Messages

They called me during that ten days and told me the board I had purchased was oem and they wanted another ten dollars to "upgrade" it to retail.

Wow. My girlfriends brother had the EXACT same problem. I mean down to the very same words.

This is my big problem with pricewatch, would I be correct in assuming this is where you found them? Great website but, it's kinda like playing russian roulette.

I think your small claims court solution is the best if your bank is refusing to help. If I'm not mistaken my girlfriends brother handled the problem through his credit card company. In the end though I think it still cost him some extra bucks.

Good luck. Keep us updated. I'm curious about how things will turn out.

later,
-junc

No problem.

The power of google 

I imagine that could be very frustrating. I've gotten myself into a few silly situations like that with PS before. Like forgetting to turn off "snap to" and never being able to figure out why the cursor keeps on snapping to the edge of the image.  Usually the solution is something really simple.

What can I do for you?  Can I send you Wacom tablet as payment

Only if you are done with it. Have you got much use out of it? For some reason I've been thinking I might get some use out of it again. I'm sure it would just sit around gathering dust again though...

if junc doesnt want it.. i would take it!

Sorry, it's actually mine. I let Darth "borrow" it a while back. More like I gave it to him to use until it starts gathering dust and then ship it back to me so it can gather dust with me again .

later,
-junc

Shift + Fill on the background.

I just tried it and it worked.

later,
-junc

[Orbiter - A free space flight simulator]

Another in the non-game type game.

Orbiter - A free space flight simulator
http://www.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/~martins/orbit/orbit.html

Hard as hell to understand. I never even got the shuttle off of earth successfully (the real shuttle not the glider). Extremely realistic and lots of fun to dink around with.

Oh, and for those of you that don't know or missed the thread. Metal Gear Solid is freeware and available for download on Underdogs. The download (http://www.the-underdogs.org/game.php?id=5057) was pretty slow a while back, might still be.

later,
-junc

What the HECK!?!?!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4074869.stm

Earlier this year, a team at the MIT Media Labs Europe demonstrated a wireless cap which read brain waves to control a computer game character.

Wow. Again.

later,
-junc

Some more fun stuff. I read an article that scientists now view the measurement of human memory and "processing power" in computer terms to be acceptable. Perhaps I'm way out of the loop, but last I had heard was that scientists were saying we couldn't measure it that way. I'm sure it may still be up for debate in some circles. Anyway, here are some figures I got off the wonderful ol' interweb...

also, how much space do I have in my brain, I mean, I AM gonna download... it.

Human Brain learns at 2 bits per second

Lifetime Capacity is 125 MB (before you say that is a small amount, consider a pure text document at that size that you can access any one portion of...)

It seems reasonable to conclude that the human brain has a raw computational power between 10^13 and 10^16 operations per second.

10,000 GHz to 10,000,000 GHz (or 10 PHz) (I think these figures are correct?)

happy thinking,
-junc

The video (http://www.cyberkineticsinc.com/PatientAnim1.mpg) and website (http://www.cyberkineticsinc.com/) are a little less ambitious in the description of the product. Perhaps the author of that article got carried away. I tried to find more info on Nature.com, the origin of the quote, but was unable to. I did however find some rather old articles about the technology.

Even if the technology has only evolved enough for a person to move a mouse cursor that's a pretty big step. Just think about it, even with just that a person could play point and click adventure games without a problem!

later,
-junc
EDIT:

From Popular Science:

http://www.popsci.com/popsci/bown/2004/personalhealth/article/0,22221,768020,00.html

BEST OF WHAT'S NEW 2004

This year BrainGate became the first brain-machine implant government-approved for clinical testing in humans. The 16-square-millimeter silicon wafer is by far the most advanced device designed to help patients with total paralysis, enabling them to control a computer cursor using their thoughts alone. When implanted onto the brain's motor cortexâ€"the region that controls motionâ€"the chip intercepts electrical nerve signals intended for the spinal cord and reroutes them to a computer, which translates the data into specific cursor commands. The able-bodied stand to benefit too: Implanted chips may one day control common household electronics such as TVs, lights and robotic vacuum cleaners.

