

Download Fedora is the fastest.

Berry comes second even though point to point.

PCLinux is the slowest without seeders. I am trying downloading its Openbox there are no seeders and on a leecher uploading my 150 MiB of my half image.

You got three to try this weekend and all three are less than one week in the web for download.

I think Fedora is slightly ahead with new things bu I recommend berry Linux if you are going to install and do not bother about downloading.

Fedora is going great guns!

This is a comment I made in response to a scathing remark on Fedora on HP platform.

My advice is to tell you, that one should not buy HP products except Cloud Services.

I never speak for a company or corporation. I agree with you in that context. I speak only for the users, using old and new computers. In this part of the world most of the users, use pirated copies and they are reluctant accept Linux.

I try my best to promote Linux and not making a headway still.

The type of remarks you make kills the Linux philosophy.

I have tested over Linux 200 distributions ( I use about 10 computers and a laptop- no netbook used in for testing) over the past one year and I have not found a single distribution that satisfy all my needs. When I find a problem I immediately report it and I am glad to say unlike Windows, the Linux developers find a solution within three months. They never disappoint me in finding a solution. I have many examples but no need for me to elaborate. In your case you should have done the same thing and just wait for three months and you would have found a solution.

That is what a corporate person should do.

I have worked with corporate clients in the past and that is what I used to do when a problem is detected.

There is nothing Linux cannot solve unlike windows.

In scientific sense scathing generalization is very bad. That is what you are doing. Please do not take it personally but I have seen this often with many others doing the same.

I have already published 3 books (digital and print) and one on Cloud computing with user in mind. I have addressed some of the issues you have raised in my books. Just Type Dr. Asoka (I do not like to use this medical term in the web) at Amazon's books, you will get to the books which include other fields.

Computing is not my major it is my hobby.

Update on Genome Live just posted at parafox.

Unlike Ubuntu's Unity, Fedora Unity Desktop (I think it is Unity-I may be wrong) is amazingly beautiful and a new desktop experience.

They have iron out the problem with Workplaces and they are placed on the right hand side for easy manipulation for right handed guy/girl.

Its application arrangement is good unlike in Ubuntu Unity, which is both Applications and Software management.

We have to get used to this new desktop and give them constructive criticism.

I love the new experience in my old age and have to go through with this learning curve, like a kid which invigorate me and make me feel young.

It has a nice introduction and help page, too.

As regard to HP, the information is coming from Tech-Republic and not my own.

Long Life to Julie Andrews

Julie Andrews Turns 69, this is hysterical 

She looks stunningly beautiful at age 69 and we wish her long life (Aubovan).

Below is what she sang (one of them) Manhattan's Radio City Music Hall for the benefit of the AARP.

Botox and nose drops and needles for knitting,
Walkers and  handrails and new dental fittings,
Bundles of magazines tied up in string
These are a few of my favourite things.

Cadillacs and cataracts, hearing aids and glasses,
Polident and Fixodent and false teeth in glasses,
Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings,
These are a few of my favorite things.

When the pipes leak, When the bones creak,
When the knees go bad,
I simply remember my favorite things,
And then I don't feel so bad.

Hot tea and crumpets and corn pads for bunions,
No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions,
Bathrobes and heating pads and hot meals they bring,
These are a few of my favorite things.

Back pain, confused brains and no need for sinnin',
Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinnin',
And we won't mention our short shrunken frames,
When we remember our favorite things.

When the joints ache, When the hips break,
When the eyes grow dim,
Then I remember the great life I've had, 
And then I don't feel so bad.

(Ms. Andrews received a standing ovation from the crowd

That lasted over four minutes and repeated encores. Please

Share Ms. Andrews' clever wit and humor with others who

Would appreciate it.

I must somehow find the lyrics of her original song. 

Post it to me if you have. 

Ubuntu One, Cloud Space and not so CLoud Friendly Linux distributions

I have a book for you on Cloud Computing at Amazon and Kindle for this Christmas.

It has lot of tit bits for you.

In my writing I have not been fair to most of the Linux distributions, since all of them except Ubuntu has teething problems with Cloud readiness.

Even Puppy did not have a component and just recently SLACKO (First Slackware Puppy derivative from Wolfe Base) they getting into Cloud Computing.

I have already stated elsewhere what cloud utilities one can use.

Here is to thrash rather give a kick on the butt to all the guys who are sleeping and not come to term with Cloud Computing.

One has to wake up from slumber and at least go with Ubuntu One for the time being and provide this Linux Service to all Linux distributions.
Mind you Ubuntu was providing this service from 2009.

There is CloudUSB and JoliCloud and EyeOS and nothing else.

There was enough time for others to follow suit

It is not the job of Ubuntu because Ubuntu is doing a massive face lift operation with all plastic surgeons fully occupied with Unity.

Instead of criticizing Ubuntu One should pull up the socks and ask politely and get the code and work the required Tool-kits into the Library  each and every distribution.

