April 2005 - wlug - list.wlug.org.nz

Mailing list etiquette (was Re: Sudo)
by Daniel Lawson 05 Apr '05

05 Apr '05

> > >I'm happy to alter my mailer to observe the netiquette you speak of. I'm >afraid I wasn't aware of it. What is the reason behind it, may I ask? > > What is the reason behind not posting an HTML only email to a mailing list? It's often extended to "Don't post in HTML at all", for a variety of reasons, some of which might be weighted more highly in this case due to the nature of this particular list. When you post in HTML or RTF, or to spell it out clearly, in anything that isn't plain ASCII or ISO-8859, you make it significantly harder for people whose mailers don't understand the format you use to read your email. While you can feel free to inconvenience your friends as much as you like, you should not assume that everyone on a mailinglist will have the ability to read whatever non-basic format you post in. Now, you might argue that "all modern email clients support HTML, so why can't I use it?". Quite simply, not everyone runs an email client that supports HTML. Or they've disabled it. I'd also suggest that on a LUG mailing list especially, the proportion of users with email clients that will not parse HTML is considerably higher than on your typical mailing list. If someone does have a client that doesn't have HTML read support, or if they have disabled it, they end up having to read the raw HTML to read your post. Yes, I can parse HTML. No, I don't want to unless I'm developing a webpage. I'll skip an HTML only email sooner than read it, especially with the cluttered HTML most email clients generate. This is mitigated somewhat by sending HTML and plain blocks, but you don't really gain much from HTML emails. Also, many people read mailing lists in digest form. HTML (and other formats) tend to break in digest mode. Basically, when posting to a mailing list, you're taking part in a community of peers. By sending HTML only emails, you're doing something equivalent to interrupting people's conversations in loud Swahili. I have to say here that I use thunderbird, which seems to like sending in HTML and plain by default, and will reply to HTML in HTML and plain by default. This isn't my preferred choice! > > >> Daniel Lawson wrote: >> > > >>>> As humourous as this thread is, HTML mails generally are discouraged >>>> to mailing lists, as a form of netiquette. If you send both HTML and >>>> plain text, then at least a sensible reader will only show plain text >>>> in appropriate circumstances, however it's still not preferred. If you >>>> can't make your mailer send both html and plaintext, then I'd go with >>>> the grandparent's advice of "Fix your mailer" >> >>

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Re: [wlug] Mailing list etiquette (was Re: Sudo)
by Michael Honeyfield 05 Apr '05

05 Apr '05

> > I have to say here that I use thunderbird, which seems to like sending > > in HTML and plain by default, and will reply to HTML in HTML and plain > > by default. This isn't my preferred choice! > > > Ditto. I've even set the plain text option hard in my prefs file, it > just refuses. :( > Any Thunderbird gurus out there that know how to fix this? I've > followed the instructions at: > > http://kb.mozillazine.org/Thunderbird_:_FAQs_:_Using_Plain_Text > Not only is there the plain vs html text emails, there is also the way in which you post. NZOSS tries to use a post at the bottom of each email, making the thread logical to read, snipping where needed if the thread becomes too long. This is probmatic for those that use Outlook, for example, since outlook will post to the top of the email.. I have a link to mailing list etiquette, but cant find it atm. Mike

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Re: wlug Digest, Vol 166, Issue 8
by d_king＠xtra.co.nz 05 Apr '05

05 Apr '05

On 5 Apr 2005 at 11:59, wlug-request(a)list.waikato.ac.nz wrote: > Message: 3 > Date: Tue, 05 Apr 2005 11:41:56 +1200 > From: Bnonn <bnonn(a)orcon.net.nz> > > I'm not meaning to stir or be a pest; I just don't understand why any > mail client in use today would not support HTML; or why people would > turn it off? Surely, unless you're using OE, security isn't a problem. Ummm, you're missing several other security issues. An example would be the exploit that is available via GIF images. My modern eMail reader (copyright 2004) doesn't display images that aren't included in the eMail as an attachment. This is a security feature. But, my eMail program is free, and is written by a NZ'er > People seem to manage browsing the web without issues, and that's a far > less controlled and predictable environment than email. That all depends on which web browser you use......but that's a seperate flame war. --- David G King : d_king(a)xtra.co.nz zl1dgk(a)nzart.org.nz ZL1DGK http://dking.gen.nz http://freet.blogspot.com

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Gov.uk backs open source drive
by Jodi Thomson 04 Apr '05

04 Apr '05

The Government has funded a ground-breaking new venture to accelerate the use of open source software (OSS) throughout local government. Known as the Open Source Academy, the project represents one of the most significant developments yet in moves to drive up OSS adoption in government. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/04/04/uk_government_backs_open_source_ drive/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------- Jodi W. Anderson, Mr (BA, A+, MCP) - Computer Systems Consultant Waikato University Library - Computing Operations Group Ph: +64 7 838 4323 email: jodi(a)waikato.ac.nz "Right now I'm having amnesia and deja vu at the same time. I think I've forgotten this before."