I'm doing research for a sci-fi project and came across this:

Thursday, October 14, 2004

Brain implants

A 24-year-old quadriplegic is now able to control a computer with his thoughts. This summer, the man was implanted with the Cyberkinetics BrainGate chip. The tiny device, containing 100 electrodes, was installed in the patient's motor cortex. Apparently, the connection is good enough that he can even play videogames and check email. From a Nature.com article:

    The BrainGate allowed the patient to control a computer or television using his mind, even when doing other things at the same time. Researchers report for example that he could control his television while talking and moving his head.

That is just amazing. Completely blew me away. I was aware of minor computer chip/human things, but not something so advanced.

Amazing.

Just thought I would share.

later,
-junc

So, yesterday I went to the library and was looking at the documentaries on DVD. They had this ten set history of jazz that looked great. I picked up the first three volumes and went to the counter to check them out. I heard rattling from the DVD case and opened it. This disc was cracked at the center and scratched up beyond belief. I have had similiar issues with DVD rentals from "video rental" stores too.

I have dozens of my owns CD's that are scratched and unplayable. Resurfacing has worked on a few, but the rest of just too damaged.

I also own a Mini Disc player. Mini Disc's come in a cartridge, they are very small and just amazing. CD's are big, bigger than cassette tapes (I know, they are thinner...). MD's are just perfect.

So perhaps some enlightened fellow here could tell me why the MD hasn't been pushed as more mainstream? Why not use a smaller DVD inside of a MD case for audio (thus improving storage space and therefore audio quality issues that people have with MD's). MD's are more sturdy than cassettes and by far more sturdy than DVD's. They are also adapting to the MP3 revolution very well (anyone who owns a Sony NetMD knows this).

I've been frustrated with CD's and DVD's since they became popular and always predicted that they would fail because of the reasons I outlined here. Unfortunately, I was wrong. People have just decided to accept these issues.

later,
-junc

I had almost the same exact problem with the game Mafia. I reinstalled directx and everything worked fine. So I would recommend trying that.

Everything else I would recommend should be pretty obvious, check drivers, windows update, make sure all of your hardware is working properly, acceleration all the way up, etc.

A note about the directx thing, I had the newest version (game only required 8), it was corrupt or something. It didn't cause any problems with any other programs.

later,
-junc

I PM'd you.

poop743 if you would like to discuss your game please find another thread to do it in. If you would like help with your game, please find the proper thread to ask for it in.

oh...and to make this post worthwhile...

The final debate is Wednesday, October 13 at 9:00 p.m. E.T.

later,
-junc

EDIT: Panda, I guess the thing is Bush is against it, Kerry isn't. People who stand on one side or another of such a hot topic tend to be very zealous in their opinions and standings on it. It's not a matter of either one being able to do something about it. Although I do imagine at some level bills could be passed, supreme court justices could be selected, or departments heads selected that could change some sort of legislation which would affect it. Some sort of, it is illegal to perform abortions without such and such medical certification or something. I don't know, I'm not a law expert but I'm sure there is a way for something like that to occur.

Mind over matter.

That's my belief. So, I agree with everyone! Whatever you believe will heal you, will. Of course there are limitations to this. You have to be getting the basics from somewhere. You can't sit around and eat Doritos all day and expect to fight off disease. I usually just wait out sickness or pain. Usually some Ibuprofin gets me through the pain. Other than that I have taken medicine one other time in the past 8 years. I don't count vitamins or prozac in that though. I have taken this road more out of lack of choice than choice. I cannot afford medical insurance and I'm afraid of free clinics. So unless if something is REALLY wrong I won't be going to the doctor anytime soon. I think that's the only time for a doctor, when something keeps you from going through daily life. I don't mean a little discomfort either, I mean something that STOPS you. Using doctors for small things is what leads to addictions and worse problems latter.

