On the radio tonight
As a last minute thing, tonight I will be joining Matthew Revell on his politics radio show, [The Wolverhampton Politics Show](https://www.wolverhamptonpolitics.co.uk/). I will be talking about Free Software and Ubuntu.
It starts at 7pm UTC, and there is a [live stream](https://www.wcrfm.com/) and a [podcast feed](https://www.wolverhamptonpolitics.co.uk/category/podcast/feed/). Should be fun. 🙂
Small Is Beautiful
A few nights ago, we recorded [LugRadio](https://www.lugradio.org/). In this episode, Season 5 Episode 7, which is released on Mon 17th Dec 2007, we did a review of the [Asus EEE PC](https://eeepc.asus.com/global/), and we are also giving one away in a competition.
One of the distinctive traits of EEE PC, and many other sub-notebook, MID and smaller computing devices, is that they run with a smaller screen resolution than typical desktop machines. I am pretty sure that most desktop machines that people are running Linux on will be running on a minimum of 1024×768, and likely a higher resolution. One of the things that I have noticed in recent years is that an increasing number of Open Source applications look terrible on lower resolutions. A great example is the Preferences Window in Evolution which on my main computer’s resolution of 1368×769 is too tall for the screen. If anyone has resorted to learning Alt+Drag on a window, we have lost.
With the conveyed wisdom suggesting that Linux is a far better suited choice for low power machines, it is likely that we will see more and more of these sub-notebooks and embedded devices cropping up, and as such, in the wider upstream world we need to be conscious of this screen real-estate issue.
In my mind this is a QA issue, pure and simple. We need better testing, bug-reports being filed, and users actively checking and ensuring that software works well in lower resolutions. I also believe it forces us all into a world of more intelligent, usable design – hugely tall windows crammed with a million preferences or super-thick toolbars are *not* usable interfaces. One could infer that having to be conscious of lower resolutions will make us think more about the usability of our applications and ensure we don’t cram a million-and-one buttons into a window.
This is not a specific bollocking for the Evolution developers, a great many upstream applications are guilty of not running all that well on lower resolutions. The only aim of this post is to raise the issue in as many upstream minds as possible – we have a real opportunity to kick arse on these types of devices, but if the integrators need to spend a significant amount of time hacking on upstream code to make the applications work on these smaller screens and resolutions, it is a lot less desirable than the applications *just working* because the problem has already been solved upstream.
Its an exciting time folks, and there is such opportunity here. Oh, and don’t forget you can bag yourself a free EEE PC in the LugRadio competition, so tune in and take part when the show is released on Monday. 🙂
Quickies
Ladies and Gentleman, a few quickies to shoot out here:
## Open Source
* On Sunday Dec. 16th, Richard Johnson (nixternal) and (hopefully) Mario Limonciello (superm1) will be leading an [Ubuntu Packaging Jam](https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MOTU/RunningPackagingJam) to teach the fine art of software packaging. This is your chance to learn how to take code and package it. We want to see more Packaging Jams, so [read the guide](https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MOTU/RunningPackagingJam) and let me know if you are running one. 🙂
* I did an interview with the Linux Magazine podcast about Ubuntu, Open Source and other stuff. Go and [listen to it here](https://www.linux-mag.com/id/4640).
* LugRadio Live fans, news is coming soon about the LugRadio Live 2008 UK and LugRadio Live 2008 USA events. We are working hard to finalise the decided dates and venues. Rest assured, the next year’s events will kick some mighty arse, like never before.
* My last day before Christmas is tomorrow, so expect a slower turn-around of email. I get back to the grindstone on the 8th Jan.
## Music
As I have discovered interesting music videos on YouTube, I have kept a list. I figured I would share this list, as there are some real gems here:
* [Job For A Cowboy – Entombment Of A Machine](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fw7YsZFksBQ)
* [Divine Heresy – Jam Session](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSDOP6OqPnA)
* [Divine Heresy – Jam Session 2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2Y_6xRDP4U)
* [Acacia Strain – Angry Mob Justice](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUgCxVbtlMQ)
* [Overkill – Elimination](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoMCka5bBdU)
* [In Memory of Witold “Vitek” KieÅ‚tyka](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh4T1mbPrGQ)
* [All Shall Perish – Eradication Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFx85CfMvWI)
* [Testament – Low](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGrPrHyM2YM)
* [Fear Factory – Edgecrusher](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok9CLFOavj8)
* [System Of A Down – War?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3WSnlP1Ijs)
* [Slipknot – Surfacing](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDcwBWWKGIs)
* [Hatebreed – I Will Be Heard](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tqxtEFAJEU)
* [Exodus – Toxic Waltz](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x051jArBNRE)
* [Debauchery – Death Metal Warmachine](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvqZo5OACS4)
* [Anata – Entropy Within](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVF0GZg7wYQ)
Rock on Tommy. 🙂
Kubuntu Tutorials Day is on!
