- Talk - lists.gtalug.org

Blank screen can't be refreshed
by Giles Orr 19 Oct '21

19 Oct '21

Hi folks. My main machine is a Fedora 34 laptop that drives a 43" 4K Philips monitor (it's actually a "monitor," not a "TV"). I've set 'xscreensaver' to blank the machine after five minutes. The delay is that short because the Philips (while otherwise a nice display) is notorious for ghosting. It's a Barrier client to another computer (a NUC) - so the keyboard and mouse that control this machine are actually attached to another machine. Occasionally, the machine/screen can't be awoken from the blank screen state. The Philips backlight is on, I have a pointer I can move (either by Barrier, or by the touchpad on the laptop itself) ... but the screen remains blank. The machine is up and running, and I can SSH in and change stuff, but nothing non-disruptive I've found wakes the screen. I tried 'kill -HUP <openboxPID>' to no effect. I tried 'openbox --restart' but it failed because it's a remote machine (I can probably over-ride this with an appropriate environment variable(s), but haven't got to that). 'kill <openboxPID>' - also had no effect. But 'kill -9 <openboxPID>' brought me back to the login screen (functioning correctly on the previously blank screen). This (and rebooting) are the only solutions I've found so far. This problem has usually occurred on wake from suspend-to-RAM, but has now happened a couple times on wake from just screen blanking. Having had to write that out, it makes me think that Openbox is the problem. Openbox is supposed to accept 'kill -HUP' and do something sane with it, but it's clearly got itself in a state where it's not listening to 'kill' at all (thus the need for '-9'). I've looked at the machine logs: I'm not great at reading them, but I'm not seeing anything that looks like this problem, and I did spend a fair amount of time looking ... If it is Openbox, I should be looking at the X logs, which I haven't done yet? I've used Barrier heavily for many years, and this problem hasn't manifested on any of the several other computers that have been Barrier clients to the NUC ... but should I consider Barrier? What about xscreensaver itself? I could potentially compile Openbox rather than relying on the Fedora package. I don't want to do that, but if needed ... Huh - I suppose I could also switch to Fluxbox for a while, and see if it has the same issue. Any ideas appreciated, any thoughts on where to look or how to debug ... -- Giles https://www.gilesorr.com/ gilesorr(a)gmail.com

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War Story: Thunderbird vs my mail server
by D. Hugh Redelmeier 15 Oct '21

15 Oct '21

TL;DR: using self-signed x.509 certs with Thunderbird is hard I run a mail server for my family. One of us uses Thunderbird's POP3 to pick up mail. This is through our LAN, not on the public internet. My server uses self-signed certificates. I don't care to become a customer of any certificate vendor, although I think Let's Encrypt is a Good Thing. I haven't even bothered to create my own Certificate Authority. My certificates expire, so I have to regenerate them. (Since this happens only once a year, I don't always remember the drill.) I just did that. Thunderbird stopped being able to pick up mail. There was NO diagnostic. Not to the user, and not to the sysadmin. It didn't even say that it failed to pick up mail. I soon discovered that I needed to get the new certs into Thunderbird. Previously, if I remember correctly, when confronted with a new cert, Thunderbird warned the user but could be coaxed to accept it and remember it. How could I get Thunderbird to accept the new cert? Why was it unhappy with the old one? The lack of diagnostics meant I never did figure out why it was unhappy, but I did do a lot of experimenting. In the end, I decided to manually install the new cert into Thunderbird. Thunderbird has a facility to do this: Edit: Preferences: (search for "cert"): manage certificates: Add exception. The Thunderbird facility required me to fill in an HTTPS URL from which to get the cert. At first I thought that this would require me to set up a web server. No, this design actually makes some sense: since Thunderbird will use the cert for TLS, why not use TLS and harvesting the cert from the negotiation. The proper URL was HTTPS://my-pop3-server:995. 995 is the port used to serve POP3 (probably not obvious to many users). But that didn't work! With no diagnostic! The answer can be extracted from <https://stackoverflow.com/questions/63947262/thunderbird-78-how-to-add-secu…> The problem is that Thunderbird seems to have its own firewall, set up to block port 995 in some cases. Which cases? Not for POP3, but yes for the "Add exceptions". Very Very dumb. How to punch a hole in this firewall: - find the registry editor (not called that, but that's what it is) Edit Preferences -> General -> Config Editor [at bottom] Add a new thing "network.security.ports.banned.override" and set it to the string 995 This is a string so that a list of ports can be used. This "preference" is documented (but not for Thunderbird): http://kb.mozillazine.org/Network.security.ports.banned.override Now you can add the cert through HTTPS (see above). Optional: remove the security exception. I left it in so I don't have to do this next year.

