Messages

176

Living Room / Re: Movies you've seen lately

« on: February 04, 2016, 12:27 PM »

Confessions
Dersu Uzala
Rhythm of a Crime

-panzer (January 18, 2016, 04:30 AM)

Dersu Uzala is an terrific film. Ultimately heartbreaking - like so many things in life. But a truly "Russian" story if there ever was one.

Whoever came up with Starfleet's Prime Directive probably saw that film.

177

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

« on: January 30, 2016, 09:39 AM »

Snarky Puppy strikes again! This time with Becca Stevens - who almost strikes me as a more sophisticated Annie Clark (of St. Vincent) with just a hint less "weirdness for weirdness sake" in her musicianship. Cool band. And teamed with the Puppy it's even better IMO:

Some fun instrument choices as well. Give it a listen.

Also this - some of Snarky Puppy's lineup, not performing as Snarky Puppy, but as a trio with strings. Great jazz number by Bill Laurance:

178

Living Room / Re: Holy S***, I've been here for 6 Years!

« on: January 28, 2016, 03:42 PM »

Nine years for me come April.

Yikes!!! That's about as long as you'd serve for robbing a bank! 

Like Carol, I haven't been very active or visible myself of late. But I do try to drop by at least every day or so for a quick read and some light lurking. 

179

General Software Discussion / Re: End of the line for VMware Workstation?

« on: January 28, 2016, 10:45 AM »

I don't know why the GPU support should be lacking with a Type-1. That runs bare metal, and you're running a full OS under that sans any host OS in between. So if the support for the GPU is in your OS instance, you should have access to it. But I'm not that big a workstation type so I'll defer to those who do more with those than me. If you say it's a problem, you'll get no argument from me.

Shared clipboards etc. would be a problem however since in a Type-1 environment, each virtual machine runs completely isolated. But that's the whole idea with a Type-1, so "it's not a bug - it's a feature" as the saying goes. 

180

General Software Discussion / Re: End of the line for VMware Workstation?

« on: January 27, 2016, 02:22 PM »

Well, if nothing else it'll go a ways towards moving up the timeframe for when the power users finally all start migrating over to Type-1 hypervisors, and get it done once and for all. 

Not necessarily a bad thing if you think about it. 

181

Living Room / Re: Interesting "stuff"

« on: January 25, 2016, 07:50 PM »

Basketball team booted for being too good 'Are we supposed to play worse to make them happy?' + Kurt Vonnegut's Harrison Bergeron

-holt (January 25, 2016, 03:59 PM)

You knew this was coming.   It's not about excellence or achievement anymore. It's about "being 'fair' to all the kids" and  "taking turns" and "feeling good about yourself"


And we're supposed to be surprised when somebody like Palin is complaining about her son being "singled out" by the police just because he committed a violent crime.


No wonder we're doomed in the long run.

182

Living Room / Re: Does anyone here use Bitcoins?

« on: January 25, 2016, 03:14 PM »

BITCOIN: TOO BIG TO FAIL

-Renegade (January 24, 2016, 12:36 AM)

I bet they used to say that about the Knights Templar ... Until the first Friday the 13th rolled around.

-Stoic Joker (January 25, 2016, 06:56 AM)

Wow! Way to go SJ!   Interesting observation when you think about the not inconsiderable similarities between the services offered by the two. Or their relative status in the eyes of the respective Powers That Be...

Just goes to illustrate why it may be a good thing to be considered useful by kings - but never so useful that kings start to feel beholden to you after a while. They're somewhat notorious for requesting "new game" by the simple expedient of flipping the table over...and then shooting their unarmed opponent.

Bitcoin holders better hope that doesn't turn out to be prescient on your part. 

183

Living Room / Re: Does anyone here use Bitcoins?

« on: January 24, 2016, 03:47 PM »

I think all it would take to kill bitcoin was two major exchanges getting hacked and looted in quick succession to start a run on the 'bank.' With no fallback or account holder insurance, it'd be gone.

