Recent Posts

4976

Living Room / Re: silly humor - post 'em here! [warning some NSFW and adult content]

« Last post by tomos on February 07, 2013, 02:49 PM »

Revisiting:

By the way, in case anyone is interested, the voice is Jack Wagner, an announcer famous for being the "Voice of Disneyland" and the recording is available in much better quality, here on archive.org

-app103 (February 02, 2013, 08:31 PM)

I actually was, the clip with George Carlin was annoying me because it pretty clearly wasn't George. I knew it had to be some kind of announcer - the cadences "just were announcer-y".

-TaoPhoenix (February 02, 2013, 10:35 PM)

it sounds awfully like Carlin to me - putting on an 'announcery-y' style

4977

Living Room / Re: Payphones - Thoughts?

« Last post by tomos on February 07, 2013, 10:01 AM »

I dunno if there's any of these left but this is how I mostly remember them
(they did change the colour scheme and modernise them eventually)



Queueing even, and then when you're in there, not being able to relax because of the big queue outside (mind you that was often a handy excuse too)

4978

General Software Discussion / Re: remove pdf page parts completely

« Last post by tomos on February 06, 2013, 11:44 AM »

I think you've got to explain a little better Kalos

4979

Living Room / Re: Download Every Free MP3 given away by Diffuser.fm in 2012.

« Last post by tomos on February 06, 2013, 09:38 AM »

this one's a refreshing change...
comes with NOISE AND HORROR WARNINGs ;-)

Omnitrigger "100 Years Of Hermitage" MUSIC VIDEO

4980

Living Room / Re: Internet freedoms restrained - SOPA/PIPA/OPEN/ACTA/CETA/PrECISE-related updates

« Last post by tomos on February 06, 2013, 05:42 AM »

^ lol, that's a very callous smilie there Ren

4981

Living Room / Re: Would a 41 megapixel camera get you to buy a Windows 8 phone?

« Last post by tomos on February 06, 2013, 03:49 AM »

okay,
I've been procrastinating

Here's how it normally works:




and here is how 3x zoom works:




... and digital zoom would be the reverse of (a) with the enlarged image then cropped to 5mp size
[edit] where e.g. a 5mp image is resized to, say a 20mp and then cropped to show a detail at 5mp (it *always* looks crappy!) [/edit]

4982

Living Room / Re: Download Every Free MP3 given away by Diffuser.fm in 2012.

« Last post by tomos on February 06, 2013, 03:46 AM »

for 40:
Anna Rose in one for you I reckon (for me too!) strong voice / strong guitar
I'll add more to this post as I get to hear them.
Bot'Ox I enjoyed - it a remix: Basement Love (Pachanga Boys Remix)
Natural Child - I'm not so good on genres - southern rock I guess

4983

Living Room / Re: Download Every Free MP3 given away by Diffuser.fm in 2012.

« Last post by tomos on February 06, 2013, 03:13 AM »

Sorry, I only realised later, after making the opening post,  that Firefox+DownloadHelper seem to be able to "see" and download only 50 of the available files listed.

-IainB (February 06, 2013, 01:25 AM)

I got total 151 tracks (including the '10 best') with the flashgot addon - very fast download too (for here).

4984

Living Room / Re: Futurama Icon Set: I think we can all agree that this is the best thing ever.

« Last post by tomos on February 05, 2013, 04:05 PM »

lol,
there was a dangerous moment there as I hadnt quite swallowed my last slug of tea when I opened the link

4985

Living Room / Re: Would a 41 megapixel camera get you to buy a Windows 8 phone?

« Last post by tomos on February 05, 2013, 03:59 PM »

Ho humm - digital zooming. I've honestly never really seen good results from that - and if one of the marketing pitches is "we use the insane mpix to resize down to acceptable quality and doing noise filtering stuff", doesn't that imply your image will get noisier and noisier the more you zoom?

-f0dder (February 05, 2013, 02:39 PM)

no, it's not digital zooming:
digital zooming is resizing an image, e.g. 100x200 pixels gets resized to 200x400 and will print at a larger size. The quality is generally crap because this is a bad idea and an even worse idea to do in-camera, or worse again, in-phone.