Kubuntu fans, **today** (yes, today!) a demonstration of Kubuntu love is going to be happening on `#kubuntu-devel` on Freenode. See [this page](https://wiki.kubuntu.org/KubuntuTutorialsDay) for more details and the schedule, but a quick summary:
* **15:00 UTC – 16:00 UTC** – Get programming with PyKDE 4 – jriddell – Scared by C++? Quite right too. Learn how to code graphical apps in an hour with PyKDE 4.
* **16:00 UTC – 16:30 UTC** – kubuntu bug triage – txwikinger – Not a coder but want to help? We show you how to make good quality bug reports and triage existing ones.
* **16:30 UTC – 17:00 UTC** – branch your svn with bzr – jriddell – How to commit your changes when you don’t have an account? How to work experimentally on some code? Distributed revision control is the way forward and bzr is the simplest yet most fully featured system there is.
* **17:00 UTC – 18:00 UTC** – Packaging 101 – jpatrick – How to turn some code into a .deb, one of the best ways of getting into distro development or for getting your code out there.
* **18:00 UTC – 19:00 UTC** – Get your work into Kubuntu: PPA, REVU, how to pass New queue – dholbach – Now you know how to make a .deb, get it into the archives for millions to use.
* **19:00 UTC onwards** – Kubuntu and KDE Q&A – nixternal, jcastro – Want to know how to get into Kubuntu development? Want to ask why we love KDE so much? The Kubuntu developers are here to answer any question you have.
This is a great opportunity to get involved in Kubuntu development and Ubuntu/Kubuntu packaging. As ever, you can get started with packaging by moseying on over to the [MOTU Getting Started page](https://wiki.kubuntu.org/MOTU/GettingStarted).
Feel the KDE and Kubuntu love. 🙂
Rest In Peace, Vitek
What the hell is going on? Why on earth are good people taken away from us? On this planet we have millions of complete, utter, arseholes, people who treat other people like dirt, yet it seems in the grand scheme of things too many good people are taken from us. Three years ago one such good person was taken from us, Dimebag Darrell, and I only just discovered that another incredible human being has too…Witold “Vitek” Kieltyka, the incredibly talented drummer from [Decapitated](https://www.decapitatedband.net/index_en.htm). He died in a van accident while on tour in Russia. Adrian “Covan” Kowanek from the band also sustained serious head injuries, but is stable.
*Rest in peace, brother.*
Aged 23, Vitek was an incredible force in death metal drumming. Decapitated developed strong success as they worked hard to push out album after album, and by far one of the most notable aspects of their sound was the uncompromising, machine-like drumming, complete with clicky double-bass drumming, ferocious blast beats and incredible endurance and finesse. Like many other listeners, I was mesmerised by his playing, it was so intense and sub-human in its ferocity, particularly demonstrated in the remarkable short bursts of drumming that just appeared out of the blue in many of the songs on Nihility. In fact, the very first time I heard Decapitated was driving to a gig in Stourbridge, and our guitarist, Steve Hadley played me them on a cassette tape. I could not get enough of them.
To see his work, see these vids:
* [Day 69](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIB9mSbD67k)
* [Spheres Of Madness](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfRGF-MWYsE)
* [Winds Of Creation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmLb7IAlxPo)
* [Footage from Vitek’s last gig](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF4kSmT_bPw)
Luckily I got to see Decapitated in Birmingham, despite having missed them due to having bronchitis. They are a fantastic group of guys, genuine and friendly, and Vitek was no exception. His playing that night was stunning – in many ways, you half expect such technical perfection to be lost in the live context, but he made it look flawless, effortless and it was a stunning spectacle to see.
When someone dies it is tempting to become swept up in the emotion and make them out to be a godly creature that could never be replaced, and while there are many, many great drummers out there, many of which are faster and more technical, I don’t think any drummer in death metal played with the same level of creativity and finesse that Vitek did. The metal world, and particularly the death metal world, is a small community, and this news will have shocked every Decapitated fan, and this particular fan is devastated at the news. 🙁
**The band are [accepting donations](https://www.myspace.com/decapitated), which will go to his family.**
Gig-tastic
Get in. Two awesome bands coming to Birmingham, on two respective Mondays:
* **Divine Heresy** – [youtube vid](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ldfN6Wjx0U) – ex-Fear Factory guitarist and lover of pies, Dino Cazares formed this effort with ex-Vital Remains drummer Tim Yeung. Pretty good, a bit Killswitch Engage-y in areas, but much heavier.
