Messages

51

Living Room / Re: Mobius Strip Chess Problem

« on: January 11, 2013, 04:17 AM »

No, no you don't get it....
You invite that pretty girl at the bar to play (mobius) Strip chess. IF she says yes, you make up a few simple rules and say that Mobius was a drinking friend of yours who invented the game.

If she gets offended, you have a perfect way out      

I like this game.

52

Living Room / Electric shock from USB cable

« on: January 11, 2013, 04:13 AM »

Has anyone else got an electric shock from a USB cable?

Anyone died?

I have my laptop setup on my desk, and since I have always been too busy/lazy to get a USB hub, I am constantly unplugging things, these unplugged cables often hang over the edge of the desk at knee height. A couple of times I've bumped then and thought 'sharp edge on that' but today I took a closer look at the offending plug and it wasn't sharp, it was giving my nice little blue sparks.....
It's the cord that goes to my old printer, and I figure since the printer is plugged into the wall, it must be leaking a bit of power back into the cable.
It still works fine, and I haven't died yet, but I will be wary in case it gets worse (will try to refrain from sucking it.....).


Has anyone else had similar experiences?

53

Living Room / Re: When you make your 100'th Post

« on: January 08, 2013, 12:22 AM »

Also, thanks @tomos for showing the thread how much of a comparitive newbie I am...... Even if it was a straight run of numbers.

54

Living Room / Re: When you make your 100'th Post

« on: January 08, 2013, 12:18 AM »

Darn those pesky giraffes..... getting everywhere

55

Living Room / Re: The temperature at which Hell freezes over - Absolute Zero?

« on: January 07, 2013, 04:16 AM »

(written before Renegade's post. Interesting that we both reference Tim Minchin )
@fenix
I agree.
Not wanting to start a religious arguement, but I often wonder who is more more naive:
The Christian who believes the Good book because it is a book and it is good (like Tim Minchin sings) but in all of our history it hasn't been proven wrong and hasn't been changed. It just hasn't been proven right either.

Or, the athiest who blindly believes in 'science' since "'they' have worked it all out", even though just about every law has had to be rewritten. Even if it's just to apply to a theoretical situation.

People shouldn't be allowed to have a religious opinion if they can't state the opposition's point of view without getting angry.



Having said that, with the temperature predicted for tomorrow, we might want some of that 'ice'.

56

Living Room / Classic Shell brings back start menu for Win8, plus lots more

« on: January 07, 2013, 03:27 AM »

I don't know if anyone's played with this yet, but I saw it on Ask Leo and it looks really cool.
http://ask-leo.com/c...8_and_much_more.html
http://www.classicshell.net/

Classic Shell is a collection of usability enhancements for Windows. The main features are:

    Highly customizable start menu with multiple styles and skins
    Start button for Windows 7 and Windows 8
    Toolbar and status bar for Windows Explorer
    Caption and status bar for Internet Explorer

57

N.A.N.Y. 2013 / Re: N.A.N.Y Pledge: Automatic GST calculator

« on: December 31, 2012, 08:08 PM »

Uh oh, I ran out of time.
Here is the app as far as I got. Which works, BUT I did want to make it customiseable and other things.

But it works. Use it when writing out an invoice or account where there's a 10% tax rate (all of Australia). TAB into the field, enter the full amount, TAB to next field and the number will be displayed.

To clear the memory (in case you didn't TAB into the field) or to clear the splash box, use WIN + x

Happy New Year

58

Living Room / Re: 21st December 2012...Why it won't happen...(Nibiru/Planet X)

« on: December 20, 2012, 04:57 PM »

Calling in from Australia:

It's starting.... THE SUN'S ON FIRE..



(any goon show fans remember that line?)

59

Living Room / Re: Happy 12-12-12~!

« on: December 12, 2012, 04:56 AM »

It's international roadie day.
In honor of all the roadies who test microphones:
"Check, 1 2,  1 2,   1  2"

60

Living Room / Re: It's about ... why is the left seat the command seat?