Like what we did with UnetBootIn we should boot-strap cloud utility actually at the boot time and not after the installation.
PCLinus is not Cloud Ready.

This is what everybody should work on together before recessing to Christmas Holidays.

Year 2012 won't be the End of the World but it is the year of Cloud Computing in full gear. 
Don't grumble that Ubuntu is in the lead again come December, 2012.
Lot of catch to do by one year. that is not god for the newbies trying Linux.

Why One should have at least two browsers?

When we get hooked to one browser one does not have any safety valve to exit form problematic cookies.

I use many browsers since lot of Linux distributions make available at least two browsers.

I do not use Firefox exclusively but along with Konqueror.

I have had major problems with Firefox including nasty DOS-denial of Service attack once and had to take drastic action including going out full looking for the guy/girl who did it.

I had a similar nasty experience with Firefox and and deleted almost all the likely cookies including useful ones.

One such one is the security included bizarre words one has to type to say one is human.

This has left with some problem for me to sign up for free Linux downloads (P.D.F) files.

When that happens I go to Chrome Browser and do the needful an return to Firefox without major cookies.

That is trim downed FireFox without cookies.

Worse come scenario I go to Konqueror and do what needs to be done. 

Another point one should consider is chose a browser which can handle two instances or even many instances one and the same time.

This is useful for my downloads that go on with torrents also in the background.

That means I am using full bandwidth I pay for.

Nothing less nothing more. 

This is vital since not one several but computers are used especially at night.

All these things I take into account when I reformat my hard disk and install the upgrades.

But having said that the lightest browser is the best for quick action and return to base.

I love the little ones like Dillo, Midori and IceApe and Iceweasle.

So the new browser should give the user some control.

They are amazingly fast.

Like Linux core Kernel browser should give you the core browser and the rest of the cookies should be provided as only add-ons.

They must also state what each cookie does in the background like spying for commercial adds.

Then only we can see how user friendly these cookies are?

Fedora 16 is out-Pretty Good

Fedora is pretty Good

Update on Genome Live
Unlike Ubuntu's Unity, Fedora Unity Desktop (I think it is Unity-I may be wrong) is amazingly beautiful and new desktop experience.
They have iron out the problem with Workplaces they are placed on the right hand side for easy manipulation for right handed guy/girl.

Its application arrangement is good unlike in Ubuntu Unity, which is both Applications and Software management.

We have to get used to this new desktop and give them constructive criticism.

I love the new experience in my old age and have to go through with the learning curve like a kid which invigorate me and make me feel young.

It has a nice introduction and help page, too.

One of my web friends have gotten problems with HP.

I am afraid I got to disagree. If HP is not supporting hardware in future (they have discontinued production already), Fedora is right to withhold support for HP. I installed it in my old IBM computer with 128 (AGP) Nvidia Graphic card and unlike previous Fedora amazingly fast and sleek.

I pity for the guys who bought HP. 

Even in this small island Ceylon university entrants were forced to buy HP (not giving these information beforehand was a bad business practice) by a politician with some hidden agenda.

I now go and say do not buy HP except their Cloud Service.

I should blame HP not Fedora who is doing a wonderful job.

I am posting this with Fedora 16 KDE Live CD booted and Konquerer Browser.

It booted pretty fast with my old IBM NetVista with 128 NVidia AGP Graphic card.

Look is elegant and running is smooth.

I may have to go for my old flame Redhat again and no doubt I am going to install it soon when I start formatting all my hard disk towards December.

I am currently downloading gnome version but I must confess I am KDE addict because of K3B burn utility which is the best in town and saved all my DVD drivers.

They have done a professional job.

So Ubuntu or no Ubuntu Linux will survive the cloud challenge too.

I hope they soon add a Cloud Utility Like Ubuntu ONE.

Fedoora must realize Ubuntu is nose and half ahead in the race with cloud and tablet ready.

I wish both distribution Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2011.

Thank for beating the Christmas RUSH

EyeNux and EyeOS

EyeNux and EyeOS

My investigation of over 100 Linux distributions has taken me into uncharted quarters. EyeOs was on such uncharted waters.

In the beginning, in the haste of completing the first 100 (tested) tests, I would download anything and everything and test them and write a little brief, sometimes with very little sentiment.

EyeNux was one of them and it escaped my careful evaluation.

But I love "the small is beautiful" principle and all the small ones which included Wordpress, Moodle, MySQL, MySQL Admin and PHP (TurnKey Derivatives) were placed in a small 20 CD case for future use and reference.

They were in cold storage for sometime.

All of them in someway or other are server oriented and not desktop oriented utilities where Apache is essential for proper functionality and I never tested them for in depth analysis.

I am a desktop user and not a server administrator.

