Recent Posts

3351

Living Room / Re: The Geek's "100 things to do before you die" list

« Last post by app103 on May 07, 2009, 02:43 AM »

"learn how to talk to a girl"

-mouser (May 07, 2009, 02:40 AM)

Shouldn't this be on your list? 

I think Gothi[c] figured that one out already...he's married to one. Didn't he have to talk to her first?

3352

Living Room / Re: The Geek's "100 things to do before you die" list

« Last post by app103 on May 06, 2009, 09:49 PM »

Even better question than how many have you done...

Which one was the first you did?

For me it was either 50 or 62...

I don't remember if my grandmother taught me the constellations before I learned the lock picking, but I learned both as a kid. (and the lock picking was combination locks, not key locks)

It all started when someone in their infinite wisdom thought it would be a good idea to stimulate my curiosity by buying me a giant see-thu combination lock for Christmas.  (thanks dad! )

3353

Developer's Corner / Re: Easy Small Free Windows Language that does cool GUIs??

« Last post by app103 on May 06, 2009, 02:13 PM »

Well, that wouldn't work, would it?  You can't install 3p components in Turbo Delphi Explorer...

-wraith808 (April 25, 2009, 01:02 PM)

No, but the OP said he had Delphi 5, into which he can install 3rd party components. That's only 1 version behind the version I used to make that demo.

3354

Developer's Corner / Sorting Algorithm Animations

« Last post by app103 on May 02, 2009, 08:17 AM »

These pages show 8 different sorting algorithms on 4 different initial conditions. These visualizations are intended to:

    * Show how each algorithm operates.
    * Show that there is no best sorting algorithm.
    * Show the advantages and disadvantages of each algorithm.
    * Show that worse-case asymptotic behavior is not the deciding factor in choosing an algorithm.
    * Show that the initial condition (input order and key distribution) affects performance as much as the algorithm choice.

http://www.sorting-algorithms.com/

3355

General Software Discussion / Re: a little story about a Blue Screen at midnight

« Last post by app103 on May 01, 2009, 07:32 PM »

I am not sure what you were doing or how. You completely lost me.

Instead of using the easy formal way, maybe you should have used the easy normal way:

Select the music folder in Explorer and hit Ctrl+C and then open D: in Explorer and hit Ctrl+V.

Once you are sure it has been safely copied over, just delete the original one.

That always seems to work for me.

3356

DC Gamer Club / Re: 30 PC Games to Play Before You Die

« Last post by app103 on April 30, 2009, 09:32 PM »

Would you believe I have never played any of these?

3357

General Software Discussion / Re: What are the options for restricting access to applications?

« Last post by app103 on April 26, 2009, 07:26 PM »

Booting into safe mode with the Administrator in XP Home and typing: 'secpol.msc' (or 'gpedit.msc') in the run dialog from the start menu doesn't work?

One reason more to be happy with XP Pro 

-Shades (April 26, 2009, 06:44 PM)

XP Home doesn't have group policies so 'secpol.msc' (or 'gpedit.msc') wll not work.

If you read the full instructions on the page I linked to, it explained how to do it for XP Home.

Windows XP Home users can try this method (slightly edited to make it more generic):

• Boot into Safe Mode.
• Log in as Administrator.
• Navigate to [FileYouWantToBlock.exe] in Explorer.
• Right click on it in explorer and select Properties -> Security -> Advanced -> Edit
• Select the option to not let it execute for all users.

3358

General Software Discussion / Re: Mind Map-Concepts-Illustrate

« Last post by app103 on April 26, 2009, 08:02 AM »

I think the easiest mind mapping application I have ever used was Goal Enforcer.

Even if you don't use that particular application, installing the demo and using it as a learning tool so you can better understand how to organize a mind map might be a good idea.

The sample templates are a good demonstration of how it all works.

3359

General Software Discussion / Re: Groupbar alike?

« Last post by app103 on April 25, 2009, 01:44 AM »

I use a combo of Taskbar++ and TaskbarEx in XP. (not sure how these 2 apps behave under Vista)

Taskbar++ let's you hold down your alt key while hovering over the taskbar, and drag & drop to reorder the buttons in any order you wish. (page is in Japanese, just download TaskbarPP12.zip, which should be the first link on the page.)

You will need to turn off automatic grouping for similar buttons in your taskbar settings.

TaskbarEx lets you drag & drop the buttons off the taskbar to anywhere on your desktop and arrange them any way you wish. The buttons are skinable, so if there isn't one to match your colors or theme exactly, you can always make your own. Right click the buttons after dragging to the desktop to see what other settings are available, and for the option to return the buttons to the taskbar.

