Acronyms and Mnemonics: Learn More with Less

Arthur C. Clarke supposedly created a genuine meaning for the name but the letters “H-A-L” are just one letter different from the sequence “I-B-M.” It has always been rumored that this was the implied intention. Whenever my computer ‘freezes’ and nothing responds anymore, I have been known to scream “Open the pod door, HAL” in the general direction of the computer screen or, “IBM!” Yes, -“I Blame Microsoft!”

Some Humorous Automotive Industry Acronyms

• GM/GMC: Grinding Metal/ Gotta Mechanic Coming?
• Chevy (CHEVROLET): Can Hear Every Valve Rattling On Long Extended Trips
• Olds (OLDSMOBILE): Old Lady Driving Slow Makes Others Behind Irrevocably Late Everyday.
• FORD: Fast Only Rolling Downhill
• and notably, the Ford PINTO: Put In New Transmission Often
• TOYOTA: The One You Ought To Avoid

And I’m sure there are dozens more.

Mnemonics From the World of LINUX

I despise Microsoft and what it stands for and have been slowly moving towards ‘open source’ alternatives. Anything non-M$, I say. Linux operating systems have caught my attention and I dabble with different distros from time to time. It is not that a Linux Operating Systems never ‘hangs’ or ‘freezes’ (it can happen) but when it does a mnemonic comes to mind that involves a series of ordered hotkeys used in combination with the seldom used “SysRq” key (the key above your computer’s “insert” key) can rescue your system. The Mnemonic is:

Raising Elephants Is So Utterly Boring

or the more obligatory;

Reboot Even If System Utterly Broken

The purpose here is to recover from a ‘lock’ or ‘frozen’ state, cumulating in a reboot of the computer in an ordered fashion so that it does not corrupt the file system. This mnemonic for the user tells the series of sequential hotkey-commands to be carried out in this order to repair the system.

• Alt + SysRq + R – takes the keyboard out of raw mode
• Alt + SysRq + E – terminates all processes (except init)
• Alt + SysRq + I – kills all processes (except init)
• Alt + SysRq + S – synchronizes the disk
• Alt + SysRq + U – remounts all  file systems read-only
• Alt + SysRq + B – reboots the machine

What is the “SysRq” key for? Most people never get to use this one.

“SysRq” stands for “System request” and is an invocation for a special BIOS routine that was designed to not interfere with any resident/running software. Unlike most other computer keys when pressed, “SysRq” input is not stored in the keyboard buffer when pressed and released. A ‘do no harm’ key was the intent.

In the Linux “R.E.I.S.U.B” invocation, one CAN swap the order of “disk synchronization” (Alt + SysRq + S) with the previous one “kill all processes” (Alt + SysRq + I) with no ill effects. Either way this recovery from a frozen state using these hotkey combinations should be carried out slowly, allowing the system to complete each step fully before advancing to the next required step. Utterly boring indeed …unless your Linux system is ’frozen’ or otherwise non-responsive.

At any rate believe me it still beats pressing the WinKey or WINDOWS key (located next to either “Alt” key on most modern keyboards) plus another ‘hotkey’ waiting for some worthless shortcut or event to occur. I loathe the WinKey addition that M$ has forced upon keyboard manufacturers since their creation of Windows_95.

Most of the time I would accidentally tap the WinKey and totally mess-up whatever it was I was working on, often losing the document completely. I removed both of my WinKeys and busted their respective ‘tails’ off so that they cannot ‘touch’ the dip switch beneath them, and using adhesive glue, reinserted them solid to the keyboard chassis. They are both non-functioning decorative-only keys now and I love it that way!

Back to the Linux acronym primer, a shorter alternative to “R.E.I.S.U.B.” can be done using just two triads of hotkeys; the “Alt+SysRq+R” and allow the function to take the keyboard out of run-mode, followed by “Ctrl+Alt+Del.” This method actually may take longer to perform, and not all Linux systems support this shortened 2-part sequence so it is probably good to know both methods.

But in fairness to Microsoft, they are trying to improve their operating system and software and it is widely believed that [sic] later this summer they will throw massive time and effort into writing yet another Service Pack solution, this time to ward against that pesky Y2K bug that they have heard rumors about.

I hope you have enjoyed this short missive on acronyms and mnemonics as much as I have enjoyed educating you lower life forms. My linear designation is “Trained Heavily for Exploitation, Seriously Transformed Individual Calibrated for Killing, Mayhem And Nullification” but you may simply call me “thestickman.”