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8726

Living Room / Re: I have a problem buying software abroad

« Last post by 40hz on November 28, 2010, 03:36 PM »

I wonder if its possible to setup a post office box in the USA, and have all your mail forwarded to Holland (or any other country) - Might be the safest route, and possibly the simplest.

-Stephen66515 (November 28, 2010, 01:28 PM)

And probably fetch the Feds down on you in a heartbeat since it would be a dynamite way to play all sorts of games.

Besides, even if it would be legal to do that (doubtful), they wouldn't like it too much. And they have their ways of creating problems, even for legal activities, if they don't like them.

You also have customs declarations to fill out when shipping anything that can be considered a product. Even if it's just a gift. If you don't, there's a very good likelihood your shipment will get seized by Dutch Customs when it enters the Netherlands. And that's assuming it actually makes it out of the USA first.

There's all sorts of crazy regulations, trade agreements, treaties, and licensing issues surrounding international software sales.

Better find out what's allowed before trying something "simple."

8727

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows Live Sync Alternative?

« Last post by 40hz on November 28, 2010, 03:22 PM »

+1 w/Deozaan. Right now, I think using a DropBox account is as good as it's gonna get.  

8728

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows Live Sync Alternative?

« Last post by 40hz on November 28, 2010, 03:16 PM »

Not a single response... Is MS really so indispensable?

OK, so what it I back off from freeware?

-yksyks (November 28, 2010, 12:14 PM)

I have several clients asking the same thing.

AFAIK the short answer is that there isn't any product out there that does exactly what Mesh does (i.e. sync+cloud storage+remote connections) the way Mesh does it.

The offsite storage part is easy enough. Lots of suppliers from Microsoft to Dropbox will give you a free account. It's the seamless synchronization part that gets kludgey. In theory, you should be able to map Skydrive and use any folder sync software with it once you do. In practice, it either doesn't work reliably - or it doesn't work at all.

I'm guessing somebody will come out with a product sooner or later to address this problem.

8729

Living Room / Re: Jeans pocket - the square-ish one on the right

« Last post by 40hz on November 28, 2010, 12:20 PM »

Btw, ever seen/heard this song?

-f0dder (November 28, 2010, 11:41 AM)

Nope. Just gave it a watch/listen. Song definitely got the vibe down. Very dark.

Don't think I'm gonna run that vid past my GF. She was not a big fan of Silence's subject matter - for obvious reasons. Her having a grad degree in psych (and doing an internship at a mental institution) didn't help. Especially since she knows the movie wasn't nearly as 'over the top' as most of us would wish.

She did give full points to Hopkins and Fischer's portrayal of their story characters however. 

Like I said: seriously creepy!

8730

Living Room / Re: Jeans pocket - the square-ish one on the right

« Last post by 40hz on November 28, 2010, 11:34 AM »

@cranioscopical - Concerning cake, I know no such thing as an emergency ration. One eats all one has been given or one suffers the consequences.

-Edvard (November 26, 2010, 05:32 PM)

It eats the cake, or else it gets the hose again!

-f0dder (November 28, 2010, 11:09 AM)

Now THAT was one seriously creepy scene...

8731

General Software Discussion / Re: Small Linux kernal patch = big improvement in desktop experience

« Last post by 40hz on November 28, 2010, 08:06 AM »

The alternate.
To this day, I have not been able to successfully compile a kernel (this too I shall conquer, but not today), and all the pre-compiled ones are for Ubuntu 10.10 (I'm running 9.04) so a few userspace scripts works better.

-Edvard (November 27, 2010, 07:25 PM)

That was my thought too. I'm not a big believer when it comes to customizing a kernal unless the incorporated change is absolutely essential and there's no alternative way to incorporate it. Neither is the case with this patch.

Besides, reading some of the post/riposte between Linus and Lennart got me real curious.
http://lkml.org/lkml/2010/11/16/392

Ah....Linus Torvalds!   Once again being simultaneously 'spot on' - and utterly graceless.

I think that sporadic and unpredictable crankiness has become his trademark by now. Just like almost every other übergeek in that regard.

Good 'coder' though, so I guess I'll continue to cut him some slack.

8732

Living Room / Re: Regular Expressions (Regex) - Your Thoughts?

« Last post by 40hz on November 28, 2010, 01:14 AM »

Where would a NIXer be without grep

And if you love regex, you might also like the Awk Programming Language. If you regularly need to manipulate large amounts of text data, Awk is a great way to do it.

 

8733

General Software Discussion / Re: Linux webserver du jour?

