Nomasteryoda

Nothing much, but thanks!!

2011-11-30T10:00:00.001-05:00

It's been a while since I've rambled on about stuff on this blog, but life and work (and a bunch of play) have taken most of my time. I've recently changed jobs, though I sit at the same desk and do much the same work. I still get to take care of tons of Linux servers and enjoy working with proprietary products on those systems. Such is life in the modern world of technology....

Linux has come a long way since 2000 when I started really using it. There have been ups and downs over the years, but in my experience I've seen very few downs. Both family & friends / coworkers have appreciated the help and advice I've provided. I've built and maintained Desktop, laptop and server systems for home, clients, and friends and in my daily job and have come to rely on the stability and security the distros I support.

My kids have grown up knowing Linux is better and want it on their systems, though they still want that other OS for games. They know better and know that the world is a better place because of the tireless, oft unapreciated work of developers.

I've a few words for those individuals:

I want to give my heartfelt thanks to all the developers and supporters of Linux distributions from Tiny Core to the Red Hats, but more importantly the Linux kernel developement team, without whom we would not have Linux much less Android.

Sincerely,

Jeff Hatfield

The ISP files

2009-01-06T00:37:00.003-05:00

Disclaimer:
I am not attacking the ISP here, only recording what lunacy there is in the ISP / tech world in general.

This is a true story that takes place from 9:30-10:30pm Jan 5, 2009.

No Tech "geeks" have been harmed in the writing of this story and the names have been intentionally left out to protect the ignorant or innocent – you decide.

I don't have this kind of issue as I run Linux. See, its pretty simple to keep stuff running when you don't have the worry of viruses and other malware eating your systems and bandwidth.

Jeff Hatfield
______________

It all started on a dark, Sunday night with issues of no to spotty Internet connectivity. And it happens to the best of us. After a long, drawn out battle between my Sidux laptop and the update/upgrade repos from which I was pulling massive quantities of data, I noticed my wife's Ubuntu system was not upgrading. Oh, forgot that I started it upgrading to Ubuntu 8.10, also loads of downloads (1200 or so).

The connection just was not there. No matter how many times I rebooted the router. Ok, so the sync light was still lit on the modem - and blinking furiously. I didn't think it would ever be the modem with that light so busy.

I unplugged the modem, waited 10 seconds, hooked it back up and ... yep. Slow blinking sync light. Damn it all. So I rebooted the modem, then the router... still no sync light.

Go to bed around 1:30 after screwing around with the damn thing...

... notice the lack of sleep here. I got up at 6am an started to check it out... Ok, hooked LAN cable direct to my firewalled Ubuntu laptop. Yeah, I'm not stupid and I know Linux is great for security, otherwise I'd be in the dark ages of the Intarweb tubes, all hosed up by Windows.

The connection works ok from the modem to my Laptop without issue. Run as root of course - ifconfig eth0 down, dhclient eth0 ... get an IP address that is a ISP IP. Good, so I restart the router, hook it back up and low and behold it gets a proper IP, DNS and Gateway settings from the ISP.

So I trudge off to work to enjoy my Linux geek job with servers... I love it! I'm doing some, errum work on a Windows desktop. Before you berate me for this, know that like many good Linux admins, I'm forced to use Windows for email and web surfing - when I get a call from home... "the Internet is down again" what can we do?? I know the family did nothing to the connection.

I think this time its the ISP completely, but I race over to OfficeDepot just minutes before they close, buy a nice Linksys CM100 modem and race home to hook it up. Before I hook it up, I see the old one, is still without cable sync. Crap.

I sit down at my Ubuntu laptop, hook direct to the modem and call the ISP.

Now if you thought above was entertaining, this will have you knowing full well ISPs suck at tech support!

I tried to get to the Intarweb with Firefox via the wired eth0 and get directed to an internal ISP.net page. Whoa! What an improvement over 5yrs ago when I signed on and had the nice, yet clueless lady hook me up over the phone - another story I'll save for later. The page informs me that I need Internet Explorer to continue with the "Self Install". Ok, so I try the link and of course it fails and keeps prompting me for IE. Life is not that simple people! Make things work without ActiveX, please?

So on to the phone call. After a short bit on hold, I get a guy who seems to understand I have a new modem, yet he mentions “I see you've called recently due to a problem connecting.” “Yes,” I say. “I now have a new modem to get setup on your network.”