My entry to Cloud computing is late and the fact that I could not get any worthwhile desktop functionality from JoliCloud, I decided to investigate. I registered myself with Jolicloud and started digging deep and I accidentally bumped into EyeOs and suddenly it awakened me that I had an OS with some Eye catching name (forgotten EyeNux but remembered only the eye part) in my attic.

After 24 hours of searching (out of over 400 Linux CD/DVDs) I found the CD Case and in the second page or the CD cover slip, I found the EyeNux.

An installable small Linux OS. 

It is more of a Web OS.

Before that I downloaded the tar file of eyeOs and extracted it and I tried activating it (not installing by definition since it is a web base utility and not a desktop) for about two hours in my PCLinuxFullMonty desktop and I could not run it.

My computer is a desktop not a server running Apache so this tar file extracted could not be activated to run in my Linux desktop.

Then for another two hours I tried to find an iso file of EyeOs and I could not find one.

Desperate I went in search of the EyeOS in my archive. One important benefit of downloading and archiving old Linux distribution is that when one wants to test it is available to you and no need of wasting hours and hours looking it in a web archive. I downloaded it from Distromania, strangely enough and Distroamina site is now defunct. I had the similar problem with PocketWriter Linux which is a Slackware derivative.

One cannot find an iso file of PocketWriter in the web.

We are in this consumer age and the moment we get a new gadget we dump the old one unceremoniously.

There were no updates for EyeNux from 2007 and a wonderful idea has gone into hibernation.

It is 310 odd MiB distribution with 30 odd MiB Web OS desktop (i.e eyeOS).

It is Mandrake based or may be Unity based and is a wonderful little distribution. This distribution should be revamped with 2.5 WebOS  of HP (if it is released to Open Source) instead of 1.2 eyeOS.

I will paste a few of the original visions below for your perusal.

About eyeOS

EyeNux is a new kind of Operating System which allows one to use one's own personal data and applications from anywhere in the World, at any time. EyeNux application is based on the Linux Kernel, a very stable and a fast Operating System, and uses the eyeOS Desktop, a totally Web Based Desktop Environment.

So, with eyeNux, one can simply connect to the on line (or local, if you don't have an Internet connection) eyeOS Desktop, manipulate the files, play games or do whatever one intends to do without having to install anything.

EyeOS is an Open Source Platform designed to hold a wide variety of Web Applications over it. EyeOS was thought as a new definition of Operating System, where everything inside it can be accessed from everywhere in a Network. All one needs to do is to login into the eyeOS server with a normal Internet Browser, and access one's personal desktop, with one's own applications, documents, music and movies.

EyeOS is scalable, so everyone can port an existing PHP application to eyeOS and create a meta-package for installing it.

Currently, with the base system one can find a full suite of applications bundled, some for private use, like the file manager, a word processor, a music player, calendar, notepad or contacts manager. There are also some groupware applications, such as a group manager, a file sharing application, a group board and many more.

EyeOS is Open Source, licensed under the GNU Public License version 3 (GPL3), which means that one can have one's own private eyeOS server for one's Family and Friends, Company or Web Network, completely free.

But it also means that one can browse through the eyeOS source code and access the eyeOS development tools to customize the system and develop new applications that fits one's specific needs.

If one wants to start using eyeOS, one can join the International eyeOS free server, or create one's own eyeOS server easily and be able to decide who can join it and customize it to the group needs.

Unlike other services one has to do the maintenance oneself.

Creating one's own eyeOS server is actually very easy. All one needs is a web server with PHP support, and even without that, one will find complete solutions that will install all one's needs to start using eyeOS in a few minutes.

EyeOS is all about centering the work and entertainment to a single place.

EyeOS is all about removing compatibility issues between applications and operating systems.

EyeOS is all about taking one's life everywhere.

As one can see, the idea behind eyeOS was not to have an Operating System inside an Operating System, or a browser inside a browser.

EyeOS is another step in the digital era and it is a cloud within a cloud.

JoliCloud and EyeOS

If you want to join the cloud with your existing paraphernalia that goes with your email identity, JoliCloud is for you. One can make a Jolicloud U.S.B stick but one does not need even that if the browser is cloud ready like Google Chrome.

Just type Jolicloud in Google and register with a name and your email.

Once one is with the Jolicloud and integrating one's favorite utilities is breezy and is seamless.

This is something one should not miss.

What is Eye OS?

This is a tiny Web OS that is sponsored by free software Sourceforge Foundation. 

It is the cutest Linux package one can have.

One can integrate all one's blog sites with Jolicloud and one need not carry even a Pendrive if you have a thin client access but Google Chrome is essential and I believe a tablet with android or Kindle will get one connected.

Whole world is going to change with cloud computing whether you like it or not.

One can synchronize with Dropbox but there is no Ubuntu One at the moment.

I hope Ubuntu One will fix this problem soon.

Boxing an Irrational Game in the Rational World.

Boxing an Irrational Game in the Rational World.

1. Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay)

2. Joe Frazier 

3. George Foreman in Kingston Jamaica.

I admire all three of these yesteryear boxers but I never admire the game as a medical man.

Ali suffers from Parkinson's Disease which is the direct result of Brain Stem Injury due to multiple small haemorrhages.

Later they all will have dementia.

I have pasted some information below to state how brutal was this game.

Both men were in hospital not 24 hours (which is the standard for minor -concussion- head injury observation) 7 and 10 days.

This game is only suitable for politicians in power (not out of power) who can knock each other till everybody except one is left and we the  voter should watch them with thrill and amuse when they kill each other.

While in opposition invariably, they kill each other to get the top contender in the next round of battle with powerful is inciting with the help of the those in power.

Unfortunately both the contender and the defender destroy what is is left of our democracy.

Now they kill each other in power since the war is over there is  a lot of spare arms and ammunition left to utilize internal battle zones.

In that sense, only philosophically, boxing was marginally better than the politics of this country.

At least there is a referee and the trainer will never sacrifice (see below) his guy for the glory.

In politics in this country, there are no referees and Election Commission in headed by a Puppet on a String.

I like a fiddler on the roof play the tune of misery for the average voter  disenchanted since with coming budget we will have to tighten our belt further.

There will be no more pay hikes for another 6 years but we will have 100 fold increase of Living or the Cost of Living (C.O.L).

This is what we call 21st century democracy.

1. When Muhammad Ali was stripped of his championship in 1967 following refusal of the draft to fight in the Vietnam War the heavyweight championship was thrown into a state of confusion.
It was a smart decision when blacks were discriminated and sacrificed in war (white supremacy in the helm then).

2. When the decision was announced it came as no surprise to anyone. Frazier took a unanimous decision. The fight was so brutal that both men were taken to hospital. Frazier spent a little longer in the hospital which allowed Ali to mention about how much damage he had done although a side of his face was badly swollen.

3. Eddie Futch, Joe Frazier’s trainer then made one of the most humane decisions ever not allowing Joe to come out for fifteenth round.
Fearing a fatality he puts one hand on Frazier’s shoulder telling him it’s over.

Ali sensing the fight is over stands up to celebrate but soon collapses with exhaustion.
Following the fight he comments that this was the closest thing to death he had experienced.

It was probably the only way to close the chapter on such a rivalry.

Now it is the time for WHO to move in and ban this game.

In this country still this game (it is not a game but cruel encounter) is played in schools.

Since our guy who won the gold medal was proven that he had taken drugs given to him like one of our Oil Doctors (evil doctor like the one of Michael Jackson's) to enhance performance we should put this doctor guy also in prison for life.

We must follow American example.

PCLinux-Medical-ZenMini-Pocket Medical

Well, well it is on the other day I stated how we medicos deal with facts of life.

Today, I see a Gentleman from Bulgaria has produced a Mini Medical CD based on PCLinux.

In future edition I want it to be named as a PCLinuxPocketMedical in the same way as PocketWriter (it has gone into hibernation) so we can market among doctor using Linux for day to day working.

One thing I really love to have is R package (statistics) for using medical statistics.

It was very slow downloading and i am going to keep my computer run for next couple of days almost 24 hours for others to download an act as a seed.

Seeders are from Russia, Bulgaria and Portugal.

I want you to add UnetBootIn so that i carry it in my Pendrive and perhaps some cloud utility to keep abreast with new development in addition to R.

Thanks a lot I consider this as a Best Christmas Gift I had for a long time. 

Once I run it I will have another feedback.

BIG THANK YOU.

 

This is what he says about the distribution.

Well, I think that there are two different targets on medical users.
The first is doctors that want to keep track (EMR) their patients and the other is bioinformatics.

This ISO aims doctors. 

So I took Gnome Zen Mini and added couple of programs and also openEMR.

The reason of choosing Gnome Zen Mini was the low requirements and also the basic system installed.

The programs I choose to add (please tell me if those are enough):

Keep backup

1. deja dup

2. gnomebaker

Graphics

3. gimp

4. inkscape

Remote management

5. teamviewer

Video

6. vlc

pdf viewers

7. evince

8. pdfedit

Tools to install openEMR

9. mysql-administrator

10. mysql-gui-tools

I didn't add language and Libre office because I didn't want to add my language as default to each one of you testers.

To test LiveCD, run Firefox or Chromium. It will open a DEMO environment (you need Internet). You can check how the program works. There's a DEMO that the patient can see his visits.

Can one be anonymous in the wider web?

Below was comment to a dad who was trying to keep him and his son in anonymity which is impossible.

Moment one open page one loses one's privacy and also integrity it one writes something sadistically.

Causing pain to an animal who is defenseless whether at home or in sport is a sadistic behaviour.

I agree with for him being anonymous for the sake of his son but his I.P. address is known by all and sundry.

One cannot hide it unless one has a virtual network but that again is in relative sense and the virtual network's outlet is visible.

