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151
Living Room / Re: The Movie and Book Writing Thread
« Last post by bit on June 24, 2015, 09:49 PM »
quote: Now... time to drop the gears into grammar Nazi mode! ;)

Terms of engearment.  ;D

http://tvtropes.org/ is useful & entertaining.
For instance: Rule of Cool

Let's put this through the "Ren Test"  ;D

Here is a short section from a book I am writing, which I would love to get some opinions on :)
^I had no idea Renegade was such a 'word Samurai'. :Thmbsup:
Not that I'm any judge, but don't stop writing.
The more you write, the better you get, pure and simple.
152
Living Room / Re: Recommend some music videos to me!
« Last post by bit on June 04, 2015, 03:10 PM »
Fever Tree - Unlock My Door
(use Firefox with Youtube Unblocker if you are blocked)
It's actually only audio, but does show the original Fever Tree album cover during playback.
153
Living Room / Re: When you make your 100'th Post
« Last post by bit on May 27, 2015, 11:54 PM »
500th  8)
(edit):
Five hundred posts!
Now I can retire!
No wait, I'll bet I can think of a good reason to do 500 more. :P

(re: next post after this): 'Keeping the records in order?' :D
You mean, I might actually edit my posts?
No way, I'm a solid citizen. ;)
154
Then there was the clueless undercover agent who was assigned in infiltrate a group of equally clueless fringe group religious compounds.
He asked his boss what to wear, and was told to look like a devotee and wear stuff with appropriate religious pix on it, but was given no specifics.
So after thinking it over, he showed up wearing blue jeans and a white tee-shirt with an image of a red Kool-Aid jug on the front.
It worked on the first, second, and third compounds and won him overwhelming peace & love with the devotees, but the ones in the fourth compound beat him up and kicked him out for being too ecumenical and popular with the first three.
155
Living Room / Re: Movies or films you've seen lately
« Last post by bit on May 24, 2015, 06:44 PM »
Tokkan is a 10-episode situation comedy drama starring Inoue Mao.
I hope nobody gets annoyed with me posting Japanese multi-show dramas or films; nobody likes duds, and I am trying to be as careful as I can to post only what I think are really good ones.
One of the best ways to find them is to browse the host web filmographies of top stars, and Inoue Mao is another awesome film star in Japan who always delivers.
"Miki (Inoue Mao) is run ragged each day as ruthless tax investigator Kagami’s assistant to collect taxes from tax defaulters." (see attachment in previous post)Inoue Mao

The first show I saw her in was Hana Yori Dango

She was way cute.  Although the dancing boxing bit got old after awhile.  Still, it was kind of fun.  I have been on jdorama.com and d-addicts.com for years.  Although I rarely post.  As for me please post series you enjoy.  Especially if they can be accessed online for free with English Subs.   :Thmbsup:

For sure!  :Thmbsup:
156
Living Room / Re: Robert A. Heinlein - atmospheric processor question
« Last post by bit on May 24, 2015, 06:43 PM »
I read somewhere that NASA is even more concerned about reverse-contamination from Mars to Earth, and has some kind of fancy word for it.

Blowback?  Nah.  Too few syllables.  :)
'Back contamination'.
^You're right MilesAhead, we need a fancier acronym with more syllables. :)

Hmm, I'm not sure if this has a good ring:

Neo Organic Mars Earth Recombinant Contagious Yuck
or NOMERCY for short.  :)


^heehee :)

I have a new question; what altitude on Earth would correspond to air pressure on Mars at ground level?
IOW, how high above the Earth would you have to go, to match the same low atmospheric air pressure on Mars at ground level?
10 miles above the Earth? 20?
50,000 feet up? 100,000 feet up?
158
Living Room / Re: Robert A. Heinlein - atmospheric processor question
« Last post by bit on May 21, 2015, 03:59 PM »
I read somewhere that NASA is even more concerned about reverse-contamination from Mars to Earth, and has some kind of fancy word for it.

Blowback?  Nah.  Too few syllables.  :)
'Back contamination'.
^You're right MilesAhead, we need a fancier acronym with more syllables. :)
159
Update.
"What Do the PayPal Proposed Changes Mean To My Business?"
The article appears to say about what I posted in my last post to this thread.
160
Living Room / Re: Robert A. Heinlein - atmospheric processor question
« Last post by bit on May 20, 2015, 05:52 PM »
In 'Aliens 2', they use atmospheric processors to convert the alien moon's noxious atmosphere to make it breathable, "Takes decades," Van Leuwen tells Ripley. "We call it a 'shake and bake' colony."

