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1176

Living Room / Re: Microsoft ending TechNet subscription activations effective august 2013

« Last post by superboyac on July 02, 2013, 09:14 PM »

I've been toying with Linux with your guys' help here for a couple of years.  I also have a dual booting laptop with Mint on it.  I still primarily use windows for anything serious, but my strategy is to slowly familiarize myself with Linux for several until "the day comes".  And it will come, I know it, I'm too into this stuff for it not to come, lol.

I can already tell I've been through some transitions already.  When I first started here at DC, I was practically installing every shareware/freeware that was named here.  All the time.  Then I grew out of that and started focusing on certain content creation tools.  Now I've whittled that down to the basic few that I do most of my work in, so I'm not playing around with software anymore.  I haven't moved to windows 8, don't really plan to, don't see why.  So I'm guessing whenever windows 7 hits the expiration date in about 10 years or less, I'll have made the transition to Linux.  We'll see.

For the sake of my curiosity, can anyone else describe the moment that made them make the transition?

1177

Living Room / Re: 10 signs you may have OCD

« Last post by superboyac on July 02, 2013, 03:16 PM »

On a more serious note, I have been growing increasingly annoyed by the need for people to "diagnose" the psychological condition of everyone.  Depression, anxiety, OCD, etc.  I don't know why it bothers me so much (probably indicative of one of these conditions), but it does.  It seems to do more harm than good.  Like that person who points out the zit on your face, as if you're not already aware of it.  Just being a dick.  "What is that thing on your face?"  Shut up.

So what if someone washes their hands a lot.  Unless it's really a bad problem that is severely affecting their lives (how do you judge where the line is?) just leave them alone.  Some people organize things a little obsessively.  So what?  It's not bad!  There's some value to that!  Some people don't organize at all.  So what?!

And for some reason, it has been particularly prevalent in Los Angeles.  Maybe so in other places to, but I have really noticed it here lately.  Wives telling husbands all the little things wrong with them.  Bosses nitpicking every little thing here and there.  People are different.  Oh this person is antisocial, he likes to keep to himself, so creepy (me).  Oh that person is pretentious, always needing to talk a lot.  Where is this perfect balance they want?  Now, they'll hear me talking like this and say I have anger issues, why am I depressed?  Oh you're too negative (to me).  Oh you're too positive (me to them).  Sheesh.

I'll tell you one thing.  I haven't been able to do much really good things without getting pretty OCD about it.  Whether it's music, drawing, project management, etc.  I've read journals by great men who accomplished great things, and they were super OCD.  The Germans?  Please.

And the news in the media, oh the news.

I apologize for the rant.  And yes, I do enjoy a good rant every now and then.  

1178

Living Room / Re: Microsoft ending TechNet subscription activations effective august 2013

« Last post by superboyac on July 01, 2013, 11:42 PM »

ok...the linux dark side is calling stronger and stronger to me.  I've managed to resist for so long.  I don't want to go there, but dammit.  Once I go down that road, I know I'm not coming back.

1179

Living Room / Re: KPMG: Say it ain't so.

« Last post by superboyac on July 01, 2013, 11:29 PM »

Hopefully, this is an isolated incident.

-superboyac (July 01, 2013, 02:53 PM)

I'm sure it is, as the truly experienced crooks on Wall Street never get caught. This guy is just -- trying to help a buddy out -- low hanging fruit. Hell he was probably gifted to an SEC investigator by someone higher on the food chain to pay a turn-your-head-and-cough debt.

-Stoic Joker (July 01, 2013, 03:48 PM)

Yes, an ex-KPMG colleague of mine was overheard to say that, after the several tax fraud/corruption/malpractice cases against the global Big 5 auditors (now the Remaining 4, and of which KPMG is one), though KPMG did not change it's initials, the meaning of those initials was changed in the Articles of Association from the original "Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler" to "Keep Plundering Money Greedily", so as to be more aligned with current professional best practice.

In similar vein, I heard a senior banking executive joke that, after the '80's property/financial crashes, "LOMBARD" came to stand for "Lots Of Money But A Real Dope". There were some rather more rude versions than that, I gather.

-IainB (July 01, 2013, 05:06 PM)

1180

Living Room / KPMG: Say it ain't so.

« Last post by superboyac on July 01, 2013, 02:53 PM »

http://www.washingto...f0c195a79_story.html

Ex-KPMG partner pleads guilty in insider trading case; authorities say he was plied with cash

By Associated Press, Updated: Monday, July 1, 12:26 PM

LOS ANGELES — A former partner at the giant accounting firm KPMG LLC pleaded guilty Monday to a securities fraud charge that authorities said involved providing insider information to a friend who plied him with cash, a Rolex watch and other luxury items.

