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976

Living Room / Re: License, registration, and insurance...or your cell phone

« Last post by Stoic Joker on February 11, 2015, 11:35 AM »

Now what I want to see - for real public safety - is a mobile phone app that will scan and validate the cop's fingerprint (there are a lot of phony LEO cases in the news these days) to pass/fail prove they are indeed 'Duly Authorized' to be stopping people in the first place.

977

Living Room / Re: Why phishing won't go away

« Last post by Stoic Joker on February 11, 2015, 11:26 AM »

It is legitimate.  And they give you 2GB of extra storage on google drive (if you use such things) as a reward.  But not if you're using a business offering.

-wraith808 (February 11, 2015, 08:08 AM)

Which only makes it twice as bad since they chose to use a basterdization of their own domain name...which is a key indicator that the thing is bogus.

That's as dumb as the local courthouse using short links in their "high security" Email and then complaining that the spam filter rejected them for it (yes that really happened).

978

Developer's Corner / Re: Issue with MySQL db Function and rand()

« Last post by Stoic Joker on February 11, 2015, 07:13 AM »

Okay, fine ... I'll answer my own question. Here's what finally worked:

Code: Text [Select]

1. CREATE DEFINER=`Stoic Joker`@`%` FUNCTION `MakeUniID`() RETURNS char(7) CHARSET utf8
2. BEGIN
3. declare Result CHAR(7);
4. SET Result = '';
5.  
6. SET Result=CONCAT(
7.         ELT(FLOOR(1 + (RAND() * (26-1))), 'A','B','C','D','E','F','G','H','I','J','K','L','M','N','O','P','Q','R','S','T','U','V','W','X','Y','Z' ),
8.         ELT(FLOOR(1 + (RAND() * (26-1))), 'A','B','C','D','E','F','G','H','I','J','K','L','M','N','O','P','Q','R','S','T','U','V','W','X','Y','Z' ),
9.         ELT(FLOOR(1 + (RAND() * (26-1))), 'A','B','C','D','E','F','G','H','I','J','K','L','M','N','O','P','Q','R','S','T','U','V','W','X','Y','Z' ),
10.         ELT(FLOOR(1 + (RAND() * (10-1))), '0','1','2','3','4','5','6','7','8','9' ),
11.         ELT(FLOOR(1 + (RAND() * (10-1))), '0','1','2','3','4','5','6','7','8','9' ),
12.         ELT(FLOOR(1 + (RAND() * (10-1))), '0','1','2','3','4','5','6','7','8','9' ),
13.         ELT(FLOOR(1 + (RAND() * (10-1))), '0','1','2','3','4','5','6','7','8','9' )
14.         );
15.  
16. RETURN Result;
17. END

^Which I ended up finding here (for anyone else that might end up looking for similar).

979

Developer's Corner / Issue with MySQL db Function and rand()

« Last post by Stoic Joker on February 10, 2015, 03:40 PM »

Greetings
    I've been fighting with this for a day or so and it giving me fits. I'm trying to get a MySQL db function to automatically generate a 7 character ID string during an insert command in the format of ABC1234. At this point triggering the function during insert is working fine, however the string generated is randomly - generated to short - between 4 and 7 characters in length.

So my question is how to I force this code to always give my a 7 character long string?

Code: Text [Select]

1. CREATE DEFINER=`Stoic Joker`@`%` FUNCTION `MakeUniID`() RETURNS char(7) CHARSET utf8
2. BEGIN
3. declare Result CHAR(7);
4. SET Result = '';
5.  
6. SET Result=CONCAT(
7.         substring('ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ', rand(@seed:=round(rand(@seed)*4294967296))*26+1, 1),
8.         substring('ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ', rand(@seed:=round(rand(@seed)*4294967296))*26+1, 1),
9.         substring('ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ', rand(@seed:=round(rand(@seed)*4294967296))*26+1, 1),
10.         substring('0123456789', rand(@seed:=round(rand(@seed)*4294967296))*10+1, 1),
11.         substring('0123456789', rand(@seed:=round(rand(@seed)*4294967296))*10+1, 1),
12.         substring('0123456789', rand(@seed:=round(rand(@seed)*4294967296))*10+1, 1),
13.         substring('ABCDEFGHIJ', rand(@seed)*10+1, 1)
14.         );
15.  
16. RETURN Result;
17. END

It seemed to be a guaranteed no brainer when I swiped it from somewhere - and then modified it for my own purposes... But the damn thing just won't cooperate.

Thanks in Advance,

Stoic Joker

980

Living Room / Re: DARPA Hacks GM's OnStar To Remote Control A Chevrolet Impala

« Last post by Stoic Joker on February 10, 2015, 03:26 PM »

A client of mine recently purchased a multifunction network copier/fax/scanner from one of the big names. It comes with a "feature key" hardware thingy which you have to insert and register in order for the device to do anything.

