Linux Shell Scripts

Linux is tricky. It would be nice to make a simple package that I could bundle everything from a project into one easy install. But a quick look at the man pages and this is beyond the comprehension of mere mortals. So the next best approach is to knock up a script which automates an install. But how do you check that a package that you require is installed? This is what I came up with. It has some problems like you'd have to adjust the grep for other packages like minicom, which put up different packaging messages. There must be a better way to do this?

echo "Checking that dfu-programmer is installed"
dpkg-query -s dfu-programmer | grep not-installed
if [ "$?" == "1" ]; then
  echo "dfu-programmer is installed"
else
  echo "dfu-programmer missing"
  apt-get install dfu-programmer
fi

Yahoo Answers Top Non Contributer

Using the One-Strike-And-You-Are-Out system I'm banned from Yahoo Answers forever. However they don't delete the account and every few days I'm still getting my old replies chosen as best answers. My total finally went through 50,000 despite the ban.

From blogpics

Unfortunately, since I can not supply any new answers, Jessica, who asks
"Recommended breath mints for my step mom's dog?" might not get the answer that she deserves.

62 years ago at Aston Down

This is Air Marshall Tedder's Douglas Dakota KG528 with engines spinning at Aston Down.

From DakotaTour

Today the tarmac is mostly replaced by grass except for a car park area and the hanger is an industrial unit.

From DakotaTour

Yahoo Answers

I am pleased to have got to 49938 on Yahoo Answers. Although I am banned 4eva it is still crediting my old answers, about two or three a week. Also under some circumstances you get points for just visiting. Not long to the 50000 I am hoping.

Meanwhile lets review some of today's Yahoo questions from people that are beyond help:
1)
I'm trying to find a short in my car. I put in a larger fuse in the spot where a fuse keeps blowing out and some wire started burning.
2)
I am in love with my elementary friend. Is it possible that he likes me too?
3)
Can chemistry build on his part?
4)
Any Single Girls Out There?
5)
How do you zoom in phosphor?
6)
Will we ever again have a President as great as Ronald Reagan?

Robens Jibs

Robens Jibs look nice. And if you balance them up correctly like in this video you can spin your video camera around smoother than a hot buttered bannister. Link to Jib Video I know you all want one now, but oh dear, there isn't any address on their website. In fact there isn't any way of contacting this company at all except for one email address that you'll have trouble finding on Robens AV website
But never fear! Google Streetview to the rescue. It turns out that the demo video was shot at the same mill site as the dodgy Studio and Stage.

View Larger Map
So head on to Holmefield and make sure that any deal you do is in writing and not over the phone. I wouldn't want you to lose out to dodgy traders. Tell Richard that I sent you.

Ancestry.com Nuisance

Ancestry.com are not giving up easily. After ignoring all unsubscribe requests, all ancestry.com emails are now forwarded to my trash folder. But now a new email from
ancestry@ancestry-update.com
appears.

So that is also added to the delete immediately list.

Are ancestry.com desperately spamming or has a spammer opened a look-alike domain? In either case I don't care. All ancestry.com messages will be deleted unread.

Studio and Stage relaunch

Rogue traders,"Studio and Stage" have had a makeover. They have a shiny new website which looks very fancy. http://studioandstage.co.uk/

So lets deconstruct it. The title of the page is called "New Page 1". The subpages are called "New Page 2" etc. Hmm, Looks like they haven't mastered their web design software yet.

What does About say? It says come to our old website while we get this sorted out. Which is a blueyonder hosted website. Oh dear. Most unprofessional.

Then there are links claiming to have an association to Kuoni Engineering and West Yorkshire Theatre Company. These companies are so low profile as to have NO mention on Google whatsoever. In fact, this blog will probably come up top in a search for them.

Then there is Eric Robens the jib and boom manufacturer. The website looks less amateurish than Studio and Stage but it shares certain details. There is no online method of buying anything and no e-commerce set up. And lots of pretty pictures but no specifications. A dealer network is mentioned but not a single actual dealer. And no warranty information. And nowhere is mentioned the registered office.

If you buy anything from either of these companies you should ask them why this information is missing.

The technique is to offer tempting items but the only way to get any information is by phone. Then they will promise great things and low prices. Then they deliver a pile of crap. Then they won't give the money back and will employ all sorts of empty threats if you try and get it back. If you have given them money it may already be too late. My advice is to Google for "Visa Chargeback" and "Distance Selling Regulations".

What is the future for Studio and Stage? If they manage to stay out of jail then a career collecting trolleys at Tesco is well within their grasp.