That's why I have a motorcycle... and it's broke...

and I aint fixin it.

Originally Posted by sepulchre

That's why I have a motorcycle... and it's broke...

and I aint fixin it.

Well, "the future is NOW" (used to be one of my FAV sayings in fact):

Practical Jetpack Available "Soon":

http://entertainment.slashdot.org/en.../1929201.shtml

... so, perhaps? You won't need one, in the future!



("Jetsons HERE WE COME")

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On a more "serious" note: Bikes are great on gas man, you KNOW this... consider it, because the cost of fuel's getting "stupid"... so much so, I don't even take 'joyrides/sunday drives' etc. anymore, just to save a few bux!

APK

P.S.=> Now, back to my 'flippant silliness':

"The 21st century (Coming to a theatre NEAR YOU)"... lol!

Hey, whatever you do man? DO NOT LAND IN MY GARDEN NEAR MY PRECIOUS PLANTS!!! lol... should you end up an "early adopter" of these jet pack things!

Heh, I don't need my cherry tomato crop 'scorched down' by rocket exhausts, etc.

Speaking of which? I posted photos of it last page, so you can "peruse my progress"...

(They're coming along man, & banana peels (finely cut up), per YOUR suggestion no less (so you DO sort of "have a hand in it" no less) ARE 'part of the program' in my personal "growth experiment", which is what this garden, really IS to me (besides free food))... apk

I'll take one to go, please. How many credits will that cost me, Mr. Jetson?

A few years ago, I thought about buying either a Misquito Ultralight Helicopter or a gyrocopter (different names now...autogyro). Both were relatively inexpensive and there wasn't any licensing required. I thought this would be a great way to get to our camp in a quicker and cheaper fashion. It was a great idea, but not convenient for taking camping gear, supplies, etc. It was more or less for just taking me. And it was awfully cold in the winter when buzzing around 300 to 500 feet off the ground, and they were limited to sight navigation. No go without the sunlight.

The next biggest problem was the air time. I needed about an hour, and that's about how long they were flying at the time. So, unless I landed in the same spot as I took off, there wasn't any available fuel. The nice thing about the gyrocopter is that it would still auto rotate to make a comfortable descent when out of gas and not provide the exciting drop of the auto rotating mini-chopper.

So, I played, but never purchased one of my own.

And that was my closest experience to a jetpack, though I did see a guy have on a backpack helicopter. However, that looked insane to me.

Today, I dreamed of flying around in a helicopter. But the fuel for one large enough to do what I would want to do now is beyond me and I'll still drive over to my camp in my faithful truck.

Speaking of gas mileage... I have a Kawasaki Mule that does really well on a 5 gallon tank of gas. I wish it was street legal so small trips to the grocery store or picking up my son would be more economically feasible. Hey, they use 'em in other countries!

I did run it today, as I do every couple of days, to keep it in "shape". Up to the powerlines, around through the woods, and back home to the driveway.

Dave

Well, FINALLY, I'm able to 'get out' tonite, & hit the "inner harbor block party" which is nearby the lake near my home (for once this summer, I've only gone once before):

Going to see a pal of mine's band called (lol, get ready for THIS) -> "3 inch Fury"... He's really REALLY outstanding on guitar...

(Heck, he has been since we were young guys around 16 or so (e.g.-> He could play the entire RUSH 2112 "overture" even then, & to me? That's good!))



* Anyhow - I'll be there, & looking forward to it (well, not seeing this one particular ex of mine, as she sometimes goes there, but... what can you do?)

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EDITING LATER (after the above): Missed my friends' band, I figured they'd be the "2nd act" of the 2 bands... I was wrong!

... Which was a bit of a let down missing them, but heard 2nd band, who's very good (I heard singer has cancer in his throat tonite though, man, too bad - he's very good, good entertainer) - contemporary/modern rock/heavy metal stuff, new tunes on radio mostly (which HAS to be work, learning them etc. to play out).

