Friday, February 14, 2014

It is Just One Word!

Hi,

I have always wanted to write/talk about this and I am glad that I finally got the chance to write about it :)

For the last 4 years with many FOSS (Free Open Source Software) Communities/Projects, I have noticed a very weird ... not sure what can I call it? a behaviour maybe?
While so many people involved with FOSS Communities and Projects are sending so many emails per day and sometimes, very long emails ... or posting on threads (forums) or write on any public site that is visible by anyone with an Internet Connection; they do tend to start their writing WITHOUT Just One Word that will never take more than 1 second maximum from their time :) 
And, the reason I called it 'weird' because they do 'write' so many words and send so long messages, yet they failed/refused/forgot/ignored/didn't care/I don't really know to write Just One Word? seriously? :)
I mean, really, what could a one word like:

Hello
or
Hi

actually do?
It will never ever waste their time (while again, they do write a lot of words except "Hi" or "Hello") and the impact that will do is really amazing :)

You may laugh. You may think I'm crazy. You may think I'm wasting my time over a trivial/silly thing. Well, do say and think as you wish, I don't mind :) do disagree but don't disrespect. And, to me, I find it VERY important to start any email or any written communications with:


Hello
or
Hi

This will never harm anyone nor kill anyone nor waste time for anyone. On the other hand, it could draw a smile on the reader's face. It is a very kind and nice way to start a written communication.

Why?
Why FOSS Communities/Projects are lacking of just one word?

I really fail to understand why :)

Yes, if there are a chain of emails/posts/whatever, then of course there is no need to keep writing "Hi" or "Hello" - even though it is nice thing to do and I've seen people on Ubuntu Forums who always start their posts with either "Hi" or "Hello" but they're very few. But it made me always wonder what is the real reason to always skip writing that on the beginning of a written communication?

Well, not sure there is an answer for that Question :)

For me, I will always use it and hope others will start using it.

To be honest, every time and I really mean every time I see an email/post/any written communication that does not start with "Hi" or "Hello", I feel bad and don't wish to read. And, exactly the opposite happen when I see an email/post/any written communication that starts with "Hi" or "Hello" :) it makes me feel good and make me carry on and read that with passion.

Just a thought I had for a long time that I want to write about it publicly and who knows? maybe one of those who don't like to start their writings with 'just one word', might have an answer for my question ;)

Thank you for reading :)

P.S.
If you agree, please Share!
Spread the 'nice' attitude of writing Hello or Hi :D

Thursday, February 13, 2014

10 Steps to Install Japanese on Lubuntu 13.10

Hi,

I'm trying to help a neighbour of mine to install Japanese Language on Lubuntu 13.10 and because I have never done that before (as I don't use Japanese) and because I miss creating HOWTOs, this hopefully can be a new helpful HOWTO :)

Step 1
This is not upside down screenshot. I have moved my Lubuntu Panel from bottom to top so that is why the screenshot looks like that :) 




Step 2
You need to be connected to the Internet (either Wireless or via LAN Cable) to do this step which is click on 'Install'



Step 3
Click on Install/Remove Languages (left side window) and choose Japanese (or any other language you wish to install) from the list (right side window). Tick the box and click on 'Apply Changes'




Step 4
You just need to wait now until the system installs the needed packages.





Step 5
As per this article, you need to choose 'iBus' as the keyboard input method system.




Step 6
Logout :)
 


Step 7
After you log back in to your desktop, there should be a 'Keyboard' as shown on the below screenshot:


You need to:
(a) Right Click on the Keyboard icon
(b) Select Preferences

 

Step 8
(a) Tick 'Customize active input methods' as shown on the screenshot below
(b) Click on the drop down lost 'Select an input method'
 




Step 9
You should get a list similar to the below screenshot. You need to find "Japanese Anthy" NOT just Japanese.




Step 10
After selecting 'Anthy' from the drop down list, you need now to click on 'Add' so the selected language will be added to your system and YES, this should be done ONLY ONCE. No need to repeat that unless you format and install again ;)


Once you click 'Add', please do click on 'Close' and all the changes you made will be saved - YES, this is not like Microsoft Windows ;)


So, are we done?
Oh yes indeed :D

If you click on the 'Keyboard' icon as per the below screenshot, you should see a small list of two options:
 

Obviously, you need to select 'Japanese - Anthy' and ...

 

Enjoy writing with your native language or Japanese if you know how to use it :D

WOW, that was fun :D it's been ages since I created a HOWTO and I must thank my good brother and friend Rafael Laguna for his help with Step 7 - Step 10 as I was stuck - No, he is not Japanese but yes, he knows about this interesting language :D

I hope that was helpful, useful and informative.

Share this so others who might having hard time to install other languages to get some help ;)

Thank you!

Saturday, February 08, 2014

HOWTO Save/Retrieve Lost Data from USB or HDD

Hi,

As a founder of StartUbuntu Project, I like to lead this project by example and I'd like my actions to be louder than my words. Therefore, I have started to spread the word of StartUbuntu in real life.

As they say: "Expect the Unexpected.", I have indeed learned a lot from this real life experience. 

With each and every machine (PC and/or Laptop) I convert to Linux, I learn new things from new and different story. Each device brought new challenge. This reminds me of the fact that there is no one who knows everything and it also reminds of: one keeps learning until the last breath of his/her life :)

That said, I'd like to share one of the latest adventures of mine and by far, one of the most interesting and useful experience which I have learned a lot from:


How can I restore the data on an USB Flash Drive that got wiped by a virus?

I am afraid I have no time to do much expect writing this post. The thread on the above link is very clear IMHO. Many highly skilled, experienced and very helpful friends and contributors on Ubuntu Forums have done their very best to help. It is reminding me of my golden days with Ubuntu Forums and the great technical support that I had given for many and learned from others. One day, maybe when I retire from all what I am doing now, I may go back for Technical Support ;) as for now, I'm afraid I have no time for it.

Hope this experience will be helpful for you too :)

Thanks!

P.S.

By the way, the moral of this is:

"We didn't fail, we just found 10,000 ways that didn't work."

Also,

"Never give up nor surrender."


Tuesday, February 04, 2014

Trying to save data from 2GB USB Drive

This is a follow up with this thread on Ubuntu Forums:


Part 1

1- From Terminal, I run: $ testdisk

2- Choose the create a new log file:





3- From the list, I choose /dev/sdb and then [Proceed]




4- I choose then [Intel]:




5- [Analyse]:




6- This is what I get after choosing [Analyse] and I choose [Quick Search]:




7- What I get and then I press [Enter]:




8- Nothing happens so I select [Deep Search]:




9- Still nothing so I press [Enter]:




10- Finally [Quit]:




Some helpful and nice people on the Ubuntu Forum suggest NOT to create any partition table at this stage because that might cause the loss of the data that if there is any. Hence, I didn't create any partition table nor any partition but as you can see, this is what is happening with me.


I thought to make life easier for everyone so that we be on the same page :)
This is what I see when I use 'testdisk' so hope it is clear now.

Thank you for trying to help, I highly appreciate that :)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Part 2
 
$ sudo photorec




[Search]



[Other]
 






 


 Finally ...


It seems there are no files!
Hope this is the correct way ...