* **Job For a Cowboy** – youtube vids: [1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fw7YsZFksBQ) [2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeZIfbPKzGE) – although they sound like a Country and Western band, they are about as polar-opposite as you can imagine – an incredible technical death metal band. They are also playing with the excellent Black Dahlia Murder, and The Red Chord, who I have not heard.
Cracking stuff. Gonna be a couple of good gigs. 🙂
Amazing Fact #3452
Wow, it turns out that *Jono* is *queue* in Finnish. This amazing fact comes from Lars Wirzenius.
I feel a strange sense of pride with this. Queuing is something us Brits do very well. For the Finnish to recognise this, is an honor. Kind of.
Keep your comments about ‘crack pipes’ to yourselves, unbelievers. 🙂
Ubuntu Packaging Jams
In the Ubuntu world, we love packagers. We think they are intelligent, attractive, perfect human beings who help make Ubuntu what it is. And, they are. They are great, great people and deserve the red-carpet treatment wherever they may roam.
We encourage people to become such incredible people by joining Ubuntu as a packager via the excellent [MOTU team](https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MOTU). Anyone who is interested in joining the ranks of people getting started with Ubuntu Packaging in MOTU should read the [Getting Started page](https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MOTU/GettingStarted) right away. 🙂
Not only do we have a super-cool packaging team, and its never been easier to get started learning how to package, but we also have an incredible world-wide network of [LoCo teams](https://wiki.ubuntu.com/LoCoTeams).
So, we have a world-wide network of teams of Ubuntu enthusiasts, and some great resources to get started in Ubuntu Packaging. Maybe…they…could be combined…
…and they have been, in the glorious, worldly form of **Packaging Jams**!
OK, what the hell is a Packaging Jam, I hear you ask. Well, a Packaging Jam is basically an event that a LoCo team, LUG or other group runs in which someone teaches a room of people who to get started in Ubuntu Packaging. They are hands-on events that help people get started, and teams such as the excellent Michigan LoCo have run them in the past.
## Running a Packaging Jam
Running a Packaging Jam is pretty simple, and I have written up a guide based on content from the Michigan LoCo – go and [read it here](https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MOTU/RunningPackagingJam). In summary – choose a date, find a venue, promote it and run your jam!
The current list of up-coming Packaging Jams can be found on the [MOTU Events page](https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MOTU/Events).
If you are going to run a jam, email me and let me know. 🙂
Go forth, and jam, and package, and prosper, and become incredible human beings. 🙂
Back
Just so you know, I have been off work for a week with the flu, but I am back now. As such, I will be getting to the email backlog over the next few days.
A few lessons learned from my week off:
* Jeremy Kyle needs to go away, the irritating sod. So does Ricki Lake, Sally Jesse Raphael and Trisha Goddard. The one shining exception was the excellent Wright Stuff and its presenter Matthew Wright.
* The Mighty Boosh and Tittybangbang are pretty amusing, yet there is a lot of crap marked up as ‘new comedy’ on BBC Three; you can read this as ‘pretty unfunny drivel that is supposed to be cool’.
* The Late Edition from BBC4 is our equivalent of The Daily Show, and while the first episode I watched was a little rubbish, the second one I watched was excellent. It also had the legendary MP Tony Benn on there, a man who we should all inspire from.
* Night Nurse is like rocket fuel for sleep.
Thanks to the people who checked in on me to make sure I was OK, much appreciated. 🙂
Bring. It. On.
Everyone has a list of bands that they wish they got to see, but never did. One such band on my list is [Carcass](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcass_%28band%29), one of the first death metal bands I ever heard, and a huge inspiration for my own music. Well, metal-fans, good news:
> Legendary British death metal band, CARCASS, will reunite for next year’s Wacken Open Air festival. Bassist/vocalist, Jeff Walker, issued the following statement on behalf of the band:
> “Well, they said it would never happen. In fact I said it would never happen. Then I noticed no one pays attention to what I say anyway and I sounded like an idiot…
> “Myself, Jeff Walker, on bass and vocals, ‘the semi-legendary’ Bill Steer and Mike Amott on lead guitar and Daniel Erlandsson (ARCH ENEMY), filling in for Ken on drums, look forwards to mutilating your hearing”.
Bring. It. On. 🙂