Recent Posts

3101

General Software Discussion / Re: 4 (Maybe more) Absolute top go-to programs

« Last post by MilesAhead on June 21, 2014, 08:25 AM »

Oops...have I leaked out of bounds, both numerically and OS-wise?

Just run less a few more times.  That'll fix it. 

3102

Living Room / Re: Supreme Court Invalidates Software Patent...

« Last post by MilesAhead on June 20, 2014, 02:11 PM »

"Young man, let me remind you that this is a court of law and not a court of justice." - Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, U.S. Supreme Court

 

-40hz (June 20, 2014, 01:32 PM)

and of course the classic..

In the Halls of Justice the only justice is in the halls.

Lenny Bruce

3103

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: Note5

« Last post by MilesAhead on June 20, 2014, 07:43 AM »

@tomos - Which color theme are you referring to? The note color (where the body of the note is) should be lighter than the main color.

-c.gingerich (June 20, 2014, 07:18 AM)

If you would like to try a simpler alternative to adjusting the background color or allowing user chosen font colors I have a little function that returns either black or off white for text color depending on the background color.

[Select]

Func _calctextcolor($bcolor)
If $bcolor = 65280 Then Return 0
If $bcolor > (16777215 * 0.9) Then
Return 0
Else
Return 16777215
EndIf
EndFunc

The first "If" is the special case of a shade of green.  The formula would say use the white but it's just not easy to read.  So in that case I return black. I wrote the function so that users could pick a dialog background color from a dropdown list without having to pick a contrasting text color.

3104

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: Note5

« Last post by MilesAhead on June 20, 2014, 05:16 AM »

@MilesAhead - I'll see about adding a search to the notes.

-c.gingerich (June 19, 2014, 03:41 PM)

Thank you.  

Edit: btw I'm on a Windows 8.0 x64 Home Laptop and all seems normal so far.

3105

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: Note5

« Last post by MilesAhead on June 19, 2014, 03:35 PM »

Thanks for sharing the program.  I wonder if it's possible to add control f search without killing off the simplicity? I have a small Treepad file of OS Tips but since no note program I have tried will import the .hjt file I thought I'd break it out to a Panel in note5.  Something simple like search with optional case sensitivity would move the cursor down to the appropriate area without scroll and read.

I like the idea.  I was using a plain text editor with a temp text file for quickie notes.  Naming the whole file after a single note I would forget the filename after a day or two. 

If the case sensitive check mark or lack thereof could be saved across sessions or even per panel would be super.  Or perhaps instead of an .ini setting just have 2 hotkeys.  Control f for insensitive search and a 2 modifier f hotkey for case sensitive?

3106

General Software Discussion / Re: New Here

« Last post by MilesAhead on June 18, 2014, 12:31 PM »

Welcome.   

3107

General Software Discussion / Re: Forget about resume if Pale Moon crashes

« Last post by MilesAhead on June 13, 2014, 05:48 AM »

.... I simply haven't had problems with downloading files of any size with DSB. ...

-cyberdiva (June 01, 2014, 09:30 PM)

I'm just curious and thought you may know the answer.  I have FF 30 installed and FF 27 Portable.  Both use DSB 2.14.  FF 30 will just show the popup and if I click save file, it downloads to the designated folder and numbers the filename on name clash.  FF 27 shows the popup and if I click save file it shows a SaveAs dialog with or without a name clash.

I can't seem to find any setting that controls it.  I pasted all DSB settings from the clipboard in an editor to search.  Maybe it's a FF setting but I didn't notice anything in about:config.  But I may not know what to look for. It's no big deal.  But it would be nice if I could toggle it at will.  

Edit:  Found it.  It just works off FF setting "always ask me where to save files."  One minor mystery erased. 

3108

General Software Discussion / Re: Delayed Cuts 1.3.1.0

« Last post by MilesAhead on June 11, 2014, 02:05 PM »

His new url is: http://milesaheadsoftware.tk/

He probably just forgot to update first post in this topic to point to it.

-hamradio (June 10, 2014, 09:14 PM)

Thank you. 

