Recent Posts

2576

General Software Discussion / Re: Boxer editor 14 released - paid upgrade, $29.00 - text wrap at last

« Last post by cranioscopical on March 06, 2010, 05:09 PM »

is the bookmark system the same as before?

-rjbull (March 06, 2010, 02:50 PM)

Yes, as far as I can see 

2577

General Software Discussion / Re: Boxer editor 14 released - paid upgrade, $29.00 - text wrap at last

« Last post by cranioscopical on March 05, 2010, 06:24 PM »

If anyone upgrades to Boxer 14, please will they report their views on it?

I upgraded but I don't think I was using most of its features and so didn't notice a heck of a difference. It's not my main editor.
I'd be happy to try to answer any specific questions that you have about 14.

2578

Living Room / Re: What annoys you to no end?

« Last post by cranioscopical on March 04, 2010, 04:50 PM »

"Shut yer pie hole!"

Alright, then why don't you seal your cucumber-sandwich orifice, vicar? 

2579

Living Room / Re: Strange question about salsa

« Last post by cranioscopical on March 02, 2010, 05:01 PM »

If you wish to avoid problems with salsa in the microwave, respect the 'No Dancing' warning on the inside of the door.

2580

Finished Programs / Re: DONE: Create Shortcut on the Destop (hopefully not as stupid as it sounds)

« Last post by cranioscopical on March 01, 2010, 08:59 AM »

I use Autohotkey.  Can you translate the script from AutoIt?

jdd,

That is an ahk script.
the line:
"Formatted for AutoIt with the GeSHI Syntax Highlighter v1.0.8.4 [copy or print]"
is a little misleading.
If you click on the word "copy" in that line you'll be able to transfer the script to your own machine, naming it what you like.

I'd be quick to take Eóin's advice, you almost certainly have a 'bad' shell extension. Finding and removing that will make your computer days a lot less annoying.

2581

N.A.N.Y. 2010 / Re: NANY 2010 Release: Bestimate

« Last post by cranioscopical on February 27, 2010, 08:04 AM »

v1.0.5 - 2010-02-27

-skwire (February 27, 2010, 07:45 AM)

Very nice!
I use this now for tracking the accuracy of my time estimates for each step of complex projects with rigid deadlines.

2582

General Software Discussion / Re: Stupid phrases like "Free trial!"

« Last post by cranioscopical on February 26, 2010, 12:38 PM »

You guys think you're hard done by? That's nothing, I have a coin slot just above the power button on my PC.
Fortunately, so far, I've been able to fake it out by inserting a blank CD but still...

2583

Developer's Corner / Re: What do YOU do to keep your head cold when coding?

« Last post by cranioscopical on February 26, 2010, 09:54 AM »

Take the dog for a walk/game.

2584

Living Room / Re: Yelp Website Accused of Extortion -- More Examples of Corrupt Review Sites

« Last post by cranioscopical on February 25, 2010, 06:35 PM »

oh to be so young and full of hope..

allow me to present you with some alternative remedies:

-mouser

And you so young to be so cynical 

2585

Living Room / Re: ToyVoyagers: Stuffed Animals Travel the Globe with the Help of Strangers

« Last post by cranioscopical on February 23, 2010, 04:34 PM »

The trips are a bit expensive but maybe we should save up to send Baby Cody on one.

-mouser

Try one of the economy tours!

2586

Developer's Corner / Re: The programmer as (starving) artist

« Last post by cranioscopical on February 21, 2010, 08:37 PM »

Discussions about code as poetry... programmers may end up writing code without getting paid directly for their work.

Probably depends on how much is ode.

2587

Living Room / Re: People are really (really, really) stupid

« Last post by cranioscopical on February 20, 2010, 06:53 PM »

it's totally different, there is no menu, it's filled with shoes, and the staff is different

-JavaJones (February 20, 2010, 05:38 PM)

That explains the experience I had yesterday!
I asked for my usual, i.e. large and strong, and they handed me a steel-toed wellington boot!

2588

Living Room / Re: People are really (really, really) stupid

« Last post by cranioscopical on February 20, 2010, 09:00 AM »

Pain is the teacher with the most eager students...

-Shades (February 20, 2010, 08:13 AM)

Said the 4'6" lumberjack...

2589

General Software Discussion / Re: Installing Linux over ME, is it possible?

« Last post by cranioscopical on February 18, 2010, 10:14 PM »

If it was, then most corporations, governments, and universities wouldn't be running it.

-zridling (February 18, 2010, 09:38 PM)

Was there a "down" missing from the end of that sentence? 

2590

Living Room / Re: Low-cost laptop in February 2010. Comments anyone?

« Last post by cranioscopical on February 18, 2010, 10:12 PM »

Thanks for all the replies, everyone's input has been useful to me.

2591

Find And Run Robot / Re: Latest FARR Release v2.107.04 beta - Sep 23, 2012

« Last post by cranioscopical on February 17, 2010, 08:35 AM »

wouldn't mind getting some confirmation first that i haven't broken stuff

It's working for me here but I don't avail myself of its more esoteric features. 

2592

Living Room / Re: Which is better windows mobile or android os or iphone os?

