Finally! A way to report bugs in the Opera web browser:
https://bugs.opera.com/wizard/
It may have been there for some time, but like for finding the detailed version history such things are not in the places where you would expect them.
2010-09-12
Windows command line reference
The best reference information on the Windows command-line (command.exe or cmd.exe) I have ever found is:
An A-Z Index of the Windows XP command line.
It also covers what is usually only in batch files (.bat or .cmd), like for loops.
An A-Z Index of the Windows XP command line.
It also covers what is usually only in batch files (.bat or .cmd), like for loops.
2010-09-11
Get started when it comes to entrepreneurship may not cut it
I saw this interesting article today: Dangerous Ideas: Getting Started Is Overrated
Some quotes:
"you should develop rigorous thresholds that any pursuit must overcome before it can induce action."
"people who succeed in an impressive pursuit are those
who:
Established, over time, a deep emotional conviction that
they want to follow that pursuit.
Have built an exhaustive understanding of the relevant
world, why some succeed and others don't, and exactly
what type of action is required."
Some quotes:
"you should develop rigorous thresholds that any pursuit must overcome before it can induce action."
"people who succeed in an impressive pursuit are those
who:
Established, over time, a deep emotional conviction that
they want to follow that pursuit.
Have built an exhaustive understanding of the relevant
world, why some succeed and others don't, and exactly
what type of action is required."
2010-09-04
Sites violating Stack Exchange's license agreement
Just to have a reference to it:
There is a post on Meta Stack Overflow that keeps track of sites that violates the licence agreement for the Stack Exchange Network CC-Wiki data (dumps of the content):
Is it legal to copy Stack Overflow questions and answers?
There is a post on Meta Stack Overflow that keeps track of sites that violates the licence agreement for the Stack Exchange Network CC-Wiki data (dumps of the content):
Is it legal to copy Stack Overflow questions and answers?
2010-08-28
Controlling the play order for Creative MP3 players
With the threat of the Apple fanboys highjacking the new Electronic Gadgets site (a Stack Exchange 2.0 site) currently in public beta (and turning it into yet another unpaid advertisement channel for Apple) I am posting (as a sort of backup) my question and my own solution on how to control play order for Creative MP3 players by manupulating files and file content without requiring software:
Question:
How can I externally control MP3 file play order for a Creative ZEN Mozaic EZ300 MP3 player?
By externally I mean one or more of:
I have extensively tried the renaming and time stamping strategy, but with no success. Perhaps I have overlooked something.
I have had the same problem with earlier generations of MP3 players from Creative. But at least on the Creative Zen Stone there was a small button to jump to the next folder (it made this problem bearable). EZ300 does not even have this option (as far as I can tell).
Answer:
Yes, it is possible using a special file that defines the play order.
It turned out to be deceptively simple.
It can be done with playlists. Creative ZEN Mozaic EZ300 supports M3U playlist files (file extension .m3u). If an M3U file with the right content is copied to folder "Playlist" on the ZEN Mosaic then the MP3 files can be played in the desired order.
A complication is that ZEN Mozaic EZ300 requires 8.3 DOS file names in the M3U file. E.g. the file `HerdingCode-0090-Sara-Chipps-on-GirlDevelopIt-and-Girls-Developing-Software.mp3` must be listed as e.g. `HERDIN~1.MP3`.
Software exists to automate this process, but I describe the manual process below. It also a way to demonstrate what such software does.
Example:
1. The files
ZEN Mozaic EZ300 is connected through USB to a Windows computer, drive G:. There are 6 files in folder G:\Podcasts\temp102:
2. The filename transformation
Find 8.3 names for long file names using a Windows command-line window (Win + R + cmd + Enter):
Output is (edited for clarity):
The alternative to finding 8.3 names is to rename the files.
3. Create the playlist file
Create an empty text file in G:\Playlist and rename it to TechPodcasts1431.m3u. Open it in Notepad (or your favourite text editor) and add:
There should be a empty line after the last file (twig0055.mp3). I emperically established that the file will not turn up in the playlist if it is left out.
This playlist file will result in a playlist named "TechPodcasts1431".
4. Play
Unmount the ZEN Mosaic and turn it on.
Do:
Question:
How can I externally control MP3 file play order for a Creative ZEN Mozaic EZ300 MP3 player?
By externally I mean one or more of:
- setting file and/or folder time stamps (say, modification date or creation date) such that the time stamp order is the required play order
- renaming files/folders such that the alphabetical order is the required play order
- constructing special files that define the play order.
