Sunday, 17 February 2013

Quick notes, backing up guide linux using CP and DIFF

To Copy
cp -prv "/home/user/Downloads/" "/usbDrive/Downloads/"

To Check Copy Worked
diff -qr "/home/user/Downloads/" "/usbDrive/Downloads/"

References:
http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20100212171620210
http://linuxcommando.blogspot.com.au/2008/05/compare-directories-using-diff-in-linux.html
man cp
man diff

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Naultilus error in Truecrypt, not available

Error message using truecrypt in mint mate

When double clicking to open a volume from the Truycrypt gui, it calls nautilus.  Nautilus may not be installed on your system or having it running alongside caja is yuck.  There is no easy way to configure which file manager to be used in the preferences.

Since caja and nautilus have similar command line arguments a simple symbolic link is possible

sudo ln -s /usr/bin/caja /usr/bin/nautilus

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Notes for setting up openssh server in Linux for Public Key Authentication only

On Client Machine
ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 1024
check to see if permissions for id_rsa is rw-------

On Client Machine copy public key to the server:
scp id_rsa.pub server@192.168.0.1:/home/server

On Server Machine append public key to authorized_keys
cat id_rsa.pub >> ~/.ssh/authorized_keys

On Server Machine
sudo nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config
Edit these...
%h/.ssh/authorized_keys
PubkeyAuthentication yes
PermitRootLogin        no
PasswordAuthentication    no
UsePAM            no


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Saturday, 2 February 2013

Switch to e-statements and let Australia Post suffer! Auspost

I encourage everyone to switch to E-Statements where possible.  Not for the environmental benefit but rather from a security prospective.

It seems that these days, letter mail is a secondhand service.  Australia post has no guarantee that the delivery of addressed ordinary letter mail will ever get to the correct recipient.  Also, modern individuals do not respect the laws governing opening others mail, with people out there that deliberately steal mail to get personal information.

Every time a company send out a bill or statement, Australia post profits and uses that profit to prop up this prehistoric letter mail service.


Lest do some calculations.  Lets assume that on average our individual has a credit card, savings account, mortgage, water bill/rates, phone, power, gas, shire rates, car registration, insurance.  Lets also assume that not all billers send monthly bills and only big companies have e-billing services.

Average mail for a individual per year:

Credit card = 12
Quarterly bank = 4
Quarterly mortgage = 4
Water consumption = 2
Water rates = 1
Phone/ Internet = 12
Power = 6
Gas = 6
Shire rate = 1
Insurance = 2

Total = 50 letters ~ $26.40 postage per year


Assuming that these big companies send letters out at a discount rate say 52.8 cents per letter. http://auspost.com.au/parcels-mail/pre-sort-letters.html  The total money made by Auspost is per individual is $26.40.  Multiply that by 1 Million individuals willing to change across to e-statements and their gross loss becomes over $26 Million!  A substantial loss which is most welcome in my opinion.

But who is to say that email is safe?
If you have ever switched across to e-statements, a company usually does not email your bill or statement directly to you.  Rather they will send you a message informing you that it is awaiting payment online.  You then log into their secured site, and view the document there.  Print it out locally or save it to a encrypted thumbdrive.

It's time to fire Australia Post from your life.

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Friday, 1 February 2013

Never Shop at Amcal Pharmacy Chemist Again, ripping Australians off!

Amcal are ripping Australians off, they are better off dead.

If you are an Aussie and have not realised already, Australia is the land where everyone has to make a buck, every step of the way.

Going into Amcal the other day, I experienced this first hand by getting prescription medicine.  The cost of the medicine was $24.95 and I paid and collected.  Afterwards, I decided to conduct a price check with Chemist Warehouse, simply because they post their prices online.  To my shock their price was only $15.99 pickup.


I complained by calling their customer service hotline to complain (1800 500 760).  I asked them why their prices were almost 50% higher that the competitors.  The lady that took my call immediately got into the defensive and blurted out the following statements:

  • Amcal cannot beat Chemist Warehouse's prices because Chemist Warehouse buys in bulk.
  • Each Amcal store can only purchase thought the Amcal supplier.
  • Amcal does not mark up any of their prescription medications. (They possibly purchase it at a inflated price from the supplier)
  • Amcal focuses on customer service and that is one of the reasons why their price is higher than competitors, like Chemist Warehouse.  ($9 surcharge is not worth the 20 seconds of face to face contact)

Asking for a refund or even a part refund, they refused.  Their prices are not affordable, and cannot be justified.  I believe that everyone that has been wrongly done by Amcal should complain using the 1800 500 760 number and leave a bad review on their google place page or any other social media outlet. I endded up telling her to get lost, Im never shopping in another amcal chemist - AGAIN!


A bit of google searching showed that I am not alone.
http://www.independentaustralia.net/2011/business/chemists-price-gouging-at-the-local-shopping-centre/
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/health/consumers-ripped-off-by-chemists/story-fn59nokw-1226436186619


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