Recent Posts

1301

Living Room / Re: Talents and talent shows

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 21, 2014, 01:57 PM »

It's a brilliant idea and she is just great!
I cant vote over this side of the water, but wish her the best of luck !

-tomos (August 21, 2014, 01:48 PM)

cough *Proxy Server* cough

 

1302

Living Room / Re: Talents and talent shows

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 21, 2014, 01:44 PM »

The wife and I have been watching AGT, and I remember that act was cool as hell. So she's got our votes!

1303

General Software Discussion / Re: printer problem

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 20, 2014, 01:55 PM »

Transfer Belt possibly. Don't really have much to go on.

If you can scare up a manual for it and find out how to do one of the internal demo/test prints. That will tell you if it is actually something in/on the printer that is malfunctioning, or if it is a driver/software issue by taking the computer out of the equation.

1304

Living Room / Re: High School Student Laptop Policy

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 20, 2014, 12:01 PM »

Their rationale is that it makes support more difficult, and that the "integrative technology" which provides for communication between the students and teacher may not work on equipment brought from home...that, and the teacher would not be able to use the same "integrative technology" to monitor whether the students were using the laptop for schoolwork, rather than social networking or games.

-cschw (August 20, 2014, 11:17 AM)

And they're wrong - I just spent 2 months rolling out a BYOD solution at a school that is using an internally hosted Stoneware LanSchool cloud solution that allows anything that can connect to the school's wireless network to access resources on the school network. All internet - "naughty website" - filtering is done at the border of the network. I have no idea what the cost of the system was (they bought that on their own) but from an IT perspective it's slick as hell.

If the teacher's really want to know which students are screwing off, all they need to do is walk around to the back of the classroom and look ... Just like in the good old days - Surveillance software not required - and there are no maintenance and licensing fees to contend with.

1305

Living Room / Re: High School Student Laptop Policy

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 20, 2014, 07:15 AM »

Mind you, when I went to school you were still allowed to use a pen, paper,...

-4wd (August 20, 2014, 06:18 AM)

Hell even now when I go onsite I consistently move the tablet I carry out of the way so I can use a pad of paper under it to take notes ... It just seems faster to me.


But on topic: The local school that I've been working with for the last few months had a system that allowed any school supplied student's machine to be directly accessed and monitored in real time. I say had, because the new admin that I've been working with there had the whole system torn out by the roots because (And I quote directly) "It's just to creepy".

1306

General Software Discussion / Re: Frustrated Mom Creates ‘Ignore No More’ App To Get Teen Kids To Return Calls

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 19, 2014, 03:13 PM »

^ I get a sense this is leading somewhere?

-tomos (August 19, 2014, 02:00 PM)

Me too. *Shrug* ...The current system has been in place for x million years and somehow the species has managed to survive so... What alternating is being proposed? Or is this just one of those thought experiments designed to circuitously demonstrate just how nihilistically hosed we really in the grand scheme of things?

1307

Living Room / Re: Has someone died in that house?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 18, 2014, 05:33 PM »

Someone is surely terrorised by the movie "The Shining"...  

-Giampy (August 18, 2014, 02:35 PM)

I never really liked that movie - struck me as a bit dull. But the slaughter of the predecessor(s) is a popular theme in horror movies. I'm more inclined to worry about the property value tanking due to - a more superstitious - public perception issue, causing me to get stuck with something I can't unload without turning it into a tourist attraction. Kinda like Ma Barker's House which ain't to far from here ... Then again neither is the Seven Sisters Inn, which TAPS did a piece on a few years back. And then there is the Ritz Historical Inn...once again, just up the street a bit.

...But those are the fun ones.

1308

Living Room / Re: Has someone died in that house?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 18, 2014, 01:21 PM »

What do you think about this service?

http://www.diedinhouse.com/

-Giampy (August 17, 2014, 04:47 PM)

To the best of my understanding the previous occupant of my house did indeed die in it...(I found out a few months after buying it)...of natural causes. I have absolutely no problem with this. However if the previous occupant had done a murder/suicide of the entire family - Or was torturing people to death, etc. ... Well I'd have liked to know that ahead of time so I could go buy something else.

So in that regard I would have to say that the site is providing a useful service. Especially since not everyone is so inclined to lead with that kind of info.

1309

T-Clock / Re: T-Clock 2010 (download)

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 18, 2014, 07:03 AM »

I think that's the wrong window to send the command to. Here is the part of the code that T-Clock uses to refresh itself:

Code: C++ [Select]

1. void RefreshUs(void) {
2.         HWND hwndBar, hwndChild;
3.         char classname[80];
4.  
5.   hwndBar = FindWindow("Shell_TrayWnd", NULL);
6.  
7.         // find the clock window
8.   hwndChild = GetWindow(hwndBar, GW_CHILD);
9.   while(hwndChild) {
10.                 GetClassName(hwndChild, classname, 80);
11.                 if(lstrcmpi(classname, "TrayNotifyWnd") == 0) {
12.                    hwndChild = GetWindow(hwndChild, GW_CHILD);
13.                    while(hwndChild) {
14.                                  GetClassName(hwndChild, classname, 80);
15.                                  if(lstrcmpi(classname, "TrayClockWClass") == 0) {
16.                                         SendMessage(hwndChild, CLOCKM_REFRESHCLOCK, 0, 0);
17.                                         SendMessage(hwndChild, CLOCKM_REFRESHTASKBAR, 0, 0);
18.                                         break;
19.                                  }
20.                    } break;
21.                 }
22.           hwndChild = GetWindow(hwndChild, GW_HWNDNEXT);
23.   }
24. }

You have to grab the parent, and then walk into the child IIRC.