No doubt something similar would take its place down the road. But bitcoin - as Bitcoin - is far from an unsinkable ship.

I think it is mainly managed to survive because it's been found useful to the very people who have the capability to take it down. Not because of anything specifically magical or charmed about Bitcoin itself. Which makes me wonder...

Ah forget it! I'm starting to sound as conspiracy theory loving as Ren. :-))


---------------------

P.S. Hey Ren! How's it going? Move completed ok?

184

Living Room / Re: What other forums do you participate in?

« on: January 24, 2016, 12:02 PM »

Mainly music these days now that I've retooled myself and am not as into computer tech as I used to be...except for the slowly dying FOSS vision and hope for the future.

My biggies:

TalkBass.com
BassOutpost.com

For general conversation (although I'm nowhere near as active as I once was) it's my original cyber-hangout The Well (thewell.com) which is the oldest and still IMO best. Or at least it was best once my own BBS (Port Zero) shut down way back in the lost mists of time.

P.S. Sure is quiet around here lately. Seems to be missing a lot of familiar avatars. What's up with that?

185

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

« on: January 24, 2016, 08:11 AM »

Well, it certainly looks like Cape May is about to get...erm...some bad weather, folks!



To the left guys! You gotta look to the left...

186

General Software Discussion / Re: Brave: A new browser with built-in adblock and payment solutions

« on: January 23, 2016, 06:31 PM »

"Supported by advertising" is a non-sustainable business model. Sooner or later we're going to need to get ourselves away from that idea.

-40hz (January 23, 2016, 05:22 PM)

Ever since internet ads started we hear this, and at some point it gets old. It is not the user problem and it's easy why, because other mediums exist where just viewing ads is enough, TV ads payouts are based on how many people view them (ratings) and not those who 'click' or buy. Frankly internet ad networks and advertisers should get over themselves.

-rgdot (January 23, 2016, 05:55 PM)

I think you hit on an important difference. Ads on a oneway broadcast medium like TV tend to be far less intrusive then ads on an interactive "broadcatch" medium like the web.

187

General Software Discussion / Re: Brave: A new browser with built-in adblock and payment solutions

« on: January 23, 2016, 05:22 PM »

"Supported by advertising" is a non-sustainable business model. Sooner or later we're going to need to get ourselves away from that idea. It's like the old joke:

Q: How do you sell so many TV sets?

a: Oh it's easy. We sell them below cost and make it up in volume!

188

General Software Discussion / Re: Agnitum (makers of Outpost Firewall and AV) has been acquired by Yandex

« on: January 23, 2016, 10:24 AM »

Lifetime key. Yours or ours - whichever comes first.

189

Living Room / Re: Very slow internal network speed - any ideas

« on: January 22, 2016, 04:42 PM »

You'll need to find where the bottleneck is occurring - between your computer and the router - or before it gets to it.

Start Taskman and look at the network tab while having the problem.

If the utilization is flooded, something is hogging your connection and you'll have to locate what's doing it.

If it's not flooded you could have a hardware issue with your NIC or possibly something's up with your ISP.

Most times you run into that it's a background process that's the culprit. Downloads running in the back (Like Win10), silent updaters, or "web-safe" type security tools where everything goes through an outside proxy before it hits the web can all do that to you. There's also the possibility that it's a DNS issue. Try flushing the cache and/or selecting a different server for DNS.

190

Living Room / Re: Why GOD has not updated the world ?

« on: January 22, 2016, 01:57 PM »

^I'll agree with nearly 100% of that as it stands. The niggles I may have with it are minor, and most likely just things lost in the translation to text - as tends to happen in forum discussions. There's nowhere near enough bandwidth for super deep online conversations without a lot of preliminary groundwork being laid down first. And that doesn't happen too often - although one of the things that makes DoCo so great is that we have a community here who understands each other well enough, and displays such a high level of courtesy and respect, that we manage to avoid the silly arguments and nonsense that goes on in most other places the minute a discussion gets serious. That's pretty rare finding that environment anyplace. And it's even rarer finding it on the web.

