July 2007 - StaffsLUG Archive of staffslug@staffslug.org.uk

by ArchLinuxUser dick_turpin

Hi All Some of you may know (OK Kevan knows) I create and sell websites some are standard HTML usually created in Front Page or Joomla. I have no PHP skills and would probably struggle to create one with just a text editor. Recently I've been doing a heck of a lot of Googling and a good 80% of the sites I've looked at are appalling not necessarily in functionality but the presentation makes me want to slap the owner for offending my eyes. True my choice of colour scheme may not be to everyone's taste but at least I don't use, for example, yellow fonts on a white background! How the hell are you supposed to read that? The latest trend seems to be *Black*, OK not my personal favourite but I suppose it can look cool if you are a Goth or something, do they use white fonts? na, course not, no lets have a transparent overlay with mauve fonts and a black background made up of ghosted images, lovely. Then of course there's text with an image as the background, do we check that everything is positioned correct and that everything fits? Nope, "So the text spews over that pink border on my image, I like the picture and anyway I know what it says". My other pet hate is those stupid web effects for example the *Slider* effect where a box of text or an image stays in view whether you scroll up or down and of course the bumble bee that follows your pointer, its pretty cute for about 30 seconds then begins to tick you off and don't talk to me about background music. I was on some amoeba's website which treated me to Whitesnake or similar on a continual loop with some of the other pet hates of mine, towards the bottom of the page the guy stated he was looking for *Web Creation Work!!*, make your own mind up as to what I was thinking. So after venting my spleen with all of the above I was wondering what your pet hates for websites are? -- Regards Dick Turpin Arch Linux is an independent i686-optimized community distribution for intermediate and advanced Linux users. Utilising a Rolling Release System packages are regularly updated and an ISO release is just a snapshot to the stable packages at that time. So there's no need for a fresh install the command 'pacman –Syu' upgrades the whole system.

16 years, 8 months

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Can paid for Linux applications be classed as promoting Linux?

by ArchLinuxUser dick_turpin

Hi All So here it is yet another variant on the "Lets get noticed" merry go round. (I'm having a pop at myself here by the way) I'm not a Linux ("I'm not paying for it")purist, I'm very happy to pay for an application if its of benefit to me, actually I've just purchased Money Dance: http://moneydance.com/ which is a pretty slick Finance Management which comes in three flavours Linux, Mac and Windows. I've also bought CrossOver as well, there are loads of applications out there for Linux which have to be paid for so here's the question or better still the great debate. Can paid for Linux applications be classed as promoting Linux? -- Regards Dick Turpin Arch Linux is an independent i686-optimized community distribution for intermediate and advanced Linux users. Utilising a Rolling Release System packages are regularly updated and an ISO release is just a snapshot to the stable packages at that time. So there's no need for a fresh install the command 'pacman –Syu' upgrades the whole system.

17 years, 3 months

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What are YOU doing to promote FOSS and Linux?

by Joe Zambon

So, you may use Linux...you may think it's a great idea...you may think more people should be using it. BUT. What are you doing within your life to further promote the use of open source as a viable alternative to MS and other closed source products? Do you recommend it to people when their computers break? Do you hand out CDs are the local computer fair and to your mates etc? -- Joedetic

17 years, 3 months

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Re: [Staffslug] Websites, there's some dross out there!