3109

General Software Discussion / Re: Delayed Cuts 1.3.1.0

« Last post by MilesAhead on June 11, 2014, 02:04 PM »

I have been searching for a program like Delayed Cuts 1.3.1.0 (MilesAhead), but I cant see how to Download it. There must be an obvious way that Ive overlooked!

-TWmailrec (June 10, 2014, 08:12 PM)

Sorry.  I'll update the link.

3110

Living Room / Re: Favorite Sci-fi movies?

« Last post by MilesAhead on June 10, 2014, 04:30 PM »

Some of my favorite SciFi themes and movies of that genre:

Thought brought into reality.  This is why my favorite comic book superhero was Green Lantern.

Forbidden Planet
Chronicle
Matrix

Origin of Man

2001 A Space Odyssey


Time Travel

George Pal version of The Time Machine

Sardonic Perspective

LEXX


Just fun scifi

first 3 Star Wars flicks


Hot Chick SciFi

Life Force

Campy SciFi

Anything Roger Corman - e.g. 1960 Little Shop of Horrors

3111

Finished Programs / Re: [SOLVED] Ctrl+Alt+Del

« Last post by MilesAhead on June 10, 2014, 02:53 PM »

You can remap a key to nothing just by
Escape::

3112

Finished Programs / Re: [SOLVED] Ctrl+Alt+Del

« Last post by MilesAhead on June 10, 2014, 02:48 PM »

To get rid of Control Esc this should work

[Select]

^Escape::
  ;msgbox,Control Esc Pressed
return

uncomment the msgbox line to test.  For control alt del I'd try the AHK Forums.

Also if not done already you should disable TaskManager so the user can't kill the ahk process.  You can use the #NoTrayIcon directive at the top of the script so they can't right click on the tray icon and kill it.

3113

Living Room / Re: Stuff We Feel Like Bitching About

« Last post by MilesAhead on June 09, 2014, 12:48 PM »

I've done the customer support thing a couple of places.  The person taking the incoming call is totally considered a flak catcher.  Usually you are hamstrung by a procedure as they like to take warm bodies, give them a bit of training, and stick headsets on them.

Even if you have skills you have to go by the numbers.  Sometimes you are able to help the customer fix an easy problem or send them a disc etc..  Anything complicated has to go to an analyst, if the customer can avoid being fobbed off.

Some things most customers don't know or realize:

The flak catcher is not involved in the decision making process.  But the flak catcher may not point this out to the customer.  The only reason I can fathom for this policy is that management enjoys leaving the flak catcher's ass hanging out.  One example.. the customer wants to know why XYZ Corp. has such a stupid policy.. the only truthful response the flak catcher could make is to point out that he or she is never invited to the XYZ Corp. Board of Directors meetings where such reasons are discussed.  Also forbidden is to note to the customer that even if the flak catcher was given a reason to justify said policy, it's probably a lie.  Management is not going to justify itself to low level employees.  So usually the justification varies from some good sounding PR to some explanation deliberately designed to insult the intelligence(see above about leaving the flak catcher's ass hanging out.)

Most of these setups where the flak catcher works incoming calls, (s)he does not get paid when using the rest room, coffee machine, water cooler etc..  (s)he gets paid when the computer tracks that the flak catcher is available to take calls or is working an incoming call.  So although it might seem logical to the customer to ask the flak catcher to call back with some bit of information, the customer is unknowingly asking the person to work his case off the clock.  Again, the flak catcher is not allowed to inform the customer of such details(ass hung out yet again.)

One easy way to dump a customer(if you don't care how pissed they get as in your supervisor may be the one suggesting it) is to ask if they are running any third party software on the computer.  As idiotic as it seems, in this circumstance always answer NO.  Often you being willing to lie that brazenly will silence them long enough to give you whatever it is you're supposed to get.

Now and then, once in awhile, maybe on the eighth day of the week, the flak catcher gets to solve a real problem for a really nice person.  But it's no accident the turnover in that position is high.  No worry about quarterly reviews since most don't last a quarter.  Those who stick it out and perhaps can avoid must of the losing calls due to family connection, or "juice" may end up being promoted to team leader or analyst.

