Karmic Koala won’t run your Mobile Internet...

...without an update for the kernel. Also, it fails to install wvdial by default.

Stuffing this lot onto a Flash stick works for me:

libuniconf4.4_4.4.1-0.2ubuntu2_i386.deb
libwvstreams4.4-base_4.4.1-0.2ubuntu2_i386.deb
libwvstreams4.4-extras_4.4.1-0ubuntu2_i386.deb
libxplc0.3.13_0.3.13-2ubuntu2_i386.deb
linux-image-2.6.32-9-generic_2.6.32-9.13_i386.deb
wvdial_1.60.1_i386.deb

You need to make your default user a member of the dip group else wvdial can’t run pppd.

For Virgin (Optus) this needs to be pppd’s options file:

lock
noauth
noipdefault
usepeerdns
-chap

This needs to be in the pap-secrets file:

ppp     *       ppp

At that point wvdial works from the shell (but under [K]Ubuntu, spits some weird rubbish as kind-of progress messages, which don’t happen under Mandriva). You can then plug in any valid stick, without config changes, as authentication seems to be done by the stick itself.

Comments

every-application-is-part-of-a-toolkit at work

I have a LibreOffice Impress slideshow that I wish to turn into a narrated video. 1. export the slideshow as PNG images (if that is partially broken — as at now — at higher resolutions, Export Directly as PDF then use ‘pdftoppm’ (from the poppler-utils package) to do the same). 2. write a small C program (63 lines including comments) to display those images one at a time, writing a config file entry for Imagination (default transition: ‘cross fade’) based on when the image-viewer application (‘display,’ from the GraphicsMagick suite) is closed on each one; run that, read each image aloud, then close each image in turn. 3. run ‘Imagination’ over the config file to produce a silent MP4 video with the correct timings. 4. run ‘Audacity’ to record speech while using ‘SMPlayer’ to display the silent video, then export that recording as a WAV file. 4a. optionally, use ‘TiMIDIty’ to convert a non-copyright-encumbered MIDI tune to WAV, then import that and blend it with the speech (as a quiet b

new life for an old (FTX) PSU, improved life for one human

the LEDs on this 5m strip happen to emit light centred on a red that does unexpectedly helpful things to (and surprisingly deeply within) a human routinely exposed to it. it has been soldered to a Molex connector, plugged into a TFX power supply from a (retired: the MoBo is cactus) Small Form Factor PC, the assorted PSU connectors (and loose end from the strip) have been taped over. the LED strip cost $10.24 including postage, the rest cost $0, the PSU is running at 12½% of capacity, consumes less power than a laptop plug-pack despite running a fan. trial runs begin today.

boundaries

pushing the actual boundaries of the physical (not extremes, the boundaries themselves) can often remove barriers not otherwise perceived. one can then often resolve an issue itself, rather than merely stonewalling at the physical consequences of the issue.

Plantagenet Penguinista

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