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● 02.27.23


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● Links 27/02/2023: New IPFire Release and New Product From Planet Computers


Posted in News Roundup at 9:39 pm by Dr. Roy Schestowitz


GNU/Linux


↺ Planet Computers hits the desktop with a line of touchscreen Linux computers


Planet Computers turned heads when it arrived on the scene almost exactly five years ago. The London-based hardware startup was banking on a bit of nostalgia for the days of tactile mobile keyboards, as it attempted to drag the PDA kicking and screaming into the 21st century with the Gemini. 2020’s Astro Slide 5G followed in a similar vein, spurring on a highly successful crowdfunding campaign, in spite of being launched at the beginning of the pandemic.


Today, the firm hit MWC in Barcelona with, somewhat ironically, a non-mobile device. Planet is launching a line of ARM-powered Linux desktop PCs. The new XR line is being pushed as the “first-ever out-of-the-box Linux mini desktop experience,” meaning that the end user has to do little to get the Ubuntu boxes up and running.


↺ PlanetPC XR is a Linux mini PC with a touchscreen display and ARM processor (crowdfunding)


Planet Computers makes smartphones that look like pocket computers thanks to their QWERTY keyboards that are (just barely) big enough for touch typing. And they function like pocket computers thanks to support for both Android and Linux software.


Now the UK-based company is branching out by launching a line of compact desktop computers. The PlanetPC XR series mini PCs feature ARM-based processors from Rockchip, color touchscreen displays on the front, and Ubuntu Linux software. They’re expected to ship in September, 2023 and they’re up for pre-order from the Planet Computers website or you can reserve one for a lower price by backing the PlanetPC XR Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign.


↺ Linux Around The World: Malta


We cover user groups that are running in Malta. This article forms part of our Linux Around The World series.


Desktop/Laptop


↺ Linux Weekly Roundup #224


Hope you are well? We had an amazing week in the world of Linux releases with Linux Lite 6.4 RC1, Mageia OS 9 Beta1, TUXEDO OS 2, Redcore Linux 2301, Clear Linux 37980, Ubuntu 22.04.2 (and it’s falvors), Manjaro Linux 22.0.4, openSUSE 15.5 Beta, and Neptune OS 7.9 Beta1.


↺ Hello 2023: Current Setup and State of Affairs


It’s been a while since I posted anything original here. Testing various distros eventually loses its appeal and we settle on one or a mix of distributions. I’m not really using Slackware anymore except very occasionally in the form of Alien’s LiveSlak on a USB stick and experimenting with Porteus. Slax also once again has a version based on Slack but I find Porteus the better choice these days if a system working around modules is what you want. All this is toying around though.


My day to day work is done on a mixture of MX Linux KDE, and for a while prior to that AntiX, and Linux Mint. Yes, the one with systemd. Simply due to the fact that it is the one distribution that I tried that managed to set up the Nvidia driver without further fiddling and work correctly with my hybrid graphics laptop to allow for some advanced Steam gaming. The other reason would be that it is the one distribution where Cinnamon really shines in combination with the Mint tools. If not for that I’ld be going Plasma only. This combo has proven to be more than adequate to deal with anything I throw at it and is a great production setup.


As a side note, I’m still confused about the difference between AntiX and MX Fluxbox and if there is any.


Audiocasts/Shows


↺ ‘velopers Choose Snap | LINUX Unplugged 499 | Jupiter Broadcasting


Ubuntu makes its anti-Flatpak stance official, while KDE and GNOME team up to turn Flathub into a universal Linux app store.


↺ How to install Moshi Moshi Rewritten Desktop on Linux Lite 6.2 – Invidious


In this video, we are looking at how to install Moshi Moshi Rewritten Desktop on Linux Lite 6.2.


↺ The True History of vi


How a broken pascal compiler, a 300 baud modem, and a 1970s terminal helped create the (in)famous text editor.


↺ Linux Saloon | 25 Feb 2023 | CentOS Stream 9


This Linux Saloon was very education in the realm of all things relating to CentOS, Fedora and Red Hat Enterprise Linux in the way they all interact. Without question I learned a lot.


↺ GNU World Order 501


**pim-data-exporter** , **pim-sieve-editor** , **pim-common** , **plasma-


browser-integration** , **plasma-desktop** , **plasma-disks** , **plasma-


firewall** from the Slackware **kde** package set.


shasum -a256=681c5da2567f7fca584530d4d72499e1e58a7f189e5b697aa5ed7b956590ca70


↺ Rise Of A New Kind Of Linux Package Manager – Invidious


No longer do we just have the tradional kind of package manager or even the Flatpak & Snap kind where it’s sort of a mini set of dependencies inside your regular distro, now we are starting to see the rise of a new kind of “package manager” one based on distrobox.


Applications


↺ Machine Learning in Linux: Coqui STT – deep-learning toolkit for training and deploying speech-to-text models


We used to recommend DeepSpeech as the finest open-source Speech-To-Text engine. They released models capable of transcribing lectures, conversations, television and radio shows, and other live streams with “human accuracy”. Sadly, DeepSpeech is no longer maintained. Fortunately, there are other solutions.


Coqui STT (STT) is a deep-learning toolkit for training and deploying speech-to-text models.


This is free and open source software.


↺ Hardware Acceleration Coming to Qt Web Browser ‘Falkon’


Users of the Falkon web browser will soon be able to take advantage of hardware acceleration when using the browser on Linux.


↺ The Unofficial Spotify App for Linux is Back from the Dead


Spotify Premium subscribers on Linux will be pleased to hear that they (once again) have an alternative to the official Linux client.


↺ PeaZip 9.1 File Archiver Brings Usability Improvements


PeaZip is a free and open-source, cross-platform file archiver utility for Windows, Linux, and macOS that supports a wide range of file formats, including ZIP, RAR, 7Z, TAR, and many others. It allows users to compress and decompress files and folders, create and extract encrypted archives, and split and join large files.


The app includes a powerful file manager, allowing users to browse and edit the contents of archives without having to extract them first. Furthermore, one of the unique features of PeaZip is its ability to create self-extracting archives, which are executable files that can automatically extract their contents when run.


↺ Linux app depot Flathub may turn into paid-software store


The GNOME and KDE organizations are working on a proposal to crowdsource a big change in Flathub: to make it an app store for Linux – including for paid software.


The proposal appears on the GitHub page of the Plaintext Group. This is an initiative of Schmidt Futures – an NGO backed by former Alphabet chair Eric Schmidt and his wife Wendy which is also funding AI research. The proposal’s authors are quite big names in their own right too: GNOME president Robert McQueen, former GNOME executive director and Debian project leader Neil McGovern, and KDE president Aleix Pol.


Instructionals/Technical


↺ How To Solve “error: required key missing from keyring” In Arch Linux, EndeavourOS, Manjaro Linux


This brief tutorial explains how to solve “error: required key missing from keyring” in Arch Linux, EndeavourOS and Manjaro Linux.


