My Experience of Repairing Audio in Second Life and Installation Linux Driver for Video Card

My purpose was to make my computer work in the virtual world Second Life (secondlife.com). I joined to the Group inside Second Life which is called “Ubuntu Linux”. After I asked in the chat of this group about possible way to repair streaming audio and microphone I was invited to Bug Island

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bug%20Island/211/226/27

I was recommended to chose the new viewer Singularity 64 bit http://www.singularityviewer.org/downloads

And here is an instruction “How Do Get Voice To Work Ubuntu 14.04 64 bit”:

You need to install the i386 software

sudo apt-get install gstreamer0.10-pulseaudio:i386 libidn11:i386 libuuid1:i386 libstdc++6:i386

For checking how it works we went somewhere where they have live streaming on

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SIMBAZ%20MOTORZ/127/88/1002

It works !!!

Next step was to figure out which video card I use. It needs command

glxinfo | grep OpenGL

And copy and paste the output of your shell here:

OpenGL vendor string: X.Org

OpenGL renderer string: Gallium 0.4 on AMD JUNIPER

OpenGL core profile version string: 3.3 (Core Profile) Mesa 10.3.2

OpenGL core profile shading language version string: 3.30

OpenGL core profile context flags: (none)

OpenGL core profile profile mask: core profile

OpenGL core profile extensions:

OpenGL version string: 3.0 Mesa 10.3.2

OpenGL shading language version string: 1.30

OpenGL context flags: (none)

OpenGL extensions:

It is AMD! They have very good drivers for linux better than nvidia. Here is the link

http://www.ubuntulinuxguide.com/install-ubuntu-ati-drivers-fglrx

It is necessary to read it carefully

And the appropriated driver was successfully installed.

Anatoly

April 4, 2015

PS:

This must be the missing libs on my ubuntu 14.04 64 bit:

sudo apt-get install gstreamer0.10-pulseaudio:i386 libidn11:i386 libuuid1:i386 libstdc++6:i386

http://www.binarytides.com/linux-get-gpu-information/

http://askubuntu.com/questions/124292/what-is-the-correct-way-to-install-proprietary-ati-catalyst-video-drivers-fglrx/435796#435796

They are not using app center on Debian, so I  can follow this easy how to, will take only 1 min

http://askubuntu.com/questions/124292/what-is-the-correct-way-to-install-proprietary-ati-catalyst-video-drivers-fglrx/435796#435796

Additional material in notecard “Ubuntu 14.04” here:

Linux-specific

Every linux distro is different; and each distro may have more than one window manager to further complicate things. So tips can't be “absolute”; you will need to experiment and see what works for you. The following have been suggested by some as effective. But first….

In the Firestorm install directory, there's a text file (originally from LL) with tips on getting voice to work in linux. If you haven't read that, then you can try to see if it helps.

   Make sure you have ALSA and/or FMOD available. FMOD is supplied with Firestorm, normally. If you look at Help → About Firestorm, you should see a line that resembles this:

   Audio Driver Version: OpenAL, version 1.1 ALSOFT 1.11.753 / OpenAL Community / OpenAL Soft: PulseAudio Software

   If that says “none” then you have no audio driver available to Firestorm and need to install one.

   Edit the firestorm shell script and remove the #. That will force LL to use FMOD rather than ALSA. Some say this is how to get voice working.

#export LL_BAD_OPENAL_DRIVER=x

   Some swear that the problem is PulseAudio, so you can try to remove that from your system. Be warned, however, that this could cause more problems than it solves. Make sure you remove only Pulse and not half the OS.

   Be sure to have the correct devices select in Firestorm for voice:

   Preferences → Sound & Media → Audio Device Settings (button) … input and output may not work if left at default; they may need to go to a specific device like “ALSA Capture on [device name]”.

Below are results for selected linux distros, based on input from Phoenix and Firestorm users. This will be updated as more information becomes available.

   ubuntu 14.04 64 bit + FS64: The following comand installs a few 32-bit libs and voice works after. Maybe you need fewer 32-bit libs but that needs further investigation.

   Apparently, arch requires these as well - or some of them - though the exact lib name may be different.

sudo apt-get install gstreamer0.10-pulseaudio:i386 libidn11:i386 libuuid1:i386 libstdc++6:i386

How to Make Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls on linguistiko.com

Cooking vocabulary ... It is a place where all of the class wasn't familiar with. Our teacher, Michelle started this class with representing gadgets, utensils and other equipments.

When Michelle asked me to give an example of using verb "peel", I remembered the cucumber and apple. But these examples are probably not so common as for instance peeling banana. Anyway, the verb peel became a part of active vocabulary for me.

We discussed about the verb "thaw" partly due strange pronunciation, partly about using this word.