I have extensively tried the renaming and time stamping strategy, but with no success. Perhaps I have overlooked something.
I have had the same problem with earlier generations of MP3 players from Creative. But at least on the Creative Zen Stone there was a small button to jump to the next folder (it made this problem bearable). EZ300 does not even have this option (as far as I can tell).
Answer:
Yes, it is possible using a special file that defines the play order.
It turned out to be deceptively simple.
It can be done with playlists. Creative ZEN Mozaic EZ300 supports M3U playlist files (file extension .m3u). If an M3U file with the right content is copied to folder "Playlist" on the ZEN Mosaic then the MP3 files can be played in the desired order.
A complication is that ZEN Mozaic EZ300 requires 8.3 DOS file names in the M3U file. E.g. the file `HerdingCode-0090-Sara-Chipps-on-GirlDevelopIt-and-Girls-Developing-Software.mp3` must be listed as e.g. `HERDIN~1.MP3`.
Software exists to automate this process, but I describe the manual process below. It also a way to demonstrate what such software does.
Example:
1. The files
ZEN Mozaic EZ300 is connected through USB to a Windows computer, drive G:. There are 6 files in folder G:\Podcasts\temp102:
dotnetrocks_0583_jay_schmelzer.mp3
grammar058-however_StartingA_SentenceWithHowever.mp3
harddisken_2010-08-11.mp3
HerdingCode-0090-Sara-Chipps-on-GirlDevelopIt-and-Girls-Developing- Software.mp3
sn0261.mp3
twig0055.mp3
2. The filename transformation
Find 8.3 names for long file names using a Windows command-line window (Win + R + cmd + Enter):
G:
cd G:\Podcasts\temp102
dir /X
Output is (edited for clarity):
DOTNET~1.MP3 dotnetrocks_0583_jay_schmelzer.mp3
GRAMMA~1.MP3 grammar058-however_StartingA_SentenceWithHowever.mp3
HARDDI~1.MP3 harddisken_2010-08-11.mp3
HERDIN~1.MP3 HerdingCode-0090-Sara-Chipps-on-GirlDevelopIt-and-Girls-Developing-Software.mp3
sn0261.mp3
twig0055.mp3
The alternative to finding 8.3 names is to rename the files.
3. Create the playlist file
Create an empty text file in G:\Playlist and rename it to TechPodcasts1431.m3u. Open it in Notepad (or your favourite text editor) and add:
\PODCASTS\TEMP102\DOTNET~1.MP3
\PODCASTS\TEMP102\GRAMMA~1.MP3
\PODCASTS\TEMP102\HARDDI~1.MP3
\PODCASTS\TEMP102\HERDIN~1.MP3
\PODCASTS\TEMP102\sn0261.mp3
\PODCASTS\TEMP102\twig0055.mp3
There should be a empty line after the last file (twig0055.mp3). I emperically established that the file will not turn up in the playlist if it is left out.
This playlist file will result in a playlist named "TechPodcasts1431".
4. Play
Unmount the ZEN Mosaic and turn it on.
Do:
menu Music/Playlists/<select TechPodcasts1431>/open/
select the first/open/Play
2010-08-14
LOLCODE
LOLCODEThe picture above is connected to the Internet meme lolcats applied to software development, using the brand of O'Reilly Media's characteristic book covers.
This picture originially appeared in a Meta Stack Overflow post, but I think the post was deleted the same day. It could be http://meta.stackoverflow.com/questions/60784/its-friday-we-just-deployed-image-upload-support-now-what. For the same reason I don't know who to attribute the picture to. The original URL is http://i.imgur.com/CInDF.jpg.
LOLCODE is an actual programming language! A Hello World program in LOLCODE reads:
HAI
CAN HAS STDIO?
PLZ OPEN FILE "LOLCATS.TXT"?
AWSUM THX
VISIBLE FILE
O NOES
INVISIBLE "ERROR!"
KTHXBYE
2010-08-01
Everything on the use of "etc."
I asked a series of questions on iRosetta about the proper use of "etc." in writing. It is very often used in the wrong way.
1. "Comma before etc.?" and "Comma before etc., part two". Yes, there should be a comma before etc. when used in a list. See also this English Language and Usage question (a Stack Exchange 2.0 site).
2. "Is it always “etc.”?". Yes, etc. never loses its full stop.
3. "Mixed double punctuation -or beating a dead horse". About etc. as the last word before the ending punctuation, in particular a question mark. etc. does not lose its full stop in this case either.
4. "Law, etc. revisited". Use in a particular law text. Bad use is copied over and over in the law field.
