Recent Posts

4326

Coding Snacks / Re: Script/batch file that copies two files from a drive(usb) to a location

« Last post by cranioscopical on November 15, 2007, 05:29 PM »

Yes

4327

Living Room / Re: For the love of Money...

« Last post by cranioscopical on November 15, 2007, 01:44 PM »

This is no surprise to me, but it puts things in perspective just a bit...
Mouser: pay special attention to #36 

-Edvard (November 15, 2007, 12:46 PM)

I looked at 36

Spoiler

36. One of the best ways to raise money for a charity is to have a free dinner
for a lot of people and have an empty envelope tucked under their plate...
for the express purpose... of making whatever size donation they want.

At the last charity dinner I attended I thought the envelope was intended for me to secrete the fish bones

4328

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: EverNote - Free today at GAOTD

« Last post by cranioscopical on November 15, 2007, 01:32 PM »

Regarding the app itself, I dislike the "toilet paper" model.

-CWuestefeld (November 15, 2007, 11:23 AM)

Although I also dislike the TP model, some of my coworkers believe that most of what I write is complete crap and is best suited for toilet paper.

-tinjaw (November 15, 2007, 12:49 PM)

That may be so, but it's hard to stop when you're on a roll!

4329

General Software Discussion / Re: Question about Super Flexible File Synchronizer

« Last post by cranioscopical on November 13, 2007, 03:59 PM »

An impressively fast response from the developer says:

Tobias Giesen:
currently you need to add another word as the first word in order to
group them for example,
Backup My Documents
Backup My Pics
Backup My Music

That will create a group called Backup.

Currently it's not any more flexible.
I will consider making it more flexible in a future version.

Nice to encounter someone who's open minded about this kind of thing.

I think tinjaw's solution is good for now.

4330

General Software Discussion / Re: Question about Super Flexible File Synchronizer

« Last post by cranioscopical on November 13, 2007, 03:18 PM »

J-Mac: I won't bother writing the developer about it.

It just might be worth asking, in order to see what comes back.

Like you, I was a little startled by this behaviour and it annoyed me.
(Curmudgeon that I am, any thing or person that demands that I zig immediately causes me to zag.)

After a while I found that the grouping often turned out to be useful.  I'd still prefer an 'override' for specific circumstances.
I think I'll send an e-mail and see what transpires -- I'll post the gist of any reponse.

4331

Official Announcements / Re: November Discount and Giveaway - Updated!

« Last post by cranioscopical on November 13, 2007, 12:28 PM »

cthorpe, just wanted to say thank you for your on-going efforts on our behalf!

4332

Living Room / Re: Buy a new harddrive, get a virus

« Last post by cranioscopical on November 12, 2007, 07:58 PM »

Not the first occurrence, either, apparently.

If only reports like these would slow down the rate of North America's (the world's?) increasing dependence on Chinese manufacturing.

4333

Living Room / Re: Top 10 Signs You're Coding Too Much

« Last post by cranioscopical on November 12, 2007, 10:47 AM »

converting degrees celcius to radians doesn't make much sense

It offers a whole new angle on weather forecasting,  though.

4334

General Software Discussion / Re: Paint Shop Pro X2 - installation from hell ...

« Last post by cranioscopical on November 09, 2007, 11:04 AM »

It worked first time! Boy was I ecstatic.

-tsaint (November 09, 2007, 07:45 AM)

Glad you're fixed up!  Good to learn that someone at Corel has a modicum of common sense.
I wonder if anyone there will have enough of it to fix some of those circular/dead-end links to which you referred.

4335

General Software Discussion / Re: Paint Shop Pro X2 - installation from hell ...

« Last post by cranioscopical on November 08, 2007, 05:37 PM »

tsaint, if it weren't so patently aggravating for you it would be amusing!
I think most of us have experienced that sense of utter astonishment  when a long, annoying venture like this is just dead-ended.
You don't know anyone at the phone company, do you, who could connect Corel support USA to Corel support in Australia? You can almost hear the sounds of their brains fusing from here

4336

Living Room / Re: Computing. A Goal in itself, or a means to an end?

« Last post by cranioscopical on November 08, 2007, 01:22 PM »

About half and half.
I spend a lot of time doing stuff 'just for the heck of it', often when I'm supposed to be doing something productive instead 

The early days of home computing meant creating most of one's own stuff anyway and that was some of each.
Now I mainly use off-the-shelf stuff.

These days the necessity of using computers as everyday tools dilutes some of the 'gee-whiz' factor for me, even though some new developments are astounding.
Until an entirely new medium emerges I don't think anything will replace for me the adventurous feeling associated with moving from 'no computers' to 'my computers'.

4337

Living Room / Re: Genuinely stupid laws - that still APPLY !!