by Matt Clegg

Hey Surely we need to be justifying the use of linux. Yeah --all the computers resources may be wasted on all the whistles and bells of a XP GUI but as far as these people who build such lousey attempts for a server are concerned: "So What? It does what I want it to do, and has been minimal to setup! Heck! I've hardly even had to touch the keyboard!" So why go for something that takes time to learn? --Is the performance for the user going to really going to be affected by a less memory hungry OS? <quote>what are we doing to promote linux?</quote>? promote it at the source? Schools are teaching generations of myspace type people about computers with XP (or occasionally Mac) at the centre. thats my rant over for now matt On Mon Jul 23 15:01 , Joe Zambon <joe.zambon(a)jznet.org.uk> sent: >See this could bring the whole thread swinging back round to advocacy of >FOSS. I don't understand why so many people want to use proprietary >software with the horrid overhead of a GUI on a server when there's much >better stuff to do it like Debian or FreeBSD. Hell...ubuntu server is >amazingly easy to setup as a LAMP box. A lot of the websites that are >out there are a bit too ambitious for the hardware they're hosted from >in my opinion. I've heard of and seen people setup an XP (*spit*) box >as a webserver running on a 466MHz processor with 128MB RAM...MOST of >which is going to the explorer gui! > >Bringing us to the question what are we doing to promote linux? (/me >starts a separate thread) > >On Mon, 2007-07-23 at 14:29 +0100, Kris Douglas wrote: >> The web is full of great examples of how people shouldn't be allowed >> to be sitting in front of computers. There are some websites that have >> unusable searches, navigation that changes depending on what page you >> are on, and the worst of all, websites that are entirely made of >> images, held together by tables and shoved on the internet with a >> server running windows xp. What the hell is the world coming to? >> >> On 23/07/07, adam nicholls inkysplat(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> This is why I've always hated MySpace, it was a nice idea that >> was >> engineered totally the wrong way. Any website that is stupid >> enough >> not to check for CSS/HTML code would be considerd a exploit, >> but >> MySpace instead embrace it and call it a "Feature". Facebook >> has >> sucesseed where MySpace has failed in terms of design. >> >> I'm also however guilty of poor choice in colour schemes. I >> remember >> sitting down with Netscape Composer and uploading my un-W3C'd >> websites >> to angelfire/geocities. However that was 7 years ago, and the >> web has >> moved on. But its a process I think all designers go through >> when >> first using HTML, once you've worked out how HTML allows >> elements to >> be coloured and positioned you can then make the transition >> into CSS. >> Atm I can write HTML and CSS to W3C standard and even write >> PHP >> scripts and setup MySQL databases to link to it. However my >> PHP >> coding probabily isn't even written efficient enough that >> would make >> it usable by the hundreds. But its a learning process. >> >> Its interesting though to see so many major companies on the >> internet >> not using W3C compliance infavour of competant web design. For >> example >> http://validator.w3.org/check\?uri=www.amazon.co.uk 1,160 >> errors on >> the page!! W3C and web design should go hand-in-hand, some of >> my >> personal favourite designs on the internet are open source >> projects. >> Examples like www.jokosher.org www.joomla.com www.scribus.net. >> >> -- >> Adam Nicholls >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Staffslug mailing list >> Staffslug(a)staffslug.org.uk >> http://www.staffslug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/staffslug >> >> >> >> -- >> Regards, >> Kris Douglas - Softdel Limited >> >> Web: www.softdel.net >> Mail: kris(a)softdel.net >> _______________________________________________ >> Staffslug mailing list >> Staffslug(a)staffslug.org.uk >> http://www.staffslug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/staffslug > > >_______________________________________________ >Staffslug mailing list >Staffslug(a)staffslug.org.uk >http://www.staffslug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/staffslug >

17 years, 3 months

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Why's Evolution not got the most basic feature?

by Joe Zambon

Hi all, I've recently found that evolution is missing the most basic feature...a mailstore export feature. Surely if MS Outlook has it, i think thunderbird does aswell then novell or whoever devs it these days, could build it into evolution! There's something you can do to select all the messages in a folder and then go save as .mbx, but you're a bit stuck if you've got lots of folders in your inbox! Any suggestions for a good all round mail client? Joedetic -- Fix it 'till it's broke!

17 years, 3 months

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How do I remove Ubuntu from my computer?

by Tracey Lowndes

I dual boot Windows XP SP2 on one hard drive and Ubuntu on another hard drive. Now I'd like to get rid of Ubuntu, as I no longer use it, and reuse the hard drive for Windows XP. I also want to remove the GRUB boot menu as well. Can anyone remind me of how to do this? Tracey Lowndes.

17 years, 3 months

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Re: [Staffslug] Staffslug Digest, Vol 21, Issue 4

by rheingold5455

Hi to all, I am new here and I am looking for somebody that can install the latest version of Ubuntu on my pc (without losing all my files I have at the moment on my pc). I have Ubuntu 6.10, which was not installed proberly from computer shop. I live in Stoke-on-Trent, if you cannot help me, can you recommend my somebody? At the moment I cannot do anything, as the whole system is broken. It was installed only 2 months ago. Thanks for any reply to this mail. Bye Stefan staffslug-request(a)staffslug.org.uk wrote: Send Staffslug mailing list submissions to staffslug(a)staffslug.org.uk To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://www.staffslug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/staffslug or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to staffslug-request(a)staffslug.org.uk You can reach the person managing the list at staffslug-owner(a)staffslug.org.uk When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of Staffslug digest..." Today's Topics: 1. Just seen this on the other Staffs Lugness (Dave@Staffslug) 2. Re: Just seen this on the other Staffs Lugness (Kris Douglas) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Sun, 15 Jul 2007 23:07:38 +0100 From: "Dave@Staffslug" Subject: [Staffslug] Just seen this on the other Staffs Lugness To: Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" _____ From: staffs-bounces(a)mailman.lug.org.uk [mailto:staffs-bounces@mailman.lug.org.uk] On Behalf Of Peter Brooks Sent: 15 July 2007 21:53 To: Staffs(a)mailman.lug.org.uk Subject: [Staffs] Keele Lugness Hello everyone, In the next academic year I'm looking to start up some more interest within Keele with OSS and will be trying to hold LUG talks, presentations and general meetings at the University. I will be a third year student at Keele next year, please respond here if anyone's interested in helping out.