Another big one.  This doesn't help the suspicions of those (like me) who find it hard to believe that these financial companies that handle massive transactions play completely by the rules.  Hopefully, this is an isolated incident.

1181

Living Room / Re: Help me choose my next smartphone

« Last post by superboyac on June 30, 2013, 11:15 PM »

I replaced the lumia 920 with a new one.  Pretty easy, even the apps and text messages transferred over.  hopefully no battery issues with this one.

1182

General Software Discussion / Re: License Key BS

« Last post by superboyac on June 30, 2013, 12:24 AM »

Easy one.

1183

Living Room / Re: How to choose email address without using your name?

« Last post by superboyac on June 29, 2013, 10:20 PM »

In the internet early days name_somenumber was fashionable and the preferred way when name alone was not available. I never liked that and from then on I tried to sign up with something like an organization name version that incorporated my initials, for example rgdot. The only thing I could come up with when facing a similar dilemma to yours was just that, even if the supposed organization is fiction.

-rgdot (June 29, 2013, 08:05 PM)

I kinda like that.

1184

Living Room / How to choose email address without using your name?

« Last post by superboyac on June 29, 2013, 05:17 PM »

I was wondering what you guys would do if you had to choose an email address without using your name?  But you also want it to be business friendly, adult friendly, resume friendly, etc.  I've been using my superboy thing since a teenager, and i want a new one.  I don't want to use my name, so I was just wondering how you guys think through it. 

1185

Living Room / Re: Help me choose my next smartphone

« Last post by superboyac on June 27, 2013, 05:58 PM »

Dude, you need to swap that Lumia 920. Something is wrong. I have the same phone and can use it all day (moderate to heavy) without depleting the battery.

If you're already getting the HTC One (I am so envious!), I don't think you need another Android--Get the Z10, one more OS for the collection!

I have one, my list of cons/pros are: Its battery is not fantastic. It's comparable to but not quite as good as my Lumia 920 (which compared to YOUR 920 probably IS fantastic!).  The real downside to the Z10 is its app selection. It really makes the Windows Phone store seem brimming. There just aren't many great native apps (though the ones that are there... well, active frames are neat!). While side loading Android apps is an option, it's really more a novelty I think. I've side loaded a few (fitbit, Evernote, Instagram) -- across the board, they are SLOW.

On the other hand, the size, the gesture-based interface and the new flick keyboard makes using it with one hand a dream. The hub is great, centralized notification is something Windows Phone sorely needs. I've been carrying it as my primary this week. While apps have made most phones toys with communication capabilities, the Z10 really feels like a communication device. A true "smart phone".

-allen (June 27, 2013, 09:36 AM)

Thanks allen.  I'll go to the store and try to replace it.  I've decided to stick with the Lumia because the outlook integration is so smooth.  I would have gotten the Z10, but given the way BB's future is looking, I think MS is looking to have more of an upside.

I'm going to get the HTC One google play version, so that will be my play phone.  Only thing I can't figure out is that the store currently doesn't offer a black one, and there was supposed to be a "developer's version" for $50 more and with 64GB memory, but where the hell do you buy one?!  So I'm waiting to see if either of those will be available before getting the normal silver one.  here's the link to it:
https://play.google....d0sAAA&gclsrc=ds

1186

Living Room / Re: Help me choose my next smartphone

« Last post by superboyac on June 26, 2013, 10:14 AM »

Well, it's June 26...where is the HTC One?  It's supposed to be on Google Play.  I don't see it...

1187

Living Room / Re: Help me choose my next smartphone

« Last post by superboyac on June 25, 2013, 12:32 PM »

thanks ath, very helpful.

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Living Room / Re: Help me choose my next smartphone

« Last post by superboyac on June 25, 2013, 10:48 AM »

If you're not relying on Outlook Tasks to be synced, then by all means get a phone with Android 4.1 or newer on it, my appointments and e-mail sync just fine with our Exchange (2007/2010) server.
Android's standard e-mail app doesn't sync Tasks (AFAIK), but commercial offerings seem to do, but I don't want to pay for that

BTW: I'm on a Sony Xperia S, with Andoid 4.1.2, and am very happy with it, except for the battery life that's 'sub-optimal', but not really bad.
Also have an iPhone 4, that has excellent battery-life and perfect Exchange integration (don't know about the Tasks thing though, I don't use it  ), but that one is supplied by my employer; I had an Android phone before I got the iPhone, and want to keep both (though I actually prefer Android).

-Ath (June 25, 2013, 10:17 AM)

No i don't care about tasks.  What made the iphone integration perfect?  Could you explain the differences between iphone and android?

if that's the case, I'll be very happy with the HTC One.  Now...should I switch windows phone for blackberry?