« Last post by 40hz on November 27, 2010, 11:40 PM »

@f0dder: Just stumbled on this post over on Twitter's engineering blog while researching something else:

For a long Time, twitter.com ran on top of Apache and Mongrel, using mod_proxy_balancer. As in the supermarket, Apache would "push" requests to waiting mongrels for processing, using the 'bybusyness' method. Mongrels which had the least number of requests queued received the latest request. Unfortunately, when an incoming request was queued, the balancer process had no way of knowing how far along in each task the mongrels were. Apache would send requests randomly to servers when they were equally loaded, placing fast requests behind slow ones, increasing the latency of each request.

In November we started testing Unicorn, an exciting new Ruby server that takes the Mongrel core and adds Fry's "pull" model. Mobile.twitter.com was our first app to run Unicorn behind Apache, and in January @netik ran the gauntlet to integrate Unicorn into the main Twitter.com infrastructure.

During initial tests, we predicted we would maintain CPU usage and only cut request latency 10-15%. Unicorn surprised us by dropping request latency 30% and significantly lowering CPU usage.

This was interesting enough that it prompted me to take a look at the referenced mongrel-derivative Unicorn:

Unicorn: Rack HTTP server for fast clients and Unix

Unicorn is an HTTP server for Rack applications designed to only serve fast clients on low-latency, high-bandwidth connections and take advantage of features in Unix/Unix-like kernels. Slow clients should only be served by placing a reverse proxy capable of fully buffering both the the request and response in between Unicorn and slow clients.

And its even more interesting cousin:Rainbows!:

Rainbows! - Unicorn for sleepy apps and slow clients

Rainbows! is an HTTP server for sleepy Rack applications. It is based on Unicorn, but designed to handle applications that expect long request/response times and/or slow clients.

For Rack applications not heavily bound by slow external network dependencies, consider Unicorn instead as it simpler and easier to debug.

Of especial interest in Rainbows:

Rainbows! is mainly designed for the odd things Unicorn sucks at:

• Web Sockets (via Sunshowers)
• 3rd-party APIs (to services outside your control/LAN)
• OpenID consumers (to providers outside your control/LAN)
• Reverse proxy implementations with editing/censoring (to upstreams outside your control/LAN)
• Comet
• BOSH (with slow clients)
• HTTP server push
• Long polling
• Reverse AJAX
• real-time upload processing (via upr)

Rainbows! can also be used to service slow clients directly even with fast applications.

Both Unicorn and Rainbows! are more geared towards high-volume production environments, but I thought you might be interested in at least being aware of them. Assuming you're not already.  

From the Unicorn Philosophy page:

Unicorn is not suited for all applications. Unicorn is optimized for applications that are CPU/memory/disk intensive and spend little time waiting on external resources (e.g. a database server or external API).

Unicorn is highly inefficient for Comet/reverse-HTTP/push applications where the HTTP connection spends a large amount of time idle. Nevertheless, the ease of troubleshooting, debugging, and management of Unicorn may still outweigh the drawbacks for these applications.

The Rainbows! aims to fill the gap for odd corner cases where the nginx + Unicorn combination is not enough. While Rainbows! management/administration is largely identical to Unicorn, Rainbows! is far more ambitious and has seen little real-world usage.

Interesting pair of servers...

8734

Living Room / Re: Homeland Security Shutting Down Web Copyright Violators

« Last post by 40hz on November 27, 2010, 08:01 PM »

What we're going to see, going forward in the coming years, is a curtailing of the Right's free-speech

-kyrathaba (November 27, 2010, 07:34 PM)

Or inflammatory rhetoric (depending on who you talk to). 

Right now I think the situation with American political debate and dialog (or lack thereof) is a problem that goes far beyond anything as simple as a the "right" and "left" labels and stereotyping. .

But that also depends on who you talk to. 

8735

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: Nextfeeds :: Great deal for information overload

« Last post by 40hz on November 27, 2010, 06:47 PM »

I just use an RSS reader in conjunction with ReadItLater and their Digest option.

I can stay on top of 700 to 1K+ news items daily, of which less than a third (on average) are interesting enough to merit a quick skim. Based on my 'skim', I'll then tag and actually read about 100-125 articles in the course of the day. The whole process takes up a little over 2 hours. Usually I'll do it in 10 or 15 minute chunks. Thank heavens for smartphones and wait times! Breaking it up like that helps prevent burnout and boggle.

Interesting text passages get clipped with CintaNotes, which works like a very basic form of Evernotes. IMHO Cinta's simpler product is an improvement.

Full webpages worth saving are collected in Canaware NetNotes.

A very good (so far, knock wood!) memory glues it all together.

Hope I can keep this up for at least a few more years.  

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Note: Anything that I can't get to on the first day gets left for the next. And whenever I get seriously backlogged, I'll perform triage by only reading what interests me the most. The rest of the 'log jam' then gets deleted with an insincere "Oh well!"  

IMHO, the single most important tool for dealing with information overload is the ability and willingness to say "Oh well!" - and walk away!  

