Messages

101

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows 10 Privacy Concerns

« on: August 06, 2015, 03:12 PM »

I find it weird how people just learned to accept "we will access, disclose and preserve personal data, including your content (such as the content of your emails, other private communications or files in private folders)". It feels like vaccination to me. Yes, with Windows 10 you can turn it off (at least that's what we think). But once this becomes the norm, it maybe won't feel so wrong when you can't turn it off any more.

I don't think we're stuck. There are plenty of options, at least for us tech-savvy folks. Often, they are a lot of work to implement though and by far not as well integrated. I understand how convenient it is if you just enter a single user name and password on your new phone or machine and you have all you addresses, calendar, emails, photos, files, etc. back. But the price we pay is enormous imho.

I'm sure most DCers have read 1984. The direction we're heading seems so obvious. Nevertheless, we just don't want to see it, don't want to accept it. After all, you can just turn it off.

-phitsc (August 06, 2015, 11:13 AM)

...or the original 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers'.

Just thinking out loud, this reminds me of the cellphones that can be switched on remotely and indetectably, but cannot switch carriers, then methods were found to switch carriers anyway, then the Powers That Be left-brain labeled it 'jail breaking' and tried to outlaw it with oppressive legislation...

But these aren't cellphones, they're PCs with huge sprawling Windows or Windows-alternative OSs that are supposed to be open to creative modifications, and the Windows 10 built-in spyware scene is already creating net-spanning social pressure to do something about it.
And there are alternative OSs to Windows such as Unix, Linux, Apple, and so on.
IOW, it is not a static situation like a tightly sealed box; we can always seek to think outside the 'box' and seek to avoid being 'boxed in'.
That's the virtue of virtual reality; no one entity gets to arbitrarily define it in ways that stay fixed & one-sided with all the rules stacked in their favor.
With cellphones, the self-appointed 'rule-makers' tried to exploit a captive market and cry 'foul' with stupid 'jail breaker' labels.
My PC is no cellphone, but what I'm really getting at is that negative public (i.e. user) feedback to Windows 10 abuses, coupled with people voting with their feet to go elsewhere could theoretically cause Microsoft to backtrack, although at this point it only seems like so much wishful thinking.
But I'm so glad I stuck with WIndows 7 Pro and did not just jump into the free upgrade; it just didn't seem all that inviting to me, nor is it now.

102

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows 10 Privacy Concerns

« on: August 06, 2015, 08:56 AM »

Sounds almost like, next thing you know, like WalMart, Microsoft will be bogusly referring to us as 'Associates'.

103

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows 10 Privacy Concerns

« on: August 06, 2015, 02:37 AM »

plz ignore if this has already been addressed...
...personally, I'm sticking with Windows 7 Pro, tnx...
Windows 10 Can Collect Your Data For Gov't Agencies - What to Do
quote from the Windows 10 free upgrade Microsoft Services Agreement:
"Finally, we will access, disclose and preserve personal data, including your content (such as the content of your emails, other private communications or files in private folders), when we have a good faith belief that doing so is necessary to: 1.comply with applicable law or respond to valid legal process, including from law enforcement or other government agencies; 2.protect our customers, for example to prevent spam or attempts to defraud users of the services, or to help prevent the loss of life or serious injury of anyone; [...] ...however, if we receive information indicating that someone is using our services to traffic in stolen intellectual or physical property of Microsoft, we will not inspect a customer’s private content ourselves, but we may refer the matter to law enforcement."
((My Translation: With what looks like all AI and no human in the loop, you might could be SWATTED a little more easily by machine error.))
"From Mirror UK ...Microsoft has admitted it collects key information on Windows users, recording the searches they make with Bing, requests spoken to the voice assistant Cortana and even "your typed and handwritten words".
"The tech giant also said it could rifle through a variety of private and personal places."
"European Digital Rights Organisation said that Microsoft had given itself broad rights and would sell your data to third parties. Tech bloggers are upset that the defaults are set for automatic intrusion, as they know how many people will skip through the download without thinking - and give all of their information away."

