- luv-main - luv.asn.au

Re: Disincorporation: why I changed my mind and will vote yes
by Petros 04 Sep '13

04 Sep '13

From: "Rick Moen" <rick(a)linuxmafia.com> > > Quoting Petros (Petros.Listig(a)fdrive.com.au) > >> I guess the reason for a legal entity is to simplify or enable: > > Gosh, I've been through all this before. > >> 1. Insurance > > Easy to say without pricing it. I'm guessing that if you ever did, > you'd find that general liabiity insurance for a non-profit association > would be (1) so very prohibitively and astoundingly expensive in annual > premiums that you would give up on the idea, and (2) narrowly written to > cover only the directors and enumerated key officers in the performance > of their delineated duties. If you imagined that it would automagically > cover all activities of volunteers in the organisation, you would be > sadly mistaken. Maybe I should have broadened it with "reliability issues" (e.g. if I step on your foot when you carry a beamer and sue me for 1 Mio Dollars). I make that up because I know that you are always insured for everything but the thing that just occurred. Maybe insurance should be banned as a criminal activity;-) Anyway, for the ski club mentioned the insurance premium is a significant expense but it makes people being involved feeling safer. So far the insurance has a significant impact in this regard. >> 2. Sponsoring >> 3. Hiring of venues etc. >> 4. A public voice >> 5. A president to blame;-) > > None of those is particularly improved by incorporation. (If you > believe otherwise, please state the grounds for your belief.) > >> Okay, maybe 1 to 4 are valid. What else? > > Near as I can tell, not a single one of them is. Well, is there any reason for incorporation? Please let me know. Thanks Peter

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Re: [MLUG] Melbourne geek groups
by Andrew McGlashan 04 Sep '13

04 Sep '13

Hi All, This (edited) list is was posted to MLUG during April, for events / meetings for May, 2013. 1st [1] MelbJS 2nd [2] Melb SEO 3rd [3] 2600 4th [4] Austrek 5th [5] MelbPC 6th [6] MelbournePUG 7th [7a] LUV [7b] RHoK [7c] Melbourne Web Dev 8th [8a] WordPress [8b] Melbourne Perl Mongers 9th [9] Melb Web Accessibility 10th [10] Melb ruby meet & greet 11th [11] Connected Community HackerSpace 14th [14] Melb Nightowls/RORO hack 15th [15] Golang Melbourne 16th [16a] Free Software Melbourne [16b] Drupalchix Meetup 18th [18] DrupalMel Mentoring 20th [20] Hack Melbourne 21st [21a] Melbourne PHP [21b] Responsive Design & JS 23rd [23] Esri Dev Meet 3 27th [27a] Robots & Props [27b] Melbourne Scala 28th [28] Melb Nightowls 29th [29] MLUG 30th [30] Melbourne Ruby [1] http://melbjs.com/ [2] http://www.meetup.com/Melbourne-SEO/events/103258042/ [3] http://2600.org.au/meetings/ [4] http://www.austrek.org/ [5] http://www.webindustry.asn.au/news-and-events/events/melbourne-pc-user-grou… [6] http://wiki.python.org/moin/MelbournePUG [7a] http://luv.asn.au/ [7b] http://www.meetup.com/Random-Hacks-of-Kindness-Melbourne/events/114756342/ [7c] http://www.meetup.com/Melbourne-Web-Developers/events/115674252/ [8a] http://www.wpmelb.org/events/109971102/?eventId=109971102&action=detail [8b] http://melbourne.pm.org/ [9] http://www.meetup.com/Melbourne-Web-Accessibility-Inclusive-Design/events/1… [10] http://www.melbourneruby.com.au/events/114131092/?eventId=114131092&action=… [11] http://www.hackmelbourne.org/meetings/ [14] http://www.meetup.com/Mel-Nightowls/ [15] http://www.meetup.com/golang-mel/ [16a] http://www.freesoftware.asn.au/melb/ [16b] http://www.meetup.com/Melbourne-Drupalchix/events/110853412/ [18] http://www.meetup.com/drupalmelbourne/events/113385522/ [20] http://www.hackmelbourne.org/ [21a] http://phpmelb.org/ [21b] http://www.meetup.com/Melbournemobile/events/108771352/ [23] http://www.meetup.com/Esri-Australia-Dev-Meetup-Melbourne/events/114570722/ [27a] http://www.hackmelbourne.org/meetings/ [27b] http://groups.google.com/group/scala-melb [28] http://www.meetup.com/Mel-Nightowls/ [29] http://www.mlug.org.au [30] http://ruby.org.au/meetups/mel.html >> Almost something for everyday of the month. Does anyone know if there is a good /published/ point of reference that is kept up to date for all the meetings? Thanks AndrewM

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Re: Disk Washing
by Christopher M. Bailey 03 Sep '13