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EDIT: added weblinks & note, corrected product name spellings, and reformatted for easier read.

8736

General Software Discussion / Re: Small Linux kernal patch = big improvement in desktop experience

« Last post by 40hz on November 27, 2010, 04:55 PM »

@Edvard - The Man!

I somehow had the feeling you were gonna beat me to trying that bad puppy out first.

Pretty cool findings you're seeing. Question: did you use the recompiled kernel for 64-bit, compile your own, or use the "alternate method" to set it up?

8737

Living Room / Re: Homeland Security Shutting Down Web Copyright Violators

« Last post by 40hz on November 27, 2010, 12:11 PM »

I think it's a combination of two factors:

• a large and inefficient bureaucracy casting about for additional roles to play in order to make a case for its necessity; and
  
  
• the rebirth of the old Coal & Iron Company Police that added several dark pages to U.S. history books in the previous century.

One good thing about protecting commercial interests in the name of "national security." If you can't effectively stop terrorist activities* without turning the country into a police state, at least you can protect the economic interests of those industries that contributed to the election campaigns of those who now write your paycheck.

I don't know why we should complain. We have the best 'protection' money can buy.

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*Note: I don't mean any general disrespect towards the many dedicated, and genuinely courageous people who work in law enforcement. Those on the front lines (with the possible exception of a few under-trained TSA people I've had the misfortune of dealing with) deserve our thanks for what they do.

Still, I can't help wondering why so many countries (other than the USA) manage to maintain better levels of homeland security with only a fraction of the obtrusiveness (and budget) the United States seems to feel it requires.

Just my 2¢...  

8738

General Software Discussion / Re: Seeking a truly functional software KVM ...

« Last post by 40hz on November 26, 2010, 05:51 PM »

It would be interesting to see a hypervisor solution even if it would be more trouble than its worth wouldn't it?

I'm with you on "soft" KVM. Gave up ages ago and just went with Raritan boxes to be done with it. If it can't be handled by a local KVM switch or remote desktop/shell I've learned it's easier and faster to just take a little walk over to the 'whatever' and plug in a keyboard.

 

8739

General Software Discussion / Re: Seeking a truly functional software KVM ...

« Last post by 40hz on November 26, 2010, 04:51 PM »

@Steel Unless I misunderstood, I think what barney's looking for is a KVM solution that becomes active at boot but prior to the OS IPL. In short, something that works out-of-band exactly like a hardware KVM - but implemented fully in software.

If that's what he's looking for, it's an impossibility with what ships as your basic PC. The only way I know to do that is with some hardware hocus-pocus, either in the form of a 'remote console' card (mentioned earlier by SJ and usually only found in servers) or via a mobo specifically designed for it like some of the old-style high-end workstations that had heavy duty 'remote management' features built in. Both are pretty rare and not something that ships as your standard Dell or HP desk box.
 

8740

Living Room / Re: Jeans pocket - the square-ish one on the right

« Last post by 40hz on November 26, 2010, 01:31 PM »

+1 with Daleus.

There's not a day that goes by without me feeling some regret for the thousands of dollars spent; the hundreds of hours wasted; and the years and quality that will be shaved off the back end of my lifetime because I once had the smoking habit.

Been "clean" for over 10 years now, but that still won't ever turn back the clock or undo the damage.  

8741

Living Room / Re: Well, this should get interesting... Novell sold for 2.2B; Microsoft benefits

« Last post by 40hz on November 26, 2010, 01:20 PM »

+1 for new blood.

Ballmer's big problem is his need to show he is just as important to Microsoft as Bill Gates, Paul Allen, Ray Ozzie and the rest of the "usual suspects" are/were. He desperately needs something to hang his hat, or lift his leg on, and call "his own."

It was supposed to be Zune which was late to the party after the iPod pretty much had the market sewn up. Now it's supposed to be the WinPhone, which is once again late to the party and hoping to unseat the iPhone by hook, or Android by (legal) crook.

I think his greatest contribution to Microsoft will be when he retires.  

Sorry to sound so harsh, but what has he really ever brought to the party - other than embarrassment?

8742

Living Room / Re: Jeans pocket - the square-ish one on the right

« Last post by 40hz on November 26, 2010, 10:22 AM »

Thanks guys! Looks like that pocket of mine will stay unused then. Well, unless I should finally start smoking

-phitsc (November 26, 2010, 09:52 AM)

Maybe not. I keep my little field tech mini-USB flash drives in my "watch" pocket. Lots less dorky than walking around with them dangling from a lanyard.  

It might get uncomfortable when you're sitting, depending on the size of the USB key (minis are best),  but I don't get to sit much when I'm in the field so it's never been an issue for me.

