Recent Posts

251

Site/Forum Features / Re: Can one "subscibe" to another member?"

« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 19, 2010, 05:46 PM »

@App - Thanks for that bit of knowledge.  I wasn't aware that was possible.  Hmmm... the "...if you are willing..." part sounds ominous.  Do you use this RSS method, yourself?  Do you like it?

@JavaJones - I saw the "Buddy List" too, but like you, I don't know what it is about either?   

252

Living Room / "DAWN WARS"

« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 19, 2010, 05:30 PM »

Here's some fun...

In order to understand the following I copy/pasted from our own family forum, you need to know my middle daughter, Dawn (17), is lightning fast with her typing on her computer keyboard.  


In a fun recognition of this fact two of her siblings (Mercy 13 and Amos 15) put the following together.  
 

I hope you enjoy it.  

DAWN WARS

In a mother board far, far away...  DAWN WARS!

• I. The Phantom Fingers
• II. Attack of the Alphabet
• III. Revenge of the Wingdings
• IV. A New Font
• V. The Empire Bytes Back
• VI. Return of the Finger-Fry

Here is the theatrical trailer the 15 year old put together...

"Back in the golden age of the 90's director George Lucas the master maker of movies brought out an amazing work of outer space.  When will this arrive again?  The answer is now... when you will discover DAWN WARS as she takes you through a voyage of space keys followed by her ally, Vowels, as she fights the dreaded enemies, Java-the-Hut and Darth Error.  Tune in next time to hear more of this amazing adventure in DAWN WARS!

Thanks for looking,
~CT

253

Living Room / Re: Desktop Linux: The dream is dead

« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 19, 2010, 12:46 AM »

Ok, time for a funny...

Don't Open for Two Years

This thread is dead. 

Psst... if you opened this before 11/18/2012 12:38:03 AM... you peeked! 

254

Living Room / Re: Ever asked, "Now why did I uninstall that program?" A tip for you...

« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 19, 2010, 12:22 AM »

Your comment reminded me of this thread:

https://www.donation...ex.php?topic=15916.0
...
I should probably keep screen shots of annoying programs so I can avoid them in the future. But I'm not that organized.

-MilesAhead (November 18, 2010, 10:12 PM)

Yes, you can avoid the programs that have fallen out favor, but you won't know "why?" 

Not knowing "why" probably won't stop you from reinstalling.  Remember there was a good reason "why" the (rejected) app was installed in the first place and it will probably be an undoing as the remembered favorable provocation will overpower the doubt concerning why it was rejected.  I speak from senile experience.

255

Living Room / Re: Ideas for a website...I need help.

« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 18, 2010, 10:57 PM »

...
Who needs real life when you have DonationCoder?

-4wd (November 18, 2010, 10:30 PM)

Aw nuts you used the last one! >_< 
Well, it's just as well... we might take this into infinity if we kept going! <cue theme from "The Incredible Shrinking Man">

256

Living Room / Re: Ideas for a website...I need help.

« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 18, 2010, 10:03 PM »

...
Disclaimer: In no way am I disrespecting poor people but given that a large amount of traffic at this site ends up devolving into some kind of weird free-for-all comedy show I feel it's only right that I be allowed to contribute.

-4wd (November 18, 2010, 09:20 PM)

Maybe that's because real life isn't funny enough.

257

Living Room / Re: Ideas for a website...I need help.

« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 18, 2010, 09:01 PM »

...
i was wondering if anybody could suggest me some ideas for a website on the domain name www.weneedtoeat.com
...

-Stephen66515 (November 17, 2010, 07:41 PM)

It would be a pretty big project, but I am flabbergasted this has not been suggested.

My initial and only reaction to Stephen's inquiry was a web site one could go to for info on what would be available to eat when traveling.  How great would it be to be able to just find a simple and uncomplicated bite to eat at 3:AM near SW 43rd ST & Brockney Ave?

PS - After rereading this thread the other suggestions make sense.

258

Living Room / Ever asked, "Now why did I uninstall that program?" A tip for you...

« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 18, 2010, 08:49 PM »

Perhaps I'm telling on myself, but I have asked that questions way too many times about the same exact apps! 

Let me encourage you to keep a dossier on all the software you uninstall for future reference.  If you don't now, one day you will reinstall an app only to say out loud after six hours of configure-fiddling, "Aha! now I remember why I uninstalled it!"   

What one uses is not that important.  A simple text file, Outlook "Note" or a few lines in a 3x4 spiral notebook will suffice.  The important thing is use something and don't lose it. 

If you adopt this methodology, you will avoid that dumb look on your face you will eventually experience if you don't. 

Hope this helps someone.

259

Site/Forum Features / Can one "subscibe" to another member?"

« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 18, 2010, 08:28 PM »

I hope I am not duplicating another thread as I have tried a search, but it was unfruitful.

I have examined the "My Profile" options, but have not found where I can subscribe to certain members.  I see there is an "Ignore" feature, but I need the opposite functionality.  

There are numerous wise and intelligent folks that frequent these cyber hallways and it would be nice to know when they are stirring about.  

So, how do I subscribe to particular members, or is that somehow considered "stalking" or "invasion of privacy" or some such rot?

Thanks.

260

Living Room / Re: Why I have a problem with Facebook?

« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 18, 2010, 08:16 PM »

I'm not quite sure that I know what you are driving at. You seem to have a bleak outlook there.

I find Facebook quite nice to use. I can keep in contact with friends that I otherwise would never see. I've even managed to reestablish relationships with friends that I've not seen in 10 or 15 or 20 years.

-Renegade (November 18, 2010, 02:00 PM)

@Renegade & parkint,

I agree that using Facebook to keep in touch with established relationships can be valuable, but only for real friends.  Please notice that the only use of the word friend in my post was in a somewhat, sarcastic tone.

As an OTR truck driver I have a similar experience I am referring to above in using the CB Radio.  Since there is no clear identity (accountability) of who is doing the "jawin'," much irresponsibility is provoked and nothing can be done except use the on/off knob.

As far as my view being bleak, given the facts of the circumstances I comment on in my missive above, what other view can one have?  Problems, in general, are bleak by nature and the problems associated with gaining acquaintances ad-hoc on social networks versus using them (social networks) as vehicles to strengthen and enhance friendships don't do a lot to change my evaluation of the negative side of Facebook, et.al., but I am a happy person. 

261

Living Room / Why I have a problem with Facebook?

« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 18, 2010, 01:54 PM »

Facebook is all the rage these days, although it was not the first "social networking" entity on the Internet.  What Facebook did was to conglomerate a number of aspects into a comprehensive package.  Even the name was genius!  So direct.  So clear.  I have often thought that Facebook owed a significant part of the success to the name "Facebook."  Being able to say, "I'm on Facebook."  or "Look me up on Facebook sometimes...Ciao!"... was just the "cool" thing to do.

All that is well and good, or maybe not, but exploring the success of Facebook is beyond the scope of this narrative.  What is in the scope, is the problems of the paradigm.  Namely, anonymity.  "Anonymity! How can you be anonymous on Facebook?"  Well, think about it.  The only persons you would not be anonymous to would be the ones that know the real you.  When I had my Facebook account I discovered and became "friends" with a good number of people I was acquainted with for quite a while, but I couldn't tell you anything about them.  I did not really know them.

If you were able to establish an identity on Facebook (which I don't recommend) how many people could really call you on the carpet about anything you might post?  Of that number (if any), how many would even comment if you were to "s-t-r-e-t-c-h" the truth?  Human nature will feel no restraint if there is no accountability.  Unfortunately, this will breed "images."

