Bend in the Weather

The Linux Foundation has announced the winners of the 'We're Linux' competition.

They have selected one winner, and two runners up (Runner Up #1 and Runner Up #2).
Personally I like the 1^st runner up. (With probably a different voice over). It's got all the geeky aspects I like, though this was probably not the chosen criteria for the competition.

Here is the winning entry on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWEIQIv8zvY



Runner Up #1:

The Origin... from Agustin Eguia on Vimeo.

Runner Up #2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xceiMJSunIg


There was a range of submissions, and some are quite creative. You can see all the submissions here.

Well done to the winners, and those that entered. Truly inspiring!

Ever wondered why PulseAudio sucks so bad?

Sick of the multiple Audio stacks in Linux? (OSS/ALSA/PulseAudio).
Ever wanted to make sense of items like JACK,ESD,aRts and NAS or just confused with either GStreamer or xine?

Here is a clever overview of the sound systems that is Linux. (click the image for a larger view)/

Linux audio like it or not is a mess. Multiple layers providing the same functionality. It's a house of cards that often falls down.
Things have been hidden well in OSS/ALSA and it's not until demanding audio like HD codecs have started to make their way across that some of these issues are starting to be uncovered (the infamous 'popping' sounds).

PulseAudio has been poking and pushing ALSA in recent times, and as a result unearthed a number of issues.

I'm hopefully eventually we'll get to a single, simple but powerful audio stack. I'm not holding my breath though.

The Australian Federal government announced the $12.2 billion Household Stimulus Package in the wake of the Worldwide Financial Downturn.

Payments are to have commenced during March, and the Tax Bonus for Working Australians in April. As yet I don't know anyone who has received them?

These payments are made up of:

• A Tax Bonus for Working Australians of up to $900 for eligible taxpayers, depending on income thresholds.
• A Single-Income Family Bonus of $900 to provide additional assistance for families that have one main income earner and may otherwise receive less assistance from the package than dual income families with similar household income.
• A Farmer's Hardship Bonus of $950 which will be paid to farmers and others receiving Exceptional Circumstances related income support.
• A Training and Learning Bonus of $950 to assist students, those returning to study or training, and some income support recipients.
• A Back to School Bonus of $950 per child to assist low- and middle-income families eligible for Family Tax Benefit A with school-age children.

Whether you are for or against them... they are coming.

Has anyone out there received their 'Bonus'?
From all reports they are to be staggered out... yet I don't know an individual yet that has received them.

Would be happy to hear from someone that has got that 'cheque in the mail' so to speak.

I find it disturbing that many who claim to be tolerant to minorities often are often bigots in other areas. They are often the first to dismiss or call out others who are intolerant in a particular area, yet unwilling to remove the log that is their eye.

In particular, the majority of people are tolerant to same-sex partnerships and fight for equal rights for these couples. They stand and shout for equality for different races or skin colour (and rightly so).

Yet I find it's become 'hip' in modern times to mock those holding religious beliefs, particularly those of Christian beliefs. This has been drummed into me more in recently time as I read more blog posts of people whining about Easter.

I find it alarming that many of those that stand on their soap-boxes and shout for basic human rights seem to misunderstand the universal declaration of human rights.

One can not claim they stand for human rights if they are not tolerant for all the human rights... this includes: "....race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status... "

Personally, I don't hold an opinion, in the religious affairs of others. They are free to express their beliefs (or not).
I do however get annoyed when so called 'tolerant' people decide to complain about those following their religious beliefs.

Fair enough, if you personally aren't a believer. That's your personal choice. However, it's rich to mock those that do. Don't also claim to be tolerant if you do mock those who hold different beliefs to your own.

Certainly Christian beliefs and holidays aren't everyone's cup of tea. However, like respecting those of other faiths such as Muslim, Buddhism, Hinduism or Judaism; those of the Christian faith should be respected and tolerated.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, some 68% of the population professed to be of Christian faith. Yes, this number is falling, however it is still the majority in this country.

Whilst audiences may not state openly their objections to your public ridicule; any such mocking of any faith is likely to alienate many readers.
So consider what you write, open bigotry of any form is not something that should be tolerated.

It would appear one posting that the powers-to-be don't agree with gets you banished from a planet

Even after removing the offending post weeks ago... it seems I'm still blacklisted on PLA.
I've Emailed those involved, who have promised I'll be restored, but that time has come and gone. I'm not seeing any other answer to correspondence.

Update: 10/4/2009
I've since received some correspondence to say that I'll likely be reinstated over Easter.