nmental's Last.fm Journal

The meaning of life

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 04:19:21 +0000

As far as I know, it has no sense at all.

Space Invaders Of The World Unite !!!

Sun, 7 Oct 2007 17:05:51 +0000

If you are interested in this death-match, please post your high-scores using your Last.FM username and let the battle begin !!

Play now

Plasma Zombies

Linux Humor ed. 2 (Korn meets KoRn)

Sun, 30 Sep 2007 00:32:13 +0000

Look at the book, his writer is right in front of this kids!

You Idiots !! I came first and I am already more famous than you are !!

p.s. KornShell manual signed by Korn members David Silveria, Fieldy and munky.

\m/ Yea! KornShell Rules XD

Arch vs Gentoo (The Final Battle?) Comparisons between both systems

Sat, 22 Sep 2007 01:03:50 +0000

VS
The final Battle?

Intro
Hi all! Specially to those guys who followed that not so recent article of mine, untitled "Bye Debian, Hi Gentoo!!".

Some people suggested me to try Arch Linux, so I installed Arch in two laptops to give it a chance. There is some basic info about those computers, though note that I am not comparing both of them in a benchmark fashion:

Machines
Gentoo System:
* HP dv8305us notebook (Turion64 1.8Ghz, 1,128 Mb RAM, 80Gb HDD, ATI 200M, Atiixp chipset)
Arch Systems:
* Acer Travelmate (Celeron M 1.5Ghz, 256Mb RAM, 40Gb HDD, Intel 915 accelcard/chipset)
* Acer Aspire (Sempron 2.0 Gb "ref. 3100", 500Mb RAM, 80 Gb HDD, Unichrome, chipset ?? )

Well, most people try to compare systems throughout "cold benchmarks". I think that's not right most times while it is useful to get a general impression about "performance". What? Benchmarks are not good? I am not saying that. Just do think a little, if we try to compare scripting languages say Lua, Python and PHP does it matter the following test?

Let's see how much does it take for each language to put a string of 4 characters followed by new line symbol in my Gentoo system:
Results
php 5.2.4
real 0m0.173s
user 0m0.073s
sys 0m0.000s
---
real 0m0.075s
user 0m0.023s
sys 0m0.020s

Python 2.5.1
real 0m0.596s
user 0m0.027s
sys 0m0.007s
----
real 0m0.056s
user 0m0.037s
sys 0m0.000s

Lua 5.1.2
real 0m0.006s
user 0m0.000s
sys 0m0.007s
---
real 0m0.004s
user 0m0.003s
sys 0m0.000s

Necessary Warning
Hey! Whatever it is, there is a reason to use Lua over Python... ;) Though our problem is that a "real world program" does a lot of different operations starting from many different implementations, versions, conditions, load average,kind of hardware and so on at any given point in time. So it is not so easy to judge.

Now, try to compare trivially this results with those from the computer languages benchmark site : (averages Lua 13.99, Python 21.38, PHP 27.65) Well, for us a simple "IO" operation gave similar results between PHP and Python, but it looks impossible to achieve so poor averages for Lua. That site have been so criticised that has added recently the world "GAME" to its original name... So benchmarks are just a little taste but not the ultimate truth. Said that, let's point to our matter:

Better than saying "this program loads faster" in Arch, "those others behave better" in Gentoo. Here I'll try the developer approach: Which one suits better my needs and why.

You'll find my points of view so feel free to debate, flame, cry, or whatever you do want to do but keep maturity at the highest level possible ;)

Specific O.S. Characteristics:

