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Work, play, and everything in-between [feed]

_ata1: srst failed (errno=-16)_ Apparently plugged in the HDD cable ass-backwards. Thought that didn't matter. :P 3 hrs ago

Robot Sunday: Arlan’s Bristol bots

Arlan's amazing robots
Fully articulated Transformer robots made from Bristol board. Credit: Arlan Esmeña.

The artist for this astounding work is Arlanzandro Esmeña, great Pinoy komikero Gerry Alanguilan’s collaborator in “Where Bold Stars Go to Die”. He sadly passed away last February 18, 2010. RIP, Arlan.

(I haven’t had the pleasure of reading his work yet, but judging by what’s available on the web, I’m sure it is great, like the artists who created it.)

/via Komikero.com

Bypassing SSH strict checking

I use an SSH gateway for work (one that requires two-factor authentication: an RSA SecureID PIN and an AES-encrypted Kerberos password). Problem is, since the gateway servers are clustered and change often, I sometimes get the following:

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@    WARNING: REMOTE HOST IDENTIFICATION HAS CHANGED!     @
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOMEONE IS DOING SOMETHING NASTY!
Someone could be eavesdropping on you right now (man-in-the-middle attack)!
It is also possible that the RSA host key has just been changed.
The fingerprint for the RSA key sent by the remote host is
Please contact your system administrator.
Add correct host key in /home/username/.ssh/known_hosts to get rid of this message.
Offending key in /home/username/.ssh/known_hosts:1
RSA host key for gateway_server has changed and you have requested strict checking.
Host key verification failed.
Connection to gateway_server closed.

Of course, I cannot clean up the known_hosts file since I could not log on in the first place — I had to go another route (through a remote desktop using another server, etc.).

Although it’s not really recommended (read the dire warning above), this restriction can be bypassed by using:

ssh -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no

This way, strict checking is disabled, and the host key will not be checked against the file. Take note that this is insecure, and only works if you are absolutely certain that you’re logging on to a trusted host.

Countdown to the May 2010 RP elections

100araw

100araw.com is a collaborative project among Filipino bloggers, media practitioners and technology enthusiasts. The aim: to provide a wealth of information to empower readers in making informed choices in the May 2010 election.

Read the articles, follow the group on Twitter and Facebook, and engage in the conversation.

(Disclosure: I am part of the group.)

Robot Sunday: Cat pwns robot

If robots ever go ahead with their plan for an uprising, we can rely on these wonderful creatures to save us. Here’s one in training.

Makatao, makamasa, makabansa

Bayan Muna, the people first. This is our battlecry. A society where true freedom, democracy, justice and peace prevail. This is our vision.

We, the members of BAYAN MUNA, pledge this commitment as we draw inspiration and lessons from the historic struggle of our heroes and martyrs.

We stand on a platform of change and social transformation that addresses the basic problems that have plagued our country –foreign domination, feudal bondage and a graft-ridden government.

We embody the yearnings and aspirations of the most oppressed and the least heard, the “common tao” – workers, peasants, fisherfolk, indigenous peoples, urban poor and other downtrodden. We also give voice to the concerns of the middle social strata and the cause of women and youth as well as other various pressing issues.

We believe that the test of an authentic democracy lies in the empowerment of the people, particularly the toiling majority. We believe that this can be realized by harnessing their collective creativity and strength, guaranteeing the full exercise of their basic rights and ensuring their representation and participation at all levels of government decision-making.

Upon this stated purpose and vision, we stand one and indivisible.

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