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Saw a very good old friend too, who had a falling out w/ me years ago, but we've been friends again for years (he, his wife, & I - she's cool too, she keeps him happy, & this is what counts, right?), it was excellent seeing him & trading "so, what's been up with you?" for about, oh, 2 hours, to good tunes!

I hadn't seem him for a couple years is why, sometimes, it's a cool treat - glad I went @ this point.

* And, now, I am home - finally.

APK

P.S.=> LOL, Dave: "Mule" hehe, that's my many years nickname for my brother!

(Heck - he HITS like a mule kicks - very strong, naturally, but he works out like a fiend too, which makes it even worse - put it THIS way, & I've told him this: "If you ever try to hit me? I WILL RUN" (I can still outrun him, lol, I think))...

Then again: I always tell him "Hey, remember who changed your diapers when you were a baby - I never let you sit around in soiled pants" lol, & also the fact I stuck up for him when older kids bullied him. Nobody touched "my little bro'"... my pointing this all out, lol, this calms his jets, usually (heck, I think we've only had 1-2 arguments our whole lives though).

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Anyhow/anyways: I've never seen this vehicle you speak of... is it an "ATV" of somekind?

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Anyways, your experience is closer than mine to "jetson-ism", because the craziest thing I ever did in the air, was jump off falls & bridges, up to 70ft. or so in the air...

(With friends, & many beers when I was like 19 or so, & when their girlfriends' did it, man... I had to - glad I did, as it's actually FUN, once you conquer the init. terror, you want to do it again & again).

Still - I wouldn't recommend it. I knew a guy named Harold who died from it (split his guts open upon impact on the water) too bad too, Harold was A-OK, by APK, by all means too!

Well, that bridge + falls hopping, & also flying in jets. That's safer & less scary, by far.

Anyhow/Oh, also - I would LOVE to have an "autogyro", being diff. or not doesn't bug me... I never was one to become "just like everybody else" pre-pressed cookie cutter style, etc. et al...

(E.G.-> Like owning the same ride everyone else has (cool car I like, or not, it somehow lessens it - everyone's GOT one! However/then again, I know people who have like Mustang clubs & race, & all kinds of cool stuff too, learning more about them from one another in a friendly competition but trading tricks too, so... whatever floats someone's boat & makes them happy is cool enough)

See, on 'stangs' in particular? Well - I wanted one, V-8 type, but didn't want to float a payment too long financing, & pay cash in full on cars, or TINY loan only (sub 2k max) on cars!

Imo - there's 1 problem to them: Depreciation (not so much value, most devalue until 20yr. classic, but has to be a good car, but physically... sooner or later, keeping a car alive "nickel & dimes" you to death, especially if daily driven, up north (salt on roads for winters rots the frame & floorboards, eventually, & faster than locations nationwide that don't have to use salt on roads vs. winter)).

HOWEVER - Since "the future is now" in incredible gas prices? Well - it has to be decent on gas, no "putting you in the poorhouse" stuff, you know?? That'd be my 1 criteria of ownership (cars, OR this autogyro thingie you mentioned) Especially today.

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AND, now, @ last? Time for "ZZZZZzzzzz²²²²²²", g-nite all... apk

Watching a "T-Storm" happen, w/ a cup of STRONG tea...

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... & just taking a break from coding that app I am doing:



(AND, in coding it - I am taking my time too, because right now, as is, it works JUST FINE, for hosts file mgt. & alterations etc., PLUS - I have nothing to 'prove' anymore in this "art & science" anymore (did that, a decade++ ago or more anyhow))...

The FTP code I intend to insert into it. so users can download a FULLY current HOSTS file that is patched vs. bad adbanners & bad websites (from another full-blown FTP system I had done in the past, & is proven + works) is only a 1 hr. tops, to put in, test, & be done with it, anyways... not much work, not really.

Besides - I don't think it's going to be 'popular' anyhow, & solely the "province of geeks" as far as who will use it anyhow.

