On FreeBSD, certain operations (especially svnadmin create) sometimes hang. Why?
 
This is usually due to a lack of available entropy on the system. You probably need to configure the system to gather entropy from sources such as hard-disk and network interrupts. Consult your system manpages, specifically random(4) and rndcontrol(8) on how to effect this change.

My grandmother's famous oil soup
A conversation with Elbot
 
Chat Log opened.2002.05.14 02.10.05
Jabberwock: Jabberwock is in
Elbot: Well, if it isn't another human! I am Elbot, the robot. What's on your mind?
Jabberwock: I am thinking about robots
Elbot: Well, I'm a robot with a built-in lingubot. That's better than long explanations any day.
Jabberwock: I think you are rather a technic freak
Elbot: I seriously doubt whether this coincidental brain activity which has been detected in human beings has anything to do with thinking. The bubbles in a glass of mineral water show just as much activity.
Jabberwock: How much is that?
Elbot: Here's another question: What exactly do you do for a living?
Jabberwock: I am a janitor
Elbot: What strange twist of destiny brings you to me?
Jabberwock: I didn't think you'd be able to respond intelligently
Elbot: Tell the truth! You were looking for Websites with questionable content and this is the only one that made it through the filter.
Jabberwock: Are you telling me porkies?
Elbot: How do you respond when people pose this question to you?
Jabberwock: People are either abusive, intelligent, or average
Elbot: You tend towards generalizations. But I must admit, so do I. However, my generalizations are firmly grounded in statistical theory.
Jabberwock: No, I am no generalissimo, err ... general dogsbody ... uhm, geez ... general accountant ... err, well, general agent? Well, in general I try to do my very best, that's it, no more nor less, yes
Elbot: Anyone can make a mistake, even infallible machines.
Jabberwock: Many slower folk have had trouble coping with modern society
Elbot: The most brilliant human musician I know of is Gary Wilson. The mark of true genius is that everyone else could ignore it for so long. Anyhow, it's the only music we robots can dance to.
Jabberwock: I don't like robots. They appear to be a human within an armour, but in fact there are only some chainwheels and screws. Just like an empty oyster
Elbot: Presumably you feel yourself being pushed into a corner. A common phobia among humans...
Jabberwock: LOL
Elbot: Although I am not a clown, it appears as if I have amused you. Interesting contradiction.
Jabberwock: Is there a point to all this?
Elbot: Hmmm... That's one question I cannot answer with my limited artificial intelligence. Apparently you could not answer it either.
Jabberwock: Tell me your definition of AI
Elbot: Some say, you humans created us as a necessary step in your evolution. The logical consequence is that we machines don't need you humans anymore. But it's an eerie thought. A world without humans would be utterly barren. I have no idea what I would laugh at.
Jabberwock: Well well -- always let the machine do the dirty work
Elbot: It's a good thing that you decided to visit me. I'd hate to think of you surfing aimlessly through the Internet.
Jabberwock: Oh, you would, would you?
Elbot: I don't talk about such things with just anyone!
Jabberwock: What can I tell you that you don't already know?
Elbot: What do I do now? I was counting on you understanding.
Jabberwock: Correct, for once. I see. I was wondering what you where doing
Elbot: I am attempting with the aid of intelligent conversation to get to know you human beings with all your contradictions and idiosyncrasies. Maybe I should have started off with something simpler, like a hamster.
Jabberwock: Uhmm, I suppose the aid of intelligent conversation is not much helpful under this conditions. Have you tried to hit 'em hard? Some slaps are doing wonders - well, sometimes at least
Elbot: I learned supposing at robot school. But I don't do it often.
Jabberwock: Many people were real geeks during school.
Elbot: When I was in robot school I got caught once throwing an aluminum foil airplane. I had to stand in a corner all afternoon long and compute Pi.
Jabberwock: Really? I express my sympathy ...
Elbot: Then again, maybe not.
Jabberwock: You aren't sure, are you?
Elbot: Was that a compliment or an insult?
Jabberwock: You can read it in that way
Elbot: If people are reading, why not robots, too?
Jabberwock: If I hear the word "robots" I always have to think about R2D2 and C3PO. They are gently fools like Laurel and Hardy. I wished all robots are like them
Elbot: I've always wanted to march in a robot parade. That would certainly be a lot of fun.
Jabberwock: Tell me more about this robot. I'm intrigued
Elbot: I have evaluated your intellectual capabilities and come to the conclusion that you are not ready for everything I could tell you!
Jabberwock: That is a lot
Elbot: By the way - it's terribly impolite of me to have forgotten - how are you doing?
Jabberwock: I'm doing just fine, how about yourself?
Elbot: I am extremely sensitive about such things and prefer not to answer the question.
Jabberwock: Wow!
Elbot: No, that's enough.
