Note to self... maybe others...

Warning: contains computer jargon and dubious security practices that may disturb sensitive readers...

Had to do a change to a computer system remotely as root, but didn't have the root password (just sudo access). The tool to make the change was only available as a GUI (don't get me started, I have nothing polite to say about Linux systems that cripple themselves with bullshit like that, but it doesn't change the fact that I need to deal with them), so I needed to be able to allow it to use the Xserver running on my PC at home (MobaXterm in this case... a super amazing wow program, fyi). I kept getting the error "X11 connection rejected because of wrong authentication." and everything I tried on my end didn't work. In the end, I realized it was because the root account on the remote system did not have an .Xauthority file, much less a file with the credentials I generated logging in as myself to my account. So, all I needed to do was copy the .Xauthority file from my account (I didn't have to worry about clobbering one for the root account because it didn't have its own) to the root account's home directory, do what I needed to do (the X window popped up fine on my system), and then delete the .Xauthority file(s) from the root account again (two additional .Xauthority related files were also created). Maybe not ideal, but it allowed the job to get done without needing me to go all the way to school in person to deal with it. I have run across situations like this before and have always struggled with it... it is also near impossible to find an answer on the 'net as to how to get around it... so here it is for posterity's sake.

CKCU Radio Camp is hiring!

If you know anyone in the Ottawa area looking for a summer job, please send them the link to this post... deadline is April 15th!

Job Position: Radio Camp Counsellor
Dates: July 7-25th, and August 11-29th, 2014
Salary: $450/week
Hours: 8:30am to 4:30pm

CKCU is hiring 2 Radio Camp Counsellors to help run our popular Radio Camp for kids ages 10-14. This camp contains a maximum of 12 individuals split into two groups. As a camp counsellor you will be responsible for the supervision and training of one group. Some of the camp activities include:

• How to write, record and edit a radio advertisement,
• How to write, record and edit a review of their favourite CD, Movie, Book, Video Game, etc…
• How to use a professional broadcast mixing board
• How to record voice
• How to mix music together like a real radio DJ
• How to speak like a real radio DJ

Campers will also record a radio play, edit their voices, and add music and sound effects. At the end of the week they will do a live 2 hour radio show and show off what they have done at camp all week.

Job Description:

As a radio camp counsellor you will be responsible for:

• Conducting camp workshops
• Training campers in the recording editing and mixing of audio
• Teaching campers to operate mixing boards, microphones and headphones
• Assist campers in preparing scripts
• Assist in planning a 2-hour live radio show that includes the week’s pre-recorded content
• Supervise campers during a portion of the lunch break

Qualifications:

• Experience working with or supervising children/youngsters
• A lively and energetic personality
• Knowledge of audio recording and digital editing
• Ability to assist campers with creative writing

Applications should be received by April 15th. Please direct applications to:

Dave Aardvark
Program Director, CKCU Radio
Room 517 - University Center
1125 Colonel By Drive
Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6
Phone: 613-520-3533
E-mail: programs@ckcufm.com

Sigh... so falls another bastion...

It looks like I have to aggressively distance myself from Firefox now (fyi, Chrome isn't really an option for me either for mostly different reasons, I will have to ponder this for a while before making my decision...).

First, and what prompted me to go "oh, no...":

OKCupid seeks to block Mozilla Firefox over gay rights

What?

In following the threads of this story, it turns out that the brand new CEO, Brendan Eich, of the Mozilla Foundation (the organization that owns Firefox) donated $1000 to the effort that got Proposition 8 adopted in California (before it was ultimately overturned by the US Supreme Court). Employees are blogging and twittering their serious upset. Three board members have resigned, nominally because this guy got chosen instead of the person who had a huge amount of experience with mobile platforms — which is where they see the future, whereas Eich represents the past of browser technology. Eich was the key developer, amongst other things, of "Javascript" which is one of the core technologies of the "dynamic" world wide web, so he has had a huge impact on the technical side of how the world works now. He is certainly allowed his opinion (I have heard nothing to indicate he has engaged in any sort of hate speech or has done anything to compromise the rights of LGBTQ+ folk working at Mozilla), but taking the helm of an organization like Mozilla is something quite different in character and past politics make much more difference in that role.

From the article: Mozilla's head of education, Christie Koehler, who is gay, wrote on her blog: "It's hard for me to think of a scenario where someone could donate to that campaign without feeling that queer folks are less deserving of basic rights." However, she added that while she was personally disappointed, she said she did not think it would affect her work at Mozilla..

To Ms. Koehler, I have the following quote: "What I particularly admire in him is the firm stand he has taken, not only against the oppressors of his countrymen, but also against those opportunists who are always ready to compromise with the Devil. He perceives very clearly that the world is in greater peril from those who tolerate or encourage evil than from those who actually commit it. — Albert Einstein's tribute to Casals (30 March 1953), in "Conversations with Casals" (1957), by Josep Maria Corredor, translated from "Conversations avec Pablo Casals : souvenirs et opinions d'un musicien" (1955).

Then, while researching that story, I found this entire thread that I had apparently missed...

Mozilla to deliver ads in its Firefox browser

Between the two, I think I need to reconsider my choice of browsers and of the viability of an independent browser market with Firefox as a key player for the freedom of the web. In retrospect, it seems as though a bunch of features it introduced as being user privacy features have actually paved the way to allow Mozilla to have exclusive access to advertising space in the Firefox browser.

Double sigh... looks like the beancounters and professional corporate types have gotten a hold of the place and are going to run it into the ground while filling their pockets as it goes down, just like they do everywhere it seems these days.