Windows 10 spies on emails, images, credit cards, more
quote: "“From the moment an account is created, Microsoft begins watching. The company saves customers’ basic information – name, contact details, passwords, demographic data and credit card specifics,” explains a new report from the online Newsweek."
“But it also digs a bit deeper,” the report says.
“Other information Microsoft saves includes Bing search queries and conversations with the new digital personal assistant Cortana; contents of private communications such as email; websites and apps visited (including features accessed and length of time used); and contents of private folders,” the warning explains.
“Furthermore, ‘your typed and handwritten words’ are collected.’”
All of the warnings come from the company’s software privacy statement, which includes the statement that Microsoft collects information “to provide you a personalized user dictionary, help you type and write on your device with better character recognition, and provide you with text suggestions as you type or write.”
"He continued, “If you ever wondered why they’ve made the Windows 10 upgrade free to Win 7 & 8 users, here’s one possible answer. Windows 10 has all sorts of user tracking baked right in.”
"Kirsten Fiedler, of EDR, told the Mail, “Microsoft basically grants itself the right to collect and process everything you do, say and write on your device...”
"The RockPaperShotgun blog posted some instructions for opting out of the Microsoft data collection plan."
The actions won’t, the blog said, reduce the ads seen."

BTW, for those of us with older crashier machines, if you upgrade to Windows 10 and 'turn off all tracking', you better run 'create restore point' a few extra times, or you'll lose your preferred privacy settings without realizing it the next time you get a BSOD.

104

Living Room / Re: Recommend some music videos to me!

« on: August 05, 2015, 11:35 PM »

Please Don't Stop The Music Rihanna, Space Shuttle Discovery
If you are blocked, try TOR/Vidalia with Firefox and YouTube Unblocker add-on. (:
"Here is a mix of Rihanna song: "Please Don't Stop The Music" and the last mission of Space Shuttle Discovery to the International Space Station, mission number STS-120. Lift off is October 23, 2007 and Landing on Earth is November 7, 2007 at Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Commander of the mission is astronaut Pamela A. Melroy. The music is a long version of the original one."

105

General Software Discussion / Re: PSA: Woe to Thee Who Performs a Windows 10 Clean Install

« on: August 05, 2015, 06:59 PM »

(post moved by me)

106

General Software Discussion / Re: 'create Restore Point' question

« on: August 04, 2015, 10:42 PM »

I see from this thread that a lot of DCers are excited over a free upgrade offer to Windows 10.
I have to ask, what's so great about Win 10, and will it bog down my OS when it is barely running smoothly on Win 7?

107

Living Room / Re: TouchPad for PC w/Windows 7 vs. carpal tunnel ?

« on: August 04, 2015, 10:37 PM »

Have you considered braces of any sort?

Something like this during the day, so you can still do stuff.

And more heavy duty and restrictive, like this, for at night when you are sleeping.

Also, there is a technique I used, when I didn't have a vertical mouse, that lessened the amount of time I spent with my hand in a palm down position.

Make a fist or cup your hand and rest it on top of your mouse, like you were holding onto an invisible joystick, and move your mouse around that way. Only grab the mouse like you normally would, when you are ready to click. That will keep your hand in a more natural "handshake" position for a lot of your mouse usage.

There may also be some autoclick utilities, that will click the mouse if you stay in one place for a few seconds, eliminating the need to move your hand out of the "joystick" pose, unless you need to right click. I can't recommend one for you to try, though. Your mouse software might even have the feature already, so check there, first.

-app103 (August 03, 2015, 01:31 PM)

Tnx but when it's acting up, if anything so much as touches my inside right wrist area it is unbearably uncomfortable.
Also, I get my hands wet a lot, which would not be workable with a wrist brace.
But I am reviewing all options and everyone's suggestions.

108

Living Room / Re: TouchPad for PC w/Windows 7 vs. carpal tunnel ?

« on: August 03, 2015, 11:21 AM »

You guys floor me; I'm totally stunned.^^
I made some changes to my diet and got 50% improvement just from that already.
But I'm thinking seriously about a homemade copper wire bracelet, as Tesla's life & accomplishments proved there's way more to the mysteries of the cosmos than anyone ever dreamed.
Also considering an econo- Logitech-clone mouse -but not Logitech- for easier clicking.
The EU (Electronic Universe) postulates that the Sun & stars are electric-powered, which I'm inclined to believe.

