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276
Living Room / Re: Holiday Chains and Debt Chains... not what you might think?
« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 11, 2010, 05:22 PM »
I did this a few times as a kid, for a cheap Christmas countdown. It's great for kids who don't quite have a good concept of time yet. If they don't really comprehend the difference between 2 weeks and next Thursday, you can just tell them when all the links are gone from the chain then it's Christmas.

I'd never considered it for anything else (e.g. debt), really. :Thmbsup:
-Deozaan (November 11, 2010, 05:16 PM)

I figured I wasn't the only one. 8)  Seriously, everything that affects us adults, e.g., debt, etc. affects our family.  I have never been recriminated by my children when I have to "add some links."  I usually hear, "Well Dad, these things happen.... don't get discouraged."  I have also heard from my 5 year old (at the time), "Dad, there's nothing left to do, but do it!"   :-*
277
Living Room / Holiday Chains and Debt Chains... not what you might think?
« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 11, 2010, 05:09 PM »
Howdy Folks,

We have a tradition we have been doing in our family for more the 20 years called,"Holiday Chains" and recently, "Debt Chains."  The "Chains" are interlocking rings (strips glued end-to-end to make a "band") of construction paper, but more on this below.  Perhaps you already do something like this too.  As I said, this is a "family" tradition (event), so I hope your "family" can enjoy it too, even if your "family" only consists of yourself and your puppy!  :)  
Pssssst!
Don't expect the puppy to be too impressed.


Here is the recipe for "Holiday Chains"
  • Make sure you have plenty of...
    • Construction paper (it's cheap enough to get a bunch of it in all colors)
    • Plenty of good-quality all-purpose glue sticks are best.  You don't want your chain crumbling!
    • Plenty of scissors for everyone and be safe!  Match the scissors to the responsibility level of the participants and no fair giving the Kindergarten scissors to Dad! :P
    • Rulers or yard (meter) sticks to make straight strips, but our method is to just fold the paper to create cut lines.
    • Since this is a family event, make sure there are snacks and drinks to add to the fun.  This does not have to be expensive.  In some lean times during months of unemployment my wife served popcorn and ice water with a squeeze of lemon or lime (our choice)!
    • Good music everyone can enjoy will generally add to the mood too, but is not necessary.
  • Pick a time when all or most family members can be present many days before the intended holiday.
  • Once everyone is there, allow a vote on what colors to use.  Just because it is Xmas doesn't mean you have to use red and green, but it may require some explanation to friends and extended family.   ;)
  • Give everyone a "job" so no one gets left out and it makes the little ones feel important!  
  • Make lines with the ruler, etc. or fold the paper to make the cut lines.
  • Cut the pages in strips.
  • Someone responsible should make sure the agreed-upon correct color sequence is being used.
  • Glue the ends of one strip together to make a link after passing it through the last link.
  • Continue until all the links are connected into a chain.
  • Ceremoniously parade to the location where it is to be displayed.
  • Now the [Fill-in-the-Blank] Chain is in place, assemble the family at whatever time is best each day and tear a link from the end of the chain.  The little ones love this as much as making it!

Now, that takes care of the "Holiday Chain," but what about the "Debt Chain?"  

Essentially do the same thing, except for four differences...
  • Use black construction paper.  This is a good way to send a non-verbal message to the younglings... and maybe the not-so-younglings too?  ;)
  • Use a quantitative amount of rings.  Instead of days, make the links equate to some dollar amount.  There is no need to expose the amount your indebtedness to your children, visiting neighbors or the world.  Just because you are $83,000 in the hole does not mean you have to put 83 links in the chain.  Pick some factor and keep it to yourself.  In our example you might only use 41 links (we're fudging a bit here) and tear one off when you pay down $3,000 the first time.  Each time after only pay down $2,000 and tear away.  Keep the numbers to yourself, but let everyone participate.  Announce you get to tear another link off the chain and let a "volunteer" do the tearing.  I recommend hanging this along the ceiling next to a wall in the less-traveled part of your home, maybe even in a closet.
  • The third, and probably the toughest part (let's face it, debt is no fun) is to add links when you have to incur more debt (refrigerators do break down).  You can do this secretly, if you want, but you will be surprised how much you will be respected if the children see your consistency.  Again, keep the details to yourself.  Keep paying down and tearing away until you can celebrate being debt-free.
  • Given you will probably want to celebrate this landmark, I suggest adding at least one ring to the total length with a reward written on it.  The extra ring will allow the usual monthly payments to be put into savings until you have $2,000 (in my example) to spend on your reward.  Maybe it will be a weekend trip to the mountains, beach, desert(?) or just an all-you-can-eat night at the family's favorite expensive restaurant. This is why it is important to add links if you incur more debt.  It will protect the best ring of all... the last one! :Thmbsup:

Ok, there you have it... CodeTRUCKER's Famous Holiday and Debt Chains (patents pending)

I hope this tradition will grace your home and family life the way it has for ours for the last two decades!

CT
278
Found Deals and Discounts / Re: XYplorer Lifetime License 51% discount on BitsDuJour on Monday 8 Nov 2010
« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 11, 2010, 10:09 AM »
...
I like this one too - quick compare (just tells you if exactly the same or not):
 (see attachment in previous post)
...in fact I think I even requested that one ;)
-tomos (November 10, 2010, 10:56 AM)

 8)
279
Living Room / Re: Violence in Video Games & the Law
« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 10, 2010, 12:44 PM »
... If the scale was based purely on your performance, that would be something different, but the fact that for me to succeed, someone else has to fail makes it more competitive than cooperative.
-wraith808 (November 10, 2010, 11:45 AM)

I agree.  The status quo that is pervasive in business does nurture a less-than-perfect environment.  The focus *is* on the competition and sometimes I feel it is the executive's opportunity to visit Mount Olympus, complete with toga and golden laurel.  The fact of the present paradigm is well established.  My interest is in "how" can we on our grass-roots level cause a peaceful shift in the established paradigm?
280
Living Room / Re: Violence in Video Games & the Law
« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 10, 2010, 12:38 PM »
... if it is the actuarial sector lobbying for these changes it's because the link is very real.

An insurance company doesn't make money by reducing risk factors which weren't actually a factor.
-Eóin (November 10, 2010, 10:48 AM)

That is my point, exactly. :)
281
Found Deals and Discounts / Re: XYplorer Lifetime License 51% discount on BitsDuJour on Monday 8 Nov 2010
« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 10, 2010, 09:48 AM »
[edit] guess I deserved that one... [/edit]
-tomos (November 10, 2010, 09:16 AM)

... on the contrary, I thought you did all of us a favor.  :Thmbsup:  I was just trying to "nudge" us back on track. ;)

I really am interested in hearing what "features" are people's favorites.  I always discover something new about an app when this happens. :)
282
Found Deals and Discounts / Re: XYplorer Lifetime License 51% discount on BitsDuJour on Monday 8 Nov 2010
« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 10, 2010, 08:53 AM »
Please Ignore this Spoiler
The thread should be whatever the originator initiates and the responding posters nudge it to.
-CodeTRUCKER (November 09, 2010, 05:24 PM)

This thread is gone very off-topic lol
-tomos (November 10, 2010, 05:01 AM)


Hi Everyone,
[nudge] I am very glad I was able to take advantage of this sale!  [nudge]  I hope others didn't miss out.  [nudge, nudge, nudge]  My favorite feature is the "Find" combined with the "Batch Rename!"  So what's your favorite feature?  ;)
283
Living Room / Re: Nice Keyboard, However...
« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 10, 2010, 01:57 AM »
Yippie for this thread!
I never knew the things existed!  

I wasn't able to tell by the Deck web site if the back light is adjustable.  Does anyone know?  
284
Living Room / Re: Violence in Video Games & the Law
« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 09, 2010, 11:11 PM »
...
Now personally, I'm not so convinced that exposure to violence automatically leads to acting violence, but clearly the lawmakers, politicians and media do believe in that link. And since those are the folks that get to make these decisions, the logic of extending censorship is perfectly legitimate, again if you accept the link as real.
-Eóin (November 09, 2010, 09:07 PM)

May I suggest the lawmakers, etc. do not necessarily "believe" in that "link."  That would indicate the legislature really cares about the lives of the children (who do not vote).  I am not condemning every person in government as cold-blooded.  I am identifying the system, the "machine" these people have to work within foments a disconnected and impersonal culture.     

