Recent Posts

7101

N.A.N.Y. 2011 / Re: NANY MUGs

« Last post by tomos on February 24, 2011, 04:29 AM »

I'll post a photo of me modeling the jock-strap I got shortly...

- Oshyan

-JavaJones (February 23, 2011, 06:49 PM)

Ok, and the "stuff" that newer members will be doing would therefore be "running" and "screaming" 

-timns (February 23, 2011, 06:53 PM)

might attract a whole new crowd ;-)

7102

General Software Discussion / Re: Burn4Free ignores choices on install.

« Last post by tomos on February 24, 2011, 04:28 AM »

The software itself is pretty decent...I just didnt like the installer ignoring my choices.

-Stephen66515 (February 23, 2011, 10:15 PM)

I had the same experience lately with PDFcreator (sourceforge) ignoring my deselection of the Yahoo toolbar (& it changed default search, the Yahoos). I suppose I should report it in case it isnt intentional....

7103

General Software Discussion / Re: Burn4Free ignores choices on install.

« Last post by tomos on February 24, 2011, 04:25 AM »

Now repeat after me: ImgBurn, ImgBurn, ImgBurn.........

Extract with UniExtract and delete everything except:
ImgBurn.exe
ImgBurnPreview.exe
ReadMe.txt

-4wd (February 23, 2011, 09:02 PM)

does that mean it's then portable?
oh, I see lots of portable versions when I search - is portable freeware reputable?

Hey Stephen - any chance you could make your signature more panorama/signature shaped? Thanks!

7104

Official Announcements / Re: March 2011 DonationCoder.com Fundraiser Celebration -- Pledges?

« Last post by tomos on February 24, 2011, 04:21 AM »

How come people aren't more excited about my new card game? 

-mouser (February 23, 2011, 11:19 AM)

I didnt say it initially (cause it may reflect poorly on me...) but it made me think - oh, I will upload new credits if I have the chance of winning that!
(I have credits I could donate to the site, but I believe only 'new' credits count for the fundraiser and the draw)

7105

Living Room / Re: Power Ranger Punches Kid for Accusing Him of Stealing Gloves

« Last post by tomos on February 23, 2011, 10:52 AM »

I'm lost, what do they mean by 'tap' ??
if it was tapdance they'd have to talk about 'feet'...

I found one entertaining definition (urbandictionary)

When someone sees a nice refreshing river, they say "I'd tap that", meaning, they'd like to put a plumbing system in and "tap" the water supply.

Frank: Wow, look at that lovely river.
Anne: I'd tap that!

I think it might be a good idea to put that pic in a spoiler, considering dc's desire to avoid religion & politics ;-)

7106

The Getting Organized Experiment of 2009 / Re: Mark Forster's Autofocus system becomes *Superfocus*

« Last post by tomos on February 22, 2011, 10:19 AM »

When you've worked on something in column #2 and want to move on - i.e. it's still unfinished, it gets re-entered in column #2, but on the following page.

Recurring tasks normally go in column #1 - but I guess, if they urgent, why not in the urgent column...
I'm only building up my list yet, I already have a couple of questions so will have to visit the forum at Forster's site at some stage.

7107

The Getting Organized Experiment of 2009 / Re: Mark Forster's Autofocus system becomes *Superfocus*

« Last post by tomos on February 22, 2011, 09:28 AM »

With my minimal experience/knowledge, I'd say that seems like a good description Paul

The right side is not a prioritizer despite the category. It's sort of like a motivator and a reminder.

-Paul Keith (February 22, 2011, 09:05 AM)

-
that's the only very minor thing I'd disagree with - everything in the right column must be acted on before moving on to the next page.
That column seems like all three to me:
"a prioritizer . . . a motivator and a reminder"

Two things left in that particular column for me, I'd better go (I have to admit, one of them I do NOT want to do...)

7108

The Getting Organized Experiment of 2009 / Re: Mark Forster's Autofocus system becomes *Superfocus*

« Last post by tomos on February 22, 2011, 09:08 AM »

Interesting how similar all these systems are. But like you said, it's often some tiny detail or trick that makes it work for you. In my case, it's the funky column labels that do it for me. Makes it feel less like nagging and more friendly in tone. 

As a result, I actually use this sheet.
 

-40hz (February 22, 2011, 08:36 AM)

good for you
What I liked about Autofocus system was that you could choose what you most wanted to do, but it was too friendly a system for someone like me - I need that urgent column!
My problem till now has been that I've never found a system that I actually stuck with. I've never found a system that I even properly got off the ground with

I think the functionality is definitely in the details - in any system. Well, for me at any rate - I do know people who simply write a new straight-forward todo list each day - and it works. I guess it depends on your character and what exactly it is that needs to get done and 'where' you're coming from - me, I'm Captain Chaos ;-)

7109

The Getting Organized Experiment of 2009 / Re: Survey: What are the ingredients of your system/list/notes/reminders?