↺ NixOS Series #2: How to Install NixOS on a Virtual Machine?


Want to try NixOS? Get started by installing it on a virtual machine.


↺ How to install Moshi Moshi Rewritten Desktop on Linux Lite 6.2


↺ How to install Pizza Tower Demo on a Chromebook


↺ How to set up a VPN on Linux Mint


In this article, we will guide you through setting up a VPN on Linux Mint step-by-step. Irrespective of whether you are a beginner or an experienced user, it provides you with all the information you need to get started with a VPN connection on Linux Mint. OpenVPN is a free VPN service for secure remote access to your server/machine. Learn how to set it up on an Ubuntu server.


↺ Ubuntu troubleshooting: Tips and tricks for solving common issues


Ubuntu is a popular Linux distribution, but like any operating system, it can encounter issues that can be frustrating for users. In this article, we’ll provide some useful tips and tricks for troubleshooting common issues on Ubuntu. Whether you’re a new user or an experienced Ubuntu user, these tips can help you solve problems and keep your system running smoothly.


↺ Installing and using Snap packages on Linux Mint


Installing software on Linux Mint can be a challenge for new users. However, Snap packages offer an easier way to install and update applications. This article provides a step-by-step guide for installing and using Snap packages on Linux Mint, making the process accessible to users of all levels.


↺ How to Configure Nginx Location Regex Blocks


Nginx is a powerful web server that can handle high traffic with ease. One of its key features is the ability to use location blocks to route requests to specific server blocks or upstream servers. Location blocks use prefix matching by default, but Nginx also supports regex matching.


↺ Nmap Commands for Beginners: Simple Scanning Tips


Nmap, also known as Network Mapper, is a popular open-source tool for network exploration and security auditing. It allows users to scan and map networks, identify open ports and services, and detect potential vulnerabilities.


↺ How to Install Nginx Mainline on Debian 11 or 10


The default repository may not be sufficient for Debian users who require a more up-to-date version of Nginx. While the stable version provides tested and stable releases, it may not have the latest features and performance improvements.


↺ How to View Nginx Logs in the Linux Command Terminal


Nginx is a popular web server that powers most of the internet. However, even the most reliable servers can experience issues or security threats. Therefore, monitoring server logs to identify issues, optimize server performance, and prevent security breaches is essential. Nginx logs provide valuable insights into server activity, user behavior, and errors encountered.


↺ How to Install Firefox Browser on Manjaro Linux


Firefox is a free, open-source web browser that has existed since 2002. Developed by the Mozilla Corporation, Firefox is known for its fast browsing speed, customizable interface, and robust security features. With its easy-to-use interface and wide range of features, Firefox has become one of the most popular web browsers in the world.


WINE or Emulation


ScummVM ☛ ScummVM 2.7.0: The Real Slim ShaderMay I have your attention, please? May I have your attention, please?We are proud to announce the first release of the year 2023. Please welcome ScummVM 2.7.0 – “The Real Slim Shader”.New gamesOnce again, the number of available games increased substantially thanks to new engines, as well as incredible improvements across older engines.With ScummVM 2.7.0, we officially announce support for the following games:Soldier BoyzObsidianPink Panther: Passport to PerilPink Panther: Hokus Pokus PinkAdibou 2 “Environment”, “Read/Count 4 & 5″ and “Read/Count 6 & 7″Driller/Space Station OblivionHalls of the Dead: Faery Tale Adventure IIChop Suey, Eastern Mind, and 16 other Director 3 and Director 4 titles

Games


↺ Best Steam Deck Games Released in the Past Week with Melatonin, Shaolin vs Wutang, and Tails: The Backbone Preludes – 2023-02-26 Edition


Between 2023-02-19 and 2023-02-26 there were 64 new games validated for the Steam Deck.


Desktop Environments/WMs


K Desktop Environment/KDE SC/Qt


↺ You Can Now Install KDE Plasma 5.27 LTS on Kubuntu 22.10, Here’s How


Kubuntu 22.10 (Kinetic Kudu) was released last year on October 20th with the KDE Plasma 5.25.5 desktop environment, but it quickly received the KDE Plasma 5.26 update a few days after its official release.


Now that KDE Plasma 5.27 is out and it’s also an LTS (Long-Term Support) series, it’s time to update your Kubuntu 22.10 systems once again to enjoy the best Plasma desktop experience to date, thanks to the Kubuntu Backports PPA effort by developer Rik Mills.


My work in KDE for February 2023New Gamepad KCMThe Joystick KCM is pretty bad shape right now, for numerous reasons:What the heck is a joystick?What is the purpose of this KCM if I can’t even configure anything?Why is it telling me about device paths?What’s up with all of the tables?

GNOME Desktop/GTK


↺ Felipe Borges: GSoC 2023: GNOME Foundation has been accepted as a mentoring org!


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We are glad to announce that once again the GNOME Foundation will be part of Google Summer of Code. We are interested in onboarding new contributors that are passionate about GNOME and motivated to become long term GNOME developers!


Distributions and Operating Systems


↺ TUXEDO OS 2 is out of the incubator with more features than promised!


In previous articles, I reviewed the first version of TUXEDO OS and highlighted the promises made by TUXEDOComputers regarding the second version.At the end of the last week, TUXEDOComputers announced the release of TUXEDO OS 2, after three continuous months of development, with improvements and updates that exceeded promises.


↺ How Puppy Linux Saved the Day


FossaPup is well worth a try. It is a fun way to learn about Linux. Plus, it offers an interesting alternative to traditional Linux OSes.


The Puppy Linux line has many in-house applications such as Pburn, PuppyPhone, Find’N’Run, Take a Gif, Uextract, Packit, Dunst-config, Picom-gtk, Transtray, and Janky Bluetooth. The Puppy Package Manager (PPM) provides a mix of puppy-specific .pet files and Ubuntu Focal-Fossa packages.


Besides the USB method, you can install this distro two ways onto the hard drive. The Puppy Universal Installer offers to do a full install which uses the entire hard drive partition. The other is a frugal install, which installs only several main Puppy files in a 4FS file extension.


With frugal installations, Puppy automatically saves all changes to the Puppy save file during the computing session and when you shut down the OS. A handy feature lets you set up multiple save files depending on your needs, so you can load different Puppy Linux configurations in one place rather than maintaining various Puppy sticks.


↺ Seven Big GNU/Linux Distro Releases You Can Expect 2023


This collection article highlights upcoming release schedules of Big Five GNU/Linux distributions can be expected in 2023 from February. This includes Debian, Deepin, Fedora, Mageia, openSUSE, Trisquel and Ubuntu. We want to spread the information and news to all readers so, for the users, they can wait for distro they love coming this year and for contributors, they can join and help with the development. All in all, along with this, to each GNU/Linux Project mentioned you can subscribe to the news, read the announcement and sources, as well as further you can download, test the alpha or beta ISO images available and help report bugs. Happy reading!