3114

Living Room / Re: Stuff We Feel Like Bitching About

« Last post by MilesAhead on June 09, 2014, 12:15 PM »

... so I did what any sensible person would do when faced with senselessness.  I backed away.  I didn't turn my back on him, but I backed away slowly.  And only after I was gone, did I start to breathe again.

That's hairy.  I've never been there.  There is a Transit guard I see all the time.  I've dubbed him Nomar for the former Red Sox player Nomar Garciapara.  He wears these leather gloves all the time.  I'm hoping it's to hide a skin disease on his hands and not because he's a gun nut.  I've only said Good Morning passing by.  He seemed sane when replying.  I'll hope for the best. 

3115

Living Room / Re: Movies or films you've seen lately

« Last post by MilesAhead on June 08, 2014, 02:23 PM »

Monsters
...
Reccomended.

-40hz (June 07, 2014, 10:14 PM)

+1 -- It's a fun flick.

-Renegade (June 07, 2014, 11:21 PM)

I enjoyed it also.  +1

3116

Living Room / Re: Stuff We Feel Like Bitching About

« Last post by MilesAhead on June 07, 2014, 05:17 PM »

@wraith808 your post makes me think about censorship.  There used to be George Carlin's 7 dirty words. But the situation has deteriorated to the point where radio call-in shows are censoring euphemisms for the forbidden words.  Imagine if Clark Gable didn't give us the ability to say "damn" then all euphemisms for it would now also be banned.  So on the sports talk show when the radio personality asks "why the heck did the coach call such a stupid darned play?" they would have to bleep the word "darned" and after a year or so they would ban "hell" so the word "heck" would have to be bleeped.  And of course forget about a word starting with 'p' that sometimes refers to felines but often not.  

At some point the talk shows will sound like midi sampling with some dialog mixed in.

But on your apology point, what I don't quite get is the double think that allows celebrity "scum" who had their names dragged through the scandal press(probably a redundancy these days I admit) to go about their jobs as if someone lifted the film on the magic slate.  If none of the stuff was true how is it that guys like Marv Albert weren't awarded millions for defamation?  Something is really strange.

But it does look like the Clippers owner messed up his chance to cry for Barbara Walters.  But his "punishment" may be selling his team for the most money for an NBA team ever.  Maybe that made it tough for him to shed a tear if he knew that deal was in the offing.  Makes me wonder how I can screw up royally so I can set myself up for a lavish retirement.  

3117

Living Room / Re: Stuff We Feel Like Bitching About

« Last post by MilesAhead on June 07, 2014, 04:59 PM »

@Renegade the gun that shocked me most was maybe 7 or 8 years ago.  I picked someone up at the airport.  Not only was the arriving passengers area separated from those waiting by a storm fence from floor to ceiling, but a 200 LB female security guard paced up and down with a Thompson submachine gun.  I hope they didn't give her live ammo.  Perhaps it was a bluff deterrent but it sure felt like America was spelled with a 'k' all of a sudden.  Cheap air fares came at a really high price. 

3118

Living Room / Stuff We Feel Like Bitching About

« Last post by MilesAhead on June 06, 2014, 04:40 PM »

In spite of the alliteration I feel "pet peeve" is kind of trite.  Therefore I opted for the above subject line.  Since this isn't the basement I suggest the amplitude be kept below a rant and above a stupor.

As my first bitch I select guns.  Not should or should not the populous be allowed to carry concealed or revealed, but as in why are there so many around me all the time?

I have no grappling hook to scale the wall but I feel it's only a matter of time before the gun turrets are added to "ordinary" government buildings, business establishments, schools, airports and picnic areas.  Tourists at The Grand Canyon will pay extra to see The Grand Cannon fired at noon taking out a section of canyon wall.  The conductors on trains no longer perform a service to the public.  Instead they dress as prison guards and pack pistols.  I'm afraid to find out what the grammar school Hall Monitor is packing these days.  Got to protect that milk money!

In Miami the Transit Cops don't even have the power to arrest but carry a Glock.  It's insane.  The whole thing makes me think of Reno 911 with live ammo.

Ok.  I'll quit here to stay below the rant threshold. 

Feel free to opine at will. 

