Shoot the Breeze With the Cooler Crew - Peoplesforum Edition

The new server is up in test mode, and I'd like to invite anyone who's willing to come over and help test it out so we can make sure it's safe to move to.

Interested? Go here:

Unfortunately, that last big outage we just had was NOT us moving to the new server. With luck, though...it may be the last big outage we'll have for quite some time (with luck, I said!). The sooner we get the new site tested out, the sooner we can move. If all goes well, we will move it later today.

(The main surge of beta testing is done...but bonus points* still go to anyone who can break the beta site.)

Ares - Don't want to use any explosives where we are or where that tree stump is located. Too close to the house for that!

Bummed out about having to be back south tonight, but glad for the cable connection. That dialup is just unbelievably slow...and it's a good connection for a dialup.

Lance - Good luck with the testing.

Goodnight all! SCDs and MCL!

well that's the only thing really that kept us from using them, terry. the stump was about 5 feet from his neighbor's foundation. well there was that and the relative inaccessibility of explosives to us. of course there's always cornellier's in hudson. hmmmm.

Just thought we'd check in from the north woods! It was a beautiful day, sunny and 69! Only a few patches of snow left on the water soaked ground.
Went exploring, found another beach and a nice park. I also bought a Queen Anne Cedar Chest for $30, I LOVE the smell of cedar!

Sigh, back to the cities tomorrow afternoon.

morning sam(s).

It certainly isn't morning now!

So was it two weeks ago we were complaining about snow? This is a mighty big switch!

Anyone know where I might find an a/b switch for a parallel port?

compusa.

Thanks! I'll give them a call tomorrow. I would have thought any electronics place would have them...but Circuit City didn't and I hate shopping at Best Buy.

now see, i'd rather shop at big buy than circuit city. but that's just me. and i know compusa sells them. what do you need it for?

My son has been bugging my mom to get a web cam so when they chat with each other they can see each other. (He's in Michigan at school.)

My sister had one that has a parallel port and my Mom's computer only has the one port that the printer uses.

So now to get this set up for her, I need the a/b switch.

in that case, it'd probably be cheaper to buy a pci parallel port card. but less convenient on the installation end of things.

Thanks for that idea. I'll have to check out prices and come up with what's the better deal. The installation isn't too big a problem. I can handle that.

and its a lot more convenient to use down the road. no box on the desk taking up space. no forgetting to change it back and wondering why you can't print.

one more alternative if the computer has usb support is to buy a usb printer cable that has a usb connecter on one end and a printer "port" on the other. though i think that's probably the more expensive choice, its also the absolute *most* convenient. unless the printer needs to talk back to the computer.

and i can't believe i missed that joe.

ok. looking at compusa.com:

the usb to parallel port cable is $47.41
the cheapest switch is $16.43 i also don't know which way these are meant to go. 2 computers to one printer or 2 printers to one computer. plus there's the extra cost of extra cables
they've got a pci parallel adapter for $19.99

personally, i'd go with the pci card if there's space.

You guys are a wealth of information! Thanks!

the parallel port card(did a search for parallel pci)
the usb->parallel cable(did a search for parallel usb and mentally filtered out all the printers)
the parallel port switch(did a search for parallel switch) and you'll need at least one cable at 5 and a half bucks.

and you're welcome :)

With the parallel port card, I wouldn't need a cable as there is one with the camera.

There is a USB port available - but that seems a bit pricier.

How much are web cams to begin with? I didn't think they cost all that much, do they?

yup, and yup. (dammit, me2, i have *got* to stop chatting with you! i'm saying yup when i should be saying yep. lol :)

check out the products made by xirlink. not a whole lot more expensive than the parallel port card. i believe i actually have one of these. if i could figure out how to get it to flip the image vertically i'd be set.

You know what's a tad bit irritating? Things keep changing so quickly that anything you got a year ago is outdated and to make it work you need to spend more money. This computer business is a racket.

yes it is! and its precisely why i build my own machines. i get *exactly* what i want, plus a bunch of room to grow and change things around when technology advances. that way i only spend more money a little bit at a time :)

the exception to that rule being a laptop. i'll let someone build that (for obvious reasons) and my manufacturer of choice is dell. and when i do buy it, it's gonna be as loaded as i can order it, for no reason other than that i can't upgrade the thing! of course, my dream laptop is currently priced out at a touch over 4 thousand. (hence the dream :)

My Mom's computer is a Dell. The only reason she wants the camera is to chat with the kid.

Dell makes a darn good computer. Hope your dream comes true there, Ares.

I'm going to head out and get underwater and between sheets.

