Messages

101

Living Room / Re: DC's "EVIL DEAD" Get Together

« on: August 14, 2006, 07:32 AM »

I'm in for Australia -- whenever it is.  Opening a savings account TODAY, just in case.

102

Living Room / Re: DC's "EVIL DEAD" Get Together

« on: August 13, 2006, 04:17 PM »

Since we live all over the world (mouser, can you get us that great visual you produced way back when?), I have an idea:

At least for the first DC convention, we could pick a date, each choose a mountain (or hill, if mountain not available) and go to it.  There, we could commune (telepathically?) with others on the site.  Maybe, just by coincidence, we would actually meet up with a nearby member.  If not, we could each report back what we did and how much we all missed each other.

This might, at least, get us in the mood for the real thing.

103

Living Room / Re: build your own shirt folding machine:

« on: August 09, 2006, 07:19 AM »

Hold on, nudone.  Did I just notice a "cody peek" in your avatar, or am I hallucinating?  (Can you tell I'm trying to avoid doing something that REALLY needs to be done? )

104

Living Room / Re: build your own shirt folding machine:

« on: August 09, 2006, 06:59 AM »

For those of you who gave up on constructing a shirt-folding machine that works (and still think you need help with this very difficult task ), here's an origami version.  I haven't quite gotten the knack of it yet, and am left with kind of a bunched up mess on one side.  Maybe you'll have more success.

http://www.2flashgam.../v-4.htm&id=1260

105

Living Room / Re: Quck change artists — WTF?

« on: July 21, 2006, 02:24 PM »

I believe it's all done with holograms.  The only time a real person was on stage was at the beginning and at the end.

I recently saw a wonderful dance concert where the couple danced with each other, the with themselves, and also with other people who looked just like them, in and out of doors, curtains, etc..  Every once in a while, you could make out the real person among the holograms.  As long as the real people stand and move in designated spots, the pre-recorded images look like they are on stage, but aren't, and it all works out.  It may be technologically and artistically sophisticated, but it's not magic.

106

Living Room / Re: Free blog hosting for members at DonationCoder - might be a good idea?

« on: July 20, 2006, 06:30 AM »

A little background on fellow bloggers:  "Survey of the blogosphere finds 12 million voices" - from today's New York Times.

http://www.nytimes.c.../20/arts/20blog.html

107

General Software Discussion / Re: SiteAdvisor - or do YOU like spam, spyware, & safety threats?

« on: July 07, 2006, 10:56 AM »

You all probably already know this, but to find a person's profile, you go to "view the supporter yearbook" at the top right.  Then "sort by user name."  Then the letter of the alphabet where their name would be listed (this way, you don't have to know the exact spelling).

Another way to see all the posts someone has made would be to click on their name by a post they have made.  This will take you to the summary of their profile, and at the bottom, you will see a link to "see recent posts," which will take you too all their posts.

108

General Software Discussion / Re: SiteAdvisor - or do YOU like spam, spyware, & safety threats?

« on: July 07, 2006, 10:39 AM »

I know it's laborious -- and not the solution you want -- but you can always look through your OWN posts (or any known poster) by going to your (or their) profile and clicking on  "show posts" in the box at the left.

109

Site/Forum Features / Re: Ads On The Website

« on: July 07, 2006, 06:46 AM »

I don't really see how ad-based plans work, since I never click on ads at a site (except here, to add a little revenue to DC ), but somebody sees a future in it.  Read how AOL proposes to go to a free, ad-based service:

http://www.nytimes.c..._r=1&oref=slogin

110

Living Room / Re: portable air conditioning - any good?

« on: July 04, 2006, 11:44 AM »

I think the biggest consideration should be the physics of the thing.  A lot of heat is required to convert hot air into cool air.  That heat has to go somewhere -- other than into the room you are trying to cool, as that would result in a net heat gain.  I think most portable ACs have a hose that you put out the window or through a hole in the wall (or, perish the thought, into another room).  This hose carries the hot air out.  If you put the hose out the window, of course, you have to seal up the open part of the window so the hot air doesn't come rushing back in.

The other consideration is that a lot of evaporation must occur in order to cool the air.  That water has to go somewhere, too.  Much of it probably goes out through the hose, but I think there is also a tank for drippings, which can overflow, if not emptied now and then.

All in all, the only reason to have a PORTABLE airconditioner would be if you want to move it from room to room as the day (or night) goes by.

