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8301

Developer's Corner / Re: Choosing a CMS

« Last post by 40hz on February 01, 2011, 10:58 AM »

Honestly this is now getting outside of the range of my own understanding of GPL and licensing law. It *is* complicated stuff, which is unfortunate because it needs to be understood by many "lay" people to really be properly respected. This is part of the problem with the way the GPL is constructed; it asks things of the developer and, in some cases, the user that are not necessarily intuitive. Software use and selection shouldn't be this complicated...

- Oshyan

-JavaJones (January 31, 2011, 08:52 PM)

Contemplating the GPL is a dizzying decent into madness.        

-Renegade (January 31, 2011, 11:25 PM)

When it first came out, GPL was very easily understood.

It still is very easy to understand.

It only gets complicated if you try to come up with a way to talk your way around it.

The GPL got "wordy" once certain businesses and people started looking for ways to "legally" beat it. That's when all the verbiage and details started getting added. Not because anybody in FSF wanted it that way. It was because their attorneys determined things needed to be added to the text if there was to be any hope of making the GPL enforceable.

There was once a time when Microsoft argued that GPL was both illegal and unenforceable because it ran (in their opinion) counter to US commercial, copyright, and IP laws. If I recall correctly, Steve Ballmer even went so far as to say something about it being "unconstitutional." But that's Ballmer for you.

Apparently offering software to the public for free is a violation of the rights of the monopolists to squeeze as much out of the people as possible.

IF the GPL has gotten complicated, thank Microsoft, Verizon, D-Link, Fortinet, TomTom, and all the other jokers who tried (and failed) to find a way to incorporate FOSS software into their own products and not live up to their side of the bargain.

 

8302

Developer's Corner / Re: Choosing a CMS

« Last post by 40hz on February 01, 2011, 10:27 AM »

By the way, i found a new CMS while registering to blogcritics.org. And unfortunately i lost the login details last month so i don't find any way to go inside and check the name of it. But it's very simple multi-author CMS for blog and magazine sites.

-mahesh2k (February 01, 2011, 01:02 AM)

For commercial multi-author magazine type sites, ExpressionEngine is the best IMO. (Note: Not open source and not free - licenses run from $100-300 USD. Usage restrictions also apply. See user and developer licensing for details.)

EE is a great product. One of the best working and supported CMS products out there. No bad surprises with options since 22 add-ons and 100+ plug-ins have been fully vetted and ship with it.

And because it's a commercial release, there's none of those pesky and annoying GPL issues to worry about.

Doesn't get much better than that I suppose.    

8303

Living Room / Re: The Coolest Macintosh I've Ever Seen!

« Last post by 40hz on February 01, 2011, 09:33 AM »

Another great subject for a gamer's laptop skin is anything from the sci-fi movie Avalon.

Especially any scene with the lovely Polish actress Malgorzata Foremniak in her role as the character Ash - cyber-geek, hacker, and war gamer extraordinaire.



I'm surprised she hasn't been made the patron saint of computer war games by now.

From the movie:

 

8304

Developer's Corner / Re: Choosing a CMS

« Last post by 40hz on February 01, 2011, 07:22 AM »

If you want to be a hippie and 'love thy neighbor' type then go ahead GPL is for you.

-mahesh2k (February 01, 2011, 01:02 AM)

Yeah. Can't allow too much of that to be going on.

Look how much better the world got, now that everybody finally got their heads on straight and started focusing on the important stuff - like making a buck, watching out for number one, and national security...

Love thy neighbor? (Only if she's pretty and understands it's just for one night, right?)  

And hippies? (Whatta buncha losers! It's yuppies that made the world what it is today!)  

Yeah, good thing all that 60s and early-70s B.S. is over!  

8305

Living Room / Intel Sandy Bridge Build

« Last post by 40hz on January 31, 2011, 01:28 PM »

Maybe it has something to do with low grade cabin fever due to the record snowfall we've been getting where I live, but I feel a 'build' coming on!

From the looks of it, the new Intel Sandy Bridge architecture is THE way to go for most new Intel based PCs. Exceptionally good "bang for the buck" from what I've read.

Very nice rundown on this over at MaximumPC. Looked good enough that I checked over at AnandTech for a more info and reviews.

However, the new LGA1155 socket requires new mobo designs. Not a problem in itself, except it rules out all my previous favorite boards and brings me into virgin territory.