03 Sep '13

Thermite, yep that'll do it :-P -------- Original message -------- From: Daniel Cross <daniel(a)ritualmedia.co.nz> Date: To: David Zuccaro <david.zuccaro(a)optusnet.com.au> Cc: luv-main(a)luv.asn.au Subject: Re: Disk Washing Well, in that case probably Dban will be sufficient for your needs. If still going with dd I agree with the bs=1M switch. Incidentally, a discussion with a friend this evening lead us to the decision that a good way (although involved) to erase a drive would be: 1) Open disk enclusure. 2) Use bench grinder to create aluminium powder from the top of the disk enclosure 3) find something rusty, (or another source of iron oxide) and create powder. 4) mix 50:50 by volume. 5) if available add some magnesium (left over guy fawks sparklers?) 6) pour powder over HDD spindles. 7) Light and step well back while the platters melt. I might try this in coming months and report my results ;) Daniel On Mon, Sep 2, 2013 at 6:30 PM, David Zuccaro <david.zuccaro(a)optusnet.com.au> wrote: On Mon, 2013-09-02 at 17:45 +1000, Daniel Cross wrote: > I guess it depends on your threat model, so rewinding a bit - who are > you wanting to prevent accessing your data? This greatly informs the > conversation. The methods offered above, and in many of the replies > thus far, assume a very sophisticated adversary. > > Daniel Let us assume that the adversary is not a three-letter-government-agency; not that I consent to three-letter-government-agencies accessing any of my information.

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Hostapd, wireless latency and configuration issues
by Jason White 03 Sep '13

03 Sep '13

As discussed before on the list, I've installed a PCI Express 802.11a/b/g/n card to serve as my wireless access point, employing an Atheros 9300 controller. I'm encountering high latency and jitter when I ping any device on the wireless network (i.e., my laptop and a new Android phone). I also discovered that, as reported on various Web sites, the Intel iwl5100/5300 controller in my laptop isn't very reliable under 802.11n. Using the firmware for the card provided at wireless.kernel.org rather than that in the Debian firmware-iwlwifi package yields more reliable throughput however, and seems to reduce the incidence of failure to associate with the access point. Also, it isn't clear to me how best to configure the ht_capab option in /etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf. For the moment, I've copied a sample line published in a post by another user of the same card: ht_capab=[HT40-][HT40+][SHORT-GI-20][SHORT-GI-40][TX-STBC][RX-STBC1][DSSS_CCK-40][LDPC] but naturally I would rather know what I ought to do in this regard. Any suggestions about the latency problems would be welcome as well as general configuration advice. It should be noted that others using the same hardware don't appear to be encountering issues, judging by various blog posts. The kernel here is 3.10-2 from the Debian package currently in Sid.

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Disincorporation: why I changed my mind and will vote yes
by Chris Samuel 03 Sep '13

03 Sep '13

Hi folks, I've found the discussions really useful, thanks all. The issues around the rules from the state government and how they change and what they require has made me reconsider my position on disincorporation of LUV. Previously I was neutral with a slight tendency against it but having seen all the rules that LUV has to deal with and the fact there are quite real penalties for not being in compliance with them then I see that as quite a burden and liability for LUV and something we would likely be better off without. Linux Australia appears to be better resourced to deal with those issues and there is an appeal to make that compliance somebody elses problem and to let the local group just get on with doing Linux related things. So I've changed my mind and will be voting yes for d14n tonight. All the best, Chris -- Chris Samuel : http://www.csamuel.org/ : Melbourne, VIC

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Disk Washing
by David Zuccaro 03 Sep '13

03 Sep '13

What is the best way to wash a disk? I tried this but it is taking forever. dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdg1 Thanks

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Re: Disincorporation: why I changed my mind and will vote yes
by Petros 03 Sep '13

03 Sep '13

Quoting "Chris Samuel" <chris(a)csamuel.org> > On 03/09/13 16:49, Petros wrote: > >> We want to present it to the AGM but if it does not get adopted it >> isn't the end of it. We still exist, just with an outdated >> constitution. As our president notes, it is still valid because it was >> established before the new legislation went through (I believe him, I >> did not check myself) > > The Consumer Affairs website says that if you have not notified them > that you will be using your own locally determined rules by November 26th > then the new model rules will apply to you whether you want them or not. Only if you used the model rules before: > http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/contact-us/ask-a-question/incorporated-assoc… From 26 November 2013, the new rules will automatically apply to incorporated associations currently using our model rules, unless they notify us prior that they will create their own rules. I don't know whether that is the case. Is LUV using model rules? > One downside is that the new model rules require the register > of members to include past members and the date of them leaving; > they also require a minuted committee resolution to accept a new > member into the association, which seems pretty clunky (and rules > out mailing lists). > > There's nothing to stop LUV writing their own version of the > model rules to suit it, but that would need an AGM/SGM to pass > them (as was done by the Mt Burnett Observatory earlier this > year). Yes, that can include tweaks to registration. E.g. "probationary" via e-mail, confirmed at a later state (e.g. committee meeting). Regards Peter

