Recent Posts

4501

General Software Discussion / Re: Waterfox has now been accepted as a Mozilla project

« Last post by 40hz on November 20, 2012, 09:02 PM »

It's still Windows only. 

4502

Living Room / Re: How Much Do You Trust Wikipedia?

« Last post by 40hz on November 20, 2012, 08:57 PM »

Even the noblest attempts at providing accurate and unbiased information can easily be corrupted by carelessness, deliberate deception, or somebody in a positon of authority who is pursuing a personal agenda or "higher truth."

-40hz

I think two things need to be distinguish here:

Wikipedia as an entity has never been a noble attempt much less the noblest attempt.

-Paul Keith (November 18, 2012, 07:50 PM)

Just for the record, I don't think anybody here ever said (or even imagined) it was.

Accurate and unbiased information is in my opinion a red herring to a "higher truth".

Many, in their opinion, would disagree with that.

But I suppose that is what characterizes an opinion as being "an opinion." There's neither "a higher truth" nor even so much as a biased (or unbiased) basis to the statements that constitute such opinions. It's all about how something "feels' or "seems" or "looks" or "sounds like." And it's presented as a given.

Consider, however, that too much reliance on that side of the brain runs the risk of embracing "magical thinking" as its own "higher truth." Something that's running rampant in US political circles these days. And, unfortunately with predictable results.

At least in my opinion.

4503

Living Room / Re: Mysteries

« Last post by 40hz on November 20, 2012, 01:52 PM »

Here's an easier mystery:

Who said, "I've never been frustrated. I just have real low expectations when I go to Washington."

-Renegade (November 20, 2012, 08:42 AM)

Answer: Just about anybody you can name who has an IQ over 60 and is not in a coma.

P.S. Wasn't that Ron Paul? (Got a friend who's a big fan so I get daily RP updates - whether I want them or not. )

4504

General Software Discussion / Re: can you see this website?

« Last post by 40hz on November 20, 2012, 01:37 PM »

Dunno...worked just fine with FF 16.0.2 under Linux.

Not that you're missing anything. It loads a hyperbusy animated site with godawful pseudo-techno music blasting in the background.



Copyright notice says 2007. And from the looks (and noise) it was probably considered "totally rad" back in the day. It also doesn't look like it's been updated since then.


@kalos - was this all just some cruel joke? Or are you maybe trying to help somebody get their site's hit count up for Google?

4505

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: thebrain

« Last post by 40hz on November 20, 2012, 12:38 PM »

If anybody here goes for it and does something non-trivial with this product, could you please keep us posted on it?



I've looked at TheBrain for some time now. But I just can't seem to find any real practical use for it. Most of what I have seen is more along the lines of "interesting" or "how clever." But apparently some people have found a use considering it's been around for awhile. So I suspect it just might be my own lack of imagination or cleverness that's the problem here.

So...anybody? Anybody?

4506

General Software Discussion / Re: Thoughts on this sort of UI styling?

« Last post by 40hz on November 20, 2012, 08:29 AM »

^Precisely!  

I wasn't sure either. (Which might indicate there's a design problem.)

But if it is a list of tests about to be run, something along the lines of the following might be clearer?

This will test each of the following four settings below to ensure correct operation:

..test
..test
..test
..test

Do you wish to run these tests now?"

<Yes - run these tests now. |  No. Just go back to previous screen>

 

4507

General Software Discussion / Re: Thoughts on this sort of UI styling?

« Last post by 40hz on November 20, 2012, 08:08 AM »

I very much like the look of either. The first is certainly more "modern" looking, but the flat version works equally well. (I personally much prefer to see flat screen elements. No good reason for it really. I just prefer them.)

I would suggest, however, that since each of the choices is mutually exclusive, radio buttons be used? Thats what they were designed for. They restrict the selection to a single choice and make it explicitly clear which selection is either the default or is currently active,

The icons to the right of the text don't always make it obvious that they are buttons - mostly because so many other apps put so much useless 'bling' up on the screen that you're never completely sure what's clickable and what's not.