1189

Living Room / Re: Optical Illusion Photo: Bela Borsodi Creates Deceptive Single Shot Photograph.

« Last post by superboyac on June 25, 2013, 09:51 AM »

Awesome!

1190

Living Room / Help me choose my next smartphone

« Last post by superboyac on June 25, 2013, 09:43 AM »

Until the end of the month ATT is offering an exchange of contract smartphones while waiving the "activation fee".  I have a windows phone 8 (lumia 920) currently.  It's ok, does the job.  But it sucks at a lot of things.  it is the most unconfigurable phone I've ever seen.  The battery life is bad, most of the time it will drain in less than 6 hours whether I'm using it or not.  The wireless charging pad is really cool, but I'd prefer having a phone that doesn't make me worry about it.  if I use the gps map app to navigate an hour trip, often that will drain the battery by over 50%.  So that's my complaint, plus I can't really play with the phone.

The good thing is that it syncs with my office Outlook flawelssly.  I've read Android and the Blackberry Z10 have issues (please confirm, I'd like to know more).  I've used Android before but I can't remember how the Outlook syncing was.  I do remember it being really hard to do.

So here's the plan: tomorrow the htc one "google edition" comes out.  I'm going to get that so i can have a "play" phone.  (this is not part of the exchange).  The google edition phone will allow me to get my geek on and I can try out crazy apps, try different ROMs, etc.  But I need a business phone also just in case (I don't actually need two).  It's just the Outlook thing bothering me.

my priority for the exchange:
1) Blackberry Z10 (good message hub, fast, good size for biz)
2) Galaxy S4 (just to compare to HTC One)
3) Galaxy Note 2 (great overall phone, but big)

Any thoughts/experiences?  Please share!

1191

Living Room / Re: Beware the vaportini

« Last post by superboyac on June 25, 2013, 09:00 AM »

^Why does Revision3 constantly send children who seem to feel the need to act as if they've had a drink or two and are attending a campus frat party whenever they're filing a report? (Ms. Lewis? You're an idiot. Just thought you should be aware of that.)
 

-40hz (June 25, 2013, 06:56 AM)

You don't find that attractive?  Most men (boys) do!

1192

Living Room / Re: clever and easy music distribution ideas

« Last post by superboyac on June 21, 2013, 03:28 PM »

Keith Urban has that touch. I'm not much into his music either - but my older sister loves him and dragged me to a small concert he was doing before he got big.

I have seldom seen a performer connect with an audience better than him. And he did it within the first few minutes of the first set. Very down to earth and open guy.

About the only thing in music I've seen that was quicker is how fast Chic Corea can get into 'the groove.' (Note: for those who don't already know, that's within the first pico-second of the first beat of the first song on his set list. )

-40hz (June 21, 2013, 12:32 PM)

Yeah, I've never given Corea much of a chance, I should.  My teacher likes him a lot too, and I like him, so I figure it's gotta be good.

1193

Living Room / Re: clever and easy music distribution ideas

« Last post by superboyac on June 21, 2013, 12:15 PM »

  lol, 40, you crack me up...because it's so true.

Here's what I want to make the business model around, but I don't know if it will work or if it is just too outmoded.  But here it is:
When I go to jazz/music shows, I like to pick people's brains about what they like/don't like.  And between the musicians and the hardcore fans, this is the best way for jazz, something that was happening a lot in the 50s-70s that doesn't happen much anymore, so maybe it's just old fashioned.  They used to play long sets, and in a somewhat casual atmosphere.  Like, if the piano player had to use the bathroom, another piano player from the audience would sit in until he came back.  And they would have extended shows as long as the audience was hanging around.  Not too formal with the two drink minimums, or with the set lists.  A bit more interaction with the audience than what we are used to now.

I guess I want to be somewhere in between a Diana Krall and that really good no-name local guy who makes no money and is really artistically intense.

1194

Living Room / Re: clever and easy music distribution ideas

« Last post by superboyac on June 21, 2013, 11:37 AM »

40, you know I really appreciate your thoughts, thanks so much.

I have to think about my goals, then.  I like the Grateful Dead.  I remember in high school and college how much we liked them.  And I loved how I could always get new music from them whenever I went to the record store because they had so many albums, so many live bootlegs, there was always more to get, and we loved that.  I would like to be like that if possible.  But I don't know what that means yet.  I still have to learn a lot about the business, I need to finish those 3 books you recommended.  I have some contacts here that can help me with specific questions when the time arises also.

The style of music may not be my absolute favorite, but the community of fans for the jam bands really is my favorite.  The Dead, Phish, Dave Mathews...really fan-friendly bands.  They get discovered in colleges, really make the fans feel good about the music.