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Upcoming MySQL/MariaDB training days in Melbourne
by Arjen Lentz 03 Sep '13

03 Sep '13

Hi all Melbourne - http://openquery.com/training/location/melbourne - Thu 17 Oct + Fri 18 Oct MySQL/MariaDB Backup, Recovery and Replication Workshop incl. Galera (AUD 975 + GST, PC lab) Follow the links for more details and booking - if you have any questions, please ask! There is also a replication workshop scheduled in Auckland NZ for 24+25 October, that's just after the OSDC conference. http://openquery.com/training/location/auckland Other locations also have training scheduled, and there are additional course modules - feel free to request and we'll take that into consideration when scheduling upcoming days in your city! Regards, Arjen. -- Exec.Director @ Open Query (http://openquery.com) MariaDB/MySQL services Sane business strategy explorations at http://upstarta.com.au Personal blog at http://lentz.com.au/blog/

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The End of LUV, Inc? An Example of Federalism and Unitary Organisational Structures
by Lev Lafayette 03 Sep '13

03 Sep '13

In a few weeks, Linux Users of Victoria, Inc., will be holding another Annual General Meeting. But this one is somewhat different to others. At this meeting, the very existence of LUV as an independent organisation may come to an end. A motion is on the agenda that LUV dis-incorporates and merges into Linux Australia, Inc., as a subcommittee of that group. It is an issue which I personally have given some serious thought to over the past several months, and more fleeting consideration over the past few years. LUV is one of the the oldest (since 1993), most active (three speakers per month), and largest (c1500 members) Linux organisations in the world. We have been a mainstay behind such events as Software Freedom Day, install-fests, regional mini-conferences, and of course, our regular beginners workshops and technical talks. All of this, one hastens to add, will not change at all with the proposed dis-incorporation. What will change is that LUV will not be an independent organisation. Our assets, such as they are, will be transferred to Linux Australia, in accordance to the Act governing Incorporated Associations in Victoria. Our income and expenditure will also be legally part of Linux Australia as well, although that body has indicated that there is some room for autonomy in those areas. At the very least, Linux events in Victoria that require funding could go directly to the national body, rather than to the state one which tends to have somewhat more meagre financial resources. An example would be the establishment of more regional chapters. We will be part of a national organisation and will be able to have more direct input into country-wide affairs, including national policy, as they are related to Linux. Our administrative overhead, which it is admitted is not particularly onerous, should also decline. Plus, there are significant economies of scale and of network scope in being part of a larger group. One also hopes that we will see people who have hitherto been more involved in Linux Australia from Victoria, participating in activities of the Victorian subcommittee of LA. Overall however, it must be noted that Linux Australia is a unitary body, not a federal one. Members of the committee of Linux Australia are elected from the membership as a whole, not as nominees from the respective subcommittees and, as subcommittees only exist with the approval of the LA committee, they could be disbanded in part or entirely, at any time. The circumstances that this would arise would indeed be quite extraordinary, but it is certainly something that must be considered. I admit that I am much more in favour of bottom-up, federalist organisations (e.g., a national committee from regional LUGs), rather than those of the unitary model (e.g., a national organisation with local subcommittees). I also acknowledge the substantial benefits that arise through being part of a larger organisations. Whilst Linux Australia is a product of its own history and perhaps does not represent what I consider the most optimal organisational structure, especially for an interest which is primarily the result of of the energy of local volunteer activists. There is of course the possibility that LA may consider changing its organisational structure over time. Still, if this does mean the end of LUV, Inc. we can certainly be very proud of what has been achieved under our name in the past twenty years. LUV was there, from the very beginning of Linux, when a rag-tag team of wild-eyed volunteer coders declared that they could take on the massive, multi-billion dollar proprietary operating systems, by opening the code to all, by making it free to modify and to distribute, and produce something that was technically superior by any meaningful metric. That was truly revolutionary. LUV, Inc.? You're a superstar. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_zLBsRYD8w -- Lev Lafayette, BA (Hons), GCertPM, MBA mobile: 0432 255 208 RFC 1855 Netiquette Guidelines http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1855.txt

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Re: Disk Washing
by Petros 03 Sep '13

03 Sep '13

Quoting "Steve Roylance" <roylance(a)corplink.com.au> > when the Space Shuttle blew up 60km above Texas, over 98% of the data was > recovered from the disks found in the debris. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9083718/Shuttle_i_Columbia_s_i_hard_… "Everything but the drive's platters were virtually unusable" so the important parts storing the data was still there:-) But only one of three disks "survived": "Two other hard drives aboard the Columbia were so severely damaged that it was impossible to extract any usable data" I also found interesting: "Edwards said the Seagate hard drive -- which was about eight years old in 2003 -- featured much greater fault tolerance and durability than current hard drives of similar capacity." Anyway, amusing story:-) Regards Peter

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