Tinypliny's Journal
My Podcast Link
10/12/2011 21:55 #55285
The Good, The Bad, The UglyCategory: music
favourites$absolutelyawesome <- which(YoYoMa == 'Amazing' & Ennio Morricone == 'Genius')
10/12/2011 19:24 #55284
Back on Fedora. Installing mp3/ape codecs.Category: linux
My super-generous brother swapped out my crappy problematic System76 PanP7 this past weekend. As a result, I now have a brawny top-of-the-line quad core i7 8GB RAM Toshiba Satellite P750 with Dolby advanced audio and Harman/Kardon speakers. 
I have no idea why anyone would go through with this completely imbalanced swap but he did. It defies all logic. I guess I will always remain the little kid in the family who makes rotten decisions and constantly needs rescue.
And so I am back on Fedora 15 lovelock. Because that is my brother's preferred linux distro. Apparently he has now brute-forced F15 on the System76. I hope it works out for him. Since he has an internet connection that matches the century we live in (as opposed to the paleolithic lowly dial-up equivalent DSL that I have), the laptop didn't have any mp3 or ape codecs (because he streams all his media from the cloud).
Thankfully there is an easy way to make it old-world compatible.
In the terminal, type:
I have no idea why anyone would go through with this completely imbalanced swap but he did. It defies all logic. I guess I will always remain the little kid in the family who makes rotten decisions and constantly needs rescue. And so I am back on Fedora 15 lovelock. Because that is my brother's preferred linux distro. Apparently he has now brute-forced F15 on the System76. I hope it works out for him. Since he has an internet connection that matches the century we live in (as opposed to the paleolithic lowly dial-up equivalent DSL that I have), the laptop didn't have any mp3 or ape codecs (because he streams all his media from the cloud).
Thankfully there is an easy way to make it old-world compatible.
In the terminal, type:
sudo c rpm -ivh http://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-stable.noarch.rpm rpm -ivh http://download1.rpmfusion.org/nonfree/fedora/rpmfusion-nonfree-release-stable.noarch.rpm yum -y install gstreamer-plugins-bad gstreamer-plugins-ugly xine-lib-extras-nonfree gstreamer-ffmpeg
10/11/2011 15:32 #55277
Chris Rock!Category: the odes
I said Hi to Chris Rock early yesterday morning in the Highline Park. I was so surprised that I didn't really say anything much. I just said
Hiiiii!
like a stupid teenager.
After all the musings about what I would say if I ever ran across a hollywood star I really like, I just managed an extended single syllable.
He did say hello back, but what a ridiculously generic thing to say!
Hiiiii!
like a stupid teenager.
After all the musings about what I would say if I ever ran across a hollywood star I really like, I just managed an extended single syllable.
He did say hello back, but what a ridiculously generic thing to say!
lilho - 10/11/11 23:24
super cool!
super cool!
mike - 10/11/11 21:50
soooo jealous! You are a celebrity sighter now!
soooo jealous! You are a celebrity sighter now!
metalpeter - 10/11/11 17:53
To bad you couldn't think of one of his bits and do a play off on it like "Hey Chris How much for like and autograph do I get for 5 cents".... If you didn't know their is some bit where he is a guy who is trying to buy part of a rib.....
To bad you couldn't think of one of his bits and do a play off on it like "Hey Chris How much for like and autograph do I get for 5 cents".... If you didn't know their is some bit where he is a guy who is trying to buy part of a rib.....
10/07/2011 09:16 #55259
Why I don't like Amazon anymore.Category: opinion
I got an email from (e:enknot) today morning. He is getting Amazon prime membership. He wants 5 more folks to join so that costs could be lower for everyone for the same kind of benefits. Sounds pretty good, but I am unfortunately passing on this very generous offer.
I had Amazon Prime for the whole of last year. It made me buy all sorts of irrational things, really. There was an element of thrill in getting something delivered in 2 days flat.
Then the wok drama happened (e:tinypliny,54693) I know this is probably going to sound petty. But the wok was in my shopping cart and I was definitely going to buy it that day. The price suddenly spiked up more than 2x the original cost just as I was taking the preliminary steps to go through the checkout process (And no, I don't have the one click magic phrase because I think it's such nonsense)!
I sent a nasty letter of complaint to Amazon and heard back from the customer service team. According to them the prices on Amazon are fair market prices (or something to that effect) and it's not under their control. I was annoyed and deleted the wok from the shopping cart. Needless to say the wok magically sprang back to its original lower price when I did.
If this had happened once or even twice I would have overlooked it but this kind of price jumping has happened quite a few times for me in the past. They definitely monitor the shopping carts of people in general (because I receive target email that explicitly says that it is for things related to the ones in my shopping cart). I think that when a critical mass of people have some item in their shopping cart, they try and increase profits with some atrocious price change. Of course, this is only a theory and a bitter one at that. I have no evidence but that is what the whole thing feels like to me.