What I am saying is that the browser watches your every move.

In the web one cannot protect the privacy.

Then there is Cyber crime at global scale.

I have coined a word Cyberpranoia today.

One should not be paranoid to the extent that one shuns the use of Internet and humour like music is essential human ingredient but unfortunately some kids cannot take gross and cruel humour.

No son can give degree to the pain it causes to the animal it is illogical.

Pain is pain whatever the degree.

My dog hate even the slightest of pain.

I have never hit him or punish him.

He has learned what is good and what is bad and unlike human behave more appropriately.

Lapses are very rare.

Nobody at my home ill treat him and he grew up with them.

From the time he inhabited our house there had not been any  violent arguments.

He takes the side of the oppressed and has become our trusted and good referee.

He hates pain (every living  being's entitlement) and violent arguments.

Visit my site parafox and asokaplus for Cyber crimes (posted today).   

Tux, STUX, D.E.F.T, M.A.D and C.W.F (Cyberwarfare), Cyberparanoia and Stuxnet

New vocabulary is entering general use with Cyber attacks  becoming preemptive at international stage. I am not going to be expressive here  since hackers (they) might think my IP address is some defence attache and attack with D.O.S (Denial of Service Attack).

Cyber space is free but it is not is not a fair play ground for a simple academic like me to engage in, who is nearer to the grave by natural causes and  do not need any interference to my intellectual exercises unless of incapacitated by natural illness or loss of memory.

I am disturbed by the use of TuX in Stuxnet and this Simple Linux Guy (S.M.G) whom I adore. His girls are Penny and Gown.

Stuxnet is the Virtual attack that was directed at Iran's nuclear reactors.

Tux is a penguin character and the official Mascot of the Linux kernel. Originally created as an entry to a Linux logo competition, Tux is the most commonly used icon for Linux, although different Linux Distributions depict.

Tux in various styles. In video games featuring the character, female counterparts, named Penny and Gown, accompany him. The character is used in many other Linux programs and as a general symbol of Linux.

STUX

STUX is a bootable CD with a collection of software, automatic hardware detection, and support for many graphics cards, sound cards, SCSI and U.S.B devices and other peripherals.

STUX also contains an installation wizard on the Live CD for putting the distribution on a Pendrive and thereby booting from it. However, a 1GB pen drive is required to do this which is far larger than other U.S.B Linux distributions.

DEFT is a Linux distribution with Digital Evidence and Forensic Investigations tools attached. It is not at military level bu at simple desktop or server level.

I was trying to download (point to point) it and I have failed in 5 attempts now due to abrupt termination of service.

MAD is Mutually assured Destruction

Mutual Assured Destruction is a doctrine of military strategy and National Security Policy in which a full-scale use of high-yield Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) by two opposing sides would effectively result in the complete, utter and irrevocable annihilation of both the attacker and the defender^. becoming thus a war that has no victory nor any armistice but only effective reciprocal destruction.

C.W.F is Cyberwarfare.

There are very interesting articles and one who interested in can browse but suffice is to say even an innocent device like Play Station can be used for an attack.

Other interesting point is that proprietary operating system with the O.E.M guys can use a device to send secret message to the company or the country's National security for spying on your web activities.

This is why I am strongly against Windows 8 attempt to invade and intrusion of One's Freedom of Use (O.F.U).

Cyberparanoia is the word I coin today to describe this phenomenon from a doctors point of view.

That is my contribution to the jargon and vocabulary.

Cricket and Corruption

Cricket and Corruption

C in cricket stands for  corruption.

It is high time we change the name of Cricket to something like Picket (then we can use Paga-the bribe to get a place in the national team with political help like National List M.Ps.) or Ticket (lotto ticket) or even Wicket or Wicked Game.

I like the last name, the Wicked Game (it make the players, administrators, referees, umpires, managers and the politicians with wicked intention, making money on the sly and using sport as a vehicle of dissemination of corruption).

It used to be

Multipurpose Cooperative Societies (MCS)

Ceylon Wholesale Establishment (C.W.E)

Ceylon Transport Board (CTB)

Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB)

Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC)

That all the Cs in those five (5) institutions stands for corruption but the level was very low compared to Cricket.

Then we changed Ceylon to  Sri-Lanka expecting it to be corruption free.

Once we changed to Sri-Lanka corruption increased by 1000 folds.

In Ceylon or Sri-Lanka, corruption is the only thing that competes with Cost of Living (C.O.L) and cricket has overtaken all others.

There is no attempt by those involved to get rid of corruption and therefore, I propse the following remedies.

1. Now to stop corruption only think we can do is to stop playing cricket for 10 years.

Then these fellows will get involved in other corrupt practices. 

They can join the above institutions.

In fact some of the yesteryear cricketers have entered those institutions and have make Crime in Cricket (C.I.C) a mockery with hedging deals of ill repute.