He can help he says and is polite, yet not too sure of himself. I say, “you need the model & serial number and most likely the MAC address. These are always entered into the DHCP server for the ISP. I know this much as I have worked in IT for ages.” I say, “you might even be able to see that it is hooked up”, but no. Sounds like he's searching for some answer for a minute, maybe he is typing in what I've told him, then says "Yes, I need that information including the MAC address.” I proceed to give this information to him using NATO standard call-outs to make sure it was interpreted correctly. He repeats the information back to me and I'm happy he got it right the first time.

"Ok", he says. "Ok" again and he resets the modem to "provision" it to work on their network as he puts it. I see its lights flash off/on knowing it has just power cycled to get an IP. Good I think. Now it might be close to working and finally I can get on with life. You guessed right. Nope. I tried to renew the IP address by usual means and get the same internal IP from ISP.net. WTF? "Hey, this is nuts" I say to him.

He tries yet again and again and again to reset it.

He's getting down to "Let us schedule a tech to come to your house." Oh, no not that failed mode of help. I don't want that so I try one more last resort thing - No, don't shoot me. I'm trusting some of you have a windows box lying around for games, especially if you have kids who know there are superb games like spore, indiana jones lego adventures, etc..

So over to the windows desktop to hook up the modem direct. Now I'm not stupid even if I run windows. The guy asks me if I have a firewall running on the box. I play a little dumb and say, "well, just the windows firewall", which is true enough. I also have Avast Antivirus and don't let it expire.

Yes, you know the rule and stick to it, but I'm out on a limb with a sharp stick poking me... and I'm wondering just a little if their bad DHCP server will do better with what it "knows". I humor the guy and disable the firewall. ... Boom, windows gets an IP address, and no, it is not the correct one I was hoping for.

I immediately enable the firewall and the guy asks if I have Antivirus on it too. Of course I do, I say. He asks, "so what kind of antivirus to you have?" I say Avast. Well, he says that is a firewall too and it would block you getting an IP address.

Ok, at this point I know the guy is grasping at straws, camels or twiddling his fingers wondering wtf to do.

I really don't want someone touching my network unless they are qualified, so I resort to the old modem. I say let me try the old modem first, ok? He's like ok, but his answer is a little doubtful that it would work at all. I try and it works the first time and makes Windows happy.

Within 10 seconds I have a new IP address on the windows box and have the file to proove it. He's like, "man, that should not have happened. What was that IP addreess again??" I tell him IP, DNS and GW and he's taken aback and says, "no way that should work. I have not provisioned that modem to be on the network." I'm thinking, Errum, dude you never took it off from what it sounds like, which means my new one will never get an IP address since their DHCP only allows for one IP address associated per account unless otherwise noted...

He says hold on, the asks “you said the IP address is working with the old modem?” Yes I say and it is this... and gave him that information. He says no, this is not right. He asks to put me on hold and goes away for 3-4 minutes to find someone to talk to or maybe just get a drink of water?

When he comes back, “We need to get someone to check on this and insists I have a “technician” come out.” Oh great I think... the fun begins again tomorrow!

_____

Now that I'm writing this all down for your pleasure or pain, let me find another cable and hook it up to the new modem too!! Who knows, maybe I'll have two lines and double the bandwidth??

Cox has the speed!!

2008-02-06T21:46:00.002-05:00

And here's proof.. well, its one measurement using dlsreports speed test
Well, there was proof... looks like they deleted the linked images.... oh well.

OLF 2007

2007-10-03T21:49:00.000-05:00

What drive! I've been farther in a car, but never by myself. I think it was like 1200 miles total and was over 10.5hrs each way!

I met some very cool people. John "maddog" Hall, Dave Yates, Chess Griffin, Jeremy of LinuxQuestions, the tllts.org guys - Linc, Dan, Allan & Pat, Bill Husk from monsterb.org and Terry Filipas... And a big shoutout to monsterb for providing a couch for Sat. night!! I ate dinner with Jeff from California and Gary from ? at Barley's Ale and Smokehouse on Friday night then had some of the OLF cake.

I met D.C Parris of blue-gnu.biz who posted links to my pictures of the penguins on my car and laptop which reside on my personal foto blog, Richard Weait of Ontario Linux Festival, sat down at the after-party with Matt Morrisey of Oasis Systems in Ohio, and chatted with a many more folks from whom I did not get a business card. Met the guys from Ohio Ubuntu Loco group as well as The Source guy who does the cool podcast / videocast....

