Linux Journal Weekly News Notes -- August 1, 2007

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  Greetings!

   This is the August 1st edition of Linux Journal Weekly News Notes. We
   have some great excuses to keep you out of the heat this week,
   starting with Tom Adelstein's views on the unique terminology of Open
   Source in the corporate world and followed by Bruce Byfield's tutorial
   on DataPilots - OO.org's alternative to Excel's pivot tables. Then
   check out Marcel Gagne's piece on the many ways to create characters
   that are not on the standard English-language keyboard.

   Subsequently, we have a fun tech tip on making music with your
   keyboard, as well our Dot Org of the Week on useful graphics programs
   for you.

   Finally, if you are at LinuxWorld in San Francisco next week, please
   drop by to say hello! We'd love to meet you.

   And there was much rejoicing!

   James Gray and The Linux Journal Editorial Team
   [2]jgray@linuxjournal.com

  FEATURED LINKS

   Linux Journal is Recruiting
   [3]http://www.linuxjournal.com/node/1000250
   If you're attending LinuxWorld in San Francisco and would like to
   contribute to LJ, come meet with some Linux Journal editors and tell
   us your interests. We'll be at the XYZ Lounge at the W Hotel (across
   from Moscone Center) on Tuesday, August 7th from 1:30-5:30pm. We're
   looking for new writers, reviewers and people interested in
   participating in new a reader advisory board. Hope to see you
   there!...P.S. We'll have beer!

   Open Source Being Repositioned in Corporate America by Tom Adelstein
   [4]http://www.linuxjournal.com/node/1000251
   In Tom's experience, fancy terms are being adopted in the corporate
   world to give Open Source an aura of legitimacy...much deserved, of
   course.

   OpenOffice.org Calc: Pivot Tables by Another Name by Bruce Byfield
   [5]http://www.linuxjournal.com/node/1000252
   A DataPilot in OO.org is equivalent to a pivot table in Excel, i.e. a
   tool for extracting and summarizing the information contained in
   spreadsheet cells in a more convenient form. Bruce offers a primer.

   INVITATION: Vyatta Open Arcade Classic - Aug 7, 2007
   Join Vyatta for food, drinks and some classic arcade action
   Games: Asteroids, Pac-Man, Defender, Donkey Kong, and Centipede
   Where? Thirsty Bear, 661 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA
   Details @ [6]http://www.vyatta.com/secret/arcade_classic.php

   Cooking With Linux - Languages Build Character, or Vice Versa by
   Marcel Gagne
   [7]http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/9674
   Marcel always solves that nagging little problem for you. In this
   article, it's creating special characters that are not on the typical
   English-language keyboard.

  Shameless Plug

   Are you currently receiving Linux Journal in print? If not, did you
   know that you could get it for as low as $1.88 per issue, delivered
   right to your snailmail box?

   Click here [8]http://www.linuxjournal.com/subscriptions to subscribe
   or find out more details.

  BRAIN TRUST: Making Music With Your Keyboard

   This tip comes from Kamal in Sri Lanka:

   It is extremely easy to get a tiny little keyboard to generate melody
   in your Linux box. In fact, you can play hundreds of instruments.
   Here's how I did it in my Fedora Core 6 and 7 laptops:

   Software:
    1. timidity++ - This can turn MIDI into audio (a synthesizer)
    2. vkeybd - A virtual keyboard for your X desktop.

   To install in Fedora Core 6 or 7, just type the following command:
   # yum -y install timidity++ vkeybd

   Play:
   Start timidity (and connect to ALSA). Note that in Fedora 7, I had to
   type esd in another terminal before the following command:
    1. $ timidity -iA
    2. Start vkeybd:
       $ vkeybd
    3. Join the keyboard output and the synthesizer input together.
       Identify the correct client and port numbers of the keyboard and
       the synthesizer (TiMidity):
       $ cat /proc/asound/seq/clients
    4. Join them together (arguments should be in correct order - source
       first).
       $ aconnect 129:0 128:0

   Now you can play. To change the instrument, see the Virtual Keyboard
   options (View->Program List). If required, increase the volume by
   using timidity option -An (e.g.: $ timidity -A300 -iA). timidity and
   vkeybd have many other options to get different behaviors. See the
   manual pages for details.

   Instant fame is easy at Linux Journal. Just send us your useful Tech
   Tips to share with the Linux Community, and we'll send you a cool
   t-shirt for your efforts! Send it to: [9]jgray@linuxjournal.com.