1310

Living Room / Re: Does anyone here use Bitcoins?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 17, 2014, 10:39 AM »

And this is what happens when you completely lose you freaking mind:



The 2 S3 440 GH/s machines are turned to pull cold air out of the room, and - yes that is Dryer Vent Hose - then push the hot exhaust air out through the attic. The other S1 180 GH/s machine only has one fan and no outer housing (rather odd I thought), so it's still dumping a ton of hot air into the room ... But it's at least half assed tolerable in here now.

If these are the "Quiet Ones" (and they are), I'd hate like hell to hear the noisy ones ... Let's just say the wife is not thrilled with this latest development..

1311

Living Room / Re: What *Should* We Be Worried About?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 16, 2014, 01:36 PM »

It just occurred to me that law enforcement is a lot like tech support. As long as you can clear the highest number of calls, quality is irrelevant. Just stick to the script and walk them into a - The House Wins - favorable conclusion.

1312

Living Room / Re: What *Should* We Be Worried About?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 16, 2014, 12:11 PM »

But... the more dangerous thing in the article is that silence = guilt.

-Renegade (August 16, 2014, 10:57 AM)

Ah! Yes... I neglected to close the loop on that one. So working from the above position:

The Fuzz are saying that he is guilty based on his not asking about the poor victims in the other vehicle that he hit (cue the violins..).

I OTOH wish to assert the below:
1. There was no - guilt reaction - reason for him to ask about the condition of the other driver/idiot that caused the accident.
2. He had no way of knowing there were Children-to-think-of in the scant few seconds he was afforded to react when this daffy broad came darting into his path.
3. Even if he did find out about them after, see point 1.
4. It's fairly common knowledge these days that silence is golden when the cops are involved..*

It is frankly unfathomable to me how this got so absurdly turned around. When the reality of it is that since nobody in their right mind should be maniacally careening around corners with their entire family in the car...there was no way in hell it could possible be his fault in the first place. So the fact that the system went completely full zoot into upside-down day by making silence = guilt is almost fitting (in a kangaroo court kind of way) given the backasswards manner in which they decided to attribute guilt.

*Which may actually be the endgame objective if this little shenanigan. The system wants to make people afraid to be wisely/cautiously silent in an attempt to force them to blurt out something/anything that could be usefully incrimination.

1313

Living Room / Re: What *Should* We Be Worried About?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 16, 2014, 09:32 AM »

Tom was arrested after his Mercedes sedan plowed into a car driven by Lorraine Wong, who was turning left onto a busy street.

Prosecutors argue that Tom's car was speeding at 67 mph in a 35 mph zone when the collision occurred. He was placed in the back of a police cruiser but was not officially arrested and advised of his rights until later in the day.

-Ren's Article Above

In what universe is it your fault when some idiot turns in front of you?? Yeah yeah, sad story bla bla bla ... But cruising down the road close to double the posted speed limit or not...you have the right-of-way, period. Anybody crossing the flow of traffic needs to do so smartly.

Do they not teach this in California's Driver's Education classes?!? Or do they actually enforce the F'em they got brakes rule there?

Darting out into traffic without regard for how fast oncoming vehicles may be going is how squirrels get killed constantly ... And that's setting the bar for knowing better pretty friggin low..

1314

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

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 15, 2014, 09:02 PM »

Sadly, some people really do need to be told ^that^ kind of shit.

1315

Living Room / Re: HDMI vs Football

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 15, 2014, 11:45 AM »

I don't mean to interrupt your research time but if you need a break this video may answer any questions you have about football.
https://www.youtube..../watch?v=Xus57BaY3hI

-Cuffy (August 15, 2014, 09:40 AM)

I remember that bit from years ago - It's funny as hell.

1316

Living Room / Re: Do you use a Portrait mode monitor?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 14, 2014, 10:14 PM »

I voted Bacon.

1317

Living Room / Re: Google's Satellites Could Soon See Your Face from Space

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 14, 2014, 06:50 AM »

DAMMIT!

Thought living on the 30th floor was very private and I could do 'every cool things' on the open terrace.
Now I am more nearer to the lens ! Better live underground.

-anandcoral (August 14, 2014, 02:21 AM)

That won't help either, they'll just switch to thermals or something. Personally I say take up nude sunbathing and put up a sign that says "Kiss Me' that points to your ass. That's my plan for the weekend.