1195

Living Room / Re: clever and easy music distribution ideas

« Last post by superboyac on June 20, 2013, 07:58 PM »

Hmm...lots of food for thought here.  Thanks guys!
I was not aware of most of these things.  I wonder what my best approach is.  Do I expect to get signed?  Good question.  I didn't even think I was good enough to get signed, but if it's really a possibility, I'll consider it.

What if I do something where I put teaser tracks online (which is me doing all the parts), and then I record an album with all the parts played by the respective musicians, and that's the one I sell?  that way, for the free stuff, I do it with a certain set of procedures, and the stuff for sale I do with the more formal procedure.

But it sounds like 40hz is saying that even then, the labels may take issue with such an arrangement.  I'll have to look into this with the pros I have contact with.

-superboyac (June 20, 2013, 06:02 PM)

I'd recommend you get some high grade help on this, if you can find someone/group who has some of this stuff down to a science. My instinct says that you make teaser *songs* and later record other ones "for the big boys".

I did listen briefly to the initial one up there, and I honestly didn't like it enough to listen to it much more than twice. But I don't think I'd be a fan of a "limited" version of a song, with the "real thing" for pay. Freemium doesn't work well for music!!


After you get a bit of better equipment, I'd much prefer like 5 promo songs and then your big album of 14 might be for sale with different ones and maybe the "favorite" of the promo ones.

-TaoPhoenix (June 20, 2013, 06:06 PM)

Yeah...I wasn't even thinking about a bait and switch thing right now.  Regarding the site, I'm just using it as a place to share stuff with musicians for now, nothing formal.
But yes, i'll talk to some of my musician friends, see what the business is like.

About the songs, I didn't care too much for the first one (Alexander), but I thought the 2nd one (Meetin Time) sounded pretty good.  No?

1196

Living Room / Re: clever and easy music distribution ideas

« Last post by superboyac on June 20, 2013, 06:02 PM »

Hmm...lots of food for thought here.  Thanks guys!
I was not aware of most of these things.  I wonder what my best approach is.  Do I expect to get signed?  Good question.  I didn't even think I was good enough to get signed, but if it's really a possibility, I'll consider it.

What if I do something where I put teaser tracks online (which is me doing all the parts), and then I record an album with all the parts played by the respective musicians, and that's the one I sell?  that way, for the free stuff, I do it with a certain set of procedures, and the stuff for sale I do with the more formal procedure.

But it sounds like 40hz is saying that even then, the labels may take issue with such an arrangement.  I'll have to look into this with the pros I have contact with.

1197

Living Room / clever and easy music distribution ideas

« Last post by superboyac on June 20, 2013, 12:18 PM »

On my new website, where I'll be posting my music, I want to make the actual songs available for free (for now) and I want to leverage the latest and greatest technologies we have available.  If anyone has suggestions, please throw them out!

the goal:
I want the music to get on the devices and pc's of users even if they can barely use a computer.

My ideas so far:
I have the mp3 file available as button download for desktop users).  For itunes (and other music management software), I'm hoping when they click on the button to download (links directly to the mp3 file), itunes will immediately pop up and add it to the library (is this correct?).
I also want a QR code with a direct link to the file so people can do the same with their mobile devices, whether it's an iphone, android, or whatever.. Once again, if the QR links to the direct file, it should always work, right?


edit, here's the website, for reference:
http://tbgentertainment.com/

1198

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Kingsoft Office 2013 PRO giveaway

« Last post by superboyac on June 18, 2013, 10:33 AM »

   Beware-ware?

   "Free" as in not-ware?

 

-40hz (June 18, 2013, 09:01 AM)

1199

Living Room / Re: Ministry of Truth - Washington Post changes wording in its archive about PRISM

« Last post by superboyac on June 17, 2013, 05:48 PM »

 

 

1200

Living Room / Re: Ministry of Truth - Washington Post changes wording in its archive about PRISM

« Last post by superboyac on June 17, 2013, 05:16 PM »

It's all crafted very meticulously, carefully, control-freaky, secretly.  So what kind of positive conclusion are you supposed to draw from that, especially when *that* is what the actual facts are?

-superboyac (June 17, 2013, 03:52 PM)

The conclusion I've drawn is:

   a) That we are being systematically lied to by those who are supposed to providing us with accurate information.

   b) I'm getting awfully tired of being lied to.

Don't know if that qualifies as "positive", however.

 

-40hz (June 17, 2013, 04:37 PM)

Those are the conclusions I've drawn as well.  The harder question is what do I do about it?  And funny enough, the most reasonable answer I've been able to come up that actually works in practice is......ignore it.