Posts by jake

Re: XKCD 538.

If you're using it as a club instead of as an actual wrench, head for Harbor Freight[0] for this 18+ inch beauty at a bank-busting $8.99:

https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/wrenches/hitch-ball-wrench-95494.html

Or perhaps this one, which makes up in mass for its lack of length ... 8 inches of solid steel for only $3.99:

https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/wrenches/pipe-wrenches/8-inch-steel-pipe-wrench-39641.html

Or perhaps you'd prefer its big brother, the 10 inch model at only $5.49:

https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/wrenches/pipe-wrenches/10-inch-steel-pipe-wrench-39642.html

You're on your own for the lead pipe. Perhaps head to Florida? It'll probably come as no surprise to anyone reading here that Florida leads the nation in lead water pipes ...

_{[0] Note: That's the name of the place, and so there is no need for my usual "harbo(u)r".}

Re: PID 0 is owned by the kernel

"And what does “ps -fp0” tell you?"

That ps uses the proc filesystem, which doesn't have permission to display details about PID 0.

Re: PID 0 is owned by the kernel

I think you'll find that ps -eaf will show you that the PPID (Parent Process ID) of both init and kthreadd is 0.

Re: I was think about the assumption in earlier versions that computers start counting from 1.

"Linux PIDs, for example, start from 1, there being no PID 0."

PID 0 is owned by the kernel, specifically the process that keeps an eye on memory.

Traditionally, the init was the next process called during boot, so it defaulted to PID 1 .... later, as the kernel grew more complex and had to call a few other processes that required PIDs, technically the init might have received PID 2, 3 or 4 (or whatever), and indeed I worked on early systems that did this. Thankfully, in order to preserve sanity within the system, wise heads decided to reserve PID 1 for the init.

The Linux kernel has it's own initialization process, what we think of as "init" is just there to set the system up for humans. One can change the "init" called by the kernel as PID1 to whatever you like at the kernel command line, using init=/path/to/valid/program as a kernel boot parameter. Try using bash. The more adventurous among us might try EMACS or vi instead of bash.

Re: Locks.

"I wonder why?"

Gut feeling? Projection combined with the Peter Principal.

Individual Scouts and their local leaders are usually upstanding members of a local community, but the further up in the hierarchy you go the more detached from reality they become. As with any such organization, there are exceptions to the rule.

Re: I have done the air-con shuffle in the past!

"and 362/17482 inches is just sociopathic."

Hyperbole much? I'm fairly certain that in the whole of human history, the only sociopath who has suggested that 0.0207070129276 inches would be a useful measurement is yourself.

Re: If you have a secure server room

I've seen individually alarmed cabinets. After the first few false alarms they always seem to accidentally become disabled.

Re: Locks, only one way to do it right

Similarly equipped file cabinets also exist.

Both are extremely expensive, though.

Re: Locks.

Neither the Dremel nor the sledge hammer are lock picking tools. They are lock destroying tools.

Similar to the difference between hacking and cracking.

Re: Locks.

Probably an appropriate place for this comment ... Never use grease or oil to lubricate a lock. It picks up dust and turns into grinding compound and/or eventually jams the lock with accumulated crud. Instead, lubricate with a tiny bit of graphite, but only if absolutely necessary.

Re: Locks.

Presumably you are prepared to show us all at least several places where I've claimed to be anyone other than myself.

::crickets::

Even one? No? Not even one? What's that make your comment, Mr. Daglish?

Re: Sounds About Right

They make locks which are direct replacements that are difficult for neophyte pickers to bypass (proper fitting disc tumblers, for example (I think the LPL calls them disc detainers)). They usually cost a couple dollars more than the stock ones, though, and what manager will pay for that?

Re: Mess with locks = big nope

Of course. Always follow policy and procedure.

But if you know how, let the Boss know you can pick the lock(s) and minimize damage (costs). Make certain you get a wet signature authorizing it before making the attempt, though..

Re: Floor loading, what is that

Again, it depends on the style of floor.

Consider, for example, that I'm in earthquake country.

Re: Locks.

No badge for that here in the US. Several years ago, one of my nephews tried to convince the BSA to let him write a new locksmithing merit badge. They flat turned him down ,,, and threatened to throw him out if he let on to his buddies that he knew how. When I pointed out that their Automotive Maintenance merit badge would give a scout the ability to hotwire a car, I thought they'd have a collective coronary ... and I was asked to leave. The automotive badge requirements have since been dumbed down.

The world is filled with namby-pamby hand-wringers. Sad, that.

Re: Locks.

Actually, locks don't keep honest people out, either.

However, honest people don't do anything illegal with their knowledge and ability.

Re: Locks.

No, I'm not the LPL.