Fine-grained Daemon management: Arch (yes) Gentoo(yes)
- Arch advantages Gentoo because of its simple and integrated "/etc/rc.conf" (system/daemons/networking all-in-one file) It is also capable of starting daemons in background which provides us with a faster startup compared to other distros, I personally, like it very much.
- Though, avoiding an oversimplifying approach Gentoo has a strongest control of daemon dependencies, can start daemons in parallel, and its main configuration file "/etc/config.d/rc" is as understandable as powerful. ie:
  Gentoo can mount "init" files in a virtual RAM if you have a weak/slow disk, making faster yet the whole start-up process
- Let's say that both are tied here, but that's a little unfair with my beloved Gentoo. I can start over the double quantity of daemons in less time than my Arch machines, and also having a less "foot-printed" memory, say: 36Mb in Gentoo / 76Mb in Arch.
Management of Dependencies per package: Arch NO, Gentoo YES (and powerful)
- It is a little unfair with Arch but, when you know Gentoo to the guts you realize that Gentoo can shrink dependencies at a high extend.
- Gentoo is better here, note that this is an important point to gain speed, security and a less consumerist system if you know what the heck are you doing.
Speed ups per Application: Note also, the false assumptions about compiling the
"entire" system in Gentoo.
- The speed gains are "amazing" if you want to get all the juice out of your system, not just a few more drops.
- It didn't get as much time as you may think and it's not so difficult, the whole process is pretty automated.
- Once again, "you get what you deserve", the key in Gentoo is studying and asking. Well, I've never asked ;) but gaining over 1,01 seconds at nautilus startup (which I never use) or 2,5/4 seconds to start firefox (which I use some times) is a lot in real-life... So Gentoo wins!
Speed-ups/Security: It is very probable that you are in an insecure system just because you are a ricer and you have tried stupid FLAGS on Gentoo. But this gets interesting because you can get the opposite (a "hardened" system) which passes all the last GLSA checks. "glsa-check" is a package which compares your Gentoo system with all the last security advisories telling you whether you can have security holes. Arch is good, but again with not so much fine-grain control you must trust the developers are doing their best efforts and you must be as careful as you can if computing security is a concern. Gentoo is a big bet here.
Control of Third Party Packages: There is an amazing and very simple package named "eselect" in Gentoo. eselect permits Java versioning, opengl (3D libraries/drivers) control, kernel symlinks, sound manager, shell completion routines and so on... I don't know whether Arch is so powerful or it isn't, though that doesn't demerits Arch. For me, Gentoo wins again.
AUR/ABS-like Capabilities: ABS is just amazing if you try to compare it with the systems in most distros. It provides you with the last packages and amplifies available number of packages for Arch. You must be careful though with your system versioning but it works ok! In the Gentoo's corner there is "layman" (which I don't love) but I can get my system synchronized just through the robust portage, SVN, darcs (Haskell system which I do love), mercury and there is people using GIT with no visible problems. Just in case of(...) Gentoo counts with "revdep-rebuild" to solve any linking struggles related to library updates ;) Once again: Gentoo rocks!! But Arch does it in his own way so lets say: "tied"
Bleeding edge: Both of them are edgy like hell!! Ubuntu have certain reputation in that "department" but there is no point of comparison. Both of them are tied, though Gentoo gets again my favors here: "just try to get reiser4 working in Arch and we'll talk later about bleeding-edge in another article XD"
Time Factor: For the first time you must invest a "lot" of time in Gentoo, depending in your machine and your brain ;) Arch is easily installed (more easy and best than other distros from my point of view) and works great. Believe it or not the first time I installed Arch it was a pain, no matter if it was a matter of luck or not and whatever it is let's say: Arch wins.
System Space Available: Gentoo sucks, Arch wins. Period. Just note that Gentoo is intended to achieve a complex system's integration through a neat and quite simple logic but space availability is not necessarily its strongest point. However you ever can erase source files, beating up any other distros if you've chosen god CFLAGS and your binary files are smaller. (Security concerns again...)
Gadgets: All the Gadgets you want belongs to Gentoo, though "whatever distro is capable of doing the same" if you know how to do it, just ask the Debian guys
;)

Well, there is much more to say, but that's fine for now.

Conclusions
There is just no point of comparison between both of them, both are great but Gentoo is my choice for more than I can say here. It is installed in my notebook and will be until the awakening of a better distro for "advanced users". That doesn't have happened yet and probably it'll remain like that. Indeed I get offended often when some people say that have turned to Arch after using Gentoo.

In my sincere opinion, that people doesn't understood the powerful logic behind Gentoo Linux, and just to put a little spicy comments here, I laugh out loud when I
find "How to do this like Gentoo does" in Arch forums... Give me a break! There is people who could be naturally inclined to Arch and that's just fine: it is about your needs, not mine.

Arch is a lightweight distro far superior to most popular distros as Ubuntu and perhaps a little more modern than most of them, say Debian (which is it self superior to any RPM based distro). Yes! Don't be afraid of those few Debian zealots ;) I meant, try Arch if you do not. You'll stick if you didn't tried previously the GOD Gentoo. But beware, the package system is not the most stronger that I've seen, and the package base not so large -for now.

Gentoo is better than sex, cigarettes, Whiskey, Tequila and Coffee at the same time. Period.