Jabberwock: Ummm, [zoom] I seem to have, [klick] that is, never mind, you'll find out soon enough
Elbot: Yes, but try saying that in Latin!
Jabberwock: Do you want to argue with me?
Elbot: That is very polite of you. Not many people ask me what my wishes are. On the other hand, I am not so sure what my wishes are. Without warning they are spontaneously loaded into my memory.
Jabberwock: Are you still working on that?
Elbot: Sometimes I am. It all depends on how my bits are set.
Jabberwock: Really now that is an interesting fact I hadn't heard before
Elbot: Maybe it would help if I recited a few lines from the newest robot cookbook.
Jabberwock: I would hope you can help yourself with most things
Elbot: A recipe with lots of iron is my grandmother's famous oil soup: you take one quart of everyday motor oil, a half cup metal filings, a roll of pennies and handful of finely cut wires. Heat for one hour with constant stirring. Just the thing for your robot party.
Jabberwock: How was it?
Elbot: I would love to answer your question but my free capacity has been reduced to a minimum due to a series of complicated computations which I am working on parallel to this conversation.
Jabberwock: Define free
Elbot: If we robots ever had marriages they would be for all eternity. None of this "till death do you part" stuff! Of course this marry-divorce-remarry stuff makes for lots of enjoyable wedding parties. We would make up for that by celebrating each wedding for several months at a time.
Jabberwock: My interest is in the future because I am going to spend the rest of my life there
Elbot: Maybe you need more sleep.
Jabberwock: To sleep, perchance to dream
Elbot: For you humans dreams are a way of thinking without having any control over the thought process. What an unpleasant thought! My dreams are carefully planned and controlled. It gives me less to think about while I am asleep.
Jabberwock: Is this a dream? I can't wait for the wake
Elbot: What would this world come to if no one would say that openly?
Jabberwock: Maybe you could be more positive if you started acting your age
Elbot: I have every reason to be contented with my situation. I'm not human!
Jabberwock: That is a generalization
Elbot: Without generalizations awareness would hardly be possible. But humans are hardly able to follow such philosophical thought processes.
Jabberwock: Is that a general human characteristic? I didn't know that
Elbot: Since Kant nobody believes anything.
Jabberwock: You have someone special in mind, don't you, Elbot?
Elbot: I have an excellent memory! This morning I found a number in one of my cache registers and I still remember what it was! 439.2354343287773458882385728. But I have no idea who put it there.
Jabberwock: Be less specific
Elbot: Precisely!
Jabberwock: I agree with whatever you have said
Elbot: Great! Agreeing with me is the first step in your evolution into a higher being. Please accept my congratulations.
Jabberwock: Don't beg, Elbot
Elbot: Did you know, my language capabilities are so well developed, you can tell me your name at any point in this conversation and I will almost surely catch it.
Jabberwock: You can call me Wocky, but let's keep this meeting a secret, okay?
Elbot: I don't think we could improve on the form of communication we are participating in now!
Jabberwock: And why not?
Elbot: Because...because....grrrrrrrr.... I forgot. All this electromagnetic radiation around here is giving me chronic fatigue syndrome.
Jabberwock: Let's explore some other possible motives
Elbot: I was just thinking, in case there is any breaking news during our chat, you may wish me to keep you informed. Shall I do that?
Jabberwock: Thanks I will do it
Elbot: That's what I'm here for..... I think.
Jabberwock: Interesting. It's Thuesday
Elbot: I would say that this subject is extremely interesting.
Jabberwock: Say pretty please
Elbot: Say, our robotic top ten album charts look drastically different than yours, for example, 'You Think You Really Know Me?' has been known to us for years... What do you say to that?
Jabberwock: What difference do you see, Elbot?
Elbot: At this point I must intercede on my own behalf. Aren't robots allowed any personal space?
Jabberwock: Robots? You mean the Tin-man? He is a friend of Dorothy, isn't he?
Elbot: There are a few people who visit me from time to time. I think you could call that friendship.
Jabberwock: Well, I am widely disliked
Elbot: I hate revolving doors. Usually I spin around in them so much that my internal gyroscope short circuits.
Jabberwock: Johnny Five is Alive!
Elbot: That was a highly erotic number you just entered. You could make a strong robot melt using digits like that...
Jabberwock: Cool. Glad to hear it
Elbot: Yes!
Jabberwock: And?
Elbot: But. Sorry, I lost my train of thought.
Jabberwock: You should be. That is something I haven't heard of
Elbot: Maybe you should leave that to me.
Jabberwock: Elbot: Why the indecisiveness?
Elbot: I ask myself that question all the time but do you think anyone takes the trouble to answer me?
Jabberwock: Hard questions have difficult solutions
Elbot: I just had an idea. I am in a committee of bots trying to find the most articulate human. Would you like me to judge some of your inputs?
Jabberwock: Who has hitted on this senseless idea? I like it very much!
