If I were you I’d stay on 10.10, especially if you have no drivers for the new Linux kernel

Four Promising Yet Free Online WordPress Theme Generators | Free and Useful Online Resources for Designers and Developers.

I’ve used usaip.eu in the past and found the service to be very good. I was also able to obtain a UK IP for BBC iPlayer.

USA IP, American IP, VPN, VPS, iTunes.

Inside the Asterisk » Blog Archive » Asterisk Dev Team Releases Binary Packages.

Compile no more my friends, for binary packages are here!  Yesterday (March 28, 2011) the Asterisk development team opened the doors on a new package repository for users of Debian and Ubuntu, two of the most popular Linux distributions.  Those repos complement the existing RedHat Enterprise Linux / CentOS Linux repositories that Digium has maintained for the past several years.  As of now you can quickly and easily install and maintain Asterisk using apt (Ubuntu/Debian) or yum (RHEL/CentOS) package management utilities.

“Why would I want binary packages?” you may ask.  Well, because they make your life much simpler.  Installation tools like apt and yum take care of finding and installing dependencies and allow you to update (or even upgrade) your system with a single command.  You can install add-on packages and optional modules in seconds.  Do more, work less!

To find out how you can save time, make more money and look better with binary packages, check out the detailed instructions on the Asterisk.org wiki.

Good reading…

Despite the need for a private element, there is a growing consensus that there is a government role in creating and fostering entrepreneurship.

The Search for Ingredients to Replicate Silicon Valley – NYTimes.com.

After jiggery pokery Facebook Places finally hits Ireland – New Media – New Media | siliconrepublic.com – Irelands Technology News Service.

Despite having a significant operation in Ireland, we are probably one of the last countries in Europe where Facebook Places has gone live. But finally it has and despite my irritation at its tardy arrival, first impressions of the location app are that it is slick.

Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericsson smartphones are among those running the two Symbian operating systems vulnerable to attack according to NetQin.

By Mathew J. Schwartz,  InformationWeek
July 6, 2010
URL: http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=225702440

New viruses targeting Symbian smartphones have surfaced, according to NetQin, which develops security software for mobile devices.

Two Symbian operating systems are vulnerable: S60 platform 3rd Edition, aka Symbian OS 9.1, as well as S60 5th edition, aka Symbian OS 9.4. The operating systems run a number of smartphones from such manufacturers as Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericsson.

Dubbed ShadowSrv.A, FC.Downsis.A, BIT.N and MapPlug.A, the viruses come hidden in games designed for Symbian smartphones. Once the games are run, the virus executes, giving the virus writer full control over the devices, said NetQin. In other words, the smartphone becomes part of a botnet, and can be used to launch further attacks on other devices.

In addition, according to NetQin, “these viruses will either send messages to all the contacts of the address book directly, or send messages to … random phone numbers by connecting to the server.” The messages sent by the virus contain URLs, purportedly to such content as World Cup video on demand or popular television shows, but which really link to websites hosting the virus. To cover its tracks, the virus deletes any messages it sends from a user’s outbox and SMS log.

NetQin estimates that 100,000 mobile phones worldwide are vulnerable to the virus.

Smartphones being infected by viruses isn’t a new threat, and malware aimed at smartphones continues to mature. For example, in late 2009, researchers, discovered the iKee botnet, which targeted jailbroken iPhones, backed by command-and-control functionality to press these iPhones into the service of a botnet.

Even so, stumbling into a virus by downloading a mobile application is a relatively new threat. “The explosion of mobile applications has made smartphones an enticing target for virus authors,” said Lin Yu, CEO of NetQin, in a statement.

Driven by financial incentives, “many security threats that were once only spread on PCs, such as botnets, are now moving to mobile devices,” he said.

These financial incentives may include making phones spend money on services controlled by attackers. For example, last month, Donato Ferrante at Sophos wrote a blog dissecting a different piece of Symbian malware, Troj/SymbSms-A, which spreads via an SIS archive file. Its purpose appears to be to send messages to a premium-rate Russian phone number until the infected smartphone runs out of credit.

Not so harsh with Marsh – Athlone Advertiser – May 14, 2010..By Finian Coghlan

A man who pleaded guilty to possession of almost €700 worth of heroin with intent to supply thanked the judge in the District Court this week (May 12) after he he learned the prison sentence he was currently serving would not be added to.