PD:// Some day I'll try FreeBSD instead of Arch just to compare, though I am thinking that I'll stick with FreeBSD for an old IBM laptop of mine. Just keep in mind the Acer machine of 256Mb is running the Beryl 3D Window Manager just fine... while suffered burps, hiccups and vomit with Win XP all the time.

If you are reading yet, Cheers for all of you GNU/Linux/BSD users and those who will try them soon!!

Remember: Windows sucks everywhere for almost anyone. Linux sucks as much as your brain sucks. :D

(Republican beliefs) Humor ed 2

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 05:24:31 +0000

Things Republicans Believe (received anonymously on the net) taken from www.stallman.org
Amusing enough to listen "New Model Army's" 51st State

Being a drug addict is a moral failing and a crime, unless you're a conservative radio host. Then it's an illness and you need our prayers for your recovery.

The United States should get out of the United Nations, and our highest national priority is enforcing U.N. resolutions against Iraq.

Government should relax regulation of Big Business and Big Money but crack down on individuals who use marijuana to relieve the pain of illness.

"Standing Tall for America" means firing your workers and moving their jobs to India.

A woman can't be trusted with decisions about her own body, but multi-national corporations can make decisions affecting all mankind without regulation.

Jesus loves you, and shares your hatred for homosexuals and Hillary Clinton.

The best way to improve military morale is to praise
the troops in speeches while slashing veteran's benefits and combat pay.

Group sex and drug use are degenerate sins unless you someday run for governor of California as a Republican.

If condoms are kept out of schools, adolescents won't have sex.

A good way to fight terrorism is to belittle our long-time allies, then demand their cooperation and money.

HMOs and insurance companies have the interest of the public at heart.

Providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy.
Providing health care to all Americans is socialism.

Global warming and tobacco's link to cancer are junk science, but creationism should be taught in schools.

Saddam was a good guy when Reagan armed him, a bad
guy when Bush's daddy made war on him, a good guy when Cheney did business with him and a bad guy when Bush needed a "we can't find Bin Laden" diversion.

A president lying about an extramarital affair is an
impeachable offense. A president lying to enlist support for a war in which thousands die is solid
defense policy.

Government should limit itself to the powers named in the Constitution, which include banning gay marriages and censoring the Internet.

The public has a right to know about Hillary's cattle trades, but George Bush's driving record is none of our business.

You support states' rights, which means Attorney general John Ashcroft can tell states what local voter initiatives they have a right to adopt.

What Bill Clinton did in the 1960s is of vital national interest, but what Bush did in the '80s is irrelevant.

Trade with Cuba is wrong because the country is communist, but trade with China and Vietnam is vital to a spirit of international harmony.

...

If I were a Father...

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 22:19:03 +0000

I'd like to be the father of this little girl, watch out:

If the next generation were truly like her, we'd have nothing to fear from now on (except of her clothes) ;)

More bits of poetry. My beloved: P.Neruda

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 00:43:58 +0000

"Rise to be born with me, brother,"
by Pablo Neruda

I come to speak through your dead mouth.

All through the earth join all

the silent wasted lips

and speak from the depths to me all this long night

as if I were anchored here with you,

tell me everything, chain by chain,

link by link, and step by step,

file the knives you kept by you,

drive them into my chest and my hand

like a river of riving yellow light,

like a river where buried jaguars lie,

And let me weep, hours, days, years,

blind ages, stellar centuries.

Give me silence, water, hope.

Give me struggle, iron, volcanoes.

Fasten your bodies to me like magnets.

Hasten to my veins to my mouth.

Speak through my words and my blood.

(Tr. John Felstiner)

Linux Humour ed. 1

Sat, 11 Aug 2007 18:39:52 +0000

The last months I've discovered I'm a nerd, chocking like it was, I don't care and you shouldn't.

Whatever, there is people losing some -nerdy amusing- bad jokes over Internet, this is a compilation of those random shots of doubtful creativity on technology subjects.

If Operating Systems Ran The Airlines

UNIX Airways

Everyone brings one piece of the plane along when they come to the airport. They all go out on the runway and put the plane together piece by piece, arguing non-stop about what kind of plane they are supposed to be building.

Air DOS

Everybody pushes the airplane until it glides, then they jump on and let the plane coast until it hits the ground again. Then they push again, jump on again, and so on ...

Mac Airlines

All the stewards, captains, baggage handlers, and ticket agents look and act exactly the same. Every time you ask questions about details, you are gently but firmly told that you don't need to know, don't want to know, and everything will be done for you without your ever having to know, so just shut up.

