VLC is misbehaving on my system. The GUI doesn't start up unless I invoke it on the terminal. I can't find a solution to the error that comes up and I don't have time to look. I just erased it out of frustration.

Here's the crazy error, (e:paul). Knock yourself out.

$ vlc
VLC media player 1.1.12 The Luggage (revision exported)
Blocked: call to unsetenv("DBUS_ACTIVATION_ADDRESS")
Blocked: call to unsetenv("DBUS_ACTIVATION_BUS_TYPE")
[0x13216c0] [rc] lua interface: Listening on host "*console".
VLC media player 1.1.12 The Luggage
Remote control interface initialized. Type `help' for help.
> vlc: could not connect to socket
vlc: No such file or directory
[0x13497d0] lirc interface error: lirc initialisation failed
[0x13497d0] main interface error: no suitable interface module
[0x134e1d0] oldtelnet interface: using the VLM interface plugin...
[0x134e1d0] oldtelnet interface: telnet interface started on interface localhost 4212
[0x121d120] main libvlc: Running vlc with the default interface. Use 'cvlc' to use vlc without interface.
Blocked: call to setlocale(6, "")
Blocked: call to setlocale(6, "")
(process:12794): Gtk-WARNING **: Locale not supported by C library.
	Using the fallback 'C' locale.

{and then VLC gui starts. It's insane to have to pull it up with the terminal.}

Which meant I looked for alternatives, and I found the beyond perfect replacement.


DeaDBeeF


It sounds gruesome but it is fantastic.


It has cuesheet support, a smashing 10 channel equalizer, tabbed playlist support, customizable colours, plays every lossless format and submits information to last.fm.

I suddenly and completely stopped missing foobar2000.

More importantly, the programs I miss from Windoze is now down to exactly 1.
PDFXchange Reader.

I think I am going to document all the "transactions" of updates here so I can go back and see what changed when.

I also found out recently that someone called Ben Williams uploads updated Fedora livecds and images when kernels are updated. I think I will be using his images from now on if I do any new install so that all updates are incorporated in the newly installed system.

Starting with the update today:

Installing:
 kernel                    x86_64    3.1.5-2.fc16             updates      26 M
Updating:
 createrepo                noarch    0.9.9-9.fc16             updates      97 k
 dhclient                  x86_64    12:4.2.3-4.P1.fc16       updates     258 k
 dhcp-common               x86_64    12:4.2.3-4.P1.fc16       updates     273 k
 dhcp-libs                 x86_64    12:4.2.3-4.P1.fc16       updates     123 k
 diffutils                 x86_64    3.2-5.fc16               updates     259 k
 dracut                    noarch    013-20.fc16              updates     164 k
 folks                     x86_64    1:0.6.5-2.fc16           updates     440 k
 fprintd                   x86_64    0.4.1-1.fc16             updates      56 k
 fprintd-pam               x86_64    0.4.1-1.fc16             updates      13 k
 gnome-python2             x86_64    2.28.1-7.fc16            updates      46 k
 gnome-python2-bonobo      x86_64    2.28.1-7.fc16            updates      79 k
 gnome-python2-canvas      x86_64    2.28.1-7.fc16            updates      32 k
 gnome-python2-gconf       x86_64    2.28.1-7.fc16            updates      42 k
 gnome-python2-gnome       x86_64    2.28.1-7.fc16            updates      74 k
 gnome-python2-gnomevfs    x86_64    2.28.1-7.fc16            updates      78 k
 gtk2                      i686      2.24.8-3.fc16            updates     3.2 M
 gtk2                      x86_64    2.24.8-3.fc16            updates     3.2 M
 gtk2-immodule-xim         x86_64    2.24.8-3.fc16            updates      62 k
 kernel-headers            x86_64    3.1.5-2.fc16             updates     772 k
 libfprint                 x86_64    0.4.0-1.fc16             updates     114 k
 libimobiledevice          x86_64    1.1.1-3.fc16             updates     101 k
 mdadm                     x86_64    3.2.2-15.fc16            updates     317 k
 memtest86+                x86_64    4.20-4.fc16              updates      77 k
 openssh                   x86_64    5.8p2-23.fc16            updates     257 k
 openssh-clients           x86_64    5.8p2-23.fc16            updates     396 k
 openssh-server            x86_64    5.8p2-23.fc16            updates     313 k
 tracker                   x86_64    0.12.8-2.fc16            updates     1.2 M
 vte                       x86_64    0.28.2-2.fc16            updates     349 k
 vte3                      x86_64    0.30.1-3.fc16            updates     317 k
Removing:
 kernel                    x86_64    3.1.2-1.fc16             @updates    112 M
Installing for dependencies:
 pyliblzma                 x86_64    0.5.3-5.fc15             fedora       44 k

Transaction Summary
================================================================================
Install       2 Packages
Upgrade      29 Packages
Remove        1 Package

I really wish the code box were lighter and easier on the eye. :(

When there is no chocolate on walgreens shelves. Well... there is chocolate but not MY favourite chocolate.

I realize I eat chocolate like it were popcorn or something but still... they are out of *my favourite* chocolate today. They say it will be re-stocked soon. But I want it now, dammit.

Ominous plus plus

I don't like bananas. They are not really high on my fruits from heaven list (topped by papaya, btw).

But the minute bananas are looking sad, black, almost ready to mould, I develop an inordinate amount of love for them because they make the MOST amazing banana bread aroma when I bake them. Even if the bread itself turns out a mild disaster (it mostly does since I cut out everything remotely luxurious, including butter), the ripe baking banana aroma is quite enough for me to love any bread... however poorly it might have turned out.

So if you are about to toss some black bananas, you know who wants them.

ME.
Signed,
The black spotty over-ripe banana bread experimenter supreme.

---
NB: today's experiment
2 black over-ripe bananas
1 cup plain low-fat yogurt
1¾ cup Whole Wheat Bread flour
¼ cup Wheat bran
Nutmeg
Fig Butter
½ cup Applesauce
Splash of vanilla essence
One BIG thumbs-sized (your thumbs, not mine) fresh ginger chopped.
Some ground black pepper
A tsp and a ½ of salt.