For my part, even though we have very hot summers, I go with the following method of climate control:  windows up at night, to let cool air in; windows and blinds (or curtains) down from early morning throughout the day, to keep the cool air in and prevent hot air from entering and the sun from heating up whatever it touches.  Strategically placed fans to blow on you whenever it gets too hot (and to bring in cool air at night), and absolutely no oven cooking.  This really works, and I can keep the place at least 10 degrees cooler inside than it is outside for most of the day, so long as I close the windows and blinds very early and don't open them again until the temperature begins to equalize (around 6 or 7 in the evening).

It's hard, at first, to resist the impulse to throw open the windows when it starts to heat up in the house, but this is the last thing you want to do if it is hotter outside than it is inside.  Only open the windows when the temperature outside is at or less than the temperature inside.

I've made a science of this, as you can tell.  Even though I'm a zealot on the issue, I've made very few converts, so I would love to know if anyone else is willing to experiment with this.

111

Living Room / Re: All your base are belong to us

« on: June 17, 2006, 09:46 AM »

Here are my personal favorites:

http://www.icq.com/f...browse_page_7917.php

and

http://www.icq.com/f...rowse_page_15958.php

112

Official Announcements / Re: Cody's Haiku Mug

« on: June 14, 2006, 08:24 AM »

The best part about Rover's poem (about not liking haikus) is that it's not really a haiku (the second line has only 6 syllables).  Great ironic touch.
  

I too hate haiku
It's a lame type of poem
Leaving this topic

-Rover (June 13, 2006, 09:52 PM)

113

Official Announcements / Re: Cody's Haiku Mug

« on: June 14, 2006, 06:07 AM »

This could be a song.
It captures Cody's spirit.
Might it win, please please?
.

my home is the road
a Cody mug in my hand
DC on the screen

-jdd (June 13, 2006, 09:21 PM)

114

Official Announcements / Re: Cody's Haiku Mug

« on: June 13, 2006, 11:36 AM »

Cody is cute so
we made him our own mascot.
Now we feed him coins.

115

Living Room / Re: Rock Paper Scissors 25 - an old game, a very cool twist

« on: June 08, 2006, 11:35 AM »

This just in, for you hardcore rock paper scissors fans:

Legal Dispute to Be Settled By 'Rock, Paper, Scissors' Match

When two attorneys could not agree about where to take the sworn statement of a witness, a federal judge in Florida ordered them to settle their dispute by using the game of rock, paper, scissors "as a new form of alternative dispute resolution."

Matti Leshem, co-commissioner for the USA Rock Paper Scissors League, thinks it is a positive moment for the world when anyone uses rock paper scissors to adjudicate a dispute.  He does have some concerns, though, about the rules that will be used, such as the number of pumps before the throw or if "illegal" throws will be allowed.

To make sure official USARPS rules are followed, Lesham and his staff are willing to fly down to Florida to oversee the match so that rock, paper, scissors is not made a mockery by the legal system. "When people take rock, paper, scissors into their own hands," he said, "mayhem can occur."

The USA Rock Paper Scissors League is getting ready for its national championship on June 12, 2006, where the winner will receive $50,000. The tournament will air on A&E.

116

General Software Discussion / Re: Looking for a REfinancing app

« on: May 29, 2006, 08:01 PM »

No problem.  Quicken has a planning section that will tell you exactly how long it will take you to break even if you refinance and how much (or if) you will save, depending on the rate, points, length of mortgage, etc. 

117

General Software Discussion / Re: Looking for finance app

« on: May 29, 2006, 07:46 PM »

Let me get to the categories now.  I can only imagine that Money (like other ms software) decides what you must want to do and leaves it at that.  With Quicken, you can have as many categories (and subcategories) as you want.

Let's say, for example, that you have professional expenses.  The category would be "professional."  You can then divide your expenses into sub-categories of "professional," like "membership dues," "books," "education," etc.

Or you have expenses for your home.  The category would be "home."  Sub-categories might be things like "insurance," "heat," "electric," "property taxes," "repairs."  Or your car, with sub-categories for gas, maintenance, insurance, repairs, etc.

Or you want to keep track of your computer expenses with subcategories for hardware, software, service, repair, supplies, etc.

You can split transactions, too.  Let's say you bought several things at a store, such as envelopes, a new thingy to replace the one that is leaking on the toilet, and a printer.  You can split the expenses into your favorite categories, so you can retrieve the information later.

All these go into reports that you might want to generate.  Such as your net worth , how much you spend on dining out, heating the house, repairing the car, etc.  Also, you can generate an income and expense report which will let you know if you have made more than you spent this month/year, or the reverse.