S-F writer Robert A. Heinlein was -among other things- a mathematician.
I vaguely recall that he once calculated that with X number of giant Aliens-type 'atmospheric processors' (written a couple or three decades before 'Aliens'), seems to me he 'crunched the numbers' and figured it would take -X number of years- (he gave a specific number which I forget) to make the atmosphere of Mars breathable.
Does anyone have the direct Heinlein quote and actual info on this please?
If he put it in a story, what book?
 (see attachment in previous post)'When Mars had water' (courtesy of Rense.com & Dees); my only comment on the picture is that if it had water it must have had water vapor clouds, which -at least on Earth- are white.
Found it--
Red Planet (1949) by Robert A. Heinlein, quote:
Doctor MacRae dominated the dinner table talk, as he always did, with a soft rumble of salty comments and outrageous observations. Presently he turned to Mr Marlowe and said, ‘You said something earlier about another twenty years and we could throw away our respirators; tell me: is there news about the Project?’

The colony had dozens of projects, all intended to make Mars more livable for human beings, but the Project always meant the atmosphere, or oxygen, project. The pioneers of the Harvard-Carnegie expedition reported Mars suitable for colonization except for the all-important fact that the air was so thin that a normal man would suffocate. However they reported also that many, many billions of tons of oxygen were locked in the Martian desert sands, the red iron oxides that give Mars its ruddy color. The Project proposed to free this oxygen for humans to breathe.

‘Didn’t you hear the Deimos newscast this afternoon?’ Mr Marlowe answered.

‘Never listen to newscasts. Saves wear and tear on the nervous system.’

‘No doubt. But this was good news. The pilot plant in Libya is in operation, successful operation. The first day’s run restored nearly four million tons mass of oxygen to the air—and no breakdowns.’

Mrs Marlowe looked startled. ‘Four million tons? That seems a tremendous lot.’

Her husband grinned. ‘Any idea how long it would take that one plant at that rate to do the job, that is, increase the oxygen pressure by five mass-pounds per square inch?’

‘Of course I haven’t. But not very long I should think.’

‘Let me see —’ His lips moved soundlessly. ‘Uh, around two hundred thousand years—Mars years, of course.’

‘James, you’re teasing me!’

‘No, I’m not. Don’t let big figures frighten you, my dear; of course we won’t depend on one plant; they’ll be scattered every fifty miles or so through the desert, a thousand mega-horsepower each. There’s no limit to the power available, thank goodness; if we don’t clean up the job in our lifetimes, at least the kids will certainly see the end of it.’
161
Living Room / Re: Robert A. Heinlein - atmospheric processor question
« Last post by bit on May 20, 2015, 04:53 PM »
I read a SciFi novel maybe 6 months ago.  I don't recall the author or title, but it was all about diverting comets to Mars to get the water from the ice.  

The physicists at the Thunderbolt Project have illustrated that comets have no ice. Just a fun fact. It's interesting how they explain things.

Here is the SciFi Novel in question:  Mining the Oort by Frederik Pohl
Yes, the EU or Electronic Universe is fascinating stuff.
Why is the center of a sunspot darker instead of brighter? EU has possible answers.
As per 'Mining the Oort' by Frederik Pohl:
ASF_0388.jpg
March 1963

ASF_0389.jpg
April 1963

What keeps nagging at me is the question of biological contamination (i.e. seeding) of Mars with Earth microorganisms.
I find myself mentally comparing it to the advent of Columbus to the New World, followed by everything from chickenpox to tumbleweeds, the virtual wipe-out of buffalo and Native Caribbean Sea peoples, and other events.
Once something microscopic from Earth should get started converting any chemical compound (from its own POV) from a consumable into a bio-waste product, it would be almost unstoppable spreading across Mars.
The human body is host to countless beneficial, opportunistic, and antagonistic microorganisms, and they would all be let loose the moment you get a dead astronaut on Mars in a ruptured space suit (or bio suit, whatever you want to call it).

I read somewhere that NASA is even more concerned about reverse-contamination from Mars to Earth, and has some kind of fancy word for it.
162
Living Room / Re: Robert A. Heinlein - atmospheric processor question
« Last post by bit on May 19, 2015, 10:42 PM »
Bacteria, algae to produce oxygen on Mars?
More speculation than fact, but still interesting.
163
Living Room / Re: Cute jokes' thread
« Last post by bit on May 17, 2015, 11:31 PM »
My very first donationcoder post says #483. My next post also says #483. And the next and the next and the next! Where's post #1? Where's post #2? Where's post #3? They all say #483! There's something seriously wrong here! I'm getting sick and fed up with this crap!
it's a good thing you posted it here in this particular thread, otherwise I would have fallen into the trap and started talking about the difference between "Post" and "Posts".