3119

Non-Windows Software / Re: LINUX: It's official - Mint 17 "Quina" released to distribution

« Last post by MilesAhead on June 06, 2014, 02:40 PM »

I just tried Mint17 Mate x64 Live.  I just set the params quickly.  2 GB ram, 16x9 video, hw accel etc.  But it seemed like something was sticky or strange.  Every time I closed the window with the Computer icon, there was another underneath.  Finally I clicked Close All Windows to be done with it.  Maybe I'll try again after a couple of intervening versions.

3120

Living Room / Re: The Dreams thread...

« Last post by MilesAhead on June 05, 2014, 05:30 AM »

My dreams have all been CLASSIFIED.

Sorry.

-40hz (June 04, 2014, 08:51 PM)

Heh heh.  I'd be tempted to share some.  But I'm afraid others would be tempted to analyze them.  It's tough enough being crazy without someone making it official. 

3121

Living Room / Re: We Drove a Car While It Was Being Hacked

« Last post by MilesAhead on June 04, 2014, 07:24 PM »

Christ we are way the hell off topic now....ain't we?

  That may be so but thank the wife.  Next time I want half a Bogo I'm gonna' go for it.  

Maybe we should start another thread Titled "Stuff We Feel Like Bitching About."  I have a feeling it will be therapeutic.  

3122

Living Room / Re: We Drove a Car While It Was Being Hacked

« Last post by MilesAhead on June 04, 2014, 05:14 PM »

I remember when I first moved to South Florida, Publix would put prices up during the "season" then lower the prices and run specials/coupons/get one free etc. during the off season.  Now the prices go up by significant chunks every couple of months and never retreat.

There are still buy one get one free deals.  But in Florida if you only want one they won't sell it to you for half price like in other states where Publix does business.  A pretty peculiar policy I must say.

3123

Living Room / Re: We Drove a Car While It Was Being Hacked

« Last post by MilesAhead on June 04, 2014, 03:36 PM »

See traffic backed up for miles going up a hill, clown at the front is one of them

These must be the same people drifting through malls looking side to side, walking abreast so I can't get around them.  Meanwhile I know the store, shelf, item, price and have exact change for what I want to purchase ready.  I'm 2.5 minutes in the store, bit 15 minutes getting around the obstructionists.  I've dubbed these types Meanderthals.  Someone should screen them when it comes to issuing driver's licenses and mall pedestrian permits. 

3124

Living Room / Re: We Drove a Car While It Was Being Hacked

« Last post by MilesAhead on June 04, 2014, 11:31 AM »

Remember how we used to hear about the Miracle Carburetor invented by some guy suppressed
by the oil companies because with it your car got 200 MPG?  I'm surprised we don't hear about the Miracle Automotive Computer Optimization that does pretty much the same thing.

At least I don't recall mention of it. 

3125

Living Room / Re: We Drove a Car While It Was Being Hacked

« Last post by MilesAhead on June 04, 2014, 05:52 AM »

I never messed with those transmissions either.  I guy I worked with liked to call them "slush buckets."  In computer and mechnics I like to think of myself as a General Practitioner.  I don't get deep into the arcane specialties.  But I know enough to direct people to those with the particular skill set.  But to some people if you don't rebuild engines you're not a "real mechanic."  I then ask the person if their family doctor is a GP?  When they say yes then my comments is, "so you don't go to a real doctor?  After all, he's not doing heart valve rebuilds, heart transplants or neurosurgery right?"  heh heh  They are usually quiet for awhile after that.

The sitting cars, man I hated having to mess with those.  Seemed like when you start on them they will never clean up to work right. Not really a car that sat but one that went way past the recommended brake job was this old guy, must have been eighty, he came in to get snow tires mounted.  Naturally as per the Safety Inspection Sales Procedure(tm) we checked his brakes.  He had this old Dodge Dart.  The rear brake drum came off in 3 pieces.  The shoes were ground metal.  A bunch of metal filings fell out when the drum came off.  Nope!  It's fine.  Put the drum back on and just mount the snows.  I called the other guys over to look at the state of it.  We all got a good laugh.  But that guy probably never topped 20 MPH and could Fred Flintstone that Dart. 

Lots of weird stuff people drive on.