Recent Posts

601

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

« Last post by Ralf Maximus on November 07, 2007, 08:39 AM »

It is illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament (27%)

"Senator?  Senator?  *sigh*  We'll count that as a 'Nay'."

602

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

« Last post by Ralf Maximus on November 07, 2007, 06:44 AM »

It is illegal for a woman to be topless in Liverpool except as a clerk in a tropical fish store (6%)

"My husband is just CRAZY about tropical fish.  Why he spends all weekend at the pet store sometimes..."

As a personal aside, I find this law deeply disturbing and discriminatory towards the working nude.  I think it's time we organized protest marches and rallies to increase public awareness.  As soon as winter is over.

603

Living Room / Wedgie-Proof Underwear!

« Last post by Ralf Maximus on November 07, 2007, 06:40 AM »

BREAKING NEWS: Cancer Has Been Cured Wedgie-Proof Underwear Invented!

This may be old news to some of you undergarment scholars, but a pair of 8-year-old twins has invented possibly the most important thing of the new millenium.  (Utterly harmless and SFW YouTube video.)

604

General Software Discussion / Perfect Software?

« Last post by Ralf Maximus on November 07, 2007, 12:26 AM »

I've noticed a kind of zeitgeigstial interest in "old" software, or previous versions of current software.  There appears to be a resurgence of web sites devoted to past releases of MP3 players, IM clients, and productivity suites.

This leads me to a thought and a question: does anyone know of a software company that said at some point, "this thing we make is as good as it needs to be, so we're not going to improve it anymore?"

I'm not thinking of projects where the developers ran out of steam, lost interest or capital -- I mean cases where somebody made an executive decision that anything more would be needless and bloatful.

Think how different the world would be if instead of Vista we had XP 2007, or Outlook went feature-complete in 2000.  Or if WinAmp stopped at 2.x.  I'm beginning to wonder if the "always add new stuff" mentality is starting to wane, if companies will notice the trend and question their direction.  Are we outgrowing the "newer is always better" mentality of the 90's?  Or are we forever doomed to next year's model?

So... any stories of arrested development?

605

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

« Last post by Ralf Maximus on November 07, 2007, 12:12 AM »

I'd be very curious to see an insider's description of how DC's DonationCredit system influences the content here.  My impression is that it's not an influence per se, but rather a rewards system on top of the normal satisfaction of accessing a dynamic site filled with interesting personalities.

Reading the "About" section in the DC documentation suggests it was originally envisioned that folks might make micro-gifts for interesting posts, even if software wasn't involved.  I've given out credits for coding snacks, and also for things that really impressed me as thoughtful / humorous / impressive.  Is that what actually happens, or is the behavior of participants different than envisioned, or am I reading too much into the manifesto?

Regardless, I think this place is perfect as-is and wouldn't suggest any alternative reward system, points-based or otherwise.  I've just seen it go wrong so often.

606

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

« Last post by Ralf Maximus on November 06, 2007, 06:46 PM »

Yeah, but Mighty Mouse is such a cool name. 

I want one and I don't even have a Mac.

607

General Software Discussion / Re: A rant about how I finally ditched iTunes... :D

« Last post by Ralf Maximus on November 06, 2007, 06:45 PM »

Minor threadjack here, but...

Are the new crop of cell phones + mp3 players open?  Or must one use "special" software (as in "Johnny is in one of our special students")?

608

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

« Last post by Ralf Maximus on November 06, 2007, 06:41 PM »

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?

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.  The pic below is a bit out of date -- I now have four identical Acer 19" panels instead of the mix-and-mash... but it serves to illustrate.

609

Living Room / Re: Windows Install Date Thingie: I made it!

« Last post by Ralf Maximus on November 06, 2007, 06:34 PM »

Nothing wrong with WMI. You are using some region-sensitive conversions in there.

-uryan (November 06, 2007, 03:26 PM)

MMmmmmaybe, but everything else I've done has been regionally sensitive (see the screenshots from the UK and Europe above to see what I mean). 

I'll check the source code and make sure I'm not assuming anything.  Thanks for the tip!

610

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

« Last post by Ralf Maximus on November 06, 2007, 10:59 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.