Not to say that you'd need to adopt the ugly and dated looking "black dot in a circle" standard radio button, (Although there's a lot to be said for it since it is a standard interface element most people are familiar with by now.) You could have the background color behind the selection change when you hover over it or something similar to provide a visual clue it was an active element. (Note: if you went this route, the first mock-up would look better since you already have borders around the text. So it should be relatively easy to use a hover effect with that design.)

Just my
 

4508

General Software Discussion / Re: Two classes of membership here?

« Last post by 40hz on November 18, 2012, 10:34 AM »

^I'm out. 

4509

Living Room / Re: Patent on Turning Pages

« Last post by 40hz on November 18, 2012, 09:36 AM »

On a more serious note, for the people in the US: it's about time to grab your torches, pitchforks and semi-automatics and overthrow your government the corporations.

-f0dder (November 18, 2012, 08:22 AM)

Hmm... IIRC it's now illegal, under US law, for us to post a statement like that online...

Aren't you glad you live in Denmark?

P.S. A raptor-class UCAV has since been dispatched to your address. Thanks for providing a map with your profile!

4510

Living Room / Re: How Much Do You Trust Wikipedia?

« Last post by 40hz on November 18, 2012, 09:17 AM »

I approach any reference source the same way I handle a new hire: Take what you see at face value - but always check background and references.

Unfortunately, now that self-censorship, calculated disinformation campaigns and propaganda have come to be seen as the norm, you really can't trust anything completely and unconditionally. Even the noblest attempts at providing accurate and unbiased information can easily be corrupted by carelessness, deliberate deception, or somebody in a positon of authority who is pursuing a personal agenda or "higher truth."

In the end, in the absence of verifiable and repeatable test results (which leaves out at least half of all human thought and activity) the best you can do is crosscheck statements, examine bona fides, "follow the money" (where appropriate), continue to examine and question, and keep an open mind.

So no, I neither trust nor distrust Wikipedia. I use and take it for what it's worth. It's only one place I sometimes stop when I'm looking for something.

And yes, like IainB, I much prefer the Britannica when I need to use an encyclopedia.

4511

General Software Discussion / Re: Two classes of membership here?

« Last post by 40hz on November 18, 2012, 07:34 AM »

The principle of the statement remains true that any new comer exposed to a hint of a nice senior cop-bad subcop can't be blamed for calling out an observation whose hints are common all across forums.

-Paul Keith (November 18, 2012, 06:25 AM)

Assuming there are such "cops."

I've seen very little administration or moderation here beyond an occasional mild reminder to not get personal and stay on topic.

If individual members take issue with something, there's not much to be said except: "That's life." When annoyed by something, some people feel hurt, some walk away, and some push back. That's pretty much the way human society works when dealing with personal conflict. Something most people eventually realize and subsequently moderate their behaviors in recognition of. And DoCo, being part of human society, is no exception.

I'm very much in favor of extending every courtesy to a newcomer and granting them the benefit of the doubt. However, I also expect people to reciprocate when that happens - and be willing to accept that a similar courtesy requirement exists on their side. And said reciprocal courtesy includes such things as accepting an apology when one is offered for a mistake made in the past - and allowing bygones to be bygones. To not do so is rude. As is continuing to try to get the last word in on something when the rest of the community has already moved on to more worthwhile topics.

So if it's true that it isn't all about us, it's also true it shouldn't be all about any individual either.

I guess I'm old fashioned enough to still believe that groups have rights, even if that belief does fly in the face of our current obsession with focusing almost exclusively on "exceptions," "entitlements," and "individual needs."

Which is probably why I go out of my way not to be "in charge of things" most times.

I'm a dinosaur.
 

4512

General Software Discussion / Re: Two classes of membership here?

« Last post by 40hz on November 18, 2012, 01:14 AM »

@PaulKeith - quick question. Did you read this entire thread and the one that this one emerged out of?

4513

General Software Discussion / Re: Two classes of membership here?

« Last post by 40hz on November 17, 2012, 02:03 PM »

@Mouser - FWIW, some places with auto-spammer systems I'm familiar with have have introduced a semi-obligatory "come say hello and tell us a little bit about yourself" first post request - and require some non-privacy invading info in the user profile be filled in. Supposedly this goes a very long way towards intercepting many of the more clever bots and spammers we're seeing.