;D heehee jk
164
Living Room / Re: Cute jokes' thread
« Last post by bit on May 17, 2015, 03:54 PM »
My very first donationcoder post says #483.
My next post also says #483.
And the next and the next and the next!
Where's post #1?
Where's post #2?
Where's post #3?
They all say #483!
There's something seriously wrong here!
I'm getting sick and fed up with this crap!
165
Living Room / Re: Cute jokes' thread
« Last post by bit on May 17, 2015, 03:50 PM »
Then there was the one about the finger-size carp which was sauteed on one side only and the clumsy waiter tripped at table and dumped it onto the zwiebak in the first known case of a carpette falling onto the toast butter-side down.
166
Living Room / Re: Interesting "stuff"
« Last post by bit on May 16, 2015, 03:05 PM »
167
Living Room / Re: good Videos [short films] here :)
« Last post by bit on May 16, 2015, 12:04 PM »
([Sabina Altynbekova] post moved to [Interesting "stuff"] thread page 32)
168
Living Room / Re: Movies or films you've seen lately
« Last post by bit on May 15, 2015, 12:57 AM »
Tokkan is a 10-episode situation comedy drama starring Inoue Mao.
I hope nobody gets annoyed with me posting Japanese multi-show dramas or films; nobody likes duds, and I am trying to be as careful as I can to post only what I think are really good ones.
One of the best ways to find them is to browse the host web filmographies of top stars, and Inoue Mao is another awesome film star in Japan who always delivers.
"Miki (Inoue Mao) is run ragged each day as ruthless tax investigator Kagami’s assistant to collect taxes from tax defaulters."
Inoue Mao.jpg
Inoue Mao
169
(moved to Cute jokes thread)
170
Living Room / Re: Movies or films you've seen lately
« Last post by bit on May 05, 2015, 01:09 AM »
Thank you everyone, I'm glad people are enjoying my recommendations.  
I am enjoying yours as well. :Thmbsup:

Hitsudan Hostess
"The story is based on the bestselling autobiography of 25-year-old Rie Saito, who became a number-one hostess in Ginza (Ginza is the top such establishment in Tokyo, so IOW, she is the most popular hostess in all of Japan) despite being deaf. "Hitsudan Hostess" was published by Kobunsha and so far (as of 2010) has sold over 200,000 copies. The book depicts the life of Rie Saito, who was born in Aomori and became deaf at the age of 2 due to an illness (meningitis)."

An older female 'hostess proprietor' (one who entertains wealthy clients in swank but morally proper high-class pub-type settings) hires Rie as a discouraged and unemployed young deaf woman with no hope of future employment prospects.
Rie becomes overwhelmingly popular and successful with the clientele, but deep down inside she wishes she could somehow reconcile with the disapproving mother who loved and raised her to become such a remarkable person.
At the beginning and end of the show, there is a brief 1 minute cameo film short of the real Rie Saito.

Update: real-life news about the real Rie Saito:
Kita Ward Assembly adopts hearing, speaking aids to help disabled legislators
"The Kita Ward Assembly, where deaf-mute Tokyo author Rie Saito was elected in the quadrennial unified elections in April, has become the first legislature in the nation to develop a system that allows lawmakers with hearing or speech impediments to participate in sessions in real time.

The text-to-speech conversion system announced Tuesday makes use of wireless devices, the public address system, and personal computers so disabled lawmakers can interact with other members in a more seamless fashion."
171
Living Room / Re: Movies or films you've seen lately
« Last post by bit on May 02, 2015, 01:22 AM »
Real (2013) is a Japanese psychological thriller rated at 9.04/10 with 95 votes.

"Koichi (Takeru Sato) & Atsumi (Haruka Ayase) have been friends since their childhood days and they eventually became lovers. About one year ago, Atsumi attempted to commit suicide and fell into a coma afterwards. Koichi, desperate to know why Atsumi attempted suicide, takes part in a new medical procedure that involves the central nervous system. Koichi will enter the subconscious mind of Atsumi through the medical procedure. When Koichi enters the subconscious mind of Atsumi, shes asks Koichi to find a picture of a "plesiosaur" she drew as a child. The drawing is the key that brings back a suppressed childhood memory that brings their minds together."