« Last post by cranioscopical on November 07, 2007, 11:03 AM »

Ah.  That explains the "Mandatory Corpse Reanimation Act of 1978" then.

-Ralf Maximus (November 07, 2007, 10:41 AM)

It's long been known that members of the House of Commons are always looking for a free bier.

4338

Living Room / Re: Genuinely stupid laws - that still APPLY !!

« Last post by cranioscopical on November 07, 2007, 10:44 AM »

Here is a well known law from my home state of New Jersey, that is enforced, and makes us kind of an odd-ball state:

It is against the law here to pump your own gas.

-app103 (November 07, 2007, 07:43 AM)

And very welcome it was too, the last time I was there in the pouring rain!
It used to be that when we pulled in for gas here, in Ontario, Canada, someone would hurl him/herself at the car and scrub all the windows, check the fluids, replenish the gas and even check tire pressures.  (This was after most of the UK had moved to self-service stations.)  Those were the days, especially when it was 30 below freezing outside!

4339

Living Room / Re: Genuinely stupid laws - that still APPLY !!

« Last post by cranioscopical on November 07, 2007, 10:35 AM »

This had me rolling about ...

http://news.bbc.co.u.../1/hi/uk/7081038.stm

-Carol Haynes (November 07, 2007, 06:27 AM)

Legislation said to prohibit people dying while in the Houses of Parliament

This one doesn't work, obviously. Some of those guys have been dead for years, especially in the Lords.

4340

Living Room / Re: To wide-screen or not to wide-screen

« Last post by cranioscopical on November 06, 2007, 07:54 PM »

Nah.  You just need a standard-size desk with nothing else on the back half, and accept the loss of physical real-estate.
I *used* to have three 19" glass monitors, and that was retarded.  I barely had room for my keyboard and had to sit back in my chair to avoid bumping my nose into Windows.

-Ralf Maximus (November 06, 2007, 06:41 PM)

You're right but...

My computer desk is 63".  The two monitors I now have take up 37".  So, I could have 3 without changing built-in furniture but I'm thinking of four.
Some of the new, larger Acer monitors look interesting and have been reasonably well reviewed (and are going for a song compared to the amount I paid for mine not so long ago -- always true that).  Perhaps 3 of those would work well. 

I find buying monitors to be a bit problematic.  The only real way to tell if a particular model is right is to run it in situ and then with the kinds of applications one uses regularly.  So few places are set up to allow even the latter.  Also, it gets a bit expensive to upgrade 2 or 3 at a time and I don't want mismatched panels (though reduced prices probably mean that buying three, now, would cost less than my current two did when new).

I know what you mean about sitting back from large CRTs.  I have a few 22" Philips still in my basement.  You can't give them away these days

4341

Living Room / Re: To wide-screen or not to wide-screen

« Last post by cranioscopical on November 06, 2007, 05:44 PM »

BTW I also prefer the 4:3 format. Though if I were to buy a new LCD screen today I might get one that can be (physically) rotated 90 degrees. Very useful for those of us that read a lot of pdf files on the screen.

-Nod5 (November 06, 2007, 04:35 PM)

To your first point, stands or mounts probably depends on the hardware supplied. I use the stands supplied with my two Samsung 214Ts (1600x1200). They provide a lot of adjustment: height, tilt, rotation. Were I to refit my study I might build the computer section around wall mounts but, for now, I have a bunch of stuff I'd rather not see lurking behind the panels so I'm content.

FWIW, I thought when I bought these monitors that it'd be as useful as all get out to rotate them to 'portrait' mode, especially for dtp etc. In fact I tried it once and never bothered to do so again. I find 1200 vertical resolution gives me all that I need for full-page 8x11" documents (reading or layout).

The way I'm set up now, I haven't room for more horizontal screens without some prior upheaval (there's a little Ralf Maximus envy here, though) but I'd sure like to have a grid of 4. That arrangement would surely need wall mounts, eh?

4342

Living Room / Re: PLEASE STOP POSTING

« Last post by cranioscopical on November 06, 2007, 12:45 PM »

I already have two pages of threads to catch up on...

-tinjaw (November 05, 2007, 07:32 PM)

There's an easy way to keep up that I adopted about a decade ago.
See below for anyone interested.

Spoiler

Retirement 

4343

Developer's Corner / Re: Consumating’s Ill-Fated Point System: Nice Blog Essay

« Last post by cranioscopical on November 05, 2007, 07:54 AM »

You get two thumbs down for "sucking up" Mike...   

-J-Mac (November 04, 2007, 11:46 PM)

4344

Living Room / Re: To wide-screen or not to wide-screen

« Last post by cranioscopical on November 05, 2007, 07:48 AM »

after maintaining for so long that CRTs are better for gaming, i am forced to make the change to LCD..