"Images?"  What are those?  For our purposes "images" are the caricature of what people want others to see and not what they really are in real life.  "Images" are the pseudo-reality people use to hide weaknesses and inadequacies to protect the fragile essence within.  This defense mechanism is set in place because people get hurt deep, deep, deep down by some careless words or action from a trusted person.  Vulnerability in one will always demand careful responsibility in the other.  When responsible care is not taken, frivolity, casual banter or down right meanness will inevitably inflict an injury.  Given it doesn't take too many marks on the hand before one decides it is not a good idea to take one's hands out of one's pockets, you can see how careless injuries distort a person's outlook.  Our "images" allow us to not expose our real selves.  We learn that "no exposure" = "no hurts."  The greatest tragedy in this is it destroys the channels that true relationships are to flow through.

Relationships are living organisms.  If you don't believe me, just watch the next time you see one neglected and/or poisoned.  If the neglect or poisoning is severe enough or of long enough duration the relationship will die.  Given that "images" are essentially poison or at best, starvation of a relationship, what can be the inevitable outcome except weakness, sickness, deformity and death?  It is imperative if a relationship is to live it must be nurtured.  "Images," by their definition cut off the flow of nurturing elements because the very umbilical connection comes from nowhere?!?  It can provide no nourishment.  Nourishment has to come from a source that is vital and living.  "Images" have no life except the life that all parasites enjoy, but eventually the parasite is doomed to die because it is stealing the life that is sustaining its own existence.  "Images" can provide no life.  "Images" can only take life.  Any relationship connected to an "image" will die of starvation.

Facebook and other public (and therefore, anonymous) social networks are a breeding ground for the  "images" discussed above and the casualties they produce.  I made a decision to nurture and assist in the healthy development of every relationship I have the privilege to be involved with in my life.  If you are or were a Facebook member, the good news for you and others is there are good alternatives in the form of private family social networks and private family heritage networks. The key word here is "private."

Facebook and others purporting it have knowingly or unknowingly supported a tool of relational destruction that has rung up a price tag of human hearts that won't be known until it is far too late. 

You may not agree, but this is why I have a problem with Facebook.

262

General Software Discussion / Re: SMF or phpBB... that is the question?

« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 18, 2010, 12:09 PM »

@CT: anything you like as long as it doesn't make more work for you.

I was thinking just something about your goals... Or just a journal where you talk about the experience from a technical and philosophical perspective.

That sorta thing.

...  Something like a designer's page, or the story of how your site came to be.
...
It is a very cool project you're considering.

-40hz (November 18, 2010, 11:43 AM)

@40hz - These are excellent and very salient considerations!  

As you first noted in your comment about, "...not making more work..." I've given up on that!    It just comes with the territory.   

My original question to you was "where" I should blog?  I originally thought you were suggesting DC, but now I reread you I can see you are suggesting somewhere in my own cyberspace.  I guess this means I will have to start a new thread, "SMF BlogSpot or phpBB my own web site... that is the question?" 

At any rate I'll be sure you have access to the blog or report when it materializes.  Thanks for the encouragement.

263

General Software Discussion / Re: SMF or phpBB... that is the question?

« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 18, 2010, 11:53 AM »

SMF is pretty great right out of the box and has proved very stable, and has a wonderful feature set and organization that just makes sense.
...
What this means is that addons and mods are not easy to maintain, and can be a bit hairy to deal with when applying updates to the core forum.
...

-mouser (November 07, 2010, 09:28 AM)

That's an important point, and I'd like to add to it from a ServerAdmin point of view.
...
I see a lot more vulnerabilities posted for phpbb than smf.
Now that doesn't mean that it's more secure, it could just be that it's more popular/targeted

-Gothi[c] (November 17, 2010, 12:12 PM)

Thanks, Gothi[c] and mouser,

I appreciate all the heads-up.  When you say "add-ons" I get a cold chill down my back because I don't know much anything about php.  I have installed one (Spoiler BBCode 1.1.3) to save screen real estate since I often write some very long posts, but that is all the mods so far.  I would like to have a simple "Go to Top" button at the bottom of each thread (each post?), but I haven't found one yet.  Aside from those two (and maybe some smileys) I really don't have a need for anything else AFAIK.

I have noticed how much just plain work is involved.  The good news is it is worth it for me because of what I hope it will become.  Already I have discovered some very special things about my children I did not know they possessed in their writings.  It has been a blast! 