On the heartburn thing. I get it pretty bad, I have paid attention to when I get it though and know when to expect it. If people would just change their eating habits then they would be fine. Americans are especially stupid and stubborn though. They eat Taco Bell, get heartburn, and scream "oh my god! I've got acid reflux disease!!!!1!!!!". For me the solution is milk. One glass of milk "puts the fire out" for me. So when I do get stupid and eat something that I know will give me heartburn, I just make sure I've got some milk nearby.

later,
-junc

Fantastic post Evil. I became interested in that "pop formula" a while back and had plans to remix an Avril Lavigne album. By remixing of course I mean tearing apart and glitching back together in the most noise infested way possible I will have to pick that project back up sometime and perhaps add your information into it.

As far as music creation goes I can only offer the advice of play what makes you happy. If that's the pop song formula, then cool. Personally though, I don't understand the point. I mean, if you want to play songs with that awesome pop hook so that it will make you famous, then I promise you, YOU WILL FAIL. Both as a musician and songwriter. However if you find making that music interesting and inspiring then go for it. As an experimental musician of course I never "write" songs. I usually start with a noise, melody, or sample and build from there. Once I reach a point of 4 to 6 minutes I stop. I record the entire song as a wave file, dump it into soundforge, remaster it for CD, and that's it. One take, take it or leave it. This is the process I find interesting and inspiring though. All in all just make sure you are having fun or your audience will never be doing the same.

later,
-junc

Following up on more of the "why Bush?" thing. I have a co-worker that I know supports Bush so today I asked him why. Although it took a bit to get it out of him he eventually said he's pro-life. For many people this is a HUGE deal. Regardless of the good they may see in Kerry or bad in Bush, they are still going to cast their vote pro-life (therefore, pro-Bush). Later in the day I asked him what he thought of the patriot act. He had of course heard of it but didn't know much about it. I told him about Homeland security and unifying intelligence agencies and he seemed to know about that part. He was unaware of "sneak and peak", suspected terrorists being arrested and not given legal representation, etc. It actually really sparked something with him. He values his privacy and freedom.

On another note I was told the other day that the US doesn't observe or honor the Geneva Convention in regards to terrorists? Is this true? Has anyone confirmed or heard of this? Kind of falls along the lines of the whole international crimes court thing. No accountability for us, but everybody else should be accountable. These are the kinds of things that push me over into the conspiracy theorists area...the dictatorship is coming...

Oh, and DG, what the heck!? It scares me when people from a different country may be more well informed about my state than I am! Thanks for the link, that comes on in two hours and I'm going to watch it. I will try to remember to comment back here after I see it.

later,
-junc

EDIT:

Wow.

I'm stupid

ABC does not stand for American BroadcastingÃ,  Corporation (or whatever the "C" stands for) it stands for Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Thinking like an American... :

Here is the transript though:
http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2004/s1217992.htm

["we"]

I have been trying to come to grips with why people like Bush.

In the end it just has to be that they relate with him. I will try to explain that in the least demeaning way possible.

Americans suffer in two ways from this "we" problem:

One, how we don't think about what the rest of the world thinks. If it were not for these forums I wouldn't think in such "worldly" or global terms. It has been ingrained in me. It is a constant struggle for me to view things from a world perspective versus an American one.

Two, internally we suffer from a similiar problem. Those exposed to colleges, larger cities (and even not so large cities), and intellectuals in general are very detached from the rest of America. Living on a college campus I was much more aware of the issues in my country, even without seeking them out. Away from this free flowing knowledge these things must be sought out. Most Americans "don't have the time" and are generally uninterested in these things. Most Americans watch the 6 o'clock news and draw all of their knowledge from there. The other day I watched the 6 o'clock news and 10 minutes was dedicated to the Ohio State University football game, 10 minutes to weather, 5 minutes to local fires/car accidents, and the rest divided between world news and commercials.

I think many Americans, mainly "well informed" ones, are not sympathetic to the people that fall into category two. They just don't understand why those people don't seek out that knowledge. In truth they often have no concept as to how those people think. I think that this is why there is such a great divide in this years election and in politcal topics today in general.

Over the past ten years communication has sped up tenfold. Tenfold to an already blazing fast communication system. Urban areas are much more likely to be drowned in this communication while rural areas recieve a lighter flow.