The first thing I did on Saturday (after breakfast with some of the attendees) was go to each booth/table to get my swag. I'm glad I did!! Most booths were all out in about 30 minutes! Yes, there were that many people there. They expected 1600 as per registration, but I think from my experience there were around 1100 actually in attendance.... just my wag.

The Ubuntu table was cool to see... it was right beside the first ballroom. Pictured below:

The MythTV talk by a Novell guy was a total blowout ... people had to sit on the floor!! I guess folks really want to get MythTV running at home.. =D. See the picture below... I stitched 2 images together with hugin to really show the huge crowd! That laptop and bag on the floor are mine. Not until I stood up did I realize how full the room really was!

The best swag? Very difficult to say but the Firefox mouse pad is cute and fits the tiny bluetooth mouse I use. I carried my backpack to put these goodies in as well as contain the laptop in suspend mode. The one bottle of Bawls, which I've yet to try is cool to have... The best swag though, really is the meeting of Linux and Open Source like-minded folks. Thats the best thing to take away from a great event like this!!

Later in the day I got to demo Virtualbox's new seamless feature to 2 guys who had thick accents from where I'm not sure. I had the laptop out at the Ubuntu Loco Ohio booth and was talking about Virtualbox being an option to VMware. These 2 were very impressed and happy to see they could remove windows and just run it from a VM. I also told them about the VMware converter and that Virtualbox supports vmx image files too. The fact this program is in the Ubuntu Repos makes it a favorite of mine. I had several people watching over my shoulder during the demo. And the only thing I had to give away were my own MGALUG cards =D.

I got to see some cool features of Gnome 2.20 and Conduit as well as a uber-cool Liquid Scale plugin for Gimp. I'm still not sure how to use it, but the effect was amazing.... link?

I tried to show off some new features in Inkscape 0.45.1 devel Sept 6, 2007, but Ubuntu updates had rolled my autopackage install to Sept 20 version. Grrr, autopackage is really a great way to get those packages you want but are unable to get the dependencies just right.

Gutsy xorg.conf - kubuntu

2007-08-25T22:05:00.000-05:00

# xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
#   sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver  "kbd"
Option  "CoreKeyboard"
Option  "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option  "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option  "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver  "mouse"
Option  "CorePointer"
Option  "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option  "Protocol" "ExplorerPS/2"
Option  "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option  "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

#Section "InputDevice"
# Identifier "Synaptics Touchpad"
# Driver  "synaptics"
# Option  "SendCoreEvents" "true"
# Option  "Device"  "/dev/psaux"
# Option  "Protocol"  "auto-dev"
# Option  "HorizScrollDelta" "0"
# Option  "SHMConfig" "true"
#EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Synaptics Touchpad"
Driver  "synaptics"
Option  "CorePointer"
Option  "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option  "Protocol" "auto-dev"
Option  "LeftEdge" "120"
Option  "RightEdge" "830"
Option  "TopEdge" "120"
Option  "BottomEdge" "650"
Option  "FingerLow" "14"
Option  "FingerHigh" "15"
Option  "MaxTapTime" "180"
Option  "MaxTapMove" "110"
Option  "ClickTime" "0"
Option  "EmulateMidButtonTime" "75"
Option  "VertScrollDelta" "10"
Option  "HorizScrollDelta" "0"
Option  "MinSpeed" "0.45"
Option  "MaxSpeed" "0.75"
Option  "AccelFactor" "0.020"
Option  "EdgeMotionMinSpeed" "200"
Option  "EdgeMotionMaxSpeed" "200"
Option  "UpDownScrolling" "1"
Option  "CircularScrolling" "0"
Option  "CircScrollDelta" "0.1"
Option  "CircScrollTrigger" "2"
Option  "SHMConfig" "true"
Option  "SendCoreEvents" "true"
EndSection



