2001.10.15 Meeting Notes

News

• "most" (a pager like 'less' and 'more') has buffer overflow bugs
• Kernel 2.4.11 released. Mostly bugfixes and driver updates. It's been renamed 'linux-2.4.11-dontuse.tar.gz'. Linux calls it "a sorry excuse for a kernel."
• Kernel 2.4.12 released. Unfortunately, there are now two 'official' stable branches, one with old virtual memory code (Alan Cox), the other with new code (Linus).
• A new Portuguese Linux distro, "Effort Linux" (horrible name!) targets security and high availability
• The Finnish city of Turku moving 5000 systems from MS to Linux and replacing MSOffice with OpenOffice.
• Annual Linux Showcase (previously Atlanta...), occuring in Oakland in November, is offering free registration to help gain attendance (since the WTC attacks caused many to want to stay put)
• lpq (print spool queue) buffer overrun error can be used in attacks!
• Nullsoft has released "WinAmp" for Linux. The question: why?
• Polaroid files chapter 11.
• Linux Kernel now preemptable.
• Linux Weekly News is in trouble - dropped by their parent, Tucows.
• FAQs.org in trouble - running out of funding!
• Star Office 6.0 beta has very strange license.
• New 'devfs' system in Linux can cause a race condition! Fortunately, nobody uses it out of the box except Mandrake, and they've already provided a kernel patch.
• Very small packets can get through a hold in netfilter. Fixed in 2.4.11.
• Progeny (a commercial version of Debian) has called it quits
• IBM and Citizen announce prototypes of it's "WatchPad" Linux-based wrist-watch computer. 32bit CPU, 320x240 b/w LCD touch screen, 8MB RAM, 16MB flash, Bluetooth wireless, IrDA (infrared), RS232, speaker, microphone, vibrator, fingerprint sensor!, and accelerometer!!! Price: 6hr battery life. :^)

Project Reports

• Demo - Our next demo will be at the Co-Op on October 27th.

• Installfests - The next IF will be at UC Davis on October 21st.

• LERT - No news.

• Library - Pete Salzman donated a JavaScript book and a Curses Programming book.

Other Business

• Food - Steve Nguyen of Maxim Group donated a number of large Togos sandwiches. Christine Scobee brought cupcakes.

• Officer Nominations - Officer nominations have opened. E-mail the Secretary if you'd like to nominate someone. Elections will begin at our next meeting, November 6th.

• Swag - Pete gave out a copy of Win4Lin and John Alden brought in an Amiga monitor, a popcorn popper, and some RS232 bits, which people grabbed.

• Financial Report - $41.00 in voluntary dues were collected.

Presentation

• Dr. Norman Matloff of UC Davis did a talk titled "Debunking the Myth of a Desperate Software Labor Shortage."

Photos of this meeting

Attendance

• Pete Salzman
• Rhonda Bailey
• Melissa Hardenbrook
• Bill Kendrick
• Bill Alexander
• Eric Engelhard
• Joel Baumert
• Sherrie Navarro
• Jeff Newmiller
• Ryan
• Seth Nagao
• Geoff Herteg
• Kevin Murakoshi
• Christine Scobee
• Ian
• Mark K. Kim
• Mark H.
• Tim
• Dave N.
• Steve
• Jeff DeFay
• John Alden
• Verbus M. Counts
• Dr. Norman Matloff
• John Gardner
• Anna Leslie

Quote of the Day

• "I hope so, cuz your talk is really depressing" - Pete Salzman, responding to Dr. Matloff's comment that Pete might be able to get a job.