↺ The power of SFSget and Easy Containers


There is lots of documentation, and SFSget and Easy Containers have a tutorial page:


https://easyos.org/user/using-easy-containers.html


…which I see does need a bit of updating. For example, although apps run as “crippled root” in a container, there is now the option of running as user “spot”.


There is quite a lot of documentation, but it can be tedious to trawl through. And if you are a newcomer to EasyOS, some features might not be apparent.


New Releases


↺ IPFire 2.27 – Core Update 173 released


The first Core Update in 2023 has been released: IPFire 2.27 – Core Update 173. It introduces support for 4G and 5G modems that use the QMI interface, features a kernel fresh from the latest 6.1 stable series, as well as the usual plethora of package updates, security improvements and bug fixes.


IPFire users running 32-bit ARM devices should note that support for this architecture will sunset at the end of this month, and are advised to migrate their installations to a hardware architecture supported by IPFire now. Consequently, this will be the last update released for this architecture.


↺ The Open Source Firewall – IPFire 2.27 – Core Update 173 Released: What’s New?


Get ready to experience the best of IPFire 2.27 – Core Update 173! Not only is this update introducing support for 4G and 5G modems that utilize the QMI interface, but also includes a kernel freshly picked from 6.1’s stable series as well as an array of package updates, security enhancements, and bug fixes so you can be sure your device is always up-to-date with the latest improvements!


The final update for 32-bit ARM devices running IPFire is being released at the end of this month. It’s time to migrate your installations over to a supported hardware architecture if you haven’t already done so; otherwise, you risk missing out on important updates and features!


↺ IPFire Hardened Linux Firewall Distro Is Now Powered by Linux Kernel 6.1 LTS


Powered by the long-term supported Linux 6.1 LTS kernel series, IPFire 2.27 Core Update 173 is here to introduce support for the QMI (Qualcomm MSM Interface) a proprietary interface and the ability to interact with 4G and 5G modems that use the QMI interface.


The new Linux 6.1 LTS kernel brings improved hardware support and security improvements for IPFire users, such as Landlock support, protection against direct memory access via malicious PCI devices on AArch64 (ARM64) systems, protection against cold boot attacks by allowing the firmware to wipe all memory when rebooting, and much more.


Fedora Family / IBM


↺ The NeuroFedora Blog: Next Open NeuroFedora meeting: 27 February 1300 UTC


↺ Fabio Alessandro Locati: Red Hat Certified Specialist in Containers


Last week, I completed the Red Hat EX188 exam, which allowed me to become Red Hat Certified Specialist in Containers.


I think that Red Hat has been able to improve the quality of its exams over time. Newer exams tend to have better explanations of the required tasks. It could also be that this feeling is partially due to my increasing familiarity with those kinds of exercises. This exam is very new; in fact, I believe it was released at the beginning of the year, and this is by far the more user-friendly Red Hat exam I’ve ever done.


Debian Family


↺ Official: Lomiri desktop now runs on Debian


Some significant news about what was Canonical’s next-gen desktop: it now works well enough on Debian to be its developer’s “daily driver.”


The news was quietly announced on Twitter by UBPorts “creator and main developer” Marius Gripsgård. This is quite momentous in its way for several reasons. Firstly, that it’s running on a desktop OS on a laptop, not on some kind of phone OS, which is the context in which we normally talk about Lomiri. Second, as we also mentioned in that story, it’s running on the Mir 2 display server… which is significant, because the stack is not running on Ubuntu.


↺ Armbian 23.02 Released with Linux Kernel 6.1 LTS, Initial Debian Bookworm Support


Armbian 23.02 is here two and a half months after Armbian 22.11 and introduces support for the long-term supported Linux 6.1 LTS kernel series, as well as initial support for the upcoming Debian GNU/Linux 12 “Bookworm” and Ubuntu 23.04 (Lunar Lobster) operating systems.


It also brings various improvements for several boards, including the Orange Pi R1 Plus LTS, ROCK Pi S, Rockchip64 NanoPI NEO3, ROCK Pi 4, Raspberry Pi 3, NanoPi R2S, and Banana Pi BPI-M2 Pro.


Canonical/Ubuntu Family


↺ A 140MB Mini Ubuntu ISO is in Works


A mini-ISO is a minimal image that needs an active internet connection to download all the required packages to install a distro.


Ubuntu used to have an unofficial one in the past, but it was discontinued a few years back.


But now, it might be making an official comeback.


↺ Canonical Partners with Intel to Support 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable CPUs on Ubuntu


After announcing the general availability of Ubuntu Pro and the real-time Ubuntu kernel for its long-term supported Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish) operating system series, Canonical now says that it fully supports Intel’s innovative new 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors with Intel vRAN Boost hardware platform family.


Canonical says that this will unlock the potential of open-source software for mobile network operators who want to build modern, scalable, power-efficient, and cost-effective 5G networks, as well as ensure 6G network readiness and also enable the deployment of innovative new services thanks to the implementation of a virtualized Open RAN architecture.


↺ Ubuntu Blog: Canonical announces support for the 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors with Intel vRAN Boost


[Barcelona, Spain, 27 February 2023] – Canonical is proud to announce full support for Intel’s innovative new 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors with Intel vRAN Boost hardware platform family on Ubuntu Pro 22.04 LTS, delivering immediate compatibility with the advanced embedded silicon-based accelerators and a host of other improvements in the platform. With the integration of the Ubuntu real-time kernel, customers can immediately benefit from the power of Ubuntu Pro 22.04 LTS and drive their Open RAN architectures to meet the ever-increasing demand for fast and reliable connectivity in the modern mobile network landscape.


Unlocking the potential of open-source software for mobile networks


The use of open-source operating systems and applications in mobile networks brings numerous benefits to telecommunications companies. These technologies support innovation, modernisation, scalability and cost-effectiveness, and drive advancements in domains like OpenRAN architectures. Open-source software also ensures transparency and collaboration in the development of network solutions, which accelerates the deployment of new services for mobile network subscribers.


↺ Flatpaks and Kubuntu


Kubuntu is and has always been “Ubuntu” combined with the greatest software from the KDE Community. Prior to 23.04 and aligned with Debian packaging, Flatpak and Snap package sources were included as installable options with each source requiring its own set of commands and repositories. However, enabling both sources caused confusion with new users (and *Ubuntu support groups) as the user was unsure about several issues including which or how their packages were installed; the proper place to report issues; and/or how to remove them. As a result, Canonical, Ubuntu’s parent company, and the Ubuntu Technical Board have chosen to support Snaps only upon initial install.


↺ Ubuntu No Longer Shipping with Flatpak


Anyone who has followed the rise of universal package managers like Snap and Flatpak is fully aware of the difference between the two technologies and how one is more distribution agnostic than the other.


I’m talking about Snap, which is driven by Canonical and happens to be the company behind Ubuntu.