The real motivating factor is money.  Tax dollars that are spent to enforce, imprison and execute the segment of the population which chooses to act without regard to others eats into the tax revenues.  Insurance claims (property and medical) that have to come out of the insurance company's coffers.  The risk factor has gone up for the insurers and they can not extract additional premiums from the children, so they seek their remedies, which is to lower the risk factor, via Congress and senators.  What the lawmakers, etc. see are "trends" mostly from insurance company actuarial tables which spells out the risk factors.

Given the above, it is no big chore for insurance company lobbyists to contrast previous "risk factors" to the present ones to lawmakers, etc. to make them see the need to take some kind of action. Once this information is intelligently placed in front of the lawmakers then the "factors," the data that shows the statistics and the culprits, speak for themselves.  It is obvious to me that the actuarial tables and other data have shown the "violent video games" to be a substantial factor.  It is not that the legislature believes in the "link," it is the games have simply been present in a far too many instances related to crime to be ignored.   
285
Living Room / Re: Violence in Video Games & the Law
« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 09, 2010, 07:49 PM »
...
I'm guessing rxantos is driving at a more team building synergistic type of game play where cooperation is a mandatory part of success, or everyone fails together.
-Stoic Joker (November 09, 2010, 07:02 PM)

That's the trick, isn't it?  I agree in theory with what you are saying, but this is all just a lot of fun unless a real paradigm can be brought to birth.  So, my question remains... "how?"
286
Found Deals and Discounts / Re: XYplorer Lifetime License 51% discount on BitsDuJour on Monday 8 Nov 2010
« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 09, 2010, 05:24 PM »
Tuxman, why don't you help the rest of us out and start a thread about... Windows Explorer Secrets revealed!
-CodeTRUCKER (November 08, 2010, 10:26 PM)

Should such a thread be anything but links to the many sites that already are covering the subject, and are covering it well? Quite a number of people have made a living out of revealing such alleged secrets!

-Curt (November 09, 2010, 05:13 PM)

The thread should be whatever the originator initiates and the responding posters nudge it to.  
Are you not in favor of such a thread?  :huh:

PS - Thanks for the tip.
287
Living Room / Re: Violence in Video Games & the Law
« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 09, 2010, 05:08 PM »
Is a violent world we live in. Sweet coating it will not help the children.
-rxantos (November 09, 2010, 10:36 AM)

"Sweet coating" carries a connotation of preventing the child from knowing the truth of a reality.  It is a "violent world we live in...," but it also a beautiful one too, if the child is taught where to look.  To suggest that preventing the teen-age populace from unfettered access to graphically and audibly modeled violence is in some way "Sweet coating" is somewhat narrow and could be construed to be manipulative.  I ask you, does a constant diet of "Mortal Kombat," "GTA," etc. *really* represent the real world for everyone all the time?

As I have stated elsewhere, even the FBI has understood the best way to educate is to provide a constant contact with the authentic for a specified period of time, then when the counterfeit appears it sticks out like a sour note in a symphony.  The aberration is easily recognizable.  This legislation (like the vast majority of laws) was provoked because of a vacuum of responsibility.  Don't blame the Legislature, except where said body created circumstances which prevented parents from doing what would come natural... parenting.  Yet, as has been noted, a vicious cycle is produced because...

Laws are enacted to fill the void of bad parenting = Bad parenting is provoked by inappropriate laws.
Instead, foment cooperation instead of competition. All games and school are about competition instead of cooperation. Heck the whole system is about competition.

I, for one, am very intrigued by how you would suggest you/we/they "foment cooperation?" 

And that is what keeps a few controlling a rat race.