Section "InputDevice"
Driver  "wacom"
Identifier "stylus"
Option  "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option  "Type" "stylus"
Option  "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"# Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver  "wacom"
Identifier "eraser"
Option  "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option  "Type" "eraser"
Option  "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"# Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver  "wacom"
Identifier "cursor"
Option  "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option  "Type" "cursor"
Option  "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"# Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Intel Corporation 82852/855GM Integrated Graphics Device"
Boardname "i810"
Busid  "PCI:0:2:0"
Driver  "i810"
Screen 0
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Generic Monitor"
Modelname "Custom 1"
modeline  "640x480@60" 25.2 640 656 752 800 480 490 492 525 -vsync -hsync
modeline  "800x600@56" 36.0 800 824 896 1024 600 601 603 625 +hsync +vsync
modeline  "800x600@60" 40.0 800 840 968 1056 600 601 605 628 +hsync +vsync
modeline  "1024x768@60" 65.0 1024 1048 1184 1344 768 771 777 806 -vsync -hsync
modeline  "1280x960@60" 102.1 1280 1360 1496 1712 960 961 964 994 -hsync +vsync
modeline  "1280x1024@60" 108.0 1280 1328 1440 1688 1024 1025 1028 1066 +hsync +vsync
modeline  "1400x1050@60" 122.61 1400 1488 1640 1880 1050 1051 1054 1087 -hsync +vsync
Gamma 1.0
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device  "Intel Corporation 82852/855GM Integrated Graphics Device"
Monitor  "Generic Monitor"
Defaultdepth 24
SubSection "Display"
 Depth 24
 Virtual 1400 1050
 Modes  "1400x1050@60" "1280x1024@60" "1280x960@60" "1024x768@60" "800x600@60" "800x600@56" "640x480@60"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
screen 0 "Default Screen" 0 0
Inputdevice "Generic Keyboard"
Inputdevice "Configured Mouse"
Inputdevice "stylus" "SendCoreEvents"
Inputdevice "cursor" "SendCoreEvents"
Inputdevice "eraser" "SendCoreEvents"
Inputdevice "Synaptics Touchpad"

EndSection
Section "Module"
Load  "glx"
Load  "GLcore"
Load  "v4l"
EndSection
Section "device" #
Identifier "device1"
Boardname "i810"
Busid  "PCI:0:2:0"
Driver  "i810"
Screen 1
EndSection
Section "screen" #
Identifier "screen1"
Device  "device1"
Defaultdepth 24
Monitor  "monitor1"
EndSection
Section "monitor" #
Identifier "monitor1"
Gamma 1.0
EndSection
Section "ServerFlags"
EndSection

Case mods

2005-12-29T00:41:00.000-05:00

Here are the case mods to my donations to local school. I simply painted with Fusion and then painted the graphics with acrylics. I will later spray with clear acrylic to improve durability.

left side

Here are my case mods to my main system.

Top and left view
Here's a sample of my case mod. This case had the blue light you see at the back where the alien heads are now rainbows.... got these cool fans from newegg for $5 each!
The penguin gear usb drive case was also from newegg... cool lights and hardware. Just click to get better view.

btw... gotta post some new dives.

My email on Dumpster diving (113005)

2005-11-30T23:11:00.004-05:00

Subject: To the tech editor on Dumpster Diving (TechNews@MSNBC.com)

Mr. Levy,

In this side article under "Ask The Technologist" Mr. Levy correctly states the term "Dumpster Diving" derives from "phone phreaking" days 'where outlaw geeks went through telephone companies garbage to get information about their systems.' TheFreeDictionary.com's first definition ( http://computing-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/dumpster+diving ) indeed indicates your statement to be fact. Although dumpster diving may indeed be a means to find discarded information to steal identities or credit card numbers, Wikipedia (first Google Search result) correctly states:

"Dumpster diving, or trashing, is the practice of rummaging through trash, whether commercial or residential, to find items of use that have been discarded. It takes advantage of the fact that as a whole, people and businesses are very wasteful. The term "Dumpster Diving" comes from the image of someone climbing into large rubbish bins, called "dumpsters", but the practice is actually more like fishing around than diving in. ..."
(link source)The second definition used on the Free Dictionary's Computing Dictionary << http://computing-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/dumpster+diving >> :
"The practice of raiding the dumpsters behind buildings where producers and/or consumers of high-tech equipment are located, with the expectation (usually justified) of finding discarded but still-valuable equipment to be nursed back to health in some hacker's den. Experienced dumpster-divers not infrequently accumulate basements full of moldering (but still potentially useful) cruft."
Please do not make such blanket statements when someone asks such a question. You not only misinform the public, you create a sense of distrust of the society of Dumpster Divers if you will, as evil or criminal. We are ethical, sharing and generally a genial bunch of people who enjoy saving money... differently.