Hay, if they really want to be that nosey...Then I say they should be emotionally scarred for their efforts too!

1318

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

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 13, 2014, 12:29 PM »

Don't have time for a screenshot, but it looks like Renegade hit 11,000 here: Everyone is brokenhearted

1319

Living Room / Re: R.I.P. Robin Williams

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 13, 2014, 12:22 PM »

He surprised me in Good Will Hunting.  He made that part of the plot work.  It's always a bit weird when I watch that flick since it has a couple of exterior shots right outside the room where I lived in South Boston.  But I moved out 5 years before they made the film.

-MilesAhead (August 13, 2014, 11:23 AM)

He was also great as a serial killer in One Hour Photo, and he was brilliant in What Dreams May Come.

1320

Living Room / Re: The REALITY of Virtual Flight and Other Simulators (Not Just For Simmers)

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 12, 2014, 06:15 PM »

At one point does a simulation of a mind (or society) become a first-class thing deserving of the kinds of things we believe are due to living animals..

-mouser (August 12, 2014, 08:12 AM)

I dont understand "..the kinds of things we believe are due to living animals" ?

-tomos (August 12, 2014, 05:08 PM)

In a nut shell sentience. Or more specifically how "Self Aware" does it truly need to become before we need to feel guilty about "Killing" it. Killing a dog is a crime...but "killing" your car is not. ...But if it was a really (A.I.) smart car ... Would it be?

1321

Living Room / Re: Laptop Battery Record!

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 12, 2014, 04:00 PM »

FWIW I've never known it to work. I suspect it's at least 80% urban legend.

-40hz (August 12, 2014, 12:55 PM)

Me either for a laptop battery, but I used to do it all the time as a kid to get more play time out of A/AA, C and D cell batteries.

So it's not a total myth ... It did work on those back then.

1322

Living Room / Re: The REALITY of Virtual Flight and Other Simulators (Not Just For Simmers)

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 12, 2014, 06:54 AM »

I think it really depends on your level of investment

Sims will never duplicate the IRL experience because they can't duplicate the physical feedback (like shocks, noise, or the abject terror of knowing that you're plunging to a fiery death from 30000 feet, or about to plow into a concrete wall at 240kmh)

-Target (August 11, 2014, 11:56 PM)

Very nicely put, and precisely what I was thinking.

That said they can teach you routines and habits though, like the use of controls without looking at them, monitoring of instruments and the ability to understand what they're telling you while still concentrating on whatever it is your trying to do (fly a plane, drive a car, etc), emergency procedures.  They can also teach you different skills like navigating or prepare you for unfamiliar situations (emergencies, instrument ratings, a new race track etc).

-Target (August 11, 2014, 11:56 PM)

And that adds sufficient value to make it worth doing as an initial step. Other bits like the above eluding to the necessity of a  more visceral understanding of the craft can wait until the basics are firmly grasped. The experience needed to perceive and understand the dynamic loads that come into play during a tricky maneuver can wait until one isn't distracted with trying to remember where all the buttons are.

1323

Living Room / Re: R.I.P. Robin Williams

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 11, 2014, 08:12 PM »

Holy Crap!

One of the few genuinely funny comedians. And even better in his serious roles.

-40hz (August 11, 2014, 07:03 PM)

+10

1324

General Software Discussion / Re: Fastest way to get files off a damaged RAID Mirror drive onto a new drive

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 11, 2014, 12:03 PM »

On a side note: the last time I XCopy'ed half a TB of files to preserve permissions (which was a week ago), it took about 15 hours to complete. And that was running between to VMs both of which were sitting on the same blazingly fast 8 disk RAID array.

1325

General Software Discussion / Re: Fastest way to get files off a damaged RAID Mirror drive onto a new drive

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 11, 2014, 11:53 AM »

Okay, so one drive in a mirrored set failed. Under ideal circumstances...that's what supposed to happen. One drive is mirrored (e.g. imaged) on the fly to another drive so if one fails, you still have a copy. Given the panicked - fire drill - tone, are we to assume there are no backups?

Personally, I would just go for the RAID rebuild...because it's just going to take a low level image of the source drive and lay it on the target drive. Doing a 3rd party image isn't going to gain or save anything at this stage, it's just going to add steps to the process. If the now - presumably - last copy/drive is going to fail during the imaging process...then it's going to fail during the imaging process ... How the imaging is done isn't the deciding factor.

If you have a hardware RAID controller, it should start doing the rebuild without needing to boot the OS. So letting it idle at a boot prompt (like F8) will take some of the IO "pressure" off the drive while it's rebuilding. But this assumes this isn't a mission critical system that a whole horde of people aren't waiting to get back into. Note, not all systems do this so check the documentation for your RAID first - Might not have hurt if you'd mentioned what you had above.

Go over the documentation for your RAID twice before initiating anything...then read it one more time to be sure. After that you just gotta grit your teeth and pick a button. First time I did a RAID rebuild I smoked half a pack of cigarettes in an hour ... Second time wasn't so bad.