November 2019 - Roundtable

How does on get the date function to work in Libre Office spreadsheet?
by eh＠eduardhiebert.com 08 May '23

08 May '23

Hi, I've formatted the cells as date mm/dd/yy and entered the values as is. Also tried by preceeding with equal sign in case deemed to be a formula but neither works. I assume a difference between two days yields the difference in days, correct? Or are the formula different than plain math? Eduard the Osborne guy at last meeting

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creat() fails on non-root owned file when stickybit set on dir (tcsh) (new kernel bug?)
by Trevor Cordes 03 Jan '20

03 Jan '20

Just upgraded to F30 with kernel 5.3.12 (not going to F31 quite yet). Hit a weird error that didn't happen in the previous kernel/OS: If my dir has stickybit set, in this case /tmp, then root can't use tcsh's ">!" redirection on a file owned by another user (permission denied). F29 ">!" allowed it just fine (kernel 5.3.11). I checked and tcsh versions didn't change, except just the bump to F30. ">!" in tcsh is the same as > in bash. tcsh lets you set an option to >! require explicit instruction to clobber existing files so you don't accidentally > an existing file without realizing it. That's the extra ! after the >. It's funny, because root can still append to the file (>>), rm it, chmod, etc., just not this explicit clobber. Funnier still is it works in bash (using >) but the OS is still giving it the permission denied. (See below.) It looks like tcsh is using creat() and that is the syscall returning the error. as root: tcsh sudo -u trevor touch /tmp/t echo foo >> /tmp/t # ok echo foo >! /tmp/t # Permission denied. strace on 5.3.12 F30 (error): dup(19) = 0 fcntl(0, F_SETFD, 0) = 0 dup2(17, 1) = 1 dup2(18, 2) = 2 creat("t", 0666) = -1 EACCES (Permission denied) write(18, "t: Permission denied.\n", 22l: Permission denied. ) = 22 strace on 5.3.11 F29 (ok): dup(19) = 0 fcntl(0, F_SETFD, 0) = 0 dup2(17, 1) = 1 dup2(18, 2) = 2 creat("t", 0666) = 3 fcntl(3, F_GETFL) = 0x8001 (flags O_WRONLY|O_LARGEFILE) fcntl(3, F_SETFL, O_WRONLY|O_LARGEFILE) = 0 ... strace with bash on 5.3.12 F30 (no error! note the double try!) (command for bash is just: echo foo > /tmp/t) openat(AT_FDCWD, "/tmp/t", O_WRONLY|O_CREAT|O_TRUNC, 0666) = -1 EACCES (Permission denied) openat(AT_FDCWD, "/tmp/t", O_WRONLY|O_TRUNC) = 3 fcntl(1, F_GETFD) = 0 fcntl(1, F_DUPFD, 10) = 10 ... So bash uses openat instead of creat, but still gets EACCESS, but then retries with slightly different options... almost like bash hit this same bug but has already worked around it. So is this a kernel bug / change in API? Should I report this to kernel bugs or to tcsh bugs? This is a "bug" in the sense that something changed because I've been doing this type of command for, oh, 20 years, and it's always worked before. And I know Linus doesn't like to change the existing user interface into the kernel.

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Linux for the disabled
by Frank H 05 Dec '19

05 Dec '19

I was diagnosed with ALS earlier in the year. Among other things, my voice is quickly becoming unintelligible, and my hands are weakening to the point that one day I won't be able to type. Eye tracking hardware/software is probably going to my mode of communication. Are you guys aware of anything like that for linux? When I use Windows, I feel like I'm in a stranger's house. Thanks,Frank

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The "Save .org" petition
by Glen Ditchfield 27 Nov '19

27 Nov '19

As you may have heard, ICANN removed the price caps on .org domains, then quietly decided to sell the .org registry to a private equity firm linked to a former ICANN CEO and several American billionaires (https:// www.theregister.co.uk/2019/11/26/org_selloff_internet/) So, a bunch of respectable organizations have started a petition to stop that, at https://savedotorg.org/ . Signing might help.

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VA4WAN spare equipment giveaway this Wednesday
by Colin Stanners 26 Nov '19

26 Nov '19

Hi all, please forward to any other Manitoba IT / tech groups that may be interested. Our VA4WAN group (Winnipeg-wide amateur radio wi-fi / IP network) is doing some big stock cleanups and we have excess gear that is being given away at VE4WSC for anyone who wants it. This includes some routers / switches / very basic wallmount racks / outdoor radios / outdoor antennas / satellite dishes (without LNBs) / etc. On Wednesday Nov 27th from 7-9PM, we'll have it open to the public, so if you're interested please stop by at 2nd floor of 598 St Mary's Rd. If you expect to come late please RSVP to CStanners(a)gmail.com . Some of this equipment was donated to us with the terms that it can only be used by amateur radio operators, so if you are not a ham but desire equipment that we can't give to you, we'll help you try to find something else.