  DOT ORG OF THE WEEK

   This submission comes from Kevin in Oregon, USA:

   I'd like to nominate three organizations for Dot Org of the Week. Have
   you ever needed to create a drawing for some reason? Maybe you're
   working on a new patio or garden, or maybe your boss wants a sketch of
   your new widget to show at a meeting? Perhaps your need is just a bit
   more fun, and you want to create a cute invitation for a birthday
   party. These can help with the job:

   1.) Dia at [10]http://www.gnome.org/projects/dia

   ...is inspired by the commercial Windows program 'Visio', though more
   geared towards informal diagrams for casual use. It can be used to
   draw many different kinds of diagrams. It currently has special
   objects to help draw entity relationship diagrams, UML diagrams,
   flowcharts, network diagrams, and many other diagrams.

   2.) Xfig at [11]http://www.xfig.org

   ...is an X Window System tool for creating basic vector graphics,
   including bezier curves, lines, rulers, and more. The resulting
   graphics can be saved, printed on PostScript printers, or converted to
   a variety of other formats.

   3.) Tux Paint at [12]http://www.tuxpaint.org

   ...is a free, award-winning drawing program for children ages 3 to 12
   (for example, preschool and K-6 in the US, key stages 1 & 2 in the
   UK). It combines an easy-to-use interface, fun sound effects, and an
   encouraging cartoon mascot who guides children as they use the
   program.

   I've used Xfig so many times, even to create wedding invitations for
   my wife and me. My sister-in-law liked them so much, I ended up making
   hers too. Tux Paint implies it's for kids only. But, don't let that
   fool you, because adults can get creative just the same. Maybe I'm
   just a kid at heart. Happy drawing!

   Do you know of a Dot Org in the Linux or Open Source worlds that is
   making a valiant contribution to our Community - without getting paid
   for it? If so, let us know about it. We want to recognize their
   efforts. We also want to give you a free t-shirt for your efforts!
   Send it to: [13]jgray@linuxjournal.com

  TECH TIP: [on vacation]

   Even Tech Tips need a trip to the beach now and then. We'll be back
   next week with a revived, refreshed Tech Tip section!

  FEATURED EVENTS

   Cutting-Edge Security Developments from Industry Experts at the 16th
   USENIX Security Symposium (Security '07)

   Join us in Boston, MA, August 6-10, 2007, for the 16th USENIX Security
   Symposium. Security '07 offers in-depth training by experts such as
   Richard Bejtlich on TCP/IP Weapons School and Dan Geer on Measuring
   Security. The comprehensive technical program includes a keynote
   address by Steven Levy, a senior editor and columnist at Newsweek, on
   "How the iPod Shuffled the World as We Know It"; 23 refereed papers;
   and invited talks by Gary McGraw, Peter Gutmann, and more. Don't miss
   the latest advances in the security of computer systems and networks.
   [14]http://www.usenix.org/sec07/lj

   OSiM 2007

   Open Source in Mobile, 18 - 19th September 2007 - Mirasierra Suites
   Hotel, Madrid, Spain. The World's Largest Forum for Mobile Linux and
   Open Source. Visit www.OSiMconference.com or call +44 (0) 20 7017 5506
   to register or for further information.
   [15]http://www.OSiMconference.com

   Discount For SD Best Practices Conference & Expo 2007

   September 18-21, Boston, MA -- SD Best Practices delivers the training
   you need to successfully incorporate best practices, quality design
   and proven management techniques into your software development
   projects. Don't miss 4 full days of in-depth training taught by the
   most qualified instructors in the industry, fun networking events and
   a lively Expo. Register by August 17 to save up to $300! Learn more at
   [16]http://sdexpo.com/2007/sdbp
     _________________________________________________________________

   To remove yourself from this list, see
   [17]http://www.ssc.com/mailing-lists.
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References

   1. http://www.appro.com/press/view_ss.asp?Page=1&Num=17
   2. mailto:jgray@linuxjournal.com
   3. http://www.linuxjournal.com/node/1000250
   4. http://www.linuxjournal.com/node/1000251
   5. http://www.linuxjournal.com/node/1000252
   6. http://www.vyatta.com/secret/arcade_classic.php
   7. http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/9674
   8. http://www.linuxjournal.com/subscriptions
   9. mailto:jgray@linuxjournal.com
  10. http://www.gnome.org/projects/dia
  11. http://www.xfig.org/
  12. http://www.tuxpaint.org/
  13. mailto:jgray@linuxjournal.com
  14. http://www.usenix.org/sec07/lj
  15. http://www.OSiMconference.com/
  16. http://sdexpo.com/2007/sdbp
  17. http://www.ssc.com/mailing-lists

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