I have been dumpster diving ever since before I was able to drive. I lived in rural Georgia and found lots of fun stuff in the local Dumpster. My Grandmother, God rest her soul called them "Dempsey dumpsters" way back as far as I can remember. We used to, heaven forbid, dump our garbage on the far side of our 700 acres of land. I remember being 7 years old and rummaging through this heap for treehouse building materials, iron and old bicycles for parts....

Please do not do the same to give Recycle, Reuse, Renew and ReSell Dumpster Divers a bad word. You can verify some of my statements by reading my personal Dumpster blog at http://nomasteryoda.blogspot.com/2004/10/dumpster-diving-log.html or doing some research on http://www.dumpster-world.com or even on alt.dumpster on Usenet. Topics discussed vary from the bizarre, latest finds, encounters with the police and legality of dumpster diving.

Many, if not most of us want to stop the waste. Sure we enjoy getting something for nothing as well as the added bonus of "purchasing" tax-free! Billions of tons of computers and assorted usable household appliances, toner cartridges, new blank CDs & DVDs, new DVD movies, new & used VHS tapes, newspapers, magazines, books, cell phones, building materials, even fresh frozen foods.... go into the dumpsters and then the landfills each year.

The list of useful items is endless and we (Ddivers) only see touch / see a tiny fraction due to the use of Wench-on Compactors. These evil devices allow stores to "secure" their "valuable" trash until it arrives at a landfill to be buried for THOUSANDS of years ( creative Ddivers know how to get to the landfill to sort through this goldmine).

The question we always ask is Why? Why is this stuff in the trash? If we knew the answer and society really cared, maybe we could make a change for the better. The practice of trash rummaging goes back to the dawn of man. It's human nature to seek free stuff.

Stores should give away returned items labeled "damaged merchandise" - bicycles, computers, sleeping bags, or other useful items to homeless and the needy just as many bakeries donate their day-old breads to local shelters and churches.

Amazing how one little Newsweek clipping from a co-worker can spawn such a firestorm.

Lets open dumpsters and make this world a better place.

nomasteryoda (aka Jeff Hatfield lives and Ddives in Middle Georgia, USA)
dumpsterdiver AT cox DOT net

[_]\An Open Dumpster is an Open Source! (Trademark signature)

2005-08-04T11:48:00.000-05:00

Well, this is a trial of BloGTK 1.0 from Ubuntu. Pretty impressive stuff!

nomasteryoda - happyblogger

Ice Storm 2005

2005-01-29T11:30:00.000-05:00

Sunday Jan 30, 2005
Ok, so we got power back on around 7:30pm. Lost a few pine limbs and got down to 55 degrees F in this old house, but no worse for the wear. We survied with candles, flashlights and our gas stove and fireplace.

<>
8:30am
We just lost power due to ice storm. Nice! Pretty to look at, but crappy for computer people. At least my UPS works for a little while so I can post this.

nomasteryoda - out

Late pumpkin (tux)

2004-11-02T00:10:00.000-05:00

We got 3 of large pumpkins for $4 each. This one was 20" tall.
nomasteryoda - out

Dumpster Diving Log

2004-10-16T22:48:00.000-05:00

There are way more times between this post and the last that I've found stuff, just this is not a really important thing to post....

Posted 01.03.2006:
12-2005 -
from PC store:
Motherboards, CPUs (one AMD 2500+ Barton & 2 x AMD 1200)
20 ATX PCs, most working - 233mhz - Pentium III 400mhz
Several Sticks of RAM - PC100/133 - 64-256mb
from bbstr:
DVDs - Mr. & Mrs Smith, 40-Year-Old Virgin, The Fighting Temtations, Max & Ruby's Christmas.
Games - Nicktoons Unite - N GameCube, Playstation 2 Juiced, Grand Theft Auto - San Andreas Special Edition, X-box Far Cry Instincts, 3 more titles I don't remember names for...
Bag of 40 DVD cases - Brand new un-touched.

10-2005:
15" LCD - no power supply, but works with my LCD box 12volt p/s.
LaserJet Printers - 4 LaserJet 4 or 4plus, 3 working LaserJet 5.

12-20-2004:
64MB USB Key - works fine!

10-17-2004:
Stack of 30 40x CD-R discs - only had a crushed case
1 blue USB extension cable
Several new report folders
1 pk of plain notecards

Older stuff:

Got working as of 01.03.05:
Philips PCVC665K webcam - finally works on SuSE 10.o, KDE 3.5, kopete - MSN IM!!!