Both Snap and Flatpak are great methods for installing software, especially proprietary applications that do not have ports to the more traditional package managers like apt and dnf. Snap and Flatpak make the installation of tools like Spotify, Slack, and Skype considerably easier.


Mobile Systems/Mobile Applications


↺ New apps of LinuxPhoneApps.org, Q4/2022 – 400!


It’s almost March, and here, finally, is the post about the apps that have been added in the last quarter of 2022.


↺ Weekly GNU-like Mobile Linux Update (8/2023): Snapdragon 845 improvements and usage reports


Don’t worry, there’s more: Reports by NemoMobile and Maui, an easier way to playback DRM content on 64-bit ARM on Manjaro and Arch, plus the usual weekly guests.


↺ Oppo releases first foldable smartphone for Australian market


Priced at $1499, the smartphone claims to have the biggest cover screen of any foldable, a battery that lasts on average for a day and SUPERVOOC flash charging.


“Empowered by world-class hardware, a flagship camera system with a Sony IMX890 sensor, the incredibly powerful and super efficient 4nm MediaTek Dimensity 9000+, ultra-fast dual-SIM 5G connectivity, and best-in-class charging speeds, Find N2 Flip marks the start of a new chapter for OPPO’s foldable product portfolio and the flip phone segment on the whole,”


↺ 9 Sweet New Features are Coming to Your Android Phone


↺ Google announces a bunch of new Android features ahead of MWC 2023 – Neowin


↺ Google announces a few new cool features for Android and Wear OS at MWC 2023 – PhoneArena


↺ Google Keep’s new Android widget makes it easier to check off items on your to-do list – The Verge


↺ Google’s Latest Android Feature Drop Brings Productivity Boosts and Customization – CNET


↺ Google just announced 9 new features for your Android phone | Digital Trends


↺ Honor Magic5 Pro wants to take on the top Android phones — here’s how it can | Tom’s Guide


↺ Chrome for Android Is Adding a Much-Needed Zoom Feature


↺ Android owners are just realizing hidden button makes it harder to make worst ‘texting fail’ – it’s so easy to switch on | The US Sun


↺ Motorola’s rollable phone fixes massive issue with big Android devices | Express.co.uk


↺ Android is getting eSIM transfer soon


↺ Realme Pad X Review: A Compelling Android Alternative To Base iPad


↺ 6 smartphones powered by Android’s most powerful processor available in India | Gadgets Now


↺ Android just dropped 9 new features, including emoji combinations and Chrome zoom | Mashable


↺ Samsung – others are committing to longer Android update support


↺ Gmail gets two-pane view on Android foldables – The Hindu BusinessLine


↺ Google announces new features for Android and Wear OS | TechCrunch


↺ Google’s celebrating an early spring with new Android and Wear OS features


↺ Millions of Android phone owners warned over ’4 flags’ alert – never ignore them | The US Sun


↺ Qualcomm’s satellite text messaging just became the next big Android phone feature | TechRadar


↺ Qualcomm working on satellite messaging for Android phones – TechCentral


↺ Qualcomm, Android phone makers developing satellite messaging feature | Reuters


↺ 8K AI embedded computer gets 4K HDMI input, WiFi 6, dual GbE interfaces, and more – CNX Software


↺ How to use and customize Quick Settings on your Android phone


↺ How to screen record on Android – Geeky Gadgets


↺ MIUI 14: Here’s every Xiaomi device confirmed to get Android 13


↺ postmarketOS // v22.12 SP1: The One With A Photo Of A Librem 5 Taking A Photo Of A Librem 5 Taking A Photo


With the first service pack for v22.12 you can now reliably take photos of that melting snow chicken/monster in your garden with a Librem 5! Thanks to new Phosh related upgrades, it’s also possible to use a bunch of cool widgets on the lockscreen. Enable them in Phosh Mobile Settings, lock your phone and swipe to the left. And there it is, your calendar or emergency contact information or whatever you have configured! And there’s more, find the detailed changelog below.


Free, Libre, and Open Source Software


Events


↺ FOSDEM 2023: check our talks!


Whether you missed FOSDEM or didn’t have time to attend all of our sessions, don’t worry! Have a look at all our sessions from the last edition and learn, deepen your knowledge, and improve your Free Software skills.


It was great to see many of you in Brussels at FOSDEM! At this edition, which took place on the first weekend of February, we had the chance to meet in person, exchange opinions and have fruitful discussions with the Free Software community. We also had the chance to give several talks, the recordings of which are already available for everyone to watch.


↺ Getting back to speed


The end of 2022 and beginning of 2023 has not been much to cheer about, but life goes on and it is time to do some fun stuff, and I’ve got some lined up that just might involve you.


First of all, foss-north is back as a physical event. The 2023 event will be the 8th (9th if you consider that we had two events back in 2020 in hope of COVID to be over after the summer) and it will be the 5th physical event. Last time around, in 2019, we peaked the number of speakers, community projects and visitors, so I hope that we can continue that trend and make it even bigger this year.


If you want to participate as a speaker the Call for Paper is still open for another week, so feel free to join in. We’re also looking for projects for the community day as well as sponsors and visitors. Tickets will be made available during March.


Productivity Software/LibreOffice/Calligra


↺ Learn LibreOffice: Conditional Formatting Using Cell Formula in LibreOffice Calc


The conditional formatting module in LibreOffice is a little advanced and requires adding various custom conditions. It’s comprehensive and should suffice for complex formatting for large volumes of data.


In this article, I will show you how to apply similar formatting with minimal effort using cell formula without using the conditional formatting feature of LibreOffice.


Let’s explain with an example of student data and their marks.


GNU Projects


↺ GIMP 2.10.34 Released with More Features Backported from the Upcoming GIMP 3.0


Coming more than seven months after GIMP 2.10.32, the GIMP 2.10.34 is here to backport more new features from the upcoming and highly anticipated GIMP 3.0 release.


These include a template selector in the resize dialog, the ability to show symmetry dockable contents when no images are opened to improve discoverability, high bit depth precision export for RAW files, as well as a new eye icon header to the item tree views to improve visibility.


↺ make @ Savannah: GNU Make 4.4.1 Released!


The next stable version of GNU Make, version 4.4.1, has been released and is available for download from https://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/make/?C=M;O=D


Please see the NEWS file that comes with the GNU Make distribution for details on user-visible changes.


↺ FSF Events: Free Software Directory meeting on IRC: Friday, March 03, starting at 12:00 EST (17:00 UTC)


Join the FSF and friends on Friday, March 03, from 12:00


to 15:00 EST (17:00 to 20:00 UTC) to help improve the Free Software Directory.


Programming/Development


↺ Adam Young: Vector Multiplication in ARM64 assembly


Lets start with the basics: we can multiply the cells two vectors in C code and disassemble the resulting binary. This is a trivial operation of multiplying each cell in the first vector by the corresponding cell in the second vector. It is not a cross product. This will be a naive implementation, but it should get us started.