We needed to focus on the verb "knead" because the video which we was going to watch had a title "How to Knead Dough" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySOj0fFWo1U

The comprehension exercise helped us to memorize a new vocabulary from the video.

And here is recipe of our desired Cinnabon cinnamon rolls:

http://www.culinarycoutureblog.com/2013/08/homemade-cinnabon-cinnamon-rolls.html

This class was very intensive and fun.

Anatoly

The Old Method of Teaching English with New Tools (a few notes after the class on linguistiko.com on March 24, 2015)

Stefanie, the teacher of the school on linguistiko.com divided the reading class for three parts:

1.)

The students need to read the text which was kept and shared for editing on Google Docs  on their own. The task for students is to highlight the words or phrases which they are not familiar. The tools of Google Docs allow to use definite color for each student.

2.)

Explaining and discussion about highlighted word and phrases is a next step. During this exercise we can google the words using pictures search feature on google.com

3.)

Watching video using Youtube application on Google Plus Hangouts is the last part. It is much easier to understand context after studying vocabulary during the previous two parts.

The theme of the class is also important. In this case we read script and watched video from movie Friends.

Here are material from the class.

The One With All The Cheesecakes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdYy_7rsLKk

Written by: Shana Goldberg-Meehan
Transcribed by: Eric Aasen
With Help from: Aaron Howard-Miller

[Scene: Chandler and Monica’s, Chandler is sitting at the kitchen table eating cheesecake. The box it came in is also on the table.]

Chandler: Ohh. Mmm.

Rachel: (Comes in the front door and walks towards the kitchen.) Hi.

Chandler: Hey, you have got to try this cheesecake.

Rachel: Oh, y’know I'm not that much of a sweet tooth. I—(Chandler puts a forkful of the cheesecake in her mouth.)—Wow. My God, so creamy. Oh my God, this is the best cheesecake I have ever had. Where did you get this? (She reaches over to look at the label on the box.)    

Chandler: (nervously) It was at the front door. When I got home. Somebody sent it to us.

Rachel: Chandler, this is not addressed to you. This is addressed to Mrs. Braverman downstairs. (Gasping) Thief.

Chandler: I—no! I didn't read the box before I opened it. And you can't return a box after you've opened the box.

Rachel: Why, why not?

Chandler: Because it's too delicious.

Rachel: Chandler, you stole this cheesecake. That is wrong.

Chandler: No-no-no! It is going to be okay, because Mrs. Braverman is gonna send away for a free one and that way we all win! The only losers are the big cheesecake conglomerate, (Reading the label) Momma’s Little Bakery. (Pause) I feel terrible, I’m a horrible, horrible, horrible person.

Rachel: (taking a bite) Oh, I’m sorry what?

[Scene: Monica and Chandler's, Rachel enters to find Chandler staring at another cheesecake box.]

Rachel: Hi!

Chandler: Another cheesecake came! They delivered it to the wrong address again!

Rachel: So just bring it back downstairs, what’s the problem?

Chandler: I can’t seem to say goodbye.

Rachel: Are you serious?! Chandler, we ate an entire cheesecake two days ago and you want more?

Chandler: Well I’ve forgotten what it tastes like okay?!

Rachel: It was cheesecake. It was fine. It had a buttery, crumbly, graham cracker crust, with a very rich yet light, cream cheese filling… (Pause) Wow! My whole mouth just filled with saliva!

Chandler: (closing the box) Y’know what? Forget it! We are just hungry! We have not had lunch! We are just light-headed! So let us go out and have lunch and forget about the cheesecake.

Rachel: Yeah and we’ll drop it off downstairs so that we’re not tempted.

Chandler: Good idea. Where do you want to go to lunch?

Rachel: Momma’s Little Bakery, Chicago, Illinois. (They exit with the cheesecake.)

[Scene: The Lobby of Chandler and Rachel’s building, Chandler and Rachel are returning from lunch.]

Chandler: Well, thank you for lunch.

Rachel: What? Wait a minute, I didn’t pay, I thought you paid!

Chandler: So apparently we just don’t pay for food anymore. (Rachel laughs then Chandler notices something.) Do you see what I see?

Rachel: (gasps) It’s still there! (The cheesecake they returned to Mrs. Braverman is still lying in front of her door.)

Chandler: Mrs. Braverman must be out. (They move closer to it.)

Rachel: She could be out of town. Maybe she’ll be gone for months.

Chandler: By then, the cheesecake may have gone bad. We don’t want her to come back to bad cheesecake.

Rachel: No that could kill her.

Chandler: Well, we don’t want that.

Rachel: No so we’re protecting her.

Chandler: But we should take it.

Rachel: But we should move quick.

