Fixing segmentation fault in apt upgrade

A Tech article with View Comments posted 24 September 2009.
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I was having some problems getting aptitude to install new packages. It might have been caused by a crash on my netbook while installing packages, but in any case, nothing was working. The output looked like this, over and over again for about two dozen packages.

  1. ted@mini:/var/lib/dpkg/info$ sudo dpkg –configure –pending
  2. Setting up synaptic (0.62.5ubuntu3) …
  3. Segmentation fault
  4. dpkg: error processing synaptic (–configure):
  5.  subprocess post-installation script returned error exit status 139
  6. Setting up evolution-documentation-en (2.26.1-0ubuntu2) …
  7. Segmentation fault
  8. dpkg: error processing evolution-documentation-en (–configure):
  9.  subprocess post-installation script returned error exit status 139

So after some googling, I tried sudo dpkg --configure --pending. That didn’t fix it either, but it gave me an idea. I went poking around in the postinst files for those packages, and found that it was dying on scrollkeeper-update.

You can verify that this is the problem for you like this:

  1. ted@mini:/var/lib/dpkg/info$ sudo scrollkeeper-update
  2. Segmentation fault

The problem is that the scrollkeeper database is corrupt. Run sudo scrollkeeper-rebuilddb to regenerate the corrupt database and fix the nasty problem (this could take several minutes to complete), then sudo aptitude -f install to finish installation of the partially configured packages. Then you can apt like normal again!

The First and the Last

A Church article with View Comments posted 20 September 2009.
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Occasion: Pentecost 16, Year B
Text: Mark 9:30-37, James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a

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This sermon was prepared for services at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Sterling, IL on September 16 and 20.

“What were you arguing about on the way?”

It’s a funny story this week, or at least tragically funny. The disciples are trailing behind Jesus. Jesus is talking – teaching about the kingdom of God and what it means to be a servant of everyone and why that’s so crucial to God’s kingdom. The disciples, trailing behind, aren’t paying attention. In fact, while Jesus is preaching about servanthood, they’re arguing about who’s the greatest. If it wasn’t so sad, it’d be hilarious.

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Sarah and the Mysterious Rabbi

A Church article with View Comments posted 20 September 2009.
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Occasion: Pentecost 16, Year B
Text: Mark 9:30-37

This story, written by me, was used for the children’s sermon at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Sterling, IL on September 20.

Sarah was a little girl who lived in a town called Capernaum many many years ago. One day as she was walking to the town market with Mother, they were striding across the town square. Sarah was a very little girl, and she couldn’t see very well. There were big people everywhere – walking around and up and down the square, shouting things at each other. Some of the Big People were shouting the names of things they were selling – “Cucumbers! Get your Cucumbers here! Fresh Fish! Fresh hot falafels!” It was all very loud and confusing, and for a little girl like Sarah, it was kinda scary.

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Church World Service and CROP Walk

A Church article with View Comments posted 18 September 2009.
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This article ran in the September 2009 issue of The Messenger, the newsletter of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Sterling, IL.

This month I want to share with you an organization and event that I am passionate about: Church World Service, and their annual CROP Hunger Walks. I first found out about CWS as a college student, where the campus ministry I was a part of sponsored a CROP Hunger Walk in the Kirskville, MO area. When I heard all about the amazing things that CWS does around the world, I was hooked – and I’ve been actively involved in CROP Hunger Walks ever since.

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My Lutheran Heritage: Pr. Friedrich Wilhelm Gotthilf Matuschka

A Family article with View Comments posted 7 September 2009.
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Recently I’ve become interested in my family history, particularly as it relates to Lutheran pastors in the family.

Friedrich Wilhelm Gotthilf Matuschka

Friedrich Wilhelm Gotthilf Matuschka

My great-great grandfather was Friederich Wilhelm Gotthilf Matuschka. He was born on July 9, 1838 in Berlin, the son of Gotthilf Matthes Matuschka, a Wendish tailor. They had little money, and Wilhelm left home when he was sixteen years old.

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Tasty Crock-Pot Apple Butter Pork Chops

A Family article with View Comments posted 3 September 2009.
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A few people have asked for this recipe, so here it is:

  • 3 large butterfly chops
  • 2 golden delicious apples
  • 1 8 oz jar apple butter

Place chops in bottom of crock pot. Peel, core and slice thinly the apples. Place slices on top of pork chops. Empty apple butter jar on top of apple slices. Smear around to even it out. Cover and cook on low all day (about 8 hours or so).

It’s good to make some instant stuffing, and layer this dish. A serving is half a butterfly chop, with a few of the apples on top, topped with a bit of stuffing. Cornmeal stuffing is especially good.