↺ Adam Young: Agile is not agile


Based on previous experiences, I would be hard pressed to join a team that has Scrum masters.


I expect that my previous experience was extreme, but not outside expectations for an organization that felt the need to officially embrace Agile(tm) and the concept of agile practitioners as part of the development process. It has been a bit over a year, and my frustration at the process has had a bit of time to settle, but I still feel my virtual hackles rise up when I think about the process.


↺ Jussi Pakkanen: Unit testing PDF generation


How would you test PDF generation?


This turns out to be unexpectedly difficult because you need to check that the files are both syntactically and semantically valid. The former could be tested with existing PDF validators and converters but the latter is more difficult.


If you, say, try to render a red square, the end result should be that the PDF command stream has two commands, a re command and an f command.


↺ Tomas Tomecek: Let junior engineers speak


Imagine a team meeting. It is attended by a diverse group: folks of different experience, skills, age, background, culture, work title, and time on the team.


I experienced hundreds of such meetings in my career. These meetings are usually dominated by: [...]


Perl / Raku


↺ TWC 205: Exclusive Third Or First


Python


↺ Installation guide and setting up Python’s own IDLE IDE in Ubuntu and other distros


IDLE (Integrated Development and Learning Environment) is a Python IDE, written in Python language itself and usually gets installed in Windows as part of Python installation. It is ideal for beginners and straightforward to use. For those who are learning Python, such as students, it can be a good IDE to start with.


All Linux distributions, including Ubuntu, come with Python pre-installed. Even if you manually upgrade or install Python versions, the IDLE IDE doesn’t come with that. You have to install it manually.


Here’s how.


Leftovers


↺ Pair that smashed Guinness handbiking record fall for Mexico


Fresh off breaking a world record, Michiel Desmet and Chiara Maffina are continuing their journey a bit longer with a tour through Mexico.


↺ Meet Samara Joy: The artist bringing 1930s jazz to the 2020s


For Samara Joy, music runs in her blood. Her paternal grandparents founded The Savettes, a gospel group originating in Philadelphia. Her father was a famous bassist who toured with famed gospel artist, Andrae Crouch.


↺ Captain, it’s Wednesday


I’ve been watching West Wing for past weeks and it I just ended. It was amazing. It’s one of those shows for me that I feel I’m actually living with the characters. One of those shows that if I see the character on the streets, I won’t remember them by their real name but by […]


↺ A New 5.2-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Turkey


The latest temblor, measuring 5.2 in magnitude, shook parts of the same area stricken by a far stronger quake on Feb. 6 that killed more than 50,000 people in the country and in neighboring Syria.


↺ I Went to Syria, the Country That Remade Our World, and This Is What I Saw


We have abandoned the Syrian people to biblical devastation.


↺ Dying Children and Frozen Flocks in Afghanistan’s Bitter Winter of Crisis


Hundreds have died in plunging temperatures, and malnutrition has been rampant as the Taliban government’s ban on female workers has hampered international aid.


↺ Football clubs, MPs announce support for government after fans’ earthquake protests


Politicians from the ruling bloc canceled their club memberships. The football team of President Erdoğan’s hometown, Rize, described the protests as “cries of septic rats.”


↺ Turkish soccer fans throw stuffed animals on the field, vent dissatisfaction with government quake response


In a show of support for children impacted by the earthquake in Turkey, soccer fans threw stuffed animals onto the pitch during a match between Beşiktaş and Antalyaspor on Sunday.


↺ Ministry: 28 countries set up field hospitals in Türkiye’s quake-hit regions


Foreign countries have sent more than 130,000 tents and over 29,000 power generators to Türkiye since February 6, according to the Foreign Ministry.


↺ Türkiye’s oldest university hospital halting services due to earthquake safety concerns


The move will affect about 4,500 students, with most of the services at the Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine being stopped.


↺ Police beat earthquake survivor outside of his house, accusing him of theft


A man who is on trial for theft wanted to check out the damage in his building in Hatay after the massive earthquakes. Checking his criminal record, the police implicated and beat him.


↺ Distribution of aid collected in the Netherlands for earthquakes is not transparent


SHO of Netherlands invited the people of the country to send money to Giro 555 account for solidarity with Türkiye and Syria immediately after the February 6 earthquakes using public service ads and posters.


↺ One killed, 69 injured in magnitude 5.6 earthquake in eastern Türkiye


Malatya is one of the 11 provinces affected by the massive double earthquake on February 6.


Hardware


↺ To Tap Federal Funds, Chip Makers Will Need to Provide Child Care


The move seeks to help more women join the work force as industry leaders complain of labor shortages.


Health/Nutrition/Agriculture


↺ Open sesame!


Used in everything from bread to sweets to an international roster of dishes, there’s a culinary world to open up with this underrated seed.


↺ Over 1 billion in 43 nations at risk amid cholera outbreaks


A global surge of cholera cases has put one billion people in 43 countries at risk, the World Health Organization (WHO) cautioned this week.Three countries, this week alone, have reported outbreaks, WHOcholera team leader Philippe Barboza told reporters at a press conference on Friday.


↺ When can Hongkongers stop wearing masks?


This is a question that keeps cropping up in Hong Kong, which is currently one of the last places in the world where universal mask wearing in all public settings is compulsory. Universal masking has been one of the most recognisable features of public life in Hong Kong in the last three years.


↺ 4 ways to save money on fruit and veg


Plus details of what’s happening with fruit and veg shortages


↺ Flu cases surge in China, leaving antivirals in short supply


A spike in flu cases is fuelling a shortage of antivirals at Chinese pharmacies, with empty shelves reminiscent of the drug frenzy triggered by the explosive Covid-19 outbreak that accompanied the country’s reopening.


↺ Why millions on Medicaid may lose coverage this year


Millions of people who rely on Medicaid coverage may be removed from the program over the next year.


The big picture: Under the COVID public health emergency, the federal government required state Medicaid agencies to provide coverage, even if an individual’s eligibility changed.


↺ North Korea’s Kim convenes meeting to improve economy amid fears of food shortages


Food insecurity has worsened in the isolated nation amid sanctions and Covid-19 lockdowns.


↺ North Korea Holds Rare Meeting on Farming Amid Food Shortage


North Korea says leader Kim Jong Un presided over a major political conference dedicated to improving the farming sector


↺ US ambassador calls on China to be ‘more honest’ about Covid origins


US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns said Monday that China will have to “be more honest about what happened three years ago in Wuhan with the origin of the Covid-19 crisis” if the US and China are going to be able to work together.


↺ New assessment on the origins of Covid-19 adds to the confusion


“We want to know what led to this, so we can hopefully try and prevent something similar from happening in the future.”


↺ Lab Leak Most Likely Origin of Covid-19 Pandemic, Energy Department Now Says


U.S. agency’s revised assessment is based on new intelligence


↺ New COVID lab leak assessment reignites furor over pandemic origins


A new U.S. government assessment that COVID-19 likely originated from a lab leak in China has ignited yet another round of political furor around the issue, adding to many Republicans’ anger over how the pandemic was handled even as many scientists remain convinced the virus most likely originated naturally.