1. "Comma before etc.?" and "Comma before etc., part two". Yes, there should be a comma before etc. when used in a list. See also this English Language and Usage question (a Stack Exchange 2.0 site).
2. "Is it always “etc.”?". Yes, etc. never loses its full stop.
3. "Mixed double punctuation -or beating a dead horse". About etc. as the last word before the ending punctuation, in particular a question mark. etc. does not lose its full stop in this case either.
4. "Law, etc. revisited". Use in a particular law text. Bad use is copied over and over in the law field.
2010-07-14
Google's calculator
In Hidden features of Google (a question on the first Stack Exchange 2.0 site, Web Applications) there is a great introduction to the calculator that is built into Google search.
For exammple it can do log(), exp(), sin(), dimensional analysis and imaginary numbers (symbol "i")!
For exammple it can do log(), exp(), sin(), dimensional analysis and imaginary numbers (symbol "i")!
2010-07-06
Wikipedia featured lists
There is a very long page on Wikipedia with featured lists.
The linked to lists are described as:
However the list is dominated by sports...
The linked to lists are described as:
The featured lists are what we believe to be the best lists in Wikipedia. Before being listed here, lists are reviewed at Wikipedia:Featured list candidates for usefulness, completeness, accuracy, neutrality, style and prose according to our featured list criteria.A sample: Sites of Special Scientific Interest, West Midlands , Elements by stability of isotopes, Space telescopes, Solar eclipses in the 21st century, Scientific publications by Albert Einstein, and Amateur radio frequency bands in India.
However the list is dominated by sports...
2010-06-27
2010-06-25
The Maker, an open source CMS
In the latest installment (2010-06-21) of the podcast "Python 411" there is an interview with the creators of The Maker, an open source Content Management System (CMS) for websites. Official web-site.
It sounded very interesting. But why did they choose such a generic name, now that we live in the Google-age?
It sounded very interesting. But why did they choose such a generic name, now that we live in the Google-age?
2010-05-28
Steve Gibson is wrong, wrong, wrong
Steve Gibson claimed in the podcast Security Now, episode 250, that spool used as a verb (as in printer spooling) is not a normal verb, but is an acronym.
Wikipedia starts with the same information, but note "backronym" in the following from Spooling:
"According to Tanenbaum, "Spool" is an acronym for simultaneous peripheral operations on-line[1] (though others may consider this a backronym), or as for printers: simultaneous peripheral output on line."
I asked about this at iRosetta and Donald Remero disagrees with Steve Gibson in his answer.
Wikipedia starts with the same information, but note "backronym" in the following from Spooling:
"According to Tanenbaum, "Spool" is an acronym for simultaneous peripheral operations on-line[1] (though others may consider this a backronym), or as for printers: simultaneous peripheral output on line."
I asked about this at iRosetta and Donald Remero disagrees with Steve Gibson in his answer.
2010-05-26
News on Stack Exchange 2.0
There is news about Stack Exchange 2.0: Interview with Lead Developer David Fullerton.
They are inviting beta testers.
They are inviting beta testers.
2010-05-22
Jump the shark
Updated 2014-09-13
Jump the shark is not yet a meme at The Many Memes of Meta, a page on the meta site for the Stack Overflow family of Q&A sites ("Q&A sites" means "question and answer sites", Wikipedia is useless in this instance).
It is based on Jeff Atwood's blog post Has Joel Spolsky Jumped the Shark? on 2006-09-11.
There are many references both inside and outside the Stack Overflow podcast:
1. 2007-04-26. Episode 232 of the .NET Rocks podcast, 25 min 37 sec - 30 min 15 sec. Joel Spolsky explains/defends the choice of writing their own computer language, Wasabi. MP3 download link (the episode is in two parts, this is the second part). 22.2 MB.
2. 2008-04-29. Episode 3 of the Stack Overflow podcast, 18 min 34 sec (indirect reference to Jump the shark, "wasabi". By Jeff Atwood.). And 20 min 14 sec - 32 min 31 sec. MP3 download link. 21.4 MB.
3. 2008-05-13. Episode 5 of the Stack Overflow podcast, 01 min 02 sec - 03 min 18 sec. Jeff Atwood actually calls it a meme and that several times. MP3 download link. 22.3 MB.
4. 2008-05-27. Episode 7 of the Stack Overflow podcast, 58 min 58 sec - 59 min 44 sec. MP3 download link. 21.9 MB.
5. 2008-06-03. Episode 8 of the Stack Overflow podcast, 06 min 53 sec. Indirect reference to jump the shark by Jeff Atwood: "You are a wasabi guy, it is worse!". MP3 download link. 31.3 MB.
