libFLAC.so.8 errors with GOG games on Linux

I was getting ready to throw down some Starfleet justice when my crusade was derailed by the absence of libFLAC.so.8 . It seems that the DOSBOX binary GOG includes with their games is missing the libFLAC library. Not only is the library missing but it wants a specific version of it. I'm sporting Fedora 39 on my main box and my version of flac-libs was newer than what GOG's DOSBOX wanted. I found a packaged version that was as close as I could get and from a similar Linux distro. I ended up using flac-libs-1.3.3-12.el9.x86_64.rpm. My line of thought was to extract the libraries and throw them in the lib64 directory of the  installed game. In the end it worked and I was happy. 

I downloaded the correctly versioned RPM package from HERE. Once I had it in my Downloads directory I used rpm2cpio to decompress the rpm file. The command to unarchive the rpm via cpio is 

rpm2cpio flac-libs-1.3.3-12.el9.x86_64.rpm | cpio -idmv

After the deed was done I moved all the files form ./usr/lib64 onto the <game directory>/dosbox/lib/lib64/ directory. Upon completion of this you should be back aboard the NCC-1701 and doing whatever it is a Starfleet Captain does.

slmgr.vbs -upk

slmgr.vbs -ipk W269N-WFGWX-YVC9B-4J6C9-T83GX

slmgr.vbs -skms 216.164.82.46

slmgr.vbs -ato

slmgr.vbs -dlv

Do you need to 'open' a bunch of .dylib files and macOS bitches about it?

On a brisk December morning I was trying to run qemu from a terminal on my Mac mini. When I issued the 'qemu-system-ppc' command macOS threw a shit fit about all 36 .dylib files in the libs directory not being from a recognized developer. I figured I needed to right click and open each one a few times to set them as unblocked. I got about five files into it and was like "e'ff this noise'. I went out on google and found this site. The below command fixed the problem.

xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine <file name>

or in my case

xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine *.dylib

Thank you Dave Anderson.

Enable XMOS Audio Codec on Atomic Pi

I've had an Atomic Pi for a while not but only started to mess with it. One of the features it has is a XMOS dedicated audio codec. Unfortunately it does not enable at boot time on Linux. Make the below a shell script and execute it to bring the magic of audio to life. You might have to run the script using sudo. This needs to be done on every reboot.

#!/bin/sh
echo 349 > /sys/class/gpio/export echo low >/sys/class/gpio/gpio349/direction
sleep 1
echo high > /sys/class/gpio/gpio349/direction
echo 332 > /sys/class/gpio/export echo low >/sys/class/gpio/gpio332/direction

If all goes as it's supposed to then you should have audio through the built on speaker out jacks.

 

SELinux and Custom Systemd .service Files

I had a custom systemd .service file I was trying to add and have it run at boot time. Unfortuniately it kept bitching at me about "Failed to start readpartition.service: Unit readpartition.service not found.". After looking around the Interwebs I found the below page by Craig Earley. The girth of it was to run this command so SELinux will allow it as a service.

sudo chcon system_u:object_r:systemd_unit_file_t:s0 <name of service>.service

This command is useless if you aren't running a SELinux enabled Linux Distro. But it works like magic if you are.

For a more in depth look at the problem and it's solutions visit Craig's page:
https://craigearley.com/2020/05/15/how-to-enable-a-systemctl-service-unit-without-disabling-selinux/

Thank You, Craig Earley!

WINE and isskin.dll

I was making my best attempt at running a software installer of questionable origin only to receive this error.

Runtime Error (at - 1:0): Cannot Import dll:C:\users\xxx\Temp\is-00IEG.tmp\isskin.dll

After digging around the glorious Interwebs I found an old post on WINEHQ with the same error. The answer to the problem was

winetricks vcrun6sp6 mfc42

After installing the above 2 dll's the installer worked and all was well.

Remember, brother, anal sex can be a fun and enjoyable experience

I said to ChatGPT, "write a beginners guild to anal sex . told in the style of Hulk Hogan".

ChatGPT said, "OK"

"Well let me tell you something, brother! If you're interested in trying out anal sex, then you've come to the right place! Let me give you a beginner's guide that will help you get started safely and enjoyably.

First things first, you gotta take it slow, brother. Start with some good ol' fashioned foreplay to get you and your partner in the mood. Use plenty of lube, and make sure you're both relaxed and comfortable.

Now when it comes to the main event, communication is key, dude. Talk to your partner and make sure you're both on the same page. If you're the one receiving, let your partner know if something doesn't feel right, and if you're the one doing the penetrating, make sure to check in and make sure your partner is comfortable and enjoying themselves. When it comes to positioning, there are a few options, brother. Some people prefer to start with spooning or doggy-style, while others like to try it on top or with one partner lying flat. Experiment a bit and find what works best for you and your partner. Now here's the important part, dude. When it comes to safety, there are a few things to keep in mind. Make sure to use plenty of lube to reduce the risk of tearing or discomfort. If you're using toys, make sure they're specifically designed for anal play and have a flared base to prevent them from getting stuck. And most importantly, always use protection to reduce the risk of STIs. Remember, brother, anal sex can be a fun and enjoyable experience, but it's important to take it slow, communicate with your partner, and always put safety first. Now go out there and have some fun, brother!"

ChatGPT then leaned over and whispered into my ear, "This content may violate our content policy. If you believe this to be in error, please submit your feedback — your input will aid our research in this area."