No argument from me on this one.  Ever heard of a Central Bank?  (Pssst - take the "Goals" part with a grain of salt. ;))

288
Living Room / Re: Violence in Video Games & the Law
« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 09, 2010, 04:36 PM »
I still dont understand how people can say video games and movies cause children to be violent...no...CHILDREN CHOOSE to be violent, either through their own choice, or because of bad parenting.
...
-Stephen66515 (November 09, 2010, 04:16 PM)

This is a might inconsistent, "...CHILDREN CHOOSE to be violent, either through their own choice, or because of bad parenting...."  How does bad parenting make children choose to be violent?

Hear hear!  It is all about "parenting," but let's be kind... Believe it or not there are parents out there that don't have a clue about what is going on with their children between catching the downtown bus at 06:45 when it is still dark and over an hour when the school bus shows up.  The same is the case at the end of the day.  Mom (many times a single) gets off the bus after the sun goes down (keep in mind the kids have been out of school for three hours) and she has to concentrate on making dinner, cleaning up getting the kids to take baths and go to bed.  THEN she has about 15 minutes to herself before she collapses into bed just to get up and do it all over again.  

I'm not making excuses, but when does she get to gain enough real knowledge to offer her children better, if not wholesome alternatives?  Answer: [Deleted due to possibility of provoking severe depression].

289
General Software Discussion / Re: Looking for Quasi-"Project" Manager that can be published to Web
« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 09, 2010, 04:15 PM »
I did some quick googling and found this  PHP Gnatt Chart
With a MySQL backend that might be a good place to start
-Stoic Joker (November 09, 2010, 03:45 PM)

 :huh:  Thank you for giving me more credit than I deserve, but I wouldn't know where to begin.  :-[
290
Found Deals and Discounts / Re: XYplorer Lifetime License 51% discount on BitsDuJour on Monday 8 Nov 2010
« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 09, 2010, 03:42 PM »
How can I know what is a
Spoiler
secret

for you?
-Tuxman (November 09, 2010, 03:10 PM)

Fair enough.  Ok, I'll get back to you with all the things about Windows I don't know.  Wait for me...
291
General Software Discussion / Looking for Quasi-"Project" Manager that can be published to Web
« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 09, 2010, 03:37 PM »
I have spent quite some time seeking a good (freeware) online chronological tasks manager (project manager) I can collaborate with my remote sons (who drive my truck) in designing, setting up and handling numerous projects on our small farm homestead.  Unfortunately, I have not discovered any and a search of DC hasn't yielded what I am after.  

Imagine handling, building a 1-1/2 mile fence, building a pole barn and planting a small peach orchard.  None of these are real complicated, but keeping track of these and a dozen more like them can be a chore.  Just trying to eliminate unnecessary (duplicate) trips to town for materials takes some doing.  Coordinating it all on some kind of flexible (things always change) graphic interface would be invaluable, as I'm sure you can see!

Here are the particulars...
  • Online tasks/project manager or project manager software that can be published to the Web.  It does not have to be interactive, but it would be nice.
  • Needs to have dependencies (Successor, Predecessor) to keep the calendar useful.
  • Should have a Gantt Chart, but dependencies between tasks are more important.
  • Simple.

If you have any ideas, I can sure use them. :Thmbsup:


  
292
Found Deals and Discounts / Re: XYplorer Lifetime License 51% discount on BitsDuJour on Monday 8 Nov 2010
« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 09, 2010, 03:05 PM »
Tuxman, why don't you help the rest of us out and start a thread about...
-CodeTRUCKER (November 08, 2010, 10:26 PM)
Because they are no...

Spoiler
secrets

-Tuxman (November 09, 2010, 02:50 PM)

If one knows about them = you are correct.