3360

General Software Discussion / Re: What are the options for restricting access to applications?

« Last post by app103 on April 25, 2009, 01:28 AM »

If you're on Windows, it may be possible to do this using NTFS file permissions. It's built right in.

-Jimdoria (April 25, 2009, 12:38 AM)

That's how I got rid of the obnoxious ad window every time the free version of Avira updates.

Example of how to do that is here. Follow the same steps to do it with any other application you don't want to run.

3361

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Startup Delayer

« Last post by app103 on April 25, 2009, 01:01 AM »

There is also my Lacuna Launcher, that does something similar, but not limited to just applications, and not limited to only using it as a startup tool.

You'll have to go remove the existing entries in your startup folder and registry yourself, since I don't do that for you. Then just add the paths to a txt file. Use the command line parameters to set the txt file you want to use, the initial delay, and the pause time between each item.

Bonus: it is portable and does work with relative paths, providing Lacuna Launcher is placed at the root of your portable drive.

3362

Developer's Corner / Re: Easy Small Free Windows Language that does cool GUIs??

« Last post by app103 on April 25, 2009, 12:10 AM »

If you like Delphi but want something newer than v5 and you want it for free, you could try the Turbo Delphi Explorer.

Of course you are not going to be able to just drag & drop and have magical custom shaped GUI's. You are going to have to learn how to code them.

I have done some interesting image based GUI stuff in Delphi, coding all the stuff for the buttons & everything myself, in Delphi 6.

Attached is a demo of what I did (buttons don't actually do anything, but it does display how they look when clicked). Eventually, when I finish what I want to do with it (might not be for a long time), I plan on releasing it as a set of components, but don't hold your breath waiting on that.

3363

N.A.N.Y. 2009 / Re: NANY 2009 Release: Trout (audio player)

« Last post by app103 on April 24, 2009, 11:35 PM »

I've no idea if it works on Win9x/ME (I would guess not).

-skwire (April 24, 2009, 06:45 AM)

It should work. I'll test it out later and let you know for sure.

3364

General Software Discussion / Re: Top Greasemonkey userscripts that you use

« Last post by app103 on April 24, 2009, 11:10 PM »

I don't have that many, and most of the ones I have are to make the new FriendFeed beta more bearable, like adding back the service icons and turning it into a widescreen version that looks a whole lot cleaner.

Other than that kind of stuff, there is these:

TinyURL Decoder - decodes urls from over 100 different shortening services
Download from YouTube - Adds FLV, MP4, 3GP, and 720p download links to YouTube.
ewemoa's date script for DC - to help thwart necro-spamming

3365

N.A.N.Y. 2009 / Re: NANY 2009 Release: Trout (audio player)

« Last post by app103 on April 22, 2009, 12:12 PM »

Could I please have an option that when I click a toaster popup it immediately closes?

Some of the stuff I listen to makes some crazy monster sized toaster popups like this:

3366

Developer's Corner / Re: Custom Plushies for your Organization? Where and How Much?

« Last post by app103 on April 21, 2009, 08:25 PM »

I have located 2 patterns:

1. Cody during his 60's period (as mouser described it):



This one would need to be reworked slightly, to make the neck shorter, but I think it would look quite nice in the right colors rather than a weird patterned fabric, like they used.

2. Another funky Cody pattern:



Again, wouldn't be made with patterned fabric, and would be made with Cody's colors.

Personally, I think I like the first one better, but I'll have to see what happens (and how much they will cost to make)

Don't rush me and I'll see what I can do. Remember it will be just me working in this little NJ sweatshop, and I am a bit low on cash at the moment for supplies, and the fabric I would want to use for this is out of season. (not something the fabric warehouse near me usually stocks in spring/summer)

No children will be laboring before dawn to make them, so don't worry.

-app103 (April 21, 2009, 06:13 PM)

That's as hard to believe as a politician's speech. 

-scancode (April 21, 2009, 08:13 PM)

I don't have any kids I could force to do it, even if I wanted to...my daughter is 23 and can't sew, and if I try to force my cats to do it, they will just lay on the fabric thinking I just bought them a new bed.

3367

Developer's Corner / Re: Custom Plushies for your Organization? Where and How Much?

« Last post by app103 on April 21, 2009, 06:13 PM »

I am attempting to locate a pattern for the perfect cody doll. I'll mass produce them myself if I have to. No children will be laboring before dawn to make them, so don't worry.

3368

N.A.N.Y. Challenge 2007 / Re: DC Forum Post Notifier Lite (a.k.a. Pop-Up Cody) - v1.1.6 - May 21, 2007

« Last post by app103 on April 19, 2009, 02:34 PM »

I don't know. Maybe he lost it, misplaced it, deleted it...or Wordzilla could have been infected with the "I don't want to code any more" virus. I have seen that happen to coders before. It's usually fatal to one or more projects. 