Has anybody done a PC with any of the new boards? I've generally heard good things about the ASRock socket 1155 mobos, but I don't know anybody who's actually used one.

Any insights or comments would be greatly appreciated.  
----

Addendum:  ArsTechnica and MaximumPC has just reported a fly in the ointment with Intel's new 6-series chipsets:

MaximumPC-

Santa Clara, we have a problem. That's the message Intel engineers had to deliver to company execs after discovering a "design issue" in the company's 6-Series chipsets. The issue is severe enough that Intel decided to halt shipments while it implements a fix.

"In some cases, the Serial-ATA (SATA) ports within the chipsets may degrade over time, potentially impacting the performance or functionality of SATA-linked devices such as hard disk drives and DVD drives," Intel said in a statement. "The chipset is utilized in PCs with Intel's latest Second Generation Intel Core processors, code-named Sandy Bridge. Intel has stopped shipment of the affected support chip from its factories."

Intel said it has already corrected the issue and has started making a new version of the support chip that doesn't have the design flaw. In addition, the Santa Clara chip maker says Sandy Bridge processors and other other related products are unaffected.

Looks like Intel has it under control, so I'm not going to worry about it.  

8306

Living Room / Re: Gizmo Puts Out The Call For Freeware Reviewers

« Last post by 40hz on January 31, 2011, 10:11 AM »

FWIW  I filled out the volunteer 'form' on their website some time ago. I have yet to receive any response. They do say it might take a few days to get back to you. But it's been a lot longer than a few days now.

Doesn't give me warm fuzzes about offering my time...

8307

Developer's Corner / Re: Choosing a CMS

« Last post by 40hz on January 31, 2011, 12:09 AM »

^ What was it in the interpretation of GPL that killed Joomla/WordPress for you?  Just wondering, since I'm looking to upgrade my site also.

-wraith808 (January 30, 2011, 10:51 PM)

They have an overwhelming compulsion to be assholes:


http://www.simplemachines.../index.php?topic=184557.0

I just don't see why they need to exclude all non-GPL (compatible) software like that. It does nothing to preserve "freedom".

-Renegade (January 30, 2011, 11:05 PM)

It does a lot to prevent other interests from exploiting a GPL product's installed base of users by piggy-backing on it's success without playing by the same rules.

It's also somewhat disingenuous to criticize GPL projects for asking that their rules be obeyed when you consider they are giving away valuable work in exchange for you respecting such rules.

People that don't like the terms of the GPL should feel free to go out and purchase whatever software they feel would suit their needs better, and conveniently disregard the fact that the EULAs on such products place even greater restrictions on the user than GPL ever would.
 

-----

Addendum: (minor point) Just because somebody does something you don't agree with (or understand) doesn't automatically make them an "asshole." And characterizing them as such doesn't add anything to either the tone, or the caliber, of the discussion. (Just my tuppence.)

One thing I find interesting is that the developers of the SMF Bridge, while not happy about what went down, still don't seem to have moral or philosophical problems with Joomla's decision on the matter. See below (emphasis added):

As a result of this change of direction, only GPL-licensed software can legally be distributed and used inside the Joomla! software. While we regret and are saddened by this development, we respect Joomla!'s position on their software license.

 

8308

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

« Last post by 40hz on January 30, 2011, 10:45 PM »

@Josh - out of curiosity, exactly what was the resolution you reached with the makers of RoboForm that you are now so happy with them?
 

8309

Living Room / Re: Crazy Woman is Crazy...

« Last post by 40hz on January 30, 2011, 10:13 AM »

Filed on the 29th and the hearing is scheduled for the 31st?

Looks like it made it onto the "crazies" docket and the judge is getting ready to toss it out ASAP!

Too bad they can't just dump it without wasting time going to a hearing. But that's not the way it works. Once it's filed, you have to go through the whole procedure. Its called "due process." 

Which is better than the alternative When you think about it. 

8310

General Software Discussion / Re: Stacey - An interesting, simple flat file CMS

« Last post by 40hz on January 30, 2011, 09:37 AM »

Great find! Has that "browsing an FTP directory" look to it.

Except it's prettier, and it has basic theme support. 

It does look promising. Nice alternative for those of us who have structured content they need to make available,  but would rather not go the wiki route. The zero administration part of it is a really big plus.

Liking it! 