Goodnight, SCDs MCL and thanks for all the suggestions! Gives me lots of directions to go with the whole deal.

oh, it'll come true, terry. its just a matter of when i want to start paying interest on the 4 grand dropped on my credit card. but i do plan to have it before the next hunt! hopefully at&t will be rolling out decent wireless internet access here by then so i'll be set!

g'nite, ter. scd's and mcl back atcha. speaking of that, i ought to be hitting the sheets too.

mornin' sam(s).

mornin'Ralph. I haven't been able to get on here for a bit, I kept getting the "server cannot be found" thingy. My e-mail is messed up, too, and Matt is stil in CA, and can't save me. ...So I've been busy doing other things, like laundry.:)

An Earthward directed coronal mass ejection associated with a minor
long-duration solar flare on 15 April is expected to impact the Earth later
on 17 April (UTC time) and produce periods of enhanced auroral activity that
may at times become visible over fairly widespread middle latitude regions.
Although this disturbance does not appear to be capable of producing
significant auroral storm activity, the potential may exist for periods of
localized strong activity at times during the disturbance. As a result,
observers are encouraged to keep a close eye on conditions. The near new
phase of the moon will provide optimally dark skies for this disturbance.

Good Morning!

Have a way cooler day everyone...I'm outta here for another fun-filled day. Looks like I may be heading out later tonight for some light viewing.

...Northern lights, planet alignments, think I need to do a PM road trip!!!Way Cool! Thanx Terry!

got a specific zulu time for that, terry?

kt, the server's been misbehaving lately. its not just you.

TY, Ares. I thought that might be the case...as I was able to get to all the other sites I haunt. I'm thinking about the air-con getting used today... As for the planet deal, that starts about an hour after sunset, and goes on for about a month.Jupiter, Mars, Saturn,Venus,& Mercury.Nifty. Have a great day all!

most definitely on the a/c. for once, i'm appreciating the cool breeze blowing in my office! its 77 in here already, 76 on the window. that'll probably manage 110 or better as the day goes on.

Seems today computer time has been quick and almost non-existent.

Looks like clouds are the course for this evening...but the aurora monitor isn't too active yet. Perhaps this storm system will bring clearer skies tomorrow night...and if we get lucky, the aurora will pick then to get dancing.

Need to get a few things ready here for tomorrow.

Goodnight, SCDS and MCL!!

mornin' sam.

Saw that. I didn't get it either.

Good Evening.

I think put together that's crian. Hmmmmmm

Just up from a nap. Hoping for some aurora activity this evening. Here's the latest info.

LAST UPDATE: 17 APRIL 2002, 23:00 UTC (7:00 pm EDT 17 April):

Space weather conditions are presently only modestly favorable for producing
periods of auroral substorm activity. The disturbance appears to be in
decline. However, observers over North America should watch conditions
closely. There are often periods of reintensification near the trailing
edges of disturbances. Solar wind velocity is currently high enough that a
sustained southward turning of the IMF (even a fairly minor one) may result
in periods of fairly strong substorm activity.

This disturbance was the result of the early arrival of the full halo
coronal mass ejection reported on 15 April.

A second potentially more significant coronal mass ejection was observed
earlier today (17 April). This second CME is also headed Earthward and may
have a larger impact on the Earth when it impacts on 19 April.

I don't know, except he replied to 'Jebby'

I guess we knew that tho.

evenin' sam.

well, i've just gotten back from sitting at the information session on the master's degree program at the u. let's see. $22,600 spread out over 3 calendar years, the company will pay up to $6000 per calendar year, that's $4600 out of my pocket. yeah, i think i can live with that. plus, i get the pieces of education that i managed to slink my way out of 4 years ago, yet find myself using anyway.

actually i'm only doing this cuz my sister's gonna be getting a doctor of pthamology degree. i gotta be dr. ares before she becomes dr. erin :)

of course this is all contingent on me actually getting off my butt and applying, but since 3 of my co-workers were there tonite, one more has already been accepted for the fall, an incentive shouldn't be that hard to find.

Good for you, Ares!

My kid is almost done with his masters and has considered doing his doctorate - though will probably do that piece by piece instead of full time - and probably after a break. He's applied for Peace Corps and a job opportunity has presented itself as well.

He figures even if all he ends up wanting to do is haul garbage, the process of getting the educaiton is priceless.

actually, what i really want is a phd in math. but if i do that i'd be completely starting from scratch post-graduate-wise. so i'd probably settle for a phd in computer science. that and i wouldn't be required to learn italian or german or russian.

and with that, i'm off to bed. mcl and scd's.

I think I'm heading out here. Might take a drive to find some clearer skies. The auroral activity indicators are all up and on the rise.

Goodnight and SCDs everyone!

Ahha! Made it through reading without locking up or getting kicked off! Hows everyone?

Terry, did you see any aurora activity? I saw the planets aligned, that was cool, but it was getting cloudy and I was too close to the city to see the aurora.

fillin the pot with French Roast...

stocking cold beverages...

big pan of carmel nut rolls...

MCL ya'll!

mmmm. caramel nut rolls.

mornin' sam.