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Printers needing a new home
by Adam Thompson 25 Nov '19

25 Nov '19

(Hint: hit Reply, not Reply-All. Don't be that person.) I have two printers that don't meet my needs right now just taking up floor space. I need them to stop taking up so much space. I figure *someone* on these lists will be interested in free mid-range laser printers, right? First: 1 x HP LJ2000dtn (PCL6/PS3, 2 trays, duplexer, network, 24ppm) - tray "2" can't be inserted right now, which makes the printer mostly useless until that gets fixed. Free to a good home that cares enough to repair it - *probably* an easy job, no guarantees. No guarantees on the rollers, either, but it worked OK last time I used it. You pick it up from home (near St. Vital Center) or office (near UofM). It's kinda bulky but not that heavy (42lbs, but it comes apart) -> https://www.laserpros.com/img/TechTips/hp-2300-printer-specs.pdf And, recently acquired used to replace the HP but I screwed up on the model# (I thought it was a T652dn): 1 x Lexmark T652n (PCL/PS, 1 tray + 1 extra tray, network, 52ppm) comes with 2 extra toner cartridges (~10k pages each). Free to anyone who doesn't need duplexing. (Oops on my part when I got it.) Makes an alarming but apparently harmless thumping sound, and the 3rd-party non-Lexmark toner tends to oversaturate (you can adjust density in print driver to fix this). Everything seems to work, regardless. Weighs >50 lbs and is a rather large & awkward cube even after disconnecting the trays, so you can come pick it up. (It'll fit into the back of any taxi without issues.) -> http://brochure.copiercatalog.com/lexmark/0030G0125.pdf Reply if interested. They'll get dropped off at Urban Mine or similar if no-one wants them. -Adam

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Appropriate discussions for this list
by Gilbert E. Detillieux 12 Nov '19

12 Nov '19

A reminder that the <roundtable(a)muug.ca> mailing list was intended as a way to continue discussions around appropriate topics for the round-table sessions at our monthly meetings. As such, please limit your posts to technical topics that would be of general interest to members of MUUG. If you feel the need to post on topics related to politics or conspiracy theories, please find a more appropriate forum for such discussions elsewhere. We do not currently moderate postings to this list, but might consider doing so if things get out of hand. Thanks, Gilbert -- Manitoba UNIX User Group E-mail: <gedetil(a)muug.ca> c/o Gilbert E. Detillieux Web: http://muug.ca/ University of Manitoba Phone: (204)474-8161 Winnipeg MB CANADA R3T 2N2 Fax: (204)474-7609

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Re: [RndTbl] Roundtable Digest, Vol 179, Issue 3
by Geoffrey Jacobs 10 Nov '19

10 Nov '19

Let's not. On November 10, 2019 12:00:01 PM CST, roundtable-request(a)muug.ca wrote: >Send Roundtable mailing list submissions to > roundtable(a)muug.ca > >To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > https://muug.ca/mailman/listinfo/roundtable >or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > roundtable-request(a)muug.ca > >You can reach the person managing the list at > roundtable-owner(a)muug.ca > >When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific >than "Re: Contents of Roundtable digest..." > > >Today's Topics: > > 1. Big Think: How outrage mobs silence academics — and what we > can do to stop them (Ihor Jakowec) > > >---------------------------------------------------------------------- > >Message: 1 >Date: Sat, 9 Nov 2019 13:39:57 -0600 >From: Ihor Jakowec <ijakowec(a)icloud.com> >To: roundtable(a)muug.ca >Subject: [RndTbl] Big Think: How outrage mobs silence academics — > and what we can do to stop them >Message-ID: <3670AA93-321C-4A6B-B73F-F6305360DE51(a)icloud.com> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > >How outrage mobs silence academics — and what we can do to stop them >When the protection of academic freedom is compromised, scholarship and >greater society suffer the effects. > >Read in Big Think: https://apple.news/AcdPBy36UQiKat9h_tsK71g > > >Shared from Apple News > >Made me think. > >Ihor Jakowec > > >Sent from my iPhone >

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Re: [RndTbl] Roundtable Digest, Vol 179, Issue 3
by Kat 10 Nov '19

10 Nov '19

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/07/us-billionaires-hard-… On Sun., Nov. 10, 2019, 12:00 p.m. , <roundtable-request(a)muug.ca> wrote: > Send Roundtable mailing list submissions to > roundtable(a)muug.ca > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > https://muug.ca/mailman/listinfo/roundtable > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > roundtable-request(a)muug.ca > > You can reach the person managing the list at > roundtable-owner(a)muug.ca > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Roundtable digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Big Think: How outrage mobs silence academics — and what we > can do to stop them (Ihor Jakowec) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sat, 9 Nov 2019 13:39:57 -0600 > From: Ihor Jakowec <ijakowec(a)icloud.com> > To: roundtable(a)muug.ca > Subject: [RndTbl] Big Think: How outrage mobs silence academics — > and what we can do to stop them > Message-ID: <3670AA93-321C-4A6B-B73F-F6305360DE51(a)icloud.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > > How outrage mobs silence academics — and what we can do to stop them > When the protection of academic freedom is compromised, scholarship and > greater society suffer the effects. > > Read in Big Think: https://apple.news/AcdPBy36UQiKat9h_tsK71g > > > Shared from Apple News > > Made me think. > > Ihor Jakowec > > > Sent from my iPhone >

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Big Think: How outrage mobs silence academics — and what we can do to stop them
by Ihor Jakowec 09 Nov '19

09 Nov '19

How outrage mobs silence academics — and what we can do to stop them When the protection of academic freedom is compromised, scholarship and greater society suffer the effects. Read in Big Think: https://apple.news/AcdPBy36UQiKat9h_tsK71g Shared from Apple News Made me think. Ihor Jakowec Sent from my iPhone

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