↺ Kids could soon fall off Medicaid rolls


Almost 7 million children and teens are at risk of losing their health coverage when the public health emergency ends, new estimates from the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute show.


↺ Hong Kong may scrap mask mandate by early March


Hong Kong last week extended mask regulations by two weeks to March 8.


↺ Viruses in Cambodian bird flu cases identified as endemic clade


The viruses have preliminarily been identified as H5 clade 2.3.2.1c, which has circulated in Cambodia for years.


↺ Fancy a Tassie tiger teriyaki? Food tech revolution to change the menu


Start-ups are developing an appetite for far-reaching technological innovations that will change what we eat and, they hope, help save the planet.


↺ Michigan outraged toxic waste from Ohio derailment shipped to Belleville


Security


↺ Dish Network services remain offline today following suspected cyberattack


↺ Hackers Extort Less Money, Are Laid Off as New Tactics Thwart More Ransomware Attacks


Extortion payments from ransomware, a hacking scourge that has crippled hospitals, schools and public infrastructure, fell significantly last year, according to federal officials, cybersecurity analysts and blockchain firms.


After ballooning for years, the amount of money being paid to ransomware criminals dropped in 2022, as did the odds that a victim would pay the criminals who installed the ransomware. With ransomware, hackers lock up a victim’s computer network, encrypting hard drives until victims pay.


Defence/Aggression


↺ 30 years ago, the FBI might have had its biggest bomb: the World Trade Center attack


Politicians solemnly marked the anniversary, but dignitaries made no mention of the FBI’s role in that disaster.


↺ Nord Stream explosions severely impacted maritime life – report


Local cod and porpoise populations severely under threat due to the blast


↺ New details point to CIA role in Nelson Mandela’s 1962 arrest


New details being published Monday by TIME.com appear to strengthen claims that the CIA helped South Africa’s racist regime capture anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela in 1962.


Why it matters: The report adds to evidence that President John F. Kennedy’s administration played a role in Mandela’s arrest at a time when U.S. officials were coming to grips with an increasingly intense civil rights movement in America.


↺ EU sanctions Wagner subsidiary in Sudan after CNN investigation into gold exploitation


The European Union has sanctioned a Russian national and the subsidiary of Russia’s Wagner Group in Sudan, Meroe Gold, for facilitating the exploitation of Sudan’s gold wealth, after a CNN investigation into the group’s activities last July.


↺ A NATO Minnow Reels From Cyberattacks Linked to Iran


Albania has been the target of repeated digital assaults believed to be linked to its sheltering of an Iranian dissident group on its soil.


↺ The value of Biden’s visit to Ukraine depends on the speed and scale of what follows


This isn’t a time for half-hearted measures. Now, the United States and its allies must recognize the existential stakes of the conflict and step up accordingly.


↺ Israeli settlers rampage after deadly Palestinian attack in West Bank


Scores of Israeli settlers went on a violent rampage in the northern West Bank late Sunday, setting dozens of cars and homes on fire after two settlers were killed by a Palestinian gunman. Palestinian medics said one man was killed and four others were badly wounded in what appeared to be the worst outburst of settler violence in decades.


↺ More than 50 migrants die after shipwreck near southern Italy


An accident involving an overloaded migrant boat that collided with reefs and broke apart near the southern Italian city of Crotone on Sunday has killed 59 people, the mayor said.


↺ Macron to outline France’s revamped Africa policy ahead of four-nation trip


President Emmanuel Macron is to outline on Monday France’s new strategy for Africa, where anti-French sentiment is running high in some of its former colonies.


↺ War in Ukraine ‘stems from the Orange Revolution, a humiliating ordeal for Putin’


One year into the war that Russia launched against Ukraine, FRANCE 24 takes a closer look at the anti-Western rhetoric President Vladimir Putin used to justify the conflict, which is rooted in events in the early 2000s, according to historian Françoise Thom, an expert on post-Communist Russia.


↺ INTERVIEW: ‘Freedom is worth dying for; Ukrainians are able to express this fully’


Hong Kong journalist Kaoru Ng has been filming from the front lines of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.


↺ Leaders Of Serbia And Kosovo Due For A Meeting In Brussels About Plan To Put Relations On A Normal Footing


The leaders of Serbia and Kosovo are due to hold talks on February 27 in Brussels, where an agreement to normalize relations between the two Balkan nations will be at the top of the agenda.


↺ Evicted Yangon residents pushing to return face threats


Soldiers wielding guns and thugs with swords have warned desperate locals not to protest


↺ Putin Too Confident He Can Grind Down Ukraine, Says CIA Director


CIA Director William Burns says that Russian President Vladimir Putin is being “too confident” in his military’s ability to grind Ukraine into submission.


↺ Latushka Quits Belarus Coordination Council So The Opposition Won’t Have ‘Two Voices’


One of Belarus’s leading opposition figures in exile, Paval Latushka, has announced he is quitting the presidium of the Coordination Council to avoid encouraging any change of strategy that could include dialogue with strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s regime or a softening of sanctions.


↺ U.S. Renews Warning To China About Providing Lethal Weapons To Russia For War In Ukraine


The United States warned again on February 26 that there will be “real costs” if China provides lethal military assistance to Russia for use in its war in Ukraine.


↺ The Vietnam pilot who used his helicopter to push a boat away from enemy fire


Jim Buchanan was involved in a rescue operation after the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne was in collision with the destroyer USS Frank E. Evans in 1969.


Environment


↺ California faces another blizzard as severe storms hit the Plains


California is facing more extreme weather, while the powerful winter system that had earlier triggered record rainfall, heavy snow and flooding in the Golden State was threatening the Plains with powerful winds and tornadoes Sunday night.


Energy/Transportation


↺ Push for Universal Energy Access: Joining Hands to Accelerate the Pace of Electrification in Africa


A presidential roundtable on the side-lines of the 36th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union has called for the acceleration of financing for energy access in Africa with clear targets and steps for ensuring the achievement of universal energy access by 2030.


↺ iPhone’s new feature charges phone slowly when the grid uses ‘dirty’ energy like Hwange coal energy


I do not know where you stand on the whole climate crisis issue. There seem to be two camps and they won’t allow anyone to straddle the line.


↺ Ecco headquarters vandalised to mark anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine


Danish shoe manufacturer paying the price for not withdrawing from invader


↺ $1m an hour: War, BHP deal drive energy giant to record profit


A bigger and more global Woodside has posted an annual profit of nearly $10 billion after swallowing BHP’s petroleum assets and benefiting from Europe scrambling for non-Russian gas supplies.


↺ Chinese mini electric vehicles amazingly cheap


I mentioned in a recent post about “The Electric Viking” videos on YouTube — an Australian guy who posts about electric vehicles, battery technology, car companies, and anything else related.