« Last post by tomos on February 22, 2011, 08:31 AM »

nicely bastardised


[edit] no irony intended there! (see original blog post if you're confused) [/edit]

7110

Site/Forum Features / Re: Revisiting the idea of simplifying the DC big app license key stuff

« Last post by tomos on February 22, 2011, 06:36 AM »

when the nag comes up in the app (after 1month), it has a "get your free key here" link. The user goes to the page and he gets the following message:

Hi! We are glad you are still using our application after one month!
You now have three options to register our application:
Here's your free 3-month key: khbknasnxci<insert rest of key here>
OR you can join our forum and get a 6-month free key (and a lifetime free key in 6 months)
OR you can donate any amount you like and get a lifetime key for all our apps right now!

-jgpaiva (February 22, 2011, 05:32 AM)

+1

A few more ideas that just popped about this:
1 - maybe the 6-month forum key (or the permanent forum key) could be handed out only if the user had more than 2(?) posts.
2 - better yet, maybe the 6-month forum key could only be handed out to people who wrote what they think about the application at the forum? A "Tell us what you think about FARR and get a 6-month(1-year?) key" kind of thing?
3 - maybe we could have a "why I deserve a free key" thread which could also be one of the options above for obtaining a key. Might bring good karma and more members to the forum (as it would force people to do a post). That's how you got me a few years ago, IIRC

-jgpaiva (February 22, 2011, 05:32 AM)

I personally dont like the idea of forcing people to post - has it really been done before? (I think I donated before I even started using dc software, so I not sure how the 'non-donating' keys work.) To make posting an incentive would be fine IMO.

7111

The Getting Organized Experiment of 2009 / Re: Mark Forster's Autofocus system becomes *Superfocus*

« Last post by tomos on February 22, 2011, 04:45 AM »

I disagree but [...]

-Paul Keith (February 22, 2011, 03:58 AM)

Paul, eh, what do you disagree with? 

I dont think you're being insincere, but I do have a very strong "huh?" reaction to both of your posts here.
Your first post suggests to me a complete lack of understanding of the system. Your second I dont follow - this is nothing todo with values, this is a system - if you think it's rubbish, that's fine, that's good even! - but please say why.

It's not rocket science, it's a fairly simple concept (but has lots of minor practical details worked through). Autofocus (AF) was also a simple concept, that, as I said, didnt work for me. This new one seems to have the minor details worked through where AF failed.
I'm not here to defend this new system - I'm just trying it out. So, I dont have a problem if you knock it. But I honestly dont understand the content of either of your posts.

7112

The Getting Organized Experiment of 2009 / Re: Mark Forster's Autofocus system becomes *Superfocus*

« Last post by tomos on February 22, 2011, 03:38 AM »

The only thing lacking in her software is that the right column is a done column rather than a ready to do [...]

-Paul Keith (February 21, 2011, 08:16 PM)

That's actually a very big difference Paul !
That second column is the reason this might work where Autofocus didnt (for me at any rate). The righthand column is for urgent tasks, and for started -but unfinished- tasks.
When you are working on a particular page you MUST do every task in the second column. That means you cant avoid urgent tasks  - and once you start a task it is prioritised so you have to keep going with it. So, for someone like me, who is a lazy beggar, there's incentive, there's pressure.

Just starting Day two - I like it.
That obviously dont mean much - yet.

7113

Official Announcements / Re: March 2011 DonationCoder.com Fundraiser Celebration -- Pledges?

« Last post by tomos on February 22, 2011, 03:21 AM »

wow, busy!

a minor idea -
that we put some brief promotional spiel in the top of the 1st post in threads (coding snacks, etc.) that are related to the fundraising - e.g.

This is part of the dc fundraising drive, March 2011 - see that thermometer up there we are aiming to raise $XYZ in order to maintain the site etc.

then in the bottom of the first post we could add a list of people who have pledged money related to this particular thread/snack/etc.

_______________________________

Re getting new people - if there's enough activity would the promotional newsletter not be enough?
How did it work last time - IIRC there was just the fundraiser - no special site activity - thread here (March 2009)
and here's the thermometer banner used that time



there was a lot of excitement watching that  - but I dont know was that just amongst 'regulars' or also for first time donaters...

7114

Official Announcements / Re: March 2011 DonationCoder.com Fundraiser Celebration -- Pledges?

