Coredump

Kill a runaway Kannel smsbox process: ps ax | awk '/gw\/smsbox/ {print $1}' | xargs sudo kill -9 A shorter one: sudo kill -9 `pidof -s smsbox`

Hope not. But the ugly (anonymous) postings at the PLUG GA 2005 nomination wiki seems to indicate that direction. And it's sad, because everything seems to be doing just fine: the list was going along smoothly, activities are regularly happening for the org. For the past, what, four years I have been following the list, this is by far the most active one. This is a Good Thing. There was no need for those remarks. As I said in the list, they were not worthy of the bandwidth. But I guess, sadly, that it's Pinoy mentality at work. Hay. Time for some coffee, I guess. :)

If you are subscribed, like me, to the foremost Linux users' mailing list in the Philippines , you'll be amazed at the sheer volume of emails lately, mostly concerning the (immediate, urgent) switch to Linux because of the recent spate of BSA raids on establishments using pirated software. And the running thread is, can Windows games work on Linux? As I wrote in a previous entry, it bodes good tidings for Linux and F/OSS. But I can't help but bear reservations. Among them: is Linux ready for primetime here in the Philippines, at least in the gaming scene? I'm not much of a gamer myself, but I understand that there's a market out there for that. One needs only go to the nearest neighborhood internet cafe to know. But how big is that market? One poster in PLUG says that it's miniscule, if not insignificant. Well, not exactly like that, but words to that effect. For game developers (the big ones in Korea, US and EU) to even think about porting games to Linux and ot...

Got this from a friend and former co-worker. Thought it was one of those cornball inspirational chain emails, but it hit right home for me. (Note: it's in the vernacular — I'll try to do a translation later.) Ang naunang magalit ang may karapatang magalit. 'Pag naunahan ka na ng galit niya, tumahimik ka na lang muna. Walang taong nag-aaway mag-isa. Pag hindi kayo sumagot o pumatol, titigil din daw ang taong nakikipag- away sa inyo. Ang taong galit, 'bingi.' If someone is angry, wala raw pinakikinggan, so, don't try to explain and fight back. Hindi ka niya iintindihin dahil wala siyang naririnig kundi ang sarili nya. Ang taong galit, 'abnoy.' Ayon sa pastor, Biblical daw ito? because the Lord said when He was crucified, "Father, patawarin mo sila dahil hindi nila alam ang kanilang ginagawa." Modern term for these kinds of people are abnoys, so you better not get angry para huwag kang matawag na abnoy. You should also kno...

BSA's recent campaign to stamp out piracy by raiding establishments that use pirated software is gaining some new friends for Linux and F/OSS. In the mailing lists I frequent, there are numerous threads about how to migrate to Linux; can Linux do this and that; what X software to use in replacement of (proprietary) Y; etc. In our area, there has been a scramble to install Linux in gaming and internet cafes, and, to some extent, in offices and homes. Microsoft, BSA and company may not realize it but their current FUD campaign might blow in their faces, because instead of gaining "legal" customers, they will lose them to open source. As one list subscriber pointed out, BSA has become an unofficial business partner for Linux and F/OSS. And it's all good -- for open source and the advocacy, I mean. By turning up the heat, BSA may well be frying themselves in their own fat.

Okay, for want of a catchier title, I just had to steal Richard Linklater's. It sums what I felt about the rest of LinuxWorld Philippines 2005, anyway. Let me clarify: I enjoyed the event. It gave a much-needed boost to spreading the gospel about Linux and Free/Open Source. It contributed to the 'cause', in general. But... Microsoft. Okay, so I'm guilty of googling after the 'Babes'. They're a sight to behold, with their succulent smiles and inviting curves, and their promise of X-Boxes if you attend the MS sessions. I dare anyone — anyone — who didn't stare even for just a millisecond. I mean, who won't? 'Nuff about my excuse. As Jijo Sevilla said , something just didn't feel right. Microsoft in a Linux event? They're typical MS marketing hoopla: loud music, flashy videos, even flashier women with pearly-white smiles. Yeah, I've been to some, but hey, I'm an IT guy, I get to cover the ground. But in a Linux event? (They were at...

Garbage. No kidding. At the " boot " prompt, just type in garbage, as in random keystrokes, then press ENTER . Press ENTER again, and voila! you've worked around the syslinux " Could not find RAM disk " bug.

It was agriculture technician Rodrigo Hermosura's first time to enter an Internet café. "I was a bit afraid because I didn't know how to use a computer," he said. Two days later, he was already surfing the web, sending emails, and chatting with friends and co-workers. He has also learned how to do basic office productivity tasks using the computer. Read the rest of Hermosura's story at the Pinoy Farmers' Internet .