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4351

Living Room / Re: Leather messenger bag recommendations?

« Last post by superboyac on October 28, 2009, 01:07 PM »

Back to topic, you can check eBags.com.  They have a wide variety of bags, and a nice return policy.  I've bought several bags from them (none leather) and have never been disappointed.

-wraith808 (October 28, 2009, 01:00 PM)

Nice site, thanks!  i just looked at about 200 of their bags.  It looks like I may be leaning towards that banana republic one.  None of the other bags seem to have that soft, floppy quality to them.  It gives it an extra snobbish charm.

4352

General Software Discussion / Re: Graphic Design question: Services and prices?

« Last post by superboyac on October 28, 2009, 01:00 PM »

Here's my initial attempt at a 3d sword design in Autocad.  I realized after this that Autocad is not the greatest application for this sort of thing.  It's slow and has a klunky rendering process.  But, I am an expert at it so I was able to get it done quickly.  But I want to eventually try the same thing in 3ds max and see how it turns out.  i want it looking much better with respect to rendering.  I want a shiny blade and some cool textures, etc.  And more photo-realistic of course.

4353

Living Room / Re: Leather messenger bag recommendations?

« Last post by superboyac on October 28, 2009, 12:49 PM »

Apart from the people who hang around in fancy expensive cafés drinking lâtté with loose wrists, most of us euros think those bags look ridiculously stupid and artsy-fartsy snobby

-f0dder (October 28, 2009, 03:44 AM)

Yes!  That's precisely the look I'm going for!

-superboyac (October 28, 2009, 10:44 AM)

 

+1

-40hz (October 28, 2009, 11:49 AM)

fodder's comment was funny because he accurately described my ideal afternoon.

4354

General Software Discussion / Re: 3ds Max...very nice program

« Last post by superboyac on October 28, 2009, 10:53 AM »

Yeah, it's expensive.  So is Autocad, which also costs $4k for a license.  The last few years, Autodesk has really been pushing a subscription licensing thing rather than buying the upgrades every year.

I'll show you what I do with it later when I actually learn how to use it.  The truth is, I'm not going to use it that much, at least I don't anticipate using it much.  I was just impressed by the program's overall feel.

4355

Living Room / Re: Leather messenger bag recommendations?

« Last post by superboyac on October 28, 2009, 10:44 AM »

Apart from the people who hang around in fancy expensive cafés drinking lâtté with loose wrists, most of us euros think those bags look ridiculously stupid and artsy-fartsy snobby

-f0dder (October 28, 2009, 03:44 AM)

Yes!  That's precisely the look I'm going for!

4356

Living Room / Re: Leather messenger bag recommendations?

« Last post by superboyac on October 27, 2009, 06:54 PM »

scancode...I don't think so.  Ha!

40hz...She can lug me around in her basket any day!

4357

Living Room / Leather messenger bag recommendations?

« Last post by superboyac on October 27, 2009, 05:47 PM »

I'm looking to replace my backpack which I've been using for probably 15 years now.  I'm a grown ass man now and i feel stupid carrying a backpack around.  A buddy of mine has a leather messenger (that's what it's called) that he's been using and it looks great--grown-up and sophisticated.  I'm also very much into the whole Euro look when it comes to these things.

Can anyone recommend a good quality leather bag that they know of?  I'd like it to be well-made, with soft, supple leather, and good secure buckles that won't accidentally open or something.  The one I'm eying right now is from Banana Republic since that's the one my friend has:

4358

General Software Discussion / 3ds Max...very nice program

« Last post by superboyac on October 27, 2009, 05:19 PM »

I've begun to play around with 3ds Max.  I'm very impressed by it.  It's a cool program and very powerful.  I find the interface easy to get used, despite the fact that there are a lot of complex things going on.  I'm a long time user of AutoCAD (Autodesk owns both programs) and i feel like 3ds max is more responsive than Autocad.  Autocad , in my opinion, is much too sluggish for what it does.  in other words, i feel Autocad has become a way too bloated.  But 3ds max seems to be relatively light weight compared to it.  Autocad has some limted 3d capabilities, and it is very, very sluggish with it.  I'm no programmer, but I definitely like the "feel" of 3ds max.

4359

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows vs. Mac: I'm starting to change.