As far as topics go, there used to be a local radio talk show around where I live that used to say in their introduction: "Our lines are now open. And the topics are yours to choose, and ours to discuss."

I think that pretty much sums up my philosophy about what makes it appropriate for me to put my tuppence in. I generally don't broach sensitive topics with strangers, although I may occasionally do so with a friend or friends.

However, if someone decides to bring up  something with me first, then I feel what follows falls completely within what's 'proper' and 'polite' to talk about.

But that's me. And my way of thinking about what constitutes an appropriate subject for discussion doesn't quite coincide with some current notions about "correctness" all the time.

But so it goes. Stick around long enough and you eventually discover that even the generally accepted rules of etiquette start to change. 

191

Living Room / Re: Why GOD has not updated the world ?

« on: January 22, 2016, 11:06 AM »

I suspect that you may have drawn that line in possibly the "wrong" place.

-IainB (January 21, 2016, 04:45 AM)

I'm sure I'd have to agree with you about that. But I was trying not to sound too combative since it's a tender subject for a lot of people I like and respect. Even if I totally disagree with them about some things they hold dear. 

-40hz (January 21, 2016, 12:30 PM)

And that's navigating that space.  Even if you're sure that you're right, being able to leave it alone, as others experiences might not echo yours.  After all, if you're sure you're right, then of what practical use is arguing with someone who's sure you're wrong?  Are we so insecure in our beliefs (or disbeliefs) that we have to stir up something that won't make a difference either way, and will just in the end create fractious arguments?  I couldn't say for all, but that, to me, seems a non-gracious approach, no matter on which side you fall.

-wraith808 (January 21, 2016, 01:18 PM)

I personally think it's absolutely crucial we tackle uncomfortable topics from time to time. Many of the problems we are living with are a direct result of putting our heads in the sand or trying to arrange things so that nobody is made to feel uncomfortable. Truth is, I'm firmly convinced certain people need to be made acutely uncomfortable about some of the things they believe in. Especially when they advocate for others to accept and, in many cases, to obey them without question. 

I have a big advantage however. I don't try to pretend (to others or myself) that I have the big answer. But I do have a brain, some life experience, and the benefit of an education that taught me to question everything and accept nothing purely because somebody said it's so.

If that bothers someone, there's plenty of other people they can talk to besides me. If you include me in a discussion however, best expect me to engage and question. And that's not because I have the answer. It's because I don't. However, I'd be very much interested in learning or discovering it. So I say "let's get it on" so to speak. Because we have a lot of work to do here.

But that's me. YMMV.

192

Living Room / Re: Why GOD has not updated the world ?

« on: January 21, 2016, 12:42 PM »

Long time member leaving based on this? There are plenty (obviously in my opinion) worse in the basement. Which made me stop reading basement but leaving a forum even if OP was serious...nah

EDIT: Even if the replies were serious too .... As far as god goes, just look up at the sky and try to imagine how billions of galaxies and stars exist. Just think how they could come to exist. It is not about belief or lack of belief really, it is about letting your mind go and how such mind blowing things exist.

-rgdot (January 21, 2016, 10:56 AM)

Y'know I have. But I wasn't able to reach any definite conclusions...

I've been told that "faith is a gift I you yet to receive."  Which is fine by me if it is, in fact, an actual gift that can be bestowed. I'm known for being patient.

About the best I experience is a sense of wonder and a certain reverence for what I see as larger patterns and truths. But I'm no more closer to "The Answer" than I've ever been despite a good deal of work trying to discover it on and off over the years.

So in my case, I posses nothing more than whatever 'wisdom' and 'humility' comes from knowing that I don't know. Truth is, I'm not even sure how to ask the question. Or what the question is.  But IIRC, that's something Socrates spent a a fair bit of quality time contemplating. And even he didn't come up with the definitive answer if Plato is anything to go by.

However, if anything resembling a deity does decide to provide me the answer, then I can promise that I will be happy to furnish him/her/it with full and detailed questions in return.