I think most people research to at least some level before they buy things (unless it's a hasty impulse buy). ALL of my "big" purchase (above $80 for me) are well considered. Unless it's for necessary travel or something related to my immediate family I don't make impulse buys, on principle. I am morbidly scared of the "accumulation tax" that follows me around if I accumulate ridiculous junk with little purpose. So I know exactly what I am going to be spending on anything ages before I actually buy it. If I am not careful and just spend willy-nilly (I have in the past), the consequences are sometimes quite embarrassing (for e.g., rent cheque bouncing or some such stupid financial faux pas).
Given this level of thought that goes into what I buy, I appreciate it if the prices are stable. If Amazon or any other merchant thinks they should charge something for an item, they should just go ahead and tag it with that price instead of changing prices all the time. Unfavourable price changes makes customers who research annoyed and gives them an unsettling sense of not buying well. Favourable price changes makes them feel like they got a bargain - a kind of shifty emotional maneuvering to make them buy more impulsively. I know Amazon is not the only one that engages in all the price jumping but I just wanted to blow off some steam about the wok incident. ;-)
I ended up buying the wok from Overstock and not renewing my membership with Amazon. Thus far, I have bought 2 other beautiful fry pans and a sewing machine from Overstock. Each time the customer service has been exemplary and flawless. Sure, the deliveries take longer than 2 days but seriously, my kitchen is not going to implode if a frying pan (or really anything) that I have wanted for 3 or more months takes a few more days to arrive.
I have a massive paleolithic joke of an internet speed to even consider video on demand. Plus I don't like watching anything passively for more than 15 minutes anyway. I have some kind of an attention deficit when it comes to television. It's too impersonal and I am too guilt-ridden.
I had Amazon Prime for the whole of last year. It made me buy all sorts of irrational things, really. There was an element of thrill in getting something delivered in 2 days flat.
Then the wok drama happened (e:tinypliny,54693) I know this is probably going to sound petty. But the wok was in my shopping cart and I was definitely going to buy it that day. The price suddenly spiked up more than 2x the original cost just as I was taking the preliminary steps to go through the checkout process (And no, I don't have the one click magic phrase because I think it's such nonsense)!
I sent a nasty letter of complaint to Amazon and heard back from the customer service team. According to them the prices on Amazon are fair market prices (or something to that effect) and it's not under their control. I was annoyed and deleted the wok from the shopping cart. Needless to say the wok magically sprang back to its original lower price when I did.
If this had happened once or even twice I would have overlooked it but this kind of price jumping has happened quite a few times for me in the past. They definitely monitor the shopping carts of people in general (because I receive target email that explicitly says that it is for things related to the ones in my shopping cart). I think that when a critical mass of people have some item in their shopping cart, they try and increase profits with some atrocious price change. Of course, this is only a theory and a bitter one at that. I have no evidence but that is what the whole thing feels like to me.
I think most people research to at least some level before they buy things (unless it's a hasty impulse buy). ALL of my "big" purchase (above $80 for me) are well considered. Unless it's for necessary travel or something related to my immediate family I don't make impulse buys, on principle. I am morbidly scared of the "accumulation tax" that follows me around if I accumulate ridiculous junk with little purpose. So I know exactly what I am going to be spending on anything ages before I actually buy it. If I am not careful and just spend willy-nilly (I have in the past), the consequences are sometimes quite embarrassing (for e.g., rent cheque bouncing or some such stupid financial faux pas).
Given this level of thought that goes into what I buy, I appreciate it if the prices are stable. If Amazon or any other merchant thinks they should charge something for an item, they should just go ahead and tag it with that price instead of changing prices all the time. Unfavourable price changes makes customers who research annoyed and gives them an unsettling sense of not buying well. Favourable price changes makes them feel like they got a bargain - a kind of shifty emotional maneuvering to make them buy more impulsively. I know Amazon is not the only one that engages in all the price jumping but I just wanted to blow off some steam about the wok incident. ;-)
I ended up buying the wok from Overstock and not renewing my membership with Amazon. Thus far, I have bought 2 other beautiful fry pans and a sewing machine from Overstock. Each time the customer service has been exemplary and flawless. Sure, the deliveries take longer than 2 days but seriously, my kitchen is not going to implode if a frying pan (or really anything) that I have wanted for 3 or more months takes a few more days to arrive.
I have a massive paleolithic joke of an internet speed to even consider video on demand. Plus I don't like watching anything passively for more than 15 minutes anyway. I have some kind of an attention deficit when it comes to television. It's too impersonal and I am too guilt-ridden.
metalpeter - 10/08/11 12:46
Well what I can say is this... In NYS there is or atleast was a law that anything that goes on sale 30 days after you buy it they have to give you that price... So you go out and buy a $1,000 TV and it goes on sale next week take in your prof of payment and the store has to give you the difference... Now if it has to be cash or credit on the card or store credit I'm not sure.... I have no idea how you would do that online though... But I would assume as long as you are paying the NYS tax you would be covered... Just like certain items can't be shipped to certain states and every online place has to know all those laws of the different states and follow them....