8311

Living Room / Re: Choosing what movie to watch

« Last post by 40hz on January 30, 2011, 12:13 AM »

Selection is an informal team effort for us

For ideas I have these sites set up in my RSS reader:

• For "normal" movies, I'll check here about once every other week.
• For abnormal movies I'll check here about once every other week.
• For snarky reviews I'll go here for a rundown on anything mainstream.

Where our "resident redhead" goes for movie info is anybody's guess. But she makes some stellar choices however she finds out about them. Her latest score was a neat little mystery/fantasy film called Ondine. (see below)



A lyrical modern fairy tale that tells the story of Syracuse (Colin Farrell), an Irish fisherman whose life is transformed when he catches a beautiful and mysterious woman (Alicja Bachleda) in his nets. His daughter Annie (Alison Barry) comes to believe that the woman is a magical creature, while Syracuse falls helplessly in love. However, like all fairy tales, enchantment and darkness go hand in hand.

Trailer here.

================

Once either of one of us finds something that looks good it's off to NetFlix (we have the three at a time subscription) - or Amazon.

We like to surprise each other with what we've selected. Friday and Sunday are "movie nights" at our place.  

8312

Living Room / Re: I Predict You Are A MURDERER~!

« Last post by 40hz on January 29, 2011, 08:25 PM »

Well... I do have the Esoteric Order of Dagon jacket and the Miskatonic Deluxe shirt and the Antarctic expedition hoodie.

Gotta be a little careful where you flash the EOD jacket however, since the design makes it look like you're wearing "colors" - which could make for risky business in some places. 

8313

Living Room / Re: I Predict You Are A MURDERER~!

« Last post by 40hz on January 29, 2011, 02:56 PM »

^ You mean it's not Welsh?

-40hz (January 29, 2011, 02:24 PM)

Only if you say it with your head inside a bucket. 

-app103 (January 29, 2011, 02:31 PM)

I'd be tempted to try, but I can't fit one over the tentacles. 

8314

Living Room / Re: I Predict You Are A MURDERER~!

« Last post by 40hz on January 29, 2011, 02:24 PM »

^ You mean it's not Welsh?

8315

Living Room / Re: I Predict You Are A MURDERER~!

« Last post by 40hz on January 29, 2011, 02:17 PM »

I suggest you get yourself an Arkham Sanitarium Patient uniform shirt:




Individually numbered so nobody else will confuse you with another inmate.

Why debate the finer points of fundamentalism vs science when you can align yourself with the Elder Pharos and Starry Wisdom? 

After all, "Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn!", right?

8316

Living Room / Re: MOBILE VS. PC -- Please Chime In!

« Last post by 40hz on January 28, 2011, 07:50 PM »

Mobile for passive. PC for active.

If you are primarily a consumer of information, mobile solutions should be sufficient for you.

If you are a content creator, maintainer, or someone who needs to more than casually interact with your info environment, then PCs are the better way to go.

The world does not live by tweets and clicks alone. The ability to easily enter numerous and complex keystrokes is still difficult on mobile devices. Until the data input barrier gets resolved, PCs will continue to have a bright future.
 

8317

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

« Last post by 40hz on January 27, 2011, 12:39 PM »

If you sell people a "lifetime" license, it's understood that they should be receiving all future version of the product at no additional charge beyond what was paid for the lifetime license.

And please let's drop the word "free" from this discussion. These lifetime licenses were never free. They were all paid for; and were purchased with the understanding and expectation it would be the only fee that would ever need to be paid for a non-expiring license to use all future releases of this software.

All the equivocation, semantic tap dancing, and hair-splitting over exactly what "lifetime" means will not change the fact that this company is obviously trying to rationalize its way out of the promises it made.

So what this all comes down to is whether or not a person or business keeps its word.

There are at least a thousand reasons why someone may decide to go back on their word. And probably something like half of those reasons are very good ones. But it still doesn't change the fact that, at the end of the day, a promise was broken. And in the end, that's the only thing that matters to those who are affected by it.

8318

Living Room / Re: The Coolest Macintosh I've Ever Seen!

« Last post by 40hz on January 27, 2011, 10:06 AM »

Do they have one featuring Joann Kelly or Evangeline Lilly by any chance?

I'm a great admirer of Canadian fine art.  

-40hz (January 25, 2011, 05:28 PM)

Nice!  Who is that?!  good taste...

-superboyac (January 27, 2011, 09:32 AM)

She's best known for playing Kate Austen (aka "Freckles") on Lost.