What's happening here is:
they normally use all those extra pixels to average out an image and make it (theoretically anyway) a better quality 5mp image.
But if you chose to zoom (up to 3x with this phone) it will use the full resolution and crop the image to make it a 'bigger' image @5mp (i.e. it will print bigger = zoom). The image has not been resized as described above, just cropped (and it wont have the 'averaging' that the unzoomed 5mp has).

4986

Living Room / Re: Would a 41 megapixel camera get you to buy a Windows 8 phone?

« Last post by tomos on February 05, 2013, 02:34 PM »

All those MPs are used to increase the quality of a lower resolution image (artifacts and noise can apparently be reduced a lot via averaging).

-tomos (February 04, 2013, 10:07 AM)

Wouldn't it be better to go for a lower mpix input and get a lot less noise to begin with? I'm not much into the tech behind, but I had the impression that the more mpix you try to squeeze out of a (physically too small) CCD, the more noise you get?

-f0dder (February 05, 2013, 10:37 AM)

It would be interesting to see a heads-on comparison:
in the left corner a 5mp sensor vs in the right a 41mp sensor producing 5mp images

Note: in this case, they did use a much larger sensor - disadvantage there being that the phone is a lot thicker because the lens has to be further from a larger sensor.

The main advantage of more MP's with final image @5mp is the zoom capability.

4987

Living Room / Re: Yet another reason why I often wish I lived in Massachusettes

« Last post by tomos on February 05, 2013, 02:17 PM »

Do retailers in CT (etc.) not have to charge a sales tax?
Ah, okay, I understand a bit better now, it's cause they were out of state.

Guess I'm used to the fact that there's (supposed to be) sales tax on every transaction here - whether it's from outside the country or not (I'm comparing EU countries with US States).

Would be *very* happy to see it gone (19% here on non-food; I think it's 7% on food)

4988

Living Room / Re: Download Every Free MP3 given away by Diffuser.fm in 2012.

« Last post by tomos on February 05, 2013, 02:12 PM »

Oh, it seems like I 'only' got 50 of them :-)

Chantal Claret sounds good to me too -
I think choice will *still* depend on taste a lot - I couldnt fault anything yet on quality

4989

Living Room / Re: Download Every Free MP3 given away by Diffuser.fm in 2012.

« Last post by tomos on February 05, 2013, 10:25 AM »

thanks Iain
I didnt know any of it, but downloaded them all easily enough using FF + Download Helper add-on.

So far I've skim-listened to 15 tracks or so - it's all indie/hipster/melancholic music so far - good quality music but not really my cup of tea.
"bentcousin" is more upbeat and a bit of a laugh.

4990

General Software Discussion / Re: How much have I downloaded?

« Last post by tomos on February 04, 2013, 03:19 PM »

But thank you for caring  

-Curt (February 04, 2013, 03:11 PM)

you're welcome Curt
My backup achilles heel is my off-site (including online) backup. I have two local backups of everything but dont have any other backups of my music or photos ...

4991

General Software Discussion / Re: How much have I downloaded?

« Last post by tomos on February 04, 2013, 02:48 PM »

(please, God, don't let me need to download my backup!)

-Curt (February 04, 2013, 01:41 PM)

I think someone said this already but:

(please, Curt, make a local backup too)  :-)

4992

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Microsoft Expression Design and Expression Web available for free

« Last post by tomos on February 04, 2013, 01:24 PM »

Thanks, might take a look at Design.

Here's an overview:
http://www.windowsva...expression-design-4/

4993

General Software Discussion / Re: New cross-platform Vector app [looking for your support]

« Last post by tomos on February 04, 2013, 12:46 PM »

(see attachment in previous post)
It's history folks! Stagestack is no more.

[..]
Full article here.
 

-40hz (January 17, 2013, 01:28 PM)

turns out we read the article too quickly (but it still sounds like it's not alive as a big project)

... Quasado might start an open source project. Interestingly enough, this is exactly what the Quasado team is now considering.
[...]
For now Quasado is looking for your input on the possible future of the project.

there was an interesting blog post on Jan 11 responding to the input given (the Libre article was Jan.10):

What are our next steps

• Try to improve communication ASAP without wasting to much time better spent in programming. As a first step, at least weekly status reports as well as a monthly newsletter might be a good step.
• Focus on innovation, leaving other aspects of Freehand (expect it's better usability) a side for later revisions
• Focus on getting somewhere even if worse then others at this point but keep improving
• Try to stick on timelines
• Work on this project as much as we (I?) can without funding right now

 
What are we currently doing?

