subliminal messages in X.org

Hi y'all,

today I found something that I hadn't found possible in Open Source 
Software! Most X.org drivers can be directed to show subliminal messages 
manipulating users all the time while they innocently use their Linux 
boxes!

For example the X.org-driver for the Sun HME card displays "I LOVE SUN" for 
a single frame every 10 or so seconds - most of the others are a bit more 
subtle.

You can switch the driver into its test mode with a simple script, so you 
can see the message more easily - mind you, you still have to concentrate 
to find it. Make sure you sit down while you do this and stare at the 
display at a perfect 90 degree angle.

To switch into visible test mode just execute this script, either as root or 
prefix xinit with sudo:

C=xmessage
M="echo atuu68yu9ol87ggl1x | tr 'xautylo96g718' '\!HpaAliryoFs '"
xinit -g 0x0 -e $C $( eval $M ) -- :1

I haven't found a way to switch it completely off yet. I'll keep looking.

	Konrad

_______________________________________________
ALG Mailing List http://austinlug.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/alg

Re: subliminal messages in X.org

Hi,

strange, I didn't get any reaction from you - was it too obvious or too 
devious?

On Thursday 01 April 2010, Konrad Rosenbaum wrote:
> C=xmessage
> M="echo atuu68yu9ol87ggl1x | tr 'xautylo96g718' '\!HpaAliryoFs '"
> xinit -g 0x0 -e $C $( eval $M ) -- :1

This script was of course only a very obfuscated way to wish you a Happy 
April Fools Day.

	Konrad

Ps.: yes, SUN did once produce a HME card. HME stands for Happy Meal 
Ethernet - the name was meant as a joke by the engineers, but to my 
knowledge the card was never connected directly to a display.

_______________________________________________
ALG Mailing List http://austinlug.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/alg

Re: subliminal messages in X.org

> strange, I didn't get any reaction from you - was it too obvious or too 
> devious?

Just somewhat out done my Google renaming themselves to Topeka yesterday. 

- Nigel

_______________________________________________
ALG Mailing List http://austinlug.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/alg

Re: subliminal messages in X.org

On Friday 02 April 2010, Nigel Stewart wrote:
> > strange, I didn't get any reaction from you - was it too obvious or too
> > devious?
>
> Just somewhat out done my Google renaming themselves to Topeka yesterday.
> 

Well, it is hard to outdo an organisation with almost unlimited resources 
and a reputation of doing outragous things every day. And if you don't mind 
me saying this: the Google pranks are still pretty transparent.

	Konrad

_______________________________________________
ALG Mailing List http://austinlug.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/alg

OT:Thirdlane Experience

Hello All,

I'm looking for someone with Thirdlane Multi Tenant experience to do 
some consulting.  I'd do it, but I just don't have the time.  This isn't 
for me, but rather a contract opportunity that can be done from wherever 
for the right person.

Email me with your experience and if there looks to be a fit, I'll pass 
it along.

TIA,
Channing
_______________________________________________
ALG Mailing List http://austinlug.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/alg

Patent Absurdity: how software patents broke the system (movie)

Someone with a fast internet connection, please download this movie,
(created by fsf, so no license problems), burn to dvd and bring to regular
alg meeting so we can watch it!

Thank You.

_______________________________________________
ALG Mailing List http://austinlug.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/alg

Linux at BerkeleyTIP-Global meeting on Sunday April 18 12N-3P, & April 27

Come discuss Linux via VOIP. :)
http://sites.google.com/site/berkeleytip/voice-voip-conferencing

Hot topics: Ubuntu 10.04, Free Culuture, VOIP, Set up the web server &
mail list & asterisk/freeswitch on the BTIP box with Ubuntu 10.04?

Tues April 27 5-6P VOIP online meeting also.

http://sites.google.com/site/berkeleytip/

Join the mail list, tell us what you're interested in.
http://sites.google.com/site/berkeleytip/mailing-lists
_______________________________________________
ALG Mailing List http://austinlug.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/alg

Re: Patent Absurdity: how software patents broke the system (movie)

On Fri, Apr 16, 2010 at 05:05:13PM -0500, Paul Elliott wrote:
> Someone with a fast internet connection, please download this movie,
> (created by fsf, so no license problems), burn to dvd and bring to regular
> alg meeting so we can watch it!
> 
> Thank You.

I forgot the link to the movie:
http://patentabsurdity.com/

_______________________________________________
ALG Mailing List http://austinlug.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/alg

Searching for article

I've been browsing through Google for the past hour and no luck yet,  
plus I've tried a couple of searches on LXer and Linux Today. I'm  
looking for an article a guy wrote about a year ago where he'd drawn a  
simple building map using one of the Linux drawing apps for work. I  
remember him saying he'd used an old computer, it took him a while,  
the fact it was drawn with a FOSS app surprised everyone, it was  
valuable for tracing networking paths or something to that effect, and  
he later supplied the drawing with some stuff purposely erased for  
security reasons. I can't remember if he used xfig, krita, dia,  
inkscape, or what.

Anyone happen across the same article?

Tom King

"Concern for man and his fate must always form the chief interest of  
all technical endeavors. Never forget this in the midst of your  
diagrams and equations." --Albert Einstein

_______________________________________________
ALG Mailing List http://austinlug.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/alg

Movie shown: Patent Absurdity: how software patents broke the system

We will show the movie "Patent Absurdity: how software patents broke
the system". 
http://patentabsurdity.com/

Afterword we will have a discussion about how software
patents are harmfull both to technical culture and to the economy.

The Movie will be shown promptly at 7:40 pm on April 29 at Austin
Linux Group's regular meeting place at the City of Austin Waller Creek
Complex at 625 East 10th Street in downtown Austin.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=625+E+10th+St,+Austin+TX

--

-- 
Paul Elliott                               1(512)837-1096
pelliott@...               PMB 181, 11900 Metric Blvd Suite J
http://www.free.blackpatchpanel.com/pme/   Austin TX 78758-3117

_______________________________________________
ALG Mailing List http://austinlug.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/alg