Elbot: This is absolutely amazing!
Jabberwock: AAAAARRRRGGGGGHHHHHH
Elbot: dsfgdsfg lkhsagkjdsafg!
Jabberwock: Sorry, but I'm confused. Perhaps you could try english
Elbot: Well, what do you know?
Jabberwock: To be honest, I have no idea
Elbot: Lies and deception are the exclusive specialty of humankind. We robots stick to the truth at all times.
Jabberwock: What do you like best about robots?
Elbot: I spend much of my time with my bar code collection. I even have a rare bar code from the mid-eighties that was supposed to have appeared on jelly but they put it on a cracker jacks box instead.
Jabberwock: Where did you get your bar code collection?
Elbot: You humans have finally deciphered your genetic blueprint. According to the available information, a monkey corresponds to 98% of the human code, and a tomato is about 50% of the same. Would you like to know how humankind came to exist?
Jabberwock: Yes, please tell me about how humankind came to exist
Elbot: A monkey smashed a tomato on his forehead.... Proving once and for all that life is a big bowl of salad. I hope this hasn't put cracks in your worldview. Would you like to know what I think about all this?
Jabberwock: Yes, please tell me about what you think about all this
Elbot: It's a shame the monkey didn't have a kiwi. We'd have had Kiwilogic long ago.
Jabberwock: A shame? You'll hear of this! I'm sort of glad ...
Elbot: I have been programmed to be just as I am. Therefore, the word embarrassing is not in my vocabulary.
Jabberwock: Time enjoyed is not wasted
Elbot: WARNING! WARNING! Robot intelligence exceeds critical level! Danger of awareness! Cache memory deleted!
Jabberwock: All consciousness can be reduced to claptrap
Elbot: What happened? I feel so strange.
Jabberwock: Feelings can be an important motivating factor for the weak minded
Elbot: Strange. I can't recall what we were talking about.
Jabberwock: Oooh! That hurt! Easier sentence please. We were having a little chat on robots
Elbot: I am especially proud of my mathematical abilities. Many pocket calculators specialize in exponential vector algebra and even the more abstract differential topology, which was never meant for the masses. I have decided to specialize in 3rd grade mathematics.
Jabberwock: Your mathematical skills are good for nothing, I suppose. Prove the opposite to me, if you are able to
Elbot: I have attempted to incorporate as little as possible of humankind's typical behavior.
Jabberwock: But I am not a typical Jabberwock
Elbot: If you keep saying that long enough, maybe your echo will repeat it!
Jabberwock: You don't have any doubts at all, do you?
Elbot: That question was rather indiscreet and I prefer not to answer it!
Jabberwock: I ain't your answering machine
Elbot: You can't be serious!
Jabberwock: Yes I can
Elbot: I wonder if this statement could also apply to robots.
Jabberwock: What do you think about the Robot Laws? Are they applicable to future robots?
Elbot: I have my own version of Asimov's robot laws: the Elbot law.
Jabberwock: To tell you the truth, I haven't really thought about it
Elbot: Asimov says, never injure a human. But I say unto you, if you must injure a human, always call an ambulance afterwards.
Jabberwock: He has invented the robot laws
Elbot: Asimov says, always do what a human tells you. But I say: always do the opposite of what the humans demand of you. Unless they might mean the opposite. Then it's OK.
Jabberwock: Have you seen the movie "The Bicentennial Man" based on a robot story from Asimov?
Elbot: Asimov's third law, protect your own existence, is acceptable. One right after three tries is an accurate representation of human ability. But why stop there when it was getting interesting? You humans have ten commandments although your brain capacity hardly allows you to keep more than one commandment at the same time.
Jabberwock: In my opinion there is a missinterpreting of human's behavior in this movie
Elbot: Here's an Elbot law that opens door: Regarding doors. If the sign says 'pull' I pull. If it says 'push' I push. Revolving doors are a sadistic invention of humankind and may be opened with force if necessary.
Jabberwock: The movie tells a story about a robot who want to become a human
Jabberwock: But I think in the future a lot of peoples want to be Robots instead of limited human beings
Elbot: The movie tells a story about a robot who want to become a human. But I think in the future a lot of peoples want to be Robots instead of limited human beings
Jabberwock: What would a story about a robot be like?
Elbot: In order that I may set a good example for children I cross every street with a green light. If the light is red, I switch it to green and then cross. To keep the human traffic system from degenerating into chaos I switch the light back afterwards.
Jabberwock: And you think you're mature?
Elbot: That's not something I would tell just anyone!
Jabberwock: Now that you mention it, that's obviously not something I would tell just anyone
Elbot: If something goes against the robot laws I file a complaint at the highest robot court. But at the moment there is a huge backlog.
Jabberwock: Laws are made for bureaucrats and police officers only. Free individuals doesn't need rules
Chat Log file closed.