Radio-Free for ALL!

2004-10-16T00:20:00.000-05:00

This is a very good idea, my short trail of which you can follow below if you so desire.

I was looking for the Make magazine link and found it quite quickly with google.
http://www.oreillynet.com/oreilly/make/. This is a very cool site and soon to be print magazine devoted to those of us who make or hack stuff from things we already own or have found.

I noticed the linkbar on the right of this page:
$20 FM transmitter kits to be sold as part of Radio Re-Volt
[Mark Frauenfelder]
http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/wlg/5721

So I followed from oreillynet.com to Wired.com's article:

I looked at the Walker Art Center site ( http://www.walkerart.org/ **), a place which my family and I actually visited about 3 years ago - very nice place. I especially like the spoon and cherry, but the goose crap all over the wet lawn was a disappointment. **Note: Need flash to appreciate this site.

Main link for how-tos, kits and complete transmitters.
http://projects.walkerart.org/radio/forums/viewtopic.php?id=23

Other important links in the article:
http://projects.walkerart.org/radio/
http://www.prometheusradio.org/faq_onewatt.shtml
http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,63731,00.html

This is also a good way to help thwart the RIAA's efforts to keep music free.

nomasteryoda - out
IM me at nomasteryoda on AIM or YIM
or drop by mgalug.org

DataTux LCD!

2004-10-12T23:37:00.000-05:00

This little piece is about how I Dumpster dove, converted and setup my Datalux LCD picture viewer. I got 2 of these from my favorite local dumpster!

So after preparing the DataLux case, PC brick and LCD screen I have the new, improved DataTux LCD!!

Now, mind you the photo does not show the true beauty of this creation as you see a fuzzy image with lines on the screen. Believe me, this is a top-notch system. One look at the new label tells you its far superior to it's past life.

This picture shows a screen shot of my main SuSE desktop running with the cool image viewer feh. This is a very cool LCD picture frame setup! I painted all components using the new plastic paint by Krylon (Fusion). This worked fine for the LCD face, but failed to adhere properly on the epoxy (assumed) coating of the Aluminum case.

To support the monitor (i.e. stand upright), I modified the case by adding mounting holes and slots for mouting the back of the monitor to the PC brick. Read more about the software details at mgalug.org.

I also learned I have more RAM than I previously thought. See, these bricks have 32mb on board, which turns out to be just another laptop RAM slot on the back of the motherboard. I discovered this little point after droping my new creation on the concrete - yeah, ouch! But some good came of it with this discovery. Now my slideshows run smoother and the OS is even more stable (DSL likes more RAM).

later - nomasteryoda

Dumpster Diving

2004-10-12T20:39:00.000-05:00

Intro
Anyone who knows me knows my habit all to well. I Dumpster Dive. Yes, I enjoy taking "one man's trash" and making it into my treasure or at least keeping it from the land fill. I'm not the only one either. Check out the alt.dumpster group on the newsgroup servers or just search Google for the topic. Search for your location and chances are you will learn about a whole new layer of society. If you do enough reading, you will find its legal in most areas and in those where laws “prohibit” dumpster diving, it is still actively is done.

Many people even live from food they find from grocery store dumpsters – mostly good food with “bad dates”. I know what you are thinking... I dispel the myths about food too. We sometimes do "dive" or get in, but most times when the opportunity presents itself, we simply reach in and take hold of what we find. To some it seems we are stooping low or living at the bottom of society. In a way, it is living off the land. Living off what you find.

Read on to get a better idea...

Clean or not?
For the most part dumpsters are clean, not clean as your floor or table, but nonetheless clean. Some are cleaner than some restaurant floors I've seen. I mean, hey, what business do you know that enjoys strange odors emanating around the building, distressing customers? Okay. You got me there. Some oriental eateries do yield such foul odors and almost all restaurants in fact have very unpleasant smelling dumpsters. I mean, have you driven by the local greasy spoon on a 100+ summer day to leave due to the stench of their dumpster?

Now really think about what I am saying. Today, most trash is put into plastic bags and usually is separated by department or content type. Offices produce office waste - paper, lunch boxes, cans, pens, money, keys, CDs, books, magazines, etc. Bathrooms produce lots of paper towels, etc. auto parts departments yield, yup you guessed it - autoparts, tools, etc. But what happens to items too large for bags? They simply get tossed as is. Examples I have seen include anything including: bicycles, lawnmowers, yard tables, computer PC towers/Desktops, monitors, tables, desks, chairs, furniture, etc.