As a first step of better communication, I want to tell you what I've been working on lately and just finished today.
My idea was to rework the current, underlying model of handling graphic documents. The current model has several weaknesses including not being able to load/save, no proper undo/redo, no propery linking between nodes (i.e. for styles etc.), not prepared for multi-threading and so on. To save time for the future, I've decided myself about three months ago to write a separate project that included a completely new model as well as rendering engine. Now, today I've finished with the new model and overall, I'm pretty much satisfied with it. It supports all the features mentioned before and ought to be a good ground base for a better Stagestack Core. And as a goody, here's the first usable output of loading/saving, as you can see, we're trying to stick with standardized xml:

http://www.stagestac.../11/lessons-learned/

4994

Living Room / Re: Would a 41 megapixel camera get you to buy a Windows 8 phone?

« Last post by tomos on February 04, 2013, 10:07 AM »

41 megapixels is pure marketing BS. Sure it isn't supposed to read 4.1 ?

Can't remember where I read it but there was a technical article I read a while ago that argued the more pixels actually equals poorer pictures unless you increased the sensor size.

-Carol Haynes (January 24, 2013, 10:30 AM)

41 megapixels is correct, but the default is less to decrease noise and improve low-light sensitivity.

-Arizona Hot (February 04, 2013, 09:51 AM)

yes to that !
I thought I had posted the same here a while back but must have gotten distracted by something

All those MPs are used to increase the quality of a lower resolution image (artifacts and noise can apparently be reduced a lot via averaging).
They're also used to create a 'real' zoom (well, *not* a digital one) - just crop the full res image for a x3 zoom @ 5mp.

So I'd say it sounds good to me - but I'll stick with my camera all the same

4995

Living Room / Re: Global Warming & Statistics

« Last post by tomos on February 04, 2013, 09:37 AM »

And I see i just broke my own rule about not participating in the Basement because I didn't notice this discussion had been reassigned. Ok. I'll let stand what I've already posted - but I'm out. Steady on! :Thmbsup

-40hz (February 03, 2013, 10:13 PM)

nope - it's in the living room (well it still is, at any rate)

Here's an article I read this evening, it is *not* science but written by a scientist

-tomos (February 03, 2013, 01:55 PM)

I respect Brin, particularly as a SF writer. But he is squarely missing the mark in this essay -- again, in the same manner I've been complaining about. Although in his introduction he very briefly mentions costs and alternatives, his discussion never actually visits those topics. The entire essay is entirely devoted to whether someone should be considered an open-minded skeptic, or is a closet denier. But knowing what label to hang on a person doesn't get us any closer to deciding if any action needs to be taken, and if so, which one.

-CWuestefeld (February 03, 2013, 07:53 PM)

yes, point taken. It also bothered me that he was so blasé about writing off the science that disagreed. But it did get me thinking again about the vested interests though.

I see now that what you are requesting could be done (i.e. looking at possible consequences and costs of what is being done - and of course what is not allowed to be done - all in the context of different possible predictions). The big problem would be the predictions - they would be very much dependent on which side of the fence the people are and would presumably vary so wildly that it would be difficult to proceed from there. None of which is a reason for not making an effort.

4996

Living Room / Re: Global Warming & Statistics

« Last post by tomos on February 03, 2013, 01:55 PM »

The tone of most skeptics' delivery is guaranteed to alienate the majority

-tomos (February 03, 2013, 01:03 PM)

That's true. But on the other hand, Al Gore has admitted that he's willing to exaggerate the arguments if that's what it takes to make his point. When (at least) one side of the debate (maybe both) is willing to engage in intellectual dishonesty in order to achieve their own ends, the chances of reaching the best outcome is rather poor.

-CWuestefeld (February 03, 2013, 01:20 PM)

Absolutely!

What I said applies to both sides, but was directed at one side as it was responding to Ren who only chose to look at the flaws of the other side. I'm starting to sound like a tongue-twister here :-)
BTW, if Gore is exaggerating, at the end of the day he is giving the 'other' side ammunition. There's lots of ammunition that way on both sides - hence my campaign for neutral presentation of findings.