People who don't introduce themselves first get watched fairly closely (and occasionally moderated) for their first several posts. People who don't put meaningful answers in the very few required profile spaces get e-mailed back and reminded to do so to gain posting privileges. Usually a spammer or bot won't provide a real e-mail address.

4514

General Software Discussion / Re: In a change of fortunes, MS implores developers not to make Webkit the new IE6

« Last post by 40hz on November 17, 2012, 01:45 PM »

Sheep come in different breeds - each blindly convinced of its superiority to all other breeds.

-40hz (November 17, 2012, 10:54 AM)

Point taken

-wraith808 (November 17, 2012, 12:31 PM)

As was yours btw.  

And you're absolutely right - you do get what you ask for more often than not. And in the absence of us forming our own opinions, there's a pestiferous host of highly paid people who will be more than happy to provide us with as many "prefab opinions" and foregone conclusions as needed.

Baaaaa!!!

4515

General Software Discussion / Re: Two classes of membership here?

« Last post by 40hz on November 17, 2012, 12:46 PM »

^Agree w/wraith on that one. Wouldn't be surprised to see the lock removed before long.

4516

Living Room / Re: When Kickstarters Fail

« Last post by 40hz on November 17, 2012, 12:36 PM »

Another problem is that the energy and content that is needed to make a project sexy and successful on Kickstarter isn't at all similar to the energy and planning needed to build and launch a successful product and delivery...

-iphigenie (November 17, 2012, 01:02 AM)

Excellent point!

Kickstarter does seem to lend itself more to a project-oriented feasibility study (or a "one-off" creative effort) than it does to the product development and start-up phases of a traditional business plan. As iphiginie pointed out, building and delivering product on an ongoing basis requires a different mindset and finance model.

4517

General Software Discussion / Re: Best Anti-spyware.

« Last post by 40hz on November 17, 2012, 12:23 PM »

^Good choice. It should serve you well.

4518

Living Room / Re: Hurricane Sandy Discussion Thread

« Last post by 40hz on November 17, 2012, 12:22 PM »

I know it was an alien plot to meant to mask the departure of that giant submerged UFO 100 miles off the coast of New Jersey.

-40hz (November 17, 2012, 10:59 AM)

Crap! My family left without me! 

-app103 (November 17, 2012, 11:05 AM)

Hush! Don't let anybody know. They left without paying some bills.

4519

General Software Discussion / Re: Two classes of membership here?

« Last post by 40hz on November 17, 2012, 12:10 PM »

@clean - glad you enjoyed some of my posts (assuming you were being sincere) but you've sort of lost me with what you're saying in the above. And possibly you've missed out on some of what's being said.

Here's how I see what's going down here...

You irked more than a few people by implying that there were different levels of membership when there are not. I'm not sure where you got that impression, but people responded because that runs counter the experience of virtually everybody (I say virtually because not every member registered on this site responded) at DoCo.

Regarding BartlesMedia, there seems to be some ongoing feud running on the web between people on either side of whatever issues are involved. Some of them have surfaced in DoCo forums at various times. We've all heard from both parties and our conclusion is that for whatever reason it's going on, DoCo's forum is not an appropriate venue for slugging it out in. Many of us here are frankly quite tired of hearing it. Especially since it occasionally reemerges despite repeated requests it be taken elsewhere. So if you aren't one of the parties involved in that apparently ongoing spat, I'm sorry that you might have felt jumped on about some your comments. Suffice to say it's not a good topic for discussion here. And whenever it comes up most of us start gritting our teeth waiting for that nonsense to start up once again.

Please understand we're not an advocacy group or a consumer affairs council - or really much of anything else beyond being a group of friends having a conversation. And much like any group of friends, there's just some topics we don't feel like constantly revisiting. And there's only so many times you can politely say "that's not my problem" or "I really don't want to get involved with this" before the tone of voice starts getting a little sharper. So if you stepped into that unawares try not to take it as a direct rebuke. In this case, people are reacting far more to the topic than they are to you. It happens. And many of us have inadvertently pushed hot buttons around here now and then.