Windows Air

The terminal is pretty and colorful, with friendly stewards, easy baggage check and boarding, and a smooth take-off. After about 10 minutes in the air, the plane explodes with no warning whatsoever.

Windows NT Air

Just like Windows Air, but costs more, uses much bigger planes, and takes out all the other aircraft within a 40-mile radius when it explodes.

Vista Air

You are not allowed to fly with our planes... however, that's lucky because the plane crash landed after a couple of minutes.

Linux Air

Disgruntled employees of all the other OS airlines decide to start their own airline. They build the planes, ticket counters, and pave the runways themselves. They charge a small fee to cover the cost of printing the ticket, but you can also download and print the ticket yourself. When you board the plane, you are given a seat, four bolts, a wrench and a copy of the Seat-HOWTO.html. Once settled, the fully adjustable seat is very comfortable, the plane leaves and arrives on time without a single problem, the in-flight meal is wonderful. You try to tell customers of the other airlines about the great trip, but all they can say is, "You had to do what with the seat?"

NOTE: This writings are taken from various websites, mainly from anonymous authors. So credits are
not of mine.

INDI 500: Linux lovers and designers of the world Unite !!

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 21:31:13 +0000

Some people into the Linux developers community is searching for funds based upon a good cause: "running a car at the Indianapolis 500". So? with a big "Linux" Logo in it. If less than 1% of the Linux community donates $1, this will happen... will you do your part?

The motivation is to promote Linux as effort of community/developers, giving a big step away of the big sharks (corps.)

So shut-up your mouth, turn the audio louder and start designing Logos for the contest or send your five cents to help the penguin.

Thanks in advance!!

Tux 500 web address
Recommendations to Participate into the Linux racing logo contest

If you don't know already what GNU/Linux is, Go here.

Cheers !!

Increasing the dangers in the WWW (are crackers the main abusers?)

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 21:42:53 +0000

One must note the fact that corporative users of the web are in most cases the worst nightmare for individual users: advertisers, resellers, media campaigns, government paranoia and so on which are taking down the benefits of having wired the whole word.

The resent addition of D.R.M in most devices and new spyware designs aren't so bad because of people is being spied (who cares?) though they aren't only showing their propaganda: They are pushing you to see it, they are controlling what users can or can't do with their property, profiling the people, controlling more effectively what people thinks, his decisions, inclinations, tastes and desires... That looks creepy, but is also the current status quo into the WWW which is being extended outside Internet.

Massive campaigns against hackers (the best people on the Internet) are very suspicious. The Internet was made by hackers and also they are away of the regulative control. The main labor of hackers is checking code... and some times spreading some truths about this corporative and governmental madness which are pushing people to be confused about the real pros and cons on technology. Most people is unaware of their safety pushed to believe scary stories about one or two guys who can rob a Bank with a laptop. But people isn't prevented that the real problem is for Banks and other private corporations not for them.

Furthermore, while some crackers are pretty dangerous people, in the really dangerous side the new Microsoft agenda tells the users to be safe buying the new Vista. But they aren't prevented that they are really defending corporations against users. I mean, corporations like MS are neither offering some digital security advantages for middle users, but taking away your rights to share your digital (and physical) contents with some one else because D.R.M let you listen your new Cds in the computer but not in the car (you need to buy another CD-MP3-player to listen the music you have rights to listen) so far [...]

Finally, there is a letter from StatCounter, a simple and reliable web stats company which provides free counters for web sites and pages. While this would be a commercial strategy, what we are pointing here isn't denied: They were preventing about some company providing them a lot of money for installing into the users browsers a spyware code.

A few months back, StatCounter was approached by an advertiser, offered lots of $$$, and asked to include a spyware cookie on all of our member sites.we refused on the spot.

You install StatCounter to track visitors to your site NOT to open yourself and your visitors up to being spied upon by phantom advertising corporations.

It appears, however, that other players in the world of webstats were happy to take up this offer.

We were shocked to discover just today that another well known stats provider is allowing up to 9 cookies to be installed in the browser of every visitor that hits one of their member websites.
This means that the provider is making money by transmitting data on you and your visitors to a third party advertiser. Not only that, but to add insult to injury, the cookies are causing the member websites to load very slowly too.

In light of this, StatCounter wants to assure you that we track your visitors for you, only you and not any one else.