Recent Posts

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Living Room / Large hadron collider shut down by bird dropping bread

« Last post by Josh on November 06, 2009, 04:47 PM »

The 27-kilometer (16.8 mile) LHC suffered serious overheating in several sections after the small piece of baguette landed in a piece of equipment on the surface above the accelerator ring.

Dr Mike Lamont, the LHC’s Machine Coordinator, said that a “a bit of baguette”, believed to have been dropped by a bird, caused the superconducting magnets to heat up from 1.9 Kelvin (-271.1C) to around 8 Kelvin (-265C), near the mark where they stop superconducting.

A failure like this, known as a “quench”, can be expected at around 9.6 Kelvin, CERN engineer Dr Tadeusz Kurtyka told The Register.

In theory, had the LHC been fully operational, this could cause a catastrophic breakdown like that which occurred shortly after it was first switched on last year. However, the machine has several fail-safes which would have shut it down before the temperature rose too high.

From the horses mouth

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General Software Discussion / Re: If shareware prices double in 2010, can you still afford to upgrade?

« Last post by Josh on November 06, 2009, 04:05 AM »

I am already picky on the applications I buy. But I will buy an application if it does the job and it does it well. I don't "settle" for free if it does the job in a half-assed manner. One thing I cannot stand is settling for "good enough", which is why I am where I am at in my career.

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Living Room / Re: Comcast internet throttling is up and running

« Last post by Josh on November 05, 2009, 06:40 AM »

They squashed comcast from arbitrarily throttling a specific protocol, in that case bittorrent, but did not forbid them from filtering traffic.

Source

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Living Room / Comcast internet throttling is up and running

« Last post by Josh on November 04, 2009, 06:42 PM »

COMCAST, the second-largest US cable television and Internet communications service provider, has a new broadband traffic throttling scheme installed and operating in all of its markets.

The ISP's new regime for restricting its customers' bandwidth utilisation replaces its former stealthy practice of arbitrarily blocking subscribers' peer-to-peer (P2P) upload traffic, which was criticised by the FCC last year after it was exposed by the Associated Press and others.

Comcast's filing with FCC (PDF) says it has put in new hardware and software technology at its Regional Network Routers locations to effect this cunning traffic management plan.

Its network throttling implements a two-tier packet queueing system at the routers, driven by two trigger conditions.

Comcast's first traffic throttling trigger is tripped by using more than 70 per cent of your maximum downstream or upstream bandwidth for more than 15 minutes.

More at source

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General Software Discussion / Bug in latest Linux gives untrusted users root access

« Last post by Josh on November 04, 2009, 11:19 AM »

A software developer has uncovered a bug in most versions of Linux that could allow untrusted users to gain complete control over the open-source operating system.

The null pointer dereference flaw was only fixed in the upcoming 2.6.32 release candidate of the Linux kernel, making virtually all production versions in use at the moment vulnerable. While attacks can be prevented by implementing a common feature known as mmap_min_addr, the RHEL distribution, short for Red Hat Enterprise Linux, doesn't properly implement that protection, Brad Spengler, who discovered the bug in mid October, told The Register.

What's more, many administrators are forced to disable the feature so their systems can run developer tools or desktop environments such as Wine.

The vulnerability was first reported by Spengler, a developer at grsecurity, a maker of applications that enhance the security of Linux. On October 22, he wrote a proof of concept attack for the local root exploit. Over the past few months, he has emerged as an outspoken critic of security practices followed by the team responsible for the Linux kernel.

"It's interesting to me that I picked it out two weeks before the people whose job it is to find this sort of stuff," he said Tuesday. "They've got entire teams of people and I'm just one person doing this in my free time."

Source

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General Software Discussion / Re: Typing Assistant has a feature you might be wanting + giveawayoftheday

« Last post by Josh on November 01, 2009, 09:00 AM »

Bartels: I am putting a stop to this right now. If you have a problem with someone copying your work, deal with that person or website directly. We do not need to hijack another thread with this set of debates.

Further postings about this subject WILL be removed including you replying to me. If you wish to handle this otherwise, pm me, do not reply to this thread.

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General Software Discussion / Re: Beerware and Otherware categories besides Donationware, good or now gimmicky?

« Last post by Josh on October 31, 2009, 01:01 PM »

That sounds like my mechanics. They are "beerware" in that aside from cost of parts, I pay for all labor in supplying them with beer, water or gatorade! Not bad spending 100 in the above when they save you over 2000 in labor

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General Software Discussion / Re: Windows vs. Mac: I'm starting to change.

« Last post by Josh on October 27, 2009, 05:47 PM »

That's exactly it. From my experiences, the zealots of the particular platforms rarely tell you problems with that platform be it Windows, Mac, Linux, etc. Articles like the one linked are clearly out to prove one platform is superior but in the end, that all depends on the users needs. Who is to say that the author of this article's needs are the same as mine, my fathers, my sister, my neighbor three doors down. Just some food for thought. I ask that article writers be objective.

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General Software Discussion / Re: Windows vs. Mac: I'm starting to change.

« Last post by Josh on October 27, 2009, 04:09 PM »

If my post is taken as attacking, please know that was not the intent. I always tell people to use what works, what makes them happy, and what does the job they need to do. I don't advocate changing for the sake of changing. "Why fix what isn't broken?". I do, however, take offense to the zealots who attack a particular platform because THEY believe their platform is superior. There is no reason to attack any one platform as all platforms have their shortcomings. I am the owner and operator of various different systems running different platforms. Each has it's own strengths and weaknesses. Use what does the job, not what is cool or trendy just so you can be cool and trendy also.

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General Software Discussion / Re: Minefield(Firefox) 3.7Pre seems to work

« Last post by Josh on October 27, 2009, 12:44 PM »

Now if only t-bird 3.0 would get out of its never-ending beta cycle!