« Last post by cranioscopical on February 16, 2010, 09:23 PM »

do ping

-Stoic Joker (February 16, 2010, 07:18 PM)

I can ping with mine. I rest my middle finger on my thumb, then flick it out sharply onto the screen -- pings like anything!
And they say I'm not technically inclined!

2593

Living Room / Re: Which is better windows mobile or android os?

« Last post by cranioscopical on February 16, 2010, 06:37 PM »

Yes, I'm being overly simplistic intentionally. But I seriously do struggle with this every time I find myself toying with getting one of these contraptions. Do I really need (/want) to be that accessible, via a device that's going to annoy me that much?

-Stoic Joker (February 16, 2010, 01:37 PM)

I know what you mean but I've found mine a lot more convenient than I had expected -- plus it was a gift.
I'm not hassled by it since only two people have the number, and if one of them calls me it'll be for a reason about which I need to know.
If I'm out and about I have both the means to place a call if I wish and the list of places/people who might be useful.
I use it as an out-of-body memory transplant, which is much needed now that I no longer have a secretary.
(What was the size of the gasket I needed to buy for that water filter? Oh, here it is!)
I have twice used it to pick a piece of info from the web, both times it 'saved the day'.
As for the array of other possibilities, well, they're not for me. The basic stuff was more that enough to change my mind, and that after only a few decades!  

2594

Living Room / Re: Low-cost laptop in February 2010. Comments anyone?

« Last post by cranioscopical on February 15, 2010, 10:03 PM »

Thanks for the feedback, I'm taking it on board and am still listening 

I should have said that local availability is a large part part of the reason for putting this model high on my list.

Most reviews I've seen seem okay, except for one issue that seems to be easily resolved with an  updated video driver.

2595

Living Room / Low-cost laptop in February 2010. Comments anyone?

« Last post by cranioscopical on February 15, 2010, 07:31 PM »

I want to try some things with W7 on a machine that's well away from the rest of my systems.

Principally, I want to try out some legacy stuff that I have to run. My goal is to discover what, if any, problems I'll find if I switch more systems to W7.
I'm not interested in any O/S other than Windows for reasons that are too boring to explain here.

So, I'm going to buy a cheap laptop that I don't otherwise need.

When I say cheap, I'm not kidding and I don't expect great build quality.
I don't watch movies.
I might try non-extreme games (probably not).
I do need to view and edit some .mp4/.mov stuff.

This one's on offer locally for about $500CAD (roughly $475US). I want to buy locally. That way, if any problems occur, I can just walk in to the store and have the machine replaced on the spot.

Acer Aspire
15.6-in. CineCrystal™ HD LCD display, 1366 x 768 native res.
Athlon X2 L310 cpu
4  Gig RAM
250 Gig SATA HDD 5400 rpm
ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphics
Win 7 Home Premium
The chip will handle virtualization, which is likely to be important.

Bearing in mind that the machine is very inexpensive and not destined to be used much beyond this experimental stage, I'd welcome any comments about it from those in the know.

Thanks!

2596

Living Room / Re: Be careful with your credit cards!

« Last post by cranioscopical on February 15, 2010, 06:12 PM »

I will simply send a UK cheque for the amount specified...

and wait for an issue to appear in your letter box, and wait... and wait...

Despite my personal belief that just about any magazine subscription is a scam waiting to be perpetrated, I'm informed that we've never yet had a problem -- that's in Canada. All due issues have arrived, for ourselves and others for whom we arranged gift subscriptions, and no publisher has actually tried to rip us off. I did have a lot of problems trying to sort out some underhand stuff that my mother once walked into, in the U.K.

What we do get is a round of increasingly hysterical notices, first warning us that we're about to lose the opportunity of a lifetime if we do not renew, and then offering decreasing pricing levels that one can't help but feel should have been offered in the first place. 

2597

Find And Run Robot / Re: Latest FARR Release v2.107.04 beta - Sep 23, 2012

« Last post by cranioscopical on February 15, 2010, 09:15 AM »

I think there are some cool functions in this latest release

-mouser (February 15, 2010, 08:57 AM)

My goodness, you've been busy -- 9 enhancements and 7 fixes! And thank you, ewemoa, for lighting the master's path.

2598

Finished Programs / Re: IDEA: Faster boots combining hibernate and restart (Boot Snooze)

« Last post by cranioscopical on February 14, 2010, 03:06 PM »

"Whilst in Hibernation it barely draws".  'Barely draws' what?

-parkint (February 13, 2010, 09:28 PM)

It was a rather sketchy remark!

-cranioscopical (February 13, 2010, 09:44 PM)

Hmmm, you sure it's talking about the current version?

-MilesAhead (February 14, 2010, 02:12 AM)

Let's pencil in a time to discuss this, after I get ohm.

2599

Finished Programs / Re: IDEA: Faster boots combining hibernate and restart (Boot Snooze)

« Last post by cranioscopical on February 13, 2010, 09:44 PM »

"Whilst in Hibernation it barely draws".  'Barely draws' what?

-parkint (February 13, 2010, 09:28 PM)

It was a rather sketchy remark!

2600

Living Room / Re: I hate Valentine's Day!

« Last post by cranioscopical on February 13, 2010, 08:43 PM »

You must still be seething over my last win

-SKesselman (February 13, 2010, 06:44 PM)

That must be what it is