He posted about tiny EVs in China selling for under US$6,000, so I hunted around for further information. Lots of promotional material online, but I wanted to see a video that shows them in use; the daily experience. I found this great video; a Canadian guy who visited a factory to see them being made, and he got to drive one: [...]


Overpopulation


↺ More Korean women think marriage, childbirth unneccessary: Survey


There is a growing trend of women defying the expectations of traditional gender roles in Korean society.


↺ China, Needing Babies, Eases Limits on Births


A number of new incentives encouraging people to have children highlight the challenges China faces in trying to boost its declining birthrate.


Finance


Axios ☛ Used car market flashing inflation warningUnderstanding the rising risks that inflation will be more persistent than seemed likely just a couple of months ago takes looking at what’s going on in the used car market.Used car prices have fallen each month from July through January, pulling down inflation. But new signals from wholesale auctions show that the trend may reverse.Why it matters: Used cars are just one of many types of durable goods that benefited from stabilizing supplies in the second half of 2022. But they are not poised to play the same role in 2023, because supply chains can only heal once.

↺ Currency war


The recent rise in the value of the U.S. dollar against the Iranian rial has come against the backdrop of renewed efforts by many non-Western countries to reduce U.S. financial hegemony over international institutions.


↺ Iranian Currency Plunges To New Lows Amid Unrest, International Isolation


Iran’s currency fell to another record low against the U.S. dollar on the unofficial market on February 26, amid the country’s increasing isolation over its disputed nuclear program, human rights violations, and the supply of drones to Russia.


↺ Supreme Court to Take Up Case on Fate of Consumer Watchdog


A decision against the bureau could cast doubt on every rule and enforcement action the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has taken.


↺ Student Loan Case Before Supreme Court Poses Pressing Question: Who Can Sue?


Prompted by a 2007 decision giving states “special solicitude,” partisan challenges to federal programs from coalitions of state attorneys general have surged.


↺ Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Plan: Your Questions, Answered


President Biden’s move means the student loan balances of millions of people could fall by as much as $20,000. This F.A.Q. explains how it will work.


↺ Rents exploding in regional and inner-city locations


Rents have been surging nationwide but some regions have been hit harder than others, with average rents lifting by nearly 50 per cent annually in one Australian town. New Proptrack data shows regional suburbs have recorded the sharpest growth in house rents over 12 months due to low vacancy rates and high demand.


↺ War of words over NSW land tax expansion


An election promise from the NSW premier to expand his signature housing affordability policy has sparked a war of words with the opposition labelling it a forever tax.


↺ ASX falls as inflation fears force Wall Street to its knees


Australian shares have started the week weaker after Wall Street slumped, sparked by another cold reminder in the US that inflation remains hotter than hoped.


↺ Talks resume as port workers’ strike enters 12th day, hampers exports and mail deliveries


There is growing pressure to reach a deal, as the strike has nearly halted exports and imports through Finland’s ports.


↺ Inflation and recession jitters haven’t quelled Americans’ spending


Here’s a hint about why inflation remained stubbornly high in January: Americans’ spending accelerated, after a few months of trending down.


Driving the news: Personal consumption expenditures data, out Friday, shows that even after adjusting for inflation, spending rose 1.1% in January from the month before.


AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics


↺ Bargaining Items


Ankara is paying great attention to the security problems germinating in the southern borders of Turkey. This issue has become especially important for Turkey, given that it is on the eve of its presidential and parliamentary elections, which are to be held in June this year.


↺ Cultural Heritage of Pakistan and its Impact on Economy


Cultural heritage has huge importance for a country’s development. It provides economical gains, protects a state’s identity, and pride, and reminds people of their common history and progress.


↺ Hopes grow for deal on N. Ireland protocol as EU’s Von der Leyen to meet Sunak


British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen will meet in the UK on Monday to discuss changes to the post-Brexit Northern Ireland protocol, they said in a joint statement, raising hopes a deal can be reached.


↺ What Is the Northern Ireland Protocol? The Brexit Deal Changes, Explained


Britain and the European Union have long clashed over post-Brexit rules known as the Northern Ireland protocol. Here’s what to know about the renegotiated agreement.


↺ What Is the Northern Ireland Protocol? The Brexit Deal Changes, Explained


Britain and the European Union have long clashed over post-Brexit rules known as the Northern Ireland protocol. Here’s what to know about the renegotiated agreement.


↺ Rishi Sunak Nears U.K.-E.U. Deal on Brexit’s Northern Ireland Protocol


Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to meet on Monday in Britain with the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to work out the final details.


↺ Live: NATO taking part in Ukraine conflict with arms supplies, says Putin


Russian President Vladimir Putin accused NATO members on Sunday of taking part in the Ukraine conflict by donating arms to the country and said the West planned to break up Russia. Follow our live blog for all the latest developments.


↺ EU and UK strike new deal over post-Brexit trade rules in Northern Ireland


King Charles III is set to meet the European Commission president on Monday as Britain and the EU work to finally reach an agreement on trade rules in Northern Ireland — a thorny and sensitive issue that has fueled post-Brexit tensions in Europe and on the island of Ireland.


↺ Nigerian election results trickle in as Peter Obi lands surprise win in Lagos


Nigeria’s third force candidate Peter Obi has won Lagos State, according to results announced from the state’s collation center.


↺ Twitter has reportedly laid off product manager Esther Crawford


↺ New York Times: Twitter lays off another 10% of staff


Twitter’s massive job cuts continued this weekend, as the company cut about 10% of its remaining staff, according to a report in the New York Times.


↺ In Latest Round of Job Cuts, Twitter Is Said to Lay Off at Least 200 Employees


The social media platform now has a work force of less than 2,000, down from 7,500 when Elon Musk took it over in October.


Misinformation/Disinformation/Propaganda


↺ Why Election Denialism Might Cost Fox News $1.6 Billion


The media company faces a defamation lawsuit from the voting machine maker Dominion, which accuses it of spreading conspiracy theories it knew to be wrong.


↺ No more clumpy lipgloss: How TikTok’s ‘deinfluencing’ trend became a marketing tactic


Censorship/Free Speech


↺ Roald Dahl: The first man down the memory hole


Kit Knightly The first shocking censorship of 2023 dropped last week. As covered by CJ Hopkins in his most recent column, Roald Dahl’s publishers have hired a team of “sensitivity readers”, in order to edit the next edition of Dahl’s books to remove outdated language.


↺ Probing the Limits of Speech or Debate Clause Privilege for Perry and Pence


The January 6 invistigations have renewed interest in this somewhat obscure constitutional provision and the scope of its protections.


↺ The Vice-President and the Speech or Debate Clause


Prof. Glenn Reynolds (Tennessee, Instapundit) has an item on his Substack about the Vice President Mike Pence / Speech or Debate Clause controversy, based on a Northwestern University Law Review article that he wrote on the Vice President’s role in 2008.