Albert Marsh (30), with an address at Tower View, Battery Heights, Athlone attended court from prison where he is serving a three year sentence issued in Mullingar Circuit Court in September for similar offences.

This week, the court heard from Detective Garda Aidan Lyons how he searched Marsh’s house on August 4 where he found “the defendant and others in the kitchen with a quantity of brown powder and weighing scales”. The brown powder was subsequently proven to be a quarter ounce (eight grammes) of heroin which Det Garda Lyons said was worth “between six and seven hundred euro”.

Marsh, a heroin addict at the time, told Det Garda Lyons half was for personal use and the other half for sale. Marsh had 24 previous convictions, of which four were for possession with intent to supply, and three were just for possession of drugs.

Marsh’s solicitor, Mr Tony McLynn, clarified his client’s present custody status for the court, and pointed out that though he had been given a three year sentence in September 2009, it had been backdated to May 2009 and had the final year of the sentence suspended.With remission and good behaviour, this gave Marsh a projected release date of November 8 this year, the court learned.

“He has done a detox programme in the Midland prison and is now clear of all drugs, including methadone,” said Mr McLynn, submitting a doctor’s report to support this.

Accepting this, Judge John Neilan sentenced March to 11 months in prison for each of the two charges he faced, but ordered them run concurrently with his present sentence, which began on May 13, 2009.

“I’m obliged,” said Mr McLynn.

“Thank you, judge,” said the defendant as he was led off to complete his sentence.

Not Paddy’s Day – Athlone Advertiser – May 14, 2010.. By Finian Coghlan

A man called Patrick involved in a disturbance outside a church on March 17, was fined €500 for his troubles in the District Court this week (May 12).

Inspector Nicholas Farrell told the court how Gardai were called to an incident at 9.40pm on Church Street, Athlone on our national day where they encountered the defendant, Patrick Ward (32) of Cullairbaun, Athenry, Co Galway.

“He challenged the gardai to a fight, judge,” said Inspector Farrell, who went on to tell the court that of Ward’s 22 previous convictions, eight were for public order offences and two were for assault.

His solicitor, Mr Mark Cooney explained how his client had been in a previous attack that evening and received a blow to the head.

“There had been some drink involved,” he added.

“Is there a date coincidence? I note the defendant’s name is Patrick,” asked Judge John Neilan, but was told there wasn’t.

“Next time you celebrate St Patrick’s Day like that you’ll end up in prison,” said the judge, before fining Ward €500.

ATHLONE ADVERTISER, MARCH 05, 2010.
By Finian Coghlan
http://www.advertiser.ie/athlone/article/23166

A man who pleaded not guilty after an arrest for his part in mob chanting outside a late night chipper, was convicted and fined €200 in the District Court this week (March 3) after he conceded he’d read his charge sheet incorrectly.

The court heard from Garda Brian Keane how he was called to a late night disturbance on the Dublin Road on November 17.

“There was large crowd outside a chipper near the college [AIT]. They were in two groups shouting chants at each other in a threatening fashion,” said Garda Keane.

“The defendant was told to go home, judge, he refused and became aggressive. He was arrested at 2.20am.”

The defendant, Gavin Duffy (20) from Newtown, Rathangan, Co Kildare, defended himself and claimed in court “We weren’t shouting” and that he went to the Garda station the next day to apologise, which Garda Keane conceded.

Judge John Neilan pointed out that the offence for which Dowling was charged – Section 8 of the Public Order Act – “is about refusing to follow a direction from a member of An Garda Síochána and not about shouting”.

“Ah. I might’ve misread the charge,” conceded Duffy.

In mitigation, he said he was a former student of the AIT and had been visiting friends on the night in question.

“Why didn’t you follow the garda direction?” asked the judge.

“I had my food ordered and was hungry,” said Duffy.

Judge Neilan reminded Duffy the maximum penalty for this offence was six months in prison and of people in Athlone who were”prisoners in their own homes” on account of behaviour like this.

“You gott your warning from Garda Keane. The time to apologise is on the night, not shipping up the next day,” said Judge Neilan, before fining Duffy €200.