17 years, 3 months

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Re: [Staffslug] Just seen this on the other Staffs Lugness

by Kris Douglas

Cool, what would be the subject of these? Sounds interesting. On 15/07/07, Dave@Staffslug <Dave(a)staffslug.org.uk> wrote: > > > > > ------------------------------ > > *From:* staffs-bounces(a)mailman.lug.org.uk [mailto: > staffs-bounces(a)mailman.lug.org.uk] *On Behalf Of *Peter Brooks > *Sent:* 15 July 2007 21:53 > *To:* Staffs(a)mailman.lug.org.uk > *Subject:* [Staffs] Keele Lugness > > > > Hello everyone, > In the next academic year I'm looking to start up some more interest > within Keele with OSS and will be trying to hold LUG talks, presentations > and general meetings at the University. > I will be a third year student at Keele next year, please respond here if > anyone's interested in helping out. > > > > _______________________________________________ > Staffslug mailing list > Staffslug(a)staffslug.org.uk > http://www.staffslug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/staffslug > > > -- Regards, Kris Douglas - Softdel Limited Web: www.softdel.net Mail: kris(a)softdel.net

17 years, 3 months

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Just seen this on the other Staffs Lugness

by Dave＠Staffslug

_____ From: staffs-bounces(a)mailman.lug.org.uk [mailto:staffs-bounces@mailman.lug.org.uk] On Behalf Of Peter Brooks Sent: 15 July 2007 21:53 To: Staffs(a)mailman.lug.org.uk Subject: [Staffs] Keele Lugness Hello everyone, In the next academic year I'm looking to start up some more interest within Keele with OSS and will be trying to hold LUG talks, presentations and general meetings at the University. I will be a third year student at Keele next year, please respond here if anyone's interested in helping out.

17 years, 4 months

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Fwd: Nothing really to do with Linux.

by Russ Phillips

On 04/07/07, ArchLinuxUser dick_turpin <dick_turpin(a)archlinux.us> wrote: > On 04/07/07, Russ Phillips <russ(a)phillipsuk.org> wrote: > > > I'm far from convinced about that. They *might* have killed a lot of > > people in the terminal, maybe. But, I'm not convinced the gas > > canisters would have exploded, even with no intervention. > > Um they do just ask the local fire brigade, its a favourite of arsonists > stick one in the middle of a fire the resulting gaseous explosion will spew > an accelerated fireball across the room. I don't know much about this, and I was basing my argument on things I've read that indicated that the canisters weren't likely to explode. Looking a bit further, this [1] would seem to suggest that the canisters *could* have exploded, if they'd done things like wound down a window to give the fire some air. That also fits in with your argument about arsonists - there's more air in a room than in a car, especially if the arsonist leaves a window open. Interestingly, though, the expert quoted also says "Even if those tanks exploded, they don't burst apart into thousands of pieces of shrapnel. They tend to break apart at the seam." > > If they did explode, I'm far from convinced that it would go through a > > 5" concrete wall - explosions have very poor armour-penetrating > > performance (except in the special case of HEAT/HESH rounds, which are > > far from simple explosions). Consider that a flak jacket (light enough > > to be worn) is generally proof against shrapnel, and that's a lot > > thinner & lighter than a 5" thick wall. > > I've seen a couple of H&S training films where they've demonstrated it but > hey maybe they was Spielberg's movies? I wouldn't put it past people making training films to exaggerate the effects of something in order to make a point. I've seen training films that showed how things *could* go, but failed to point out that it'd only go that way if a long series of unlikely events all went in just the right way. > There is a difference you know, the Glasgow attempt was not a bomb in the > sense you are thinking of this was just petrol and gas cylinders while there > would have been an explosive sound and some residual percussion damage the > main emphasise was fire. If there's not much explosion, and the main effect is fire, doesn't that affirm my belief that it'd be unlikely to damage the planes/whatever beyond the walls? >True you have a point regarding the fire services > however as always happens in these types of things you'll probably find they > are geared up for runway stuff rather than terminal buildings which in turn > would/might create a delay giving the fire more chance to take hold. I suspect you may be right - I don't know, but it seems reasonable to assume that they're primarily geared up for runway accidents. > :-) I remember the likes of Bada Minhoff (Probably spelt wrong) although > they we're not very international. I vaguely remember the various terrorist groups of the 1970's, and I've read a fair bit about them. I can't help feeling that the threat then was at least as great as it is now, but people seemed a lot less concerned. What really bothers me is that people seem to be so scared of *everything* these days. Unlikely risks seem to be blown out of proportion, while likely risks are ignored. I'm sure it's always happened, but it seems more extreme these days. Russ [1] http://www.abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=3339093&page=1

17 years, 4 months

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StaffsLUG Archive of staffslug@staffslug.org.uk July 2007