Venkatesh’s scribblings

I followed whatever is suggested at http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=654153.

I had followed the commands that are given there. Recounting them here..

aptitude install qc-usb-sources
cd /usr/src
sudo m-a prepare
sudo m-a build qc-usb
dpkg -i qc-usb-modules-[your_version].deb
modprobe quickcam


Now, firing up gqcam fails. In XTerm, it was exiting with message, device file not found. In /dev, the file that corresponds to the cam is /dev/video0. I did a ln -s video0 video and now gqcam show a vague resemblence if what lies in front of its eye.

Wow! never expected I’ll get this cam working on this beige machine. Remember, the cam is no less than seven years old. It worked OK under Windows. But after quitting Windows, I had almost given up hopes on getting this cam work.

Now, gotta learn how to use this cam under Pidgin or such applications..

here is what ‘lsusb’ says about this cam: “Bus 002 Device 002: ID 046d:0850 Logitech, Inc. QuickCam Web”

Its been a long search for me to get this thing working. Not because of dearth of sample settings around, but because it took me a while to get my search terms right.


;; settings for reading mails
(setq rmail-pop-password-required t)
(setq rmail-primary-inbox-list (quote (”pop://user@domain.com”)))
(setq user-mail-address “your email address”)
;; (setq rmail-preserve-inbox t)
;; (setq rmail-movemail-flags nil)
;; (setq rmail-movemail-program “/usr/lib/emacs/22.1/i486-linux-gnu/movemail”)
;; (setq rmail-pop-password “guess my password”)

;; settings for sending mails
(setq send-mail-function ’smtpmail-send-it
message-send-mail-function ’smtpmail-send-it
smptmail-starttls-credentials ‘((”smtp.server” 25 nil nil))
smtpmail-auth-credentials
‘((”smtp.server” 25 “email address” nil))
;; (expand-file-name “~/.authinfo”)
;; must learn to properly setup ~/.authinfo soon
smtpmail-default-smtp-server “smtp.vsnl.net”
smtpmail-smtp-server “smtp.vsnl.net”
;; smtpmail-smtp-service 25 ;; defaults to 25
smtpmail-debug-info t)
(require ’smtpmail)


hm, still, I seem to be missing something or the other in the ~/.authinfo entries. Every entry that I saw on the Internet, I tried that out. I should be missing on some format of the entry to be made, I suppose.

Next, gotta see how to setup IMAP with RMAIL.

Then there is gnus to be conquered. But that will wait for a while. Gotta get other things straight here.

Since a few seniors such as RMS intend to use RMAIL and don’t intend to change to any other mail reader, gotta see what is in RMAIL. But a very simple mail reader, RMAIL is.

http://www.thehindu.com/seta/2008/01/10/stories/2008011050171400.htm

As seen, young, hip Indians in the cities are increasingly after ‘fast food’ and on their way to become obese.

Rmail was giving out a backtrace. I had nothing relevant to rmail in my .emacs file. So I was inclined to think that rmail was at fault. I pasted the backtrace on #emacs@freenode.net’s paste. Only to discover that rmail was added with a hook that none of the regulars had ever come across.

Looking at its definition, I soon discovered that shebang.el was the file that containing the hook that was creating the problem. Upon removing the hook and disabling the file from being loaded automatically, I got rmail working properly.

So, who had added thee offending file? I was suspecting my sister would have added since she had used Emacs a few times. But turns out that she knows nothing about adding things to load-path. So, I must have put that file in the load-path for whatever reason. heh, gotta watchout for what I put into the load-path from next time on.

As seen here, and the links that are referred to, Microsoft is apparently after the One True Program — Emacs.

They have named the project Emacs.NET. Since GNU Emacs as well as XEmacs is under GPL, they are never going to ‘use’ these code bases in their project. Very well so far.

Emacs is really a unique program. Now, by making something ‘like’ Emacs and using a .NET language for it as extension language, Microsoft will very likely bring out something very similar in spirit to Emacs. Very well so far as well.

What if, after bringing out a few editions of Emacs.NET Microsoft choose to go the patents way? What could happen is, M$ will buy patents under their name for algorithms and techniques that are used in Emacs, which will no doubt be used in Emacs.NET as well. Then wait for Emacs.NET to gain some ground among its users and fans. Then, start their FUD tactics and perhaps offer to sue (GNU ) Emacs. This looks like a possibility. But what will happen? Best we wait for more on this from M$ themselves or, wait until late October of 2008. Given their reputation in keeping deadlines, perhaps late October of 2008 could stretch upto sometime in 2009.

By the way, if you are a seasoned Emacs user or Emacs developer (GNU Emacs and XEmacs in particular since both are under GPL which M$ terms viral. Also, not to be forgotten is their stand against ‘Free Software of which these two Emacsen stand as good programs) and have any contacts in the patents office, just snoop around to see if M$ is already filing for patents on techniques that are being used in Emacs. If yes, please notify SFLC.

Only a few years back, in one of his talks or interviews, RMS had mentioned that nobody had filed any patent infringement suit against GNU Emacs. I hope nobody does in the future as well.

You may call me crazy, cynical or even paranoid. But if I were you, I’d rather wait until I get any snooped info from the patent offices or until Emacs.NET is published.

Torrent Spy has lost in this case which was filed by MPAA.

Will they go after other Torrent sites as well? What would happen to private torrent networks?

and Bush and Bushmen have so far successfully refused to commit any Carbon emission cuts.

http://environment.independent.co.uk/climate_change/article3241949.ece

is seen as an starting of another arms race between India and Pakistan.

http://www.headlinesindia.com/archive_html/18December2007_66167.html

http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/08/stories/2007120853501300.htm

Even the last bastion of free speech in the Western World has its limits on free speech. Speech can get only so free and no more free.