↺ Hong Kong student jailed under national security law seeks to challenge 5-year sentence at city’s top court


A Hong Kong university student jailed for five years under the national security law will take his case to the city’s top court. Lui Sai-yu, who pleaded guilty to inciting secession, is seeking to challenge a lower court’s decision after it denied him a one-third jail term reduction despite his guilty plea. N


↺ NCAC monitors fate of The Cooper Union’s Vkhutemas exhibition


Photo Caption: Flickr user Vincent Desjardins via Creative Commons license The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) continues to monitor the fate of the Cooper Union’s exhibition titled Vkhutemas: Laboratory of the Avant-Garde, 1920-1930.


↺ Elon Musk tweets support for ‘Dilbert’ creator after racist tirade


Elon Musk defended “Dilbert” creator Scott Adams after hundreds of newspapers stopped printing the comic strip because of Adams’ recent racist comments.


Civil Rights/Policing


↺ Austin civil rights director resigns after employees file complaints about workplace mistreatment: report


Carol Johnson reportedly submitted her resignation this week, several months after multiple city employees filed complaints about alleged workplace mistreatment.


↺ One Dane in two against raising abortion limit


A recent eOpinion survey carried out for DR shows that 48 percent of Danes believe the abortion limit should not be raised. Less than a third believe that it should. The abortion debate had long lain dormant in Denmark, and


↺ Child Labor Today


A Times exposé has revealed that young teenagers work long shifts, sometimes for nationally known brands. What can be done?


↺ Arrest warrant issued for Kodak Black after rapper fails drug test


Rapper Kodak Black is wanted in Florida after a judge issued a warrant for his arrest Thursday after he failed a court-ordered drug test while awaiting a drug trafficking trial, according to court records.


↺ Amnesty International: South Sudan authorities must reveal whereabouts of detained government critic


Amnesty International Saturday called on South Sudanese authorities to clarify the fate and whereabouts of detained South Sudanese government critic, Morris Mabior Awikjok Bak.


↺ Constitutional Law Committee suspends work on reforming Sami Parliament act


THE ACT on the Sami Parliament will not be reformed this electoral term.


The Finnish Parliament’s Constitutional Law Committee on Friday voted nine for and seven against suspending its work to draft a statement on the bill, effectively postponing the long-awaited reform until at least the next electoral term.


↺ CPJ, rights groups call on Bangladesh to cease harassment of Rozina Islam in public letter


Monopolies


↺ Guest Post by Profs. Masur & Ouellette: Public Use Without the Public Using


What is it that makes a use “public” for purposes of the public use bar? Does it matter whether the person doing the using is a member of the public, as opposed to the inventor? Or does it matter whether the use is itself in public, as opposed to taking place in secret behind closed doors? As it turns out, the answer to both questions is “yes,” but the questions are not as distinct from one another as that formulation might make it seem. Instead, the issue of who is doing the using turns out to affect where and how that use must occur if it is to be public use.


Patents


↺ A new European patent landscape (5): just two more days!


In June 2023 the European patent landscape will see one of the most dramatic changes in decades with the introduction of the Unitary Patent (UP) and the opening of Unified Patent Court (UPC).


↺ Sunrise period Unified Patent Court starts 1 March 9:00 ECT 2023


The UPC has published practical information on the upcoming launch of the so-called Sunrise period.


↺ Chinese network infrastructure maker Datang sues Samsung over six 4G standard-essential patents in Fuzhou Intermediate People’s Court


Trademarks


↺ Nokia redesigns iconic logo to remind the world it’s not a phone company anymore


Nokia redesigned its logo for the first time in decades to distance itself from its public image as a phone company.


↺ This is Nokia’s new logo


Gemini* and Gopher


Personal


↺ Hello Pub!


I figured after reading a bunch of posts here, I should introduce myself and maybe make some friends on the way!


You can call me Wasabi, Stan works too if you want! I’m a french junior developer who’s very curious about tons of subjects, so when I come across something worth exploring, it’s my objective to explore it, and for the past few days, I wanted to explore Midnight Pub!


↺ Sparse Life


Currently, not working outside the home. No, not doing any remote work from home. I am simply being a house hubby.


We’re in an apartment. I keep it clean, doing a bit of something daily toward that ends. Maintain our dishes’ cleanliness. Sweep, vacuum the floors, dust, mop, tidy a cat liter box, take our dog to potty.


↺ Mistborn


Brandon Sanderson recently released a new novel in the ‘Mistborn’ series; it’s the 7th in the whole series and the 4th (and, I believe Brandon has said, final?) in its era. I read all these a few years back, but had forgotten all but the most high level plot points and the general setting. As is my habit when new entries arise in my favorite series, I have been re-reading them all before jumping into the new one. I plowed right through the first two, but as is also my habit, lost momentum after several weeks of voracious concentration on one particular hobby.


↺ Climate Action?


Perhaps I’m getting a bit crazy, or perhaps a bit desparate. Though I’m definitely a fish out of water when it comes to social media I’ve taken to sloganeering on Mastodon in an effort to influence somebody, anybody who might scroll by. Will it make any difference? I believe the answer is “yes”, if enough people care and begin speaking out.


Technical


↺ How to transfer files between devices


I use multiple devices and I need to copy files between them. I mainly transfer the files with ssh/scp/sftp, rsync, samba/cifs, web and ftp servers.


↺ Installing opensnitch in Debian (Buster and newer)


Opensnitch is an application level firewall, it shows connections made by applications and helps protecting privacy. It is clone of Littesnitch for macOS (paid app, there is a free alternative


Programming


↺ glex


Glex is a simple SRE-based lexer/tokenizer designed to be a good match for the acetone parser.


Glex is a macro. As arguments, you give it any amount of pairs of SRE and tags. The macro returns a procedure that can take a single rope, any amount of strings (they’ll be concatenated), or nothing (in case it’ll read from the current input port.)


↺ An adapter between irregex and ropes


This Chicken Scheme extension, rope-irregex, provides two chunkers for irregex’s chunked API compatible with ropes from the ropes egg.


One is called rope-chunker, which is directly compatible with ropes, and the other saves a lot of CPU memory, it’s called flat-chunker, and you get a rope->flat to wrap your rope with.


↺ A glex/acetone example


[Glex] is such a limited and clueless lexer that has zero idea about context, and acetone is such an strange and weird parser that doesn’t look anything like a traditional BNF string rewriting parser. At first glance they look like they’d be beyond useless. So here’s a worked example.


↺ use of $var in POSIX shell code considered harmful


That is, `cmd $var` in a POSIX shell is actually something like (command (glob (split var))) in a sane language. The extra quotes `cmd “$var”` give you the simpler and probably what you expected (command var). A sensible default in POSIX sh code is to always put in the double quotes.


ZSH is not a POSIX shell and does not exhibit this glorious footgun, by default. A fine manual to read might be zshexpn(1), or you can mash tab at various points to see a completion list, assuming the completion system is enabled.


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