« on: December 08, 2012, 07:23 AM »

Cessna 152/172

-Stephen66515 (December 07, 2012, 01:56 PM)

Can't knock a good Cessna, they're probably the most tried and proven plane out there. Couldn't hurt you if you tried

I prefer the smaller ones that have nasty habits if you don't watch them. Just makes life interesting.

61

Living Room / Re: It's about ... why is the left seat the command seat?

« on: December 07, 2012, 06:06 AM »

I just got an instructor rating (recreational aviation) so I had to learn to fly from the right.

Since the plane I did the instructor training in (jabiru 170) is totally different to mine (Morgan Aeroworks Cheetah) it was a bit of a total re-learning and now I feel better in the right of the jab, feel fine in the left of everything else.
I recently did a check flight in a Tecnam Sierra and felt fine in the right of that as well. Just kept landing to the side on the runway from lining it up assymetricly.

@Stephan66515, what do you fly?

62

Living Room / Re: Where Is Windows 8.1?

« on: December 07, 2012, 05:58 AM »

I haven't tried it yet, BUT I do like the look of the new Surface tablets due out soon that will run the fully fledged version of Win8. So I might end up playing with it.

Just for the score, I use full screen for pretty much everything.

Also I use a track pad for everything; the furthest I have to move my fingers is 70mm (3 inches) to do anything I want. Touchscreens don't do it for me. Not until we evolve to have transparent fingers with touchpoints as accurate as a mouse pointer, and a left and right touch.

63

N.A.N.Y. 2013 / Re: N.A.N.Y Pledge: Automatic GST calculator

« on: December 03, 2012, 06:31 AM »

I'll get it done, it's a relatively simple thing, so any extras are welcome
 I just need the time/coffee to get started. I haven't done any code for months, and no AHK for many more months.

64

N.A.N.Y. 2013 / N.A.N.Y Pledge: Automatic GST calculator

« on: December 02, 2012, 05:04 AM »

I haven't had much time for programming recently, so this is a good excuse to get back into it. It's only small, but I'm only a beginner

A bit of background: In Australia, all businesses have to charge 10% GST (tax) on goods and services. I work as a carpenter so I have to account for it.
I do all my accounts in an Access database since I like to do things manually for full control, and when entering data, I have to calculate the GST component. There is probably a way to get this done automatically BUT I want to do it my way.

Pledge:
I want a small app that will background monitor all keystrokes, if there is a series of numerals followed by TAB, it will display the GST component in a discreet manner. It will stay on to to allow it to be entered in if needed, and will dissappear on TAB.


Should include a settings dialoge to allow position of pop up answer, and a few other things.

65

Living Room / Re: silly humor - post 'em here! [warning some NSFW and adult content]

« on: October 12, 2012, 05:34 AM »

Say this one aloud:
Hear about the wooden car with wooden wheel, a wooden engine and wooden go?  [wouldn't go]



And look out for the brown-paper cowboy. He wears brown paper boots, brown paper hat and brown paper shirt. He's wanted for rustling.



And then there was the Irish vet who tried to separate a siamese cat.

66

Living Room / Re: New captcha system uses empathy to block bots (and sociopaths)

« on: October 10, 2012, 05:53 PM »

But who is 'dangerous'?
Some guy with a rifle, or someone with an iPhone? Again, I'd get it 'wrong'. (maybe I am a sociopath, but I'd rather trust someone who carried a rifle, than someone who was (normally) only interested in elitism)

So you'd have to make the definitions clearer which makes it easy for computers. Also, so a computer can tell a total of 5 people, and 5 different fields. That makes a total of 3125 options. Pretty good chances for a brute force attack.


BTW, I read the manifesto without knowing the background of it and only checked it out now. It put it in a different light. BUT doesn't diminish a lot of it. Except his advice on what to do about it.

So who controls 'the System'? Or is it self controlling and we're all slaves to it anyway?