109

Living Room / Re: good Videos [short films] here :)

« on: August 02, 2015, 07:03 PM »

John Deere vs Steam Tractor (:

Pipe Dream
Dirt biker Robbie Maddison rides his wheels on water and surfs.
Looks like he just invented a whole new sport. (:
I think he should add a pair of small inconspicuous CO2 equipped self-inflating floatation bags to the frame in case he stalls out and accidentally sinks.

110

Living Room / Re: good Videos [short films] here :)

« on: August 02, 2015, 06:48 PM »

Cop Frees Baby Skunk From Yogurt Container (:

111

General Software Discussion / Re: 'create Restore Point' question

« on: August 02, 2015, 04:03 PM »

^ Tnx app103 & Ath. (:
I reinstalled Malwarebytes and followed your advice on the settings.
AVG free is working out great, and I'll also save $40/yr on Norton's renewal fees.
I'm getting a lot fewer crashes and BSODs now.

BTW, (: is the same thing as :), a 'smilie'...

112

Living Room / Re: Whole Room Watercooling

« on: July 31, 2015, 11:34 PM »

^Why Earth is Closest to Sun in Dead of Winter (i.e. Northern Hemisphere).
quote - "It's winter in the Northern Hemisphere and we're at our closest point to the Sun. Closest? Yes, you read that right. Closest. For northerners, the winter solstice has just passed. But the truth is, on January 3, 2007, Earth reaches perihelion, its closest point to the Sun in its yearly orbit around our star.
At first glance, it makes no sense. If Earth is closest to the Sun in January, shouldn't it be summer? Maybe, if you live in the Southern Hemisphere. So what does this mean?"

My though is, wouldn't that spell comparatively hotter summers and colder winters for the Southern Hemisphere than for the Northern Hemisphere?
(I can hardly wait for someone to tell me I've got it backwards).

BTW, sorry to hear that aircos give you dryness and headaches.
Personally, I have to avoid excessive humidity and heat, and aircos are a lifesaver for me.

113

Living Room / Re: TouchPad for PC w/Windows 7 vs. carpal tunnel ?

« on: July 31, 2015, 10:26 AM »

^Ath - Tnx. 
Most people don't call their own phone number, or click on their own links.
So I don't know if you are aware of this, but when I clicked in your signature on the link to your software collection, I got the following mssg: "Lost connection to MySQL server at 'reading initial communication packet', system error: 111".

114

Living Room / Re: TouchPad for PC w/Windows 7 vs. carpal tunnel ?

« on: July 31, 2015, 08:53 AM »

@bit: As a fellow sufferer of carpal tunnel syndrome, you have my every sympathy. I have used laptops with (variously) a thumb-ball mouse, a central pressure-sensitive joystick, a touchpad, and an ordinary mouse. My preference is for the touchpad, as these are ergonomically the most efficient - especially with, for example, chiral scrolling, the very large system pointer enabled, fast/accelerating pointer movement, constrained movement/direction using the Left Shift and Left Ctrl keys, and tap to lock-and-drag. Furthermore, the touchpad ergonomics definitely minimises the necessary movement of ligaments through the carpal tunnels.

Though I consider homoeopathy to be a fraud (mumbo-jumbo), I became pretty pragmatic about "non-medical" healthcare after the incredible curative effects on me of a couple of "experiments" I put myself through, one of which was wearing a simple copper bracelet (in 1998). Years of chronic back aches and pains, arthritic knee pains and severe chronic tina sinovitis (carpal tunnel syndrome) simply stopped within about 36 hours of putting the bracelet on - and this was at a time when I was in major pain in both arms as a result of aggravating the TS by doing some heavy labouring involving repetitive use of a builder's heavy lump hammer. It was going to take months to get better, and would have needed medication (anti-inflammatory drugs and pain relief).
What a great lifetime relief. Probably no-one was more surprised than me about this. I have given the bracelet to other people with similar aches/pains to try out, and it seems to have had no effect. If I take the bracelet off, then after about 4 weeks or so, the twinges start to come back, but they disappear quickly when I put the bracelet back on. I reckon it's an electro-chemical effect, and luckily it probably makes up for some deficiency in my metabolism.

After years of having to roll out of bed in the mornings due to chronic backache, I am now used to sitting up in bed and getting out of bed like a normal person, again. I never believed that a simple band of Cu could have done that.

-IainB (July 31, 2015, 07:55 AM)

IainB, can you suggest a touchpad link please?
Also, same for Copper band?