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General Software Discussion / Re: Windows 7 Commercials

« Last post by Josh on October 27, 2009, 12:22 PM »

And you could add the geico money stack (Patent Pending) to the commercial and also make it a car insurance ad! YES! Beautiful!

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General Software Discussion / Re: Windows vs. Mac: I'm starting to change.

« Last post by Josh on October 27, 2009, 12:20 PM »

Innuendo: Remind me when I donate again to send you some credits. Your post made me laugh in a manner which I haven't done since our beloved mouser told me about his air conditioning woes.

*NOTE* Yes mousey, we have not forgotten *END NOTE*

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Developer's Corner / Re: What's your Programming Language?

« Last post by Josh on October 27, 2009, 10:28 AM »

Agreed. Just because a language cannot be "compiled into an executable" does not make it a real programming language and stating otherwise, especially in the modern day, seems more on the verge of looking for a flame war.

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General Software Discussion / Re: Windows vs. Mac: I'm starting to change.

« Last post by Josh on October 27, 2009, 10:26 AM »

Please note, this is one of the FIRST POINTS that this author makes and consequently makes me lose any thought of credibility for them. Any article which criticizes MS, or users for that matter, for not including applications needs to look at what happens when MS does so. MS realized that the browser was an important part of the computing industry back in the Win9x days. What did they do? They included it in the OS and made it a part of the operating system. This opened up numerous opportunities for the applications we have now. People cried afoul. Yes, MS did some tactics which were uncalled for in the day, but appear to have learned. The EU requiring MS unbundle IE in a Win7 E edition is stupid and a waste of Microsofts time and money, as well as the taxpayers paying to support the EU for that decision. Users are free to choose a browser, media player, calculator or toilet paper dispenser program of choice, they just need to be educated. Simply because the end user chose to NOT educate themselves and use what was provided is not the fault of Microsoft but of the third parties for not advertising their products in a manner that makes the end user want to use them.

In the end, these articles serve no real purpose for me. I tell people to use what they like, what makes them happy, and what WORKS. No, I do not mean "Just works" as Apple has been known to claim for the OS which does anything but. If people buy a MAC PC (Macs are PCs after all) and are happy with it, so be it, if they buy a normal Windows based PC, so be it. If it makes them happy and does what they need it to, in the end that is all that matters. The same can go for linux. When/if linux ever makes itself usable by the masses, it will succeed. I will not recommend an OS or platform to anyone solely for the purpose of change. With change comes headaches, despite what the FOSS and alternative platform users will lead you to believe, and with those headaches comes support. If I move someone to linux or Apple, I have to help them when their cross stitching program does not work, or when the printer that "Just Works" for them does not work.

In the end, its about choice, not about what vendor is copying who, or what vendor is easier to use for the reviewer de jour, it's the end user which ultimately matters.

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General Software Discussion / Re: Windows vs. Mac: I'm starting to change.

« Last post by Josh on October 27, 2009, 09:44 AM »

The one thing I have a problem with is people continuously compare built-in applications between the two operating systems. How can you do that with microsoft being forced to provide things as addons (downloadable) rather than built-in? Of course Snow Leopard has nice built in apps, windows simply cannot bundle applications anymore for fear of some judicial body crying afoul.

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General Software Discussion / Re: wanted: simple, stable bittorrent client for windows

« Last post by Josh on October 25, 2009, 07:46 PM »

Might have been, might not have. I do know that several private trackers I use ban the users of bitcomet.

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General Software Discussion / Re: wanted: simple, stable bittorrent client for windows

« Last post by Josh on October 25, 2009, 07:42 PM »

Bit Comet was well known for bypassing the "ratios" put in place by most trackers.

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General Software Discussion / Re: wanted: simple, stable bittorrent client for windows

« Last post by Josh on October 25, 2009, 06:20 PM »

Plus, the installer places the program in the uTorrent Folder so I guess I am right too ;-)

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General Software Discussion / Re: wanted: simple, stable bittorrent client for windows

« Last post by Josh on October 25, 2009, 06:16 PM »

Yes Yes, that is the right title. I was just lazy and didn't feel like bringing up charmap.

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General Software Discussion / Re: wanted: simple, stable bittorrent client for windows

« Last post by Josh on October 25, 2009, 06:09 PM »

utorrent? bloated? How?

+1 for utorrent. Fast, small, stable and easy to use. I know it does not cheat because the second I adjust my upload rate my download rate gets exponentially better.

1371

Living Room / Re: Unauthorized Contest: Who's been the most helpful in the last 3 months?

« Last post by Josh on October 24, 2009, 02:51 PM »

Who would vote for mouser anyways ;-)

1372

General Software Discussion / Re: Putting All My (Legally Obtained) Music Online

« Last post by Josh on October 24, 2009, 10:23 AM »

Looking at jinzora now! Thanks for the tip. Trying to setup a standalone computer system myself which has no keyboard, mouse or monitor, just remote controlled.

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General Software Discussion / Re: Putting All My (Legally Obtained) Music Online

« Last post by Josh on October 24, 2009, 08:38 AM »

Why not host from your home computer using something like tversity (except not for videos)? I believe itunes offers remote play capabilities now too. Or is this not the type of solution you are looking for?

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Living Room / Re: What's required for Aero in Win7?

« Last post by Josh on October 22, 2009, 05:01 PM »

It might be that it does not support DX11 aero effects. It should still support the DX10 functionality which is a majority of aero. I could be wrong, just my thoughts.

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Living Room / INTERNATIONAL CAPS LOCK DAY - OCT 22 & JUNE 28

« Last post by Josh on October 22, 2009, 03:05 PM »

Thats right folks, it is international caps lock day so let's

CELEBRATE!!!!

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