Recent Posts

8051

General Software Discussion / Re: Implement features that are known to be loved in other programs, on your own

« Last post by wraith808 on August 16, 2011, 03:45 PM »

I concur with f0dder's comments.  What it boils down to for me is ROI (Return On Investment):

• Is the requested feature worth the time it takes for me to implement it?

This includes trying to forecast how many other users would use such a feature.  That first question leads to the second question I ask myself:

• How easily can I implement such a request within the limitations of the GUI toolkit/controls I am working with?

This is something that non-programmer folks NEVER consider.  They see it done in one application and think it can be slapped into any other application in under ten seconds.  There have been instances where I would very much like to add a given feature but cannot due to such limitations.

What I've found over the years is that most non-programmer folks have zero idea how easy or hard an idea is to implement.  In fact, there have been lots of times where I have had requests from non-programmer types that they think is super easy (in their head) and, in reality, would be nigh impossible to do programmatically.

-skwire (August 16, 2011, 12:12 PM)

Amen.  I need to print this out and post it LOL

8052

Living Room / Re: The Foreclosure Scam

« Last post by wraith808 on August 16, 2011, 01:12 PM »

You didn't know?

8053

General Software Discussion / Re: FlatPress blogging platform: flat text file stored, open source, freeware

« Last post by wraith808 on August 16, 2011, 12:25 PM »

If you manage to get it going, do yourself a favor - never upgrade anything. Ruby is famous for breaking backwards compatibility, even for relatively minor updates, and the various Gem authors have taken that habit to heart.

-f0dder (August 16, 2011, 11:06 AM)

This.  1000 times this.

I've run into similar to what f0dder is describing at one time or another when evaluating RoR/Redmine. Last time out we wound up using a  prebuilt stack from TurnkeyLinux to get it to work reliably.

-40hz (August 16, 2011, 12:23 PM)

I've come to the conclusion that RoR is a ploy designed to monetize Linux. 


...Not really, but it feels that way sometime.

8054

Living Room / Re: The Foreclosure Scam

« Last post by wraith808 on August 16, 2011, 12:24 PM »

Indeed, a very passive response for a country where everybody and their grandmother appear to have guns... 

-Shades (August 15, 2011, 10:17 PM)

That's what you're led to believe from TV and news. Most Americans can't afford guns! And unless you have a use for one (hunting, target shooting, killing someone/yourself), they're not much use. They usually lead to far more (legal) trouble than people bargained for when they are used (kids finding them, shooting themselves or a friend).

-zridling (August 16, 2011, 08:33 AM)

You obviously don't live in the south.

-Stoic Joker (August 16, 2011, 11:33 AM)

But that's not a majority of the country, and neither is it universal.  I lived in the South for all of my life prior to moving away, and I have never owned a gun.  Blades, explosives, and pyro, yes.  But guns, no...

... what?  Why are you looking at me funny?

8055

General Software Discussion / Re: Google+

« Last post by wraith808 on August 16, 2011, 09:34 AM »

And thus we come back to why I don't want to use my real name.

8056

Living Room / Re: The Foreclosure Scam

« Last post by wraith808 on August 16, 2011, 09:31 AM »

Indeed, a very passive response for a country where everybody and their grandmother appear to have guns... 

-Shades (August 15, 2011, 10:17 PM)

That's what you're led to believe from TV and news. Most Americans can't afford guns! And unless you have a use for one (hunting, target shooting, killing someone/yourself), they're not much use. They usually lead to far more (legal) trouble than people bargained for when they are used (kids finding them, shooting themselves or a friend).

-zridling (August 16, 2011, 08:33 AM)

Yes.  Knives are better.

8057

Living Room / Re: Bought a desktop and monitor today

« Last post by wraith808 on August 16, 2011, 06:55 AM »

^ Unless I'm missing something, all of those are 1920 x 1080?

8058

General Software Discussion / Re: Google+

« Last post by wraith808 on August 16, 2011, 06:53 AM »

This only happens if you're connected to them.  If they're not in your circle, then you're not connected to them, as was quoted above.

Check the image again,they don't have to connect with you via G+ only. Even if you're in connection somehow using email or following them on G+ or blogger follow system etc, then this will affect SERP. For example, Matt cutts is connected to you in one way public stream activity but he's not going to follow you or many others, still his suggestions will appear in your SERP. Same goes with anyone with gmail account sending emails to you. You'll see the influence of their search pattern in your results page if they're searching google by logging in to any google service.

-mahesh2k (August 16, 2011, 01:40 AM)

But you *are* connected to them.  If you follow their public stream, you're connected to them- they're just not connected to you.  And if they e-mail you, then I'd say that was a connection too.

I don't like the fact that they are using this information; that shows that they are mining my contacts for that, and I'd like a way to opt out of that.  But even with that caveat, you are connected.

8059

Living Room / Re: Bought a desktop and monitor today

« Last post by wraith808 on August 15, 2011, 08:32 PM »

^ thanks, but I meant the monitors that Ath was referring to. 

8060

Living Room / Re: Bought a desktop and monitor today

« Last post by wraith808 on August 15, 2011, 03:50 PM »

I'd like to see where you see these prices, if you don't mind.  I'm just not seeing it.

My research for this has shown the non-refurbished 24" 1900 x 1080 going for $170, and the non-refurbished 24" 1920 x 1200 going for a minimum of $350 USD, so I want to know where you're shopping!

8061

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: 40% off on Notezilla Sticky Notes Program only on 17th August

« Last post by wraith808 on August 15, 2011, 03:40 PM »

^ Not sure why you haven't received it yet.  And no, I'm not being a "white hat" for the site, I just appreciate what they do, and want them to keep doing it so try to help people around problems.

Mine from this morning (unformatted text, hiding behind a cut)

Spoiler

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If you just want Mac or PC deals in this email, or want a text-only email Change Email Preferences.
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HTH

8062

Living Room / Re: Bought a desktop and monitor today

« Last post by wraith808 on August 15, 2011, 11:36 AM »

Same price?  Where?  I've been looking for a monitor (looking at 24" or 27") and it seems that the big difference in the price points of the lower end vs the upper end is resolution...

-wraith808 (August 14, 2011, 01:36 PM)

Well, the 22" and 23" monitors offered closeby (next big city that is, 8 km away) in the bigger retail shop, are all between 100 and 180 Euro, where the 100 Euro one is 1680x1050 and only has VGA input, but the 180 Euro model has 1920x1080 and DVI or HDMI interface also. There's a choice in brands like LG, Samsung and Philips.
A 24" is available from around 200 Euro, and has DVI interface, and a 27" full HD can be had for 250 Euro, and comes with DVI as well. But this is all on special offer for this week

-Ath (August 15, 2011, 10:13 AM)

The difference between 100 and 180 euro isn't all that small, though, IMO.

8063

Living Room / Re: The Foreclosure Scam

« Last post by wraith808 on August 15, 2011, 07:18 AM »

I have some friends that both had good jobs years ago and had built their dream house. Then the economy went to shit.

They both lost their jobs, and the mortgage fell behind. The bank foreclosed, but took 3 years to get around to evicting them.

The house sat for a year or two during which time they both managed to find new stable jobs.

--Now here's the weird part--

When the house went back on the market, a friend in real estate let them know ... Which allowed them to once again buy the house. But this time at a substantial discount because of the markets devaluation.

So while the wife & I will probably never make it out from under our house payments. At least I get to laugh about ^that^.

-Stoic Joker (August 15, 2011, 06:40 AM)

Thanks for that.  It's good to hear at least someone profit from this mess that wasn't the cause of it.

8064

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: 40% off on Notezilla Sticky Notes Program only on 17th August

« Last post by wraith808 on August 15, 2011, 07:15 AM »

No, buying at BDJ gives you as much usage as you want.  Of course, if you want the spiffy new features, you pay the upgrade price, but your NoteZilla that you purchase today won't stop working... 

8065

General Software Discussion / Re: Google+

« Last post by wraith808 on August 15, 2011, 06:59 AM »

If someone follows you on G+, it means that your public posts will show up in their stream, nothing more. They would be able to see those public posts by going to your profile as well, that is the whole point of "public". There is no relation the other way unless you choose to follow them back.

Exactly.

-mahesh2k (August 15, 2011, 04:30 AM)

I think his point was to be in opposition to your point.  The idea is, if you don't want people to see anything, don't share public.  Public is not limited by G+ in any way.  So don't use it.

One more thing why i hate G+ is that, your friends and family influence the search results. So this could be a problem if you're connected to any profile which is made by link spammer or annoying friend who constantly posts links or stuff. This includes many top social media celebs who post too many links in their activity streams every hour.

-mahesh2k (August 15, 2011, 04:30 AM)

This only happens if you're connected to them.  If they're not in your circle, then you're not connected to them, as was quoted above.

G+ has problems (the real name thing is the biggest one- and with them being jerks about the whole thing after the fact, its worse), but this isn't one of them, IMO.

8066

General Software Discussion / Re: Google+

« Last post by wraith808 on August 14, 2011, 09:26 PM »

I just wish there was a way to back out of google+ without losing your google account, so I wouldn't have to deal with their asinine policies. 

8067

Living Room / Re: Operation Facebook (will you rejoice?)

« Last post by wraith808 on August 14, 2011, 06:25 PM »

Sorry, but I'm one of 'those people' who doesn't appreciate people who presume to speak or act on my behalf without my explicit consent. I have enough respect for myself and MY freedom that I don't willingly cede its support and maintenance to anyone - be they a big faceless government, or a group of trashers. Especially when their rhetoric about the "clueless masses" sounds just like the attitude of contempt towards humanity you perceive in the actions of so many of those already in power.

-40hz (August 14, 2011, 04:05 PM)

Agreed.

8068

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: 40% off on Notezilla Sticky Notes Program only on 17th August

« Last post by wraith808 on August 14, 2011, 06:23 PM »

And Notezilla is definitely worth it.

8069

Living Room / Re: Operation Facebook (will you rejoice?)

« Last post by wraith808 on August 14, 2011, 02:30 PM »

I do believe a lot of people have blind faith in services like Facebook and don't realize all the implications of putting their personal info out there. They could definitely use a wake up call. Having their faith in FB shaken a bit can't hurt.

-nosh (August 14, 2011, 02:01 PM)

I think that a lot of people just don't think about it.  But just because they don't, why is it anyone's right to try to make them?  And yes, for some people it can hurt.

8070

Living Room / Re: Bought a desktop and monitor today

« Last post by wraith808 on August 14, 2011, 01:36 PM »

Hm, you might have liked a 22" full-hd resolution (1920x1080) for even more screen real-estate better then 1680x1050, and the price shouldn't be a problem, as most of them have even the same price

-Ath (August 13, 2011, 05:58 AM)

Same price?  Where?  I've been looking for a monitor (looking at 24" or 27") and it seems that the big difference in the price points of the lower end vs the upper end is resolution...

8071

Living Room / Re: Operation Facebook (will you rejoice?)

« Last post by wraith808 on August 14, 2011, 01:35 PM »

^ But are those cases of identity theft caused by FB?  Are they the reason that they happened?  Or is it just that the act was enabled by facebook existing?  Sort of like the route that the RIAA and MPAA take- prosecuting the means rather than the people that are actually behind it...

8072

Developer's Corner / Re: HyperNext, anyone?

« Last post by wraith808 on August 14, 2011, 08:14 AM »

Sort of figured that from looking at it.

8073

General Software Discussion / Re: Software Hall of Fame

« Last post by wraith808 on August 12, 2011, 01:05 PM »

Norton Utilities (circa 1982)

-dspelley (August 12, 2011, 12:13 PM)

Those were the good old days for Norton.  These days, they're definitely a different animal.

8074

General Software Discussion / Re: Google+

« Last post by wraith808 on August 11, 2011, 04:56 PM »

Let there be games.

8075

Living Room / Re: Operation Facebook (will you rejoice?)

« Last post by wraith808 on August 10, 2011, 01:54 PM »

Have you ever known a politician to tell the truth?

-Renegade (August 10, 2011, 01:33 PM)

Actually.. I have.  Not overly successful politicians, but yes.

-wraith808 (August 10, 2011, 01:41 PM)

I have too - they are usually sacked fairly promptly and disowned by their colleagues as "disloyal"

-Carol Haynes (August 10, 2011, 01:48 PM)

I've noticed that the honesty of a politician is inversely proportionate to the amount of power he or she wields.  Of course, that's a maxim rather than a theory, but still...