The herbal liniment was from 'Back To Eden' by Jethro Kloss.
I get my herbs such as myrrh, goldenseal, and cayenne red pepper from herbalcom.com.

115

General Software Discussion / Re: 'create Restore Point' question

« on: July 31, 2015, 12:40 AM »

^app103, I am now running AVG free, and already seem to be proving out your xlnt advice with fewer and milder crashes. Many tnx! (:

116

Living Room / Re: TouchPad for PC w/Windows 7 vs. carpal tunnel ?

« on: July 31, 2015, 12:26 AM »

I count myself deeply indebted to the DC community for all your helps.
I've been using my mouse with my left hand today; a little slow and awkward, but giving great relief to my right wrist carpal tunnel symptoms.
I was already steering clear of surgery, and see from comments in vids that it's a good thing to avoid.
The carpal tunnel vid, and others in the sidebar, seem very enlightening from a purely physical therapy -or PT- POV and well worth watching.
The following yoga pose seems like a useful approach (I mean; for the hands and upper body; doing the feet like that would be optional), although of course not the only one, for a purely physical therapy posture, especially if you spend a lot of time sitting at your PC, and not near a wall or tree as in the vid:

117

Living Room / Re: TouchPad for PC w/Windows 7 vs. carpal tunnel ?

« on: July 30, 2015, 10:29 AM »

I have a Laptop with Windows 8.0.  I use an optical mouse.  At times when it is not convenient to set up the mouse I find that any extensive use of the touch pad hurts my forearm from holding it semi-hovered over the touch pad.  If you do go that way try to support your arm somehow as the muscles in the forearm can start cramping quickly.

The other idea, if feasible, put the mouse on the other side of the desktop and switch the buttons.  You may be right handed but left handed people adapt to a lot of things designed for the right handed.  In a short time you may find the awkwardness diminishes and it should be a good way to rest your right hand.

-MilesAhead (July 30, 2015, 07:09 AM)

I've been trying this approach since this morning. (:
No need to switch the buttons, since I'm already rewiring my brain from RH to LH.
It's slow, a bit awkward, but a great relief.

I tried trackballs about 10 or 12 years ago, very early models, without success.
Maybe they've improved since then.
I took a peek at the 'Kensington Expert Mouse' and like the look of it, but I see that it is $99, a bit out of my range.

I appreciate the heads-up on forearm soreness with a touch pad.

I have 3 Logitech mice, 2 have malfunctioning switches, the 3rd is wireless and like new, but has a phantom click problem, and copy & paste problems in which it copies parts of lines but not all.
So I am reluctant to get any more Logitech mice (they're also more costly and driver-bloated).

My nice durable solidly constructed Microsoft 'basic mouse' has hard to push, stronger switches, and seems to be exacerbating the carpal tunnel problem.
So a switch to a different brand of mouse that looks like a Logitech might work, as I explored in an earlier thread.
Or, I can consider a trackball, altho I've found early models not so great.
Tnx everyone, for all the comments; it's giving me ideas.  

118

Living Room / TouchPad for PC w/Windows 7 vs. carpal tunnel ?

« on: July 29, 2015, 07:40 PM »

Carpal tunnel syndrome is getting to me.
Each morning I start out with no pain.
Within a short time it feels like a thick rubber band around my right wrist.
I suspect my inexpensive, durable Microsoft mouse with difficult to click finger buttons.
I tried a right angle mouse, but the squeeze action with thumb made it worse.
I see they make an add-on TouchPad you just finger-swipe, and watched one vid on how to use it.
Seems a bit complicated, 1-finger for this, 2-fingers for this, 3-fingers, 4-fingers.
Some articles say 'TouchPad for Windows 8' (I've got Windows 7).
Not sure if this is a good remedial approach, or what prices for wired gear, and best brands?

