Random Debian Scripts

Today at work I decided to do make a few Debian scripts for generating a dynamic MOTD and auto-updating using apt-get and I thought I'd share.

Debian MOTD

The first script is a fun one and requires the fortune and cowsay packages. When run, it generates a cow saying a random message from the fortune quote program and writes it to /etc/motd. Cowsay isn't just limited to a cow, and a look through the documentation will reveal a whole range of ASCII art. Mine is set to run every night at midnight and it makes for some fun variety throughout the week. Here's an example of what a login looks like:

Welcome to Debian GNU/Linux 3.1!
_________________________________________
/ Q: What do Winnie the Pooh and John the \
| Baptist have in common? A: The same     |
\ middle name.                            /
-----------------------------------------
     \   ^__^
      \  (oo)\_______
         (__)\       )\/\
             ||----w |
             ||     ||

Linux jezebel 2.6.16-2006-03-28-mcw-01 #1
PREEMPT Tue Mar 28 21:32:57 PST 2006 x86_64 GNU/Linux

Debian Apt AutoUpdate

The second is for those who get tired of running the same apt-get update && apt-get upgrade command day after day just to keep their system up-to-date. The script is simple enough, using the -y argument to allow for unattended updates and writing verbose output to a log file.

"The Plantation Mentality in American Media"

This morning while listening to Democracy Now! I noticed something different other than their normal run down of news headlines, commentary, and interviews. Instead they started to play a speech given on Saturday at the National Conference for Media Reform by Bill Moyers.

Although I've briefly heard of him and his works with PBS I was blown away by his speech titled "The Plantation Mentality in American Media Today" and think all of you will too.

It's quite long, around an hour, but it is definitely worth checking out if you can spare the time. DailyKos has both links to the video as well as a good rundown of the major points discussed.

My Wii and New Memberships

With the holidays last month and having almost two weeks off work I really wasn't online a whole lot other than manically searching websites for a Wii. Finally after talking to a friend of mine at our Holiday Wine Party he told me there was a scheduled shipment of 60 consoles going to Electronic Boutique in El Cajon, about 15 miles from my house. After going to sleep at 3am, Alissa woke me up at around 6am and told me to go get my Wii. Still recovering from the former nights activities, I drove to El Cajon, found the mall and got in a line that looked like it had already passed 60. With disappointment beginning to creep in once again I then realized that I was standing in the Gamestop line not EBs. I turned the corner and was greeted by another, shorter line, excitedly I jumped in and about 10 minutes later I was holding in my paw the number 41 and two hours later after waiting in line I had the Holy Grail of video games.

After obtaining my Wii I spent a lot of time offline, mainly because I was playing it, but I'm going to get back into the swing of things and do some more updates.

Other than the Wii another notable mention is I finally joined the EFF and renewed my FSF membership. I've been wanting to join the EFF for a while now, but before didn't have the financial wiggle room to put down the 65$. Thankfully the UC system doesn't want to lose it's IT folks to the private sector and gave us all nice wage boosts and I can make these memberships a reality.