« Last post by superboyac on October 27, 2009, 03:57 PM »

Wow! I'm surprised how sensitive and defensive some Windows users have become as other OSes attract new users. Didn't understand the "gamer stabbing somebody" link, nor that someone who likes OSX is "removed from reality," nor the hostility toward someone/anyone who chooses not to use Windows. It makes me laugh because it sounds like you're all saying: How dare that SOB -- or anyone -- come to DonationCoder.com and talk about anything other than Microsoft software!

As I've said before, if you want this to be a Windows-only forum, then please let me know; I have better distractions where the eggshells aren't so thin. 

-zridling (October 27, 2009, 03:37 PM)

Yeah, I'm a little disappointed this thread turned out that way.  I really do believe Macs and unix have things to offer and if i were Microsoft, I would try to incorporate some of those things.  I used to be very defensive myself about anti-Windows comments, but as I've become more objective over the years, I've realized that there are features on other OS's that are attractive, useful, and, yes, just better.  The other thing I'm moving away from more is the thought that "well, you can make Windows do whatever it is you want."  While I believe that to be true for the most part, I can argue, and in the defense of other OS's, that maybe...just maybe...it SHOULDN'T be that hard to do something like that.

4360

General Software Discussion / Re: General brainstorming for Note-taking software

« Last post by superboyac on October 27, 2009, 11:05 AM »

@Dormouse, Thank you, makes sense. Just made me laugh when I got a service pack that was ~194MB
Onenote and Compendium look nice, in different ways, may be I will look into Onenote 2010 somehow. Going to play with them more. Keeping my eyes open for others as well, including Notezilla and Evernote.

-rgdot (October 27, 2009, 10:47 AM)

I don't like Evernote's web version.  Not because of the features, but more because I strongly prefer using localized software.  I still use Evernote's version 2.  Keep at Onenote, it may be just the thing for you.  The consensus is that Onenote is one of the few applications that Microsoft got right.

4361

General Software Discussion / Re: General brainstorming for Note-taking software

« Last post by superboyac on October 26, 2009, 10:58 AM »

Pigeonhole still doesn't show all the notes in their entirety.  Really, check out Onenote.  I was looking for a screenshot of it doing what you wanted but I couldn't find it.

4362

General Software Discussion / Re: General brainstorming for Note-taking software

« Last post by superboyac on October 26, 2009, 02:02 AM »

I have read this thread and all or most others on organizing and I wanted to get some feedback.

What has been on my mind is finding a note repository or PIM that is capable of presenting a view of all my saved notes or appointments or tasks and to me this is important, not just their respective titles or headers but a more detailed view. There are examples that come close like Do-Organizer and others which have 'reports' but I believe these are more tailored for printing purposes. May be what I am looking for is to have my notes arranged on the screen like a mind mapper but again may be.

Any thoughts? Point me to one discussed in this or other threads that may come close?

-rgdot (October 25, 2009, 11:10 PM)

There aren't too many of these that I have encountered.  It is a feature that has been discussed in this thread somewhere in these gazillion pages.  I think the feature is useful, also.

The only programs that I know of that do something like this are Onenote and Evernote, with Onenote probably coming the closest.  In Onenote, in case you don't know, all the notes can be spread out over the screen showing their full contents.  In Evernote, the full notes are all visible, however they are organized vertically only.  The benefit in Onenote is that all the notes can be laid out however you like.

4363

General Software Discussion / Re: Graphic Design question: Services and prices?

« Last post by superboyac on October 20, 2009, 08:33 PM »

So much of what passes for creativity these days is far too often nothing more than someone being clever.

Clever you can buy. Creativity, however, is gold coin.

Stay on the course you're on and I'm sure the finished work will be spectacular. :Thmbsup

-40hz (October 20, 2009, 11:47 AM)

Thanks for those words.  That's exactly what we are going for.  Even though I'm looking for shortcuts to disguise my lack of skill at this point, I do want the work to have a certain sense of true soul to it.  Along the way, I will become more proficient, maybe not to a professional level, but hopefully good enough to communicate my intentions.  And like my music and any artisitic endeavor, the popular thing to talk about is the technical skill involved and in the process, storytelling is overlooked.  But storytelling is the key, it always will be.

4364

Living Room / Re: I am looking for the best DIY/Barebones Laptop......

« Last post by superboyac on October 20, 2009, 06:43 PM »

You can build your own laptop?  The closest thing I'm aware of are the generics, like Sager, etc. PowerNotebooks sells 'em: http://www.powernotebooks.com/

- Oshyan

-JavaJones (October 20, 2009, 04:37 PM)

I second that notion.  I once considered building my own laptop and didn't find any aspect of it worth my time, money, or otherwise.  I would strongly recommend buying the best laptop for your needs that already exists.