6. 2008-06-03. Episode 8 of the Stack Overflow podcast, 47 min 36 sec. Indirect reference to jump the shark by Jeff Atwood (transcription is difficult): ""I have a mental image of Joel Spolsky like pulling the fridge and being unable to do so. Going "I felt Wasabi would totally solve this problem""". MP3 download link. 31.3 MB.
7. 2008-06-03. Episode 8 of the Stack Overflow podcast, 49 min 50 sec. Indirect reference to jump the shark by Jeff Atwood: "What? You are creating a new language, what, you are crazy. You know what that sounds like, right?, Joel ". MP3 download link. 31.3 MB.
8. 2008-07-22. Episode 13 of the Stack Overflow podcast, 25 min 19 sec. Joel Spolsky makes a reference to Jump the shark. MP3 download link. 30.6 MB.
9. 2008-08-12. Episode 19 of the Stack Overflow podcast, 58 min 48 sec. Joel Spolsky makes an indirect reference to Jump the shark ("... had to have our compiler [wasabi]"). MP3 download link. 32.6 MB.
10. 2008-12-02. Episode 32 of the Stack Overflow podcast, 35 min 28 sec. Jeff Atwood makes indirect/unnamed reference to Jump the shark. MP3 download link. MP3 download link. 32.7 MB.
11. 2009-04-07. Episode 48 of the Stack Overflow podcast, 02 min 23 sec. Joel Spolsky makes a reference to Jump the shark. MP3 download link. 36.0 MB.
12. 2009-04-14. Episode 158 of Hanselminutes. 2 min 03 secs - about 13 minutes. Scott Hanselman interviews Joel Spolsky. Joel Spolsky explains in depth the story behind Wasabi. Some of the reasons are constraints. And later, at 23 min 30 secs - about 27 minutes Jump the shark is directly discussed. Scott Hanselman asks directly whether Joel Spolsky was insulted by Jeff Atwood's blog post.
13. 2009-05-05. Episode 52 of the Stack Overflow podcast, 42 min 30 sec. Joel Spolsky makes a reference to Jump the shark. MP3 download link. 29.6 MB.
14. 2009-05-26. Episode 55 of the Stack Overflow podcast, 17 min 57 sec. Joel Spolsky makes a reference to Jump the shark. MP3 download link. 30.5 MB.
15. 2009-06-02. Episode 56 of the Stack Overflow podcast, 1 hour 14 min 02 sec. The guest makes a reference to Jump the shark. MP3 download link. 34.7 MB.
16. 2009-10-19. Episode 71 of the Stack Overflow podcast, 1 hour 24 min 30 sec. Joel Spolsky makes a reference to Wasabi (origin of Jump the shark). MP3 download link. 30.4 MB.
17. 2009-10-23. Episode XX of Hanselminutes. Hanselminutes on 9 - Spolsky, Atwood, Blyth, Hanselman = Crazy-Delicious || Content-Free?
18. 2009-12-15. Episode 78 of the Stack Overflow podcast, 35 min 25 sec. Jeff Atwood makes a reference to Jump the shark. MP3 download link. 30.4 MB.
19. 2010-01-05. Episode 79 of the Stack Overflow podcast, 56 min 05 sec. Joel Spolsky makes a reference to Jump the shark. MP3 download link. 35.0 MB.
20. 2010-01-26. Episode 81 of the Stack Overflow podcast, 16 min 49 sec. Jeff Atwood makes an indirect reference to Jump the shark. MP3 download link. 32.1 MB.
21. 2010-02-16. Episode 84 of the Stack Overflow podcast, 30 min 34 sec. A member of the Stack Exchange team makes an indirect reference to Jump the shark (Wasabi). MP3 download link. 26.5 MB.
To be continued...
Jump the shark is not yet a meme at The Many Memes of Meta, a page on the meta site for the Stack Overflow family of Q&A sites ("Q&A sites" means "question and answer sites", Wikipedia is useless in this instance).
It is based on Jeff Atwood's blog post Has Joel Spolsky Jumped the Shark? on 2006-09-11.
There are many references both inside and outside the Stack Overflow podcast:
1. 2007-04-26. Episode 232 of the .NET Rocks podcast, 25 min 37 sec - 30 min 15 sec. Joel Spolsky explains/defends the choice of writing their own computer language, Wasabi. MP3 download link (the episode is in two parts, this is the second part). 22.2 MB.