Honestly I think we (especially mouser ) dread the day we have to finally go for a major version upgrade of smf

I can only imagine! 

264

General Software Discussion / Re: SMF or phpBB... that is the question?

« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 18, 2010, 11:22 AM »

Sounds like a really interesting project you're embarking on. 

Any chance of getting you to 'blog' a bit on this while you're doing it? Or maybe write up a project report when you're up and running?

 

-40hz (November 16, 2010, 09:49 PM)

Where would you suggest?  The fact is... I really don't know much about blogging, although the concept intrigues me.

265

Living Room / Allow me to introduce "Dieselbuff" and "HorseDuck"

« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 17, 2010, 01:08 PM »

Hello DC!

After lavishing in these halls of coding for many years, I have the pleasure of introducing my two sons, "Deiselbuff" and "HorseDuck."  I am happy that of all the places they could have chosen to join an online community, they have chosen Cody's Home! 

They are not coders (yet  ), but I am confident you will find their participation in this forum enjoyable.

Fair winds,
CodeTRUCKER

@Mouser - As OTR "Truckers" too, they pass by your neighborhood numerous times a year!

266

Site/Forum Features / Re: Discussion: How can we Improve DonationCoder?

« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 17, 2010, 09:22 AM »

...
FIXED.  Thanks for spotting that CodeTRUCKER 

-mouser (November 17, 2010, 05:48 AM)

You're welcome!

267

Site/Forum Features / Re: Discussion: How can we Improve DonationCoder?

« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 17, 2010, 02:28 AM »

Yes, I know it has been a while since this thread had a pulse, but...

I was Looking at the Badges page and noticed that except for the badge, there are no explanations of what the badges are for?  Perhaps I'm just dense. 

Does that qualify me for the "Badge of disCourage?"

268

Living Room / Does anyone know this music? The artist?

« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 16, 2010, 07:53 PM »

The heli is cute, but I really like the music!  Who is it?  Does anyone know?

TIA
CT

269

General Software Discussion / Re: SMF or phpBB... that is the question?

« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 16, 2010, 03:40 PM »

To: Everyone who assisted...


After exploring the different options and given I have been working with the DonationCoder SMF forum for over four years, it seemed best to stay with what I know - Simple Machines Forum.

Gratefully.
CT

270

Living Room / Re: The conflict of interest that is Google

« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 13, 2010, 07:43 PM »

...
Anyways, I do tend to get carried away with logic. It's just so much fun~!

-Renegade (November 12, 2010, 09:25 PM)

Ah!  Now we know what to do when we want to get Renegade to come out of his shell. 

271

Living Room / Re: What books are you reading?

« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 13, 2010, 03:48 PM »

@Mouser: well...that ringing 'endorsement' is enough to make me decide to cut my losses and stop reading Wolfram. I've got enough far more interesting books I want to get caught up on that there's no point in my wasting the effort to chug through those last 800 pages.

Thx for the input. 

(And all this time I thought maybe it was just...me!)

---

P.S. If anybody wants this book, drop me a PM and I'll mail it to you if your address is in the USA.

-40hz (November 13, 2010, 02:50 PM)

Hmmm.... maybe you should rethink your position.  Here's why...

The joke concerns twin boys of five or six. Worried that the boys had developed extreme personalities -- one was a total pessimist, the other a total optimist -- their parents took them to a psychiatrist.

First the psychiatrist treated the pessimist. Trying to brighten his outlook, the psychiatrist took him to a room piled to the ceiling with brand-new toys. But instead of yelping with delight, the little boy burst into tears. "What's the matter?" the psychiatrist asked, baffled. "Don't you want to play with any of the toys?" "Yes," the little boy bawled, "but if I did I'd only break them."