My best 'cures' include;
1-hot & cold water dip alternated; tingly hot dip for 10-20 seconds, then cold water 10-20 seconds, hot...cold...(repeat as needed). I do this in a pair of 2-quart plastic food containers in the kitchen sink; works like magic.
2-herbal spray liniment;
recipe - 1 qt. 70% rubbing alcohol, 2 tsp. myrrh gum powder, 1 tsp. goldenseal powder, 1.5 tbl. cayenne powder (red pepper), 1 tsp. scullcap powder, 1 tsp. hops powder: mix ingredients, shake once a day for 10 days, settle out for one day, then fill a sore throat pump top spray bottle with clear amber liquid and spray on skin; works pretty good in combination with hot & cold water dip (i.e. do 'hot & cold' first; dry off, then spray liniment on and let it dry on).
3-Zostrix cayenne pepper skin cream; this stuff is potent, but don't get it anywhere you don't want it.
i.e. don't rub it on your carpal tunnel and then (even after washing your fingertip) rub your eye or taste your fingertip, or you'll feel a burning in your eye or mouth.
Whenever I put it on my wrist (i.e. at bedtime), I take a tube sock, cut off the lower part, and slip the top part over the affected area, to keep the Zostrix from accidentally transferring anywhere I don't want it to go.
In the morning, I remove the tube sock, and scrub the Zostrix off with a wash cloth and warm water.
Then the wash cloth goes into the laundry bin.
I mark a black 'X' on the white tube sock, to show which side went to the inner part of my wrist.
IOW, I practice strict application monitoring & control; prevents Zostrix ending up on the keyboard, door knobs, chair backs, pillows, etc. and transferring back to fingertips, then to mouth, eyes, and so on.
You have to be this strict, because Zostrix works, but it will get you in ways you won't believe if you get sloppy. (:

Unfortunately, the carpal tunnel is slowly getting worse in spite of all remedial efforts, short of quitting my PC.
I'm open to any and all suggestions, not just the ones mentioned here.

All posts in this thread are for educational or entertainment purposes only and not intended as actual health advice.

119

Living Room / Re: Whole Room Watercooling

« on: July 28, 2015, 03:05 PM »

I only watched the first vid, but I saw him use a hole saw on the top of a new machine build.
Nobody stood by with a vacuum cleaner hose to catch the debris as the hole saw chewed into the case.
Somebody -please- tell me that wasn't a metal case, and that he didn't shower metal bits and dust all over the insides of a new mobo and peripherals. >.<

120

General Software Discussion / Google Earth through proxie?

« on: July 27, 2015, 01:10 PM »

Is there any way to set up Google Earth to connect through TOR Vidalia or any other proxie?

Also, is there an app to change sea levels globally?

121

General Software Discussion / Re: 'create Restore Point' question

« on: July 27, 2015, 01:07 PM »

^I am seriously considering AVG free, and thank you very much for this.

122

Living Room / Re: Whole Room Watercooling

« on: July 26, 2015, 07:58 AM »

Yes, just getting an air conditioner would have been an easy way out, but doing it this way is so much more fun!  
12-core Xeon?  
Wow, where'd they get the megabucks for all those stacks and stacks of high-tech goodies.
Why paint the room dark gray; thermal absorption? o_O
I use an aluminum Lian-Li case to help conduct away heat.

123

General Software Discussion / Re: 'create Restore Point' question

« on: July 26, 2015, 07:46 AM »

I can reinstall MWB once a month for a full system scan.

-bit (April 06, 2015, 05:00 PM)

You don't have to uninstall and reinstall it over & over. You can just leave it installed but disable real-time protection, and then only run Malwarebytes when you want to do a full scan. This is how the free version works. Just remember to update the database before scanning.

Also think seriously about installing an anti-virus that is friendlier to your older system, for real-time scanning (MSE? AVG Free?).

-app103 (July 26, 2015, 01:13 AM)

Thank you. If I recall correctly, there wasn't any way to disable MWB; it was very persistent about staying active (not trying to contradict you, but that's how I recall it).

I use Norton 360 Premium, which also scans my emails.
I put it in 'Silent Mode' before video watching, but it's still quite a load on the OS, yes.
Not sure what would be a good safe alternative.
I used to use BitDefender, until it began scrambling and losing emails.

124

Living Room / Re: good Videos [short films] here :)

« on: July 25, 2015, 09:13 AM »

airliner nose gear & pickup truck

edit: In response to the NEXT two or three posts, OK, I thought it was genuine, and tnx for debunking it.
Next time I find a vid worth posting, maybe I should delete all of this post and put it here. (:

125

General Software Discussion / Re: 'create Restore Point' question

« on: July 25, 2015, 08:39 AM »

^Adobe Air needed updating, after which no crashes so far this morning. (: