Recent Posts

7151

The Getting Organized Experiment of 2009 / Re: Agree or Disagree? It is not just focus, it is also about perspective

« Last post by tomos on February 03, 2011, 12:52 PM »

The link is about whether it's helpful to take breaks or not so I'll talk about what I think about that.

Do you use a timer Paul?
I dont, maybe I should -
I certainly agree from my own experience that taking breaks is essential for:

1) concentration
2) health
3) stamina (being able to be concentrated all through the day - without burning myself up)


I can concentrate for long periods of time without breaks -when under pressure- and I actually enjoy it, but I reckon I would burn out eventually. On a related note: I think these days many employers recognise that work-addiction is not helpful to them in the medium or long term.

7152

General Software Discussion / Re: Anyone familiar with Oops!Backup?

« Last post by tomos on February 03, 2011, 12:34 PM »

I purchased three licenses the last time Oops had a sale, and I am struggling with it currently.

-J-Mac (February 03, 2011, 11:31 AM)

hmmm, I was hoping to buy something easy to use (not for me) but that doesnt sound overly promising

7153

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

« Last post by tomos on February 03, 2011, 07:58 AM »

Great picture tomos! I chose that same mug, but doubt I could make it look that stylish 

-timns (February 02, 2011, 09:46 PM)

well the combo of nudone's artwork, a dark room, and avoiding
the other photo where I looked like a mass murderer, all helped a lot ;-)

7154

General Software Discussion / Re: Anyone familiar with Oops!Backup?

« Last post by tomos on February 03, 2011, 05:21 AM »

Can anyone tell me if the language can be changed within Oops? (I need German)
I presume it can, but I want to get it for someone else so I want to be sure (& the site doesnt mention other languages that I can see)

BTW, it's on offer at the moment along with Easus data recovery for 15$

There's a new mini-bundle out now guys: http://bundlelytic.com/fire-sale/

-jxn (February 03, 2011, 04:56 AM)

7155

The Getting Organized Experiment of 2009 / Re: AutoFocus (software) (Windows only)

« Last post by tomos on February 03, 2011, 03:35 AM »

Probably should reread Forsters instructions for the AutoFocus "method" - dont think he's been active on his blog for a while...

-tomos (January 22, 2011, 12:33 PM)

turns out he has been active, but only in his forum.
AutoFocus has evolved into SuperFocus - but he hasnt 'launched' it yet. Here's a link to the second revision - note he's currently testing a third revision.
(I'll probably wait till he reports how he gets on with that new version SuperFocus v. 3)

7156

Living Room / Re: Cracking the Scratch Lottery Code

« Last post by tomos on February 02, 2011, 03:58 PM »

A very cool story that will keep me off Lottery for a while. I played a couple of times as a kid, but somehow the lack of reward made it unappealing.

-housetier (February 02, 2011, 02:52 PM)

for one full year, I bought a lotto scratch card every week - the odds of winning something on these cards were supposed to be 1:9.
I gave up after the year, havent bought a scratch card since

(yes, I do buy the other ones - especailly when I'm broke...)

7157

Living Room / Re: Google's overweening conceit (anti-Eric Schmidt rant)

« Last post by tomos on February 02, 2011, 03:51 PM »

in the fairly off-topic vein...
I dont know the song but I was reminded of this one which samples The Prisoner and is holding up well IMO
Colourbox - Just Give 'em Whiskey (1985)


& back on topic:
I think to be ceo of google you've probably got to believe your own (i.e. google's) myths

7158

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

« Last post by tomos on February 02, 2011, 09:00 AM »

Well,
I had just made a pot of tea (I swear!) and the doorbell rang.....



displayed appropriate image on monitor

7159

Living Room / Re: Cracking the Scratch Lottery Code

« Last post by tomos on February 02, 2011, 05:57 AM »

a good read !

Not sure I agree with his morality. Given that lotteries prey on the hopes of those who most need the cash -- and who can least afford to part with what little they have -- Srivastava should have at least tried to make a million or two just to "confirm" his results.

-zridling (February 02, 2011, 05:47 AM)

-
he says it was a practical decision (but maybe he's just being defensive about his morality!) - he reckoned he could earn 600$ a day with it but he earned more as a contracter. Probably not so much fun either to be scanning all these tickets for patterns in the numbers.

Interesting, at the end of the article they talk about a woman who won at least four big prizes, each with odds of around 1 to a million. Maybe she cracked something bigger...

7160

General Software Discussion / Re: I just want to play my mp3 songs nicely with my car studio...

« Last post by tomos on February 02, 2011, 05:34 AM »

tslim, have you tried out the original, free MP3Gain?

http://mp3gain.sourceforge.net/
http://mp3gain.sourc...rge.net/download.php

-skwire (February 02, 2011, 04:49 AM)

that's what I was talking about above skwire - so tslim's post above your's answers that suggestion.

It is very confusing that this MP3Gain Pro used to be called "SuperMp3Normalizer" but borrowed the name from the free version

7161

General Software Discussion / Re: I just want to play my mp3 songs nicely with my car studio...

« Last post by tomos on February 02, 2011, 02:27 AM »

I use MP3gain (NOT pro - different author!!) which does normalise tracks, but not within a track - but worth noting what the author says when comparing the two apps:

    * "Mp3Gain PRO" does volume normalization inside the mp3, not just between separate mp3s. So if you feel a song is too quiet at the beginning (or middle, or end), then it can boost the volume just for that part. Pretty cool, if that's what you need.
    * The changes "Mp3Gain PRO" makes are not undo-able. In order to make its fine-tuned adjustments, it must re-encode the mp3 file.

http://mp3gain.sourceforge.net/

I have had the experience (with mp3gain) that although tracks are normalised, one track will still sound louder or quieter - I presume this is related to the "sound" of the track, but I dont know.

7162

Living Room / Re: Does serif matter in web fonts?

« Last post by tomos on February 01, 2011, 02:03 PM »

-Paul Keith (July 10, 2010, 02:55 AM)

I missed this when it was posted - it's great!! - I'm no expert on type but there were a few gems in there

7163

General Software Discussion / Re: [HELP] broke a (HP) Printer by pulling USB Plug -when it was trying to print (?)

« Last post by tomos on January 31, 2011, 10:25 AM »

Did you bring a laptop to see if it would respond to/detect the printer? (HP did make a few self-bricking printers)

-Stoic Joker (January 30, 2011, 03:18 PM)

No, I wasnt really prepared because I didnt go there from home.
I'll be back there later in the week and will test it that way.

7164

General Software Discussion / Re: [HELP] broke a (HP) Printer by pulling USB Plug -when it was trying to print (?)

« Last post by tomos on January 29, 2011, 03:32 AM »

I had a similar thing happen a while back with an audio device.  Reloaded software, drivers, reboots and still nothing.
What finally did work was a suggestion I found on a forum somewhere.  Can't remember which it was.
The person said to go into Device Manager and delete the USB port the device was operating through. Sometimes they get bumfuzzled.
After I did that and plugged the device back in it was re-recognized and worked fine.

Not sure if the same thing can apply with the printer but might work.

-bob99 (January 28, 2011, 06:25 PM)

thanks for the tip -
checking the usb ports properly would be a logical step ... although I know they can work for one device and not for another (there was a thread about that here lately**). I'll try Stoic's suggestions first anyways before messing with ports


** https://www.donation...ex.php?topic=25359.0

7165

General Software Discussion / Re: [HELP] broke a (HP) Printer by pulling USB Plug -when it was trying to print (?)

« Last post by tomos on January 29, 2011, 03:20 AM »

Thanks for all those tips Stoic Joker - I had hoped you might have a few ideas
Will let you know how I get on....

7166

General Software Discussion / Re: [HELP] broke a (HP) Printer by pulling USB Plug -when it was trying to print (?)

« Last post by tomos on January 28, 2011, 05:21 PM »

okay, thanks for the tips
will try on Sunday...

7167

General Software Discussion / [HELP] broke a (HP) Printer by pulling USB Plug -when it was trying to print (?)

« Last post by tomos on January 28, 2011, 05:06 PM »

This is one of those situation where I'm not 100% sure what happened but I think it was this (note: the OS messages are translated so may be off a bit):

I think I pulled the printer's usb plug (from the computer) while the printer was receiving info from the computer about a print job

Printer: HP OfficeJet Pro 8500
OS: Windows 7 (64 bit)

Next time I tried to print, it didnt work (absolutely no response from printer)

• I tried different USB ports,
• tried restarting printer and pc (a couple of times)

I tried the OS trouble shooter and it said that there was something in the printer queue - nothing was showing there - but I suspect a print job got half sent to the printer and screwed things up, but it doesnt show in the printer queue.

Under printers, there was an option in this printers context menu - something like "delete the printer queue". I chose this, and it said it was going to delete the printer - which was not the next logical step from just deleting the queued documents - but I thought WTF and did it - I thought when I connected the printer again the OS would simply install it again, but this didnt work. Absolutely no response from the OS when the printer was reconnected.

I tried the HP software which sent me into a weird loop of attach printer -> install manually (I think, it was quite vague) -> back to beginning.
So that was no help.

This is not my computer/printer - I'm going to go back there (possibly on Sunday) with a different laptop and see if the printer gets installed on that one (in which case I would presume the problem with the OS - but I suspect it's with the printer.)

But I thought I'd ask here if anyone had any tips - the printer is brand new so under guarantee (although I'd be embarrassed either way: to admit, or to not admit, what happenend)

Did try a google search but no success (but possibly using the wrong terms)
One of those days...

7168

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

« Last post by tomos on January 28, 2011, 04:29 PM »

ell, they are visible from the DC store ( http://www.cafepress.com/donationcoder ), (marked "NANY 2011: For nany 2011 participants only")

-NinJA999 (January 28, 2011, 03:38 PM)

thanks - I didnt realise that, no biggy either way then probably

LOL, but they sure look good

-Ath (January 28, 2011, 03:42 PM)

that's for sure - I was really torn, but ended up getting the mission impossible one

7169

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

« Last post by tomos on January 28, 2011, 03:34 PM »

How do you actually select the logo for the Mug? I searched for Nany, Nany2011, DonationCoder and nothing is showing.

Neil

-nharding (January 28, 2011, 12:05 PM)

From the email:

Visit these pages to choose *one* of these items to buy:

The specific item pages are:

-NinJA999 (January 28, 2011, 03:23 PM)

I didnt know wether to post those cause they only supposed to be for NANY entrants...

7170

Living Room / Re: Post Your Funny Videos Here [NSFW]

« Last post by tomos on January 27, 2011, 04:57 AM »

What????

The sign language exam is blocked there?

-Renegade (January 27, 2011, 04:39 AM)

well, I'm not sure what's blocked cause I cant see it
________________________________________________________

7171

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

« Last post by tomos on January 27, 2011, 03:00 AM »

got my mail, ordered ma mug (tough decision there) -
thanks mouser !!!

To anone ordering from euro zone - you'll save dc over US$4 if you order in US dollars (as opposed to in euros).
Possibly the same when ordering from the UK but I didnt check there...
-
[edit] note: the elevated euro price doesnt seem to be todo with VAT (there was no mention of it, but maybe it is). I didnt get charged VAT on the $ order via the cafepress.com site [/edit]

7172

General Software Discussion / Re: Upgrading RoboForm from v6 to v7: worthwhile?

« Last post by tomos on January 27, 2011, 02:41 AM »

I have upgraded to 7 and haven't regretted it.
 
I like the annual license model because it allows me to use RoboForm on as many computers and flash drives as I want. I took the leap of faith and use RoboForm Everywhere (formerly RoboForm Online).
They even have a Mac version now & I can use that too without any additional charge. It even works with opera on Windows (of sorts).

-TalksToPCs (January 26, 2011, 03:57 PM)

that sounds fair enough, if you're in that situation (want/need to use on multiple computers and flash drives. Me: I only use on one, so I wont be upgrading)
But I believe (without having read every post here) that the problem is the way they handled it - and the way they dealt with the "free upgrades" license and owners of same.

7173

Living Room / Re: Post Your Funny Videos Here [NSFW]

« Last post by tomos on January 27, 2011, 02:35 AM »

"Fuck you" Sign language performance

[...]

It's simple fantastic! She's really got it nailed down.

-Renegade (January 26, 2011, 09:53 PM)

unfortunately all versions are blocked by EMI or WMG here
they seem to block a lot more stuff in Germany - even compared to UK/Ireland

7174

Living Room / Re: Is pranking Josh unfair?

« Last post by tomos on January 27, 2011, 02:17 AM »

I wanna know where the temporary forums links to.

Also, how long is he going to see that?

-Deozaan (January 27, 2011, 01:40 AM)

lol, I thought he knew by now

7175

General Software Discussion / Re: Outlining software recommendations?

« Last post by tomos on January 24, 2011, 10:45 AM »

^ Re IQ, yes, points taken!
I presume he's implementing calendar etc cause a lot of people say they just wont use it otherwise.
I seem to have (unintentionally) avoided some things that you describe as particularly troublesome (e.g. copy & paste, especially of multiple items). I do move stuff around but tend to move individual or adjacent items per drag and drop. As said above, I rarely if ever use manual sort - I do sort by various columns (sometimes by multiple columns) a fair bit though. (Sorting currently can have some quirks depending how you implement it.)

Me - I DO have a share of items - just checked, circa 7000 now - with some grids having ~ 500 items in hierarchy (but usually at most a handful of levels deep). I've been using it for work for three yrs now - this is within fairly structured grids designed to keep track of work progress on drawing files (I estimate I have 700 drawing files linked). You could say, I know what it can do for me (which is quite a bit) - I use it that way, and dont usually stress it beyond that.

Let us know anyways how you get on with Treesheets  
If I have time at some stage I might give it a go myself (& pester Pierre with a list )