2. If not we start boycotting cricket for good and not for 10 years.

This is very easy and no loss to the social well being and  which I practice now religiously and watch Rugby (except Sri-Lankan Rugby) especially the brand New Zealand and France play.

The way our boys are playing and also they are not paid (according to BBC), not playing cricket for 10 years is the best option we have.

Save money too.

I hope Sanagakkara and Mahela give up cricket sooner than late.

Then we can see the Real Development team (might take another 10 years to peak) and we will be not watching cricket for 20 years.

I thank Murali and Vas retiring in their good shape.

We will remember them for good but not the failing cricketers of today.

The latest C to inter the fray is C of Cyberspace.

Internet is inundated with Cyber-crimes

Dreams 12-Royal Wedding

I sent a copy of my digital book "Dreams" for proofreading by Maha Brahma.

Just to avoid the fact that I had not sent a dream for a long time for his interpretation, I sent the following dream as an attachment.

I was bit worried that he might be little cross with me for my delay.

The time equivalent of  last three months (without a dream) is just the time he takes to have a cup of tea in Heaven, any way.

I got a return email and a chat.

He was very very very happy.

I could not believe his response in spite of me not sending any dreams for his interpretation.

He started with pleasantries.

You got your salary increment?

No Sir, we have to wait for the budget.

Then he asked me why I put the dreams in digital form and I told him that is to supplement my meagre salary.

That's good, he said.

Why?

You have to write a another volume he said.

Why?

You won't get the salary increment that you were anticipating, he said.

Then, I said it is bad news for me know?

But it is good news for me know?

Why?

You got to dream and dream and make another digital volume.

Or, I see.

You just told the president not to pay a salary increase to get more dreams from me?

Bit naughty, ah.

No my boy.

I won't do a thing like that.

We gods do not do underhand things.

I knew you won't get any salary increase from the very beginning but to avoid hurting your feeling, 

I just dodged that fact.

Did you take any loans anticipating a salary increase?

No, Sir.

That's good.

So you knew I will come back to you all along.

Yes dear, you have no option.

Why did you put a monkey on the front cover.

Is it to remember the deadly muted monkeys?

No, Sir.

Just monkeying!

Just to remind that monkeys also have a right to live, Sir.

Some of them were poisoned in Kandy, recently.

It is a good think you put the dreams in digital form.

Why?

You don't know?

No.

I am very bad in memorizing unlike you.

Or, I see.

Is it a problem with other gods?

Yes.

But it is very different here we make enormous effort to keep records and memorize every little detail.

That is very stupid in heaven.

Don't con?

We live so long in heaven and if we keep records like you it will be a problem like plastics on earth.

We might need more computers than the number of gods.

I got your point.

You know I read it 3 times but I still remember only the Ape story. 

That is also because of your front cover.

In the next volume you must put lot of pictures, will you.

I cannot.

Why?

We put pictures for children's books.

Never mind, put some pictures will you.

Yes Sir.

The dream

Royal Wedding.

I put the dream in list form to cut the long story short.

1. All ready for the wedding and lot of guest arrive.

2. Queen driving the prince to the Wedding.

3. Problems with the car and queen cannot start it and late for the wedding

4. Prince falls asleep and forgets the wedding ceremony

5. Princess fall asleep too

6. All attend the wedding but no prince and princess.

7. Everything freezes in time and in Ice Age

8. Princess's female friend / Aunt is late for the weeding and arrives late.

9. How long the time freezes I did not dream.

10. When she arrives (very very late) everything frozen in time.

11. Gradually frozen guests come to life.

12. Queen gets the car started and Prince arrives.

13. Princess wakes from the sleep and jump into the vehicle.

14. All well and ends well.

Interpretation

1.No Royalties in future.

2. Richest person of the world owns a Cloud (IT industry) Consortium.

3. He has a private island of his own where all the Cloud Computers are farmed

4. His daughter gets married.

5. Enact the Royal Wedding of yesteryear

6. Invitees are all connected to the island by cloud of videos and Internet communication.

7. World’s first Internet Wedding telecast on Cloud and captured in Cloud Computing.

Time frame not known and frozen.

The ice age in the dream symbolizes that feature.

Then Maha Brahma asked me what is this Cloud Computing ?

It is bit tricky to answer in short, Sir.

I am writing a book on Cloud Computing now and the moment I finish I will send it to you digitally, yes digitally, Sir.

Is it technical?

No Sir.

Why?
i do not like technical stuff, O.K..
O.K.

Shall I make the name "Cloud computing for Good, Gods and Heaven".

Please don't?

Why? 

Ordinary people might think we do not have common sense.

Do not worry, if you do not get a salary increment but I will see that your book will be popular in heaven.

Any copyright Sir.

No you stupid, this is heaven.

See you soon with a dream.

SuSe 11.4 and Sabayon 7 LXDE

This is something I posted to a friend who had a problem of loading images from a Camera with SuSe.

