Recent Posts

4101

Living Room / Re: Pet Peeve: I will never buy a rechargeable mouse again for as long as i live

« Last post by Darwin on November 04, 2007, 07:59 AM »

okay, i am now officially a cable mouse bore.

And I am a wireless mouse bore. I'm renowned for being a lot of fun at parties - people like to wind me up on this subject and watch the fireworks. Good fun   

4102

General Software Discussion / Re: How to remove Flash Player not listed in Add/Remove?

« Last post by Darwin on November 04, 2007, 07:48 AM »

Interesting. I've always used the downloadable uninstaller that PhilB66 linked to, but note that Flash is uinstallable via not only YourUinstaller! 2006:



but Windows Add/Remove as well:



I no longer remember WHY I have used the downloadable uninstaller from Adobe in the past... perhaps the uninstallation routine is something that Adobe has added in more recent versions of Flash Player?

4103

The Getting Organized Experiment of 2007 / Re: My System - Index Card Centric

« Last post by Darwin on November 04, 2007, 07:34 AM »

There is an appeal to this way of thinking (or not thinking, depending on how you look at it!). I do frequent, written brain dumps as well. The key difference is that I dump my ideas and thoughts into A4 (bought them in the UK) sized, lined, hardcover notebooks. Once they're in there, they're gone. For good. The card system is attractive because you can move the cards around and keep them organized - you don't have to flip through pages of illegible scribbling and doodling to get to the idea that you had in March of 2003 for microwave clothing.

There's an Office Depot about 3 klicks from my front door. I think I'll try this out. I know you've posted this "brain hack" in the past but I didn't pay as much attention then (I'm that much more in need of hacking today!).

 

4104

Living Room / Re: Pet Peeve: I will never buy a rechargeable mouse again for as long as i live

« Last post by Darwin on November 04, 2007, 07:30 AM »

Funny, Nick, I find the extra weight makes the mouse more... ergonomic? I like the heft of a wireless mouse. I don't know if I'd like it in one of those "portable" versions for notebooks that are available, but I've tried a couple of times to go back to my old, corded Intellimouse and it just feels flimsy and "cheap" now. The other advantage of a cordless is that you never have to worry about kinks in the cord or objects on your (physical) desktop snagging it. Of course, this reduces the incentive to keep an orderly workspace, so maybe it's not a good thing after all!

4105

Living Room / Re: Pet Peeve: I will never buy a rechargeable mouse again for as long as i live

« Last post by Darwin on November 04, 2007, 07:04 AM »

I have the solution, mouser-sen! Use rechargeable batteries in a battery powered mouse! Best of both worlds. This is what I do and I've had to recharge the rechargeables (being ahead of the curve, I have an extra set of rechargeables so just swap them and keep on working) twice in two and a half years. Ditto for the keyboard. Crazy.

I dunno, just thought this might placate the criminally insane rechargeable types!

PS I realize this doesn't help you with your current situation. I've been there. I feel your pain.

4106

General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?

« Last post by Darwin on November 04, 2007, 06:57 AM »

Wow - thanks Pierre  . I'll work my way through these tutorials.

4107

The Getting Organized Experiment of 2007 / Re: For those with a System that Works -- Post it!

« Last post by Darwin on November 04, 2007, 06:24 AM »

 

Hallejiuah! I'm not alone...

4108

Living Room / Re: DC get together in Western Europe?! July 2007?

« Last post by Darwin on November 03, 2007, 11:39 PM »

You really shouldn't take such a low point about the loss of that cap, Darwin
- that cap is smart, fancy, cool, and tasty, yeah: that cap is good looking!



Did I mention that I have one alike?

-Curt (November 03, 2007, 07:22 PM)

Yes, I really do miss that hat. It was plain, simple and well worn. Very comfortable. I keep hoping it will turn up but sadly it's gone for good (left it on the dashboard of a boat and it hasn't been seen since).

4109

Living Room / Re: these new cheap core 2 due laptops - any good?

« Last post by Darwin on November 03, 2007, 11:36 PM »

Is Nudone the official off-topic watcher ? 

-Armando (November 03, 2007, 10:31 PM)

No - he's the OP 

4110

Older Newsletters / Re: Newsletter for November 2nd, 2007 - Codename "Challenge Yourself"

« Last post by Darwin on November 03, 2007, 11:34 PM »

Excellent newsletter, mouser  I know how much work went into it and really appreciate you taking the time to do it, particularly as I know that you don't have that much time to give to these things right now.

4111

Living Room / Re: Alternate Reality Gaming

« Last post by Darwin on November 03, 2007, 06:43 PM »

Holy carp! Nice detective work, Edvard. Very interesting. So, are you going to check out the action on November 26th?

OK, guess not:

knew then that I should either walk away now or get immersed in something bigger than I have room in my life for.

4112

Living Room / Re: these new cheap core 2 due laptops - any good?

« Last post by Darwin on November 03, 2007, 06:39 PM »

Good for you, Curt! I've followed a similar trajectory (minus the freezer, though I did spend part of my early 20's working in a grocery store with long stints in both the freezer and in the dairy cooler). My solution was always to take two tablets (acetopminephan/paracetemol - same thing), eat some bread, and drink a lot of water before bed. I *tried* to avoid caffeine the next day to avoid its diuretic effect and repeated the water and tablets as necessary. I've subsequently found the obvious method you refer to to be both more reliable and more economical. My use of the method is to practice moderation, though complete avoidance is the only method that carries certainty.