« Last post by tomos on February 21, 2011, 03:49 PM »

mouser - the term pledge is also used in terms of pledging money which is what's causing confusion

7115

Official Announcements / Re: March 2011 DonationCoder.com Fundraiser Celebration -- Pledges?

« Last post by tomos on February 21, 2011, 03:48 PM »

If everything goes ahead anyway, where's the incentive for anyone to a) step up to pledge and b) put up some dough?

-timns (February 21, 2011, 03:40 PM)

I think/thought the idea was to get interesting content, and simultaneously have a [site-wide fundraising] goal in term of donations made (as in the last fundraiser where there was a thermometer banner showing the goal, and the current amount of donations)

7116

Official Announcements / Re: March 2011 DonationCoder.com Fundraiser Celebration -- Pledges?

« Last post by tomos on February 21, 2011, 02:58 PM »

Today is my first day using Mark Forster's new Superfocus system. I like it.
I pledge to use it for one month (say 4 weeks) and write (at least) weekly updates on how I'm getting on.
(how does that sound?)

7117

The Getting Organized Experiment of 2009 / Mark Forster's Autofocus system becomes *Superfocus*

« Last post by tomos on February 21, 2011, 02:56 PM »

well actually this happened a long time ago, but because it wasnt announced via his newsletter, I missed it.
Now at version 3, given his own seal of approval just end of last week.

from Mark Forster's blog:

End of Testing SuperFocus v. 3
Rules for SuperFocus

(I've been using it for one day, and it seems to very effectively overcome the reasons I stopped using Autofocus)

7118

Post New Requests Here / Re: Windows Shortcut transformation

« Last post by tomos on February 21, 2011, 11:53 AM »

Miroirs - Makes it easy to replicate complex directory structures without copying the files within

-PhilB66 (February 21, 2011, 10:16 AM)

wasnt there a dc app/coding snack that did this as well (?)

7119

Living Room / Re: Cute jokes' thread

« Last post by tomos on February 21, 2011, 11:48 AM »

http://cynic.me/2011...d-lady-church-jokes/

-Renegade (February 21, 2011, 10:36 AM)

Loved it - nothing offensive there though (in case anyone unsure whether to visit) .
Content uncopyable, but I presume that's intentional...

7120

Living Room / Re: The XKCD solution to Distraction Affliction

« Last post by tomos on February 21, 2011, 11:41 AM »

interesting idea all right

what do you do?

-JennyB (February 21, 2011, 11:22 AM)

eh, fail - me, I mean

In what he calls the alt-text ("tool-tip") for the comic ( http://xkcd.com/862/ ) he talks about a 30 second delay he has to wait through... this computer sure takes a lot longer to restart.
If I was trying out this idea, I'd be afraid of thrashing my computer from too many restarts before I'd actually break the "check dc/ check..." habit!
Definitely something to consider though...

7121

General Software Discussion / Re: EPSON Perfection V330 Photo Scanner + ABBY and ArcSoft software

« Last post by tomos on February 21, 2011, 09:38 AM »

Good to get a scanner recommendation Iain   (I'm probably going to have to upgrade myself at some stage soon)

I wonder would a programme like vuescan be able to read your older hp scanner - hmm, it says it does, but also says

You need to install an HP scanner driver to use this scanner on Windows.

which seems to mean it's no good with newer OS's as you say...
http://www.hamrick.c...p_scanjet_3300c.html

7122

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

« Last post by tomos on February 21, 2011, 07:08 AM »

...I run [XP] in classic mode...

-ChrisB257 (February 20, 2011, 08:55 PM)

well, it's much better looking than the default luna theme
welcome to dc!

7123

Living Room / Re: When you make your 100'th Post

« Last post by tomos on February 18, 2011, 01:07 PM »

two I noticed between today & yesterday:

7124

Living Room / Re: A (Shockingly) Short History Of "Hello"

« Last post by tomos on February 18, 2011, 12:31 PM »

a nice read

they say "Hallo" in the German speaking world. I presume it's modern usage came over from the US, it had a similar earlier history to the English/American version.
My German etymological dictionary describes it's earlier origin in the 15th century as a call/shout to a Ferryman, but doesnt say how it changed to become a greeting...

7125

Living Room / Re: Rant: I hate cellphones

« Last post by tomos on February 18, 2011, 11:59 AM »

So it's been a while since I created a Gmail account. Lo and behold as soon as I hit the account creation menu it was asking for mobile phone number verification. Oh ****

-Paul Keith (February 18, 2011, 07:20 AM)

I have a question: What account creation menu?

I just created a GMail account and it didn't ask for a mobile number.

-4wd (February 18, 2011, 10:55 AM)

maybe it depends on country?