Sunday, January 30, 2011

ClearOS FTP backup script

Recently I had to find a way to do incremental backups of a ClearOS file server to a Seagate Black Armour NAS400. I was not involved in the hardware choice and this showed, because while the NAS is kinda useful... I find its lack of firmware intelligence frustrating. If anyone from Seagate ever reads this... please allow SSH and rsync by default please. The NAS seems to be more end user than server orientated.

So my limitations when coming up with a backup solution to the NAS was limited to just ye olde tar and good old ftp.

So using my Google-fu search skills I searched the Internet looking for reliable method of backing up the data in the flexishare directories. I found the best solution came with a bash shell script that automated the process for you.

For this solution you are going to need a particular type of ftp client. ncftp. By default ncftp does not come with ClearOS and for some reason its not in the ClearOS repositories either *hint hint*. (Yes, that was directed at any bored developer reading this guide.). Despite that its pretty easy to install if you know the basics of using terminal.

To install ncftp on ClearOS just these commands as root:

# rpm -Uvh http://download.fedora.redhat.com/pub/epel/5/i386/epel-release-5-4.noarch.rpm

#yum install ncftp


Of course versions may change over time so just be sure to keep an eye out for updated code repositories. Especially if you are reading this 2 or 3 years from the date I wrote this.

Now that we have ncftp we can create a shell script and then run it. Drop down to terminal again and using nano (or whatever editor you feel most comfatable with) and paste the following code:

http://snipt.org/wlkG

The variables in it are pretty self explanitory. Just be sure to change the IP (192.168.0.2) of of the FTP server to whatever you have allocated to your FTP NAS. This script is a slightly modified version of the script that I generated using this wonderful little online wizard: http://bash.cyberciti.biz/backup/wizard-ftp-script.php

The modification came with inserting the "passive" command into the FTP upload part of the script. Just save and run the script and you should see a full backup made and then uploaded.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Russia did not invent the first electric light bulb

I know this is a strange thing to write about, but it follows a conversation I had with a Russian nationalist in of all places... Youtube comments. Anyways, the Russian author of the comments clearly has a personal and intense dislike for anything American, and an incredibly proud and nationalist take on Russia.

One of the things he claims why Russia is so great is because he beleives a Russian invented the electric lightbulb. While Russia has invented many thing they certainly did not invent the lightbulb. A Russian by the name of A. N. Lodygin did invent an electric light bulb in 1872, and he also applied for many patents including patents for  incandescent lamps having molybdenum and tungsten filaments.

But, and this a big but. He did not invent the electric lightbulb. That honor goes to a British man by the name of  Humphry Davy in 1802. It was another 70 years before the first Russian invented a light bulb.

This information can be confirmed here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incandescent_light_bulb

Message translated with Google Translate for Russian search engines:


Россия не изобрел первую электрическую лампочку
Я знаю, что это странная вещь, чтобы писать, но следует разговор с русским националистом в всех местах ... Youtube комментарии. В любом случае, Россиюавтор комментариев очевидно, имеет личные и интенсивные неприязнь камериканской ничего, и невероятно горд и националистических взять на себяРоссия.
Одна из вещей, он утверждает, почему Россия так велика, потому что он считаетРоссию изобрел электрическую лампочку. Хотя в России и изобрел много, что они, конечно, не изобретать лампочку. Русские по имени Лодыгин придумалиэлектрическую лампочку в 1872 году, и он также применяется для многихпатентов, включая патенты на лампы накаливания, имеющих молибдена и вольфрама нитей.
Но, и это большое но. Он не изобрел электрический лампочка. Эта честь идет вбританской человек по имени Хэмфри Дэви в 1802 году. Это было еще 70 лет допервой русской изобрел лампочку.
Эта информация может быть подтверждена здесь: http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9B%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%BF%D0%B0_%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Russia Today digs O Reilly and Fox (Faux) News


Even Russia Today has more credibility than Fox News and thats saying something as Russia Today is a Putin controlled mouth piece. 

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Which way is she turning?


What do you see in the picture below? Is the lady turning clockwise or anti-clockwise?