I am bit lenient on SuSe this time,

As a part of my archiving I downloaded SuSe 11.4 (new version is out soon with lot of changes) and tested it on one of my old IBM (used for testing) and it is pretty good.

I have been critical of SuSe and vociferously and they seem to have listened to the user (not necessarily me). They have included ORCA (for visually handicapped)

It is better to download (not CD but DVD) it using torrent (not point t point) and keep it as a archive copy if you continue to use Suse. In few years time they will remove the iso when the new one is taken root.

I am not currently using it but this time thought of running it till January.

Mind you SuSe was one of my favorites till Microsoft got involved.

Like Microsoft it does not recognize other Linux derivatives (except windows) in my hard drive and I had to configure it myself.

I am currently downloading 64 bit image.

BUT if you do like to change there is a very lovely distribution called Sabayon 7,LXDE the latest (good for keeping your picture library), which is clean but have a problem with old graphic cards.

It is only 2 GiB and Suse is 4.3 GiB (bul has 7 desktop types including LXDE).

Sabayon has XMBC (media center which is a derivative of Gentoo Linux) and that is its virtue.

P.S.I am posting this SuSe booted up for a change.

Revealing Facts

This is reproduction of part an article for those who do not have access.
Hope Scientific American spare me.
Facts are revealing.
There were only one billion people on the planet as recently as the turn of the 19th century and only a few hundred thousand just 10,000 years ago. In fact, there may have been as few as 15,000 of us, roughly 70,000 years ago.
With both more people and longer lifetimes, humanity's absolute numbers continue to rise, even though the number of children per women has halved since 1950. In fact, the absolute growth rate in human population peaked at 2.1 percent between 1965 and 1970, according to Cohen. "We're now down to 1.1 percent per year," he said, although that still means roughly 150 babies born every minute.
Consumers
The world's richest 500 million people produce half the world's carbon dioxide emissions—the primary greenhouse gas responsible for climate change—whereas the poorest three billion emit just seven percent. The average American—one of 312.5 million—uses up some 88 kilograms of stuff daily: food, water, plastics, metals and other material goods. Americans consume a full 25 percent of the world's energy despite representing just 5 percent of global population, and the band of industrialized nations combine to waste 222 million metric tons of food per year, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization.
"Population doubled while the economy grew by 15 times, cars by 16 times and fertilizer-use by sixfold," said geographer Ruth DeFries of Columbia at the same event. "There is no end in sight for that increase in consumption," particularly as it is emulated by people around the globe.
All this consumption requires a host of natural resources, from vast copper mines scarring the landscape to ever more land for food. More acreage was converted to growing crops between 1950 and 1980, than from 1700 to 1850, and arable land is one of nine "planetary boundaries" that scientists have identified—limits past which humanity should fear to tread. The others include: climate change, biodiversity loss, nutrient cycles, ocean acidification and freshwater use, among others. "Slowing population growth does not solve all the problems but it makes it easier by slowing demands," Cohen said.

Ten or more things I did not know about the Pineapple Plant.

Story of My Pineapple Plant

After about two years the stem of the original plant is flowering now.
It was almost dead due to competition of a robust weed.
I took the weed with diffuse roots away and the stem of the pineapple plant was rotten due to competition for nutrition.
I thought it might die and just placed it between other plants and put plenty of water.


Below are things I did not know but discovered during the last two years.


1. Even though I knew that the crown of the fruit can be used to grow it, I did not know what happens to the mother plant when the fruit is separated.


2. I did not know its leaves can be used to make a fine silk like thread (it is in fact finer than the silk thread) and prepare fabrics.

3. It grows very slow and one can have only one fruit a year.

4. It has a very beautiful flower.The colour varying from lavender to purple to red


5. Its roots do not go deep.

6. I did not know from which part of the tropics it originated. Now I know it is from South America.


7. Mother plant produce shoots called suckers once the fruit is removed. They can be used to grow new plants.


8. I do not know how many shoots / suckers it makes certainly more than one.

9. I did not know other plants with diffuse root system compete with its growth and lot of chemical are used in commercial growing.

10. I did not know the fruit is rich in manganese.

Resume for Heaven

Resume for Heaven

If one wants to go to heaven one has to sacrifice some of the earthly things we are used to.

1. One cannot gossip in heaven.

2. This reason cell phones are banned totally in heaven.

3. One has to make personal errands in heaven but this has changed with my friend becoming the Chief's Assistant.

3. One cannot think in heaven lest one try to create some new heavens.

4. They have a high scrutiny when people like Steve Job tries to enter heaven. 

I  cannot talk about it here, now. 

His application is pending approval.

5. Email was introduced (this is where I got involved in) recently with the present Maha Brahma's Assistant taking Office.

6. There is only outgoing mails only.

7. Onward post from Earth is banned.

8. I have a Virtual Email Facility by the courtesy of present incumbent.

9. They are not allowed to sleep or dream except the highest of the order of gods when on duty. 

The reason for this is that the gods have to be watchful all the time to prevent any undesirable from Earth enter. 

