The latest apt-get update && apt-get upgrade had a kernel update to 2.6.18-5. This kernel is still missing some of the Macbook patches, so I had to get the source, patch and build a package. This took longer than I thought, because a few things had changed. So, here are the bits and pieces that I had to do to get my Macbook back to working the way it had been.

Firstly get the source for this new kernel with apt-get source linux-image-2.6.18-5-686. This downloads the kernel source to a linux-2.6-2.6.21 directory.

If you haven’t already, get the Mactel patches from the Subversion repository at https://mactel-linux.svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot/mactel-linux/trunk; cd into the kernel/mactel-patches-2.6.21/ directory and run ./apply /path/to/linux/source.

At this point, you should configure the kernel. To do this, I used make oldconfig. You can go with the default on most of the new options you’re prompted on I think. The only ones I changed were some of the Apple specific ones. Watch out for them, and decide yourself if you want to include them. I can’t remember off-hand right now what they were.

After building, installing and booting this new kernel, it looked like the harddrive was renamed from sda to hda. However, using hda only got the system to boot a small bit further (this was using a root=/dev/hda3 kernel boot parameter, and changing sda to hda in /etc/fstab). To fix this, in the kernel configuration (I used make menuconfig), do the following

• Under Device drivers, turn off ATA/ATAPI/MFM/RLL Support
• Under Serial ATA (prod) and Parallel ATA (experimental) drivers, set both ATA device support and Intel ESB, ICH, PIIX3, PIIX4, PATA/SATA support to ‘m’ (to build kernel modules instead of compiling support into the kernel)

While you’re configuring the kernel, do the following also, if, like me, you change the order of the F keys and the FN keys.

• Under HID Devices, set Generic HID support to ‘m’ instead of ‘y’

I like the F keys first, so in previous kernels I set pb_fnmode=2 for the usbhid module. However, this option moved to the hid module at some point, but in the default debian kernel build, hid is built into the kernel. I rebuilt it as a module and put

options hid pb_fnmode=2

into /etc/modprobe.d/options. If you have a similar line for usbhid in there already, comment it out.

At this point, you should compile and install your new kernel. The commands below also create a kernel headers package, as well as the kernel image package, which you can skip if you don’t require it.

make-kpkg clean
make-kpkg –initrd kernel-image
make-kpkg kernel-headers
dpkg -i ../linux-image-2.6.21-mactel*
dpkg -i ../linux-headers-2.6.21-mactel*
lilo

I’m using lilo as the bootloader. If you’re using grub, replace the lilo command above with grub-install to update the MBR with the new kernel image.

You can now reboot to the new kernel.

The last thing I can think of is to install the madwifi drivers for the wireless card.

apt-get install madwifi-source
cd /usr/src
tar xjvf madwifi.tar.bz2
cd modules/madwifi
make
make install

This depends on the kernel headers package being installed. If you didn’t create one, or didn’t install it, you can build the modules with

make -C /path/to/linux/source SUBDIRS=`pwd` modules
make -C /path/to/linux/source SUBDIRS=`pwd` modules_install

I think that covers most of what I had to do to get 2.6.21 running.

Aer Lingus, Ireland’s recently privatised national airline, has decided to drop a route between Shannon airport in the southwest of Ireland and Heathrow airport in London. It argues that a route between Belfast airport, in the northeast of the island in Northern Ireland, and London Heathrow would be more profitable.

As a private company, it is now answerable to its shareholders, and no longer to the Irish government (excepting that the Irish government is a shareholder). As a resident of Limerick, I’m sure the removal of a Shannon – Heathrow route will affect tourism and business in the area. However, this leaves an opening for another airline to fill this profitable route.

The latest twist in this tale is that Aer Lingus pilots are going to strike for two days next week. They’re unhappy that Aer Lingus will be hiring staff under different terms and conditions in Northern Ireland as those under which they hire pilots in the Republic of Ireland. There was mention also on the news this evening that Aer Lingus want pilots that they currently employ to re-apply for their jobs when Aer Lingus move to Belfast.

Whatever case the unions think they have, I do not think they have any right to force their employer to use the same employment conditions across country boundries.

Lately, when the trade unions have made it into news reports, it looks more like they’re trying to prove they’re worth the subscription fees than actually fighting any just fight. The case here is the same. The pilots’ trade union has no jurisdiction in Northern Ireland, but they’re trying to force Aer Lingus to use the terms and conditions agreed for the pilots Aer Lingus hired in the Republic of Ireland for the pilots they plan to hire in Northern Ireland. And, to do this, they’re upsetting the travel plans of 50,000 people due to travel with Aer Lingus next Wednesday and Thursday.

Basically, I understand the requirement for trade unions under unfair employment regimes. However, these employees are being treated and paid well. The unions have become too powerful, and are simply wielding strike threats to force the hand of employers to do what they want. Often times this is looking for large pay increases or reduced working hours (or both, like the nurses!). Now they’re trying to force employers to deal with staff in other countries under their terms and conditions.

It’s gone too far. In my opinion, trade unions in Ireland aren’t worth the money. Take your subscription fees, save for a while and take a holiday or something! Just don’t allow these institutions to wield this power for no good reason.

Last week, myself and Louise attended the Federation of European Williams Syndrome “Sound and Action” camp in Sweden. We were asked to attend by the Williams Syndrome Association of Ireland as leaders for the Irish group attending.

Firstly, Williams Syndrome is a genetic condition caused by the deletion of some material on chromosome number 7. It occurs in approximately 1 in 20,000 births.

The FEWS camp, organised this year by the Swedish Williams Syndrome society, is an annual camp for young european people with Williams Syndrome. It is funded under the Youth for Europe program within the EU.

This years camp, titled “Sound and Action”, provided musical tuition and varied activities to the groups from the 12 countries that attended. There was a choice of four theme groups available – rock, pop, choir and african drumming, of which the Irish group were involved in three – rock, pop and african drumming. As one of the leaders for the Irish group, I got the chance to attend classes in each of these three theme groups, as well as some of the activities. The activities included swimming, volleyball, day trips, computer games and african dance and choir workshops.

Overall, everyone seemed to really enjoy the camp. The schedule was packed full, so we were all tired every evening, and at the end of the week. The end-of-week concert went very well, and was a great way to show off what the participants had learned during the week. We met lots of lovely people from across Europe and got a lot more insight into the varied capabilities of people with Williams Syndrome.

All in all, it was a great week and a very worthwhile experience. Congratulations to the Swedish WS association for a well organised and well run camp.