IT Masala

This is a compilation of How-To's by HowtoGeek. This is a must to read for every Ubuntu user!

• How to Tell What Version of Ubuntu You Are Running
• How to use an ISO image on Ubuntu Linux
• Keep the Display From Turning Off on Ubuntu
• Keyboard Shortcuts for Bash ( Command Shell for Ubuntu, Debian, Suse, Redhat, Linux, etc)
• Make Backspace Key Work Correctly in Firefox on Linux
• Make Grub Bootloader Wait Indefinitely for OS Selection
• Reload the Gnome or KDE Panels Without Restarting (Linux)
• Search Your Computer Quickly With the Deskbar Applet on Ubuntu
• How to display a list of recent commands in Ubuntu Linux
• Make your Gnome Terminal Background (mostly)Transparent on Ubuntu

[ HowtoGeek ] [ image from Kubuntu ]

Since many weeks I saw my friend Niru playing IPL(Cric Xchange) app on Orkut using his wife's id as Orkut Apps wasn't enabled for his id. I was wondering why Orkut hasn't enabled this new feature for everybody on Orkut, normally they choose random users and enable new features only to them. But this time, there was a pattern, only people in India had got this feature and very few people outside India, as far as I have observed. As per the usage, Orkut must have enabled this new feature to people in India and maybe Brazil too, as these are the two countries where there are highest users of Orkut.

This trick is for all those Indians who haven't got that feature..(not really a trick..just a…)

How to enable Orkut Applications for your profile?

1. Login to Orkut using your account

2. Edit your profile, change the country to India.

3. You will see a block on the left side below the profile photo called "Apps"

4. Click on Add and you will see a directory of the 'Applications'

5. Add Applications & njoy ! 

Here are some screenshots:

[ Orkut ] [ Google ] 

Really saying i am fed up of people asking PNR status to others when they are not at their pc desk. Even though Railway has made such a nice service of Railway enquiry through sms, people hardly use it.even the so called " tech geeks" rarely use..then whats the use of technology when its not being used for making the work easier ! So atleast from now on use Railway SMS Enquiry service to know your PNR status. I know its difficult to remember all the codes for train list, seat availability, etc.. but atleast PNR status is simple !  : PNR <PNR NO> and send it to 676747

Or if you cannot remember carry a printout of the codes for it !! lol..nono..u dont need to..

here,do this to make your work easier !!

Here are the numbers to which you can send and get the info..

- 7886,676747,7070,8888   ( i like 676747 , as time of message reply back is faster..)

For example : You use 676747

-  To get the list of codes  … send . sms TRAIN to 676747 

- Checking your PNR status

sms PNR <your PNR number> to 676747
eg: PNR 1234567891    or just send your PNRNo to 676747

- Checking for Trains running between two stations

sms TL < starting city > < ending city > to 676747
eg: TL Hubli Bangalore or use stations codes   eg: TL UBL SBC

- Checking for Ticket Availablity

sms TA <train number > <starting city> <ending city> <journey date > to 676747
eg. TA 6590 hubli bangalore 07May

Networks which Support 676747 :

8888 is busy.. many a times i have never got any reply from it..as its used for many other purposes, maybe it takes longer time to respond to this railway query !

So from now on use your mobile ONLY when you are not at your pc desk..

Happy railway smsing !

For more info : [ Railway SMS Service ] [ Service provided by ACL Wireless Limited  ]

Remember those beautiful framed prints from Flickr 333? Now you can have your own photos printed, matted and frame photos sent directly to your home by Imagekind.

How to Get to Imagekind: 

From the Flickr 'Do More' page, click on Imagekind and you'll be taken to the Flickr member page on Imagekind.

Select a photo, choose your framing options, and away you go. Imagekind also provides a way for people to sell their prints to others.

You can read more about Imagekind's service on their blog. Join the Imagekind group on Flickr for questions or comments.

Photos from Planet Vicster and diyosa.

via [ flickr's blog ]

Things we can learn from Dil Chahta Hai .. ..

+ Freaking out and enjoying life doesn ' t need drugs or cigarettes.

+ There are relationships apart from Bf/Gf, marriage,siblings,friendship that can be very emotional and true which is beyond the understanding of many people.

+ And yeah even though U may be the best of friends there is always a limit which should never be crossed. Then it starts hurting………..

+ Improving Ur imperfections after you realize it, always take some time.

+ You always don ' t need to show or prove your Gf/Bf how much U love or care about her/him, which can sound very boring and finally U R dumped.+ Believe in Love , true love will never let you down

+ Never be ashamed to go back to your old friends, friends are there to understand your mistakes.

