Using Launchpad and Bazaar

Created this handy tutorial to get you started using Bazaar Version Control System with Launchpad.
I needed a quick how to use Bazaar and launchpad tutorial to get my interns started with fixing Ubuntu bugs and put together this tutorial based on examples from Jay Pipes presentation A Contributor's Guide to Launchpad and Bazaar.
A Contributor's Guide to Launchpad and Bazaar

For the impatient, you can get started typing the commands. There is much more indepth information about Bazaar in the presentation and Bazaar documentation as well.

# Make a source repos for all projects
mkdir ~/repos   

# Create new repos for software-center project 

cd repos; bzr init-repo software-center 

cd software-center/

# Get the truck of software-center 
bzr branch lp:ubuntu/software-center trunk 

# Pull in new revisions of truck
cd ~/repos/software-center/trunk/ 
bzr rebase

# Branch to work on new bug 
bzr branch trunk bug538384-inaccessible-button 
cd bug538384-inaccessible-button

# Hack away, review your diff and commit
bzr diff 
bzr commit --fixes=lp:538384 -m 'Adds accessible name to features links button' 

# Push to launchpad 
bzr push lp:~arky/ubuntu/maverick/software-center/fixes-538384

Headphone jack sense problem in Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx

After upgrading Dell Vostro 1014 laptop to Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx I found the old problem of headphones failing to mute the internal laptop speakers when plugged remains in the new release as well.

Three months ago I posted a workaround for Ubuntu Jaunty users in this post ALSA Jack Sense problem in Jaunty. However this solution doesn't work in Ubuntu Lucid.

To solve this issue you need to install linux-backports-modules-alsa-lucid-generic package and reboot your computer.

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install linux-backports-modules-alsa-lucid-generic

Now speakers should mute as soon you plug in your headphones. If that doesn't work try to pass the correct model name by adding the line to /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf file. options snd-hda-intel model=dell-vostro enable=1 index=0

ACAP Solar Cooker and Circulatory Hot Water system

While traveling I always keep an eye out for innovative home brew green solutions. In Pokhara Nepal the Annapurna Conservation Project (ACAP) is promoting cost effective circular water heating system and solar cookers made out of Nepali Doko baskets wrapped with aluminum foil.

Spotted Bio Truck Expedition in Pokhara, Nepal

Had an unexpected encounter with Andy Pag's Bio Truck Expedition bus in Pokhara's Fewa lakeside camping grounds. The expedition is traveling around the world in a recycled school bus engine runs on vegetable oil biofuel with very low carbon emission. It collects used vegetable oils from homes and restaurants along the way and features other interesting sustainable technologies as well.

I returned twice to the camping grounds to find the truck locked and empty. Hope to run into the expedition team next time before I leave Pokhara this week.