You can set a savings goal and see how you're doing.

118

General Software Discussion / Re: Looking for finance app

« on: May 29, 2006, 07:30 PM »

Okay, I'm glad you asked more about quicken.  I don't own any stock in the company (although I want to), but used it so long (and so much) that I think you could say that we are intimate.

First, let me say that I do much of my banking on line (you know, paying bills, transferring from checking acount to savings account), but I do all transactions manually in Quicken, rather than downloading them (I would do the same thing if I had Money, but we're talking about Quicken here).

One reason is that I have complete control over it and am not subject to the whims of how the bank (or credit card company) thinks I should keep the information or categorize the expenses.

Even more importantly with bank accounts, however, is that the bank has the information on checks I have written ONLY AFTER THEY CLEAR THE ACCOUNT.  It's more important to know how much I have left AS I WRITE THE CHECKS, so I don't bounce any checks.  If I rely on what the bank says has happened, I could have one or more large checks outstanding and think I have plenty left in the account, when much more must be accounted for -- the same as you would do when you keep a handwritten check stub and note how much you have left in the account.  You can see why it would not be a good idea to take your information about a checking account by downloading it from the bank.

119

Official Announcements / Re: Contest - Make a new Banner for Website

« on: May 28, 2006, 05:15 AM »

@nudone:  As long as you're editing, shouldn't the space come out between donation and coder?

@mouser:  Any change you plan to put up a page with thumbnails to make it easier to compare examples?

120

General Software Discussion / Re: Looking for a budget plan software

« on: May 27, 2006, 01:25 PM »

Quicken only supports US bank accounts.

-Carol Haynes (May 27, 2006, 01:06 PM)

That may be true, if you intend to link your quicken account for actually downloading from your bank account.  As long as you enter everything manually (which I do),* there should be no problem with setting up an account for your checkbook.  The same is true with credit card accounts.  As long as you don't want to download the information from the credit card site (which I don't, for many of the same reasons**), you should have no problem with them either -- or with anything else I mentioned.

*For several reasons:  I like to assign categories to everything; this lets me enter checks as I write them, not just as they are cleared by the bank (which would yield a deceptively higher amount that is actually available).

**Not to mention that they assign their own categories to expenses, and I like to make my own -- including dividing a particular store purchase among several categories (such as "clothing," "gifts," household repairs," etc.)

121

General Software Discussion / Re: Looking for finance app

« on: May 27, 2006, 12:34 PM »

Absolutely not.  I do, just because I love it so much and want to see what improvements they have added (mostly better interface with the web, internet banking, etc).  I use the business pro version, so I can track vehicle mileage, etc., but it is totally unnecessary for most uses.  You can use it for checking, savings, credit cards, mortgage, budgeting, savings goals, investments, tracking expenses (and income) by categories, scheduling recurring payments to you don't miss them, etc.

Maybe there's something free that will do most of what you need, but I've never explored them because I have more than gotten my money's worth, in peace of mind, from Quicken.

If you do decide to go with Quicken, I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have while you're setting it up.

122

General Software Discussion / Re: Looking for a budget plan software

« on: May 27, 2006, 11:46 AM »

Quicken, Quicken, Quicken.  See this thread for more info:  https://www.donation...60.msg26538#msg26538

123

General Software Discussion / Re: Looking for finance app

« on: May 27, 2006, 11:45 AM »

Quicken, Quicken, Quicken.   Quicken will support bi-weekly (or any other period) budgeting and much much more.  It is totally user-friendly and configurable.  Stay away from Microsoft money (it's a cheap imitation and, like other ms products, thinks it knows what you MUST want to do, even if it's way off the mark)>

124

Living Room / Re: How -- and why -- do you use different browsers?

« on: May 24, 2006, 07:33 AM »

javajones, thanks for reviving my post -- and for such a great mini-review.   All I hoped for, and more.  I've printed out your comments so I can get right to exploring it further.

125

Living Room / avatar enlargement

« on: May 22, 2006, 06:21 AM »

Hey, mouser, is there any way we could click on an avatar to make it larger?  Some of the pictures seem interesting, and it would be nice to get a really good look.  Either allow for expansion on the forum post itself or, alternatively, allow for expansion by going to the person's profile in the yearbook. 

I'm thinking particularly of the avatars created by OldElmerFudd, AlphaWolf, and mjfreelancing, but there are many other unique ones.  For a visual explosion, go to the supporter yearbook (link at top right) and use the tab for avatars: nine pages and growing!