This is about the only job they have to do in heaven.

10. Leave is abundant in heaven one can take as much leave as possible and then one can dream as much as possible. But unfortunately most of the gods cannot dream well, especially the Chief himself. 

Most of the gods, the last dream  they had before entering from any sentinel point in the Universe was going to heaven and once one achieves that target there are no dreams left for them to indulge in.

11. Games are plenty and allowed  all the time but betting is completely banned. Apart from email facility one of the reasons they introduced computers  was to play games but war games are completely banned.

12. They are now considering touch system tabloids (without phone facility) to play games and on that ground alone they might consider taking Steve Job to heaven but the entry is still pending and waiting for the approval from the real Maha Brahma on vacation.

So if you think of going to heaven read my resume carefully before one makes an entry.

Urea (Urine) Treatment

Urea (Urine) Treatment

Some of my visitors are nosy and ask some silly question.

Especially when they see my flowering plants.

Most of them take no time to learn some basics in biology or gardening.

They know I do not use artificial manure.

If they ask what I put in, for them to grow healthily.

I promptly say Urine.

Usually, they do no go ahead with a second or third question.

If they probe a second question,
I promptly say it is my dog who does look after the garden and I rarely use other method but there are other reliable supplies.

At that point most of them stop asking any more question expecting me to say human supply.

So far nobody has gone beyond that point but my real supply come from my pet fish.

With temperatures over 95 degrees Fahrenheit, I have to empty the water frequently to get rid of the algae which is a perennial problem and  I have not found a solution yet to the algae including toxic varieties.

Rest is banana skins (I have discontinued using banana skins since there is a poison in them that prevent plant growth sprayed by the CIC and vendors) and tea leaves.

In this country our farmers inject UREA to the  flower stem (Banana) to make them grow bigger.

The UREA they use contain heavy metals and I have been trying to educate the consumers not to eat them or the vendors to not to buy or sell them injected with urea.

There is cadmium too.

It has become a problem since banana growing is not done on a commercial scale but as a supplementary vegetation.

Banana is a very healthy fruit but our fellows are poisoning it with Urea contaminated with heavy metals including cadmium.

There is no quality control in this country only money making.
Edited on the 30th of April, 2012.

Linux and Graphic Card Compatibility

Linux and Graphic Card Compatibility

I just did a survey on graphic cards and there are excellent technical articles on graphic cards but none of them go into the Linux compatibility.

I expect somebody who has used Linux and who is versed with technical aspect of graphic cards should write a review.

I will only write a few lines on technical aspect of graphic cards and my personal experience with NVIDIA cards only.

 I was the generation of 16 and 32 Memory and even they were difficult to find and expensive those days. Linux was able to work with less graphic intensive architecture those days.

New Linux distributions are graphic intensive.

Only few Mephis, AntiX and Debian support lot of graphic cards.

1. 3D acceleration came later.

2. Graphic cards use lot of energy.

The type depends on the mother board.

1. AGP (old )

2. PCI Express (new)

AGP is being replaced by the PCI Express interface on new motherboards, but AGP 8x (and even AGP 4x) still offer sufficient bandwidth for contemporary video cards.

All AGP 8x cards will work in both AGP 4x and AGP 8x slots.

3. It is very important to find at least 128 Memory card if one is using Linux.

4. New distributions do not support old cards.

5. So if you download a new CD/DVD and if it does not work check the Hardware compatibility List (HCL) by an appropriate card to support the distribution.

It is the only change you may have to do with an old computer.

Mind you they are very difficult to find even secondhand nowadays.

I bought old netVIsta with only 16 AGP (do not confuse it VGA which is related to the monitor) and could not find a 128 memory card for about one year. 

Luckily I had several 64 AGP cards till I found a 128.

Expensive graphic card is necessary if one is playing games and  3D modeling in 3DMax / Maya (very expensive).

So even if you are using blender make sure one has a good graphic card.

For ordinary photo editing I do do not think one need an expensive graphic card.

I only do some photo editing (that is also not frequent-it was passion in good old days) and even 64 memory is OK.

I never had problem with NVIDIA and I stick with it.

It had a little problem with  400 series but then I had over 100 Live CDs to test. I run LIVE CD/DVD  first and then  pick the distribution second.

I cannot speak of other graphic cards including ATI and IBM has been slow to support Linux.

So if you have problems do not blame the Distribution but change the Graphic card to suit your distribution.

This is something I should have written long time ago but I always say even Linux is now graphic intensive and go for a good graphic card.

On board graphic cards are also pain in the neck and do not buy a secondhand computer even it is cheap unless it can be upgraded with graphic card (mother board should have a graphic slot) and when one fix a new card on board graphic is automatically switched off.

Remember to change the BIOS too (PCI/AGP output).