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JOB| DBA (Mongo + Sybase)
by James Tobin 14 Oct '21

14 Oct '21

Hello, we are working with an employer that is looking to hire someone capable of managing Mongo and Sybase databases in Montreal and had hoped that some members of this list may like to discuss further off-list. Kind regards, James

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Enlarging /boot
by William Witteman 14 Oct '21

14 Oct '21

Hello! When I installed Debian on my current computer, I (foolishly) let the install script partition my disk. Now I have a /boot partition that is too small. The system is using lvm, and I have enough free space on /home that I can reduce the size of /home by a couple of Gb, and then in theory allocate that to my ridiculously undersized /boot partition. Back in the old days I knew how to do this, but with lvm I don't know how, and of the (many) questions and answers that I have found I haven't seen one that inspires confidence. So... 1) Do I need to make a boot drive? 2) Does anyone know a nice set of instructions? Thanks!

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(no subject)
by o1bigtenor 13 Oct '21

13 Oct '21

Greetings Question re: Firefox behavior on a clean shutdown and reboot. Firefox is set to reload previous pages and tabs upon a restart. My system is LOADED with memory - - - - 64 GB in fact. Am also running multi-gpu and wanting to run with all 5 of my monitors but nouveau isn't up to running the 4k monitor yet! I use a large number of virtual desktops as well. As a result I get grumpy when programs don't allow me to work using my particular system. I will admit that I can get to over 25 pages open - - - I start a page for every topic I'm looking at. That's a page for every interest or every function (online tools/activities). There also tends to get to be a lot of tabs. I work had at keeping to under 40 to 50 tabs per age but there are usually a few pages where the number of tabs goes nuts. Because nouveau really doesn't like functioning with my setup (proprietary code is far worse!!! nvidia hates multi-gpu now although they didn't when I set up the system!) so system restarts are forced upon me far more often that I would like. Because of the forced system restarts I get to task firefox-esr in setting up the way it was before the system went down. Are there hard limits that force Firefox to not renew pages as they were (so more than xx number of pages)? Are there hard limits that force Firefox to not renew 'a' page (I've had this happen where one page doesn't renew but all the rest do)? If there are no 'hard' limits (programmed in per se) are there amounts of pages or tabs or perhaps tabs/page or something else from this stew that greater than xx tabs or yy pages or even a small number of pages having more than xy tabs where such activity results in firefox not restarting as it is listed to do so (restart the pages and tabs present upon shutdown) is considered 'usual'? I am trying to find parameters where I'm not faced with what I have right now. There were about 30 odd different pages and from 15 to who knows how many tabs per page. Some tabs were held as I was working on business deals. Re-establishing this amount of stuff is a royal pita. If I know that any behavior over a level described as 'x' is dangerous then I can work hard to stay under those levels. Please advise

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MySQL v. MariaDB
by Slackrat 13 Oct '21

13 Oct '21

It looks like Slackware is swtching. Any comments?i -- William Henderson aka Slackrat http://billh.sdf.org/slackware.jpg 9HS5203 ON HamSphere Ham Radio

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[GTALUG-Announce] Meeting Today
by hi＠gtalug.org 12 Oct '21

12 Oct '21

<https://gtalug.org/meeting/2021-10/> # The state of Mozilla with Mike Hoye Mike Hoye will be joining us to talk where Firefox, Mozilla and the Web are today, and where they're going. We're going to use Zoom for this meeting: Time: October 12, 2021 07:30 PM Easter Time Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84875718884?pwd=eUozb2NxNXBoMnpwSnBVdHVMM0ozdz09 Meeting ID: 848 7571 8884 Passcode: 452155 One tap mobile +16475580588,,84875718884#,,,,*452155# Canada +17789072071,,84875718884#,,,,*452155# Canada Dial by your location * +1 647 558 0588 Canada * +1 778 907 2071 Canada * +1 204 272 7920 Canada * +1 438 809 7799 Canada * +1 587 328 1099 Canada * +1 647 374 4685 Canada Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdPzFlyNhX ## Schedule * 7:30 pm - Meeting and presentation. # Code of Conduct We want a productive happy community that can welcome new ideas, improve every process every year, and foster collaboration between individuals with differing needs, interests and skills. We gain strength from diversity, and actively seek participation from those who enhance it. This code of conduct exists to ensure that diverse groups collaborate to mutual advantage and enjoyment. We will challenge prejudice that could jeopardise the participation of any person in the community. The Code of Conduct governs how we behave in public or in private whenever the Linux community will be judged by our actions. We expect it to be honoured by everyone who represents the community officially or informally, claims affiliation or participates directly. It applies to activities online or offline. We invite anybody to participate. Our community is open. Please read more about the GTALUG Code of Conduct here: <https://gtalug.org/about/code-of-conduct/>. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about the GTALUG Code of Conduct please contact the GTALUG Board @ <board(a)gtalug.org>. --- GTALUG Announce mailing list announce(a)gtalug.org https://gtalug.org/mailman/listinfo/announce