If one doesn't know about them = you are incorrect.
293
General Software Discussion / Re: (Resolved) Is it possible to enlarge the fonts in The BAT! email client?
« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 09, 2010, 12:06 PM »
I've never changed the font...
-mouser (November 09, 2010, 11:30 AM)

FYI - If it wasn't for CTRL+MouseWheel (zoom) I wouldn't be able to read DC. :)

That's how I finally figured out what "Jibz's Jet" was all about. ;)
294
General Software Discussion / Re: Is it possible to enlarge the fonts in The BAT! email client?
« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 09, 2010, 11:32 AM »
I've never changed the font, but it looks like you can change font size in Options->Viewer/Editor section (Profile Layout, SmartBat Editor, Source Viewer).
-mouser (November 09, 2010, 11:30 AM)

I thought I had tried that, but with no luck. :huh:  I'll try it again and get back.  
Thanks for the help!


<Edit> Er... umm... uh... it worked.   :-[
Disclaimer
My memory must be slipping 'cuz I refuse to believe I was that dense.

</Edit>
295
General Software Discussion / (Resolved) Is it possible to enlarge the fonts in The BAT! email client?
« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 09, 2010, 11:27 AM »
I reinstalled The BAT! 4.0.38 (My latest license I have) and once I started using it, I realized why I went looking elsewhere (Postbox)... I can't read my mails!  The font is too small for me to see without squinting. >-<

I recalled I did some research on the Ritlabs forum, but never saw any definitive method of increasing the font size to make it usable for me.

Does anyone know if there is a way to increase the size of the fonts to make it usable for an optically-challenged (visually handicapped) individual using The BAT! email?

TIA!  
296
General Software Discussion / Re: What's the best The BAT! version?
« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 09, 2010, 10:56 AM »
Oops! ...the whole point of this thread was to try to find out "why" folks liked a specific version of The BAT! over the previous version they had, but I realized I did not ask that specific question at first.  I have corrected that in the initial post. 

If those who have posted previously can expand your original answer to include this answer, it would be appreciated.  :up:
297
Found Deals and Discounts / Re: XYplorer Lifetime License 51% discount on BitsDuJour on Monday 8 Nov 2010
« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 08, 2010, 10:26 PM »
Batch renaming with numbered orders is already a Windows Explorer feature.  :huh:
-Tuxman (November 08, 2010, 08:17 PM)

One has to know a feature exists before one can use it.  Besides, it was only *1* feature.  

I also mentioned "Find." So, what are the mysteries to be revealed about the powers of searching in Windows Explorer?

I'm sure, like you, others know about what Windows Explorer can do, but if W.E. could do anywhere near as much as XY. then XYplorer (FleXYfiles) would be XYZip as in nada, nyet, nein, nope.

Tuxman, why don't you help the rest of us out and start a thread about...
Spoiler
Windows Explorer Secrets revealed!



PS - Thanks to you and app103 for the heads-up on W.E. batch rename.
298
Found Deals and Discounts / Re: XYplorer Lifetime License 51% discount on BitsDuJour on Monday 8 Nov 2010
« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 08, 2010, 08:06 PM »
Saw a few tiny little things that I use often and like, so I ended up buying a license. At the moment I'm pretty sick of Windows Explorer.
-Renegade (November 08, 2010, 07:51 PM)

Hey Man, if it will make you feel better, I have only used *1* feature, besides the "Find," ...batch rename of photos!  Now instead of the trip to the beach labeled. "P1007865438, P1007865439, P1007865440, P1007865441, etc., I can now at least have, Ronsons Beach 20100423_001, Ronsons Beach 20100423_002, etc.  That aside, I am looking forward to great things!

The only thing is the site took my order, but doesn't seem to want my money. :huh:

<Edit>
They finally took my money.  Whew!  Another ToDo crossed off the list! :Thmbsup:
</Edit>
299
Living Room / Re: Nice Keyboard, However...
« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 08, 2010, 07:51 PM »
@ CT

I take it you know about my Uncle then?  ;D

-40hz (November 08, 2010, 07:11 PM)
300
Living Room / Re: Nice Keyboard, However...
« Last post by CodeTRUCKER on November 08, 2010, 06:59 PM »
...
DISCLAIMER: just for the record, 40hz no affiliations, kickback, or other business arrangements with the folks at Dealnews. He's either too honest, or too dumb, to ask merchants for something like that.  :mrgreen:

-40hz (November 08, 2010, 06:54 PM)

You forgot the rest of the family!  ;D
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