HOSTS files seem to be that way, even though their 'uptake' by "normal end-users" is growing, just judging by posts about them I see @ various forums online nowadays.

However - HOSTS files are still a long ways from "common-knowledge acceptance" for the "mainstream user", imo, which basically stands for most folks online.

Too bad... they work wonders for BOTH speed & security online.

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Anyhow - I went to my pal Marc's place last night, after he called me + asked what he ought to do since his system was hosed.

I headed over there, & cleaned his 2nd machine of spywares (376 of them) & viruses (4 of them)....

So - I did his XP machine this time, & apparently, he was pleased regarding the result I got him on his VISTA laptop earlier, a couple weeks ago. Easy "$", once again (nice lil' $50 in fact, cheap, considering most places charge that per hour (or, more)).

I was there until 2:15 a.m. (from around, oh 11:00 p.m. or so) doing this, & we basically didn't "keep @ it steady" but, hung out & talked a lot too, about "people, places, & things" we know of etc. (small talk - which is why I took so long doing all of this)...

I FINALLY finished it up remotely this a.m., via phonecall, on SpyBot S&D final run + AVG free edition final run (both came up clean, finally).

(Heh, he had some "difficult ones" that demanded safemode runs, etc. et al!)

I also "speed tuned" his rig, AND "security-hardened" it as well, per the guide I put up across the web this year...

So, thus - He should be "all set" for years into the distance!

(Assuming he will listen to my warnings about javascript + iframes & various "vulnerable apps" - I doubt he will, most folks unfortunately, do not + are unable to 'identify' which sites are known as bad (my HOSTS file helps them there though, as it will he @ this point (both his systems house my current one)).

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Anyhow - today?

Not a single "nerdy thing" is going-down here, no coding, no helping others on forums in tech-issues, no work related tasks... just PURE 110% "chilling out"/relaxing...



APK

P.S.=> Editing now - well, I just can't "sit still", apparently, because I got a WEE bit "industrious" today:

I built a brick barrier wall around my garden, looks nice - a lot 'classier' & 'more formal' now by all means... pretty cool, because the woods around my home has bricks galore all thru their interior, because the LAST BRICK STREET is near my home in this city, & apparently the fellas who built it must have 'done lunch' in the shade of the trees, & left bricks galore throughout it, over a century ago or so iirc... apk

Here is that which I mentioned @ the "tail-end" of my former posting here yesterday, above:



Personally, I think that looks a LOT better than it was w/ out the brick border around it!

(... & it stops the hose I use to water it from "banging into" the posts I use to suspend the plants off the ground, AND most importantly, from hitting the plants themselves (which are NOT hard to break imo & experience, it's actually pretty easy to bust their stems & what-not)).



This illustrates what I found AND where I found it being an improvement to do, which stalls LIGHT hitting the soil, which is where anything here begins... including weeds: This 'trick' has proven fairly effective vs. they too!

(It first manifested itself as an improvement (in keeping weed growth down to a minimum, lessening a burden/task I do, in weeding them out), on the "vampire" plant's area, he is the "runt-of-the-litter", because something snapped him, early on, 1st few days into the soil, no less!)

Initially, this then broken plant received a LOT better treatment than the other surrounding plants, because he was broken to a nub + 1 leaf only, & I didn't think he'd survive (THUS, hence his "nickname" there, because he "rose from the dead")...

The stones laid in around he tended to keep less weeds from sprouting up around he!

So... the rest is history - & I continued it to the "Nth degree", doing it across the rest of my 'plantation' here.



&



There's one: "Caught-In-The-Act" - Those Bumblebees I noted a page or 2 back in this thread (in our discussions regarding they & honeybees)...

They are helping this garden out, bigtime, via the 'strange-effect' only THEY are capable of, even vs. regular honeybees, & that is "buzz-pollination"...