+ Do not be afraid of others, always think that others are afraid of you. (remember the Australian Beggar at the railway station)

+ Whenever you need your friend, remember that he is just a phone call away…distances can ' t separate friends

+ In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends

+ It ' s the friends you can call up at 4 A. M. that matter.

+ The only unchangeable certainty is that nothing is certain or unchangeable.

+ The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with never say a word, and then walk away with a feeling like it was the best conversation you ' ve ever had. 

And last Karo wahi jo, DIL CHAHTA HAI !!!  

source: [ forwarded email ] 

Since the day i saw Nithin running his newsletter succesfully , I also wanted to run my own newsletter. But never got anything right to make my own newsletter which would look good,elegant and appropriate. Then i came across Letterpop. With Letterpop you can make extremely creative newsletters in minutes. And all this for FREE !

Now with Letterpop you could have your professional newsletter made in just minutes. There are over 70 beautiful templates currently listed on the web site and it literally takes about 20 minutes to create a perfect looking professional newsletter! The interface is completely based on Web 2.0 with drag and drop and automatic pop up windows to add text, etc.

What you need to do is just select the theme you want , add images and text. Letterpop has integrated Flickr , you can now easily add images from Flickr into your newsletter. You just need to authorize letterpop to access your flickr account and your are done !

There are many added features when upgraded.For personal use this might not be necessary. Free is sufficient. 

Checkout some users newsletters:

You can use Letterpop to make nice newsletters for your family photos,Announcements for birthdays, weddings, small business,updates for your club,latest news for your mom's group and lot more..

Now i will also have my own newsletter..Nithin i am coming ! ..

[ Letterpop ] [ SignUp ] 

I use Sygate personal Firewall. Its really the best one i have ever used. But still getting your pc checked by an external device or tool is very much necessary. Use Shields Up to check whether your ports are open or closed. Many hackers run automated port scanning tool which scans your pc for open ports and if found any , then you are gone.

On the first page it identifies your connection.Once you're at that page, click Proceed to get started. On the next screen, you'll have the open to choose which type of scan you want like to perform: File Sharing ports, Common ports, All ports, Messenger spam, and browser headers.

Go ahead and click on File Sharing to run the test and you should get something similiar to this:

After the test runs, you should get a report with a big FAILED or PASSED.

Many a times some of your ports are open like FTP,Telnet , HTTP , if you running some webservers etc ..  So it might show failed.

They have a very nice Messenger Spam Test. Do you get any random authentic Windows popup messages telling you signup for something, etc? Well that's because the spammers are using the Windows Messenger service on your computer to send you messages directly from Windows itself!

Use this Messenger Spam test to see if your UDP port 135 is open through which this message comes.

If some problem occurs while running these port checks , check your Personal Firewall on your PC. 

Happy Securing !

via [ Shields Up ] 

Check out these sites and get to know the ranking of universities.

US News - Best Rankings list..

i20fever — Reliable list- is a site which has put up a good list according to scores . first go on putting the scores for every area, then see the total cumulative score and refer the list of universities respective to your cumulative score.This i20fever is a really very helpful to choose universities ..etc..

Princeton Review - Pretty good list ( but i donna how they come out with some odd ranking list such as 361 best colleges…anyway its a good list..
 

The Center for University Performance Measurement - very good lists ..listed in categories..etc.. 

Webometrics - Fairly good list, also has world rankings..etc..

This type of shortening the url is a cool option to avoid long url's while sending a mail or putting a url link on the forums,blogs,websites etc or to some friend or something. I usually use tinyurl which is my favorite. 

I tried some real big url's and it worked out fine. Still its the same thing , i mean the way it reduces the pain of those long url's , the style of shortening is similar to tinyurl. DwarfUrl provides a unique id for everybody (obviously) for every long url .

For example : Long Url : Move cursor here to see the long url.

This loong url is made short like this .:http://dwarfurl.com/281dd

They even have their own Firefox Extension(plugin).

Note : At present their extension doesn't automatically add itself to your toolbar.You must goto View->Toolbars->Customize to add it to one of your toolbars. Go get the dwarfURL Firefox plugin here.

Happy shortening !

[ dwarfURL ] 

Since I have to prepare for this very soon.. Recently i started asking people around about this and "googled" around. i got a reply from my friend mayur who gave this site link.

Applicants can seek information at any US Visa Application Centre located in 11 cities across India.

This site has all the details right from How to Apply for a Non-immigrant US Visa, current availability of visa interview appointments,steps to follow , book dates , about the visa fees , rules for size of photograph etc and Security Regulations to follow and all the detailed stuff necessary for your visa.

Also see Websites of U.S. Missions in India  New Delhi  Chennai  Mumbai  Kolkata 

Visit [ U.S Visa ]