In the meantime, "42" will have to suffice. At least for the time being. 

193

Living Room / Re: Why GOD has not updated the world ?

« on: January 21, 2016, 12:30 PM »

I suspect that you may have drawn that line in possibly the "wrong" place.

-IainB (January 21, 2016, 04:45 AM)

I'm sure I'd have to agree with you about that. But I was trying not to sound too combative since it's a tender subject for a lot of people I like and respect. Even if I totally disagree with them about some things they hold dear. 

194

Living Room / Re: Why GOD has not updated the world ?

« on: January 21, 2016, 12:27 PM »

So much for the notion of "you go your way and I'll go mine," right?

-40hz (January 20, 2016, 06:27 PM)

You go your way and I'll mine yours.

-cranioscopical (January 20, 2016, 09:44 PM)

With some people it might be more like "You go your way - and you can be sure I'll mind." 

195

Living Room / Re: Why GOD has not updated the world ?

« on: January 20, 2016, 06:27 PM »

Unfortunately, there's a fine line between belief and mania.

-40hz (January 20, 2016, 03:54 PM)

I think that belief has to be tempered with acceptance.  Everyone is not going to believe as you do.  And that's OK.  It's just navigating that in between space that becomes tricky.

Spoiler

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-wraith808 (January 20, 2016, 04:07 PM)

Agree 100%

Unfortunately, more and more people are lately deciding that's not ok. And they're not interested in navigating anything.

So much for the notion of "you go your way and I'll go mine," right?

196

General Software Discussion / Re: YNAB moving to a subscription model

« on: January 20, 2016, 04:04 PM »

I don't recall that you had to be registered merely to view their forum in the past. Unless I'm mistaken, you only had to register to participate - the same way it works for most places.

So unless I'm wrong about that, I'm guessing the heat is starting to be felt about their change in direction, and they're trying to practice some containment.

197

Living Room / Re: Why GOD has not updated the world ?

« on: January 20, 2016, 03:54 PM »

Um...so... has Curt resigned or something? I'm not sure how to interpret his new forum signature.

 

I really hope this is not true.

-mouser (January 20, 2016, 12:21 PM)

Hope not too. I like Curt. But I'm thinking he has left, and it is this topic that was the catalyst. That was his last post so I'm guessing his convictions got the better of his tolerance and he's gone. At least for now.

Sad. But I'm seeing more and more people who are feeling somehow threatened become abruptly indignant over some of the most innocuous things their friends are saying these days. I guess it's a reflection of these irrational and emotionally heightened times we live in - and - are being systematically conditioned to accept as "normal." That's something that's becoming an impediment to cooperation, civility and tolerance everywhere now that so many otherwise intelligent people are embracing unreason as the answer to all those problems that really have no easy answer. But so it goes.

Unfortunately, there's a fine line between belief and mania. I've had enough years of experience in various forms of spirituality and spiritual disciplines to be aware of that danger and to be on the alert for it, whether it's manifesting in myself or others. But that's me. I have a habit of worrying about things like that.

I guess I'm getting what I deserve for never being able to really get into watching sporting events, or wrapping my head around primetime TV...

198

Living Room / Re: Why GOD has not updated the world ?

« on: January 20, 2016, 11:35 AM »

Um...so... has Curt resigned or something? I'm not sure how to interpret his new forum signature.

199

Living Room / Re: Why GOD has not updated the world ?

« on: January 19, 2016, 02:33 PM »

Because there's no need to do regular (or even any) updates now that The World has gone over to a subscription model. 

200

General Software Discussion / Re: Is Windows 10 a trojan?

« on: January 18, 2016, 10:13 PM »

I just spent about 5 straight hours with a fresh install of Widows 10 this afternoon doing the "tech thing."

I was so completely unimpressed (when I wasn't getting completely enraged) by it that I think the last remaining and most miniscule misgiving I might have still been harboring about distancing myself from Windows has finally gotten exorcised once and for all.

To those who either choose to (or must) remain in Micro-zaftig's fold, I wish you luck.