But that's always a risk when you come in cold to any established community. Until you've been around long enough to get the lay of the land there's always the chance you'll innocently bump into something that sometimes sets people off or dredges up a bad memory. If it is innocent, just make note of it and move past it. Especially here, where memories for annoyances tend to be very short if the annoyance was a one-time thing.

Beyond this, there really isn't much else I can say. Hope this helps clarify a few things. And if I failed - well...it wouldn't be the first time. At least I tried.
 

And btw - welcome back! I was afraid we might not see you again. And that would have been a real shame.

4520

General Software Discussion / Re: Tips for Windows 8 (got any?)

« Last post by 40hz on November 17, 2012, 11:23 AM »

One "tip" I'd like to suggest even though it's obvious: Learn before you churn.

Get some background - any background - first.

Watch some videos or web presentations, read a hands-on article or beginner booklet (or book), ask a knowledgeable friend to show you around, grab a cheat sheet and really look at it...whatever works best for your learning style.

I see this all the time with technology. People wade in on something completely new (or in this case different) with zero clue as to how it works and start bashing around. That's a guaranteed formula for initial failure and frustration with something like Windows 8.

From my own experience, Windows 8 has a very different "feel" from what we're currently using. Not really any worse or better in most cases - but just different enough that a lot of old work habits and expectations go right out the window with version 7. If you have some idea as to what to expect, it's not nearly as bad as if you just wade in and let it ambush you.

Grab a copy of the for Dummies booklet mentioned above and give it a go through first. I've had a few acquaintances take that suggestion and some (surprise!) actually ended up sort of liking Windows 8 after a short while. While none said they preferred it at this stage, all agreed (with varying degrees of "enthusiasm") that they were confident they "could get used it" if they had to.

4521

Living Room / Re: DOTCOM saga - updates

« Last post by 40hz on November 17, 2012, 11:05 AM »

I think I'll end up respecting Kim no matter which way he plays this one.

-40hz (November 17, 2012, 08:46 AM)

I'm already respecting him for making it this far...

-wraith808 (November 17, 2012, 09:55 AM)

Oui, je suis d'accord avec vous!

4522

Living Room / Re: Hurricane Sandy Discussion Thread

« Last post by 40hz on November 17, 2012, 10:59 AM »

Who would'a thunk it?     :tellme

-IainB (November 17, 2012, 10:45 AM)

Not me. I know it was an alien plot to meant to mask the departure of that giant submerged UFO 100 miles off the coast of New Jersey.

Which kinda explains a lot of things doesn't it?

4523

General Software Discussion / Re: In a change of fortunes, MS implores developers not to make Webkit the new IE6

« Last post by 40hz on November 17, 2012, 10:54 AM »

I'm not saying it's right- just that we aren't the typical consumers.  We aren't the sheep at whom they are aiming these descriptions.  And there are more sheep than people like us.

-wraith808 (November 17, 2012, 10:00 AM)

Don't know about the sheep part. (Sheep come in different breeds - each blindly convinced of its superiority to all other breeds. ) But our priorities and goals are definitely different. As is the degree to which we're willing to suffer fools gladly.
 

4524

General Software Discussion / Re: In a change of fortunes, MS implores developers not to make Webkit the new IE6

« Last post by 40hz on November 17, 2012, 08:59 AM »

Why ask when you can just do what Apple does and not allow any challengers to the throne?

Why wait for Windows 9? Just do it today. It's my way or the highway, right?  Isn't this is the new world the consumer supposedly is demanding? You know:  freedom from choice?

4525

Living Room / Re: DOTCOM saga - updates

« Last post by 40hz on November 17, 2012, 08:46 AM »

Yeah. Unfortunately in this case the game has completely shifted. It's no longer about copyrights and IP laws. It's now about the "powers that be" saving face. And that's a very dangerous game to be caught up in.

It's also usually not a game you can win unless you can topple a throne or two in the process.

Long-term, I'm not too bullish on Kim's chances of survival unless he agrees to work something out. There's a saying that the deadliest enemy you can have is somebody who wronged you first - and knows it. And Kim certainly has one (or more) of those right now.

By the same token there's wisdom in the old saw that begins with "he who fights, then runs away..."

I think I'll end up respecting Kim no matter which way he plays this one.