4365

General Software Discussion / Re: What's a good memorization software?

« Last post by superboyac on October 20, 2009, 01:56 PM »

Fullrecall, it would be better, I think), probably because that Supermemo patent has expired;
- It seems that the program are always being improved, there are plugins etc.;
- Anki is available for G1/Android Google smartphone (http://ichi2.net/anki/wiki/AndroidAnki)
- Anki is entirely free (there is no "premium" version).
- There are the options of "cloud computing" (online) and desktop (that I use) computing.

Fullrecall is good, it uses a neural network, it is simpler than Supermemo (with this you spend more time learning about the program then studding your study object), but the interface is poor (like softwares of 10 years ago) there are less resources than Anki. Maybe the premium version be better, but I prefer use Anki and make known this software (and support it with a donation, of course, for stimulating its improvement).

-bigfuture (October 20, 2009, 12:51 PM)

I wouldn't say Full Recall's interface is poor, like it's a negative thing.  It's very effective.  It may be more accurate to say it lacks certain fancy html features in the card contents.  I love Full Recall, I think it is a very effective and well designed application.

4366

General Software Discussion / Re: What's a good memorization software?

« Last post by superboyac on October 20, 2009, 01:49 PM »

Supermemo: a software that Piotr Wozniak has created for himself (and other computer scientists...).

-bigfuture (October 20, 2009, 12:51 PM)

It's funny...because it's so true!

4367

General Software Discussion / Re: Graphic Design question: Services and prices?

« Last post by superboyac on October 20, 2009, 12:11 PM »

Congratulations on your 2000th post!  if you're ever in the LA area, I'll buy you a lunch.

I was just talking to my friend, and he suggested that maybe the photoshop plugin can save time with stuff like backgrounds.  Mountains, forests, all those backdrops.  because I will have a hard enough time with all the characters, so that could be a huge time saver.

4368

General Software Discussion / Re: Graphic Design question: Services and prices?

« Last post by superboyac on October 20, 2009, 10:58 AM »

The other issue I have with all these photoshop plugins and techniques is that you have to have something already for the plugin to do its trick.  I may find existing things here and there, but I'm going to have to create most of it myself.  I would be very lucky if I found pictures or existing drawings of muscular guys in the exact right pose and all the scenery, etc.  I have things that are close, but I will use them for references mostly.

4369

General Software Discussion / Re: Graphic Design question: Services and prices?

« Last post by superboyac on October 20, 2009, 10:54 AM »

40hz, thanks for the information about etching!  I knew that Dore did a lot of his work on wood engravings, but besides some basics, I didn't know about all those details.

The Photoshop plugins are cool.  Frankly, I'm a little annoyed by how good it looks simply by using a plugin.  But I have to admit, that is really cool.  I love that look.  However, if I go that route there are a couple of things I don't like.  First, I still have to shade the illustration properly so the plugin can do it's thing...and just that shading is going to be a lot of work.  Second, I don't really want the lines to be added so mechanically.  There's a certain touch to the drawing I did that I really like, and the same goes for Dore's.  Even though his illustrations are technically done the same way as the plugin...because he did it by hand, it has a certain touch to it.

I bought a book of Dore's illustrations and studied it pretty carefully this past weekend.  Even in his paper sketches, he utilizes the same technique.  And i really love that look.  It's exactly what I'm going for.  The plugin look, assuming I can even prep the drawing nicely enough, is a little too clean.

That being said, I may use the plugin to create references of images i want to draw.  Like I said, I'm not very good yet, so I need a lot of help to know how to shade things, so if I find a good photo of something I like, i can load it into photoshop, apply the plugin, and I can see kind of what I have to do.  Also, I really like the idea of using Illustrator.

4370

General Software Discussion / Re: Graphic Design question: Services and prices?

« Last post by superboyac on October 19, 2009, 11:14 AM »

I've spent the last month pouring over all kinds of tutorials about drawing, shading, photoshop, and illustrator.  I've decided on a method that uses Illustrator as a sketchpad.  I borrowed a wacom tablet from one of our graphics guys at my job, to see if it will work for me.  Instead of color, the illustrations will be in black and white.  I've always loved the look of black and white sketches.  it also makes it easier on me so I don't have to learn coloring techniques.  Gustave Dore's work was a great inspiration, and the guy is incredible.  Check it out:


So, here is my first try at drawing in this style.  I did several attempts all weekend and this was the best one in my opinion:

4371

Living Room / Re: Can someone remind me why are we using email ?