I've seen this kind of mind-diving thing done USA Hollywood-style with the usual American film studio overdose of eye-candy and senseless violence, but Real does it Japanese-style with impressive special effects and an awesome plot-twist.
172
Hmm, okay...lemme see...
Not that I understand, but the Paypal new rule says "...You represent and warrant that none of the following infringe any intellectual property right: your provision of content to us, your posting of content using the Services, and the PayPal Group’s use of such content (including of works derived from it) in connection with the Services.”
Repeat: '...in connection with the Services'.
Almost sounds like the old time-honored agreement that the host (i.e. Paypal) just wants permission to use your stuff for promotional purposes, as when they show a happy smiling customer's face on their home page for a few hours or days as an advertisement gimmick.
But then, why demand intellectual 'ownership', as in 'All your base are belong to us'?

Double-hmm; backing up a little, the rule also says it is 'nonexclusive', as in '...you grant the PayPal Group a non-exclusive, worldwide, perpetual, irrevocable...'
Keyword: 'non-exclusive'.
Sounds more and more like the more or less standard host 'advertising clause', because they're not denying you your rights to your own stuff if it's 'non-exclusive'.
It 'almost' sounds like they just want to be able to post pix of you, your kids, your pets, and such on their web site home page to show a happy clientele consumer base; that kind of thing.

Then again OTOH, that's not 'exactly' what they're saying, is it?
I'm not really the go-to person for the bottom line in this, and it's always possible Paypal really is trying to play grab-ass after all.
173
What content gets posted to PayPal? AFAIK the only "content" that PayPal facilitates moving from one person to another is money.

Someone selling something using PayPal isn't actually giving the goods to PayPal to disburse to the buyer. So I don't get what all this means. :-\
I don't get it either.
I'm (sort of) familiar with websites which host your stuff and merely want the privilege to be able to use your content in their advertising, but they don't ask you to sell your soul.
Another question is 'defensibility', as in; once Paypal starts implementing this and the typical delayed onset starts to sink in with outraged late-hearers discovering that this stunt (whatever it entails) has been pulled on them by Paypal, how does Paypal intend to defend their new (your old) intellectual 'territory'?
So what is Paypal going to do when someone basically ignores their claim; ban them from Paypal, and then what, try to sue them for 'infringement'?

I can imagine at this point a tidal wave of consumer displeasure with not only Paypal, but any outfit (such as ebay) which insists on being paid through Paypal.
There could then ensue a secondary and no less sizable tidal wave of businesses, not wanting to offend or be cut off from their lucrative customer base, dumping Paypal and-or finding a new way to be paid other than Paypal, such as Dwolla, WePay, Veridian Credit Union, Amazon Payments, Stripe, Braintree, bit coin, and good old-fashioned VISA.

Come to think of it, aren't there some kind of 'truth in whatever' laws forbidding anyone from doing this?
As in the old stunt where someone sends part-payment (say 10%) of a bill by physical check, and writes on the check, 'Cashing this check constitutes acknowledgment of receipt of payment in full'.
It really 'games the system' in ways that are morally so retrograde that the only reason I'm willing to believe Paypal thinks they can get away with it is that instead of kiting it as a proposal, they're actually giving forewarning of full intent to go through with it.

I still don't understand fully exactly what it is Paypal is attempting to do.
However, it would only take me one moment of feeling totally betrayed, for me to revoke my registration with Paypal permanently, and deal resolutely with inconveniences as they develop.

Please keep us posted, as I would appreciate a more complete explanation of what Paypal is attempting, in 'plain language' or 'layman's terms'.
July 1st is just around the corner, and I need to know what to decide in case I need to pull the plug on Paypal.
174
Living Room / Re: Micro-Fundraiser for the Official DonationCoder CodyMobile!
« Last post by bit on April 27, 2015, 10:22 PM »
Absolutely gorgeous car. :)
My advice is, don't use the green abrasive side of a two-sided green-yellow kitchen dish sponge to scrub your wet car's paint finish when car washing.
It is like medium-grade sandpaper.
You won't be able to see the scratches it makes while wet, so you'll get absolutely no warning, but when it dries, your paint finish will be absolutely ruined everywhere you scrubbed with it.
I know someone who did that (not me), and the memory of the event -experienced second-hand- remains vivid in my memory to this day.
PS - Brake fluid and paint jobs do not go well together.
175
General Software Discussion / Re: Multiple copies of the same file renamed
« Last post by bit on April 27, 2015, 10:03 PM »
^That sounds way cool.  :Thmbsup:
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