Syn rants here.

WD20EARS 4096 HDD vs fdisk

godsyn — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 10:16:59 +0000

Having purchased a new WD20EARS 4096 (2 terabyte hard drive) I was anxious to put the new beast in my home server, format the drive, and get to moving files around.
so I sudo fdisk -l /dev/sdc as I normally do..

Disk /dev/sdc: 2000.4 GB, 2000398934016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 243201 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

Disk /dev/sdc doesn't contain a valid partition table

I tore everything apart, ensured the bios would handle the drive, and exhausted seemingly every resource.. until I found that these drives no longer start at sector 63.. they start at sector 64.
http://wiki.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1456251 -- Thanks guys.

Breakdown:

syn@synserv:~$ sudo fdisk -u /dev/sdc

Device contains neither a valid DOS partition table, nor Sun, SGI or OSF disklabel
Building a new DOS disklabel with disk identifier 0x962f53fb.
Changes will remain in memory only, until you decide to write them.
After that, of course, the previous content won't be recoverable.

Warning: invalid flag 0x0000 of partition table 4 will be corrected by w(rite)

WARNING: DOS-compatible mode is deprecated. It's strongly recommended to
switch off the mode (command 'c').

Command (m for help): n
Command action
e extended
p primary partition (1-4)
p

Partition number (1-4): 1

First sector (63-3907029167, default 63): 64
Last sector, +sectors or +size{K,M,G} (64-3907029167, default 3907029167):

Using default value 3907029167

Command (m for help): w
The partition table has been altered!

Calling ioctl() to re-read partition table.
Syncing disks.

Then just mkfs.ext4 and mount.

Bash script to show WAN and LAN network IPs.

godsyn — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:14:33 +0000

Following is a bash script I wrote to show my lan and wan IPs.
The script will loop every 10 seconds. Seeing as my ISP has a less than desirable up time, I use this to see when I'm finally reconnected.

#!/bin/bash
# -/oss+:` `-/o/.
# `-omMmy+. +Md/
# -MMMMMNdhMMMyos+:
# .:odmMMMMMMMMMMMMMMo
# .yNMMMMMMMMNyNMMMMMNsoo-
# odo::NMMMMMM/`s-MMMMMMmMMds/
# -. `NMMMMMMMd+- -ooo/-..-oNM- `++ /+`++ //
# +MMMMMMMMMMMMmhyssss- `- .ddh. mdd/yy
# sMm`oMMMMMMMMMMMMMMNmdy+` -M. m+`sMy
# .M/ `+hNMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMs` `.` .` ..
# /` `.:+oo..-/yMMMMMMMN-
# -+yo:` +MMMMMMMN`
# :yNMN+so -so` :hyMMMMMM/
# /mMMMMMMMNhdMN` ://+hMMMMMNN:
# `hMMMNdhyydMMMMMMdyssdMMMMMMMN`.
# hMmm- /osMMMNosNMMMMMMMMdNM+
#`Ms`/ ..-smMNs.oNNho+/++:` sM/
# h/ `:++/- -my- +s`
# . .s`
echo "Press ctrl-c to exit at any time."
while [ 1 ]; do
WAN_ip_addr=`wget --timeout=10 --tries=2 -qO - http://cfaj.freeshell.org/ipaddr.cgi`
LAN_ip_addr=`ifconfig | grep 'inet addr:'| grep -v '127.0.0.1' | cut -d: -f2 | awk '{ print $1}'`
echo $(date)
echo -ne "External IP: "
if [ -z $WAN_ip_addr ]; then
echo -e "Disconnected"
else
echo -e $WAN_ip_addr
fi
echo -ne "Internal IP: "
if [ -z $LAN_ip_addr ]; then
echo -e "Disconnected"
else
echo -e $LAN_ip_addr
fi
if [ -n "$WAN_ip_addr" ]; then
echo "Found external IP"
exit 0
fi
done
exit 0

Escape plan

godsyn — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 09:17:05 +0000

I have one more year before I have to run.

Meh

godsyn — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 05:29:49 +0000

Yep, no real complaints. The sun is evil.

US government finally admits most piracy estimates are bogus

godsyn — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:46:38 +0000

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/04/us-government-finally-admits-most-piracy-estimates-are-bogus.ars
Well.. duh.

PS3: Laws? pfft!

godsyn — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 06:44:05 +0000

"It only does everything."
Not any more. In a rather bold move by Sony, they have removed the "Other OS" feature from their console with the latest update of their firmware.