Not to neglect the UK, let's add in Kate Beckinsale and Rhona Mitra while we're off-topic on the subject of intelligent brunettes.    

8319

General Software Discussion / Re: Mylife Oragnized: is it still being developed?

« Last post by 40hz on January 26, 2011, 11:50 PM »

They have a roadmap dated 9/16/2010 up on their website.

They're also offering a web based sync service and have mobile versions for all the major smart phones. The iPhone version got accepted into Apple's App Store just last December.

Sure looks to be in active development.

8320

Living Room / Re: The Coolest Macintosh I've Ever Seen!

« Last post by 40hz on January 26, 2011, 11:27 PM »

@StoicJ - Close actually!

What Won

If I recall correctly, the winner of Division 3 was a meticulously restored 30s era Indian Chief.

For those who don't follow motorcycles, this isn't the one I saw. But that's what it looked like:




Talk about a work of art! The guy that owned it even went so far as to have real gold and copper leaf used for that art deco Indian head logo instead of paint. There must have been something like seven layers of clear-coat on top of it because it seemed to float above the red background. Gorgeous...

It just edged out a truly remarkable (as in OMG!!!) example of tattoo art on a startlingly "fit" young female about which the less said the better. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo had nothing on this lady. Come to think of it, this lady didn't have all that much on either.

<Sorry. No picture available.>

8321

Living Room / Re: The Coolest Macintosh I've Ever Seen!

« Last post by 40hz on January 26, 2011, 12:50 PM »

Why not post it for us then? 

We can do a beauty contest like the one I once saw in New Hampshire. It had three divisions for entries:

• Division 1 - Women only
   
• Division 2 - Men only
   
• Division 3 - "Whatever the hell else you may think is pretty - get it up here and we'll vote!"

Probably helped that most people at this gathering were totally blitzed by 10 in the morning - and the "beauty pagent" didn't get started until after sundown.
 

8322

General Software Discussion / Re: LibreOffice UI Mockups (with sidebar)

« Last post by 40hz on January 26, 2011, 08:42 AM »

(see attachment in previous post)

v.3.3_Stable released yesterday morning and can be downloaded here.
http://arstechnica.c...e-of-libreoffice.ars

-zridling (January 26, 2011, 07:47 AM)

Been using it for a few days now and I'm very happy with it so far. Does seem to be lighter and more responsive. Some minor but nice cosmetic improvements too!  

Note: if you have RC4, it's the same as the final build. Per the LibreOffice website release note for V3.3 Final:

This release is bit-for-bit identical to the Release Candidate 4, so you don't need to download or reinstall if you have that version already.

8323

Living Room / Re: Do universities have a claim on students' IP?

« Last post by 40hz on January 25, 2011, 07:19 PM »

And it's also important to remember that courts are "courts of law." They're not debating societies or forums for public opinion.

In the US, that's the function of the legislature - not the judiciary.

-40hz (January 25, 2011, 09:37 AM)

BWahahaha~!

(I like that!)

-Renegade (January 25, 2011, 05:27 PM)

It's not just funny.  It's true.

Courts work off a Q&A style procedure. You're allowed to ask a question, answer a question, or respond to the bench. You're not allowed to get into philosophical debates or make a speech. Try doing that and the judge will cut you off short. Do it one time too many and he'll also likely cut you off at the knees.

Courts are there to interpret the law - not to create new law. While it has happened from time to time, it's a controversial issue usually dubbed "legislating from the bench." And it's generally viewed as a violation of the doctrine of separation of powers.

The Senate and Congress on the other hand are debating societies in every sense of the word. Once you have the floor in either chamber you're free to wax as poetic and philosophical as you will for as long as you like. You're only limited by the stamina of your voice; the strength of your legs (you're required to stand when addressing the chair for obvious reasons); and possibly by the capacity of your bladder if you're male and over 50.

Read The Constitution of the United States for further details. Free copies of which can be found in wastebaskets conveniently located throughout the US Capitol Building and White House.  

8324

Living Room / Re: The Coolest Macintosh I've Ever Seen!

« Last post by 40hz on January 25, 2011, 05:28 PM »

Do they have one featuring Joann Kelly or Evangeline Lilly by any chance?

I'm a great admirer of Canadian fine art.  

8325

General Software Discussion / Re: Checking for available domain name = giving it away?

« Last post by 40hz on January 25, 2011, 05:25 PM »

^With all due respect, if that's Mr. Jobs attitude, it seems to be working brilliantly for Apple.