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Recent Posts

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301
General Software Discussion / Re: In search of ... charting, course plotting software
« Last post by barney on December 24, 2012, 08:21 PM »
MX Mariner ?

Based on OpenCPN
-4wd (December 24, 2012, 06:37 PM)

Looks attractive, but it only does raster charts as near as I can tell.  However, Chris should be back sometime around Jan 3rs or 5th, so I'll run it by him, see what he thinks - he's the judge on this, I'm just the [inadequate] gopher  :P.

[addendum]
Looked at OpenCPN.  Looks good for Win, but no Android as yet <sigh />.
[/addendum]
302
Living Room / Re: Facts about Facts?
« Last post by barney on December 24, 2012, 02:09 PM »
I think it's that you have completed 69 years and now into your 70th.
-cmpm (December 24, 2012, 01:39 PM)

Nope, I've completed sixty-eight (68), but that was the sixty-ninth birthday when you count the original date of birth.  It's an awkward concept, but it is, in line with this topic, fact  :P.
303
General Software Discussion / In search of ... charting, course plotting software
« Last post by barney on December 24, 2012, 02:02 PM »
Folk,

A close friend of mine is a sailor, been sailing for ~twenty (20) years.  ~Seven (7) years ago, he became an ASA (American Sailing Association) certified instructor.  (He is a licensed Coast Guard Master for fifty-ton, working on a license (read hours) for 100-ton.)  He has several times moved boats under contract, the last time being from Galveston, TX to somewhere on the East coast of Florida.  Two (2) years ago, he opened his own school, which is doing very well as he starts into his third year.  He was ~eight (8 ) hours shy of a pilot license when he decided to devote his attention to sailing instruction.  OK, that's the background.

What we would like to find is charting software - preferably low dollar or free - that he can use to instruct his students in the art of plotting courses, then sailing those plotted courses.  He will, of course, continue to teach how to use paper charts, but most of his students are much more comfortable with a screen than with paper  ;).

NOAA provides both raster and SVG charts.  We'd prefer something that uses SVG, since the raster charts do not scale very well.  A software that works on WinXP/Win7 would be acceptable, but something for Android or (shudder) iOS would be preferable.  Personally, I'd like Android, since I have hardware that can use it.  We can test it on a B&N Nook Color, a Toshiba Thrive, or a Nexus 7.  (A chart station would be ideal, but they're very expensive, and not portable - this unit will be moved among at least three (3) different boats currently used for instruction.)

The problem here is twofold:  he gets, at best, three (3) to five (5) days off a month, seldom consecutively, and I just am not knowledgeable enough to know the appropriate search terms  :(.

So, any boaters here?  Doesn't matter whether power or sail, since charting will be the same in either case.  And it's quite possible that the avionics folk here might have software that would work, as well.
304
Living Room / Re: Facts about Facts?
« Last post by barney on December 24, 2012, 12:38 PM »
And at my age, some of the prosthetic stuff is starting to look really attractive!  (Sixty-ninth birthday today, so I'm now officially sixty-eight (68)(and, fortunately, still counting)
-barney (December 23, 2012, 06:48 PM)

Sounds like you are counting down. Do you have some kind of Benjamin Button thing going on?  :)
-MilesAhead (December 24, 2012, 12:21 PM)

Nope.  Birthdays start at year zero (0) - the date you come out of the womb  ;) - but our age reflects the number of years we've been alive, so we're all one (1) year younger than our most recent birthday count  :).
305
Living Room / Re: Video games Under Scrutiny AGAIN
« Last post by barney on December 23, 2012, 10:59 PM »
I don't see banning violent video games as any kind of a solution to any problem, whether or not they do lead to violent behaviour.
-Renegade (December 23, 2012, 10:35 PM)

Mostly just drive 'em underground, but never will stop 'em as long as a market exists.  The current drug and prostitution markets make a prime example.
306
General Software Discussion / Re: XYplorer ends Lifetime License
« Last post by barney on December 23, 2012, 10:50 PM »
There's a very loose usage of lifetime that consumers really cannot interpret:
  • lifetime of the product
  • lifetime of the purchaser
  • lifetime of the company/corporation (the producer)
  • lifetime of the software platform, e.g. the OS
  • lifetime of the beach/coast where you bought your condo
and there's no clear definition of which applies when you make the purchase.  And, should the provider be purchased by another entity, that can all go out the door.  Happened to me with WinZip:  had a lifetime license from Nico Mak, but that was ignored when he was bought out by the current (?) vendors ... so I quit using it.
307
Living Room / Re: Broadband Caps
« Last post by barney on December 23, 2012, 10:35 PM »
The key word they use is "Up to" -My ISP uses the 'Up To' method, BUT, they also point out that I will NEVER get below a certain speed (90% of full speed) unless something breaks at the exchange.
-Stephen66515 (December 23, 2012, 08:32 PM)