I'm not happy about it, as it was a selling point in my purchase. Now a feature I bought has been removed, and I have to comply with the removal should I wish to play games. I'm not alone in the disgust.

FW 3.21 and Consumer Right's Law: No Conjecture, Just Facts
03-29-2010 09:46 PM - last edited on 03-30-2010 01:40 PM
Hello all,

I noticed there was some consternation on this topic, so I thought I'd toss my hat in the ring. I apologize for creating yet another thread on the subject, but the others had grown trollish enough in tone and tenor that I felt a new one was merited.

First and foremost, let me fully qualify my opinion on the matter:

I'm not a PS3 user (in fact, I own a 360), so this change does not personally effect me. I actually created this account for the sole purpose of discussing this issue.

I am, however, a Law Student and an ardent supporter of Consumer Rights (especially in the tech industry), FOSS, net neutrality and that ilk. As such, I have a very strong personal interest in the matter.

That being said, after examining the relevant web content on Sony's website, as well as the FTC's website, I can say with a degree of certainty that the proposed Firmware update WOULD, in fact, violate US Consumer Protection Laws.

My sources:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/guides/baitads-gd.htm
http://manuals.playstation.net/document/en/ps3/current/settings/osinstall.html

The case is quite simple.

The FTC defines "advertisement" as "any form of public notice however disseminated or utilized." In this case, the second Sony owned and maintained website, detailing how to install an alternate OS on a PS3. In a legal sense, Other OS is an advertisement feature of the applicable models of the Sony PS3.

As such, Sony is legally obligated to honor that advertisement. Should they disable Other OS with the oncoming Firmware update, they would be committing an ex post facto "Bait and Switch", according to US Consumer Protection Laws.

This being said, I highly encourage all PS3 users who feel jilted by this change to stick to your guns. Post in the forums, call their customer service hotline and, should the need arise, find a Class Action suit to join. Despite what the detractors may say, the law IS, in fact, on your side.

Peace, Love and Empathy,
Jaecyn42

Source (Jaecyn42's original post)

The FTC's online complaint form:
https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/
The Canadian Office of Consumer Affairs' Consumer Handbook:
http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/oca-bc.nsf/eng/h_ca02349.html

Update: setting your PS3's primary DNS to 67.202.81.137 will allow you to bypass the need to download and install 3.21. You will be able to connect to PSN without updating. What is this IP? Don't ask.. it works, and no one knows for how long.

Adsense

godsyn — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 19:24:42 +0000

I'm going to try out this whole "adsense" thing. Feel free to adblock them.

Is Comcast’s Xfinity Brand Name Xcellent or Xcrement?: Name Wire: The Product Naming Blog

godsyn — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:19:43 +0000

Is Comcast's Xfinity Brand Name Xcellent or Xcrement?: Name Wire: The Product Naming Blog.

Or in other words, this is an example of putting lipstick on a pig.

Firefox add-ons

godsyn — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:51:53 +0000

This is just a collection of some Firefox and Greasemonkey add-ons I use. I've placed them here so I may easily easily reinstall, or so that my friends may try them out.

Firefox add-ons:

syn :: Add-ons for Firefox: Mozilla is kind enough to keep a list of my add-ons for me.

Greasemonkey scripts:

Google Enhanced Black: This Google Black script enhances all Google service pages with an inverted color-scheme for reduced eye fatigue; it also removes ads & clutter and improves page layout and readability by widening search results.
Facebook Dark-N-Grey: This theme is best viewed in higher desktop resolutions and on widescreen monitors.
Youtube Dark (2010 Redesign): A style to make Youtube.com black/gray made for the new youtube design.
YousableTubeFix: Removes ads and unwanted sections (configurable), allows downloading and resizing videos, displays all comments on video page, expands the description, can prevent autoplay and autodownload, adds a HD (High Definition) select, etc...
Facebook Fixer: Enhancements for Facebook: bigger profile pictures and photos, easier viewing of albums, links to download videos, showing people's age and sign, google calendar integration, keyboard shortcuts & more. Compatible with new Facebook and fully customizable!
Facebook Fixer Black: Makes facebook fixer's popups match facebook dark-n-black's theme.
Grooveshark Ad Remover: Removes the side banner advertisements on Grooveshark.

Feel free to post your must have add-ons and userscripts in the comments. If I like them, I'll add them to the list above.

After Google hack, Microsoft asks users to abandon IE6, XP

godsyn — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 22:57:45 +0000

After Google hack, Microsoft asks users to abandon IE6, XP.

My advice: use a real browser.
Mozilla Firefox
Google Chrome
Opera