3369

General Software Discussion / Re: How to subvert Big Brother's blocking of URL shorteners?

« Last post by app103 on April 19, 2009, 02:03 PM »

It's not just spy site blocking that Zone Alarm does. It also injects code into every page in your browser (at least it did last time I used it) and the scripts that code contains can sometimes clash badly with legitimate js scripts used on a page.

3370

N.A.N.Y. Challenge 2007 / Re: DC Forum Post Notifier Lite (a.k.a. Pop-Up Cody) - v1.1.6 - May 21, 2007

« Last post by app103 on April 19, 2009, 12:03 PM »

I am not sure if he has a copy of it or the source any more. From what I understand, the project is pretty much dead.

Any hopes of reviving it would mean someone else would have to completely recreate it from scratch.

At least this is what I have been made to believe.

3371

General Software Discussion / Re: How to subvert Big Brother's blocking of URL shorteners?

« Last post by app103 on April 19, 2009, 11:08 AM »

I have Avira 9, free version, and it does not contain any sort of Web Guard, nor does it block or interfere with shortened url's.

Have you tried enabling the windows firewall and shutting off the Zone Alarm one to see if it makes a difference?

Zone Alarm is notorious for interfering with accessing sites. The first 6 months I had a GMail account I couldn't use it because Zone Alarm was interfering with any & all IE based browsers logging into GMail. It was my initial reason for trying Firefox for the very first time.

3372

General Software Discussion / Re: How to subvert Big Brother's blocking of URL shorteners?

« Last post by app103 on April 19, 2009, 08:17 AM »

I don't think Avira is the cause, since I am using that myself and I have no issues with any shortened urls.

While this won't help you discover the cause of your problem, you could try this greasemonkey script and see if it helps: http://userscripts.o...g/scripts/show/40582

It works with 88 different URL shortening services and will replace all the short urls on pages, with the real url. That way, you bypass the shortening services and go directly to the sites. (and you'll know exactly where you are going before you click)

3373

Living Room / Re: for the past 50 years, American students were taught bullshit

« Last post by app103 on April 18, 2009, 03:38 PM »

Well, I guess there was at least one benefit that came from never finishing high school and attending college: I was never exposed to this book or its advice.  

3374

General Software Discussion / Re: How to get my sound back without having to reboot

« Last post by app103 on April 18, 2009, 02:44 AM »

you didn't say anything about your OS or your audio drivers but i usually have this problem with Realtek.

-lanux128 (April 18, 2009, 01:34 AM)

Realtek was what I had problems with on my HP. It was misdetecting whether I had a set of earphones plugged in or not and switching modes on me. Enabling that autopopup made it happen more frequently, so I had to disable that.

I'd have to force it to correct itself by actually plugging something in and then unplugging it, forcing it to switch to the correct mode. Funny thing is that was usually the only time I ever plugged in a set of earphones. I didn't have any other use for them except as a Realtek fixing tool.

I'm beginning to think that it may have something to do with my ear piece being plugged into the audio jacks when I put it into standby.

So I think I may just try to unplug them just before I go into standby and see if that sort of solves the problem.

-patteo (April 18, 2009, 02:04 AM)

If that works and you forget to unplug them, or that doesn't work, just try what I said, plugging the earphones in & out a few times, because you might be having the same problem I had.

You also said you may have been listening to an audio just before putting the laptop in standby. You didn't say what format of audio or with what software.

I had some sort of codec clash on my old pc when using audio in teamspeak. Everything worked fine in both teamspeak and my whole OS, until I closed that application. Then I would lose all sound till I rebooted. As long as I didn't close teamspeak till I was ready to reboot any way, I didn't have a problem. (that's why I have always hated using teamspeak)

So test whether it's related to running that audio application or with a specific file format first, before you go into standby. Close that application and make sure you still have sound elsewhere (just click the little lever on the Windows volume control to make that little "ding" sound). If you don't have sound, then I would say you have narrowed down the source of problem considerably, and it has nothing to do with going into standby. 

If everything still works fine, then try making sure whatever application you use to play audio files is closed before going into standby and see if that helps.

3375

General Software Discussion / Re: How to get my sound back without having to reboot

« Last post by app103 on April 18, 2009, 12:45 AM »

First I would check to make sure you have the most up to date drivers for your soundcard.

If that doesn't fix the issue, it might be like the issue I had on my HP, which I was able to "fix" without rebooting by simply plugging in a set of earphones and then unplugging them.