Once again it’s nearly time for the monthly meeting. We discussed where we wanted to go at the last meeting, and the general consensus was that we continue our exploration of different hostelries, and for November we will be gathering at:
The Zacariah Pearson
386 Beverley Road
Hull HU5 1LH
Being a Wetherspoons pub, it has real ales at good prices, as well as its normal selection of food. As ever all the usual suspects should be in attendance.
We look forward to seeing you there!!!
There was a lot of positive feedback following last month’s meeting, and it was suggested that we try out a few different locations, in the hope that we firstly add a bit of variety to where we go and, and that we might also find places that are a bit quieter, and suited to our needs than where we’ve met in the past.
To that end, we’ve secured tables for October’s meet from 7.30pm at:
Larkin’s Bar
48 Newland Avenue
Hull HU5 3AE
Although they don’t have wifi, while I was in there booking the table I got an good 3G signal, which bodes well for a spot of tethering from your smart phone 
If you haven’t been before, as you come out of town, Larkin’s is located on the right hand side of Newland Avenue, immediately after the railway bridge. They have an excellent selection of hand pulled ales (I heartily recommend the Wold Top ales) as well as a range of assorted lagers from around the world, and an interesting menu.
If you know of somewhere that would be suitable for future meetings, let us know either by commenting on this post, or letting us know at a meet, we’ll look at the possibility of going there.
Ubuntu Restricted Extras in the Software Centre
So you’ve got Ubuntu installed on your computer, but you can’t play your DVD’s, your music and video files don’t work properly, some web-sites don’t run properly, and you can’t understand why.
This because there are some codecs which are not included with Ubuntu due to licensing restrictions. However they are available in a package in the software repositories, the package is called ubuntu-restricted-extras.
There are three ways to install ubuntu-resticted-extras. Firstly through the Ubuntu Software Center, failing that using Synaptic Package Manager, or finally using the terminal
Ubuntu Software Centre
Open the Ubuntu Software Center and type Ubuntu restricted Extras into the search box
Press the Install button
Synaptic Package Manager
Similarly to the Software Centre, open Synaptic Package Manager, and search ubuntu restricted extras, check the associated packages
Press Apply
Terminal
To get started, press Ctrl – Alt – T on your keyboard to open Terminal.
When Terminal opens, type the command:
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras
and press Enter to install.
In each case you will be asked for your administrator or super-user. Once Ubuntu Restricted Extras is installed your music and videos will now work.
You’ll now be wondering why not put the ubuntu restricted extras onto the main distro. The reason why this is not done is mainly due to Ubuntu and Canonical’s commitment to free-libre (open source) software. The codecs in the package are free (as in monetary cost) to download, but they are proprietary packages, and the code is not open to be changed as the code for the rest of the distro is.
Road Trip to Lincoln
At the last meeting we discussed the idea of travelling down to Lincoln LUG’s first meeting on Tuesday 27/09/2011. I’ll be taking my car there and will have some space available. There were others who were willing to drive down as well.
If you would like to come along with us, post in the comments below or email me, and we’ll sort out the necessary arrangements. No doubt it will involve leaving Hull at about 6.00 – 6.30pm on the day in question.
***STOP PRESS***
I received an E-Mail from Becky this evening to tell me that they have moved the meeting place to:
Lincoln Bowl
Washingborough Road
Lincoln LN4 1EF.
We’re having a change to how this website looks and performs. To do this we’ve had a change to the Admins on the site.
After over 2 years with the responsibility, Jackie has stood down from her admin role. Whilst in her role Jackie set up this site, and arranged the acquisition of the domain names, so if it wasn’t for her, this site might not exist (well it would, but maybe not in the same way). She also provided key support a few months ago when we moved the site from her server to mine, and I assumed her former role. Jackie remains involved in maintaining the web-site as an Editor, and has promised to make contributions as and when she stumbles across anything of any interest, and her busy schedule allows.
This means that we have a new Admin to introduce. Jon Gibbins has offered to set up and maintain a site forum. You may remember that we did (once) have quite an active and vibrant forum, which sadly crashed beyond all repair during a server shift last year. When it comes to forum admin I have some kind of mental block…like I have when it comes with databases (I can hear you saying ‘Like the mental block you have with any tech Dave!’). Anyway Jon has offered to look at the options open to us, and set up something suitable.
Hull LUG has always had the mailing list on Yahoo Groups. Steve set this up in the dim and distant past, and being Steve’s ‘baby’ it will remain so. However the settings have been adjusted so that someone else (me) can act as a reserve mainly to insure that the automated meeting reminders contain the correct information about venue location and meeting times etc, and avoid the contradictory e-mails that went out over the last few weeks.
If there anything that you want to see on the site or the new forum? Is there anything that you want to contribute? Let us know in the comments section below!!!