« Last post by superboyac on October 14, 2009, 05:29 PM »

IT experts at a firm in South Africa said it takes up to six hours to transfer four gigabytes of encrypted data between two of its offices which lie 50 miles apart.

I don't think that is so crazy.  It's not that different here.  I mean, sure, it's faster, but 4GB is a lot!  It's not easy to send 4GB to someone over the internet and expect them to receive it in less than an hour or much longer.  Unless you have some kind of special connection set up, this is not easy to do.  If you use you're normal ISP service, this would take forever.  Big deal.  I don't see what this has to do with email.  Email is awesome.  It is far superior to letters and faxes minus any kind of complex sociological implications.

4372

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows vs. Mac: I'm starting to change.

« Last post by superboyac on October 14, 2009, 11:36 AM »

I didn't label MS as the 'bad guy', sheesh!
They are just companies doing what they do.

Have to pass on the reading up,
I don't care, nor could I do a dam thing about it.

However, I do appreciate the info.

I just thought if you can put windows on a mac,
why not mac on the windows machine.
If they do it, fine, if not, so what.
I already said I'm a windows guy,
and I would like to learn the mac,
but I won't pay the price it costs for me to learn it.

My son, yes, majoring in Creative Writing,
any tools he thinks he needs I'll do my best to get it.

That's why I posted on this thread-
cause there is a mac user here close.
Told you why I got it and more.
Maybe get some OPERATING TIPS.

Then a witch hunt for a bad guy?
pffft bs and more from non-mac users
It's business as usual.
I'm throwing a few ideas around, get over it.
I don't have all the facts and haven't seen 'em posted here.
Like a mac can create a ntfs partition on any MS windows comp.
Why can't Windows do a mac partition?
Don't know. Some kind of "deal" in corporate computer crap.

-cmpm (October 14, 2009, 11:32 AM)

Is this a poem?

4373

Living Room / Re: Recommend to me the BEST USB stick to get

« Last post by superboyac on October 14, 2009, 05:39 AM »

superboyac: how fast is the pico-c, though? speed is quite an important thing for me wrt. flash memory devices - throughput as well as random access time.

-f0dder (October 14, 2009, 05:03 AM)

You know, I'm not sure exactly how fast it is.  You can find many benchmarks for it on various website reviews.  I've never really understood what kind of speed issues people have with USB drives.  All USB drives seem slow to me because I'm comparing them to hard drive speeds.  Tell you what, instead of going by benchmarks, why don't you give me a specific task you are looking for and I'll try it on my drive and tell you the result?  Do you want me to transfer a 100 MB file and tell you how long it takes?  Let me know.

4374

Living Room / Re: Scientists say: Alcohol DOES make people more attractive

« Last post by superboyac on October 13, 2009, 06:47 PM »

Interesting. I wonder if that's why so many guys like to look at pornography. Does "just looking" make them believe they actually might have a chance someday?

-40hz (October 13, 2009, 06:28 PM)

Umm...well...there's no deep psychology involved here.  it's not that we think we have a chance, we just simply think they are hot!  We have hormones, just like girls do, and they are triggered by this stuff.  Girl's hormones are triggered through different means.  You might say men are more superficial, but I don't think that's really fair since that's just the way we are wired.  But, yeah, if we see a hot girl and she's nude on top of that, well, it gets us going!  Geez...mouser, I may ask you to remove these posts later.

4375

Living Room / Re: Scientists say: Alcohol DOES make people more attractive

« Last post by superboyac on October 13, 2009, 06:42 PM »

Attraction is a very complicated thing.  Alcohol definitely affects me, but I feel it's more of a letting me relax effect which allows me to be a little more inappropriate then i would tend to be.  Like, for example, I get a little more "handsy" with alcohol.  One thing I will say is that I think I crave "it" more when I'm sober vs. when I'm buzzed.  I don't think I've ever experienced a beer goggle effect.  I may have regretted a little something I did because it was outside of the context of trying to get into a healthy relationship, but I've never fluctuated in how much or little I was attracted to someone based on my level of sobriety.

I guess what I'm saying is I think the whole "beer goggle" is fun to talk about, but the real root of the issue lies in alcohol's effect on inhibitions and/or ability to think clearly.  Which ultimately may mean the same thing.  I don't know.