-cranioscopical (November 04, 2007, 11:15 AM)

+1 for punitive damages .  :-)

611

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

« Last post by Ralf Maximus on November 06, 2007, 09:14 AM »

More food for thought. I don't game and I don't watch movies on my computer (very often, anyway). Seems there may be compelling reasons to avoid widescreen given that I, too, like to maximize my apps (Word, Excel, Access) when working?

-Darwin (November 06, 2007, 08:55 AM)

Unless you're buying a panel that HONESTLY shows (say) 2560x1024 pixels, and your video card can support that resolution, there will be horizontal stretching by the drivers and hardware.  Fugly, fugly, fugly.

In most cases it's better and cheaper to go with a pair of 4:3 panels and let Windows "expand your desktop".

612

Living Room / Re: Windows Install Date Thingie: I made it!

« Last post by Ralf Maximus on November 06, 2007, 08:10 AM »

LastBootUpTime.  And it works on every piece of hardware I own.

Yarrrrrr!

Under what circumstances wouldn't this work?  Can WMI be subverted or get confused?

613

General Software Discussion / Re: A rant about how I finally ditched iTunes... :D

« Last post by Ralf Maximus on November 06, 2007, 08:03 AM »

Gah.  I can't wait for the RIAA/MPAA to settle down and accept that the world has changed.  Once that happens and pressure comes off vendors, we'll have interoperability between all formats.  And it *is* inevitable -- look at cassette tapes, HD radio, VCRs... every new technology causes this spasm of fear in them that eventually fades.  No, the world is not ending -- just changing.  Deal.

The entermainment media industry is just now starting to realize DRM sucks, and once they fully embrace a new business model the revolution WILL be televised.

614

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

« Last post by Ralf Maximus on November 06, 2007, 07:54 AM »

Good point, Ralf. In my case, I have two XP install disks but both, sadly, are OEM (HP/Compaq and Gateway). So... I wonder if buying an HP or a Gateway would be the way to go - ie, would the disk install on the newer machine?

-Darwin (November 06, 2007, 07:38 AM)

From a technology standpoint, it should work fine.  The motherboard and chipsets on the newer PCs *have* to be backwards compatible with older hardware to keep the corporate customers happy.

Device drivers should be the only concern, especially if they are HP or Gateway proprietary.  Unless they make XP drivers the Vista ones probably won't work.  The main reason I stopped buying HP and Gateway is the fun games they'd play with their proprietary hardware.

If this was going to be my primary laptop and not a project computer, I'd err on the side of caution and buy last year's model from close-out with XP pre-installed.  On the other hand, if you're willing to experiment (and HAVE the Vista media; sometimes they don't supply it) it could work out fine.  I've gotten XP to install on some machines I thought would never work.

615

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

« Last post by Ralf Maximus on November 06, 2007, 07:25 AM »

I believe Microsoft allows you to transfer licenses for XP from machine to machine.  Just uninstall it from the old one and do a fresh install on the new.  So long as the license is in use only once they shouldn't care.  Product Activation will occur, but it's a legit situation.

Unless it's a bizarro tablet or contains unique hardware (fingerprint reader) most of the device drivers should work.  Some may be the generic Microsoft drivers but they do work well.

All that's assuming you HAVE an older XP install laying around unused, that you're replacing a PC and not adding a 2nd one, etc. 

616

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

« Last post by Ralf Maximus on November 06, 2007, 06:18 AM »

I went back to a wired mouse, not because of battery troubles (I went the standard AA rechargable route) but because of RF interference.  I blamed Intellipoint for a long time until I tried one of my old wired mouses and the problem went away.

So I went and got a nice Microsoft 6000 series laser mouse with a loooong tail and now things are fine.

Stupid radio.

617

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

« Last post by Ralf Maximus on November 06, 2007, 06:06 AM »

i froogled for dvi cables and it doesn't seem that expensive.. maybe i should get one for better viewing quality..

-lanux128 (November 06, 2007, 01:16 AM)

If both your video card and monitor support DVI -- YES.  It makes a tremendous difference.  Go for it.

618

Living Room / Re: Windows Install Date Thingie: I made it!

« Last post by Ralf Maximus on November 06, 2007, 06:02 AM »

Yikes!  Something indeed is weird.

The first number (Install Date) comes straight out of the registry; I'm just reading the number and displaying it.  Reasons that number might be wrong for you (just guessing):

- Machine came from a vendor who pre-installed Windows years ago, then imaged it.  They build new PCs by installing the image.