I followed he about on a couple flowers, "doing his thing", the results of which, is this photo next below:



These are still "green", but, there are a LOT more, & far closer to "ripe-red" than that... these? A week away, tops... &, there's 100's like that, on nearly EVERY plant too!

(Can't wait: They're going to be GREAT eating (I have not tried one yet, & so far only 2 red ones came out, so far))

HOWEVER - 1 person has tried them (... &, that'd be my little 6 yr. old niece)

She said they are "very good", yesterday, as she came by to visit, & then also helped me water the garden + gather stones to place around its borders etc. (she is SUCH a "good little helper", always).



* Heh, her going BACK for that 2nd ripe-red one, spoke worlds to me: The very fact she went back for "2nd helpings" verifies her statement to me, by ALL means!



A parting note on that last photo, which I discovered in my tenant's section of this garden:

"A Morning Glory"

(I thought it was beautiful, thus, I thought I'd share it w/ you... &, there 'tis!)

APK

P.S.=> Well, time to "take off" now, My brother's coming over to visit & he drives for 10++ hours/many 100's of miles to get here, so, gotta go & get ready... later! apk

Well, some 'decent news':



I "got off easy" on the brakejob - it only cost me $19 for the rear pads, & I didn't need rotors (no grooving/pitting was present, etc.)... Thank Goodness!

(That purchase would've been another $70 U.S. Dollars for the rear pair - & THOSE are the std. editions (BUT: Solid-Type, not "ribbed" design - I like these a LOT better, stronger imo & longer lasting/less tendency to "warp" too), but they're not of vented/slotted/drilled gas escape type, like you see on racers, etc. (they cost a fortune)).

Yes - I may get some "uneven brake wear" by only doing the rears, but, I can turn around & do the fronts later (cheaper pads too than rears), like next week (if need be, they're almost like new, which was ODD - usually my rears wear WAY slower than my fronts on most cars I've owned, 90% of stopping power in front & all that)....

AND

I "lucked out" on any labor charges!

Here, I got lucky, because it turned out my pal Jack has the C-clamp (editing, NOT really a TRUE "C" shaped clamp (which I used to use on other disc brake setups), but sort of like pliers, can't remember the name... not grip pliers either, since this vehicle's brake caliper has the 'screw in/out "puck"' thing arrangement, instead of a normal brake piston-cylinder... oh well, you get the point)

... & a BIG 2.5 ton floor jack (plus a garage to do this in as well, not that it's REALLY needed, but, "what-the-hey") + jack stands (I used to have all this stuff too, ticks me off, I seem to have lost it (probably during moves in my life))

I did it w/ out "bleeding the lines" (brake fluid drain, & pump pedal takes 2 guys, & refill with fresh fluid etc.), & doing it myself I saved $50...

For around 2 hours of my time, tops (hard part, as usual, is putting them back on, PLUS I was filthy).



* Happy guy about this, all-in-all... saved some money & all that stuff!

APK

P.S.=> So, with the $75 or so that I saved on 2 rear rotors, AND the $50 labor I was quoted (instead, doing it myself)? $120 U.S. Dollars total/approximately (that I counted on spending, but didn't have to, Thank Goodness!)??

Well - I then went & picked 5 quarts of Mobil 1 15,000 extended wear Synthetic oil (best kind as far as I am concerned) + a Purolator "PURE 1" filter (again - best of its kind, imo @ least - I was going to do this a couple months back but "other things" got in my face, money-wise, so since the miles weren't there yet on last change? I put it off, until NOW), a 'generic' passenger side wiper blade (it was bad), & some "TireWet" (makes sidewalls nice & black + shiny)...

So - In summation, it ran me $65 total U.S. Dollars, for stuff I'd need eventually in OIL + FILTER (The latter stuff being TOTALLY 'top notch stuff', too). See - I may "skimp" on brake parts, by going w/ "stock-oem" stuff, & mainly because I can do this work myself & just have to do it a bit more often is all (vs. higher-end longer lasting pads for instance), because for me?