Wish I had your service.  Think they work across the pond  :P?
-barney (December 23, 2012, 08:55 PM)

Don't think "British Telecom" have a US department...Couldn't be sure though lol
-Stephen66515 (December 23, 2012, 09:19 PM)

They tried.  When I worked at MCI, BT offered to buy us, around 1998-2000, if memory serves.  Most of us were all for it.  Then Bernie doubled the bid (to the higher ups), his was accepted.  Then he was jailed, MCI became a 5th rate organization (at best) - and they had been arguably at the top of the telecom heap - and got bought out by Verizon.
308
Living Room / Re: Video games Under Scrutiny AGAIN
« Last post by barney on December 23, 2012, 10:27 PM »
... if they try to remove everything that could possibly be harmful ...
-wraith808 (December 23, 2012, 10:11 PM)

Which is just about anything you can experience in the course of a normal day.  Is there anything that cannot be harmful in excess?  I knew a man who killed himself via excessive sex - fatal heart attack.  Don't feel sorry for him, but feel very sorry for his partner at that moment ... she spent several years in psychotherapy.

There are times when I could agree with the argument of preemptive Darwin Awards ... not often, but at times ...
309
Living Room / Re: Video games Under Scrutiny AGAIN
« Last post by barney on December 23, 2012, 10:18 PM »
Case in point - http://www.darwinawa...n/darwin2007-13.html

Absolutely spectacular Darwin Award, and totally NSFW.

Innovation knows no bounds in the consummate idiot.
-Renegade (December 23, 2012, 09:19 PM)

Don't think I ever drank just to get drunk ... and there's no flavour in an enema - I thimk - but maybe there's some other enticing element.  Anyway, methinks that Darwin Award was well - albeit tardily - placed.  But just the thought of the process makes me shudder  :o.
310
Living Room / Re: The Rant Thread!
« Last post by barney on December 23, 2012, 09:09 PM »
Damn!  This would be started when I don't have any rant(s) conveniently available  :P :P.
-barney (December 23, 2012, 08:57 PM)

That in itself is a topic to rant about~! ;D
-Renegade (December 23, 2012, 09:01 PM)

Hm-m-m-m ... I thought I just did  :P.
311
Living Room / Re: Facts about Facts?
« Last post by barney on December 23, 2012, 09:00 PM »
  And then there are all the science "facts" that they taught us in school years ago that are now science "fiction"....
-Tinman57 (December 23, 2012, 08:32 PM)

Maybe more like science friction ... it just slows things down  ;D.
312
Living Room / Re: The Rant Thread!
« Last post by barney on December 23, 2012, 08:57 PM »
Damn!  This would be started when I don't have any rant(s) conveniently available  :P :P.
313
Living Room / Re: Broadband Caps
« Last post by barney on December 23, 2012, 08:55 PM »
The key word they use is "Up to" -My ISP uses the 'Up To' method, BUT, they also point out that I will NEVER get below a certain speed (90% of full speed) unless something breaks at the exchange.
-Stephen66515 (December 23, 2012, 08:32 PM)

Wish I had your service.  Think they work across the pond  :P?
314
Found Deals and Discounts / Re: 12-22 only: Glarysoft Screen Recording Suite 2.5.3 free
« Last post by barney on December 23, 2012, 08:44 PM »
Well-l-l-l ... I downloaded, installed ... but the registration code did not work.  Nothing (that I found, anyway) on the site seems to help <sigh />.

-barney (December 23, 2012, 12:43 AM)
Was that the end of the world?
-PhilB66 (December 23, 2012, 07:47 PM)

Oh, Hell no!  I was just going to try it out.  Prolly never use it after a trial.  But the failure to install/register decreased my Glary trust to some extent.  If someone offers me software, be it free or paid, I expect it to work.  Maybe I'm funny that way  :-\, but I expect functionality/reliability/useability.  As I said, maybe it's just me  :-\.  I don't think so.
315
Living Room / Re: Facts about Facts?
« Last post by barney on December 23, 2012, 07:16 PM »
Most of that stuff was just "kinda neat", but feels a bit peripheral to how regular life feels. The winner of the article is the Driverless Car. That's the one I think will lead to wholesale cultural adjustments. (But can they handle NY Cabbies using legally-questionable moves!?)
-TaoPhoenix (December 23, 2012, 07:06 PM)

If the driverless cars are built with any kind of failsafe functionality, life will definitely slow down - it'll take three (3) time as long to get almost anywhere  :P.
316
Living Room / Re: Facts about Facts?
« Last post by barney on December 23, 2012, 06:48 PM »
Veddy interrrestink.  (That works better verbally than visually, methinks  ;D.)

