From: adam@address.invalid   
      
   Moe Trin wrote:   
   > On Tue, 05 Feb 2013, in the Usenet newsgroup alt.os.linux.mandriva,   
   > in article , Adam wrote:   
      
   > The reason I'm suggesting setting helot for a   
   > DHCP wireless setup is that would be the way it's operated away from   
   > home, and you wouldn't have to have extra hoops to jump through.   
      
   Makes sense -- I don't even think it needs wired connectivity.  BTW   
   after inconclusive struggles with wireless connectivity under Mandriva   
   and Mageia, I decided to wipe both on helot and try Debian and CentOS   
   there.  Both are set to connect wirelessly using DHCP and both get an   
   address assigned from the range I've allotted to DHCP on my router, but   
   the router reports that Debian's connection is static, although CentOS's   
   is reported as dynamic.  IOW both distros are usable and have wireless   
   connectivity, at least at home.  A lot of what we've discussed about   
   security recently isn't distro-specific anyway.   
      
   >> So it's switching.  I have a mental image of miniature Strowger   
   >> equipment within the router clacking away furiously.   
   >   
   > Given the speed of the packets, that's one VERY fast Strowger.   
      
   Reminds me of the original IBM PC I used at work ca. 1989, where I had   
   fun making noises with its cassette relay.   
      
   >> Why does the router have 239.255.255.250 in its own table of routing   
   >> rules?   
   >   
   > 239.255.0.0/16 is a locally assigned range (RFC2365)   
      
   I think 239.255.255.250:1900 is for UPnP if it's enabled, but I disabled   
   it in my router.  I also ran nmap from stolid against that address and   
   that and all other ports with every protocol in its documentation and   
   every result was "filtered", so I'm going to assume that hole is plugged.   
      
   >> [adam@stolid ~]$ cat /etc/nsswitch.conf | grep hosts   
   >> hosts:           mdns4_minimal files nis dns wins mdns4   
   >> [adam@stolid ~]$   
   >   
   > [...] the line could be   
   > shortened to the traditional "hosts:   files dns" which says to try   
   > looking in the /etc/hosts, and if not found, try DNS (as configured   
   > by /etc/resolv.conf).   
      
   Okay, line changed.  Also sounds like the lengthier version might have a   
   security hole somewhere.   
      
   [printing]   
      
   >>> On stolid, you've got to set up the the daemon for the inkjet.   
   >   
   >> Meaning cupsd?   
   >   
   > Yeah, but the distro-supplied helper should make that painless.   
      
   Still have to figure out how to disable cupsd without disabling cups on   
   all other systems/distros, though.  Haven't looked into it yet.   
      
   >>> and the inkjet becomes just another network printer.   
   >   
   >> Hadn't thought of that, but then I seldom use the inkjet.   
   >   
   > It's just another option.  We use the LJ5 very infrequently, and the   
   > old Epson dot-matrix is slow and noisy.   
      
   What do you use most of the time?  Meanwhile the HPCLJ5 is temperamental   
   for color, but fine in greyscale.  Gotta look into that too.   
      
   > I noticed WalMart was selling an HP inkjet for $19.95,   
   > and that is less than the price of the cartridges.   
      
   I'm told most cheap inkjets come with "starter" cartridges, far less ink   
   than in a regular cartridge.   
      
   >  Hello, King Gilette Marketing - how can I...   
      
   No secret, printer companies have been doing that for years.  I know   
   Kodak openly tried the opposite model but as I don't see many Kodak ink   
   cartridges at the stores these days I suppose that didn't work out.   
   Don't know whether that was due to the pricing, printer quality, or   
   Kodak's financial problems.   
      
   [homemade laptop desk: "_laptop_]"  ]   
      
   >> Googling "homemade laptop desk" shows lots of interesting ideas, but   
   >> most won't fit in a case or aren't suitable for what I think I want.   
   >   
   > I've seen several that make me wonder what the designer was trying to   
   > do - and yes, most I've seen won't fit the cases we have.   
      
   One was basically two wire racks hinged together, plus a bit of a third   
   rack to elevate the rack on top.  That looked reasonable, except I don't   
   have any unused wire racks on hand, and I do have pieces of wood.   
      
   > I had to think about that - haven't seen a "hand warmer" in over   
   > forty years.   Come to think of it, I haven't seen them advertised   
   > either.  Do they still make them?   
      
   I think so... check "outdoors" (camping/hunting) magazines.   
      
   >>>> the "]" would overhang the top of the sleeve (unless I   
   >>>> make it removable).   
   >   
   >>> I'd leave it as is - more protection.   
      
   Makes sense.  When attaching it to the plywood I suppose glue would be   
   better than nails.  Still have to decide what size and type of wood for   
   the "]" but that will probably depend on what's lying around.   
      
   >> this is a "messenger bag" so whenever I'm carrying it, the computer   
   >> would be vertical.   
   >   
   > But aren't they sized for a 15+" laptop rather than the T60?   
      
   My T60 is 14.1" although some are 15".  Yeah, it's a little large, but   
   not by enough to be a problem IMO.  Also, I tend to buy computer pieces   
   on the large side (size or capacity) because I don't know how large the   
   next thing will be.  I bought a larger UPS than eris needed in case my   
   next system needed more power.   
      
   >>> I would likely carry it with the "]" at the bottom for the same   
   >>> reason.   
   >   
   >> If I did that, with every step the front edge (the bottom edge while   
   >> in the case) of the laptop would be banging against the ']'.   
   >   
   > Not sure why - do you have that much of a spring in your step?  You   
   > could put a strip of weather-striping inside the "]".   
      
   When I walk, sometimes I can hear the pills in my pocket container   
   bouncing around, so I suppose the laptop would go through something   
   similar. Also, going up and down steps would be more vertical bouncing.   
     I think it would be safer to have that piece above the laptop when   
   it's in transit, but the weather stripping is a good idea.   
      
   [laptop desk v1]   
      
   >>> I'm assuming that's a solvent related odor.   
   >   
   >> Dad suggested applying some heat to the board to speed up the   
   >> chemical reaction, which I haven't tried yet.   
      
   That fixed it -- put it on a piece of aluminum foil in the oven, 250F on   
   each side for an hour, and no more odor.  Still looks sloppy, but it'll   
   look worse by the time I've tried all the things I'll consider for   
   version 2.   
      
   >> Speaking of refinishing, bookcase #3 has finally arrived here and had   
   >> the paint touched up where most needed.  9+' more of shelf space, and   
   >> it doesn't make the place look /too/ much smaller.   
   >   
   > Did it wind up in the kitchen as you mentioned?   
      
   No, the smallest bookcase 2'W x 3'H, formerly next to the front door,   
   was moved to the kitchen a few weeks ago, and one of the "new" bookcases   
   is now in its place.  There wasn't room for anything more in the kitchen:   
      
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
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