America's Stuff
As our society continues to purchase, throw away, purchase replacements, repeat ad infinitum, we are left with a virtually limitless supply of second-hand or shortly used stuff. Yes we yard sale such items, but many times we just put them in the green bin to be taken away by the compactor truck. What a waste. On that same note, what happens to returns?

What happens when a purchase is broken or missing one screw or a sticker or whatever makes it perfectly salable? I'm sure many of you have experienced the irksome feeling when you are about to install the last shelf of a $300 entertainment center to learn 2 locking clips, screws or nuts are missing. Do you take it apart and return to the store for a refund? I certainly hope not, but the policy of many stores requires you either return the item for a refund or contact the manufacturer yourself for a return.

Damaged goods
I have learned a disheartening fact in my many years dumpster diving: stores deliberately destroy merchandise if instructed to by corporate policy. Many people don't know the manufacturers want you to keep their products and are willing, in most cases, to provide for free or a nominal charge the missing parts. If the item is brand new then you usually get the parts for free. Sometimes they will ask that you return the item to them, which usually happens with electronics.

Do you ever wonder why high-dollar items like an entertainment center comes with a sheet from the mfg. stating: "ATTENTION: DO NOT RETURN ITEM TO STORE" ???? You guessed right again. I often find store labels or even worse the item is spray painted to prevent “return”. Item was disposed of or destroyed is the term the company might hear, but more times than you can ever count the item is put into one of those evil compactors which is in turn carried to your local landfill and buried like last week's news.

Where to look
Occasionally a green, gray or brown dumpster is open for the picking, but more times than not there is only a compactor. Stores have realized some unscrupulous dumpster divers are returning do've items to the front of the store for a store credit or refund. The nerve of them!! Giving Dumpster Diving a bad name!

So what do I find?
Many, many things of use. Since I am into computers, much of what I find these days is computer parts - not that theres a lack of other stuff, I just am focused on computer items.

Some examples:

Motherboards, PC cases, monitors, power cables, USB cables, scanners, LCD screens, small-form factor PCs, working laptops, keyboards, mice (and how! - Just look at my car...
wireless mice, zip drives; discs, Hard Drives, CD-ROM drives; new media, programs, Operating Systems, games, DVD movies and VHS, music discs (previously downloaded? maybe, I care not nor know not), power supplies, speakers, modems, tape drives, printer ink cartridges and refills, laserjet and inkjet printers, toner cartridges still sealed in the box, etc.

As for other stuff, my ultimate best find was my brand new Fossil stainless-steel watch a few years back... looked like some girlfriend tossed it out with the guy's stuff - even with the tin! Some things make you just go why?

The key to successful diving?
Go daily or at least on days when you know the truck has not come to take away your treasure and bury for 40K years. Go at different times to determine when the goods are dumped & make frequent runs when you get a feeling something is waiting on you or when you find a need or know someone who has need of something. Many times I have needed some item and it was there the next day or week.

Coincidence or divine intervention? Who knows for sure? The Bible says to "ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find". These words are a diver's best friend when in need. All the divers I know stick to their story of when in need, whether known or not, they find the stuff they need. One friend was checking out one particularly nasty dumpster and made a comment she needed a wetsuit. So what did she find the next day? Yup. A wetsuit, but not just any wetsuit, one that fit her perfectly. Another friend and I were diving together and while I was digging around he said “I am out of detergent” and just a minute later I pull a box from beneath the pile.

Managers & Police
Yes, you will run in with these types or their lackies. You try to appease them by leaving when requested, even ignoring them as if you are deaf or turning to face them and giving them the low-down on what is bad about their practices of waste. Expound on the use of your found items value as art objects, stuff you are going to make from it. Or even the fact you know people who are in need of whatever you have found.

As for the Police, be nice and courteous and let the officer know you are taking stuff out not dumping. They really do not like dumping as the stores pay a by-the-ton landfill fee. Also reiterate what you told the store management and offer them some of your find if they seem interested. Make them happy and they usually will go away. If they don't leave and want you to leave, you must do so or risk going to jail.

My little bit of wisdom... or not

2004-10-12T20:32:00.000-05:00

Er, i moved for the better URL...

nomasteryoda - out