Re: Floor loading, what is that

Depends on the style of floor. I've driven an F250 onto a raised floor with over half the tiles lifted, loaded the truck with equipment, and driven it out again. Several times (we were moving the DC a couple blocks to the East).

I would not recommend doing this unless you know for a fact that it is safe, though ...

Re: Unix printing

Linux printing problems pretty much went away twenty+ years ago.

Re: making the use of libre office mandatory

It's not Excel that they will bitch about, it's Power Point.

My solution as a consultant is to fire anyone who claims to depend on Power Point. To date (for the last quarter century or so), this admittedly draconian solution has never failed to improve morale, increase profits and otherwise streamline the corporation.

Re: Maybe just give Linux and open-source apps to those wiith nimble brains and aptitude

This old codger has been contributing to Linux for over thirty years, and to BSD before it was called BSD.

Without us old codgers, you youngsters would be stuck with Redmond and Cupertino.

Re: It wont be technical issues which sink this

"in this case they would have to train millions of staff (many of whom have much more important things to be doing) in new systems.'

Just like they do every time Microsoft rolls a major rev? At least with Linux, the retraining only has to happen once for general use (applications are another kettle o'worms).

Re: FT even more FY

User: ::blocks Chatbot's IP address::

Chatbot (changing IP address): Hi, it looks like you are interested in buying _widget_ today.

User: ::blocks Chatbot's IP address block::

Chatbot (changing IP address block): Hi, it looks like you are interested in buying _widget_ today.

User: ::blocks all of alphagoo and waits::

::crickets::

User: ::shares alphagoo's entire address range with friends and family and anybody else interested::

Re: There is an opportunity here for a competition

In 1972, "The Doctor", at BBN (tenex?) and PARRY (at SAIL) had a conversation during the first ICCC ... Well, they had a conversation that was followed over the ARPANET during the ICCC. It was immortalized in RFC 439. Both 'bots were instances of ELIZA. Read it for yourself here:

https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc439

It would seem that not much has really changed in the last half century (right, amfM?).

_{Of course back in 1972 we weren't stupid enough to take and act on a machine's advice ...}

Re: Upshot of the TikTok generations

My grand daughter (13 years old) doesn't use so-called "social" media, because in her words, "It's stupid!".

Likewise her mom and dad, her grand parents (both sides), her great grandparents (three of them still living), and one surviving great great grandparent.

From my perspective it's not a generational thing.

Advertising at college educated people doesn't work. In general, it just pisses them off. They don't like being lied to, having their time wasted, and generally having their intelligence insulted.

Re: Meh

Word 2, hopefully. After that it became extremely unwieldy.

Re: Meh

It's EMACS vs. vi, as any fule kno.

Re: It will be sudden, but this Ai fad will pass

Actually, it'll be when the investors notice that the marketards have been crying WOLF! incessantly for a few years with nothing to show for it. Then, and only then, will another AI Winter be upon us. Personally, I think the process started a couple years ago, but what with everyone sitting at home playing with themselves (because Covid), nobody noticed.

Re: Valgrind, Purify, BoundsChecker

"rumtime memory checkers"

4.) It's always 5 o'clock somewhere.

Re: Now wait a minute

"You must update."

So update. I recommend formatting the drive and installing a professional OS instead of the toy that is Windows.

Re: Bleeping Computer

Jesus wasn't crucified,t he other guy was. Read your bible, it's all in there in black and white.

If you read the gospels for content, you'll discover that Pontius Pilate didn't want to crucify Jesus. You'll also discover that Jesus was imprisoned with a murderer that Pilate wanted to put to death. The murderer's name? Barabbas. What does Bar Abba mean in Aramaic? In English, it means "Son of The Father".

Now, nobody was allowed to speak the name of God (except the High Priest, on the Day Of Atonement) ... Instead, they called God "The Father" in day-to-day life. So when Pilate asked both men their names (Roughly, "Are you the Son of the Father?"), they would have replied in the affirmative. Throw into the mix the Essenes, well known for causing mini-riots, chanting "crucify him!" for the OTHER Barabbas, and you have a logical explanation for the "risen from the dead" myth.

This would also explain why the supposedly "dead" Jesus was seen walking BACK to the tomb by Mary of Magdala ... They had just switched out the real dead body, and Jesus hadn't managed to get back to the tomb fast enough to complete the illusion. Faking the nail & spear & thorn wounds on his hands, side & head would be trivial.

Some traditions later have Pilate and his wife martyred as xtians ...

Re: It had to be "Karen"

Here in the US, Alexa was a fairly popular girls name for the quarter century starting in roughly 1980. I know several women with the name. The number of babies given the name dropped precipitously when Amazon appropriated it. None of the folks I know have changed names as a result ... in fact, a couple of them refer to the thing as "that Amazon bitch".