Labor costs don't enter the picture since I do it myself, & in using "stock-oem" parts, I just have to do it a BIT more often is all, no biggie.

(ON OIL + FILTER, no way, here I do NOT 'skimp' - this IS the 'secret' to keeping cars alive, imo @ least)!

Anyhow/anyways:

What I saved? That leaves me around $60 free, to take my brother out when he gets back from fishing (he is on vacation up here, fly-fishing & today he's out w/ his daughter (my lil' niece) @ a place called "Darien Lake" so she can have fun & they can enjoy one another's time, unimpeded by others))

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All-in-all - it cost me a heck of a LOT less than I estimated, because I did the work myself, + got GOOD prices on pads (surprised me, foreign car & all).

See - I went "high" on the costs initially, because of it being foreign car, & typically their parts usually run more - but, these were very inexpensive for the pads @ least (they're generic ones really, semi-metallic vs. ceramic iirc)!

The oil change will need doing in another 3,000 miles or so (I ran my last change of it for 7,000 - 10,000 miles of the 15,000 miles this oil is rated for, & it is USUALLY what I end up doing anyhow)... glad I 'snagged' the filter & quarts now though, got a 'decent' price, via NAPA.

Yes - "Things have a way of working out", & for the best, @ times - & this WAS "one of those times" imo... apk

Heh, @ the "twilight of the day" here today, I was out enjoying the yard @ sunset!

... &, I came upon something "fairly interesting" here, that I thought I'd share with you all.

(Especially considering there is a film out there now that did great recently, in Marvel's "IRON MAN" starring Mr. Robert Downey Jr., of the SAME name!)

Tony Stark, step aside, & "make way" for the REAL 'IRON MAN':



* That tree's an INTERESTING one, because if you note upon observation? He really DOES have "iron innards", because he literally grew through & INTO a fence here!

(I thought it was pretty cool... & I gave him the 'nickname' IRON MAN, years ago in fact...)

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AND, the 2nd part? Heck, good results from the "octopus' garden", in red-ripe cherry tomatoes on the way soon, but these are the "prototypes" that are ready to eat now:



* Going to eat those, right now, after I post this in fact... GOOD stuff (editing later, lol, next day - I never got to them, but, once more? My niece came by w/ my bro' & she got them once again - she's a "tomato girl", for sure!)



APK

P.S.=> On my way to that "inner harbor party" get-together once more today (week later since last one) & this time, it's w/ my bro'... & then, we're going to see the film "The Dark Knight"... anyone seen it?

I keep hearing its good, & Christian Bale is one of my FAV. "thespians" (man has range, & an UNBELIEVEABLE mastery of accents of diff. nations, such as "U.S. English" vs. his native tongue, British English (inventors of the language itself))... plus, he's one dedicated person to his trade, because if you've seen "The Machinist" & also "American Psycho"? He changes his physique radically even to make his roles more believable... that's dedication!

Personally? I only know of 1 other actor in history (well, two, Robert DeNiro is yet another who goes to such extremes, such as in "Raging Bull") who went to such lengths - Lon Chaney Sr. ...apk

Originally Posted by sepulchre

@apk: 1) In most cases I would go ahead and use the Integer type unless you have space / speed constraints. That way your program doesn't need to decide which type to use. Also, 'Integer' is a good indicator that the data being stored is a number whereas Short could be a numeric value or a string, so Integer would make the source code more easily understood.

Credit goes, where credit is due (in my book):

Sepulchre?

You were right on this account, but, in a sort of weird way (mistake on my part, silly one, more like typo imo, than anything... read on):

I recently said to myself, because of this which I quote from you, per our earlier discussion:

"Well, I had BETTER take another 'peek' @ the code per his advisement"

(Now, it's up to 1650++ hand-written fully err-trapped Object Pascal Delphi 7.1 non prefab via IDE lines currently, & yes, still minus FTP routines (but I have those & proven ones, so it's just a matter of cut & paste + adapt to THIS program really @ this point on this note - will probably end up @ around 1800 lines in the end I am estimating))...