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Firefox 93 now supports PDF XFA forms
by Stewart C. Russell 09 Oct '21

09 Oct '21

via <https://mastodon.social/web/statuses/107067764603687669> mastodon: Implementing form filling and accessibility in the Firefox PDF viewer - Mozilla Hacks - the Web developer blog — https://hacks.mozilla.org/2021/10/implementing-form-filling-and-accessibili… <https://hacks.mozilla.org/2021/10/implementing-form-filling-and-accessibili…> This appears to mean that Firefox on Linux can open and fill those pesky Canadian Government forms that were created with Adobe Livecycle. These used to appear as "/*Please wait... If this message is not eventually replaced by the proper contents of the document, your PDF viewer may not be able to display this type of document*/." but now open as proper forms. This must have been non-trivial to implement, because even Adobe couldn't create XFA forms outside the Windows-only Livecycle. cheers, Stewart

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Free Weller soldering tips
by William Park 05 Oct '21

05 Oct '21

Hi all, While cleaning up, I found soldering tips for Weller soldering iron. If you want them, they're yours via Canada Post. :-) --William

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Re: [GTALUG] upcoming technology program + book club invitation
by Warren McPherson 04 Oct '21

04 Oct '21

Hello Margaux, Would you like to lead a discussion at a GTALUG meeting? My name is Warren. I am a member of the Toronto Linux User group and made the suggestion to Jonathon before the plague descended on the world. On the second Tuesday of every month, we meet and discuss issues in the world of open-source software. Our membership includes Linux developers but our interests extend to digital citizenship more generally and we would love to hear your sense of what people are talking about on the topic of digital privacy. I've included Alan our talks coordinator who keeps track of what discussion has been scheduled when. Hope you are doing well. Thank you, Warren <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_cam…> Virus-free. www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_cam…> <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2> On Mon, Oct 4, 2021 at 2:31 PM Digital Privacy <digitalprivacy(a)tpl.ca> wrote: > Hello All, > > I'm writing to invite you to a few technology related programs coming up > this Fall. > > This Wednesday from 2-3:00pm my partner Naomi and I are excited to pilot a > new library program we've developed called "Digital Detox Strategies" > <https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/digital-detox-strategies-tickets-169707414445>, > largely based on Cal Newport's book Digital Minimalism. We'll talk about > reasons why you would benefit from setting healthier boundaries with > devices, and some practical steps you can take to do so. > > The Culture and Technology book club continues to meet virtually once a > month. (Click the linked text below to register). > > Next week on Wednesday evening from 7-8:30pm we're meeting to discuss "Nothing > Personal: My Secret Life in the Dating App Inferno" > <https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/culture-tech-book-club-nothing-personal-my-secr…>by > Nancy Jo Sales. > > On Wednesday November 10th we're talking about "Ingredients" The strange > Chemistry of what we put in us and on us by George Zaidan. > <https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/culture-tech-book-club-ingredients-the-strange-…> > > On Wednesday November 24th we're talking about a classic: Chritopher > Lasch's "The Culture of Narcissism: American Life in an age of diminishing > Expectations" > <https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/culture-tech-book-club-the-culture-of-narcissis…> > > finally, > > on MONDAY December the 20th we'll discuss "Because Internet: > Understanding the New Rules of Language" by Gretchen McCullouch > <https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/culture-tech-book-club-because-internet-underst…> > > If you have any questions, need help getting a book, or have reading > suggestions for the new year feel free to e-mail Naomi (my partner) at > ndavies(a)tpl.ca or myself (Margaux) at msmith(a)tpl.ca > > You're also welcome to join our book club's Goodreads group > <https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/1148223-culture-and-technology-book-cl…> > for discussions between meetings. > > Hope to see some of you there! > > Margaux > msmith(a)tpl.ca > >

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