My new lappie rested in its bag for some days. I had no time to use it and may be I was even waiting for my opensolaris shipment to arrive. It was my third attempt to get free opensolaris shipment from SUN. Hoping atleast the third one would come.
I tried downloading from the website, but the download breaks. One of ilughyd members, theju tried from torrent, I guess he got a bad checksum. So, all in all last, trust was on SUN to grant me an opensolaris DVD.
The wait was getting longer each day and one fine day ubuntu released 8.04 LTS version. This tempted me to try out the distro and still keep waiting for opensolaris. ubuntu studio seemed a good deal to try out. The download was another long wait. 
After install affects:
1. Atheros wi-fi device was not detected.
2. Low quality sound.
Sound could be taken care of later, but lappie is really not mobile until I can go wireless. Limited by time, I left it in that state for few more days. The day I got back to it, I tried using the restricted drivers and madwifi.
Then I tried ndiswrapper deb package and used winXP drivers; no avail.
I was suggested to try compiling ndiswrapper from source rather than using packaed deb, at ‘The GNU/Linux Group‘
That attempt ended in CFLAGS error. Checked around in the internet to find lots of reports on CFLAG errors from various people trying to compile apps from source. Most of them are related to kernel 2.6.24
I was lost in thoughts on what can be done and lo - my opensolaris shipment arrived(release 1/08). Eager to get it run, I tried installing and ended up with bad/non-existing X server on the disk. I couldn’t get into GUI installation and I didnt want to spend time doing command installation and then patch my X.
It is not my natural self to upgrade / install new releases - Long lost habit. I wait for a month or two after the release and upgrade/install, only if necessary. Running low on time, I decided to pull debian4.0/kubuntu7.10 from my CD pack and get done with distro installation.
Atheros didnt work by default in it as well, but then ndiswrapper 1.51 did the job to an almost ok level. I say so because my wi-fi switch doesn’t blink, though I am able to connect to internet and it also works as toggle to switch on/off.
I’ll save the lights thingy for some other time. Got loads of other things to address on priority.
11 May this time it is, second sunday. Doesn’t strike you yet? It’s mother’s day and it’s gone already (atleast here in India).
So well, I hope people didn’t forget to wish their mom.
At least I didn’t, and we (gf & I) packed neat surprises for our moms’.
We purchased gifts two days in advance and ordered for cake on 10th. The cake was sneaked into my gf’s fridge and it lay there unnoticed until the clock struck 00:00 (digital life) 
We woke up our moms’ at midnight to celebrate mother’s day. They were taken by complete surprise; they must have thought we forgot about it. Who wouldn’t? We showed no signs of remembering it throughout the day.
Gift’s were presented before celebrating the cake and what should I say, I guess we made the opposite choices of gifts. It’s up to them, if they want to exchange their gifts now.
Everyone was drowsy and we decided to continue celebrations in the morning.
I found out that mom had to go to office this Sunday. That was so heartbreaking. Nevertheless, when she returned in the evening, we ordered food from a Chinese restaurant. Thanks to my gf’s overestimation of our eating capacity, we all were full by the time we could complete only half the food.
I overate (may be due to good taste) and heck I have a belly now that looks almost like a near delivery pregnancy. Worry not, I will not be wished on mother’s day next year; heavy food just takes some time to digest. 
Before we move on to mukt.in, I wish a very happy birthday to my grandpa. May I get some of his intelligence, wits and goodwill for others.
Oh heck, I am supposed to present gift, not ask for! 
And, mukt.in venue has been finalized today. (in writing by Dr. S.Ramachandram, HoD, Dept of CSE, University College of Engineering, O.U)
The verbal approval was already done last monday; I requested him for a documented approval, incase the sponsoring companies needed them and it was granted today.
So, mukt.in 2008 is set for 1,2,3 Aug 2008 at OU, CSE Department. Party time! 
Now a credits list and thanks to
Dr. S.Ramachandram, for his precious time - We’ve bugged him about over 4 times discussing mukt.in
Aishwarya - for helping me with lots of technical issues; gave me time to work for the venue finalizing.
Pavithran - numerous to & fro journeys (Hyd - Chennai) for mukt.in
Deependra, Shriphani, Ravi Chandra - for trusting me that I’d not take 2 months to fix us a venue
and others who have helped and not-helped.
Its time to change the topic for #mukt.in now.