If you see this lady turning clockwise you are using your right brain. If you see her turning anti-clockwise, you are using your left brain. Some people can see her turning both ways, but most people see her only one way.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Hoo let the dogs out

A response to xenophobic writer Sentletse Diakanyo

This is a response to the writer of an opinion piece on Thoughtleader who goes by the name of Senteletse Diakanyo (a South African). 


Basically its a pretty racist opinion about how only black people can be called Africans. He excludes Egyptians from being called African by his narrow definition. 

My first thought to Sentletse Diakanyo was a swear word starting with the letter F and ending off with you. Offsides and completely wrong dude. I am pretty sure if people in Egypt read this article they would be saying the same to you.

The author of this article does not know that “African” is a regional title, not a skin color. Is he saying you cant have black Europeans or black Americans? Is he blind? Imagine if the word “Australian” meant “not the skin color of an Aborigine”.


He should visit some Asians in Russia (Russia is an Asian country), some Europeans in Turkey (Is part of the EU) and some Americans from Mexico (Mexico is part of the America`s). Only then will he realize how wrong and small minded his article is.

Perhaps one day when the author stops looking at everyone through such racist goggles he will understand Ubuntu.
We all share a common ancestor Mr Author. We all come from Africa. Some of us where never able to leave it and some of us have come back home.

Senteletse Diakanyo reminds me of the NATS from Apartheid or the occasionaly racist around the braai. They are trying to be just as separatist as him. Theyre different sides of the same coin. 


Senteletse Diakanyo takes several steps towards genocide mentalist. Have a look at this Wikipedia article of Genocide and look in which direction his words start taking us: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genocide#Stages_of_genocide_and_efforts_to_prevent_it

Monday, January 3, 2011

Getting informed on Scientology

This is a pretty important post with some pretty important information so I really hope you take the time to view the videos I have selected for you. For decades now Scientology has being breaking up families and destroying peoples lives. Below are several credible investigative reports into the cult of Scientology. This is high quality informative investigative journalism so its content does have credibility.

CNN`s Anderson Cooper on Scientology:

This is a 5 part series. The Youtube videos include a lot of backstories and follow ups and posting 15 Youtube videos here would just clutter the site. So to save clutter follow this link: http://www.xenutv.com/blog/?p=4917 . Mark Bunker over at XenuTV has them wonderfully organized.

BBC`s John Sweeney on Scientology:

John Sweeny has actually done two documentries on Scientology. The first one is Panorma, Scientology and Me.

This is part one of four, you can follow the rest of the show at YouTube.

This is John's follow up BBC documentary called, "The secrets of Scientology":


This is part one of four, you can follow the rest of the show at YouTube.

A lot of fail and a lot of pain

An increbile list of Darwin candidates in this movie. Natural Selection is a cruel mistress.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Conservative Fox (Faux) News reported gets trumped by Dan Barker



In this Youtube clip you see rationalist and atheist Dan Barker co-president or the Freedom of Religion Foundation and author of "Godless: How an Evangelical Preacher Became One of America's Leading Atheists," ; take on a conservative reporter at Fox News. Dan Barker pretty much owns the journalist. Definitely a good watch.

Conservatives are genetically wired to be fearful and to lack courage

 Political opinions are considered choices, and in Western democracies the right to choose one's opinions -- freedom of conscience -- is considered sacrosanct.

But recent studies suggest that our brains and genes may be a major determining factor in the views we hold.

A study at University College London in the UK has found that conservatives' brains have larger amygdalas than the brains of liberals. Amygdalas are responsible for fear and other "primitive" emotions. At the same time, conservatives' brains were also found to have a smaller anterior cingulate -- the part of the brain responsible for courage and optimism.

Also in a study published in October, researchers at Harvard and UC-San Diego found that a variant of the DRD4 gene predisposes people to being liberal, but only if they had active social lives as adolescents. The "liberal gene" has also been linked to a desire to try new things, and other "personality traits related to political liberalism."
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-10/uoc--rfa102710.php

More linkage: http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-tech/brain-thickness-determines-political-leaning-study-20101229-199hk.html