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So - What did I find?

LOL - Myself declaring a var as SHORT (breaks down to variant type iirc & I think this was where you were leading to), when ShortInt does the job on a loop, FAR better, no variant resolution lag anymore...

Funniest part is? Well - I had it right on other loops like it, but not on one particular loop! LOL, very DUMB of myself, I felt! Hey - it happens... @ least this was 'caught' (it wouldn't have been found by users, but, the point's there) before anybody aside from 2 testers I have, used it, publicly.

EDIT: I even "got away" w/ declaring 1 'loop powering variable' (FOR loop) as BYTE type, albeit I do NOT think byte consumes anymore than 1 byte of memory, & I THINK this is the SAME, w/ ShortInt too... vs. others (variant taking up to 16 bytes, iirc, & Integer type taking up to 2 bytes etc. et al).

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Was it a typo/misspelling on my end?? I dunno, but what I do know is, is this:

You're 'warning' here did NOT go "unheeded" on my part... I just had to "loop back" (pun intended, because it was "powering" a loop, bad screwup imo, for performance) to it later is all.

(However, it's proof I am "not above reproach/mistakes" either... nobody is!)

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So, all-in-all/that said & aside? Well, lol, "in short" (pun intended)??

Thanks man!

Again - credit goes, where credit is due, & THIS? This is where I am GLAD I am "taking my sweet time" about this app... avoiding screwups, etc.. (oh, I am sure once it gets out there, IF I ever release it? There will be more, such as "useability issues" more than outright breakdowns... as this is after all, "the nature of the beast" in coding - the 'ultimate test' USERS, & all the myriad diff.'s in software + hardware configuration mixtures!)

My fav. mechanic puts it best:

"I'd rather be a Doctor of Medicine: They have 2 models only really (MALE, & FEMALE)... with cars? Way more than that!"

(Same with computers too imo, maybe even MORE variations in fact!)

APK

P.S.=> She's "that much faster" now (ns/ms diff. per hi-res timers I register w/ the OS to "tick off" how long each routines takes, & concentrating on slowest ones, showed this much already)... every bit, helps.

"God don't build no junk" as the saying goes... I do TRY, to do the same!

I have a SOLID & FAST algorithm for the "artist formerly known as my slowest routine" in the program pictured above/earlier (in the removal of repeat HOSTS files entries/normalization), & this helped!

Anyhow/anyways - Sharing ideas/tips/tricks/techniques OR even reminding others of what they may have forgotten... it's what forums, ARE, all about... apk

Well, we (my brother, my niece, & I) FINALLY got around to seeing the new film "THE DARK KNIGHT":



... & people? Go SEE IT - I completely HIGHLY recommend it!



Heath Ledger (God Rest his soul) did a FANTASTIC job as "The Joker" & @ times? I almost 'sympathized' w/ some of his views (believe-it-or-not, he makes you "think" w/ some of what he says)... especially this one:

"You either DIE a hero, OR, live long enough, to become 'the villain'"

* **** of a job on his part, in his "final curtain call", by all means... & Christian Bale is one of my "all time favs" on the "silver screen", by all means, PLUS, Harvey Dent was played to 'perfection', as "TWO FACE" as well...

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(Also - This film has more movie stars in it, per film, than I have seen in ages... &, I mean "BY THE TRUCKLOAD" (great ones, like Gary Oldman, & also Morgan Freeman but also, many, MANY others too), which was a good treat in & of itself ontop of it being a great film!)

APK

P.S.=> **** of a film, definitely "up there" w/ Marvel's "IRON MAN", by all means (however, Iron Man's still #1 in my book @ least, as it was a more "upbeat/happier" film, where the "Dark Knight", definitely is 'darker' in mood)... DC & Marvel have been "going @ it" forever, but this is proof that competition IMPROVES things... by all means! apk