Next the psychiatrist treated the optimist. Trying to dampen his out look, the psychiatrist took him to a room piled to the ceiling with horse manure. But instead of wrinkling his nose in disgust, the optimist emitted just the yelp of delight the psychiatrist had been hoping to hear from his brother, the pessimist. Then he clambered to the top of the pile, dropped to his knees, and began gleefully digging out scoop after scoop with his bare hands. "What do you think you're doing?" the psychiatrist asked, just as baffled by the optimist as he had been by the pessimist. "With all this manure," the little boy replied, beaming, "there must be a pony in here somewhere!"

272

Living Room / Re: The conflict of interest that is Google

« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 13, 2010, 12:14 PM »

* not trying to boost my post count, I swear!

-tomos (November 13, 2010, 10:14 AM)

I am!  

273

Living Room / Re: The conflict of interest that is Google

« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 12, 2010, 08:43 PM »

+1 CodeTRUCKER.
...

Penrose presents the argument that human consciousness is non-algorithmic, and thus is not capable of being modeled by a conventional Turing machine-type of digital computer.

Well, let's just assume that human's are just very good at switching logical systems, and that's their core logical system. Problem solved.
...

-Renegade (November 12, 2010, 08:20 PM)

Hey Man, you've outlined my next week's study outline. 

The funny thing is I was pondering the subject of "logic" just yesterday and today [Cue Twilight Zone theme].  After some cogitation on the issue, I was struck that "logic" was illogical.    Unfortunately, my post would be about twice the length of your missive, so I will try to distill it and get back to you.  In the meantime, here is a smattering...

If...

A = B
and
B = C
then
A = C

... see anything wrong with this?

Maybe I'm not seeing everything (the emperor's new clothes, perhaps), but it seems ludicrous to me (and the man who originally brought this to my attention).  It says nothing!  The "then" is already contained in the equation.  Nothing new is learned, nor proven at all.  At best, it is redundant.

Anyway, thanks for a substantive reply.

274

Living Room / Re: The conflict of interest that is Google

« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 12, 2010, 08:29 PM »

BTW, as I recently have read something about "20 years of WWW":
The WWW (Google's reason to exist) was developed on a NeXT. So, maybe, we shall blame Apple?

-Tuxman (November 12, 2010, 08:26 PM)

Naw, I think if there is anyone to blame, it is ourselves.  And I quote, "
I am persuaded the only reason bad men have succeeded is not because good men have done nothing, but that good men did not do enough."

275

Living Room / Re: The conflict of interest that is Google

« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 12, 2010, 06:34 PM »

<rant>
I hate to say, "I told ya so...," but I did and I remember being raked over the coals by some as a conspiracy buffoon because of my warnings.  Anyone that knows me knows I have had concerns about Google doing exactly this, i.e, having the power to manipulate knowledge and using it for their benefit, for some years now.  I previously pointed out the validity of Lord Acton's profundity.   I have no desire to rub anyone's nose in this and all those that were antagonistic will remain anonymous.  There is no need to try and search this forum for those threads.  Due to Providence (or call it "luck," if you prefer) all of those threads were wiped out a while back by me (the DC staff had nothing to do with those events), but that's all I need to say about that. 

I have no axe to grind, but I hope now I won't be written off as some nut case.  The threats that were real years ago are more real today.  Frankly, I'm not worried near as much about what Larry and Sergey are doing as I am when (not if) some Administration usurps Google's autonomy for less-than-benevolent purposes.  It is only a matter of time and History, itself is my star witness.  "Power corrupts.  Absolute power corrupts absolutely."  Human nature will allow nothing else unless that "power" is kept under good regulation by love.  Ignore these facts and one day you are going to be unpleasantly surprised.  Ask the folks in the Warsaw Ghetto among others.

'Nuff said.   
</rant>

I really don't worry about Big G that much anymore.  I don't use it (directly) except on rare occasions.  Have been using the Scroogle Scraper for years.  Every now and then I get a message from them announcing Big G has changed their algorithm.  A day or two later, Scroogle is back online.  I have also had some pretty good success with the old Clusty, which is actually Yippy now.

I wonder if the way Scroogle, (actually, this is the "Scroogle Scraper" site) works has any bearing on what is returned?  I don't think so, but I was wondering if anyone else did?  Anyone know?