-40hz (February 10, 2015, 12:55 PM)

Xerox?? I always liked calling them Zippy Sticks just to watch the rep's face contort with repressed rage.

981

Living Room / Re: DARPA Hacks GM's OnStar To Remote Control A Chevrolet Impala

« Last post by Stoic Joker on February 10, 2015, 06:32 AM »

+10 on the old school - straight mech - classic, I'm shopping for a project now.


Military Rule of Combat:
If the enemy is in range...so are you. e.g. All connections are -(to be assumed as)- bidirectional.

982

Living Room / Re: Interesting "stuff"

« Last post by Stoic Joker on February 07, 2015, 01:13 PM »

983

Living Room / Re: Interesting "stuff"

« Last post by Stoic Joker on February 05, 2015, 05:12 PM »

Have you ever pranked someone by turning their wireless mouse 180 degrees around.

-Arizona Hot (February 05, 2015, 02:58 PM)

No, but I have been known to flip the screen upside down on occasion.

984

Living Room / Re: Silk Road Seized - Dread Pirate Roberts Arrested

« Last post by Stoic Joker on February 05, 2015, 05:10 PM »

So sez Ren! But in practice, it works pretty well most of the time. Possibly something you clearly can't allow yourself to acknowledge - or even see?

-40hz (February 05, 2015, 12:12 PM)

Actually, after many real world experiences in court, I'd more agree with Ren on this point.

-wraith808 (February 05, 2015, 12:40 PM)

Me too - And I've been fighting really hard to stay quiet and let the adults talk, but... Just because something has always been done that way doesn't mean it isn't stupid.

We -(The People)- need jury nullification to "down vote" idiotic laws.

985

Living Room / Re: wierd mouse click problem

« Last post by Stoic Joker on February 05, 2015, 07:12 AM »

Sounds like a common problem I've experienced with Logitech mice. Eventually the clicker wears out and starts double-clicking occasionally when you only click once.

-Deozaan (February 05, 2015, 12:25 AM)

That was my first thought too, but I don't think it's just Logitech that is susceptible to this behavior. I've had several different brands of mice (granted mostly MS, but there were others), and all of them died the exact same - ^this - way. While I don't click that hard, or that fast...I can't help but think - given the history - that it just might be something that I'm doing.

986

Living Room / Re: Internet of Things thread (IoT)

« Last post by Stoic Joker on February 03, 2015, 06:50 AM »

Perhaps, but the hard sell isn't always necessary. So just because the IoT is staged to groom the human race for painlessly transparent subjugation by making them weak minded and dependent on technology. Doesn't mean it's a bad idea to occasionally try soft selling a baseline of the stuff being totally pointless crap.

Since back in the beginning of time when the first important message was handed of to a second party for delivery, security has been based on a modicum of trust. Back then you would look a man in the eyes, and decide if he was lying to you...but did you really know?? And now - thousand of years later - We're all looking at a screen, hoping against all hope...that it isn't lying to us.

987

Living Room / Re: Memory lane for motorists

« Last post by Stoic Joker on February 02, 2015, 03:21 PM »

(not a fan of the Beetle or Mini remakes FWIW)

-tomos (February 02, 2015, 02:05 PM)

My wife had a fully restored 1972 Super Beatle a 'few' years back. That was a seriously fun car to drive Surprisingly quick, and everybody loved it.

988

Living Room / Re: Who gets sued next? VLC media player? Mozilla?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 31, 2015, 05:40 PM »

^Apologies.  

-40hz (January 31, 2015, 03:10 PM)

No need, I was actually trying to be funny (it was a sarcastic dig at my own cynicism).

Welcome to "historically interesting" times.

-40hz (January 31, 2015, 03:10 PM)

Indeed we are. And much like with Doctor Who's Weeping Angels, we're unable to look away for fear of being consumed.

989

Living Room / Re: Who gets sued next? VLC media player? Mozilla?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 31, 2015, 09:50 AM »

^Gee, thanks for totally crushing my feeble attempt at trying to pretend I could be at least fake being somewhat optimistic..

990

Living Room / Re: Who gets sued next? VLC media player? Mozilla?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 31, 2015, 07:57 AM »

Guns can be used only for killing/injuring people. I haven't heard of anyone using a revolver to generate power. (Yeah I know the line "you have guns to deter others, not to actually use them." and I know the second amendment's advertised raison d'etre. But I don't believe everything I hear).

Blog software also has one purpose, but it is not crime related (at least assuming we have freedom of expression). The link between blog software and piracy is not as direct as the link between gun and murder.

-eleman (January 31, 2015, 02:18 AM)

Its' true that guns do have a bit of an image problem coming up with a second usage. But if one's intended usage is "Lawful self defense" (a mandatory checkbox on the carry permit application) as a purchase reason then it is per se, quite legal. Conversely if the blog was purchased with the sole intent of presenting one of an ever growing list of topics that are quickly becoming "exempt" from the purview of free speech...well ... Someone...someday... may find reason to start requiring a waiting period - and a bit of background checking - for those too.


Note: personally I agree with you on the distinction. But it's lines like the above that (need to) get crossed if the system (and it's right's/freedoms) we know is to be properly and completely flushed down the proverbial toilet.

991

Living Room / Re: Web Essay: Never trust a corporation to do a library's job

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 29, 2015, 11:09 PM »

you could have stopped with "Never trust a corporation," truth be told...

-wraith808 (January 29, 2015, 10:53 PM)

Oh...Come on, some horses need whipping dead or alive. 

992

Living Room / Re: everyday life revolution

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 29, 2015, 04:53 PM »

^O_o I've never been a jock, or a nerd, I'm just a guy ... That can be an asshole. But the instant gratification thing is true. People are getting to used to having things too easily at their fingertips...and it's making people over all dumber ... Because nobody needs to bother to work at anything anymore.

Some of the best experiences in life can be had during the course of seemingly mundane activities if they're done with a bit of creativity...and the right people. People that you would otherwise never have encountered if the activity had been removed by some form automation.

Yes kalos seems to keep running into the grouchy old peoples club with his new fangled ideas. But that's ok, as is his desire to try. Not all ideas work for all people,. and eventually he may just come up with a winner. A wise man once told me that if you don't make a few mistakes (/fail) now and then...then you're obviously not trying very hard. Kalos is (to me) obviously trying...and that's a good thing.

993

Living Room / Re: Web Essay: Never trust a corporation to do a library's job

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 29, 2015, 04:38 PM »

Sorry, couldn't resist..

994

Living Room / Re: everyday life revolution

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 29, 2015, 02:34 PM »

At any rate, if you automate all aspects of your life, what do you have left?  Not much.  That's what.  And, if you say something like, "Just automate the mundane things in life so you have more time for the fun things," I would tell you that that just goes hand-in-hand with the "immediate gratification" paradigm that we see more and more in the world (especially with the younger generation).  It's not healthy, in my opinion.  I'd rather feel like I've earned my so-called fun time by taking care of the mundane things that need to be taken care of.  That's called delayed gratification and I find that a much healthier paradigm (especially for children).

-skwire (January 29, 2015, 01:44 PM)

^this - Bravo!! 

995

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows 10 as an Internet service?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 29, 2015, 02:21 PM »

And purely for the convenience of those who want to protect us from what they feel we need to be protected from - whether we want it or not.

-40hz (January 29, 2015, 12:51 PM)

Precisely where I was going, I just forgot to put the word safe in quotes to assist in imply that.

996

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows 10 as an Internet service?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 29, 2015, 11:39 AM »

PCs changed all that. Software started to be thought of as sold once the old dinosaur code devs reluctantly realized private individuals didn't have the money or patience to put up with arcane software licensing rules and restrictions.

-40hz (January 29, 2015, 08:21 AM)

Then we need to hire William Wallace to spearhead rioting in streets that run red with rivers of corporate blood to ensure that freedom from that level of draconian blood sucking is not and will not be tolerated.

^If only life was fair^ ... But seriously.

Ultimately I suspect that the whole PC/Internet wild west show is going to get turned just another corporate sucking noise just like every other technological advance -(television/telephone/the automobile/etc.)- that was really fun until some idiot insisted on making it safe and profitable.

997

Living Room / Re: Does anyone here use Bitcoins?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 28, 2015, 05:29 PM »

It's getting really hard for me to stay in this game. I've basically stopped monitoring anything because it's just become too depressing to watch. If the coin's value doesn't crawl out of the toilet soon, I'm kinda screwed..

998

Living Room / Re: Does anyone here use Bitcoins?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 28, 2015, 02:52 PM »

Is that more what you were talking about?

-40hz (January 28, 2015, 01:05 PM)

Yes.

999

Living Room / Re: Does anyone here use Bitcoins?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 28, 2015, 12:21 PM »

As ultimate outcomes go, yes ... But that wasn't really the point I was trying to make. I was trying to point out the similarities in behavior at the perceived 'top' and 'bottom' of a hierarchy.

1000

Living Room / Re: Does anyone here use Bitcoins?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 28, 2015, 11:25 AM »

It pays to remember, as William Gibson so nicely put it in Burning Chrome, that "the street finds its own uses for things..." -

So too does government.

-40hz (January 28, 2015, 08:08 AM)

It's always struck me as funny how - behaviorally speaking - it always seems to be perceived as a pyramid with the government at the top and the - street fighting - rabble at the bottom. Because to me it's not a pyramid at all...but a circle...with middle management being the only ones that truly have to suffer "good" behavior. Because the closer you get to the top of the pile, the less oversight there is constraining ones behavior. And this continues until at the highest levels...where no one is/can be watching ... The typical street rules; posturing, aggressive attitudes, and a reliance/thirst for violence returns as everything circles back to the worst possible behavioral traits.