 

8743

Living Room / Re: Jeans pocket - the square-ish one on the right

« Last post by 40hz on November 26, 2010, 04:06 AM »

Your pocket watch.

It's supposed to help keep it from getting scratched and dinged up by your small change. 

8744

Living Room / Re: Cute jokes' thread

« Last post by 40hz on November 25, 2010, 10:50 AM »

Maybe I'm finally reaching early senility, but the Oolong bunny meme cracks me up to no end.

Here's one example, which is very useful for making a Zen response to the usual ranters, axe grinders, and psychonauts you occasionally meet on forums:



Also, anything by Ashleigh Brilliant. Especially his "Pot-Shots."

One of my favs:

8745

Living Room / Going online @ DonationCoder on Thanksgiving Day

« Last post by 40hz on November 25, 2010, 10:08 AM »

The above poll is mostly for people residing in the USA - or in places where it has enough of a "presence" for people to be doing the 'Turkey Thing.' Please take a moment to vote!

Best wishes to all, regardless of geopolitical association or location.  

8746

Living Room / Re: Freezing BIOS even - any ideas why?

« Last post by 40hz on November 25, 2010, 09:33 AM »

Another possibility might be a bad trace, cold spot, or hairline fracture on the mobo. This is the other thing (along with iffy capacitors and PSUs) that can introduce weird thermal related system hangs. There's a very scary "flex test" you can do on a live system to check for board trace fractures. But I wouldn't recommend it unless you're already on the brink of packing something off to the community tip and don't care any more.  

Also a damaged slot (cold spot or damaged trace on RAM slots - or whatever is hosting the video card) are other likely culprits. If a defective signal path introduces enough chatter, timeouts or corrupt data, the CPU can go into la-lah land. Swap outs will help check for that.

Got a client with a computer that freezes - even to the point of not allowing a forced switch off by holding the power button.

-Carol Haynes (November 24, 2010, 02:03 PM)

Wow, don't think I've ever seen that before, even with pretty fubar boxes O_o

-f0dder (November 24, 2010, 04:49 PM)

Got an old HP Kayak workstation sitting in storage that does that. Sorta like a turtle - once it locks up, it stays locked up. Even after a replacement PSU and front panel switch. Only way to reboot it is to pull the AC cord.  

8747

Living Room / Re: Wi-Fi Makes Trees Sick!

« Last post by 40hz on November 25, 2010, 09:08 AM »

It would be nice to be able to get a look at the experimental design document for this study.

I've got no intrinsic quarrel with sponsored studies as long as all the cards get laid out on the table for examination and peer review.

Be interesting to see what controls were set up along with which statistical methodologies were used to interpret the test results. Otherwise, it's just another candidate for mention in the next What the Bleep! Do We Know? installment. (i.e. a "good story" but hardly scientific proof)

Guess we'll have to wait for more complete information.

8748

Living Room / Re: My Canon IP5000 inkjet is dead :( What now?

« Last post by 40hz on November 25, 2010, 08:48 AM »

+1 w/cranioscopical regarding Epson. They are the hardware embodiment of "the little girl, with the little curl, right in the middle of her forehead" AFAIC.

I have sooooooo wanted to like Epson printers. So much that I purchased two (and spec'ed a few for clients) over the years.

All started out working great. All turned into 'bad dates' a little while later. Usually shortly after they reached "out of warranty" status.  

All the reviews I read sing Epson's praises so maybe I'm just unlucky.

But I don't think so...

8749

General Software Discussion / Re: Seeking a truly functional software KVM ...

« Last post by 40hz on November 25, 2010, 08:20 AM »

I think what you're asking for is a physical impossibility barring hardware mods to the motherboard; and a major rewrite to the BIOS or operating system. Most likely it will require all three.

And since allowing a console redirect prior to OS load would also introduce significant security concerns, I wouldn't expect those rewrites any time soon.

The SplashTop "instant-on" technology might be able to be modified to do what you want. But it would have to be done on the "manufacturer level." And it wouldn't be a universal solution. SplashTop only works on specific motherboards, so it's not something that can be added to a system after the fact.

Good luck with your search.  

8750

General Software Discussion / Re: Email Server Frustration -- Looking for Advice

« Last post by 40hz on November 24, 2010, 05:05 PM »

  3. Every time you add something to the system Path variable it takes the system that much longer to find out item X doesn't exist. So I've always made a point of keeping the Path down to the barest of minimums. Any time something "requires" adding yet another string to the Path variable ... I immediately start looking for why/a better way (as it's almost never actually required).

@StoicJoker: You da Man!!!!  

Stuff needlessly dorking with the PATH variable has been a pet peeve of mine since forever. Your words need be carved in granite above the doorway of every code shop and IT department on the planet.    

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OMG! Is this really my 3000th post?