I still get stumped by the science (put it this way, I used be clearcut in what I believed - but now I *really* dont know what to believe). The dc thread Ren links to certainly persuaded me that what I believed (Global warming) is not to be taken for granted and that it's theories/projections are not proceeding according to plan. But I have to admit to being deeply suspicious of the vested interests on the other side. We all know how corporations work... But (again) I'm not well informed of what really could happen if Gore et al get their way(s).

Going back to your questions (the list), I guess the problem in relation with them is this:
with people coming down on one side or the other at a 'belief' level, they will have almost polar opposite responses. Which drags us back to the 'debate' of what-exactly-is-happening-here.

Here's an article I read this evening, it is *not* science but written by a scientist (I wasn't sure of his 'orientation' until reading it myself, so I'll not comment there). Anyways, it made me think a bit.
Defining Climate "Deniers" and "Skeptics"

(Edit/ I'm not saying I agree with all he says and I do find him a bit arrogant but still - he *did* make me think)

4997

Living Room / Re: Global Warming & Statistics

« Last post by tomos on February 03, 2013, 01:38 PM »

I'm disappointed to see this moved to the basement jesse


I thought it was all quite civil (if very direct)

4998

Living Room / Re: Global Warming & Statistics

« Last post by tomos on February 03, 2013, 01:03 PM »

unfortunately it's another of those {"I'm for" \ "I'm against" \ "You're a plonker"} kind of 'debates' which, even just at the level of whether it's happening, is no debate at all.

-tomos (February 03, 2013, 09:26 AM)

Yep. And if you have any questions, you're a heretic. Because you're questioning a religious dogma.

-Renegade (February 03, 2013, 09:42 AM)

well I think the tone on both sides leaves a lot to be desired !
I believe that if the science is good enough, it should be presented *neutrally* and pretty much let speak for itself. That way, people will actually listen. Well at least some of them will, and they'll tell others.
The tone of most skeptics' delivery is guaranteed to alienate the majority (who naturally enough presume that what they're generally being told re global warming is correct).

4999

Living Room / Re: a place to buy exotic plants?

« Last post by tomos on February 03, 2013, 09:37 AM »

I don't remember posting this lmao!  Was rather....drunk...last night
 

-Stephen66515 (February 03, 2013, 09:16 AM)

hah!
... and you told me you didnt drink

5000

Living Room / Re: Global Warming & Statistics

« Last post by tomos on February 03, 2013, 09:26 AM »

What I find most frustrating in the "debate", though, is the lack of ... debate.

-CWuestefeld (February 02, 2013, 07:49 PM)

unfortunately it's another of those {"I'm for" \ "I'm against" \ "You're a plonker"} kind of 'debates' which, even just at the level of whether it's happening, is no debate at all.

I think the thing we have to most careful of is abuse and corruption - on any side e.g. it seems clear the idea of global warming is being abused for profit. Likewise, admitting major warming isn't happening could be used as a carte-blanch for pollution.

To begin with, some of the changes may actually be net-positive (looking at the big picture across all humanity; clearly there are always significant costs to change at the individual level): plants like warm (other things being equal), and having the opportunity to farm up into Canada, northern Asia, etc., could help global food production

-CWuestefeld (February 02, 2013, 07:49 PM)

Apparently plants grow bigger as well with more CO2 in the atmosphere (there was a link in the other dc thread Ren linked to - I dont have time to root for the post). Of course we may yet find other negative side-effects. It's really yet another one of those big experiments where we just hope everything turns out okay...

OTOH I understood that the world food production is currently enough to feed everyone in the world - a problem being that half of it gets chucked - or maybe that's just a symptom of deeper problems. (FWIW any corporation trying to convince us that we need more production and bigger 'products' -usually GMO, etc. are usually not motivated by wanting to feed the world.)

I suspect any climate change is going to come with 'winners' and 'losers' on a practical level. (Comparable maybe to the way ice is melting in the north pole - and expanding in the south pole.) The islanders App show's are clearly in trouble. So are the hunters in Greenland who can no longer go out on traditional hunting grounds because of ice being too thin. I'm sure there are and will be other examples.


Re your list - I suspect there will be so many different answers that it would be almost impossible to go from there.
I dont see industry being curtailed here - is that the case in the US? (or are there plans there to cut back - sorry, I'm just not very informed about this aspect).