Can't ya just imagine what tract housing would look like with that 3D printer?  Or what FEMA might - I did say might! - do with it?

And at my age, some of the prosthetic stuff is starting to look really attractive!  (Sixty-ninth birthday today, so I'm now officially sixty-eight (68)(and, fortunately, still counting) .)

But I have to wonder.  With the robot(s), driverless cars, pilotless spacecraft, and brain hacking,  how much longer are we going to be around/tolerated  :-\ :P?!?
317
Found Deals and Discounts / Re: 12-22 only: Glarysoft Screen Recording Suite 2.5.3 free
« Last post by barney on December 23, 2012, 10:17 AM »
Well-l-l-l ... I downloaded, installed ... but the registration code did not work.  Nothing (that I found, anyway) on the site seems to help <sigh />.
-barney (December 23, 2012, 12:43 AM)

Since it's now 12-23, it's probably too late to activate this software but the following worked for me:
[email protected]
License Code:51015149101495198545

The email address was given in a comments section at bottom of download page and license code after installation.  This whole give away was setup similar to those offered on http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/. 

Experience has been that some of these supposed giveaways expire after a time even though not mentioned in offer.  We shall see, I guess.
-Midnight Rambler (December 23, 2012, 10:07 AM)

Yep, that was the code I used ... error msg indicated incompatibility 'tween this version and this code.  Not a serious failure, just reduces my Glary-o-meter a bit  ;).
318
Living Room / Re: TPP Update
« Last post by barney on December 23, 2012, 01:41 AM »
  Well I don't know, I rather think the Christmas presents I have hidden are pretty good.   ;)
-Tinman57 (December 20, 2012, 08:31 PM)

Hence the difference 'tween concealed and hidden  ;D.
319
Found Deals and Discounts / Re: 12-22 only: Glarysoft Screen Recording Suite 2.5.3 free
« Last post by barney on December 23, 2012, 12:43 AM »
Well-l-l-l ... I downloaded, installed ... but the registration code did not work.  Nothing (that I found, anyway) on the site seems to help <sigh />.
320
Living Room / Re: Gadget WEEKENDS
« Last post by barney on December 22, 2012, 11:00 PM »
It ain't fair!

Every time I start to post a gadget, mouser beats me to it  :( >:( :P!
321
Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Simple Media Transfer
« Last post by barney on December 21, 2012, 09:35 PM »
...In fact, I kind of despise spelling/grammar nazis, I find them rather smug.   8)
-Tinman57 (December 20, 2012, 08:28 PM)
I think you may find that "Nazi" is a proper noun, and thus would always have a capital first letter in the noun and adjectival form...






 ;D
-IainB (December 21, 2012, 08:34 PM)

Droll  :-* :P.
322
Living Room / Re: Why did it never occur to me.. You can wash a keyboard in water.
« Last post by barney on December 18, 2012, 04:08 PM »
edit: another good use I found for the pump.  TV screen is not really dirty since I Windexed it a couple weeks ago. But it has collected a bit of dust.  A quick blow off with the pump saves me getting out the spray bottle and paper towels.
-MilesAhead (December 18, 2012, 10:39 AM)

I've had quite good results on CRT/LCD screens, as well as keyboards, using a Swiffer duster.  It works almost as well as the TV commercials show  :Thmbsup:, no moisture requiired  :-*.
323
Living Room / Re: it's about ... oldish films - again
« Last post by barney on December 17, 2012, 05:07 PM »
... she was incredibly sexy. And, oh yeah, should could dance too.  :)
-MilesAhead (December 17, 2012, 03:32 PM)

Truth and truth.  I seem - want? - to remember her in a file or two (2), but that may be just wishful remembrance  :-*.  She didn't make my top four (4), but she came damned close  :Thmbsup: :P.
324
Living Room / Re: it's about ... oldish films - again
« Last post by barney on December 17, 2012, 05:02 PM »
I plan on spending Festivus
-zridling (December 16, 2012, 01:44 AM)

First time I've encountered that word - Festivus - in several decades.  (Research - in the seventies - showed it to be December twenty-third.  (Thank you, Mr. O'Keefe.)  It happens to be my birthday  :P.)
325
Living Room / it's about ... oldish films - again
« Last post by barney on December 15, 2012, 07:36 PM »
<announcement>
Not to reprise an old topic, but I'm watching two (2) of four (4) tonight.  My four (4) favorite female dancers have always been Juliet Prowse, Cyd Charisse, Mitzi Gaynor, & Vera-Ellen.  Currently watching The Band Wagon, [Cyd Charisse] and I'll see White Christmas [Vera-Ellen] shortly thereafter.  Two (2) outa four (4) ain't bad for one (1) night  :P!
</announcement>
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