Ubuntu upgrading

Using graphical interface:
gksu "update-manager -c"

Or on the command line:

sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

On Ubuntu server:

sudo aptitude install update-manager-core
sudo do-release-upgrade

For more info see the Ubuntu Guide.

What Linux (Ubuntu) version am I running?

To display the version of the Ubuntu you're running - run this on the command/cmd line (Or check the contents of /etc/lsb-release):
lsb_release -a

An example response should look like:
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 7.04
Release: 7.04
Codename: feisty

In theory it should work on any LSB (Linux Standard Base) distro...

TheMobileOutlet suck

If you're looking for a review or rating of the mobile outlet then I would recommend that you do NOT touch these guys with a barge pole - they try every way possible to get out of paying cashback. I read and reread their T&C's and sent them all they asked for but they tried to bullshit me at the first hurdle - they ask you include the 'original' cover note with your first cashback claim (original bills included) - They tried to claim the one I'd sent 'em wasn't the original - how do they prove that?? I got some great help from the excellent Reestit Mutton site and things happened - for a while. They've now stalled again after sending only a couple out of the 5 cheques....

Never use them again (they are too good to be true). There are plenty more out there - see this handy Motley Fool article.

oprofile on Ubuntu problem

I tried to run oprofile 0.9.2 on gutsy and it comes up with and error:

sudo opcontrol --event=default
the following lines occur:

/usr/bin/opcontrol: 1: arith: syntax error: "NR_CHOSEN - 1"
/usr/bin/opcontrol: 1: arith: syntax error: "NR_CHOSEN - 1"
No events given.

ophelp --get-default-event gives the following
CPU_CLK_UNHALTED:100000:0:1:1

According to this bug report - Here's how to fix it: Replace /bin/sh with /bin/bash in the first line of /usr/bin/opcontrol

Found Big bug in Firefox - Helper apps inherit ALL open file descriptors

After some more investigations I've concluded that the Evince problem I've been seeing is actually due to a bug in Firefox - basically it does not close all file descriptors (as it should) when launching external helper apps hence evince inherits the open sound device and hangs onto it after firefox is closed. I've reported the bug on Ubuntu's launchpad - it could also be a nasty security vulnerability.

News flash: It seems that this bug was reported a while ago on the Firefox bugzilla but it _still_ hasn't been fixed??!!