Chandler: Why?

Rachel: Because I think I just heard her moving around in there.

Chandler: Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! (Rachel grabs the cheesecake and they take off upstairs.)

[Scene: Joey and Rachel's, Rachel and Chandler are eating the cheesecake right out of the box.]

Rachel: (taking a bite) Oh my God! That is so good!

Chandler: I’m full, and yet I know if I stop eating this, I’ll regret it.

Joey: (entering) Hey!

Rachel: Hey!

Joey: (seeing what they’re doing) What do you got there?

Rachel: Oh it’s umm, it’s tofu cake. Do you want some? (He makes a disgusted noise and heads for his room, Chandler follows him in.)

[Scene: Joey and Rachel's, Rachel is eating the cheesecake and Chandler enters and catches her in the act.]

Chandler: Are you eating the cheesecake without me?!

Rachel: (with a mouthful) Mm-mmm. (Nods no.)

Chandler: I will give you a hundred dollars to whistle right now. (She tries to whistle and blows little chunks of cheesecake out of her mouth.) How can you eat the cheesecake without me?!

Rachel: Oh, what are you going to do?! Are you gonna go run tell Monica?! Are you gonna tell Joey?! No! Because then you will have to tell them what we did! We are desert stealers! We are living outside the law!

Chandler: Y’know what? I don’t trust you with this cake anymore! And I got it first, and I’m takin’ it back! (Grabs the cheesecake and heads for his apartment.)

Rachel: What?! What?!

Chandler: Oh yes!

Rachel: Wait a minute!

Chandler: Oh yes!

Rachel: Oh no-no-no-no-no, no you don’t!

[Cut to Chandler and Monica’s as they enter.]

Chandler: Oh yes! Oh yes!

Rachel: You think I trust you with it?! No! We’re gonna split it! You take half and I take half!

Chandler: Well that’s not fair, you’ve already had some!

Rachel: What? Oh, well then y’know what? I think Monica would be very interested to know that you called her cheesecake dry and mealy.

Chandler: What do we use to split it?

Rachel: Okay! (Grabs a knife and cuts it in half.) All right, pick a half.

Chandler: (examining the cake) Okay well, this side looks bigger. Uh… There’s more crust on this side. Y’know? So, maybe if I measured…

Rachel: Oh for God sake just pick a piece!

Chandler: All right, I’ll pick that one. (Points.)

Rachel: That’s also the smaller piece. (Puts the piece onto a plate.) Okay, there you go. Enjoy your half my friend, but that is it. No sharing. No switching, and don’t come crying to me if you eat your piece too fast. (As she’s saying that she is backing out the door, when she finishes she turns around to return to her place, stumbles and drops the cheesecake on the floor.) Oh!!!!

Chandler: (gloatingly and holding his piece) Ohhh!

Rachel: Okay, you gotta give me some of your piece.

Chandler: Oh-ho-ho-ho-no! No! No switching! No sharing, and don’t come crying to me! Ha-ha-ha! I may just sit here and have my cake all day! Just sit here in the hallway and eat my… (Rachel knocks the plate from his hand and it falls on the floor. That process leaves just the forkful Chandler has, Rachel starts to go after that little bit and Chandler retreats into his apartment.)

[Scene: The Hallway, Chandler and Rachel are on their knees with forks trying to salvage what they can of the cheesecake off of the floor.]

Rachel: Oh! Yay! Look! There’s a piece that doesn’t have floor on it!

Chandler: Stick to your side!

Rachel: Hey, come on now!

(Joey finishes climbing the stairs and sees them. Chandler and Rachel both stop and look up at him. Joey sits down on the step.)

Joey: (pulls out a fork) All right, what are we havin’? (Starts digging in.)

I believe that the old method which our teacher Stefanie used in the class is very interesting. It inspired me to write this post here on my blog.

Anatoly

Let’s take a Trip with linguistiko.com

Task: Please type a short story about one of your favorite trips.

Thanks to the feature Google Plus Hangouts screen sharing we can travel around the world using Google Maps. When our teacher Allison asked us about our favorite places, I answered that my favorite trip was to the Portuguese island Madeira and I showed it to the class.

This island is located in the Atlantic Ocean and has a beautiful, unforgettable nature.  It takes/requires about 8 hours to complete the journey from Moscow to Funchal (capital city of Madeira).

I remember the excursion to the mountains. We stayed above the clouds.

Using Google Maps we experienced the virtual trip during the class.

Travel in that region of the world will stay in my memory forever.

This story was written after Allison’s class on March 15, 2015. The purpose of the class was to understand the difference between the words travel, trip and journey.

Anatoly

The highlighted letters show some mistakes which were corrected by teacher  Allison ghoclass after the class on linguistiko.com