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Re: [wlug] fw: GIMP article
by Joseph Gibbs 04 Apr '05

04 Apr '05

As an aside, Photoshop users may find this useful: http://codemills.com/blog/?p=4 [Making GIMP menus more like Photoshop menus] Joseph. -----Original Message----- From: "Craig Box" <craig(a)dubculture.co.nz> To: "'Waikato Linux Users Group'" <wlug(a)list.waikato.ac.nz> Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2005 11:22:40 +1200 Subject: [wlug] fw: GIMP article Was emailled this this morning - as I only made one edit, and am not actually the author, I thought I'd share it with the mailing list. (Another success story!) - Dear Craig, I really loved your November 2004 (update date) Gimp vs Photoshop article which I came across while googling "gimp export pdf." I didn't put two and two together (that postscript files are most easily converted to pdf) until I read your article and was staying away from The Gimp for that reason (would not export to pdf). No matter how obvious it is now, it did not occur to me until your article. So I am going to give The Gimp a try. Thanks! John White _______________________________________________ wlug mailing list | wlug(a)list.waikato.ac.nz Unsubscribe: http://list.waikato.ac.nz/mailman/listinfo/wlug

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Re: [wlug] Curious about OSS
by Michael Honeyfield 04 Apr '05

04 Apr '05

I lead in Yoper's (www.yoper.com) development. Tho my efforts are not focused on a singular application, it is spread out across many. Does that count? Mike > Hi all, > > Just curious. Among all the emails about _using_ OSS, how many > people here _produce_ OSS? > > I'll hold my hand up -- bibliography management systems etc. at > www.sourceforge.net/projects/wikindx > and > www.sourceforge.net/projects/bibliophile > > Mark. > > _______________________________________________ > wlug mailing list | wlug(a)list.waikato.ac.nz > Unsubscribe: http://list.waikato.ac.nz/mailman/listinfo/wlug >

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Re: [wlug] Parliamentary Questions
by Michael Honeyfield 04 Apr '05

04 Apr '05

> While the remarks are in jest (yours and mine), it bugs me that people > seem to consider Rodney Hide to be an incompatible fit in terms of > putting our views to parliament? Why is that? Perhaps we should start > a politics thread, but it could get messy... > > Anyway, in summary - he's a liberal, so he cares about personal freedom, > and he is passionate about Open Source. How can that require loose > coupling? :) I don't think it matters which member of parliament, as long as they are willing to take our (Linux/OS community) concerns/issues etc to parliament on behalf of us. Act is not my choice when it comes to voting time, but if Act will help create parliamentry awareness, then sweet. Likewise with Greens... the more the merrier. Just my thoughts on that. Mike

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Questions in Parliament
by wayne.luxton 04 Apr '05

04 Apr '05

Hi folk In relation to questions in Parliament Nandor Tanczos Green Party Technology spokesperson would also be a good person for the job and when I looked on the Green Party website I see he already has a track record in support of open source, including questions. See www.greens.org.nz/searchdocs/other6984.html www.greens.org.nz/searchdocs/PR8077.html www.greens.org.nz/searchdocs/PR7725.html www.greens.org.nz/searchdocs/PR7657.html www.greens.org.nz/searchdocs/PR7285.html He is in Hamilton a lot ( he may even live there now) His contact is nandor.tanczos(a)parliament.govt.nz phone 04 4706716 in Wellington or hamilton.office(a)greens.org.nz phone 8340299 Wayne

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fw: GIMP article
by Craig Box 03 Apr '05

03 Apr '05

Was emailled this this morning - as I only made one edit, and am not actually the author, I thought I'd share it with the mailing list. (Another success story!) - Dear Craig, I really loved your November 2004 (update date) Gimp vs Photoshop article which I came across while googling "gimp export pdf." I didn't put two and two together (that postscript files are most easily converted to pdf) until I read your article and was staying away from The Gimp for that reason (would not export to pdf). No matter how obvious it is now, it did not occur to me until your article. So I am going to give The Gimp a try. Thanks! John White

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Re: [wlug] Real world requirements
by Michael Honeyfield 03 Apr '05

03 Apr '05

> >>User-Agent: Mozilla Thunderbird 1.0 (Windows/20041206) > >> > >>I'm guess this has something to do with a draconian employer? > >> > >>James. > > > >No, it has to do with the real world requirements of my job. > > > >G. > > Such as? I'm actually interested by this. > > The last three years of my working career I've used primarily Linux. For > a while (at my previous job) I had to KVM to a windows box periodically > to use OutLook and some legacy customer management software. Now it's > only Linux. > Here at EDS Windows XP, Internet Explorer and Outlook are real world requirements.... Not everyone's work place has the luxary of using OSS for their tools and platforms. Mike

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