Daniel Sokolowski's Blog

Using Aptitude to list and install backported or unstable packages Early into my linux Debian web server administration, out of necessity and after a lot of trail and error and reading I worked out the right preferences that keeps my systems very stable and yet with the ability to install the occasional backported or unstable package. My package management utility of choice is `aptitude` but these settings will also effectively work for `apt-get` and before I begin do +1 this if you find it useful. The above shows the available version of Django with their respective APT pinning numbers: 990 being the stable version and selected by default when installing, 400 being the backported version, 50 being an unstable version, and 100 pinning for our already installed version. During normal installation the stable default is always selected, however now I also have an option to easily see other available versions by viewing the information provided at bottom of the package detail

DIY - Do it yourself fireplace child guard Our wonderful 8.5 month old Sofia has become a crawling race car with an untamed thirst for exploration. And so with the cold nights approaching we needed to child proof the fireplace. This however proved to be more difficult than would reasonably expect, I've checked the local Toys "R" Us, Walmart, and even a Canadian Tire with no success for a ready to use product. Internet search was more fruitful and returned a few online stores one could order from, however in all honestly they didn't look too sturdy to me. So I build my own relatively quickly and inexpensively. Materials needed is a privacy plastic lattice - the smallest hole pattern - a few screws and anchors; tools needed are a drill, and a handsaw if you don't have the lattice cut at the store - that’s it. The construction consits of screwing the lattice into the wall and the final product is easiest explained through following pictures.

How to manage/remove people that added you from your "have you in circles". One could call it spam, and so I am - people/profiles following you that clearly have no reason to do so, even if you don't follow them back still show up in your "have you in circles" section. There is a way to completely hide that section, block the person or ignore them. The first two are drastic, the ignore option is the best and recently. Here is how to Ignore somone on Google+ : Click on your "Notifications" box Find and click "Added you on Google+" In the list that follows find the person and click 'Ignore' Log Out and view your profile to verify it worked. To see full list click More circle notifications » See the not very helpful Google Help Page for more information. Also do +1 this post as that helps me immensely.