Well what I can say is this... In NYS there is or atleast was a law that anything that goes on sale 30 days after you buy it they have to give you that price... So you go out and buy a $1,000 TV and it goes on sale next week take in your prof of payment and the store has to give you the difference... Now if it has to be cash or credit on the card or store credit I'm not sure.... I have no idea how you would do that online though... But I would assume as long as you are paying the NYS tax you would be covered... Just like certain items can't be shipped to certain states and every online place has to know all those laws of the different states and follow them....
paul - 10/07/11 16:53
I just started my prime account today and I already ordered 4 things. We all have 3 batteries each for our cell phones now. No more downtime ever.
I just started my prime account today and I already ordered 4 things. We all have 3 batteries each for our cell phones now. No more downtime ever.
10/06/2011 08:36 #55245
Moroccan CuisineCategory: eating in
I read this article with interest:
To me, it represents a global dilemma. Would you rather live in the past and insist that change is disturbing because you don't quite understand it (or want to take the pains to understand it) or would you just accept that the future is here and evolve with it?
The way I have phrased it above makes it sound as if the right answer is choosing the future and evolving. That is because I want to choose that answer. I want everyone to choose that answer. But sometimes, there is no right answer to a question like this. The article about Moroccan cuisine cookbooks illustrates this point so well.
On an aside, I really want to make this bread someday:
Maybe I can this weekend.
To me, it represents a global dilemma. Would you rather live in the past and insist that change is disturbing because you don't quite understand it (or want to take the pains to understand it) or would you just accept that the future is here and evolve with it?
The way I have phrased it above makes it sound as if the right answer is choosing the future and evolving. That is because I want to choose that answer. I want everyone to choose that answer. But sometimes, there is no right answer to a question like this. The article about Moroccan cuisine cookbooks illustrates this point so well.
On an aside, I really want to make this bread someday:
Maybe I can this weekend.
tinypliny - 10/07/11 03:12
:) if only that article was 1/18th as deep.
It was just about how modern Moroccan moms (alliteration!!!) don't slave in their kitchen like in old days and how their cooking practices have evolved because of wider food availability and cross-cultural influences. Two chefs, one American and one Moroccan have released parallel cookbooks. The article is a well written review of their books together as a study in contrasts.
While the Moroccan writes about the adaptation of traditional Moroccan cuisine under the influences of modern cultural and agricultural innovations, the American insists on rigid recipes that stick to what she thinks is traditional Moroccan - having observed many cooks in the 70s while living in Morocco.
:) if only that article was 1/18th as deep.
It was just about how modern Moroccan moms (alliteration!!!) don't slave in their kitchen like in old days and how their cooking practices have evolved because of wider food availability and cross-cultural influences. Two chefs, one American and one Moroccan have released parallel cookbooks. The article is a well written review of their books together as a study in contrasts.
While the Moroccan writes about the adaptation of traditional Moroccan cuisine under the influences of modern cultural and agricultural innovations, the American insists on rigid recipes that stick to what she thinks is traditional Moroccan - having observed many cooks in the 70s while living in Morocco.
metalpeter - 10/06/11 18:20
I started reading the article and didn't really get it so I stopped but here is what I will say.......
Going forward isn't all ways right just like going back isn't either... Here is the best example I can come up with quickly..... Doctors and all the advances in health are great and people live longer now a days.... Yes that means some people can know 4 generations of Grand Kids or what ever... Great for humans... But not so good for people living 40 years past retirement and being healthy but not being able to work... All these extra humans will at some point destroy the earth... If it doesn't cause us all to kill each other first.... Now back when people didn't have all this medicine you would have some virus that would wipe out around a country of people and help keep the earth balanced... HIV being sexually transmitted had the chance to cut down populations but it wasn't really deadly enough and what I mean by that is you could only spread it sexually but that being said you could still give it to a lot of people and so on and so forth but then we got not a cure but a way to battle it pretty good and condoms pretty much stop the spread of it.... So good for Humans bad for the earth.....
I started reading the article and didn't really get it so I stopped but here is what I will say.......
Going forward isn't all ways right just like going back isn't either... Here is the best example I can come up with quickly..... Doctors and all the advances in health are great and people live longer now a days.... Yes that means some people can know 4 generations of Grand Kids or what ever... Great for humans... But not so good for people living 40 years past retirement and being healthy but not being able to work... All these extra humans will at some point destroy the earth... If it doesn't cause us all to kill each other first.... Now back when people didn't have all this medicine you would have some virus that would wipe out around a country of people and help keep the earth balanced... HIV being sexually transmitted had the chance to cut down populations but it wasn't really deadly enough and what I mean by that is you could only spread it sexually but that being said you could still give it to a lot of people and so on and so forth but then we got not a cure but a way to battle it pretty good and condoms pretty much stop the spread of it.... So good for Humans bad for the earth.....
Good Song but I'm more a fan of the Metallica Version but that is just me...... That being said this would be perfect in a Movie I can Picture a Warrior looking over a valley before they have to run across trees or go to battle and slay the rival clan.....