- Some other app twiddled the registry setting in question for some mysterious and unknowable-by-man reason.

- Registry got "fixed" at one time in the past by restoring a backup from a registry cleaning tool, and the backup was from an old version.

The second number (alive time) comes from the WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) "last reboot" date.  Again, that's the number handed over by Windows when that value is requested.  A logical person might assume Windows is actually resetting that value upon startup, but I'm not certain of anything anymore...

I'll do some research on when WMI resets that value and see what I can learn.  Anyone with more WMI knowledge/experience than I please feel free to chime in.

619

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

« Last post by Ralf Maximus on November 06, 2007, 05:53 AM »

BTW ralph, do you completely discharge your battery before putting it in the freezer, or do you instead charge it ?

Thanks in advance... 

bumpy bumpy bump.

Darwin? Ralph?

-Armando (November 03, 2007, 12:13 AM)

Sorry, been out of town.  Shouldn't matter -- charged or uncharged.  Just enclose it in a ziplock to prevent condensation, throw it in there overnight, and let it warm up a bit the next day before charging.

The warm-up, as I understand it, isn't strictly necessary but kinder to electronics that you want to keep for awhile.  Kind of like starting your car on a sub-zero day.  In the case of a sticky harddrive as described above, I'm guessing you probably WANT the induced hyphothermic shock to wake things up.

620

Living Room / Re: Teledildonics — build your dream (virtual) sex machine

« Last post by Ralf Maximus on November 01, 2007, 12:44 AM »

Will you please hire me?  I'm serious.  I'll work for $1 a year... all I want is a business card imprinted with:

RALF MAXIMUS
TELEDILDONICS ENGINEER

(Seriously, you rock!)

621

Living Room / Re: Entering License keys late...

« Last post by Ralf Maximus on November 01, 2007, 12:41 AM »

I love Synchronicity, and her sister Serendipity.  They make life oh, so much fun.

I say just hang onto the reg key and don't bother entering it.  YOU know you're legal, and the utter amusement of seeing "Day 10,000 of your 30 day evaluation" would be priceless.  :-)

622

Living Room / Re: How Estonia was taken down

« Last post by Ralf Maximus on October 31, 2007, 09:00 PM »

fascinating, i thought South Korea was the most wired nation, given their prowess in MMOs..

-lanux128 (October 31, 2007, 08:54 PM)

If Korea is ever invaded by the Zerg I know who'll win THAT battle.

623

Official Announcements / Re: Draw Cody competition - win incredible prizes!

« Last post by Ralf Maximus on October 31, 2007, 07:46 PM »

Just to let everyone know: Audrey was EXTREMELY proud and happy to receive such a high honor.  She's read the announcement out loud at least a dozen times and just giggles with happiness.

Thanks, everyone.  You've made a little girl's Halloween extra special.  :-)

624

Living Room / Re: Fantastic Job Opportunity

« Last post by Ralf Maximus on October 31, 2007, 05:32 PM »

DEAR FRIEND CRANIOSCOPICAL,

I HAVE EMAILED AND EMAILED YOU BUT WHO IS THIS "SPAM" PERSOM WHO CONTINUES TO INTERCEPT AND READ OUR PRIVATE EMAILS??   BECAUSE IF YOU INTEND TO SHARE OUR WEALTH WITH OTHERS I MUST INCREASE MY HANDLING FEES ETCETERA.

I AM GROWING WORRIED THAT YOU ARE NOT SERUIS IN THIS VENTURE, AS SO FAR ALL I HAVE GOTTEN IS YOUR DONATIONCREDITS, BANK ACCOUNT INFORMATION, CREDIT CARD PIN NUMBERS, AND ONLY $50,000 CASH US.  SURELY YOU MUST UNDERSTAND A WEB INTERNETS IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND THE HACKER I PLAN TO USE WILL DEMAND MORE.

MY FRIEND, I HOPE YOU ARE SERIUS AND AND AS PROOF WILL 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.

I WELCOME AND EXPECT YOUR HELP IN THESE MATTERS.

GOD BLESS,
NIGEL

625

General Software Discussion / Re: Program to Change File Attributes on Windows

« Last post by Ralf Maximus on October 31, 2007, 05:16 PM »

Not tying to be a twit, but what about the good old-fashioned command-line command ATTRIB?

It'll handle file-masks, subdirectories, and even folder attributes.  ATTRIB /? for the 411.