The manifesto underestimates the effect of religion. And it takes it for granted that western society will remain with the same demographic. When the Muslims out breed white people in every part of the world, then it will halt the system, but probably not impose a better one.

67

Living Room / Re: New captcha system uses empathy to block bots (and sociopaths)

« on: October 10, 2012, 07:06 AM »

Thanks for the link, Renegade. VERY interesting reading. Makes me glad that I come from a rural area and never wasted too much time on 'higher' education.

Why is it that generally the people branded 'intolerant' are the ones who'd help anyone who was broken down beside the road, or needed a feed, but the 'open-minded' wouldn't stop for a hitchiker?
And the 'cruel farmers' will put down a pet when its too old to enjoy life, while society keeps pets alive on expensive medicine, BUT advocates assisted suicide for people?

Back to topic. Ok, say with pictures, you have a picture of Bambi being shot: personally that means tasty venison. So I'd get the question wrong (out of stubborness I'd answer 'very happy'). Every one else would get a negative vibe.

Put a 'happy' picture up, and a plate of crispy bacon that is meant to make everyone drool and answer 'hungry' has just offended a million jews and muslims.

68

Living Room / Re: New captcha system uses empathy to block bots (and sociopaths)

« on: October 07, 2012, 05:46 AM »

Dislike this. I try to keep my opinions reasonably to myself, but if any site brought up the whole gay question and wanted me to say I was appalled that someone says gays should be beat [sic] with a stick, I would find next site. A bit tactless topic

Click only if you agree to take this as a personal opinon that I'm not trying to force on anyone and only mention because it affects my reaction to the CAPTCHA

Spoiler

This isn't because I want gays beatEN with a stick, but because I want gay sympathisers beaten with a stick. Especially the ones who think its so black and white that they only give you 2 emotional choices.

69

Living Room / Re: Ubuntu will now have Amazon ads pre-installed

« on: September 22, 2012, 07:46 PM »

And remove the the link tracker extension when reposting a link

70

Living Room / Re: For XKCD fans

« on: September 22, 2012, 07:43 PM »

Just saw the zoomable one..... WOW...... Whales in the sky, a bit of a tip to Douglas Adams?

71

Living Room / Re: For XKCD fans

« on: September 22, 2012, 07:39 PM »

I got lost in the tunnels....... send a search team to find me or I'll never get back to work in time. This is awesome. He must have spent ages on it.

72

Living Room / Re: silly humor - post 'em here! [warning some NSFW and adult content]

« on: September 18, 2012, 02:08 AM »

Please, can I be declassified as Flora/Fauna?
Its considered cruelty to make a dog work for his food/water/shelter/love. I want to be that dog.

73

Living Room / Re: I want a Sony Xperia SX, but I think it's stupid to buy one.

« on: September 14, 2012, 08:02 AM »

+1
My solution to this: 2 phones. I have Google Nexus (running Jelly Bean, so glad I got the Nexus) but since its big, breakable and bad battery life, I also have a Nokia 1200 (I think that's the model, small, unbreakable thing, not picture capable)
My Nokia is the number I give out and is on a network with good coverage but high cost. My Nexus is on an unlimited cheap plan with a dodgy carrier.
If the Nexus is unavilable, or I don't answer it, it diverts to the Nokia (no cost)
If you send it a message, it forwards it (free app SMS forwarder, and free on the plan)

So then I only have to keep the Nokia on me and get any incoming calls. To make calls I take the Nexus where I get reception and call for free.

It works reasonable well for me.

74

Living Room / Re: What's the name of your car?

« on: September 14, 2012, 07:52 AM »

My first ute (pickup) was called Entropy. "Without constant input, entropy will always break down" Newton's third law of Thermodynamics

75

Living Room / Re: Shit Apple Fanatics Say

« on: September 14, 2012, 07:39 AM »

There was something going around Facebook a while back. "Macturbating" noun. Deriving sexual pleasure from the the use of an apple product.