2. 2008-04-29. Episode 3 of the Stack Overflow podcast, 18 min 34 sec (indirect reference to Jump the shark, "wasabi". By Jeff Atwood.). And 20 min 14 sec - 32 min 31 sec. MP3 download link. 21.4 MB.
3. 2008-05-13. Episode 5 of the Stack Overflow podcast, 01 min 02 sec - 03 min 18 sec. Jeff Atwood actually calls it a meme and that several times. MP3 download link. 22.3 MB.
4. 2008-05-27. Episode 7 of the Stack Overflow podcast, 58 min 58 sec - 59 min 44 sec. MP3 download link. 21.9 MB.
5. 2008-06-03. Episode 8 of the Stack Overflow podcast, 06 min 53 sec. Indirect reference to jump the shark by Jeff Atwood: "You are a wasabi guy, it is worse!". MP3 download link. 31.3 MB.
6. 2008-06-03. Episode 8 of the Stack Overflow podcast, 47 min 36 sec. Indirect reference to jump the shark by Jeff Atwood (transcription is difficult): ""I have a mental image of Joel Spolsky like pulling the fridge and being unable to do so. Going "I felt Wasabi would totally solve this problem""". MP3 download link. 31.3 MB.
7. 2008-06-03. Episode 8 of the Stack Overflow podcast, 49 min 50 sec. Indirect reference to jump the shark by Jeff Atwood: "What? You are creating a new language, what, you are crazy. You know what that sounds like, right?, Joel ". MP3 download link. 31.3 MB.
8. 2008-07-22. Episode 13 of the Stack Overflow podcast, 25 min 19 sec. Joel Spolsky makes a reference to Jump the shark. MP3 download link. 30.6 MB.
9. 2008-08-12. Episode 19 of the Stack Overflow podcast, 58 min 48 sec. Joel Spolsky makes an indirect reference to Jump the shark ("... had to have our compiler [wasabi]"). MP3 download link. 32.6 MB.
10. 2008-12-02. Episode 32 of the Stack Overflow podcast, 35 min 28 sec. Jeff Atwood makes indirect/unnamed reference to Jump the shark. MP3 download link. MP3 download link. 32.7 MB.
11. 2009-04-07. Episode 48 of the Stack Overflow podcast, 02 min 23 sec. Joel Spolsky makes a reference to Jump the shark. MP3 download link. 36.0 MB.
12. 2009-04-14. Episode 158 of Hanselminutes. 2 min 03 secs - about 13 minutes. Scott Hanselman interviews Joel Spolsky. Joel Spolsky explains in depth the story behind Wasabi. Some of the reasons are constraints. And later, at 23 min 30 secs - about 27 minutes Jump the shark is directly discussed. Scott Hanselman asks directly whether Joel Spolsky was insulted by Jeff Atwood's blog post.
13. 2009-05-05. Episode 52 of the Stack Overflow podcast, 42 min 30 sec. Joel Spolsky makes a reference to Jump the shark. MP3 download link. 29.6 MB.
14. 2009-05-26. Episode 55 of the Stack Overflow podcast, 17 min 57 sec. Joel Spolsky makes a reference to Jump the shark. MP3 download link. 30.5 MB.
15. 2009-06-02. Episode 56 of the Stack Overflow podcast, 1 hour 14 min 02 sec. The guest makes a reference to Jump the shark. MP3 download link. 34.7 MB.
16. 2009-10-19. Episode 71 of the Stack Overflow podcast, 1 hour 24 min 30 sec. Joel Spolsky makes a reference to Wasabi (origin of Jump the shark). MP3 download link. 30.4 MB.
17. 2009-10-23. Episode XX of Hanselminutes. Hanselminutes on 9 - Spolsky, Atwood, Blyth, Hanselman = Crazy-Delicious || Content-Free?
18. 2009-12-15. Episode 78 of the Stack Overflow podcast, 35 min 25 sec. Jeff Atwood makes a reference to Jump the shark. MP3 download link. 30.4 MB.
19. 2010-01-05. Episode 79 of the Stack Overflow podcast, 56 min 05 sec. Joel Spolsky makes a reference to Jump the shark. MP3 download link. 35.0 MB.
20. 2010-01-26. Episode 81 of the Stack Overflow podcast, 16 min 49 sec. Jeff Atwood makes an indirect reference to Jump the shark. MP3 download link. 32.1 MB.
21. 2010-02-16. Episode 84 of the Stack Overflow podcast, 30 min 34 sec. A member of the Stack Exchange team makes an indirect reference to Jump the shark (Wasabi). MP3 download link. 26.5 MB.
To be continued...
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