By saying this I'm not saying that Bush supporters are idiots or uninformed. I'm just saying that they only see the good side of Bush. They blame the bad things on someone else and aren't as likely to question it. They still trust America and blind patriotism runs high. There is also a new fear rising. A fear of being painted unpatriotic by speaking out against things. This would affect Rural residents much more strongly than Urban residents.

That is just my theory as to why the country is so divided. You have two different cultures trying to co-exist in America and they are so far apart that they are unable to understand each other. It is not a financial gulf, but a technology gulf in many ways. It is a new problem that the world has not had to deal with yet. It's not a matter of the technology being inaccessible, I think it's a matter of fearing technology and being raised without it. It's also about different uses of technology.

In closing, no I cannot defend Bush, because I am unable to understand him or his supporters. Even if someone did come here to support Bush, they would seem unsuccesful in many of our eyes. The divide to too great.

later,
-junc

Luckily, I have a financial hardship deferment on my loans. So, I have some time to get that money together. I still won't have to pay until after graduation so long as I get back in school soon.

I really think that student loans fall into the same category as other debt though. It's based on the same ideas. I agree with most of what you say if you remove the student loan factor. However, I think the mentality of many Americans is more like: "now that I'm so far in debt, what's a few more thousand dollars?" I know I've felt that way at times.

Something that may intrest you:

http://www.communitysolution.org/pdfs/NS2.pdf

It's about Cuba and how they are surviving with minimal help from the outside world. I think the section on hospitals is really interesting and drives Chris's point about doctors home.

I also think that people becoming doctors "just for the money" has a lot to do with massive malpractice suits. I think you are lot less likely to make a mistake at something if you don't have your heart into it, and just your wallet. Not that I believe that is the only reason for mad-crazy lawsuits, but I do think it contributes.

Your previous post about alternative fuels was really great by the way (not sure if I mentioned that or not). I found it entertaining that Bush mentioned Ethanol and Biodiesel in the debate. If I'm not mistaken didn't Bush push for Hydrogen research that involved refining Hydrogen with Petroleum, but not other, cleaner means? Being Captain Cowboy Oil Man I highly doubt that he is intrested in alternative fuels in any way that could solve our "energy crisis".

later,
-junc

EDIT: Oh yeah, I forgot.

getting romantically involved like that isn't such a great idea and I've tried to avoid it until I can afford to

You are SOOOOO screwed buddy. Look for love, be desperate, then you will never find it. Avoid it, run from it and hide, and it will find you. Love falls onto people, people don't fall in love.

So, Shbaz, I'm currently $35,000 in debt, I currently have NO way of paying it back. Does this make me an idiot?

See, the catch is that $35,000 is in college loans. Last year I left school to be a Truck Driver (

As someone who has went to college to learn something that most people in the world aren't willing to even think about, you don't feel you deserve higher pay than a truck driver or a janitor? I think you do.

What do I think again?). My point of leaving school was to pay those loans down in the event that my fiance' were to get pregnant/so we could get married/so we could buy a house (you know, American dream bullcrap). It gets all twisted around though. By leaving school I will never make more than $50,000 (and of course, to earn that much, never see my family). By staying in school I have to put family on hold until I am almost 40 years old (I am 30 right now). Basically, I'm wanting to go back to school now, but because of stress and the situation last year I screwed up my financial aid. I have to somehow pay for a quarter of school. I currently work in fast food and pulling $1000 out of a fast food job is going to take a bit of time.

What's the point of my life story?

By calling me...

the idiot who let himself be exploited

...you are looking at things in a very narrow view. I'm not buying a Dodge with a Hemi, I'm trying to educate and better myself. However, my pressure is more about buying a house, getting married, and raising children. It's a huge amount of pressure to deal with, and VERY real in my world. That pressure has put me into debt and at the same time makes it difficult to follow through with my education.

eh,
-junc

For those of you that don't know the 2nd round of debates are coming on in about an hour and a half. I think it's 2AM GMT, 9PM Eastern Time(US).

For more info about the debates and transcripts (sorry if this was posted earlier), check out: http://www.debates.org/

later,
-junc

Here, in case if you missed it:

My parents arent that rich.

My dad owns 4 orthodontic practices and makes about 650,000 dollars before taxes

WHAT!?!?!?!?

later,
-junc