-lanux128 (November 04, 2007, 10:02 PM)

I felt the same way for years, until I freed myself from the tyranny of monstrous, desk-eating CRTs
I still think CRTs are a bit better but not enough so that I'd switch back.

• is it better to go wide-screen if i'm not going to watch movies on PC? since i sort of miss the extra height of the normal size..
I think that's always a personal preference, it's not my choice. I don't watch movies.

• this model doesn't come with any extras such as USB ports etc. is this a plus or a minus?
None of mine have extra ports, it never mattered to me.

• what is the general feelings of this model, if anyone is using?
FWIW, at one point my wife had a 930 and was perfectly content with that.
I have a couple of 214Ts and am happy with those.

I am a bit nervous of the 'soft' LCD screens when it comes to cleaning them. On the other hand, they don't attract as much crud as a CRT would.

I wish all LCDs came with a 'food, drink, and sneeze repulsion field'

4345

Living Room / Re: OK - lets get to know each other... who are you, what do you do, where from?

« Last post by cranioscopical on November 04, 2007, 08:28 PM »

Hi!
I've been a member of DC for about a year now.
I'm English
Anyway, if there are any dog lovers out there, do yourselves a favour and at least download our free book about Parvo - it could save your dog's life!

-markfarrar (November 04, 2007, 07:42 PM)

Hello Mark, nice to see you here.
I'm English too, been hanging out in Canada for the past 30 years or so.
I'll take up your offer of the book as we have two dogs at the moment.
Have fun on Donation Coder!

4346

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Tor - The Onion Router

« Last post by cranioscopical on November 04, 2007, 11:15 AM »

Free Download a Day is highlighting The Onion Router today.

-Darwin (November 04, 2007, 08:54 AM)

It's nice when one doesn't have to shallot for software.

4347

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

« Last post by cranioscopical on November 04, 2007, 11:10 AM »

hey, that clockwork mouse isn't such a bad idea. why not have a wireless mouse that recharges itself via the motion you put it through - yes, that's right, using a ball underneath it connected to a dynamo (or whatever).

-nudone (November 04, 2007, 09:53 AM)

Some mice now use that dirty great flywheel of sorts for scrolling... so you're right, harness the energy!

You missed a golden opportunity there, Chris: you've got the mouse thing "wired" 

-Darwin (November 04, 2007, 09:11 AM)

You and I both know that the only opportunity I missed was to avoid posting more nonsense 

edit by jgpaiva: fixed the image for you, chris

Thank you kindly! 

4348

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

« Last post by cranioscopical on November 04, 2007, 09:10 AM »

Got the mouse thing solved!



Edit:   But not the posting thing!!


edit by jgpaiva: fixed the image for you, chris

4349

Living Room / Re: Fantastic Job Opportunity

« Last post by cranioscopical on October 31, 2007, 10:23 PM »

WHO IS THIS "SPAM" PERSOM WHO CONTINUES TO INTERCEPT AND READ OUR PRIVATE EMAILS?? ...
I AM GROWING WORRIED THAT YOU ARE NOT SERUIS...
CONSIDER SENDING ME YOUR CAR TOO, AS I KNOW ALL WESTERN PEOPLES HAVE 2 OR MORE CARS THIS WILL NOT BE A HARDSHIP?  ALSO PLEASE PUT GAS IN IT BECAUSE PETROL HERE IS $11.00 PER LITER.

-Ralf Maximus (October 31, 2007, 05:32 PM)

I am doing my best.

Let me assure you that SPAM is a Canadian acronym for Sending Petrol And Money and not, as your close but secretive friend in your government asserts, Squash Poxy African Mendicant.

I am sorry that my car does not have Sirius but I am sure you will enjoy its state-of-the-art 8-track player and custom-fitted spice rack.
When the car does arrive it is very important that you test the hazard lights. This is best done while travelling at high speed with the sun-roof fully open. Look for the large red button marked with the word "EJECT". By the way, I heartily endorse the use of hackers in our joint venture and am despatching my own to meet with you in case the hazard lights fail to function as planned. Do be ready to welcome Machete-Man, he bears a little gift that might give you an edge.

Meanwhile, over on DoCo, my AHK coding snack request has been fulfilled and the 0-4-U key combination has caused all recent transactions on my accounts to be reversed.

4350

Living Room / Re: Fantastic Job Opportunity

« Last post by cranioscopical on October 31, 2007, 05:14 PM »

MY FRIEND, I NEED YOUR HELP.  ...
NIGEL GERIAN

-Ralf Maximus (October 31, 2007, 11:23 AM)

I sent all my cody credits, and the list of my bank accounts and access codes that you requested, but had no response.
Now I fear that the friend is Ni.