I've no desire to return to those days... Though I wouldn't say I ever had a drinking problem, but I did find the occasional hangover problematic 

Now, I too must ask for nudone and the forum's clemency for being way off-topic 

4113

Living Room / Re: continuing my hardware problem list: wireless connection has grayed out 'disable

« Last post by Darwin on November 03, 2007, 06:24 PM »

PS You could also try reinstalling the software/drivers that came with the card? If you're using the XP/Vista built in wireless manager go into the Control Panel, open up Network Connections and then Wireless Network Connection and then View Wireless Networks. Look to the left hand pane of dialogue that appears and then click on Change Advanced Settings. This will take you to a different dialogue - go to the Wireless Networks tab and clear the Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings field. Click OK out of there...

At this point you can do one of two things: either you can set up the software that came with your wireless card to manage your connection (if such a solution was shipped with your card - Intel provides one with Centrino notebooks as another alternative)  or you can reboot the computer and reenable Windows management of your wireless network settings and see if it alleviates the problem...

Just some random thoughts - do with them as you please!

4114

Living Room / Re: continuing my hardware problem list: wireless connection has grayed out 'disable

« Last post by Darwin on November 03, 2007, 06:18 PM »

Well... you could physically "turn off" the wireless card. If it's a notebook there's probably a button to let you do this somewhere (I think you mentioned at one point that this is a high end Dell notebook, no?). If it's a desktop I'm not so sure what to suggest.

You *could* alternatively go into your Device Manager and disable the wireless card.

I dunno - none of these are real solutions, just bandaids. Hope you find a proper solution soon!

4115

Living Room / Re: these new cheap core 2 due laptops - any good?

« Last post by Darwin on November 03, 2007, 05:36 PM »

Thanks for the tip, Curt! I hope not to have to use it anytime soon (really, I am NOT fond of hangovers, even if there is a cure!), but it'll be nice to have to fall back on when it is needed 

4116

The Getting Organized Experiment of 2007 / Re: Here is my problem

« Last post by Darwin on November 03, 2007, 05:31 PM »

Cool - thanks app (I think - his blog is proving a nice diversion from what I really need to get done, but for which I lack enthusiasm. Oh well. This will arm me for the future - the present is just collateral damage in the war on apathy!).

4117

General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?

« Last post by Darwin on November 03, 2007, 05:16 PM »

This is getting more and more interesting. My wife runs her own business and we're frequently trying to come up with ways to generate bills and invoices. Of course, she's a lot less geek oriented than I am so she may not be as excited as me...

4118

Living Room / Re: Rid of your old computer responsibly

« Last post by Darwin on November 03, 2007, 05:12 PM »

Nice find Lashiec - thank you. I've been debating what to do with an old notebook and this is giving me some ideas.

4119

General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?

« Last post by Darwin on November 03, 2007, 05:10 PM »

Cool! Thanks for the link - I probably wouldn't have noticed it otherwise. Reading through it now.

4120

General Software Discussion / Re: EverNote beta 2.2.0.372 has some nice new features

« Last post by Darwin on November 03, 2007, 05:09 PM »

Phew! I'm glad I dodged that bullet - I rarely remember to backup my database (although as luck would have it I didn do so about a week ago, so all would not have been lost). Anyway, Armando's advice about backing up your database before updating is excellent and should be followed when updating any software that holds, manages, or manipulates crucial data (note to self: take this advice in the future!).

 

EDIT: typos will be the death of smeagol

4121

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: zoom windows instead of maximize (from MacOSX)

« Last post by Darwin on November 03, 2007, 05:06 PM »

Sounds a bit like a "Fit to Page" function?

4122

Official Announcements / Re: Official Bug Tracking and Feature Request Threads launched

« Last post by Darwin on November 03, 2007, 05:04 PM »

Cool! Thanks Josh (and mouser). This should get feature billing on the homepage and/or as a separate link in the header on every page as well (I'm almost inarticulate these days - I mean the links that go: Home, Blog, Software, Reviews and Features, etc.).

4123

Living Room / Re: NEW Cody wallpapers for Halloween

« Last post by Darwin on November 03, 2007, 04:54 PM »

I don't know how I missed this on Wednesday. Nick, you've outdone yourself. I would say I'm speechless but all I am is reduced to babbling (witness this note). Stunning!

 

4124

The Getting Organized Experiment of 2007 / Re: For those with a System that Works -- Post it!

« Last post by Darwin on November 03, 2007, 04:50 PM »

Thanks for posting this idea, mouser. I *just* replied to apps posting about the problems that she has with theise kinds of systems and agree with her. I noted that I won't be participating this year BUT I'll be keeping an eye on this thread and reading peoples' experiences with real interest with a view to implementing anything that resonates with me.

4125

The Getting Organized Experiment of 2007 / Re: Here is my problem

« Last post by Darwin on November 03, 2007, 04:48 PM »

Yes, this rings true for me, too. Unfortunately, the only thing I have much enthusiasm for these days (that's not paid work!) is noodling. I probably SHOULD take part in the GOE 2007 Experiment but last year was a complete failure from my end and I completely agree with app that some of my lack of accomplishment may in fact be attributed to trying to use other people's cookie cutters!

I'll cut my own cookies, thanks. Actually, I just need to get bloodyminded and get on with whatever I need to be getting on with.